[Deck] Pump Stompy

[tsabo_tavoc]

Legacy Berserk Stompy has always been on the edge of being competitive. Infect creatures gave this deck a strong push, but at the same time, Mental Misstep owns the deck. However, the number one problem for Berserk Stompy is spot removals. As a counter on storm enabler or tutor after some ritual chains, a spot removal after a full hand of pump spells makes the deck hardly able to recover. Blockers are less threatening, but they do put more stringent requirements on the number and quality (Trample) of pumps. Creatures with Hexproof and evasion are therefore highly valuable for Berserk Stompy, but there is only one attached with a fair cost: Silhana Ledgewalker. No Infect creatures have Hexproof, so Infect Stompy fights spot removals by counterspells. Noninfect versions can not rely on Ledgewalker and they play a large number of creatures, including big dudes like Kavu Predator.

Things are going to change. We get this guy from Innistrad:

Invisible Stalker
Creature - Human Rogue
1U 1/1
Hexproof, unblockable.

If we count in Green Sun's Zenith (GSZ), there are 12 evasive creatures now proof to hex. A new deck can be built without concerns for spot removals or blockers, what a relief! The legacy version of this deck is discussed here http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...Berserk-Stompy

Modern is a better home for this deck. We lose the namesake Berserk, the free pump Invigorate, the all-mighty Brainstorm, and that is it. On the other hand, there is no Wasteland, no Mental Misstep / Daze / Force of Will, what a friendly environment! Time for a decklist:

Mana
1 Breeding Pool
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Watery Grave
1 Blood Crypt
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Scalding Tarn
4 Noble Hierarch

Threat
3 Silhana Ledgewalker
4 Invisible Stalker
4 Green Sun's Zenith

Pump
4 Tainted Strike
4 Assault Strobe
4 Might of Alara
4 Might of Old Krosa
2 Groundswell
1 Llanowar Augur

Other
4 Ponder
4 Preordain
1 Qasali Pridemage

Sideboard
4 Gladecover Scout
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Qasali Pridemage
5

Out of 21 mana, 11 creatures and 19 pumps, we want 3, 1, 3 of them respectively for the combo win. GSZ and Exalters serve multiple purposes while cantrips dig for any missing pieces.

4 Ponder / 4 Preordain: I have not settled on the number of cantrips. Thus far, 8 feels better than 4.

4 Tainted Strike / 4 Assault Strobe: 8 Berserks. Strike has an added +1/+0 and sniffs life gains. I have also tried Fatal Frenzy and Fling, but did not like any of them.

4 Might of Alara / 4 Might of Old Krosa / 2 Groundswell: +4/+4s. Working out the math, +3/+3 makes it hard to kill with 3 pumps. Alara has the potential to be +5/+5.

1 Llanowar Augur: Thanks Finn for the input. This is a mere +3/+3, but GSZ searches him.

11 Threat: should be enough unless against heavy discard / counter.

0 Dryad Arbor: You don't GSZ him, you GSZ Noble Hierarch.

11 Fetches / 6 Shocklands: see Groundswell, Might of Alara. I know, this hurts, but we are the aggressive combo deck.

4 Noble Hierarch: Acceleration is nice, but his pump is surprisingly relevant and solid: it makes GSZ a pump spell!

1 Qasali Pridemage: The only MD answer, say hi to Canonist, Spellskite and Blood Moon .

SB 4 Gladecover Scout: Some decks do not have early blockers. 1 cc means less likely to be hit by discards or counters (this is Modern ). Slippery Bogle does the same.

SB 4 Inquisition of Kozilek: I don't know where it should come in, but this spell hits almost all the hates.

SB 2 Qasali Pridemage: More answers.

SB 5 blank: Seriously, without the knowledge of a meta, how would you construct a SB?

Hope you have enjoyed so far. Comments and criticisms, your playtests are very much appreciated