[Deck] Goyf Sligh

[thefreakaccident]

Against combo I really like Pirostatic Pillar. It buys us several turns and deals some damge while the opponent plays some brainstorm/cunning wish/burning wish and the removal/bouncer. This damages (easily 4-6) combined with the damage we can deal during those turns we have won (and consider that we have some more since the opponent would have trashed some tutors/draw) my finish the opponent. Of course its a hard matchup, but I don't think we can stop them, we just need to buy 4-5 turns. If a deck is faster than us, then, we should change things to slow them down.

You have no way to slow them down... the only combo deck that you would hope to beat with this deck is Emdlin's SI, and you would have to survive until turn 2 to do so.... Out of all seriousness, if I were playing this deck and was paired against combo, I would scoop to save both of us some time... although there isn't much saved time there...

The thresh MU doesn't look all that bad, seeing as everything is a threat, but I have beaten burn with thresh in the past, so it cannot be all that bad for them, seeing as they now have ways to prevent the damage (i.e. destroy your creatures/ block them to hell).

[lukatron2]

Also can we pick a different name for this deck other than Goyf sligh? Just call it R/G beats? I don't mean to sound picky but...

I second that (at least for the builds that run anything green other than goyf). But than again the name does give it something do distinguish it from other R/G beats decks (when I speak of R/G beats I'm not talking about "zilla stompy")...ohh well, who cares :p

On another note, I've been playing R/G beats for quite some time now and I must say I like the build with the dryads. Even though its pretty much the same as the old deck with Goyf replacing Firewalker, it seems to have some sort of crazy new feel to it...

What do you guys think.

1. Dryad, or no Dryad (If yes...lava dart, no lava dart)?
2. If no Dryads, rancor or no rancor?
3. Jittes in Sb, Main, or not at all?
4. How many PoP
5. I think 1-2 Final fortune would be super sweet in a creature heavy list (16+ creatures). It can speed up your deck by an extra turn or 2. Its like a super fireblast in some instances allowing you to swing for another 4+ damage and draw an extra card (possibly a burn spell)

[Barook]

As a fan of R/G Beats (which should be the name for the thread instead something stupid like Goyf Slight - I thought we wanted to go away from "deck + goyf" names), I ask myself into what direction the deck should go:

Creature-light, burn heavy or more creatures with burn and pump effects (with the chance of opening yourself for 2-for-1 situations when your opponent plays removal)?
Also, should the deck be tuned to deal as much damage as possible or should it run slower, more controlling cards like Lavamancer, Lava Dart, etc?

From my knowledge of building fast RG decks for Extended, I would try something like this (although the list, especially the manabase, is still unrefined):

4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Kird Ape
3 Skyshroud Elite
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Keldon Marauders

Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Rancor
3 Reckless Charge
3 Price of Progress
3 Fireblast

Lands
5 Mountain
1 Forest
4 Taiga
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Windswept Heath

Sure, the build is risky due to the high number of creature pumpers, but also blazing fast, even capable of turn 3 kills during goldfishing.

[matelml]

I don't think you should build aggro decks with the goldfish in mind. You are always going to have resistance and you should aim to win, not try to win fast. That said you should go for consistency and cut the possible card-disadvantage cards like reckless charge. Rancor is something else cause it's just so good and if the guy isn't killed in response isn't card-disadvantage.

[Barook]

I don't think you should build aggro decks with the goldfish in mind. You are always going to have resistance and you should aim to win, not try to win fast. That said you should go for consistency and cut the possible card-disadvantage cards like reckless charge. Rancor is something else cause it's just so good and if the guy isn't killed in response isn't card-disadvantage.

I'm not building decks with goldfishing in mind, I just mentioned it. Of course, consistency is better than winning fast with a glass cannon, but you also have to keep in mind that RG has subpar disruption compared to other colors, so you shouldn't be too slow.

I'm trying to get some playtest results later.

[Seregrauko]

We still need to discuss what options we have against Belcher and other fast combo decks.. What SB cards could do the job?? I suggest Pyroclasm in the board against anything that packs EtW. Tendrils are gonna be tough. Belcher we need to hate with Krosan Grip or something. Though the problem is to make it to turn 3..

[b4r0n]

We still need to discuss what options we have against Belcher and other fast combo decks.. What SB cards could do the job?? I suggest Pyroclasm in the board against anything that packs EtW. Tendrils are gonna be tough. Belcher we need to hate with Krosan Grip or something. Though the problem is to make it to turn 3..

Pyroclasm seems decent against Belcher, but Krosan Grip is absolutely terrible. Pithing Needle would be better, but still not great.

I think the only way that this deck will be able to fight Tendrils is by boarding in some combination of Chalice/Pyrostatic Pillar/Pyroclasm and praying. It doesn't seem like a good matchup at all, even post-board. Unless you decide to splash for Duress/Thoughtsieze or Stifle, I think you just have to accept storm combo as an autoloss and focus on decks that are beatable.

[Volt]

Regarding the deck name... It's Goyf Sligh. Get over it. It is in fact a Sligh deck with Goyf splashed in. This is one case where the name is apt. Nobody complained when it was called Dryad Sligh.

[kicks_422]

Because people don't understand "Sligh" at all.

small, efficient beaters and burn spells, nothing more = Sligh
same as above, but with a bigger focus on creatures, usually with Jitte = RG Beats
Tangle Wires, Wasteland, Ports, LD = RDW
Jitte, bigger creatures = (Zilla) Stompy

For example, the deck Barook posted above would be RG beats, because it only has 14 burn spells - 3 of which can only target players.

[Wallace]

So I made top 8 on day 2 of TMLO with the following list:

4 Tarmogoyf
4 Grim Lavamancer
4 Quirion Dryad
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Dark Confidant

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Lava Spike
3 Tarfire
3 Fireblast
2 Seal of Fire
2 Pyrite Spellbomb

4 Taiga
4 Snow-Covered Mountain
2 Badlands
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Wooded Foothills

SB:
4 Duress
4 Price of Progress
3 Pyrostatic Pillar
2 Krosan Grip
2 Seal of Primordium

I lost a close Thresh match up and to Goblins in the top 8. Fireblast or POP off the top and I win the top 8 match. I beat Enchantress, Elves, Thresh w/scepter, Landstill and drew with Tarmo Sligh to make top 8.

The deck played wery well and both matches I lost were close, any burn spell off the top and I win game two against the Thresh player. I am going to drop Quirion Dryad from my build. Was not impressed with it at all, always wanted it to be something else.

[aisman132000]

is kird ape really not good enough to make this deck? i mean he's got to be better than lava dart, tar fire, pyrite spell bomb and all the other janky burn spells that people are trying to play just to make goyf a little bit bigger.

Could wild mongrel find a place in this deck instead of dryad? he seems pretty good as he lets you force through some damage and is a solid top deck unlike dryad.

Also i love Engineered explosives out of the sb. in general.

[kicks_422]

Congrats Sacearuse.

As for Dryad, I have to agree that her days in this deck have already passed by - ever since Goyf came into the picture. Maybe you could just drop her for more burn, or Kird Ape I guess.

Let me ask you though... You splashed black for Dark Confidant, and only him? I mean, not even any black cards in the SB to help against combo...

EDIT: Oh, and Lava Spikes? SRSLY?

EDIT2: Slith Firewalkers over Quirion Dryads?

[kabal]

So I made top 8 on day 2 of TMLO with the following list:

Why no Magma Jet?

Anyhow, apparently you didn't encounter CotV all day which would pretty much own this deck.

[FakeSpam]

Part of the reason you were so unimpressed with dryad might have been the lack of synergy with the rest of the deck. Don't get me wrong, congratulations, etc.

First, the lack of Lava Dart. It's utility has been beaten to death in the thread already and is pretty much an auto-include with dryad. The damage that you lose over say, Lava Spike, you pick up in versatility and the fact that it's +2/+2 to the dryad.

Second, Pyrite Spellbomb isn't red.

Third, That's a lot of sub-par shocks. I mean, a big Goyf is cool and all, but you are the one making your deck crappy to make it bigger. Not your opponent. Couldn't find room for a plainswalker?

I have to say, though, splashing black for Bob is drop dead sexy.

[Wallace]

Congrats Sacearuse.

As for Dryad, I have to agree that her days in this deck have already passed by - ever since Goyf came into the picture. Maybe you could just drop her for more burn, or Kird Ape I guess.

Let me ask you though... You splashed black for Dark Confidant, and only him? I mean, not even any black cards in the SB to help against combo...

EDIT: Oh, and Lava Spikes? SRSLY?

EDIT2: Slith Firewalkers over Quirion Dryads?

It was late last night when I posted this list, I have updated the SB. I ran 4 x Duress in the SB. I really like Lava Spike, it was amazing for me. I will be running all 16 for 3 damage burn spells in the next build. Starting my opponent off at 17 almost evey game was sweet, having them at 11 by the start of turn 3 made my Goyf's and Lavamancer's job's alot easier.

Part of the reason you were so unimpressed with dryad might have been the lack of synergy with the rest of the deck. Don't get me wrong, congratulations, etc.

First, the lack of Lava Dart. It's utility has been beaten to death in the thread already and is pretty much an auto-include with dryad. The damage that you lose over say, Lava Spike, you pick up in versatility and the fact that it's +2/+2 to the dryad.

Second, Pyrite Spellbomb isn't red.

Third, That's a lot of sub-par shocks. I mean, a big Goyf is cool and all, but you are the one making your deck crappy to make it bigger. Not your opponent. Couldn't find room for a plainswalker?

I have to say, though, splashing black for Bob is drop dead sexy.

I ran the spell bombs to get through Silver Knight or Soltari Priest, they also help with CoP red. I will be updateing the list for the next event I play in. I am going to be droping Dryad and some of the other burn. I will be running Rift bolt and ?? in the open slots. Dyrad was ok, but it depended to much on your hand being full of cards to pump it. Every time I drew Dryad I wished it was something else. I do see the synergy beween dart and Dyrad, I love running fireblast and don't think the deck can support both.

[Watcher487]

OK, I guess I'll just post my list and things I saw....

4 Quirion Dryad
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Kird Ape
4 Mogg Fanatic

4 Chain Lightning
4 Lava Dart
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rift Bolt
2 Fireblast
2 Lava Spike
2 Needle Drop

1 Forest
8 Mountain
2 Bloodstained Mire
2 Stomping Ground
3 Taiga
2 Wooded Foothills

Yes.. this is what I T16'd and T8'd with over the weekend. Let me explain a couple of things, I decided to play here.

4 Keldon Marauders- I know this is something that some people might have a problem with off of the bat. It's not something you would normally expect but it is a very nice card considering what I expected from the meta (the meta wasn't even close to what I expected, but the Marauders worked out amazing). Marauders block and run through threshed Mongeese, while dealing at least 2 damage even if they plow him.

4 Fetches- Yeah yell at me. I ran into color screw 4 times in the tournies. It sucked. I'm adding 3-4 more when I get them.

2 Needle Drop- Something suggested by Sacearuse, it actually worked out ok, especially with dealing with opposing Goyfs, or needing to pump up Dryad.

4 Lava Dart + 2 Fireblast- With alot of the Aggro-Control floating around last weekend, I literally didn't even cast alt cast Fireblast. I hard casted Fireblast to break a standstill vs URABAHN, to make him discard 3 cards. I'm actually thinking about ditching Fireblast for more smaller end burn.

0 Grim Lavamancers- I really think he is just as vunerable as Dark Confidant and since he has to use mana and tap to deal damage, I thought Kird Ape would be better in that slot.

[Wallace]

First off Watcher, fuck yeah Goyf Sligh. Our decks used two diffrent builds, but played very similiar. While I included Lavamancer and Dark Confidant you went with Kird Ape and Keldon Marauders. The Lavamancers are a must in my book, they were always good and never once did they hurt my Tarmogoyf's p/t. I really like Fireblast in this deck, it is an amazing finisher and a great response to wasteland. Lava dart seemed really good when I was watching your matches but I would rather play a for 3 damage spell. I would really suggest bringing your fetch count to 8, they thin out the deck and give you the color/color's you need. Plus a higher fetch count feeds Lavamancer, if you are running them. All in all we both had a great showing and helped secure Goyf Sligh as a DTB for another month.

Congrats on the Top 8 man.

[Afro]

I'm glad to see this deck is doing well. Both myself and P_R have played this deck to some success in recent Mass tournies so I think I can chime in on some thoughts.

1) Dryad does not belong in this deck at all. Too slow in this format if you ask me and eats a plow or other removal the second it hits the table. I don't want to play a card simply to eat plows or other removal before I drop the Goyf.

2) I can't argue with results, but I can say that a R/G/r build severely weakens the main deck in the current environment. A black splash simply isn't worth just Dark Confidant. You run the risk of taking six off a Fireblast (or you could not run it MD, which is a mistake) and moves PoP to the board which I would NEVER do because it is the best card in the deck. Better than bolt, better than goyf, this card just wins you the game when it isn't countered. If you play smart, often it won't be.

3) Magma jet is an auto include. 3rd best burn in the deck behind PoP and Bolt. As for stuff like Seal and Pyrite.... I play 3 Seal in my deck. I like the fact that when I have no 1cc critter I can drop this 1st turn and keep the good stuff for later. Pyrite is totally playable if your meta is full of Silver Knights as Silver Knight + Jitte = GFG.

I am not totally sold on Kird Apes in my build and might replace them with Marauders because I am falling in love with this card in T2. I also am considering running Tin Street Hooligans main as Jitte is a total pain in the ass . If they get one equipped swing through that can usually spell game.

Here is my current list:

Land: (20)

4 Taiga
4 Wooded Foothills
3 Bloodstained Mire
8 Mountain
1 Forest

Critters: (15)

4 Mogg Fanatic
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Kird Ape
4 Goyf

Titties (25)

4 Bolt
4 Chain
4 Rift Bolt
4 Magma Jet
3 Fireblast
3 PoP
3 Seal

A straight black splash is going to be tested soon with Confidant instead of Goyf and either Sedge Troll or Ydwen Efreet in place of Fireblast as both plow through Thresh's Nimbles.

[Watcher487]

1) Dryad does not belong in this deck at all. Too slow in this format if you ask me and eats a plow or other removal the second it hits the table. I don't want to play a card simply to eat plows or other removal before I drop the Goyf.

3) Magma jet is an auto include. 3rd best burn in the deck behind PoP and Bolt.

Ok, let me intro my theory for how I did over the weekend. Quirion Dryad was always, ALWAYS dropped turn 2 if I had that option. While, yes it's the weakest card off of a top deck, but it tested the waters and let me follow it with pressure like Goyf. I would rather have Dryad eat a plow than have a Goyf eat one, when I'm trying to win. And if my opponent wan't going to do anything about it, all of the cheap, but effective burn I run should make it a bigger threat than Goyf.

If you notice I'm not running any 2cc+ burn spells, this was a very key thing to making Dryad better. While yeah Price and Jet are amazing in thier owe right here, I would rather send more pressure than fix my top decks here.

[Shriekmaw]

OK, I guess I'll just post my list and things I saw....

4 Keldon Marauders

2 Lava Spike
2 Needle Drop

I'm not a fan at all with Keldon Marauders in the deck, I would rather play Grim Lavamancer b/c he is so much better in almost any situation. I know you have to wait a turn to activate him, but he along can win you the game.

As for Needle Drop and Lava Spike, I would try to find better burn spells. Its great that they cost only 1 mana, but maximize damage is the key. I really like Incinerate in the spot of Needle Drop, and as for Lava Spike I would play Tar Fire b/c of the synergy with Goyf and the instant cast speed.

I've never played this deck, but I've played decks very close to this and I do understand the card interactions very well. Tell me what you think?