[Deck] Elephant Stompy (formerly Elf Stompy)

[Zork]

Well, from a bit of testing last night I have come to the conclusion that Spawnwrithe is an amazing first turn drop, and may be better than Chameleon Colossus. The main thing that stompy decks need are cards that read "Answer me or lose." Faerie stompy has drakes and efreets, DS has Slogger, Dragon, and sometimes Magus. So far I have yet to lose a game where Spawnwrithe connected (especially in an equipment heavy build) or poacher came online. Also, Root Maze is a beating - play it.

[Roman Candle]

Well, from a bit of testing last night I have come to the conclusion that Spawnwrithe is an amazing first turn drop, and may be better than Chameleon Colossus. The main thing that stompy decks need are cards that read "Answer me or lose." Faerie stompy has drakes and efreets, DS has Slogger, Dragon, and sometimes Magus. So far I have yet to lose a game where Spawnwrithe connected (especially in an equipment heavy build) or poacher came online. Also, Root Maze is a beating - play it.

I agree, Spawnwrithe has been incredible in my testing, and between it and Poacher, you have a solid threat base.

[Illissius]

Spawnwrithe does look very strong. Maybe it will provide the reason for the deck's existence.

That said, are we discussing Elf Stompy in this thread, or any green Stompy decks in general?

[Roman Candle]

Spawnwrithe does look very strong. Maybe it will provide the reason for the deck's existence.

That said, are we discussing Elf Stompy in this thread, or any green Stompy decks in general?

Meh... I called it 'Elf Stompy' just cuz all the others were named after creature types... it just randomly worked out to be Elf-based.

So, either/or, I suppose.

[Ray.N]

This is the equipment heavy build I would play, although it is untested:

10 Forest
4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb

4 Elvish Spirit guide
4 Wood Elves
4 Spawnwrithe
4 Silhana Ledgewalker
2 Deranged Hermit/finisher

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Chrome Mox
4 Plow Under
4 Call of the Herd
3 Sword of Fire and Ice
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
2 Garruk Wildspeaker

Are there too many costing cards such as Garruk, Plow Under, and Deranged Hermit?

I think Call of the Herd would be great as it is an automatic 2-for-1 and works well with equipment. Plow Under also seems like it would be good, but it may be too slow. I think Silhana Ledgewalker deserves a thought; he seems good to break stalls on the ground and/or just win the game by himself with some equipment.

I want to fit Root Maze into this list somewhere, but I have no idea what to take out. Any suggestions?

Edit: After a little testing, Spawnwrthe is amazing and just what this deck needs. He's a threat that gets out of control very quickly; playing one turn one for two usually wins you the game.

[Zork]

I'm not sure Plow Under is worth it anymore. I haven't had it swing a match yet, so it may be a win-more card. You could try Root Maze there. Also, with Wood Elves at 4 you can probably cut down to 9 Forests.

Ledgewalker is interesting. I think he might be too weak, but maybe with the equipment focus he will be worth it.

As for builds with Poacher, the following is a list of elf cards that may be worth inclusion either as a bullet or finisher:

Caller of the Claw - Poach in response to removal maybe
*Deranged Hermit - Especially with a SoLS
*Elvish Aberration - Big 4/5 , Good with SoLS, and mana fixer
*Glissa, Sunseeker - Good with equips, artifact removal, not terrible alone
Masked Admirers - Card Advantage with recurribility
Oracle of Nectars - Life gain?
*Viridian Shaman - Artifact destruction on a body, uncounterable when poached
Wirewood Guardian - Big 6/6, mana fixing, good with SoLS
Wren's Run Packmaster - Big 5/5, needs other elf

Most of these are unplayable, but I think that maybe the ones with *'s might have a home in the deck or some version of the deck.

[Illissius]

Here's another look at Elf Stompy, with a much bigger emphasis on tribal and swarms:

4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 Elvish Spirit Guide
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Timberwatch Elf
4 Gilt-Leaf Ambush
4 Sylvan Messenger
4 Hunting Triad
4 Immaculate Magistrate
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Umezawa's Jitte
4 Chrome Mox
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
10 Forest

Intuition says it may be too slow, and City/Tomb/Mox might not be the best fit for a deck which wants to play semi-expensive cards turn after turn to overwhelm the opponent (but Faerie Stompy apparently has no trouble with the Mulldrifter plus SoLS plan, so who knows).

[Valtrix]

Do you guys really find that root maze helps? I personally haven't played with it much, but it just feels like it would slow you down just as much as them. It's also anti-synergy with chalice (since you almost always want that out first), and can pretty much only be removed to mox... Speaking of testing, how do you guys test? I'm trying to find a good way to test decks, but it's hard to play against myself and workstation doesn't always have very good decks/people on it...

I do like the idea of elvish aberration. It plays a big role here since it can manafix (via cycling or while in play), and when you cycle it you can even have a target for SoLS. Poacher seems like a good engine--Your opponent should have quite a bit of trouble dealing with all the creatures that come out of it.

Plow under does seem like win more. Plus, I don't like the 5cc and GG in the cost. At best it just stalls for time, but I think you really want to be putting threats out all the time. Speaking of which, was gigapede dismissed as a threat? I think it could be good in a 2x role in the deck, even if it's not an elf. Nice body, shroud, and recursion all seem good.

Still waiting for the big "hook" in green stompy...Maybe the sum of all the parts will be greater than the whole =P

[iOWN]

Still waiting for the big "hook" in green stompy...Maybe the sum of all the parts will be greater than the whole =P

I think Zork already hit it. Spawnwrithe is fantastic in this deck, and gives a boost to it's inevitability. With Garruk + Efficient Creatures + Equipment + Spawnwrithe, the deck looks like it can pull off a solid early -and- late game. Other colors may be more effective in this kind of shell, but green is looking like it might be able to pull off a Chalice Aggro deck too.


Edit - Find other people on the source who are willing to test with you, and find some time to test with them over MWS.

[Versus]

Wait, wait, wait! Spawnwrithe makes a copy of itself? Not a "token" copy? In otherwords the copy makes copies and so on and so on??

[Zork]

Valtrix:

Root Maze is very much so a better first turn play than Chalice at 1, since it makes them waste a turn dropping mana before they can use it. Also, it allows really nice plays with a mox/ESG. Maze + Chalice at 1 with any castable threat in hand is almost always a win, or against combo playing maze and chalice at 0 is very strong. I have only had it conflict with Chalice at 1 in one game, and I actually only lost because I drew 3 of them and a bunch of land when my opponent had a 5/6 goyf - which was reminiscant of drawing nothing but blood moons and chalices against a thresh opponent with a goyf in play.

I think I'm going to drop Plow Under for the 4th Spawnwrithe, another Elvish Aberration, and then some utility guys. I will try out 1x Loaming Shaman, 1x Viridian Shaman, and 1x Glissa to see if they deserve slots in the deck.

[Valtrix]

Yes, the copies multiply. I think that's half the point =P
EDIT: Nevermind about the boosts. I just need to know more rules.

Hmm, I guess I can see where maze would be useful. You definitely need the time more than they do, and it especially will hurt when they're low on land. I'll just have to put together a list and try it out to gauge it's actual effectiveness. One viridian shaman would be nice, but I'd almost perfer Viridian Zealot for more utilitiy...Even if he does die.

[Versus]

Oh man, that's pretty good then. I don't think you're getting the +2/+2 with it, though. If that were the case we need some Might of Oaks up in here!

I dunno where this will go, but I can say one thing, If a deck like this actually becomes competitive allowing me to rock my favorite creature of all time at a Legacy tournament....



Well, let's just say I'm fuckin' ready!

[moOnsteak]

Question :

When Spawnwrithe (equipped with SoFI for example) deals combat damage to player, what copy will be made? 2/2 with original ability? or 4/4 with original ability plus SoFI additional ability?

[Phantom]

Glad to see some people working on G Stompy. I started working on the deck just over two years ago, and it has really gotten some good tools since. I'm not so sure it's "there" yet, but it's definitely close (much like DemonStompy IMO). Here are some of my thoughts/questions:

- Drop the Beast/Elf nonsense. The Tomb/City/Chalice shell is not the place for elves, and Beasts are simply not competitive.

- Tarmogoyf. Where is he in these lists??? Way too good not to be included. I can't believe I had to bring him up.

- Plow Under is win more, expensive situational crap and should not be considered in a meta this fast. Deranged Hermit should not be run. I really see no reason to run 5cc mana hungry beaters that aren't that much better than our 4cc bombs (Garruk, Chameleon Colossus) and get easily neutered by commonly played cards (Exlosives, Deed).

- I really don't see Root Maze being playable. I mean, take any hand of Tomb (or City), Forest, Maze and Chalice. Now let's say you're on the play against any multitude of blue decks in the meta. You could lead with Chalice and make your Maze useless, or you could lead with Forest -> Maze, let them drop a tapped Land, then play your tapped 2 mana land, let them drop another tapped land, THEN play your Chalice opening up the following plays:
- Double Daze
- Spell Snare
- Brainstorm into Force/2nd Daze
- Ponder into Force/2nd Daze (on their turn)
- Nimble Mongoose (on their turn)
- FoW

Note of all those, only having Force and a blue card in their opening grip would have stopped Chalice.

- Spawnwrithe is the real deal and forms a nice quick strike aggro package with Goyf. As for the other beaters, I think Call of the Herd, Garruk, and Chameleon Colossus are the frontrunners. Call gives you nice card advantage against control. Garruk needs no explanation except to say that its untap ability is even MORE nuts here, and Chameleon Colossus basically comes with it's own equipment, and makes a great valve for extra mana. River Boa intrigues me greatly, but probably doesn't make the first cut.

- One problem I've found with G Stompy is the combo matchup. While the other colors have a card to supplement Chalice, green pretty much has el zilcho. This might force green to run some amount of Trinis main in order to compete.

- I actually think Green Stompy can get away with a small equipment count. I think I'll start testing 3 Jittes and 2 SoFI. Light and Shadow probably has no place here thanks to the dis-synergy with Call and Garruk.

- The Sideboard is an interesting question as there are lots of creature versions of abilities available to us (Stomphowler vs Grip for example). Also, I've never been clear on whether Wheel of Sun and Moonis better or worse than crypt (and if Loaming Shaman is worth consideration).

Here's what I would start testing:

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
4 [EX] City of Traitors
10 [RAV] Forest

// Creatures
3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
4 [AL] Elvish Spirit Guide
4 [SHM] Spawnwrithe
4 [MOR] Chameleon Colossus
2 [FNM] River Boa

// Spells
3 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte
4 [MR] Chrome Mox
2 [DS] Sword of Fire and Ice
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [TSB] Call of the Herd
2 [DS] Trinisphere
2 [TSP] Krosan Grip

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [DS] Trinisphere
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [SHM] Wheel of Sun and Moon
SB: 3 [TSB] Hail Storm
SB: 2 [DK] Tormod's Crypt
SB: 3 [TE] Choke

[insertnamehere]

Call me whatever you want. Goyf is just another creature that depends on something else to make it larger. early game it sits there and waits for something to go into the graveyard. I also feel there are 2 ways to go with this:
Elves using Poacher
Non elves using very few elves mixed with natural order(Dramatic Entrance), Xantid Swarm (maybe) and some fatties like sky swallower/Woodfall Primus etc..

What about trying something using the Persist ability?

[Bruticus]

Wurmcalling is worth testing with Garruk.

[Illissius]

Other random potential inclusions I haven't seen much mentioned:

Hungry Spriggan
Forgotten Ancient
Hunted Wumpus
Blastoderm
Iwamori
Natural Order
Nantuko Vigilante
Hystrodon
Thelonite Hermit
Saproling Burst
Spectral Force
Moldervine Cloak
Overgrowth
Stunted Growth

Good old Blastoderm in particular is tickling me. They can't Swords it or anything, taking it out with EE or Deed is difficult and/or expensive, and asides from creatures played by Aggro Loam, there's almost nothing in the format bigger than it; in other words, it looks like a pain in the ass to deal with for any deck which can't keep chumping it (e.g. not Goblins or Survival). Downsides: , fading, can't carry equipment.

[Roman Candle]

I haven't been able to get online and play in a while, but has anyone considered Harmonize? A Draw-3 would keep us from running low on steam. It might be too slow, though.

[idraleo]

I were around the deck last summer, i was searching for something new to build around the 2 mana Lands, and i scooped out with this. I found that the deck had good MU vs ThreshThreshThreshThreshThreshThreshThreshThresh, Burn, Comboish, Zoo and other random aggro, AngeLstax and DragonStompy, but had a poor mu against Landstill, MUC and Rock control variants. Here' s what i've been playing:

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
1 [CHK] Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
4 [EX] City of Traitors
13 [CS] Snow-Covered Forest

// Creatures
3 [BOK] Iwamori of the Open Fist
4 [ON] Ravenous Baloth
2 [UD] Masticore
3 [TSP] Thelonite Hermit
4 [AL] Elvish Spirit Guide
2 [FUT] Quagnoth
3 [LRW] Garruk Wildspeaker

// Spells
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [DS] Trinisphere
3 [MR] Chrome Mox
3 [UD] Powder Keg
3 [PLC] Harmonize

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [UD] Powder Keg
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [UD] Compost
SB: 3 [SOK] Pithing Needle
SB: 3 [TSB] Hail Storm
SB: 3 [TE] Choke

BTW, we can consider to go more aggroish by adding Jitte, Gathan Riders and some ChameLeon Colossus, or keep more controllish and keep a most interacting decklist like this one.