How would you go about building a UGW or UGB Zoo Deck?

[Captain Hammer]

I was just curious if you guys think a GWU Zoo deck is possible at all. You get Unstable Mutation (a real bomb) from blue if you want, as well as StP and Brainstorm. Pongify could be fairly decent, not to mention figure of destiny and such.

I only ask because I'm getting sick of playing thresh (i've played it for too long) and would love to retain the manabase but make it into a pure aggro deck.

I would think something like this...

4 Phyrexian Dreadnought
4 Nimble Mongoose
4 Werebear
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Unstable Mutation
4 Brainstorm
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Standstill/Force of Will
4 Stifle
2 Vision Charm
2 Mystic Enforcer
3 Mishra's Factory
3 Wasteland
14 Land

But I would prefer to accomplish this without using either Phyrexian Dreadnought or Sea Drake but I don't mind using either card. Any suggestions. The deck can be UGB too if you prefer a build with Tombstalker in it.

[rufus]

The new Exalted ability - and Noble Hierarch in particular look like potentially excellent fits. You can couple that with some kind of rush approach...

Another way to go is aggro/control with critters like Cursecatcher, Gaddock Teeg, Meddling Mage, Ethersworn Cannonist, True Believer, Grimoire Thief, Glowrider, and so on.

[DeathwingZERO]

Is Rancor not a viable option in your opinion? It seems every creature there short of Dreadnought could use a significant boost of +2 power and trample, especially Goyf and Werebear's in ground stalls, since aggro control decks are pretty much packing your threats as well.

Also, I'm not so sure about using any of the Threshold creatures (keyword ability, not deck) in an aggro shell that's not using burn heavily, as it seems you'd lack on getting to the 7 cards in the yard fast enough, short of killing off creatures.

I actually love the idea of packing Spectral Lynx (runs straight by Thresh creatures and can block Goyfs all day) especially using Unstable Mutations for a punch. Only problem is it's regeneration ability is B. Possibly have some multicolor lands (CoB, Paradise?) in there in place of a couple duals, or maybe BoP?

[Bigface]

First try of GWu Zoo.

// Lands
1 [MI] Forest (1)
4 [R] Tundra
1 [MI] Island (1)
4 [B] Tropical Island
1 [MI] Plains (1)
3 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [U] Savannah
3 [ON] Flooded Strand

// Creatures
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
3 [GP] Silhana Ledgewalker
3 [ALA] Rhox War Monk
4 [CON] Noble Hierarch
4 [EX] Skyshroud Elite
4 [ALA] Akrasan Squire

// Spells
4 [5E] Unstable Mutation
4 [UL] Rancor
4 [R] Swords to Plowshares
3 [IN] Armadillo Cloak
3 [U] Psionic Blast

Trust me when I say Silhana Ledgewalker is far more powerful than it seems. Avoids burn spells, StP, Smother and similar things; usually makes it through enemy's defences; hits for a lot when enchanted. Not bad, for a CC2 creature.
Hierarch and Akrasan Squire are both Exalted-enablers; one of them produces mana, the other one swings as well as Isamaru if left by himself attacking, and it's IMHO better than Isamaru (Legendary matters), Savannah Lions (2/1), Jungle Lions (it blocks); another card I considered was Nettle Sentinel, but... meh. Needs testing.
Psionic Blast as secondary removal and burn spell could be cool. I mean, shooting down a Tarmogoyf with a blue burn spell is cool indeed. Provides addictional damage too (swing with Elite/Squire, let TS block, boom).
Armadillo Cloak... main reason: Ledgewalker. Or Goyf as well. Trample, +2/+2, lifelink, avoids Counterbalance... seems reasonable to me.
Rhox War Monk is a "filler", since I couldn't manage to think about other "aggressive" creatures. Fetches + Hierarch = no mana screw (I suppose so at least), so it shouldn't be that hard to cast. Note: turn2 3/4 lifelink vigilance with Exalted support seems nice.

About the first list: too much UGw ThreshTreshTreshThresh-based. It seemed like a bad version of it. Pure Zoo plays only a few "control-ish" cards (see Thoughtseize, Vindicate, sometimes StP in RGwb lists); Standstill/FoW and aggro doesn't look that attractive. If you want to play aggro-control, then play Thresh. Zoo relies quite interely on his speed, since it hasn't many answers to mid-game and late-game threats.
By slowing it (Mystic Enforcer), playing cards quite useless by themselves without tutors (Dreadnought) and choosing creatures which can't swing immediately for 2/3/4 damage (Werebear, Mongoose) you change the deck's nature. That's why you should go for a lower curve. And no FoW nor Standstill.

:3

[Captain Hammer]

Great advise guys. I really like Noble Hierarch too. Exalted plus acceleration go so well together, and helps win Goyf mirror matches.

Rafiq of the Many, Gadook Teeg and Trygon Predator seem like really strong inclusions.

And yep, Mongoose and Werebear should get the boot.

I don't think I would run any guys just because they have exalted though, only if they have other useful abilities.

Also, why do people like War Monk soo much. Its a 3 color 3/4 lifelink. No evasion, not that much power, nothing spectacular. No where near as good as Doran or Rafiq of the Many.

The creature base that I'm convinced on so far is...

4 Noble Hierach
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Gadook Teeg
3 Trygon Predator
3 Rafiq of the Many

Ideally, I can find 24 total kickass creatures.

[Loxodon Baileyarch]

Also, why do people like War Monk soo much. Its a 3 color 3/4 lifelink. No evasion, not that much power, nothing spectacular. No where near as good as Doran.

Lifelink is vital in beating burn, at least with the War Monk and Threshold anyway haha.

[Mordenkaynen]

You know, aside of Goyf, other creatures seem not that big (Rafiq is not fast enough IMO), so you can be overwhelmed by pure aggro. What about playing such creatures + Rancor, Mutation + victory teh of Natural Order? (it also can fetch you Teeg if he's needed)