[Deck] Zoo

[spree4567]

I'm relatively new to the Legacy scene. I had been playing Classic on MTGO but have moved over to Legacy now because I like the more varied assortment of decks. I've been having quite a bit of success playing against other decks in the tournament room, however earlier today was the first time I can remember where I was facing another deck and really had no idea how I could win barring my opponent getting awful hands. It was a typical Solitaire/Enchantress deck but it was my first time facing such a deck. He got an early Argothian Enchantress down both games, quickly drew a lot of cards and then had me stuck. What's the best way to deal with these decks?

My list:

Lands - 21
2 Plateau
1 Savannah
3 Taiga
1 Mountain
1 Forest
1 Plains
4 Arid Mesa
3 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
1 Horizon Canopy

Creatures - 21
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Kird Ape
2 Knight of the Reliquary

Spells - 18
4 Chain Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
4 Path to Exile
2 Sylvan Library
1 Umezawa's Jitte

Sideboard
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Price of Progress
1 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Krosan Grip
2 Ravenous Trap
3 Gaddock Teeg
2 Pyroblast

I put in the Teeg's and the Grip's but they didn't seem to be enough. Are there better sideboard options to stop them from going off? I'm very open to sideboard suggestions. I was thinking of maybe trying Rule of Law out to stop them from playing so many spells and drawing so many cards. Thanks

[sauce]

Enchantress is a bad matchup, try playing Ethersworn canonist instead of Pyroblasts, blue matchups are usually good already and Canonist helps vs Enchantress since they cannot go nuts until they Oring it.

[Svenyboy]

Hello,
is here anyone who knows the card Student of Warfare? How does it work? If you cast it Turn 1 and pump it with W Turn 2 is it Level 1 or 2 then?

[lordofthepit]

Do you guys think this has potential?

Kiln Fiend - {1}{R}
Creature -- Elemental Beast
1/2
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Kiln Fiend gets +3/+0 until end of turn.

I think it can offer a lot of the explosive potential that Steppe Lynx does, although it comes out a bit slower; and obviously, it's a weak topdeck, but slightly better than the Lynx. It might require upping the burn count to a more Goyf Sligh type shell to make full use of its potential. Also wondering whether there are any solid burn spells with Rebound in the upcoming set.

[lordofthepit]

Hello,
is here anyone who knows the card Student of Warfare? How does it work? If you cast it Turn 1 and pump it with W Turn 2 is it Level 1 or 2 then?

It starts at Level 0, so in your case, it's still a 1/1 at Level 1.

Not a bad card by any means, but definitely doesn't make the cut in Legacy Zoo.

[tsabo_tavoc]

Do you guys think this has potential?

Kiln Fiend - {1}{R}
Creature -- Elemental Beast
1/2
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Kiln Fiend gets +3/+0 until end of turn.

I think it can offer a lot of the explosive potential that Steppe Lynx does, although it comes out a bit slower; and obviously, it's a weak topdeck, but slightly better than the Lynx. It might require upping the burn count to a more Goyf Sligh type shell to make full use of its potential. Also wondering whether there are any solid burn spells with Rebound in the upcoming set.

At {R} 0/1, it is comparable with Lynx and superior.

At {1}{R} 1/2, it will not see play in Legacy Zoo (worse than Lynx/Ape) and Legacy Sligh (worse than Goblin Guide).

That said, the mana cost difference is huge because Tarmogoyf costs only 2.

[Rizso]

Tarmogoyf is howover pretty slow for Sligh decks.

[lordofthepit]

At {R} 0/1, it is comparable with Lynx and superior.

At {1}{R} 1/2, it will not see play in Legacy Zoo (worse than Lynx/Ape) and Legacy Sligh (worse than Goblin Guide).

That said, the mana cost difference is huge because Tarmogoyf costs only 2.

Unfortunately, we can only run 4 Goyfs (and 4 Nacatls and 4 Pridemages), which is something I've had problems with for a while now. I wouldn't be surprised if the card is worse than Lynx or Ape, but I'm not ready to entirely dismiss the possibility either.

One subtle difference between this and Lynx is that the deck typically wants to play its lands first, then its creatures, and then its instants/sorceries. That means that there is some inherent tension between grabbing the lands you need to cast your spells and saving them to pump the Lynx; that doesn't exist, or at least not to the same extent, with this card and your instants/sorceries (although this would detract from your ability to play burn during your opponent's turn).

I really hope they print some better cheap creatures in the coming sets; I'm not all that excited with the power creep in the Timmy-style fatties in this new set.

[hungryLIKEALION]

To beat enchantress play EE in your sideboard (which you should be doing anyway) and blow up their enchantresses with it. They never see it coming and it slows them down significantly, allowing you to steal games.

[Obfuscate Freely]

What's the best way to deal with these decks?

The best sideboard card against Enchantress is a little-known uncommon from Urza's Legacy, Harmonic Convergence. It wipes the board without triggering Karmic Justice, and can't be undone by Replenish. Unfortunately, it's about as narrow as you can get.

Other options which may have uses elsewhere include Tranquil Domain, Aura Shards, Devout Witness, Tempest of Light, and other cards in this vein. These are all powerful ways to control enchantments (and, in some cases, artifacts), and may be able to pull their weight against other decks (like CounterTop or Stax). However, none of them are as effective against Enchantress as Harmonic Convergence.

[sauce]

yeah obviously you can play crappy cards but the best are canonist and probably EE as they are the least narrow of SB cards.
canonist also good vs storm obv, just like teeg.

[nodahero]

@Obfuscate freely:

I defiantly disagree on the quality of that card. If you put them all back on top that mean the enchatress player is merely going to chain enchantment into enchatment off of one of the Enchantress critters. It may be better if you get to stack the order the enchantments go on top but I don't remember who stacks them. I THINK the controller of HC picks the order but I am not positive.

[troopatroop]

@Obfuscate freely:

I defiantly disagree on the quality of that card. If you put them all back on top that mean the enchatress player is merely going to chain enchantment into enchatment off of one of the Enchantress critters. It may be better if you get to stack the order the enchantments go on top but I don't remember who stacks them. I THINK the controller of HC picks the order but I am not positive.

I'm pretty sure it's because of Replenish from the Enchantress deck. It's better to not have them in the GY.

They are still very behind after you cast it, enough for this deck to win.

[Forbiddian]

@Obfuscate freely:

I defiantly disagree on the quality of that card. If you put them all back on top that mean the enchatress player is merely going to chain enchantment into enchatment off of one of the Enchantress critters. It may be better if you get to stack the order the enchantments go on top but I don't remember who stacks them. I THINK the controller of HC picks the order but I am not positive.

The controller of the permanents controls the order that the cards are placed on top of his library.

[Obfuscate Freely]

I defiantly disagree on the quality of that card. If you put them all back on top that mean the enchatress player is merely going to chain enchantment into enchatment off of one of the Enchantress critters.

Sure, they get to stack the enchantments on top of their deck, but that is better than letting them simply tap , and Replenish them all back at once.

More importantly, since Convergence doesn't trigger Karmic Justice, you should almost always win the game the turn you cast it.

[Al-ucard]

Hi guys.

I'll play a big tournamet next saturday with elves with 6 forestwalk lords since there are a lot of survival decks. Then I expect some zoo decks too and since its a difficult match up I have a question:

What card is the most annoying for the zoo player against an elves deck, dense foliage, or kitchen finks?

Thanks in advance

[Carabas]

I think Dense Foliage would be harder to deal with, but I can't imagine why an elf deck would be playing that over Steely Resolve

[Al-ucard]

Yes, I didn't remember steely resolve, it's much better than Dense Foliage. Thanks

[Pastorofmuppets]

Somebody said EE in the sideboard before. I'm not very experienced with Zoo, but I'm pretty sure that at every CMC you can set it to will screw your board a little bit, too. Plus that's 1-3 mana that could've been spent, on average, on a Tarmogoyf.

[FoulQ]

Somebody said EE in the sideboard before. I'm not very experienced with Zoo, but I'm pretty sure that at every CMC you can set it to will screw your board a little bit, too. Plus that's 1-3 mana that could've been spent, on average, on a Tarmogoyf.

It's good if you like to play the control role in the mirror. Which is usually the case if you feel you are better than the opposing zoo player.

And EE always hits random shit you'd never expect.