[Deck] Zoo

[DCTopTeam]

basically. The reasons Merfolk is considering Coralhelm Commander are

a) It has tribal synergy
b) It's just on their curve, with the other 2-drops being a lordbear and a cantripping piker
c) They have zero late-game plans, and that gives them a mana sink.
d) an evasive creature after 2UU, assuming no Vial fun

Of these, Zoo gets
a) No tribal help from Dragonman, ever
b) A beater that costs 2 of one mana (albeit what should generally be your primary color) for a 2/2 with nothing special that doesn't go much further than that unless you sink 1.25 turns of mana into him, assuming a land drop every time. Consider the deck's other 2-drops
c) Something to dump mana that could be equipping a Jitte
d) an evasive creature after RRRRRR

Im not a fan of Coral (for now). I have a Merfolk deck and I playtest it extensively with Zoo and the matchup is very much Zoo's favor as we all know it. Now, even if they get that Coral to a 4/4 flier chances are they are within Lavamancer + a burn spell's reach. So its kinda like too late for them. Plus, not everyone on the Merfolk forum is in favor of this guy.

[Master Shake]

I don't know if anyone is aware of this, but this deck needs a new first page. That list s out of date - it predates Conflux. Can you imagine anyone playing zoo before Conflux let alone prior to Alara Reborn? The data on page one is not helpful to anyone.

[DCTopTeam]

I don't know if anyone is aware of this, but this deck needs a new first page. That list s out of date - it predates Conflux. Can you imagine anyone playing zoo before Conflux let alone prior to Alara Reborn? The data on page one is not helpful to anyone.

Let Hatfield do it

[Malakai]

It seems silly to expect the first post of a 123 page thread to be up-to-date.

[LegacyDan]

Then have someone write an updated Primer?

I do seriously think Zoo seems to only get more powerful with time, if only in small ways (Loam Lion > Kird Ape). If a new player comes across this primer and netdecks to OP he/she will be going to a tourney with a decent deck, but not a fully opimized one.

[sauce]

How is Loam Lion > Kird Ape?

Only thing thats better is immunity to Red Elemental Blast and Pyroblast.
The fact you have to have a white mana turn one to cast it means you are going to get a Plateau over a Taiga, which seems worse.

[nodahero]

One of the common reasons is because then bad will deathmark the wrong target.

[sauce]

I never seen anyone cast Deathmark in Legacy.
edit: and how can they deathmark... Kird ape?

[InfiniteJest]

Has anyone tested a boom-bust style of zoo like in extended? Too slow? Too metagamed?

Here is the list:

http://www.deckcheck.net/deck.php?id=32726

[Resist_Temptation]

You do realize that is extended? And to answer your question, I think that in extended boom//bust works fine as there are no other land destruction spells that really work well. But in legacy when the format has many land destruction spells, it is just not worth it to run land destruction. If the deck called for land destruction wouldn't it make more sense to just cut the four cards that would be boom//bust and play wasteland? it just wouldn't fit the tempo of this deck. In playing with this deck only a short time I have noticed that the best games are the games that your mana supply is being used to its fullest every turn.

I know it's logical...but I play strictly blue. I always have mana open...and it seems to win me games..

[alderon666]

You do realize that is extended? And to answer your question, I think that in extended boom//bust works fine as there are no other land destruction spells that really work well. But in legacy when the format has many land destruction spells, it is just not worth it to run land destruction. If the deck called for land destruction wouldn't it make more sense to just cut the four cards that would be boom//bust and play wasteland? it just wouldn't fit the tempo of this deck. In playing with this deck only a short time I have noticed that the best games are the games that your mana supply is being used to its fullest every turn.

I know it's logical...but I play strictly blue. I always have mana open...and it seems to win me games..

Boom/Bust is only played in Extended because of Bloodbraid Elf, you can flip it of the elf and play Bust. If you have played a 1,2,3 and now a 4 drop, you're probably ahead.

[kinda]

Anyone try something like this? I've only tested it a couple of times but it's been working very well, with removal being sparse in legacy and all. Glimpse generally draws 2 or 3 sometimes more which I think is pretty good...at the very least it cantrips.

4 glimpse of nature
4 retribution of the meek
1 Sylvan Library

4 wild nacatl
4 steppe lynx
4 tarmogoyf
4 goblin guide
3 grim lavamancer
4 gaddock teeg
4 qasali pridemage
3 keldon marauders (not sold on them...maybe kird ape)

4 arid mesa
1 forest
1 plains
1 mountain
1 horizon Canopy
2 plateau
2 savannah
2 taiga
3 wooded foothills
4 windswept heath

[Valtrix]

I feel as if that's a poor way to approach zoo, with glimpse and almost all creatures. For starters, playing elf-combo with glimpse is likely to be much better. Here, we can't use it much because we don't have a way to generate absurd amounts of mana, and we want to be more aggressive rather than trying to string creatures together.

Next, I would say that not playing removal is also a mistake. Bolt, other burn, and path are 2 cards that make this deck tick. Burn lets you increase your clock, and let you pull out of situations where your creatures just can't get there. Path is efficient removal that lets your guys get through and deals with problem goyfs.

Retribution of the meek is really going to do next to nothing for you, since there's no creatures besides reanimator or maybe aggro loam with power 4 or greater that actually matter in Legacy. It's going to be completely dead against other zoo, tribal, thresh, and virtually everything else. Not to mention it costs three.

Last, I think the creature choice is not very optimal, since teegs and mauraders don't really fit the deck well in my opinion. Maurader especially seems like a sligh card and teeg just doesn't help in the main much.

I wish I could elaborate more, but that's what I can say at a quick glance at work.

[InfiniteJest]

Im planning on playing Zoo this weekend.

Deck along the lines of:

Creatures
3 Grim Lavamancer
4 Qasali Pridemage
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wild Nacatl
2 knight of the reliquary
0-2 teeg

Enchantments
2 Sylvan Library

Instants
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Path To Exile
0-2 lighnint helix or fireblast
0-1 jitte

Sorceries
3 Chain Lightning

Basic Lands
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains

Lands
3 Arid Mesa
2 Horizon Canopy
3 Plateau (or maybe 2 and an extra fetch)
1 Savannah
2 Taiga
2 Treetop Village
3 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills

Can anyone suggest a sideboard? Specifically with something to help in the reanimator matchup?

I was thinking somethin like
2-3 grips
1-2jittes (if 1 main, 1 here)
3 tormods crypts
2 macabre
2 pyroblast
2 wingshards
1 extra teeg

Maybe mindbreak trap if i expect a lot of ANT? Maybe I want more for the mirror?

Ive never piloted zoo so if someone could link me (or suggest) a good sideboarding strategy, thatd be great!

Thanks!

[Loxodon Baileyarch]

@InfiniteJest: Half the thread is discussing sideboard options. Just expect a bunch of Reanimator, ANT, NO Bant, Merfolk, Lands, and Dredge. Maybe some New Horizons variants as well.

I might be playing my baby this weekend as well, but I'm not quite sure. I've played against Reanimator a few times and it's just like, hey i can win, oh wait nevermind they have some broken creature with FOW/Daze backup. And i love Ravenous Trap as SB hate but it just doesn't get there against Reanimator. I am truly scared of the deck, because like other combo decks, we have some trouble.

[InfiniteJest]

Ill look through it again :) I think reanimator will be everywhere. Id much rather play an eva-depths hybrid except I already told a friend he could use my wastelands for UW tempo :( May have it sleeved up and try to borrow a set. I see GA as ur location. I live in Georgia too, moving back to ATL in a month. Are you playing Saturday standard too? If so maybe you could give me a quick sideboarding guide in person :)

-JP

[Loxodon Baileyarch]

Ill look through it again :) I think reanimator will be everywhere. Id much rather play an eva-depths hybrid except I already told a friend he could use my wastelands for UW tempo :( May have it sleeved up and try to borrow a set. I see GA as ur location. I live in Georgia too, moving back to ATL in a month. Are you playing Saturday standard too? If so maybe you could give me a quick sideboarding guide in person :)

-JP

Yeah i live in the north of Metro Atlanta, it's considered Atlanta but it hardly looks or feels like it. I don't play Standard because it's all Jund or else I'd be more than happy to help. I'll be there Sunday though for sure prolly rocking my all foil Zoo deck. I'd be more than happy to playtest a little beforehand if i can get the time in. I doubt it but i can help out for whatever. I would tell you i was the skinny guy with afro, but i cut the hair because i gotta be a functioning member of society for the medical field i'm studying. Idk if this helps, but I'm the asshole with the yellow polo shirt! Goodluck and i hope to see ya there!

Also, anyone else going to the ATL 5k should meet up with me, whienot, Pulp Fiction, and Thor!

[Valtrix]

Perhaps you should consider leyline of the void for the board. Granted, we can't hard cast it, but any graveyard hate would be needed in your opening hand to be effective anyway, so that drawback isn't really a drawback in my opinion. Reanimator especially would have trouble dealing with it, since they don't really have enchantment hate and counterspells don't work on it. Also, it's pretty amazing against a lot of other things as well, though other decks I feel are a little more equipped to deal with it. If you can just use it to buy a little time, well, then you can probably steal the game because of the speed of Zoo.

[Darkinsanity]

You have an all foil Zoo deck? I'm so jealous. I'm just getting started on it, but I have one foil Goyf so far, and some others. But did you really buy all those Goyf's?

Edit: That post was to Loxodon obviously.

[DCTopTeam]

Goblins is becoming a very hard MU for me. My brother and I playtested yesterday (his BR Gobs ran 3 Lightning Bolts, 2 Weirdings and 1 Terminate) and we were like 3-1 in his favor. His SB packs 3 Perish BTW. Will further test...