EDIT: i just discovered that [[Mental Misstep]] is banned and i have to figure out a replacement
Ixalan's Deeproot Champion is sort of a functional reprint of
Quirion Dryad
. This redundancy made me wonder if i could make them work in a deck based on noncreature spell. I opted for a Simic shell with
Delver of Secrets
instead of an Izzet one with Young Pyromancer because i prefered the more aggressive T1 Delver into T2 Dryad. My last creature of choice was
Hooting Mandrills
because it is basically a trampling 4/4 for 2/3 mana most of the time, due to the intense use of instants and sorceries this deck makes. The playset of Mandrills and the potential power
Quirion Dryad
and Deeproot Champion can reach are enough to play three Stubborn Denial. Some other instants and sorceries i want to spend some words on are:
-
Mental Misstep
: it may seems an odd choice, but paying or 2 lifes to counter Death's Shadow, Fatal Push, Path to Exile,
Delver of Secrets
, Lightning Bolt and many other seems not.
-Simic Charm: one of the best charm if you ask me, especially in this build. It can Giant Growth an unblocked attacker or a blocking defender; make all your permanents (even lands) untargetable; bounce a blocker/attacker or the creature your opponent has spent all his/her mana to cast or save one of yours.
-Gut Shot and Mutagenic Growth are here for generic utility but mostly because they are free spells and counters for Dryad. Maybe i can give a chance to Apostle's Blessing and/or Noxious Revival...
-Dismember is one of the few real removals this deck can use, so it's a given
-Thought Scour is prefered over Opt or Sleight of Hand because it can mill ourselves, effectively counting as for
Hooting Mandrills
If budget is not a problem of yours, i am convinced that a Sultai or Temur build would work really well.
Sideboard is a work in progress, but i recommend some generic options like more Dismembers and some graveyard hate.
