This is a fun, casual deck based around the Morph and Manifest abilities. I'm on a bit of a budget - nothing extreme, but try to keep recomendations under ten dollars. Some cards in here are there for budget purposes (like two Path to Exile and two Bant Charm over a full playset of the Paths).
Helpful comments, suggestions, and +1s welcome!
Here's a card by card breakdown:
-
Birds of Paradise
,
Avacyn's Pilgrim
: One drop mana generators. This deck is highly mana intensive so these two help solve the associated issues and also provide some tempo advantage. Ideally, the Avacyn's Pilgrims would be Noble Hierchs, but I'm not going to spend $60 on a utility card - or any card!
Rattleclaw Mystic
: While this card does cost two mana and adds red instead of white, I've included a full playset for a number of reasons. If fits very well into my morph theme, and can be turned up for extra advantages if I morph it or if it's manifested by
Whisperwood Elemental
. The fact that this has two power is also important: I often win by attacking with a horde of creatures with varying power levels and types of evasion. This card acts as mana ramp/fixing early on, but can deal some heavy damage once mana is no longer needed when used as part of a larger attack.
Restoration Angel
: This card has SO much synergy with the rest of the deck. It can re-trigger etb effects, like those on
Kitchen Finks
and
Vesuvan Shapeshifter
, and it can flash-block opponents creatures. It can also psudo-untap any of my creatures. It's main reason for inclusion, however, is to efficiently and cheaply un-morph/un-manifest permenants that I want face up - even noncreature ones like
Detention Sphere
and
Journey to Nowhere
.
Whisperwood Elemental
: This is the inspiration for the deck. Seeing this spoiled immediately excited me so I designed this deck so I could use it. Whisperwood Elemental gives incredible card advantage and is the reason I have a large number of creatures in this deck.
Sagu Mauler
: This is a huge, powerful curve-topper that can smash through most opponent's defenses with ease. It can't be taken out by removal, and fits perfectly with the theme. When morphed, it comboes with
Restoration Angel
especially well.
Vesuvan Shapeshifter
: The singleton Vesuvan Shapeshifter is included due to its incredible flexability and it's strong fit with the theme. I tend not to like to copy oppoenent's creatures, but it can save me some games: if my oppoenent just cheated out
Blightsteel Colossus
, I can have one too! Like many shapeshifters, this is only as good as what is already on the board, so I've kept the number at one.
Kitchen Finks
: Originally, I had more morphs in this slot, but I found that casting too many Grey Ogres left me weak early on. I therefore too them out and replaced them with this lifegaining, control resistant powehouse. It does its job well, and having a bit of healing at any point in the game is welcome. With a full three power, it is great as part of a swinging swarm of creatures.
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
: I also took out morphs for this creature. Like
Kitchen Finks
, Anafenza comes out early and starts to become problamatic for the opponent as early as turn three. In fact, she combos especially well with the aforementioned Kitchen Finks. In a deck with 28 creatures plus manifests, Anafenza's ability is triggered early and often.
Baneslayer Angel
,
Dragonlord Ojutai
: These awesome flying creatures can be a serious evasive beaters. Baneslayer Angel laughs at the dragons that are all to common in my casual group but more importantly helps me recover some life. Ojutai draws me cards - and gives me a choice in the matter! They don't fit into the theme as well as some other cards, but I find them a welcome addition to the deck. Besides, who wouldn't want to play with angels and dragons?
Bant Charm
,
Path to Exile
,
Detention Sphere
,
Stasis Snare
: I've found that seven removal spells is good in casual - enough to deal with threats, but not so much that my deck acts like a boring control deck. Each removal spell has its own advantages and drawbacks. I don't have a full playset of Paths to cut down on the price.
If making a suggestion, please indicate what you think should come out of the deck for it. Thanks!
