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Forbidden Forest - Budget

Legacy

mike209147


Defender deck that uses a couple strategies to achieve victory. The first strategy is made possible with an insane mana ramp from the two mana gain creatures, and the highest costing creatures that become cheap, due to the mana pools. The second strategy is something that Nicholas Cage sweats about in his dreams, involving hoards of BEES that aren't what you'd expect. Both of these strategies will make heavy usage of one particular card mentioned several times below: Assault Formation.

Overgrown Battlement grants mana equal to your defenders, which is all the creatures you'll control, save the BEES that spawn from Hornet Nest. This means that by round 4 or so (with luck), you'll likely end up having anywhere from ~8-14 mana at your disposal. Additionally, Axebane Guardian will assist in backing up the mana gain, but costs a bit more (used when spending X = 3 for Uncage the Menagerie. This could even further grant you large amounts of mana.

Using this mana, you'll either pump through cards with Harmonize, destroy your opponents lands with Kudzu (destroying your own land is less painful when your mana ramp is triple the values of your basic lands), or simply play the higher cost cards in this deck, such as Colossus of Akros, or Archetype of Endurance. If you're in a spot to blow 6 mana, you could always grow more trees with Journey of Discovery. Lastly, if and when you have 14+ mana, Assault Formation shows it's true colors.

Assault Formation turns toughness into power, enables your defenders to selectively attack, and makes your trees grow big and strong by spending 3 mana (as many times as needed to repel unwelcome visitors). This last ability does a couple beautiful things, mainly in granting huge amounts of toughness (due to high mana bank), and then granting power. The boost in toughness could also be used against board-wide burn spells, saving your weaker creatures from being melted. In addition, it adds the same bonus to the BEES that swarm your opponents. A simple 1/1 token creature is granted +5 toughness, and all a sudden, you've got 2-20 Flying Deathtouch creatures at 1/6, which equals 6/6 (due to Assault Formation).

Hornet Nest might be the strongest card in this deck, due to the BEE spawning that occurs during well placed traps. What could be better than defending against a salty 5/6 creature with trample, and using Tower Defense, not only surviving the attack, but spawning 5 horrific BEES? These BEES would either attack each turn they're able (if their creatures aren't present, or if they're tapped), or they'll replace your trees as your primary defense against opposing creatures (not tapping them).

Hornet Nest may be good, but if you land Tree of Redemption, you could easily have a 13/13 creature (Assault Formation), and possibly more if you're feeling lucky and want to trade your life with it's 13 toughness. Probably not the best move to make, but a 20/20 that only costs 4 mana and 1 turn is priceless. The life trade more practically can be used to save you when you're very low on life. When used this way, the swap may make your Tree of Redemption all but useless. However, Assault Formation can make even the smallest creatures large, so this strategy never truly ruins anything, and allows you to live to fight another day.

The only other card that comes close to these in value for cheap offense is Carven Caryatid, boasting a reliable 2/5 with card draw, for only 3 CMC. The big advantage for this card, versus others that are close, is the 2 inherent power, posing an issue for some frail creatures. This would be very apparent if you're having a rough time in drawing Assault Formation.

This deck will also make use of board-wide bonuses, such as Vigilance and +2/+2 for all from Sight of the Scalelords and from Quest for Renewal, Trample from Primal Rage, as well as Hexproof from the elusive Archetype of Endurance. This build doesnt directly rely on these enchantments, but they'll give an edge in various ways. It's worth pointing out that the Quest for Renewal, works on your opponents turn(s), and will enable you to use your mana ramp cards very effectively.

The last mentions on this build would be the situational advantages through Uncage the Menagerie, which is used primarily for two purposes. This card is a bit tricky, and because of that, I limit it's cost to 4 or 5 CMC. This makes X = 2/3, which allows you to search your library for up to 2/3 creatures (that are different), that also cost 2/3. There are 2 choices to choose from at 2, Overgrown Battlement simply for the cheaper mana ramp, or if you haven't drawn enough mana ramp cards. The second best choice may be Wall of Blossoms, due to the card draw. If 3 is chosen at 5 CMC, you'll have the highest gain, granting Hornet Nest, possibly the best defender, as well as Carven Caryatid for defense/card draw, with the final option being Axebane Guardian for the optional mana ramp.

In an effort to offer enough anti-flying, Spidersilk Armor rises up to fill this need. In addition to granting all your creatures Reach, it also grants 1 toughness. Who doesn't want a little extra power on top of all that goodness? Of course, Tower Defense offers a good amount of support, but I'd recommend surprise attacks while on defense. Lastly, probably the scariest thing you could add to Hornet Nest, a thick Mantle of Webs. This grants Reach to this amazing creature, and makes it a 1/5 (enables additional +2/+2 Vigilance from Sight of the Scalelords) making it possible to spawn 5-10 BEES, and even more! This would also be amazing for Tree of Redemption, and...

Finally, the big baddie that nobody will love you for, Colossus of Akros. While this card seems very difficult to cast, given the right setup of mana, this man will come on out and crush your opponents as soon as turn 4-6. Obviously, the chances aren't great that he shows up, but if you stumble upon him at any point, you'll be smiling. If this man comes out at say... turn 6-8 or so, you'll hopefully have enough mana support to enrage him for his first attack. This makes him a 20/20 Indestructible creature with Trample, and possibly more! Very intimidating indeed, and this man does not need Assault Formation's permission to destroy, hopefully providing value to those unfortunate few who are stuck without a means to offense. In that unfortunate event, that's where the final strategy of this build comes into play.

Due to the overall low card cost, high mana gain with card/library search advantages, you'll likely have a large force of cheaper creatures, hopefully defeating weakling creatures early game, and still reaching mid-late game creatures in defense viability. If executed properly, without heavy debilitation from opponent, you'll have an army of very formidable Defenders, with the chance at several methods of madness. Even with a slow hand, you'll likely be able to survive long enough to see the true colors of this build, and make each person regret challenging you!

Hope you like it! The sweetest part of all this, is the low cost, barely reaching 25 dollars! You spend 2-4 dollars a day on coffee? Or Red bull? Chips and soda?? In a week, you'd have the strength of the Forbidden Forest at your command!

Please, if you've got suggestions for me, or wish to leave feedback, let me know! Keep in mind, that price is a very determining factor for my build, and wish to keep the build ~20-25 dollars. I know there are better cards out there, but many I'd imagine are expensive. Keep that in mind, but feel free to comment whatever!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to upvote if you like it!

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Date added 6 years
Last updated 6 years
Legality

This deck is Legacy legal.

Rarity (main - side)

4 - 0 Mythic Rares

4 - 0 Rares

25 - 0 Uncommons

7 - 0 Commons

Cards 60
Avg. CMC 2.95
Tokens Insect 1/1 G w/ Flying, Deathtouch
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