New Bogles (Top Four)!

Modern Player3.14

SCORE: 26 | 75 COMMENTS | 6899 VIEWS | IN 14 FOLDERS


Wins at first tournament! —Jan. 17, 2015

I went to my highly competative local FNM tournament and got great results! I won 6 games to 3 losses, and won 3 of my four matches!

Match 1, Merfolk tribal: 0-2. I started the night off badly with this match. In the first game, I drew a Birds of Paradise and a Kor Spiritdancer, but no hexproof creatures. This was a severe liability, beceause even though I kept my had full with the spiritdancer's draw ability, vapor snag kept my tempo at bay until my opponent got through enough damage. Game 2 was a lot closer; however, in this game I got too many hexproof creatures and too few auras. The game dragged on for 10+ turns, ending with me eventually loosing because I misread Cursecatcher.

Match 2, Mono-Red goblin aggro: 2-0. I had no trouble dealling with this goblin-based RDW deck. Like my deck, it was slower but more consistant and more powerful than traditional RDW. Mine was faster and more powerful than his, and the lifgain auras I drew both games sealed the deal.

Match 3, Mono-green devotion: 2-0. Also an easy match. To be fair, my opponent's deck wasn't completely competative (it was missing some stuff it should include, like Thrun, the Last Troll.) The first game, I was too fast, and the second game, I was slower after drawing too many creatures. However, once I drew one Unflinching Courage, two Kor Spiritdancers kept my hand full, leading me to a victory.

Match 4, Simic infect aggro: 2-1. These games were very interesting and very back - and - forth. The first game, I held off my opponent with a 6/6, vigilance, pro-creatures, first strike, hexproof, lifelink gladecover scout. Although he eventually punched through for 8 poison counters, I squeezed out my damage first. On Game 2, my opponent drew a perfect hand, and finished me off on turn three. I started game 3 with no creatures but good enchantments and a Path to Exile; I cut his tempo with path to exile, drew a Geist of Saint Traft, and won by putting Angelic Destiny on him, finishing my opponent the turn before I would have lost.

There were no finals becasue of the midnight prerelease; overall, I got 10th of 31 players attending. Not bad for a first try!

I wasn't too impressed with my Birds of Paradises. I drew them three times; only once did they help with the tempo and ramp. I'm cautious about taking them out. I also frequently sideboarded in my Invisible Stalker and Gladecover Scout. The two Detention Spheres sideboarded were much less useful than I origionally imagined. I may want to swap them back our for some thing else.

Thanks to all who have helped so far!

As always, positive comments, suggestions, or especially +1s are appreciated!

Dr_Jay says... #1

Okay, you can do some work on this

First, cut 1 Geist of Saint Traft. It is a legendary creature, and it is not worth having this many.

Second, cut Hero of Iroas. It is not worth it. You don't have many expensive auras in here, so It isn't worth it.

Importantly, add in 3 more Slippery Bogle. It is one of the most effective creatures you can have here, and you need 4.

Lastly, take out 2 Birds of Paradise. This deck have an average cmc of under 2, so it isn't really needed.

In terms of enchantments, you need to recount some things and take some things out.

Add in 3 more Rancors, 1 more Spirit Mantle, 1 more Hyena Umbra, and take out 4 Angelic Destiny.

I personally would like you to take out Gift of Orzhova, and 1 or 2 Unflinching Courage.

Depending on how many Courages you take out, add in 3-4 Spider Umbra.

If you need any more help, see my deck, Scurry Gnarlid

November 23, 2014 5:56 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #2

I can see your points on your suggestions and have decided to take some of them. First of all, keep in mind that this is meant to be diifferent from the average modern white green aggro-enchantments deck. It doesn't nessecarily win on turn four like them, but because of the higher creatue count, it is more resiliant against decks that run sacrifice effects lke Liliana of the Veil. Unlke many enchantment decks, it can afford to run higher mana cost auras and removal spells, thus making it more flexible but slower. It wins different matchups than other enchantment decks, despite sharing many similar cards.

Geist of Saint Traft is an immensely powerful card. I don't mind running four, even though occasionally an extra copy gets stuck in my hand. In general, if Traft is on the field, I'm winning.

I do agree about cutting the Hero of Iroas and the birds of paradise. They were meant to make my deck slightly faster, but I can see your points, and then there's also the fact that without hexproof, they eat removal really fast. Four boggles it is!

In a deck with more creatures, it can be important to spread out the auras, so sometimes more powerful auras are nessecary. That's why there's the Angelic Destinies. Without the Birds of Paradise or the Hero of Iroas, I may cut one or two in the future if they end up getting stuck in my hand, but for now I lke the raw power. There's nothing like playing a Traft turn three and giving him Angelic Destiny turn four.

Because this deck isn't as fast, the lifegain from Unflinching Courage and Gift of Orzhava can save the game, especially when put on an already huge creature. Are there other lifegain enchantments that you would suggest?

That being said, I would like to add in some of the enchantments your've suggested. Maybe cut some path to exiles? Removal iis important though...

I've done quite a bit of playtesting since I wrote my deck's intro and this is what I've found. Thank you for the suggestions!

November 23, 2014 6:23 p.m.

mcbeetls says... #3

I would try some Spectra Ward for some protection on your creatures

November 27, 2014 7:55 p.m.
November 28, 2014 7:24 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #5

Dayberak Coronet looks amazing! I looked it up, and it is $23.50 at the lowest - so it's a bit above my budget. I may be able to get one or two if I stretch the budget though, so what should I take out to replace them if I can get them?

November 28, 2014 8:32 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #6

mcbeetls: The protection spectra ward offers is quite good- in addition to the +2/+2 bonus. Unfortunatley, that amazing effect costs a full five mana - a quarter of the lands in my deck! Unless I'm getting mana flooded, I'd prefer to have easier to cast auras to put on my creatures. Although the spectra ward would allow me to keep the auras already on my creatures, the way "protection" is worded means that I can't put any additional enchantments on the creature with the ward. Thank you for the suggestion!

November 29, 2014 5:28 p.m.

kiy251 says... #7

If you're using blue maybe Spectral Flight/Invisible Stalker would be good?

December 1, 2014 9:18 a.m.

Player3.14 says... #8

kiy251: Thanks for the suggestions! I like both of them. Having playtested invisible stalker, I think I'll sideboard him over at least one gladecover scout. He doesn't offer the immense power of my other cmc-greater-than-one drops, but I'd take an invisible stalker over a gladecover scout or a sippery boggle if my opponent had a lot of chump blockers/ways to gum up the board.

I also like spectral flight. It's evasion and a sizable bonus wrapped up in a two mana package. However, I don't know what to take out for it. Spirit Mantle is the closest comparison. Neither the mantle nor the flight is strictly better - maybe go one spirit mantle, one spectral flight?

December 1, 2014 1:36 p.m.

kiy251 says... #9

Playtest it with different things taken out of the deck and go with the combination you think is best.

December 1, 2014 6:34 p.m.

shadow63 says... #10

Ghostly Prison and Sphere of Safety wouldnt be bad in here also maybe try Troll Ascetic

December 3, 2014 6:06 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #11

Thanks for the suggestions! I definately like the idea of Ghostly Prison. I can sideboard that instead of some of the Blind Obediences. Both of then will shut down Exarch-Twin Decks, but Ghostly Prison is better against decks with lots of creatures, like tokens. Blind obediance is still good because it's a mana cheaper, can give you life back, and can help aganist decks that run cards like Goblin Guide. I'll run both.

I actually like Sphere of Safety better than ghostly prison, but for the same reason as Spectra Ward, I can't use it - it costs more mana than I often draw into!

I did playtest Troll Ascetic on an earlier iteration of this deck and found that he was certainly good - but kind of slow at three mana. Geist of Saint Traft is equally as slow, but he as enough raw power that he can make up for the slowness (aganist most decks). I do like Troll Ascetic's regenerative properties, which are especially good against boardsweaps, but I'm hard pressed to justify my four three mana creatures as it is!

December 3, 2014 10:16 p.m.

shadow63 says... #12

ok cool

December 4, 2014 12:47 p.m.

Zigspusus says... #13

This is a great deck. I like the use of birds of paradise to get out geist of saint traft turn 2, and put angelic destiny on it turn 4. It is an interesting take on classic enchantment decks. This deck gets more consistent draws than regular enchantment decks. I like the idea alot.

December 6, 2014 10:35 a.m.

Player3.14 says... #14

Thanks!

December 7, 2014 9:55 a.m.

Coyfish40 says... #15

This looks really fun. However, how does this do against slower decks that normal Bogle usually beats by shear speed, like Junk? Also, Daybreak Cornet is seriously a powerful card. I know it's pricey but try to get your hands on at least one. Good luck!

December 9, 2014 9:34 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #16

Thanks! Actually, this deck's record against junk is 4/3 (wins/losses). It has enough creatures to sacrifice an extra to the ever present Liliana of the Veil. It can also win games quickly if I start out with a gladecover scout/slippery boggle. What really kills this deck is affinity; I've lost every game I've played against it without sideboarding. That's where the speed of boggles comes in handy, and I can never seem to get a faster start than them with a boggle or scout. That's why there's so many affinity hate cards sideboarded. I guess I will try to bring myself to get Daybreak Coronet, I'll update it onto the list now. It seems like such a powerhose!

December 9, 2014 10:07 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #17

I guess the best way to describe this deck is that it's an experiment. It trades speed for consistancy, and thus does better in different matchups. Is it worth it? is the major question I'm trying to answer.

December 9, 2014 10:54 p.m.

Gigi_Year says... #18

If you want more life gain, you could try just straight up Lifelink. Soul Link can also be pretty fun; too bad it's not modern legal :P

December 12, 2014 6:59 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #19

@Gigi_Year: Sure! Lifegain is really good in helping me win games against aggro decks like RDW (Red Deck Wins) and Delver. I'll add the slightly better Spirit Link. With that one, I can put it on my opponent's creature and still gain life! Soul link looks good too, but I can't use it becasue of colors and as you said, it isn't modern leagal. Thanks for the suggestion!

December 13, 2014 6:51 p.m.

If you are basing a deck based around auras, you should use Umbra Mystic.

December 13, 2014 6:54 p.m.

kiy251 says... #21

Aura Finesse Could lead to some very fun stuff. :)

December 13, 2014 7:59 p.m.

Player3.14 says... #23

Umbra mystic is quite good, but it costs a full three mana and it isn't hexproof. That means it can easily be Path to Exiled or just exiled in general without the totem armor taking effect. Thanks for the comment though!

Aura Finesse is something I would want. It has a cantrip, and it can make angelic destiny one mana! I don't know what to take it out for though. Thanks!

I do like all of these suggestions. Maybe I should also make a casual white/blue aura deck with some of them in it and Bruna, Light of Alabaster.

@Jonatanvc94: You're welcome! I designed it on purpouse to be different than the standardized "bogle" aura aggro deck. I wanted to make something different. It's slightly slower, but it's more consistant. It wins different matches than normal bogles despite sharing many similar cards. I have considered spectra ward; someone suggested it earlier. I really like it, and I like the art too, but I can't use it for two reasons: 1) it costs five mana! That's a quarter of the lands in my deck! Occasionaly I even have trouble casting Angelic Destiny, which is why I cut their number from 4 to 3, and 2) because of the wording of protection, I couldn't put any more auras on the creature with the ward. Thanks for commenting on my deck!

December 14, 2014 7:16 p.m.

OpenFire says... #24

You * need * 4x Rancor

December 16, 2014 8:10 p.m.

kiy251 says... #25

Daybreak Coronet while being a super powerful powerhouse is gonna be a pain in the arse to cast (double white cost), prehaps the same with Gift of Orzhova

Steel of the Godhead seems pretty decent, in your colours and very easy to cast as is the other cards in that cycle Favor of the Overbeing and Shield of the Oversoul I'm unsure how good they would be with your creatures colours but it's maybe worth a try?

I'd maybe drop Stirring Wildwood because it enters tapped and can't hold auras.

Horizon Canopy might be solid, most normal boggles lists run it, it lets you draw if you have too many lands.

Dryad Arbor could also be worth running, it's find-able with fetch lands and it can help if the opponent plays a lili/edict effect, it can save your arse in a bad situation.

I also like Keen Sense because drawing value, it works better if you have more trample effects like Rancor (Something I'd suggest running more of one of)

Hopefully this was helpful. :)

December 17, 2014 8:10 a.m.