Help with 2nd-ever competitive deck - Green aggro
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on March 26, 2020, 2:16 p.m. by MagicSteve6
Background: I put together a deck this week, and it's only my 2nd-ever attempt at a legitimate competitive deck. I know it probably won't win any tournaments, but I have too many other hobbies and not looking to spend more than about $80 - I just want to not get crushed every single game lol.
Deck: Overgrowth - Tons of mana ramp in the hopes of getting Primalcrux out by Turn 3 or 4. If not, there's haste creatures Groundbreaker and Boggart for some quick damage. And Genesis Hydra that, depending on how the land and ramp worked or not, I can cast for lower (2G and 1-3 others) and try to get more ramp or some of the haste creatures out, or cast for 2G and 6 others and hopefully hit a Primalcrux. Also has Lightning Greaves to use on either ramp cards or attacking creatures (or both in the same turn!), and some drawing cards (Harmonize and Beast Whisperer) to keep things moving or if I get stuck with all lands and mana ramps.
Questions: In modern you pretty much have to win by like turn 4 or 5 though, right? (assuming neither running control). Or can it get to 5-8? Been years since I went to a tournament. Turn 4-5, I feel like this deck sometimes rolls, sometimes not. Do you have any suggestions for cards to put in or cards to take out? Any issues I might run into facing other common Modern decks? If you suggest an expensive card, if possible perhaps also suggest a similar more budget-minded one :)
Please let me know what you think! Thank you!
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March 26, 2020 8:01 p.m.
MagicSteve6 says... #4
I'm obviously no expert, but certainly looks like Modern is still active: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magic+the+gathering+modern+tournament
I also found numerous local events where I live in Chicago. I'm sure being in a big city is helpful, but yeah, looks good as far as I can tell.
March 26, 2020 8:03 p.m.
Oloro_Magic says... #5
Yeah against the top of the meta I think you will have quite a bit of trouble unfortunately. Though this doesn't mean there isn't any potential here. You could move more towards mono-green aggro and play cards like Hexdrinker, Strangleroot Geist, and Steel Leaf Champion and the like. While this isn't a very competitive deck it tends to be very fast and can steal games. Similarly with mono-red aggro with a devotion twist built around Fanatic of Mogis which is a cheap deck to start with but not very competitive. I could also see you moving towards G/R Ponza and being that Blood Moon deck which is just good enough to win games by itself.
Where I see the most potential however is pivoting towards G/R Eldrazi in modern. Here is an example list G/R Eldrazi Optimal. Now, yes this is over budget by quite a bit but we can cut the price and build up to something more optimal over time. On that list the only semi-pricy cards that I would call necessary are Karplusan Forest, Eldrazi Temple, and Thought-Knot Seer. Pretty much everything else that commands a high price can be neglected for now in favor of budget options while the deck evolves. Noble Hierarch can become Elvish Mystic for example, and while nowhere near as good, the deck still functions. Similarly, you don't need to go investing in Cavern of Souls, you can play Unclaimed Territory and while not getting the best part of the effect you still can make colorless mana this way. You can skip most of the dual lands, again while not optimal there are cheaper alternatives in the meantime. I think G/R Eldrazi is also fairly well-positioned right now so there is a plus there. Let me know if you need any help if you choose this route!
As for your current deck, Harmonize, Lightning Greaves, Beast Whisperer are all bad. You can make an argument for one Whisperer but even then that is not ideal. None of these cards particularly do much and if you are casting Harmonize in modern with this deck's gameplan you are probably already losing. You really need a 2-drop, if you stay in mono-green, 1 Scavenging Ooze and 4 Strangleroot Geist are decent options. I would personally consider getting into red to play Lightning Bolt and Bonecrusher Giant as you need some kind of removal; you can't expect your opponents to just do nothing, especially in modern. If you stay mono-green though, you basically have to play a couple Dismember in the main or side. You also need a sideboard, I know it is extra money but in modern a lot of the skill is being able to adapt to your opponent. For you, cards like Shapers' Sanctuary, Chameleon Colossus, Grafdigger's Cage, Reclamation Sage, Weather the Storm, and Relic of Progenitus are all good options that shouldn't break the bank when constructing your board. A card like Carnage Tyrant is also good but pricy, Gaea's Revenge is a bit more budget-oriented option.
I hope this helps, welcome back to the crazy world of modern!
March 27, 2020 12:31 p.m.
Flooremoji says... #6
Looking at your deck, it seems like it is closer to being a devotion deck rather than an aggro deck. Your deck is playing much more expensive cards (mana wise) than I would play in an aggro deck. You also have some ramp, which an aggro deck would not play. Your land count is still pretty low to be casting a very large Genesis Hydra. You can proabbly go either the aggro or the devotion route. I guess aggro will be cheaper to optimise but I'm not sure what would be more competetive. Good luck brewing!
9-lives says... #2
Don't you have to go Pioneer for competition? I didn't know that Modern was competitive.
March 26, 2020 3:18 p.m.