Ramp for Gruul deck?
Deck Help forum
Posted on March 26, 2020, 8:09 p.m. by RuneLongsword
Looking for better ways to consistently cast Etali, Primal Storm early in my Greedy Dinosaur deck.
Currently using Incubation Druid combined with Rhythm of the Wild, as well as a couple Birds of Paradise.
Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!
Definitely Llanowar Elves! Cheapest mana ramp card in every way. 40 cents. 1 mana cost tap for 1 mana.
March 26, 2020 8:22 p.m.
Sylvan Caryatid is a good replacement for Birds of Paradise if you're playing Pioneer, as the latter isn't Pioneer legal. Plus, Sylvan Caryatid is hexproof, so there is no 'bolting the bird'! It's also useful because it is one of any mana!
March 26, 2020 8:24 p.m.
RuneLongsword says... #5
shadow63, my group plays under the rules of vintage. I've considered Arbor Elf & Utopia Sprawl in the past but I didn't like the restriction to forests. Maybe it will run smoother than I think. Cultivate on turn 2 also sounds very nice.
9-lives Llany Elves might just find their way in; it is possible that I don't need to drop $15+ on a flying mana dork lol. As for Sylvan Caryatid, I just play casually with loose group restrictions so the cheaper CMC the better. I do love that card, though.
March 26, 2020 8:54 p.m.
RuneLongswordIf Utopia Sprawl were Pioneer legal, I would be spamming it! You are lucky you can use it. It's basically a game ruler! Use it! You can use it for red with your green lands or any color you want!
March 26, 2020 9:15 p.m.
RuneLongsword says... #7
9-lives, what would you suggest I take out to fit a playset of Utopia Sprawl and Arbor Elf? cultivate and llany elves would be 5 of the 8
March 26, 2020 9:20 p.m.
I’d just go with more of a Jund Dinos Tribal. That’s my favourite, though not played in Vintage.
With Etali in a Jund variant I’ve wanted to do something with Scheming Symmetry followed up with a swing from Etali. Completely negating that drawback and Tutoring + Casting for a single , yes please!
It think that line of play could be quite valid in addition to the other great strengths Dinosaurs bring.
March 26, 2020 9:28 p.m.
RuneLongsword says... #10
shadow63 I do! I havent played in awhile, I slowed down a lot when I started playing Magic last January haha. My RSN is Guild Gate though
March 26, 2020 9:42 p.m.
RuneLongsword says... #11
ArfiGames oh man, that is some ruthless synergy that I would love to play out. As for this specific deck, it's a pretty low budget build that I don't feel is worthy pumping an expensive mana base into. That is a card combination that will go in the book, though.
March 26, 2020 9:46 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #12
Nature's Lore and Skyshroud Claim are amongst my favorite ramp cards. They only grab forests, but Cinder Glade is a forest. There is also Farseek, but it puts the land in tapped.
March 27, 2020 9:06 a.m.
RuneLongsword says... #13
Gidgetimer How could I forget about Nature's Lore? that might work as well. I guess a few play tests with these different ramp cards is what this deck needs now. I appreciate the responses a lot, everyone!
March 27, 2020 5:15 p.m.
I only recently became aware of Cryptolith Rite, and I think it's the best thing ever. But you could always go with Defense of the Heart and just cheat it out.
Don't know if either of them fit whatever format you're going for, but if your playgroup is Vintage, then why not?
March 27, 2020 10:47 p.m.
RuneLongsword says... #15
Epicurus, Defense of the Heart is a new one for me. That almost makes me want to put even more high CMC cheese in the deck with it. Definitely a consideration, I'm going to check out some other decks that use it.
March 28, 2020 11:39 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #16
The most common use of Defense you are going to find is to grab two card creature combos like Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Triskelion or Emrakul, the Aeons Torn + Xenagos, God of Revels .
March 29, 2020 10:47 a.m.
RuneLongsword says... #17
Gidgetimer Oh, thats brutal. That's probably going in my Yarok, the Desecrated EDH deck.
shadow63 says... #2
Just curious why do you have it labeled as a vintage deck?
But Arbor Elf Utopia Sprawl is a solid combo
Turn 1 Arbor Elf or Llanowar Elves into turn 2 Cultivate is a personal favorite
March 26, 2020 8:18 p.m.