Krenko, Mob Boss
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 71 | 16 COMMENTS | 67372 VIEWS | IN 52 FOLDERS
2 Drops and the Chopping Block —April 8, 2014
The deck is light on 2-drops, although I haven't really noticed it. Also, I thought I'd give my thoughts on the cards on the chopping block.
First, let's discuss Shivan Harvest. I have had a few people address me with their concerns that Shivan Harvest will be a one-sided Armageddon. My first response is "play more basics", but I can see where they're coming from. No one likes playing a game where you're alive but for the grace of your opponent. That's basically losing anyway. The reason I really want Shivan Harvest over Blood Moon is because it fits the theme of the deck - but I suppose I could be convinced to make an exception to think of the moon as a thematic part of the deck (think once in a [red] moon). Tectonic Edge speaks to the needs of the deck in general. I could cut Blood Moon but I would then need to up the nonbasic land destruction in the land portion of the deck. The problem is this deck needs a lot of red mana. Forgotten Cave is on the list because it's cost me a turn several times. Without a way to draw cards, the deck needs to operate very smoothly, and that means hitting its mana requirements on time. Aftershock is on the list because it doesn't fit the theme of the deck. This could easily become something like Spikeshot Goblin but the deck would need to change to complement it more. This may be necessary anyway, as Spikeshot Elder poses the same issue for the deck: it can be good, but is underwhelming without more pump effects. Lastly, Mana Echoes is not great with the deck as it's built now. I need more mana sinks. Warbreak Trumpeter, Goblin Festival, and Goblin Cannon are all good sources but only the Trumpeter fits the deck without mana to abuse. I'd really like to find mana sink targets that are good with 8 mana and excellent with 1000 mana. Goblin Warrens does a good job of providing a mana sink, but I haven't drawn it often enough for it to come up. [Edit: ooo, what about Flamewave Invoker? Eh, but it's constricted on red mana... Avarice Totem to trade 1/1 goblins for good things? Lavafume Invoker to generate a lethal attack?]
Bazaar Trader - Zedru tech
Bloodmark Mentor - make otherwise unscary creatures half-scary
Goblin Archaeologist - I tried this once before but didn't care for it
Goblin Piledriver - potential to 1-shot someone unprotected
Mogg Maniac - I love this little guy
Mogg War Marshal - decent value
Shrieking Mogg - make everyone vulnerable the turn you decided to make a ton of hasty 1/1s
Stingscourger - limited "removal"
Warren Instigator
- it's another Goblin Lackey, kind of but I'm not sure I run enough Goblins for it to be effective.
Gempalm Incinerator - honorary 2-drop
Goblin Festival - mana dump