The Predator of Predators
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 405 | 122 COMMENTS | 51728 VIEWS | IN 162 FOLDERS
Opening the Vault —April 27, 2024
After running this deck through Spelltable and going up against Higher Powered Decks (decks that have stronger staples like Jeweled Lotus, Gaea's Cradle etc.) I realized that unfortunately this deck is too slow. I assess that the deck simply didn't have enough ramp to consistently build a board state that can threaten to disrupt or outright kill an opponent by turns 5 to 8. I made some changes - cutting Welcome to ... Flip and The Great Henge to make room for what I think are more consistent cards that contribute more to the deck's themes - namely Explosive Vegetation and the brand spanking new Vaultborn Tyrant. Vegetation was included because Welcome to ... Flip is barely playable. I had to be honest with myself here - Welcome to... is a fun and very flavorful card - but it's just too darn slow. I need it to flip immediately - not 3 turns from ETB. Vegetation is honestly the last option for decent ramp as the deck pretty much has every other usual suspect I could think of. If i'm missing something please let me know!
Vaultborn Tyrant took the place of The Great Henge as it has effectively the same function in that it provides reliable draw - but has greater synergy by allowing me to take more advantage of creature ETB Triggers. The benefits don't end there - Vaultborn Tyrant is a Dinosaur instead of an Artifact (upon inital casting), so it can be targeted by Gishath, Sun's Avatar's ability, gain cost reduction from Marauding Raptor and Urza's Incubator, or be tutored up by Forerunner of the Empire, Sylvan Tutor, and Worldly Tutor. Henge is objectively a good card - but Vyrant provides more consistency. Also, ill admit it...im a sucker for a Giant 3 headed Tyrannosaurs Rex if it wasnt obvious. I also cut Turntimber, Serpentine Wood Flip - I always found myself just not really using it's flip side because I always had something better to do with my mana on a given turn. I just swapped it for a basic Forest. I briefly flirted with the idea of going for another Gaea's Cradle, but I don't feel like spending all that money. Maybe I might go for one in the future if I really think it'll help the deck, but not now.
Another change I forgot I did - I removed Abundance. It was originally only in for Sylvan Library as the combo is pretty cool, but ultimately the card was far too niche to really stay included in the deck as the synergy simply wasn't there. It was cut for Farseek.
What do you all think? Are these overall good changes? Please give me your thoughts.
plakjekaas says... #2
Not lose it, but if nobody has a removal spell to stop the combo, the game ends in a draw.
December 6, 2023 3:17 a.m.
Have you been playing Baldur's Gate 3 as well? And yes, I'm well aware of the Infinite loop that ends the game in a tie when Polyraptor and Marauding Raptor interact. I have 2 combos listed in my deck primer under "Tooth and Nail" - The Raptor Breeder and The Herald of Raptors each detailing that a third option is needed to break the loop once enough Raptors are generated.
@ plakjekaas, have you noticed any other odd interactions or possible nonbos in the deck?
December 6, 2023 4:15 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #4
Not really, except maybe Polyraptor + Forerunner of the Empire + Heroic Intervention giving the same non-stoppable loop. That's hard to do on accident though. Some sort of Impact Tremors effect or Goblin Bombardment could turn these into actual wins, but these combo's probably aren't the focus of the deck, you're probably fine.
December 6, 2023 3:29 p.m.
If you read Forerunner of the Empire's 2nd paragraph - it's a "may" ability - so I can choose to have his Dino ETB trigger simply not. Thanks for yet another combo to add to the list though, didn't catch that one. I think I need to do a re-write when it comes to Polyraptor infinite combos just to keep track of them all.
December 6, 2023 4:09 p.m.
+1 awesome deck!! BRAVO! I have never seen that Fellwar Stone it is amazing - definitely going to look into picking one up!
Ravenrose says... #1
Hello, my fellow deck builder! First I want to say that I love your page and deck dedicated to Zacama - a three headed T-Rex is the best thing in existence in my opinion. However I do feel that I should give you a warning. I see that you play Marauding Raptor together with Polyraptor. I apologise if I sound like an impudent, condescending harpy, but are you aware of the inifinite combo that will cause you to lose the game if these two cards are the only creatures on your field?
December 6, 2023 1:47 a.m.