Answers to Massacre Wurm for an RG tokens deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 11, 2022, 8:30 a.m. by ronsen
I have a RG tokens deck with Thromok the Insatiable as commander. The idea of the deck is a simple go wide with small tokens approach and maybe make use of a few select creatures with devour if given the chance. It's not meant to be high power level and I like how it plays right now.
One main issue though is that one player in our group has a mono black good stuff/toolbox deck that has Massacre Wurm that pretty much shuts my deck down when he gets it, which he does fairly often because he runs a couple of tutors coupled with black's good card draw. He also has the option of recurring it from the graveyard as black decks usually do + he runs Sheoldred, Whispering One as his commander.
I'm now left wondering: what card/s, if any, does RG have access to that can help me to at least not instantly fold to Massacre Wurm? The wurm is the main example because it can handily wipe my board of small tokens while destroying my life total in the process but general tips for board resilience and token support are also appreciated.
For reference, here is the deck in question
Thromok tokens
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 1 | 135 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS
Here are some other cards that would also help you get value out of your creatures: Stalking Vengeance, Spiteful Prankster, Rage Thrower, Foster, Death's Presence, and Canopy Stalker.
September 11, 2022 11:35 a.m.
My first thought is anthems. Gaea's Anthem, Sylvan Anthem, Boartusk Liege, etc. With so many 1-toughness tokens, a -2/-2 board wipe effect will eat a lot of your resources, and getting them out of the danger zone would help.
Echoing Courage would save one type of token.
September 11, 2022 11:42 a.m.
griffstick says... #5
Platinum Emperion would work but it will not save your board
Vicious Shadows will punish the opponent of your choice for each creature that dies. Pair this with Blasphemous Act to do it your self all in the same turn.
September 11, 2022 12:38 p.m. Edited.
griffstick says... #6
There is also Stranglehold to shut down his or her tutoring
September 11, 2022 12:45 p.m.
TypicalTimmy says... #7
Anthems, my guy. -2/-2 won't kill 5/5 tokens.
Perhaps it's a bit gouache to ask, but is your friends deck on here as well? It'll help if we know precisely what you're up against.
September 11, 2022 12:55 p.m. Edited.
Last_Laugh says... #9
Ground Seal would be pretty good against Sheoldred. Mono black just has Feed the Swarm, Feed the Swarm, or Feed the Swarm to deal with it lol.
September 11, 2022 3:37 p.m. Edited.
bushido_man96 says... #10
Player removal is still removal. Get aggressive and don't let him set up.
Lignify, Song of the Dryads, and Kenrith's Transformation can render the Commander useless.
Suggestions above are all good. I like Kyren Negotiations in a token deck.
September 11, 2022 4:18 p.m.
multimedia says... #11
Others have said already, but anthems to make you're tokens bigger Sylvan Anthem, shut down black reanimation Ground Seal and counter the Wurm and Sheoldred Lifeforce.
September 11, 2022 4:32 p.m. Edited.
TypicalTimmy says... #12
A card like Strength of the Pack nullifies Wurm for the turn as the -2/-2 and two +1/+1 counters equate to 0/0.
So your 1/1 token gets to become a 3/3, and then Wurm knocks it back down to a 1/1. So, it survives.
And, six mana in Gruul is child's play. If you can't reliable hit 6 mana, you're not playing Gruul aggressively enough ;)
I haven't taken a gander but if you don't have him, slot in Xenagos, the Reveler. You can thank me later. His 0 is far more useful than you might first imagine, and his +1 is perhaps the best ramp on any Planeswalker in the game, aside from the emblem Liliana of the Dark Realms provides you.
September 11, 2022 6:23 p.m.
Wow, I didn't expect to get this many responses after posting this and going to bed. Thank you to all the suggestions! Right now I'm leaning towards the board wipe punishes like Stalking Vengeance and Vicious Shadows. Also forgot that Tibalt's Trickery existed, definitely need me a copy of that.
September 11, 2022 11:38 p.m.
I'll also take a look at anthems in the future though my main fear with them is that playing them tends to get me a lot of heat pretty fast. I also like the mention of Lifeforce but I'm sure the same Sheoldred player wouldn't appreciate that card because it'll affect him significantly more than the other players on the table. Definitely keeping that card in mind though because counterspell effects outside of blue are great lmao.
September 11, 2022 11:48 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #15
Spawning Pit is what you're looking for ;)
September 12, 2022 1:20 a.m.
RiotRunner789 says... #16
If black is heavy in your meta, Lifeforce can be used as a repeatable Counterspell.
September 12, 2022 6:55 a.m.
griffstick says... #17
ronsen, just so you know, Stalking Vengeance will do nothing to creatures dying to -2/-2. They will have 0 or less power when they die
September 12, 2022 8:16 a.m.
griffstick oh wow, I didn't even catch that. Thanks a lot, that's actually an important thing to consider for that card.
September 12, 2022 10:37 a.m.
ronsen If anthems bring heat in your group, there's cards like Tower Defense, Leyline of Vitality, and Spidersilk Armor to keep your tokens alive.
September 12, 2022 6 p.m.
bushido_man96 says... #20
I wouldn't worry about the feelings the Sheoldred player has about Lifeforce, especially since he doesn't mind tutoring out the same card to hose your deck every time you play. Besides, it's only one card in your deck, and you probably can't tutor for it consistently like the black player can. If anthems draw heat, then pressure the other players sooner so they can't retaliate. The thing about metas is that adjustments will happen, especially if players feel they are getting hosed all the time. You'll adjust, and then he will, too, and things will cycle around. And everything will be ok.
In order to avoid any kind of arms race or lopsided games, make sure to have your rule 0 discussion prior to starting. Perhaps tell the black player about the issues his deck is causing you by hosing you. Perhaps he'll make an adjustment. If he won't, then it's up to you to make and adjustment in order to be able to have some fun at the table.
September 12, 2022 10:51 p.m.
griffstick says... #21
Lifeforce is extremely powerful in 1v1. This card is totally fair.
September 12, 2022 10:59 p.m.
Very convincing arguments in favor of Lifeforce. I'll be testing the card for a few games at least and see how the group reacts to it. The next game night can't come soon enough.
EnbyGolem says... #2
It won’t save your board but Goblin Bombardment would give you some great value out of your creatures before they die.
September 11, 2022 11:13 a.m.