zapyourtumor Deckling -

• Edit User
• Edit Profile
• Enable styles
• Disable styles
• Unblock user
• Block user
• Disable chat
• Enable chat
• Remove friend
• Add as friend
• Gift Tokens
• Settings

Personally I don't like 3x dress down unless you have 3x Kroxa

Expedite and Wall of Shards look out of place, and Growth Spiral doesn't look that strong given how little lands you are running. Lightning Bolt could be some additional removal.

Interesting

Have you considered going a little more into Green for Growth Spiral? I generally don't like the card in Creativity builds but since this one's based around Titan and Valakut it seems decent here. More green sources than just 2 triomes would also help with the hardcasting Titan plan (maybe a Stomping Ground?).

If you're looking for additional threats I'd probably use 2 Sprite Dragon or something instead of Swiftspear -- it's a little less explosive but a better mid-game/long-term threat since it keeps the counters. Also it gets the buff off of dress down before it resolves.

Several things right off the bat:

4 Dress Downs looks like way too many. I'd cut to 3 (if you go up a Kroxa), or 2.

The threat density looks too light. I'd go up to 3-4 monkes and maybe up a Kroxa.

4 Claim / Fame seems a little overboard. I love the card but I don't know if 4 is the right number here. How has it been working for you?

Only 4 Thoughtseize seems low as well for GDS, I'd add some Inquisition of Kozilek.

The land count seems unnecessarily high - 17-19 is a good range. City of Brass is just bad in 3 color. Even though you can damage yourself to help Death's Shadow grow, there's no option to make mana without damaging yourself when you're low on life. I'd also add 2 Fiery Islet to guard against manaflooding.

Lastly, the deck looks pretty removal light. There are plenty of additional options for removal, like Unholy Heat, Fatal Push, Terminate, and Kolaghan's Command.

A lot of the creatures are solid by themselves, but they really shine when combined with winding constrictor. Maybe not good enough for top tier modern, but quite respectable for their prices. I have a similar deck in pioneer and its very fun to play. Even if the cards are slightly worse by themselves compared to say bob or goyf or lotv, they have more synergy as well.

Blue doesn't feel worth it here, and running 3 cards with Ayula's Influence is a nightmare. I'd cut it.

At least 2 copies of Seismic Assault would fit well here to machinegun creatures and deal damage to your opponent's face.

I'd also up the land count a bit. 30 seems like a good number for a deck like this, and you'll have space if you cut all the blue cards. Explore can replace some Growth Spiral.

Never thought I'd see "casual" and "stax" next to eachother

About the upgraded version, mayor of avabruck just seems to powerful not to have as a 4 of. If I would cut werewolves I'd probably cut Instigator Gang since its above 3 cmc and then maybe cut some breakneck rider/geier reach bandit (I don't know how powerful the auto transform from bandit is since I haven't really played werewolves).

oops i dont know why i thought you suggested cards on your own deck, probably because amicdeeps comment is gone

I definitely second Defied's suggestions. Werewolf Pack Leader is a very strong card advantage engine which would give the deck the late game gas it needs. Lightning Bolt is premier red removal -- definitely a 4 of since there are no werewolves with removal stapled on.

Collected Company would be amazing here, given how many sub 3 cmc creatures you have. Although they're pricey, I'd fit in as many as your budget allows. For cuts, I think Moonmist and Arlinn would be the best ones.

Sunseed Nurturer seems out of place and not very good

I like Norin and all the ETB effects - you could consider maybe putting in some of the Soul Sisters Soul's Attendant and Soul Warden for more etb payoff and upping the norin count. You could put these in if you cut Sunseed, Trueheart duelist, and Mangara.

Deck feels light on removal. You have many good options in RW, like Lightning Bolt and Path to Exile maindeck, and Rip Apart/Wear / Tear sideboard.

Speaking of the sideboard, it looks super iffy. Magus of the Moat sucks because you have no flying creatures? Relying on Angelic gift does not seem good. I would cut both. Usher of the Fallen is also pretty mediocre. I'd put in some more hate cards in the sb like grave hate, artifact and enchantment hate, tron hate, etc.

With Steam Vents, I don't think Skred is worth running here. Also, removing Skred would let you run more duals/fetch for shocks more often, which would let you run Counterspell instead of Mana Leak.

No needle mainboard?

Village Rites > Altar's Reap

Eaten Alive > Spark Harvest/Bone Splinters

Konrad seems too slow and doesn't have much impact for a 5 drop.

One thing you badly need here is an instant-speed reusable sac outlet. which can be used to sac your tap creatures for untapped tokens to surprise block, or just sac anything that is targeted with exile removal, or get instant speed card draw/drain. The only good one in pioneer thats a human is Cartel Aristocrat, and it might be worth splashing white just for that. White would also let you run Cruel Celebrant (not a vampire unfortunately), and maybe Return to the Ranks.

Unsummon you can use to reuse snap without losing life, so idk

RIP Simian Spirit Guide. May he rest in peace.

Have you tried Koth of the Hammer? I used to run one in my old mono red prison deck and he was quite strong.

1 Void Mirror in the sideboard would also probably be a good idea since it also hates on etron and elementals in addition to the other stuff chalice shuts down.

yeah i was too lazy to give actual feedback on nonland cards sorry

Gatekeeper is really good, I'd put it in as a 3 of at least. If you wanna lean more into the sacrifice for value build with Blood Artist/Viscera Seer/Bloodghast/Cordial Vampire etc you can run Kalastria Highborn.

For Doom blade replacements, we have Bloodchief's Thirst, Dismember, Infernal Grasp, maybe Heartless Act. With the new innistrad sets running Victim of Night seems like a bad idea so I won't suggest it.

Vicious rumors does look like a good card to cut. I'm not too sure about the creature suite tbh, I used to run oona's blackguard in some weird budget jund midrange rogue tribal +1/+1/energy counter subtheme deck and it was a cute card but didn't feel super powerful. It's probably more powerful here though.