Sometimes you don’t want to have to think much to play, or maybe you have got a new player to EDH and/or magic. Sometimes you just want to throw down a bunch of cards and turn some creatures sideways, and win.
HOW DOES IT PLAY?
With Azusa, Lost but Seeking at the helm and half the deck being land the strategy is obviously to spit out a bunch of land. She has a little bit of help from a combination of creatures to thin the deck/double mana, tons of draw to keep the deck from running out of steam, and tutors to give it added consistency. The deck aims to build a huge and fast board presence and then take out all opponents in one or two combat steps.
You want an explosive start and you want to get to the point where you are playing game winning spells where everyone else is just getting started. You accomplish this hopefully by getting an early turn Azusa, and there is several ways of doing this. Your first concern should be getting Oracle of Mul Daya and Azusa out at the same time. So if you don't have her in your hand or draw into it, use a tutor for her. If you have a tutor left after this bring out Primeval Titan or Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary to really get the party started. At this point you'll have lots of mana and will be digging and thinning out your deck. Most likely you will have several sources of draw to keep you going. Now you'll want to start throwing out some threats like Avenger of Zendikar. Anything big will do. Once you got some big creatures out you'll want to go for the win with some kind of overrun effect like Overwhelming Stampede. If the cards are right this is how you want to play, only worrying about what your opponents are doing if they are able to stop you early. Then adjust accordingly and get what you need to stop them, whether it be removal or recursion.
CARD CHOICES
Ramp When 50 lands isn’t enough. . . Sol Ring
Turn two Azusa, nuff said. Chancellor of the Tangle
Turn one Lotus Cobra or Rofellos, nuff said. But wait there's more! Turn one Azusa with Sol Ring or Ancient Tomb. Then it’s an amazing attacker and flying blocker with a big body. Incredibly versatile creature in this deck. Lotus Cobra
All that land coming into play can make this little guy a huge mana generator. Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Early or late game, this guy is amazing effectively doubling your mana. Double mana is always good. Oracle of Mul Daya
In this deck I probably like this more than Primeval Titan and is usually the first creature I will tutor for since combined with the general will let you play four lands a turn while thinning the top of your deck. With all the draw and tutors in the deck this will often have you throw out more land that Prime Time and doesn’t draw the hate. Primeval Titan
Spits land out the more it stays around so that’s good. Shuffles the deck so that’s good. Is a big body, so that’s good. Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
Rofellos #2 but this guy is BIG and can mana screw your opponents. I was hesitant about putting in such a griefer card but it’s needed when going up against tough blue opponents. Boundless Realms
Yes! Yes! YES! Another new card made for this deck. This will really thin the deck out, and all that landfall makes creatures like Lotus Cobra and Avenger of Zendikar very happy.
Tutors When you just can’t wait. . . Worldly Tutor
Instant speed put on the top of the deck. Works well with all the card draw in the deck. Sylvan Tutor
Worldly Tutor number two, but at sorcery speed. Cheap early game tutor redundancy since cheap ramp creatures like Oracle of Mul Daya are critical to getting explosive starts. Green Sun’s Zenith
Put into play for one G extra. Incredible and can be drawn again. Fierce Empath
The Eternal Witness of tutors. Get’s the fat needed to win, and draws cards off of Skullclamp. Summoner’s Pact
The clutch tutor. Zero cost, creature into your hand leaving you mana to cast that creature you need now. The upkeep cost is almost irrelevant in this deck. Tooth and Nail
The best tutor. Does anything you need since any creatures it brings into play can do whatever you need.
Draw Green’s mana ramp with Blue’s card draw is like chocolate with peanut butter. . . Sensei’s Divining Top
Cheap tricky library manipulation and draw. Crucial with Oracle of Mul Daya. Mirri’s Guile
Top number two. Redundancy is needed! Sylvan Library
Always draw 3 cards for 8 life. ALWAYS! Almost unfair for your opponents. Horn of Greed
Like Sylvan Library, but doesn’t cost you life. Still unfair. Skullclamp
Cheap draw, and let’s face it. Wraths are going to happen. Soul’s Majesty
A drawing all-star in the deck. Since the deck empties it’s hand so fast this is one of the best ways to fill it back up and win. Momentuous Fall
Instant big draw and Soul’s Majesty number two. I prefer to get a good attack or block out of the big creature before I use it. Mind’s Eye
Not the ideal card draw for cost but sometimes its what’s available to get you back in the game when you got nothing on the battlefield or in your hand. Harmonize
Three cards for four mana. Sometimes that’s all you need. Garruk, Primal Hunter
Could be considered Soul’s Majesty number 3. It’s going to draw you a lot of cards. Regal Force
Draws a lot to a little amount of cards when it comes into play. Works amazingly well with tokens. With creature tutors you're able to also get card draw because of this guy, which I often find myself in a situation where I have tutors, but no draw.
Fat The deck relies on big body’s for game winning damage and draw. Cloudthresher
A big body for cheap that blocks flyers. The flash and damage is just a bonus here. Darksteel Colossus
Big, indestructible and trample. Fits the bill here as a second Ulamog. Rampaging Baloths
With all the land flying into play this guy can get out of hand real quick if not dealt with. Avenger of Zendikar
Same as above. Both backbones of winning the game with one attack. Primordial Hydra
A controversial choice for some, but not for me. If it survives for a turn it becomes a huge problem for your opponents. Even more so if it stays on the board for another turn. Often will be the biggest creature on the board by far and is brutal with the card draw and overrun effects in the deck all for a relatively cheap cost. Well worth the risk that it may do nothing.
Utility Creatures It’s not all about smashing face, drawing cards and making mana. . . Seedborn Muse
Not a lot of instant effects that can be used effectively with this for its full potential, but the vigilance it gives the decks creatures is worth it alone. Spike Weaver
Up to three turns of fog. Saves your butt sometimes if your deck is stumbling. Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
A huge mana sink for game winning attacks. Also can be used as an anti land destruction card, or if you’re feeling really evil you can use it in combination with All is Dust.
Misc Permanents To increase your creature’s effectiveness. . . Lightning Greaves
An EDH staple, and for good reason. Cheap to throw down, free to equip. This is here to protect important creatures in the beginning of the game where they are most crucial like Azusa, Oracle, Rofellos and Prime Time. Concordant Crossroads
Cheap haste for everyone, but usually this will help you the most if you play it early and will win you the game later if you dump out a lot of fat. Eldrazi Monument
The anti-wrath card. If off a Genesis wave you hit it big, but no haste, this will usually keep all that good stuff alive to swing next turn.
Misc Spells These can basically be called win cons. . . Overwhelming Stampede
This does HUGE damage. With very large creatures in this deck it’s not uncommon for this to buff all creatures 10+. This turns little tokens into huge damage, and huge creatures into. . . well huge-er creatures. Triumph of the Hordes
The only source of infect in the deck, but it’s so damn effective. Obiosuly only use it if you are going to be able to kill someone with it. Effectively can be a cheaper Overwhelming Stampede that only has to do ¼ of the damage. My favorite way to take out the biggest threat quickly (blue player). Rude Awakening
Ramp and Token generation. This card has probably lead to the most interesting and brutal plays this deck is capable of, but unlike most of the deck, using it to full effect takes the most thought. The untap ability works amazing with Rofellos and Vorinclex, with added draw can effectively give you another turns worth of mana and cards to create a huge board presence. The token effect combined with pump effects can bring a win out of nowhere if you just have one creature on board. Genesis Wave
Aw yes the big green mana standard. Yes this is a game winner, especially if it hits or you have Concordant Crossroads and/or Eldrazi Monument up.
Recursion Sometimes what you need is in the graveyard. . . Eternal Witness
Recursion on a stick. The only recursion that can be tutored and works very well with Skullclamp. Restock
Gets two cards instead of one. Sometimes that’s all you need. Praetor’s Counsel
The late game comeback card. Sometimes a better topdeck than a Genesis Wave.
Removal The deck is fast, so removal is light, but potent. . . Duplicant
Exile on a body. Sometimes that is needed for things like Iona or Avacyn which can be a real thorn in this deck’s side. Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Destroy target permanent? Check. Added removal when it attacks? Check. Indestructible? Check. A mouth-watering target for the likes of Soul’s Majesty and Overwhelming Stampede? Check. Graveyard recursion? Check. This card is almost too perfect for the deck. Just watch out for an early Bribery! Karn Liberated
Mainly used for exiling two permanents. Exile, not destroy is the best. Like I said, potent removal. Terastodon
Triple removal and another juicy stampede/draw target. Silklash Spider
Can effectively block any flying general, and can remove pesky flying blockers. All is Dust
Gets rid of everything besides artifacts, land and Eldrazi. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Land Gasoline for your lean green machine. . . Forest x45
I included so much land over cheap mana generation like Kodama’s Reach and Skyshroud Claim because with Azusa you can do that for free. And with the amount of tutors and draw combined with creatures like Oracle and Prime time you can still find what you need in the deck even though half of it is land. I’m happy to say that the deck has a perfect combination of the draw, tutors and land to hardly ever get mana flooded. Misty Rainforest and Verdant Catacombs
There to get that extra landfall and library manipulation. Maybe a few fetches more could be used but I find two work out just fine. Mystifying Maze
There to protect against a big bad attacking creature. Yavimaya Hallow
Cheap insurance to keep important creatures alive. Ancient Tomb
Enables turn two Azusa. Worth it just for that.
WEAKNESSES
Mass land destruction? Sometimes. There is plenty of ways to get that land back to get started again, and the deck is half land. What really screws with the deck is the smart blue player, especially if they stick around late in the game. The smart blue player can neutralize your board position with a myriad of ways before you can kill them. Usually not a big problem for this deck since even though it can empty it's hand fast, it can also fill it back up just as fast. Yet against that tricky blue player this is the problem. They will save their counter spell for what you use to fill back up your hand. They will counter your Praetor's Counsel, Harmonize, Sylvan Library etc. And chances are they will have just the kind of card draw and advantage you have, but we don't have the counters. This is why the blue player must be killed fast with extreme prejudice. Don't be afraid to play dirty with an early Terastodon taking out their land or playing Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger asap. You just need to slow them down enough, and hopefully you have more threats than they have answers which you probably will early game, so do what you can to not let them get to the mid/late game!
In my experiences against any deck that doesn't play blue, no matter how much removal they use on you, this deck will be able to come back. And when this deck comes back it'll come back from nothing and win that turn or the next. It can spit out triple digit damage like nobody's business.
NOTABLE EMISSIONS
When making this deck I purposely chose not to go as cutthroat as I could with mana and resource denial. In my opinion there are two ways to make an Azusa deck, one it the way I went with fast big aggro, or resource denial/ramp into big aggro. While the later is very tough, it's also not very fun to play against when you get your land blown up while Azusa ramps. Therefore I kept land destruction and mana denial to a minimum to let my opponents play there decks.
However if you're feeling mean, adding these to the deck can really shut people out of the game quick, epically with some cheap recursion like Regrowth.
Two of the best tutors I did not include since with Survival it requires you to chuck one into the yard, and the deck is not very creature dense. I want to play any creature. With Natural Order I do not own it, but it leads to many unfair plays like an early Terastodon blowing up all of an opponents lands. Survival of the Fitest Natural Order
The Wurm was basically a dead card and never fulfilled its original intent - gaining life. It was a defensive card that in a deck like this wasn't needed. Spike Weaver is sufficient enough. Regal Force does everything the Slagwurm was doing in the deck, that is being a overrun and draw target, but also draws cards when it comes into play. Often a lot of cards combined with Avenger of Zendikar with Tooth and Nail.
What really is great about Regal Force in this deck is that I often would find myself with a tutor and no card draw. Before I would just tutor for something to thin the deck out and shuffle it. Now I can tutor for card draw, something I couldn't do before. This alone made him worth it.
I added and fine-tuned the deck up to M13 because of new card choices and experience from playing it often for over a year. Since then it has been incredibly powerful and consistent and leads to big bombastic plays and comebacks. So much so, I felt the need to write up the deck's description in great detail.
Have you thought about Woodfall Primus? He's another strong card that gives you 2 chances to eat a troubling threat.
Also with Crucible of Worlds, you do not have to do anything degenerate. Crucible can be used in your current deck to reuse your fetchlands and smooth out your draws while adding more land fall triggers. With Azusa out, you can play and crack a fetch 3 times giving 3 land and 6 landfall triggers.
How has Seedborn Muse worked out for you? I only run a small handful of instants in my build, and find I tend to have little to no need for mana on other people's turns.
How has Seedborn Muse worked out for you? I only run a small handful of instants in my build, and find I tend to have little to no need for mana on other people's turns.
Is there a reason not to play with with Winter Orb (other than the "hate" of course)?
Also, needs more Winter Orb! lol..
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Amazing Avy & Sig by mchief111 @ Rising Studios [4/22/11]
Is there a reason not to play with with Winter Orb (other than the "hate" of course)?
Also, needs more Winter Orb! lol..
I've often contemplated taking Azusa in an all-out stax direction. You could wreck so much face. If only artifacts were more reliably attainable in green...
Have you considered running Crop Rotation or Dryad Arbor? Turn 2 rotation into Ancient Tomb or turn 1 GSZ into dryad arbor can both help you get turn 2 Azuza more consistently.
I've often contemplated taking Azusa in an all-out stax direction. You could wreck so much face. If only artifacts were more reliably attainable in green...
True enough...
I suppose it is a bit underwhelming in mono green.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Amazing Avy & Sig by mchief111 @ Rising Studios [4/22/11]
If you have topdeck manipulation out, you can also activate Hermit Druid to mill a Kozilek or Ulamog and protect your graveyard from exile at instant speed, or just replenish your library.
Another card I've come to love in Azusa that I never see is Eldrazi Conscription. People are usually afraid of being 2-for-1ed, so they don't run it, but in a deck like this, where you have a small, inexpensive general that is not very useful at some points in the game, plus lots of ramp and creatures, it fits perfectly. Even if they kill Azusa or the the Fierce Empath or Lotus Cobra or whatever in response, they weren't very useful anymore anyway. It also allows you to pull out general damage kills, especially if you're protecting Azusa with Swiftfoot Boots or Eldrazi Monument or something.
How has Seedborn Muse worked out for you? I only run a small handful of instants in my build, and find I tend to have little to no need for mana on other people's turns.
She works very well. Since this is an aggro deck anything that can give you pseudo vigilance is great since it lets you attack without worry. You're right about the extra mana not being utilized as well as it could with say and Omnath deck. However in experience I have made great use of it with creatures activated abilities, instants and things like Mind's Eye. The deck isn't really designed to abusive it to it's full potential, but as long as you have a threat out or one of the above along with it, it's always worth it.
Have you thought about Woodfall Primus? He's another strong card that gives you 2 chances to eat a troubling threat.
Also with Crucible of Worlds, you do not have to do anything degenerate. Crucible can be used in your current deck to reuse your fetchlands and smooth out your draws while adding more land fall triggers. With Azusa out, you can play and crack a fetch 3 times giving 3 land and 6 landfall triggers.
I used to have him in there but I think I took him out for Karn. Karn exiles and can be used more than twice sometimes. It's one of the cards that is on the cusp of going in, but I find myself really not needing to kill permanents often because the deck is fast and usually just gets through whatever obstacle with overwhelming force. If not All is Dust usually is the best answer.
Eh. . . I can see that with Crucible, but then I would have to add more fetches, which might not be a bad idea. The thing is that I am never really short of mana or land to play. It's really running consistently. I sold mine anyway lol.
Wow. Another great comment! I was just thinking about Blightsteel once again. The original reason for not playing it is because of things like Bribery. Unless I have a blocker out, which sometimes I don't, it cab be a one-shot. With Darksteel Colossus I have more than a turn to get a blocker and it usually fills it's roll just as well. Darksteel plays wells with the pump effects, including the Triumph.
*****
I also have to make a note that I have lost several games by drawing out my deck with Regal Force and Genesis Wave. Gotta be extra careful!
Sometimes you don’t want to have to think much to play, or maybe you have got a new player to EDH and/or magic. Sometimes you just want to throw down a bunch of cards and turn some creatures sideways, and win.
HOW DOES IT PLAY?
With Azusa, Lost but Seeking at the helm and half the deck being land the strategy is obviously to spit out a bunch of land. She has a little bit of help from a combination of creatures to thin the deck/double mana, tons of draw to keep the deck from running out of steam, and tutors to give it added consistency. The deck aims to build a huge and fast board presence and then take out all opponents in one or two combat steps.
1 Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Draw 11
1 Soul's Majesty
1 Harmonize
1 Momentous Fall
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Horn of Greed
1 Mirri's Guile
1 Mind's Eye
1 Skullclamp
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Sylvan Library
1 Regal Force
Tutors 6
1 Summoner's Pact
1 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Sylvan Tutor
1 Tooth and Nail
1 Fierce Empath
1 Eternal Witness
1 Praetor's Counsel
1 Restock
Ramp 8
1 Lotus Cobra
1 Chancellor of the Tangle
1 Sol Ring
1 Primeval Titan
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Boundless Realms
1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Removal 6
1 Terastodon
1 Silklash Spider
1 Duplicant
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1 All is Dust
1 Karn Liberated
Utility Creatures 3
1 Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Spike Weaver
1 Rampaging Baloths
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Primordial Hydra
1 Cloudthresher
1 Avenger of Zendikar
Misc Permenents 3
1 Concordant Crossroads
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Eldrazi Monument
Misc Spells 4
1 Rude Awakening
1 Overwhelming Stampede
1 Triumph of the Hordes
1 Genesis Wave
Land 50
45 Forest
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Yavimaya Hallow
STRATEGY
You want an explosive start and you want to get to the point where you are playing game winning spells where everyone else is just getting started. You accomplish this hopefully by getting an early turn Azusa, and there is several ways of doing this. Your first concern should be getting Oracle of Mul Daya and Azusa out at the same time. So if you don't have her in your hand or draw into it, use a tutor for her. If you have a tutor left after this bring out Primeval Titan or Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary to really get the party started. At this point you'll have lots of mana and will be digging and thinning out your deck. Most likely you will have several sources of draw to keep you going. Now you'll want to start throwing out some threats like Avenger of Zendikar. Anything big will do. Once you got some big creatures out you'll want to go for the win with some kind of overrun effect like Overwhelming Stampede. If the cards are right this is how you want to play, only worrying about what your opponents are doing if they are able to stop you early. Then adjust accordingly and get what you need to stop them, whether it be removal or recursion.
CARD CHOICES
Ramp
When 50 lands isn’t enough. . .
Sol Ring
Turn two Azusa, nuff said.
Chancellor of the Tangle
Turn one Lotus Cobra or Rofellos, nuff said. But wait there's more! Turn one Azusa with Sol Ring or Ancient Tomb. Then it’s an amazing attacker and flying blocker with a big body. Incredibly versatile creature in this deck.
Lotus Cobra
All that land coming into play can make this little guy a huge mana generator.
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Early or late game, this guy is amazing effectively doubling your mana. Double mana is always good.
Oracle of Mul Daya
In this deck I probably like this more than Primeval Titan and is usually the first creature I will tutor for since combined with the general will let you play four lands a turn while thinning the top of your deck. With all the draw and tutors in the deck this will often have you throw out more land that Prime Time and doesn’t draw the hate.
Primeval Titan
Spits land out the more it stays around so that’s good. Shuffles the deck so that’s good. Is a big body, so that’s good.
Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
Rofellos #2 but this guy is BIG and can mana screw your opponents. I was hesitant about putting in such a griefer card but it’s needed when going up against tough blue opponents.
Boundless Realms
Yes! Yes! YES! Another new card made for this deck. This will really thin the deck out, and all that landfall makes creatures like Lotus Cobra and Avenger of Zendikar very happy.
Tutors
When you just can’t wait. . .
Worldly Tutor
Instant speed put on the top of the deck. Works well with all the card draw in the deck.
Sylvan Tutor
Worldly Tutor number two, but at sorcery speed. Cheap early game tutor redundancy since cheap ramp creatures like Oracle of Mul Daya are critical to getting explosive starts.
Green Sun’s Zenith
Put into play for one G extra. Incredible and can be drawn again.
Fierce Empath
The Eternal Witness of tutors. Get’s the fat needed to win, and draws cards off of Skullclamp.
Summoner’s Pact
The clutch tutor. Zero cost, creature into your hand leaving you mana to cast that creature you need now. The upkeep cost is almost irrelevant in this deck.
Tooth and Nail
The best tutor. Does anything you need since any creatures it brings into play can do whatever you need.
Draw
Green’s mana ramp with Blue’s card draw is like chocolate with peanut butter. . .
Sensei’s Divining Top
Cheap tricky library manipulation and draw. Crucial with Oracle of Mul Daya.
Mirri’s Guile
Top number two. Redundancy is needed!
Sylvan Library
Always draw 3 cards for 8 life. ALWAYS! Almost unfair for your opponents.
Horn of Greed
Like Sylvan Library, but doesn’t cost you life. Still unfair.
Skullclamp
Cheap draw, and let’s face it. Wraths are going to happen.
Soul’s Majesty
A drawing all-star in the deck. Since the deck empties it’s hand so fast this is one of the best ways to fill it back up and win.
Momentuous Fall
Instant big draw and Soul’s Majesty number two. I prefer to get a good attack or block out of the big creature before I use it.
Mind’s Eye
Not the ideal card draw for cost but sometimes its what’s available to get you back in the game when you got nothing on the battlefield or in your hand.
Harmonize
Three cards for four mana. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Garruk, Primal Hunter
Could be considered Soul’s Majesty number 3. It’s going to draw you a lot of cards.
Regal Force
Draws a lot to a little amount of cards when it comes into play. Works amazingly well with tokens. With creature tutors you're able to also get card draw because of this guy, which I often find myself in a situation where I have tutors, but no draw.
Fat
The deck relies on big body’s for game winning damage and draw.
Cloudthresher
A big body for cheap that blocks flyers. The flash and damage is just a bonus here.
Darksteel Colossus
Big, indestructible and trample. Fits the bill here as a second Ulamog.
Rampaging Baloths
With all the land flying into play this guy can get out of hand real quick if not dealt with.
Avenger of Zendikar
Same as above. Both backbones of winning the game with one attack.
Primordial Hydra
A controversial choice for some, but not for me. If it survives for a turn it becomes a huge problem for your opponents. Even more so if it stays on the board for another turn. Often will be the biggest creature on the board by far and is brutal with the card draw and overrun effects in the deck all for a relatively cheap cost. Well worth the risk that it may do nothing.
Utility Creatures
It’s not all about smashing face, drawing cards and making mana. . .
Seedborn Muse
Not a lot of instant effects that can be used effectively with this for its full potential, but the vigilance it gives the decks creatures is worth it alone.
Spike Weaver
Up to three turns of fog. Saves your butt sometimes if your deck is stumbling.
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
A huge mana sink for game winning attacks. Also can be used as an anti land destruction card, or if you’re feeling really evil you can use it in combination with All is Dust.
Misc Permanents
To increase your creature’s effectiveness. . .
Lightning Greaves
An EDH staple, and for good reason. Cheap to throw down, free to equip. This is here to protect important creatures in the beginning of the game where they are most crucial like Azusa, Oracle, Rofellos and Prime Time.
Concordant Crossroads
Cheap haste for everyone, but usually this will help you the most if you play it early and will win you the game later if you dump out a lot of fat.
Eldrazi Monument
The anti-wrath card. If off a Genesis wave you hit it big, but no haste, this will usually keep all that good stuff alive to swing next turn.
Misc Spells
These can basically be called win cons. . .
Overwhelming Stampede
This does HUGE damage. With very large creatures in this deck it’s not uncommon for this to buff all creatures 10+. This turns little tokens into huge damage, and huge creatures into. . . well huge-er creatures.
Triumph of the Hordes
The only source of infect in the deck, but it’s so damn effective. Obiosuly only use it if you are going to be able to kill someone with it. Effectively can be a cheaper Overwhelming Stampede that only has to do ¼ of the damage. My favorite way to take out the biggest threat quickly (blue player).
Rude Awakening
Ramp and Token generation. This card has probably lead to the most interesting and brutal plays this deck is capable of, but unlike most of the deck, using it to full effect takes the most thought. The untap ability works amazing with Rofellos and Vorinclex, with added draw can effectively give you another turns worth of mana and cards to create a huge board presence. The token effect combined with pump effects can bring a win out of nowhere if you just have one creature on board.
Genesis Wave
Aw yes the big green mana standard. Yes this is a game winner, especially if it hits or you have Concordant Crossroads and/or Eldrazi Monument up.
Recursion
Sometimes what you need is in the graveyard. . .
Eternal Witness
Recursion on a stick. The only recursion that can be tutored and works very well with Skullclamp.
Restock
Gets two cards instead of one. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Praetor’s Counsel
The late game comeback card. Sometimes a better topdeck than a Genesis Wave.
Removal
The deck is fast, so removal is light, but potent. . .
Duplicant
Exile on a body. Sometimes that is needed for things like Iona or Avacyn which can be a real thorn in this deck’s side.
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Destroy target permanent? Check. Added removal when it attacks? Check. Indestructible? Check. A mouth-watering target for the likes of Soul’s Majesty and Overwhelming Stampede? Check. Graveyard recursion? Check. This card is almost too perfect for the deck. Just watch out for an early Bribery!
Karn Liberated
Mainly used for exiling two permanents. Exile, not destroy is the best. Like I said, potent removal.
Terastodon
Triple removal and another juicy stampede/draw target.
Silklash Spider
Can effectively block any flying general, and can remove pesky flying blockers.
All is Dust
Gets rid of everything besides artifacts, land and Eldrazi. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Land
Gasoline for your lean green machine. . .
Forest x45
I included so much land over cheap mana generation like Kodama’s Reach and Skyshroud Claim because with Azusa you can do that for free. And with the amount of tutors and draw combined with creatures like Oracle and Prime time you can still find what you need in the deck even though half of it is land. I’m happy to say that the deck has a perfect combination of the draw, tutors and land to hardly ever get mana flooded.
Misty Rainforest and Verdant Catacombs
There to get that extra landfall and library manipulation. Maybe a few fetches more could be used but I find two work out just fine.
Mystifying Maze
There to protect against a big bad attacking creature.
Yavimaya Hallow
Cheap insurance to keep important creatures alive.
Ancient Tomb
Enables turn two Azusa. Worth it just for that.
WEAKNESSES
Mass land destruction? Sometimes. There is plenty of ways to get that land back to get started again, and the deck is half land. What really screws with the deck is the smart blue player, especially if they stick around late in the game. The smart blue player can neutralize your board position with a myriad of ways before you can kill them. Usually not a big problem for this deck since even though it can empty it's hand fast, it can also fill it back up just as fast. Yet against that tricky blue player this is the problem. They will save their counter spell for what you use to fill back up your hand. They will counter your Praetor's Counsel, Harmonize, Sylvan Library etc. And chances are they will have just the kind of card draw and advantage you have, but we don't have the counters. This is why the blue player must be killed fast with extreme prejudice. Don't be afraid to play dirty with an early Terastodon taking out their land or playing Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger asap. You just need to slow them down enough, and hopefully you have more threats than they have answers which you probably will early game, so do what you can to not let them get to the mid/late game!
In my experiences against any deck that doesn't play blue, no matter how much removal they use on you, this deck will be able to come back. And when this deck comes back it'll come back from nothing and win that turn or the next. It can spit out triple digit damage like nobody's business.
NOTABLE EMISSIONS
So that means no. . .
Crucible of Worlds
Storm Cauldron
Wasteland
Acidic Slime
Mwonvuli Acid-Moss
Reap and Sow
Hall of Gemstone
However if you're feeling mean, adding these to the deck can really shut people out of the game quick, epically with some cheap recursion like Regrowth.
Two of the best tutors I did not include since with Survival it requires you to chuck one into the yard, and the deck is not very creature dense. I want to play any creature. With Natural Order I do not own it, but it leads to many unfair plays like an early Terastodon blowing up all of an opponents lands.
Survival of the Fitest
Natural Order
CHANGELOG
+Regal Force
The Wurm was basically a dead card and never fulfilled its original intent - gaining life. It was a defensive card that in a deck like this wasn't needed. Spike Weaver is sufficient enough. Regal Force does everything the Slagwurm was doing in the deck, that is being a overrun and draw target, but also draws cards when it comes into play. Often a lot of cards combined with Avenger of Zendikar with Tooth and Nail.
What really is great about Regal Force in this deck is that I often would find myself with a tutor and no card draw. Before I would just tutor for something to thin the deck out and shuffle it. Now I can tutor for card draw, something I couldn't do before. This alone made him worth it.
GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
WBVish Kal, Blood ArbiterWB
WBRKaalia of the VastWBR
UBGVorosh, the HunterUBG
WRGisela, Blade of GoldnightWR
WUGJenara, Asura of WarWUG
WBGTeneb, The HarvesterWBG
WUBRGHorde of NotionsWUBRG
GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
WBVish Kal, Blood ArbiterWB
WBRKaalia of the VastWBR
UBGVorosh, the HunterUBG
WRGisela, Blade of GoldnightWR
WUGJenara, Asura of WarWUG
WBGTeneb, The HarvesterWBG
WUBRGHorde of NotionsWUBRG
GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
WBVish Kal, Blood ArbiterWB
WBRKaalia of the VastWBR
UBGVorosh, the HunterUBG
WRGisela, Blade of GoldnightWR
WUGJenara, Asura of WarWUG
WBGTeneb, The HarvesterWBG
WUBRGHorde of NotionsWUBRG
Also with Crucible of Worlds, you do not have to do anything degenerate. Crucible can be used in your current deck to reuse your fetchlands and smooth out your draws while adding more land fall triggers. With Azusa out, you can play and crack a fetch 3 times giving 3 land and 6 landfall triggers.
Also, why do you run Darksteel Colossus over Blightsteel Colossus? You run triumph of the hoards, so I'd say that infect is not an issue with you.
G Azusa, Lost but Seeking G
WU Grand Arbiter Augustin IV WU
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftan WBG
B Korlash, Heir to Blackblade B
RU Tibor and Lumia RU
'He tasks me! He tasks me, and I shall have him!' - Khan Noonien Singh
R.I.P. Sundering Titan (6/20/12) and Braids, Cabal Minion (9/12/14)
Is there a reason not to play with with Winter Orb (other than the "hate" of course)?
Also, needs more Winter Orb! lol..
I've often contemplated taking Azusa in an all-out stax direction. You could wreck so much face. If only artifacts were more reliably attainable in green...
R.I.P. Sundering Titan (6/20/12) and Braids, Cabal Minion (9/12/14)
True enough...
I suppose it is a bit underwhelming in mono green.
Well, I mean, I love Winter Orb, but when you can't control when you get it online, you're liable to do more harm to yourself than good.
R.I.P. Sundering Titan (6/20/12) and Braids, Cabal Minion (9/12/14)
Yeah, a GW deck seems perfectly suited to abuse it with Seedborn, but mono-green's lack of artifact control diminishes its uses here.
With Chancellor of the Tangle in your deck, this is just another turn 1 power play you can make. With Azusa's ability, you will always be able to drop the land he draws, so after the initial investment of 1G, you are getting a free forest and mini dredge every turn with no downside. Needless to say, this is very powerful with Eternal Witness, Restock, Praetor's Counsel, Lotus Cobra, Rampaging Baloths, and Avenger of Zendikar.
If you have topdeck manipulation out, you can also activate Hermit Druid to mill a Kozilek or Ulamog and protect your graveyard from exile at instant speed, or just replenish your library.
Another card I've come to love in Azusa that I never see is Eldrazi Conscription. People are usually afraid of being 2-for-1ed, so they don't run it, but in a deck like this, where you have a small, inexpensive general that is not very useful at some points in the game, plus lots of ramp and creatures, it fits perfectly. Even if they kill Azusa or the the Fierce Empath or Lotus Cobra or whatever in response, they weren't very useful anymore anyway. It also allows you to pull out general damage kills, especially if you're protecting Azusa with Swiftfoot Boots or Eldrazi Monument or something.
Mono Red's Strengths and Mono White's Strengths
She works very well. Since this is an aggro deck anything that can give you pseudo vigilance is great since it lets you attack without worry. You're right about the extra mana not being utilized as well as it could with say and Omnath deck. However in experience I have made great use of it with creatures activated abilities, instants and things like Mind's Eye. The deck isn't really designed to abusive it to it's full potential, but as long as you have a threat out or one of the above along with it, it's always worth it.
I used to have him in there but I think I took him out for Karn. Karn exiles and can be used more than twice sometimes. It's one of the cards that is on the cusp of going in, but I find myself really not needing to kill permanents often because the deck is fast and usually just gets through whatever obstacle with overwhelming force. If not All is Dust usually is the best answer.
Eh. . . I can see that with Crucible, but then I would have to add more fetches, which might not be a bad idea. The thing is that I am never really short of mana or land to play. It's really running consistently. I sold mine anyway lol.
Wow. Another great comment! I was just thinking about Blightsteel once again. The original reason for not playing it is because of things like Bribery. Unless I have a blocker out, which sometimes I don't, it cab be a one-shot. With Darksteel Colossus I have more than a turn to get a blocker and it usually fills it's roll just as well. Darksteel plays wells with the pump effects, including the Triumph.
*****
I also have to make a note that I have lost several games by drawing out my deck with Regal Force and Genesis Wave. Gotta be extra careful!
GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
WBVish Kal, Blood ArbiterWB
WBRKaalia of the VastWBR
UBGVorosh, the HunterUBG
WRGisela, Blade of GoldnightWR
WUGJenara, Asura of WarWUG
WBGTeneb, The HarvesterWBG
WUBRGHorde of NotionsWUBRG