I’ve been looking for a fun, competitive deck to play for a few weeks now, because Delver style decks don’t appeal to me. When I saw Todd Anderson talking about the Naya Pod deck he was running at the invitational I was in love.
I made some minor decklist changes, called some friends for some additional cards and sleeved up 5 minutes before round 1. The deck was super fun, powerful, and consistent. At the end of the night I had taken 1st place with a 7-0-2 record and 25 booster packs.
The Decks I defeated:
Mono Black Zombies, B/R Zombies, Esper Delver, Tempered Steel, Pure Steel Paladin, U/B Control, and Delver.
I am posting here with hopes I can tweak it for continued success. Here are some thoughts on the deck based on Friday Night:
Birds, Pilgrim, Blade Splicer, and Huntmaster are all 4 ofs. They were great in every matchup, and I was never sad to see them. Strangleroot Geist was also a great workhorse and I think 4 is the correct number.
I ended up siding out 2 Birthing Pods, on the draw, in most of the previously mentioned matches. Despite this fact, I was never unhappy to see a Birthing Pod. The interesting thing about Pod is that it has the ability to gain power in multiples. Additionally, this list has more of a chain on the top end with 2 five drops, 2 six drops, and the singleton Elesh Norn. That being said, perhaps dropping to 2-3 pods is correct.
Gavony Township is insane in this deck, however I don’t think the mana base can support 3 colorless producers. This list is heavier on the top end so Gavony isn’t essential for breaking stalemates (such as in Brian Kibler’s list).
Thalia was very good vs. Delver and vs. Control. I really want to find a way to fit a 2nd into the main deck.
I hope this information helps others gain success in the archetype (mainly because my list with 4 pods and Elesh Norn on the top end means smashing the mirror). I would love to get some input from others, because I want to fit in a 2nd Thalia.
I was really happy with the monk. She was a crucial top deck vs zombies in my second match. She allowed me to stabilize vs Falkenrath Aristocrat.
I almost always podded into acidic slime over her, but she shined when i drew her. Also notable is she can buy you a couple turns vs Dungeon Geist, but Archon could simply sit dead.
I cant think of another 5 drop i'd prefer over her.
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-Swizzie
Top 16 GP Miami 2013
Top 4 Florida States 2013
Several PTQ top 8's
Writer for South Florida Magic
I removed monk from my 75 because 90% of the time whipflare kills her
i had a 7/7 monk... whip flare removed huntmaster, token, bird, elf, and both spirits leaving her a 1/1 and died.... vorapede wins in almost every situation vs monk ( except when you need those two flying chump blockers ), it can also be pulled up using GSZ.
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Standard RWGNaya AggroGWR UBZombiesUB BBBFNM Mono-Black ControlBBB
The big thing I've noticed about Vorapede vs. Geist-Honored Monk is that GHM is much better against Delver, which I consider to be my most difficult match-up. Vorapede is probably better against Wolf Run, which is another tough match.. And we can all agree Acidic Slime is always maindeck material, so I'm thinking about actually going 2x Slimes main and keeping one each of the Monk and Vorapede in the sideboard. Swap out for the 2nd Slime as needed. But as Swizzie stated, it's rare that you want to pod into a 5-drop other than Acidic Slime.
The big thing I've noticed about Vorapede vs. Geist-Honored Monk is that GHM is much better against Delver, which I consider to be my most difficult match-up. Vorapede is probably better against Wolf Run, which is another tough match.. And we can all agree Acidic Slime is always maindeck material, so I'm thinking about actually going 2x Slimes main and keeping one each of the Monk and Vorapede in the sideboard. Swap out for the 2nd Slime as needed. But as Swizzie stated, it's rare that you want to pod into a 5-drop other than Acidic Slime.
I have Monk and Slime main with another Slime in the side vs. Wolf Run. Those are my 5 drops.
I played some mirror match games tonight vs the 1st place deck at the invitational, and I must say it was tough. His list is more top heavy with cards like Vorapede and Sun Titan which was just bigger than anything I was trying to do. Then again, a deck like that is going to have a rough time vs Delver.
@ Funeral, perhaps going to 2 slimes isn't a bad idea, although slime is just ok vs some of the agro decks like zombies and Delver.
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():
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-Swizzie
Top 16 GP Miami 2013
Top 4 Florida States 2013
Several PTQ top 8's
Writer for South Florida Magic
I made some minor decklist changes, called some friends for some additional cards and sleeved up 5 minutes before round 1. The deck was super fun, powerful, and consistent. At the end of the night I had taken 1st place with a 7-0-2 record and 25 booster packs.
The Decks I defeated:
Mono Black Zombies, B/R Zombies, Esper Delver, Tempered Steel, Pure Steel Paladin, U/B Control, and Delver.
Here is a link to the top 8 decklists: http://sfl.coolstuffgames.com/2012/03/31/friday-night-magic-top-8-deck-lists-march-30-2012/
The 75 I registered:
4 Avacyn’s Pilgrim
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Blade Splicer
4 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Fiend Hunter
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Acidic Slime
1 Geist-Honored Monk
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Inferno Titan
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
4 Birthing Pod
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Sunpetal Grove
4 Copperline Gorge
3 Rootbound Crag
7 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
3 Hero of Bladehold
2 Celestial Purge
2 Ancient Grudge
2 Ray of Revelation
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Act of Aggression
I am posting here with hopes I can tweak it for continued success. Here are some thoughts on the deck based on Friday Night:
Birds, Pilgrim, Blade Splicer, and Huntmaster are all 4 ofs. They were great in every matchup, and I was never sad to see them. Strangleroot Geist was also a great workhorse and I think 4 is the correct number.
I ended up siding out 2 Birthing Pods, on the draw, in most of the previously mentioned matches. Despite this fact, I was never unhappy to see a Birthing Pod. The interesting thing about Pod is that it has the ability to gain power in multiples. Additionally, this list has more of a chain on the top end with 2 five drops, 2 six drops, and the singleton Elesh Norn. That being said, perhaps dropping to 2-3 pods is correct.
Gavony Township is insane in this deck, however I don’t think the mana base can support 3 colorless producers. This list is heavier on the top end so Gavony isn’t essential for breaking stalemates (such as in Brian Kibler’s list).
Thalia was very good vs. Delver and vs. Control. I really want to find a way to fit a 2nd into the main deck.
I hope this information helps others gain success in the archetype (mainly because my list with 4 pods and Elesh Norn on the top end means smashing the mirror). I would love to get some input from others, because I want to fit in a 2nd Thalia.
Thanks and good luck,
Swizzie
Top 16 GP Miami 2013
Top 4 Florida States 2013
Several PTQ top 8's
Writer for South Florida Magic
:symr::symw:Humans:symw::symr:
4-1-0
:symb::symg:Pod:symg::symb:
19-6-0
I almost always podded into acidic slime over her, but she shined when i drew her. Also notable is she can buy you a couple turns vs Dungeon Geist, but Archon could simply sit dead.
I cant think of another 5 drop i'd prefer over her.
Top 16 GP Miami 2013
Top 4 Florida States 2013
Several PTQ top 8's
Writer for South Florida Magic
i had a 7/7 monk... whip flare removed huntmaster, token, bird, elf, and both spirits leaving her a 1/1 and died.... vorapede wins in almost every situation vs monk ( except when you need those two flying chump blockers ), it can also be pulled up using GSZ.
RWGNaya AggroGWR
UBZombiesUB
BBBFNM Mono-Black ControlBBB
Draft My Cube!
I have Monk and Slime main with another Slime in the side vs. Wolf Run. Those are my 5 drops.
Thanks Hero's of the Plane
Modern
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xRxAffinityxRx
@ Funeral, perhaps going to 2 slimes isn't a bad idea, although slime is just ok vs some of the agro decks like zombies and Delver.
Top 16 GP Miami 2013
Top 4 Florida States 2013
Several PTQ top 8's
Writer for South Florida Magic
However i don't really like Tietze's version. too top heavy. id much rather have an aggro plan.
however i do wanna try Sun Titan instead of Inferno Titan. Not sure which i like more and i wanna try both
Thanks Hero's of the Plane
Modern
-------------
xRxAffinityxRx