Jacking the Wood

[T-Funk]

I may have put this in the wrong forum, if so sorry and please move to correct forum.

I have been working on a new aggro deck to play at T1 tourneys.  I could use some help and constructive criticism, mostly on sideboard issues.   Please note, I have no power and little money to spend so some card decisions are due to economic constraints and not my stupidity.  Bare in mind though, most card decisions are due to my stupidity so give me some feedback.  In the limited testing I have done, this deck seems to do well against control, mono black, gro, and other aggro.  I have not tested it against combo yet, and fear that that and oath may be the downfall of “Chuck” (the lumberjack).   So without further delay, may I present “Jacking the Wood”.
 

“Jacking the Wood1.5”

//Pain
1x Disintegrate
2x Fireball
2x Incinerate
4x Lightning Bolt

//Draw
4x Sylvan Library
2x Browbeat   (this is half draw half Pain, I choose draw since rarely does anyone take 5)

//Utility
1x Regrowth
2x Naturalize
3x Forgotten Lore

//Creatures
2x Skyshroud Elite
2x Kird Ape
2x Kavu Titan
3x Multani’s Acolyte (Draw as well, but more of a creature)
2x Llanowar Elves
2x Fyndhorn Elves
3x Orcish Lumberjack (The signature guy, poor man’s Lotus)

//Fetch / Shuffle
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Land Grant

//Mana
4x Taiga
6x Forest
5x Mountain

//Sideboard
3x Compost
3x Red Elemental Blast
3x Pyroblast
2x Naturalize
2x Kird Ape (against the mono color decks)

2x unsure
(Possible Viashivan Dragon as a beat, probably not.  Maybe more utility?)


Deck Notes:

Multani’s Acolyte: I am not sure if he is worth it but I have had good success using him so far.  Excellent as a chump blocker, that fills his spot in my hand.

Forgotten Lore:

Forgotten Lore
G
Sorcery
Target opponent chooses target card from your graveyard. You may pay G to have that opponent choose a new target that he or she has not already chosen. Put the last target card in your hand.

I know, I know, this card sucks.  Well…. You may be surprised.  No one counters it, rarely to opponents select the worst card, and it just plan works.  Early in the game there is little in the graveyard, and late in the game you have more mana to get what you want (or atleast something useful).

Orcish Lumberjack:

Orcish Lumberjack
R
Creature – Orc
TAP: Sacrifice a forest to add three mana in any combination of red and/or green to your mana pool. Play this ability as an interrupt
1/1

I love this card. He is not the best creature by any means and in any other deck probably useless, but this guy shines in this deck.  Just like lore no one counters him or kills him (until they see him in action), gets 5 mana on turn 2, and the elves help out with green mana when he sacs forests.

I run so few lands and so much fetch because the deck doesn’t require much land and because cards that shuffle your library while having Sylvan Library out are great.

I think most other card decisions are obvious, but if not let me know.  I would love some feedback on this deck from anyone and everyone. Help me out, please.

Thanks,
T-Funk
 

[Puschkin]

Hm, this is definately the wrong forum since Seriously Casual doesn´t mean "stronger than casual but not competitive compared to others", Seriously Casual is about well thought out Casual decks, be it for multiplayer or the heck of it.
Since this is aimed for serious 1-on-1 play it should be somewhere else. I will move it, the question is to where.
By definition it belongs into the Vintage Forum but they are very competitive there and this deck includes some things they may look down upon. That way this might be better placed in either Casual or the Newbie/Guest Forum. I´d suggest the latter since Casual is more about multiplayer and wicked ideas. I hope you don´t mind if I put into the Newbie/Guest Forum. There are decent posts there and you´ll definately get help, just don´t be afraid about the "newbie" tag, this can mean anything.

Moved to Guest/Newbie Type I\n\n

[BlurredWeasel]

Why only two kird apes maindecked?  Seems like 2/3 beatsticks are really good when you have 4x taiga, and 8x fetch effects.

How often do you get to the 5 mana to make the kavu titan effective?  You seems to have lots of fetch thinning out your deck, meaning less land in the end.  On another note, the 3x fireballs seems a little mana intensive.  Would these slots be better off as two more incinerates and a chain lightning (or cheaper, a shock) to clear the way for your attackers.

I do like the idea of the lumberjack, I always thought that was such a cool card.  Where do you find yourself putting the mana?  

On the sideboard, is your plan to side the apes in for elites?  Because why not run 4x ape MD and 2x Elite, and just side into something else (pyrokinesis vs. aggro decks)

In this deck, apes are just so good, 2/3 for 1....only matched by the mighty straw golem (heh).

-Chris

[Anonymous]

My Humble Opinion

- 3 Sylvan Library ( having multiples in play won't help)
+ 1 Luberjack ( your deck is made to use this guy)
+2 Kird Ape (like Blurred Weasel said...)

You can find better Fatties than Kavu Titan
- 2 Kavu Tatan
-3 Multani's Acolyte
+4 Orgg  ( I've always been partail to this guy-  lumberjack = turn 2 Orgg)
+1 Browbeat

-3 Forgotten Lore  ( really like this card , too- but not in aggro)
+3 Blastoderm

-4 Elves
+4 Eladamri's Vinyard  If you want to play big stuff fast and your using green- go vinyard:

Enchantment for G: At the beginning of each players pre-combat main phase, add GG to that player's Mana Pool.

Your mana 'sinks' for your GG from vinyard are:
4 Browbeat
4 Orgg
3 Blastoderm
2 Mishra's
2 Naturalize
1 Regrowth
4 Land Grant (paid for)

Browbeat is just better than XR spells. Look... browobeat + bolt is the same damage as fireball for 3, but you get 2 extra cards.  

- 2 Fireball
+2 Incinerate
-1 Disentigrate
+1 Browbeat (#4)


-2 Forest
-1 Mountain
+ 2 Mishra's Factory
+1 Wasteland ( you should have more than one- you pick how you want to fit more in)

I hope I didn't warp it beyond recognition. I hope this helps. I tried to keep your basic elements still in the deck. It is still a casual deck- but probably better than before.

Lord Baltimore

[T-Funk]

much for the advice.  I haven't tried any of the suggestions yet, but they seem to be worth testing at the very least.  I have a couple questions and a couple answers:

BlurredWeasel:
“How often do you get to the 5 mana to make the kavu titan effective?”

Very often, 2 lands and a lumberjack = 5 mana.

“On the sideboard, is your plan to side the apes in for elites?  Because why not run 4x ape MD and 2x Elite, and just side into something else (pyrokinesis vs. aggro decks)”

That was my plan, side elites for apes. The elites were to break up the deck a little, but I think that was kind of pointless. I think I am going to just use 4 apes, I think 6 guys 2/3 for 1 is too many.  

Also as for the X spells, I do get the mana to use them though they have not been very useful.  The fireball will probably get axed as you suggested.  That’s for the advice.

Lord Baltimore:
You suggested cutting 3 Sylvans… I agree that 4 is too many, but to play only one? Sylvan is my main draw card with the fetchs as shuffle, I really need to get one in play as early as possible.  Shouldn't I run atleast 2 or 3?

I will test your suggestion though.  Also, you are right about adding another browbeat it works so well in this deck.

I not totally sold on Orggs, then again you are not sold on Kavu Titans.  I like the titans because they give the option of speed or power, and trample is a great ability. What makes Orggs that much better?

Forgotten Lores for Blastoderms???  Tough call, though I really like lores in the early game.  Ill have to play test that one as well.  I think blastoderm may be a worthy creature in the end.

I do not agree with you on the vineyards.  This deck has a good if not great mana base, and by removing the elves you limit the options.  Elves give the deck more flexibility in the end, and I don’t know how useful the vineyards would be.  Let me know if I am over looking something.

Again, thanks for such great suggestions

T-Funk

[GoblinGame]

I have a friend that had a deck based around lumberjack as well... he found that shivan wurm was a good choice for a fattie and it combines well with blastoderm, becuase you can return the blastoderm with the wurm and then recast it with 3 new counters. You might also consider plaing a few fires of yavimia just to kill a bit faster. Thats the only thing i see really aside from what other people have said.
 

[Anonymous]

T- Funk

Sorry if I took your deck too far in a different direction.  I've had very good experinces with vinyard.   I suggest playtesting the deck without the sylvans and the forgotten lores-  replace them with the most useful things you can find. Then see if you miss them.  I like that you have some interesting card choices and you are playing an original deck.