UBr Tog

[Klep]

Now, before anyone says anything, I know this is not optimal, which is why I am posting it in this forum instead of the open T1 forum.  

However, seeing as how I still lack Tropical Islands (and Berserk, incidentally) and can't fit them under the local 10-proxy limit, but still want to draw lots of cards and smash face with Tog, I constructed a UBr version to play with.   I've decided to post this partially because I think it's an interesting excersize in the capabilities of our toothy friend, but also because I'm interested in making this stronger.  My meta is currently in a state of flux, so I'd prefer to look at this in terms of the general meta that might be seen at a large tournament.  So, without further ado....

UBr Tog
Manabase:
   1 Black Lotus
   5 Moxen
   1 Mana Crypt
   1 Library of Alexandria
   4 Blue Fetch
   4 Underground Sea
   4 Volcanic Island
   2 Island

Countermagic/Disruption:
   4 Force of Will
   4 Mana Drain
   4 Duress

Draw:
   4 Brainstorm
   4 Accumulated Knowledge
   2 Deep Analysis
   1 Ancestral Recall
   1 Gush
   1 Fact or Fiction

Search:
   3 Cunning Wish
   2 Intuition
   1 Demonic Tutor
   1 Mystical Tutor

Broken:
   1 Yawgmoth's Will
   1 Time Walk
   1 Mind Twist

Kill:
   3 Psychatog

Sideboard:
   1 Blue Elemental Blast
   1 Coffin Purge
   1 Ebony Charm
   2 Fire/Ice
   1 Hibernation
   1 Infiltrate-Who needs Berserk I ask you?
   2 Rack and Ruin
   3 Red Elemental Blast
   1 Skeletal Scrying
   1 Stifle
   1 Vampiric Tutor


And there it is.  Obviously, the biggest loss to the deck in omitting green ins Pernicious Deed.  Not being able to pop a deed to clear an opponent's board can cause this deck to lose games that Hulk would win handily.  Berserk is also a significant loss, but not so much as Deed, because 20 damage can still be reached without too much trouble, it just takes a bit more carefull planning and draw.  This deck is also forced to trade answers like Oxidize and Artifact Mutation for the slower Rack and Ruin.

Clearly this deck is inferior to Hulk.  It goldfishes slower, and it lacks the all-powerfull Deed for a reset button.  However, within those bounds, I'd like to talk about ways of improving this deck that don't involve me giving in and paying Star City prices for Tropical Islands.

[Smash]

What does zerk do? Lets you do 20 damage no matter what is in the way. As a wish target, I think fling would server you better than infiltrate. If they have no blockers, you only need a 10/11 tog. if they do have blockers, you need to make it really big and fling the sucker

(you only really need beserk type action vs aggro. Vs control you don't usually need/want to use it).

[Klep]

What does zerk do? Lets you do 20 damage no matter what is in the way. As a wish target, I think fling would server you better than infiltrate. If they have no blockers, you only need a 10/11 tog. if they do have blockers, you need to make it really big and fling the sucker

I'm failing to see how Fling is any better than Infiltrate for this purpose.  I still need to pump the Tog to 20 damage, and Infiltrate costs only U to Fling's 1R.

[Plainswalker]

Fling lets you only have to pump the tog to ten and then finsh it from there, Infiltrate is just making your 10/11 Tog unblockable and now you have a close to empty hand/graveyard. Am I missing something there or no? Anways since you don't have deeds I suggest you look into old GAT sideboards and take a look at what they used to run, I remember Smother and Submerge, but I don't know how good those would be today. O now I remember, Ensnare wouldn't be bad maybe? I wouldn't normally use it, but it lets your tog swing and fills your hand up.

Also I don't have time to look over your mana base much, but without Trops, you could possibly add a Strip and a Wasteland or two for surprise factor. Just some thoughts off the top of my head anyways, good luck.

[Klep]

Fling
Instant 1R
As an additional cost to play Fling, sacrifice a creature.
Fling deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to target creature or player.

I guess you're thinking that I can swing with the Tog, then throw it?  I guess that would work, I'm surprised I didn't think of that before now.  It wouldn't really change the situation where they have blockers any, but it means I can win that much earlier against control.  I'll have to get my hands on one.

A Strip Mine is probably very much worth it.  I remember a couple situations last night where I would have loved to have one.  Of course, at the time I was thinking I only had 3 Volcanics for some reason.  I think I'll cut one of those in favor of a strip.

[Echo]

Fling takes 9 pumps to make him lethal.

Infiltrate takes 19.

That could be too late. This is why Fling is used in budget builds. But I don't recommend playing Tog if you can't make it of the green variety. If you like Aggro Combo, Try Food Chain Goblins, Gro, or Masknaught.

[Klep]

But I don't recommend playing Tog if you can't make it of the green variety. If you like Aggro Combo, Try Food Chain Goblins, Gro, or Masknaught.

I thought I had made it clear, but I am well aware that this is far inferior to Hulk.  However, I still want to play with Tog right now, as I'm a little bored with Keeper and Control Slaver burned me last week by not performing.  "Play something else" is not exactly constructive criticism.

[firebird365]

I agree with everyone else, you should probably use Fling instead of Infiltrate.

Also, there are a couple things you might want to try out:

First, maybe add a Echoing Decay to the SB? It's not my tech, but it really works wonders against Welders. Also, I would add a Terminate to the SB if you can, maybe remove a Fire/Ice (unless you find yourself boarding the 2nd one in a lot).

Also, I played Tog with R for a little and it benefits from Isochron Scepter better than the other builds. You might want to consider one or two.

[jpmeyer]

Fling sucks.  [card]Ensnare[/card] is better.  You need unblockability more than you need pumping.

[Dr. Sylvan]

I suggest Mox Monkey. Otherwise, you're put in a bad way pretty easily against Slavery. Maybe cut the Mystical Tutor. Also, I think running 22 mana (and only 15 blue!) is crazy, but it really depends on whether you see Wastelands all day long or not. Personally I'd put FoF in the board over Scrying so I could have another blue source maindeck.

About Isochron Scepter, if you try it, the #8 deck here is only describable as "Iso-GAT" (with one Dryad, wtf), but it may contain ideas for you, as the green is not made central to that deck.

[Klep]

I'll take a look at Ensnare too, if I can find one.  I'm far more likely to be able to get my hands on a Fling or something than an Ensnare, as I wasn't playing when Nemesis was released and hence would have to find one at the local store.  The problem I see is that it taps all creatures, which means I have to win with a Time Walk.  With Fling and Infiltrate, I can win this turn, and not next one.

I have played a few games against a deck with Wastelands, and so far they haven't been a problem except when I was already manascrewed.  It is something I'm keeping an eye on though, as having played control decks for much of my time playing the game, going under 24 mana sources makes me uneasy.

Gorilla Shaman I don't think I like.  It's a control card, and will slow the deck down when I really want to just win.  In addition, Slaver looks like it will never be more than a small part of the local meta, with only me and one other guy ever having played it.

Isochron Scepter I don't plan on trying.  I've always said the card needs a deck built for it, and I don't think this is such a deck.

[RoadTrippin]

Shadow Rift is another card strictly better than Infiltrate, as it's +1.5 damage with your Tog.

[Matt]

The problem I see is that it taps all creatures, which means I have to win with a Time Walk.  With Fling and Infiltrate, I can win this turn, and not next one.

Cast it during the declare attackers step, after Psychatog is attacking.

[Klep]

Cast it during the declare attackers step, after Psychatog is attacking.

Oh, very good point.  What is it with my mind these days.  First I miss the bit with fling, now this.  I must be getting daft in my old age (21).