GAT 2010

[honestabe]

Here's a pile of jank I threw together out of boredom a while ago, that for some reason has been putting up some decent results in my testing.

Here's the list and breakdown of the deck:

Creatures:
3x Lorescale Coatl
     -I like him better than goyf.  He gets bigger every turn, and works well with sensei's top.
4x Dark Confidant
     -The draw engine of choise

Instants:
1x Brainstorm
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Gush
     -Still really good in this deck
4x Force of Will
3x Spell Pierce
     -Cheap spell, I'm running them over duresses
1x Mana Drain
1x Rebuild
     -Works better than Hurkyl's, because cycle pumps Coatl
2x Repeal
     -Good overall utility, and pumps Coatl
1x Echoing Truth
1x Darkblast
     -So many decks running creatures, it seems like a good choice
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Mystical Tutor

Sorceries
3x Serum Visions
     -Debatebly worse than Sleight of hand, but it sees 1 card more, and pumps Coatl
1x Ponder
1x Demonic Tutor
4x Thoughtsieze
     -Played over duress, just because there are so many creatures being played right now
1x Regrowth
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Time Walk
1x Merchant Scroll
     -Still snags Ancestral and all the utility cards

Enchantments
1x Fastbond
     -Still nutty in this deck

Artifacts
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Black Lotus
1x Lotus Petal
     -Questionable, but it's been better than I expected so far
2x Sensei's Divining Top
     -Cheap library manipulation, and insane synergy with Confidant and Coatl

Land
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Polluted Delta
1x Flooded Strand
3x Underground Sea
2x Tropical Island
2x Island
1x Forest

Sideboard
4x Nature's Claim  
     -Yeah, it's that good
1x Hurkyl's Recall
2x Sower of Temptation
     -With such a light manabase, maybe it should be Old Man of the Sea, or Threads
3x Yixlid Jailer
2x Relic of Progenitus
     -Synergy with Coatl
1x Diabloc Edict
     -Good for decks that are just gonna try and tinker in sphinx/Oath up a fatty
2x Island
     -Stax is so bad for this deck, it really needs the extra basics


Overall, I beleive the printing of Nature's Claim, and enemy fecthes gives this deck the ability to have a game against Oath and Stax.
Lorescale Coatl has serious synergy and seems to be the weapon of choise.

also, I wanted to fit Frantic Search in there somewhere, but I couldn't find anything to cut.

[xouman]

Lorescale has no synergy with confidant or Sleight of Hand (they don't draw, they put a card on your hand). Try sylvan library instead :p

[Doomsday]

This deck smashed me with TPS last night, badly.  I don't know if it was you though, it has some Draw 1, Scry 2 card in place of Sleight of Hand.

[DubDub]

This deck smashed me with TPS last night, badly.  I don't know if it was you though, it has some Draw 1, Scry 2 card in place of Sleight of Hand.

Serum Visions

[honestabe]

I changed the Sleights to visions for Coatl synergy, plus, you get to see 1 card deeper.

This deck smashed me with TPS last night, badly.  I don't know if it was you though, it has some Draw 1, Scry 2 card in place of Sleight of Hand.

yup, that was me

[Oath of Happy]

Opt is also a nifty option since it lets you keep spell pierce mana open

[honestabe]

Opt is also a nifty option since it lets you keep spell pierce mana open

I'll run a few tests with Opt over Visions (I think Opt will be better), and Sylvan Library over Confidant.

[silvernail]

I recently built up a tog like deck that used fastbond + skullclamp + bloodghast as a draw engine, perhaps that would be useful here too.

[the boogie man]

have you thought about bazaar? it could be good with crop rotation or something. And if I were to play this deck, goyf and coatl would both be maindeck.

[honestabe]

have you thought about bazaar? it could be good with crop rotation or something. And if I were to play this deck, goyf and coatl would both be maindeck.

Yeah, right now, I'm running 3 Coatl and 2 Quirion Dryad.  Not sure if I'd rather have goyf, but he's probably better.  I'll test him over dryad

[Yare]

I'm sure most people know this, but I want to point out that Dark Confidant does not pump Lorescale Coatl because it's not a "draw."

[honestabe]

I'm sure most people know this, but I want to point out that Dark Confidant does not pump Lorescale Coatl because it's not a "draw."

Yeah, I cut him for Sylvan Library.  Not sure if I like it more than confidant, because netting cards with library is a bit ridiculous, but it's out with Coatl, it's nutty

[vassago]

I wouldn't consider threads.....qasali gay pride mage is a major pain in the ass. You know how badly you want to tap three mana & pass the turn yielding no results.     I wouldn't cut "BOB" for Sylvan Library.  Just except the fact he doesn't have synergy with the snake, you'll live I promise.     Like you said, he is the draw engine of choice. 

[honestabe]

I wouldn't consider threads.....qasali gay pride mage is a major pain in the ass. You know how badly you want to tap three mana & pass the turn yielding no results.     I wouldn't cut "BOB" for Sylvan Library.  Just except the fact he doesn't have synergy with the snake, you'll live I promise.     Like you said, he is the draw engine of choice. 

I agree.  Sylvan library just doesn't cut it.  I've yet to have a problem growing Coatl without it, and top does what it does at instant speed, and is cheaper.

[median]

I was playing with something similar (although goyf based) and found berserk to be amazing, have you tried it? At one point I ran a playset, and if I had a four or five power goyf which happened usually on turn four I would berserk twice and win. It was also nuts with dryads.

[vassago]

Didn't see this before, but why the singleton Drain?  Why not Spell Pierce number 4, or Misdirection?  Imperial Seal seems like a better fit thn the lone counterspell.

[DubDub]

In testing Coatl I have found Timetwister to be amazing.  Coatl gets so big without effort that I often find myself just trying to find Time Walk, or Regrowth-Time Walk, or Yawg-Time Walk.  Adding Timetwister gives another way to end the game either with +7/+7 for an alpha strike, or by putting Walk back into your deck.  Twister is much much better with Coatl than it ever was with Dryad.

[honestabe]

In testing Coatl I have found Timetwister to be amazing.  Coatl gets so big without effort that I often find myself just trying to find Time Walk, or Regrowth-Time Walk, or Yawg-Time Walk.  Adding Timetwister gives another way to end the game either with +7/+7 for an alpha strike, or by putting Walk back into your deck.  Twister is much much better with Coatl than it ever was with Dryad.

I've pondered the idea, but I was never sure what to cut.  I'll try to make room for it.

Didn't see this before, but why the singleton Drain?  Why not Spell Pierce number 4, or Misdirection?  Imperial Seal seems like a better fit thn the lone counterspell.

As the game progresses, spell pierce gets worse and worse.  I like to have a 5th hard counter for after my opponent has established a manabase.  If I were running waste/strip effects, I'd probably make it pierce number 4.  I've also thought of making room for misdirection, but I'm still not sure what to cut

[honestabe]

Here's the most updated list

3x Underground Sea
2x Tropical Island
1x Forest
2x Island
4x Misty Rainforest
1x Flooded Strand
1x Polluted Delta

3x Lorescale Coatl
4x Dark Confidant


1x Brainstorm
1x Ancestrall
3x Opt
4x Force of Will
3x Spell Pierce
1x Mana Drain
2x Repeal
1x Echoing Truth
1x Darkblast
1x Smother
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Rebuild

1x Ponder
1x Gush
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Regrowth
1x Yawg's Will
1x Time Walk
4x Thoughtsieze
1x Merchant Scroll

1x Fastbond

1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Black Lotus
1x Lotus Petal
1x Sensei's Divining Top

Confidant>Sylvan Library.  I've never had any problems growing Coatl, and it seems like a win-more card, especially since is doesn't net you any cards.  It really functions as a bad Sensei's Top

Confidant beats, nets cards, and getting him to stick for just a few turns usually results in victory.

Darkblast is basically to take care of other Dark Confidants, or kill my own if need be.
Smother is there to take care of anything else (I'd probably rather play pyroclasm, but the manabase is too light as it is, and I really can't afford to play 4 colors)

Lotus Petal is nutty.  It lets you resolve turn 1 confidant.  That usually results in a win.   Also has synergies with Yawgs will


Edit: Forgot the sideboard

4x Nature's Claim  (Awesome against the decks worst matchups, Oath and Stax.  I even side it in to blow up my own moxen against aggro decks)
2x Island
2x Sower of Temptation  (I still don't like that he costs 4, but I have yet to have trouble casting him)
3x Yixlid Jailer
2x Relic of Progenitus (Cantrips FTW)
1x Diabolic Edict  (Tech for Oath/Tinker targets)
1x Hurkyls Recall

[vassago]

I've also thought of making room for misdirection, but I'm still not sure what to cut

One of mana drain seems meh. Misdirection or Imperial Seal seems a whole lot better than this.  Personally, I would cut Fastbond and Echoing truth for tinker +robot.   

[Ten-Ten]

I have been testing out a similar deck but I find that due to the current restrictions, to focus on Lorescale Coatl means opting for some sub-optimal card choices in my honest opinion. Unless of course you are playing it along side Mystic Remora.
 Lorescale is already one mana slower than lets say Quirion Dryad and Goyf. I find it so much easier to "grow" Quirion Dryad than Lorescale Coatl.
Since you want to grow your snake quicker than just one counter per turn, this leads you to include Opt. Which is ok but could be something so much better, like..Sleight of hand or even serum visions. Since your Snake is already 3cc, I doubt you want to run many sorcery speed draw with Visions...
 Here is my current list and ever shifting sideboard:

Maindeck:
4 polluted delta
1 flooded strand
1 scalding tarn
3 underground sea
2 tropical island
2 island
1 swamp

1 mox sapphire
1 mox emerald
1 mox jet
1 mox ruby
1 black lotus
1 mana crypt
1 tormod's crypt
1 sensei's divining top

1 fastbond
3 quirion dryad
1 tendrils of agony
4 force of will
2 spell pierce
2 duress
2 thoughtseize
1 echoing truth
4 sleight of hand
4 dark confidant
2 repeal
1 gush
1 mystical tutor
1 ancestral recall
1 brainstorm
1 ponder
1 vampiric tutor
1 timewalk
1 merchant scroll
1 demonic tutor
1 regrowth
1 yawgmoth's will
1 sower of temptation

sideboard:
1 Tinker
1 Inkwell leviathan
1 tormod's crypt
1 ancient grudge
2 nature's claim
2 volcanic island
1 Red elemental blast
1 pyroblast
1 mind harness
4 extirpate

I even tried running a singleton Lorescale Coatl and ended up cutting it for the sower of temptation main.
 If you wish to compare notes or ideas and comments feel free to pm me also.

[potato]

Mentioning that sylvan library is like a "bad sensei's top" made me think: what if you put sensei's divining top. You can use it to get extra coatl pumps if you have the mana. This deck also seems like it could support counterbalance like everyone seems to be trying to fit in these days.

[honestabe]

Mentioning that sylvan library is like a "bad sensei's top" made me think: what if you put sensei's divining top. You can use it to get extra coatl pumps if you have the mana. This deck also seems like it could support counterbalance like everyone seems to be trying to fit in these days.

I run a copy of it, and IDK if counter-top is really what the deck wants, but it's worth a test

[honestabe]

So, is this deck good now that it has 4x Preordain?

[honestabe]

7 DUDES

4x Dark Confidant
3x Tarmogoyf

8 ARTIFACTS

5 Moxen
1 Black Lotus
1 Sensei's Top

17 INSTANTS

4 Force of Will
4 Spell Pierce
1 Mana Drain
1 Hurkyls Recall
1 Vamp
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Gush
1 Repeal
1 Nature's Claim
1 Darkblast

15 SORCERY

4 Preordain
1 Timetwister
1 Time Walk
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Ponder
3 Thoughtseize
1 Yawgmoths Will
1 Regrowth

14 LAND

4 Misty Rainforest
3 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Forest
2 Island
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta


Here's the most updated version.  Playing goyf over Coatl, because its probably correct.  Coatl can get bigger, but that doesnt really matter in this format.  Goyf is too easy to cast to not play.  Preordain is just plain shweet. 

[silvernail]

preordain isn't exactly awesome - it's still sorcery speed and only looks 2 deep. Also I would not call a deck with out some of  Quirion Dryad, Psychatog or Lorescale Coatl a GAT deck. The play style isn't the same, and without unrestricted Gush it probably won't be ever again.

The closest I've come to GAT is fastbond + skullclamp + bloodghast.

[honestabe]

preordain isn't exactly awesome - it's still sorcery speed and only looks 2 deep. Also I would not call a deck with out some of  Quirion Dryad, Psychatog or Lorescale Coatl a GAT deck. The play style isn't the same, and without unrestricted Gush it probably won't be ever again.

The closest I've come to GAT is fastbond + skullclamp + bloodghast.

Play it in this deck, it is shweet, I promise.

Also, I've been told towards, the end of the Gush era, players (I guess it mihgt have been just the GGs, idk, I didnt play then) had a lot of success with GAT, with Goyfs over Dryads, so maybe it still is gat (Grow-A-Tarmogoyf)

[scipio]

Also, I've been told towards, the end of the Gush era, players (I guess it mihgt have been just the GGs, idk, I didnt play then) had a lot of success with GAT, with Goyfs over Dryads, so maybe it still is gat (Grow-A-Tarmogoyf)

Yeah, the question of whether to go with Goyf or Dryad never got totally settled.  Growing a Dryad was insane in a format with 4X Brainstorm, 3-4X ponder, 4X Gush, 4X merchant scroll.  Goyf is probably the better choice in today's format.  The main problem is that the "cantrips" needed to go off are in short supply.  The deck could win by going aggro or simply comboing out with 'Tog, Gush and Fastbond.  The end of the gush era was pretty interesting.  Painter.dec and Shops preyed on Tog's flimsy manabase, but at least 3 decks still used the gushbond engine (Gro, Oath, and Gush-Tendrils).