My First Deck--Any Advice?

by JamesDittburner on 23 February 2012

Main Deck (60 cards)

Sideboard (15 cards)

Instants (4)


Artifacts (2)

Submit a list of cards below to bulk import them all into your sideboard. Post one card per line using a format like "4x Birds of Paradise" or "1 Blaze", you can even enter just the card name by itself like "Wrath of God" for single cards.


Deck Description

This is the deck I have with a few cards that I am going to buy. What cards should I add/remove/switch/etc to make my main deck and sideboard better. I am using the Modern format which consists of all Magic sets printed since the introduction of the modern card frame, starting with Eighth Edition and the Mirrodin block. I am using the Modern format because I only play with friends so I don't need it to be tournament ready. Due to the variety of creatures, this deck always plays out differently which keeps it fun and interesting for Casual Play.

Deck Tags

  • Casual

Deck at a Glance

Social Stats

14
Likes

This deck has been viewed 24,588 times.

Mana Curve

Mana Symbol Occurrence

000054

Card Legality

  • Not Legal in Standard
  • Legal in Modern
  • Legal in Vintage
  • Legal in Legacy

Deck discussion for My First Deck--Any Advice?

I think you need more mana ramp. (ie Llanowar Elf, etc.)

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Posted 23 February 2012 at 23:13

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I just added 1x Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary based on your suggestion is that good enough or should I do something more, I'm still pretty new to this. :P

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Posted 23 February 2012 at 23:58

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In a 60 card deck, the possibility of drawing Rofellos/Llanowar is 1 in 20 cards. Meanwhile you're more likely to draw a 5+cost 1 in 6 cards. While you're busy waiting to draw land cards, they'll most likely be nicking you for 3-4 damage a turn. It adds up pretty quickly.

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Posted 24 February 2012 at 09:42

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That makes sense, so I've added 4x Rampant Growth. Is this good or bad? I also don't know too many different cards so if you know one that you would put in please let me know.

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Posted 24 February 2012 at 21:47

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You might like Harrow or Journey to Discovery.
Some people prefer Explore over Rampant Growth. Depending on the situation, they're both good and if you run 1-2 Journey's then running some Explore would be preferred to running all Rampants.

I recommend Harrow so you can use the mana immediately. There are other ways to go like Cultivate but that just reinforces that you want to use Explores since it would be useful.

Also, I just remembered, you might like the Oracle of Mul Daya. You do let your opponent know whats coming to your hand but you play an extra land each turn and you can play the top of your deck if it's a land. Of course combining it with Explore is beastly too.

There are tons of ways to build as a green deck, and the mana ramping comes from all over. It all depends on what you want to do and how you want to do it. I could give you tons of ways to expand onto your deck but unless you see the possibilities of how to use it, it's just a bunch of cards put together. ;)

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Posted 25 February 2012 at 00:49

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Thank you I like all of these card suggestions, you really have been a great help. I think I just need to play some more people now to see how much mana ramp my deck really needs.

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Posted 25 February 2012 at 20:57

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Llanowar Elf is also great, fyi

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Posted 25 February 2012 at 22:46

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I had 2x Llanowar Elf but I replaced them with 2x Noble Hierarch, does the same but has Exalted

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Posted 25 February 2012 at 23:24

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Your deck's shaping up nicely. :)

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Posted 25 February 2012 at 23:44

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Thanks I think so too. Unless someone makes a really good suggestion I think I'm done changing my Main Deck for now until I play with it some more. Now I just have to make my Sideboard. I am really appreciative for all of your help. :)

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Posted 26 February 2012 at 20:01

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Bdrummerb has deleted this comment.

Posted 23 February 2012 at 23:54

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Personally i would have a multicolored (at least 2 colors) deck because the more colors you have the strong they are but it also makes it harder to run

(IE a colorless deck like my myr deck i can get 50 creatures out in the first 3 turns, BUT if you have a 5 color deck the creatures are insanely strong but hard to get out because you have to be more specific)

i would also add a planeswalker

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Posted 26 February 2012 at 02:07

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Well I do plan on getting into multicolored decks but I am still a beginner and I think Green is a good starting color for me. I do like the Planeswalker idea though.

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Posted 26 February 2012 at 07:37

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I think you have to much variety with your creatures, if you want to make it more consistant i would cut the variety by approx half and then have multiples of the creatures selected. Have a good look at all the creatures/enchantments you have and see which ones combo/ work well together early and late in the game. since you are playing lure, i would try and get a few cheap creatures with death touch , the ambush viper is cool and isnt expensive to cast or to buy. i would probably get some more shapeshifters as well as they give you alot of flexibility in attack and defence. finally, if you want to play alot of the heavy hitters, you will need to get a heap of extra mana sources( either lanowar elves) or spells that let you play additional lands.

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Posted 27 February 2012 at 06:03

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Okay so I guess I do have too much variety in my Creatures, I will definitely have less variety in my next decks. I did like the Ambush Viper. As for Mana Ramp I have 2x Noble Hierarch, 2x Explore, and 2x Rampant Growth, what else would you add for Mana Ramp

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Posted 27 February 2012 at 17:10

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Birds of Paradise are nice mana ramper's :)

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Posted 27 February 2012 at 21:54

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I like Noble Hierarch better for this deck because it has Exalted, and I don't need Flying

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Posted 27 February 2012 at 21:57

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i reckon you could use a few Dawntreader Elk's for getting a few more lands. they are cheap to play/buy and you might be able to do some damage before sacrificing him for a land. If drawn later in the game he could also be combo'd with your overwhelming stampede etc. also, id probably rip the 2 fogs out as your deck is largely creature based/aggressive so i think you throw in a couple more enchantments/instants to beef your guys up a bit more

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Posted 28 February 2012 at 01:01

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I haven't found myself being mana screwed with this deck yet but if I do start getting mana screwed I will try out a few Dawntreader Elk's, thanks for this suggestion. As for getting rid of my fogs, I am very hesitant on that because when I face other aggressive decks they come in very handy, but what spells would you suggest swapping them for?

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Posted 28 February 2012 at 19:50

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with only 2 fogs the odds of having one when you really need it are pretty slim anywayz so i would definatly rip them out. You could replace them with amost anything that will complement the creatures you have. If you get a few more tramplers in there, then even 2 more primal bellow's would come in handy. It reallly doesnt matter what you sub in as long as it combo's well with a majority of your creatures. I would also look at the chord of calling as it is a very cool card but having only 1 seems like a waste, either add more in or take it out and replace it another quietes spike as having only 1 means you will have to generally "sell your soul" to be able to draw it when needed.

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Posted 29 February 2012 at 02:43

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Heres a really casual/budget deck i made out of essentially commons that shows how almost and entire deck can combo/jell together without having to load it up with rares. The combo's are simple but effective and might give you a better idea on how to create some within your own deck.
http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=285421

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Posted 29 February 2012 at 02:55

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This deck is actually verry simmilar to my first idea for a deck, except my first idea was G/W.

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Posted 01 March 2012 at 01:40

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I went to your profile to look for it but I guess that you didn't make it on the vault. Do you have any suggestions for this deck? I still don't know to many cards, I just found some creature with cool effects is all.

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Posted 01 March 2012 at 18:53

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I'll push you to the front page :)

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Posted 02 March 2012 at 07:30

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you are so kind :)

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Posted 02 March 2012 at 19:45

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this is really looking like a fun deck, may i suggest an overwhelming stampede to share power if your hydra gets a pacify or prison term on it, and also roughshod mentor, cause who doesn't love giveing all your creatures trample

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Posted 02 March 2012 at 15:27

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I already have 2x Overwhelming Stampede, did you not see that or did you just think that I should add a third? As for Roughshod Mentor I originally had one of those in this deck but then I found Primal Rage
and I liked it better because it was cheaper which meant I could get it out sooner.

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Posted 02 March 2012 at 19:49

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yeah. i missed them lol, >.< i guess you took my advice before i gave it :p

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Posted 05 March 2012 at 16:08

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I would throw some harrows and a few other mana ramps. I would go birds (to put other colors in) and since you have a good side board go with some living wishes. Also since all the creatures, so far, are green toss in a few green suns or something along those lines, maybe a summoner's pact or two, but be careful with them!

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Posted 02 March 2012 at 22:59

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Yes, yes, everyone keeps saying mana ramps, but so far I'm not being mana screwed some how and when I do start getting mana screwed I will add more mana ramps. As for Living Wish I like that card, I do, but it isn't Modern format. Instead of Green Sun's Zenith or a Summoner's Pact I have Chord of Calling which I like better because it is cheaper due to Convoke. I know that I kind of just shot down your suggestions but I really did like them and took them all into consideration. Do you have any more advice?

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 00:00

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Mana ramp is to get shit like Protean Hulk out FASTER, not to make sure you get it. Most games with mono green will become a race, and the faster you get your big, fat creatures out, the more chance you have of winning. As for GSZ/Chord of Calling, they aren't fast enough. They make things cost more, and the Chord doesn't let you attack.

I'm not sure about this, but Protean Hulk might be banned in modern, so that would be straight up casual.

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 00:18

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Okay so I just checked and Protean Hulk isn't banned. Chord of Calling has Convoke so I can cast my creatures for even less than their converted mana cost and I don't need them to be in my hand. What do you mean by "the Chord doesn't let you attack"?

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 00:36

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You have to tap your creatures to use it.

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 01:21

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You don't "have" to tap your creatures but you can "choose" to instead of spending mana, but I do see what you're saying

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 06:16

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wait wait wait...isnt modern only the scars of mirrodin and up?

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 02:28

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No... Modern is from 8th edition and up for core sets and the original mirrodin and up for other sets... It starts when the "modern" card stylings were made.... Correct me if I am wrong though

What you are thinking of is called standard

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 04:04

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ooooh ok thanks im new to tourny play im usually just casual but thats really nice to know

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 16:47

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The deck looks good and if its working and your having fun with it don't change it like you said its casual, I like to have a few casual decks lieing around myself its no fun when you beatstick all your friends all the time with 2nd turn blightsteel collossus.

As far as deck building advice stick with what your comfortable with there's nothing wrong with a mono coloured deck I've got lots, what you want to remember is there's a lot of great cards but not all of them can be included the way I build a deck is actually fairly simple, find a card or combo you want to build around, ill use rampaging baloths as an exp.

First look at the card and find its weaknesses and strengths, in the baloths case its high mana cost and can be easially chump blocked or destroyed be doom blade ext. , it has an abilty with land fall so you need lots of ways to generate landfall exp. Harrow, cultivate, khalni heart expedition, to help keep him on the field use enchantments like canopy cover, then once you have a base deck fill in the blanks to help deal with problems or add cards that compliment or have the same demands of the baloth such as scute mob or in my Green/black demon landfall - ob nixilis, the fallen.

http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=298577

Most importantly have fun and keep it simple good luck with your deck building

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 02:42

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I did build a deck around a game winning combo,

Deck link: http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=302728

I don't have all of the cards yet because it is kind of pricey but it is an awesome deck

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 06:29

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Roffellos can be a very powerful mana ramp kind of card, I've seen how effective he can be in my friends mono green deck which I still have trouble with unless I play either a black or blue deck. Elvish Piper's are really nice to help get out some of the other high-priced behemoths you have out faster, Llanowar Elfs are also a good consideration for early mana and early battlefield control.

Just kinda random input based of what I've seen capable with mono-greens.

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 17:33

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Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is indeed a great card but it isn't Modern format. I do like Elvish Piper I might actually think about adding this card. I like Noble Hierarch better for this deck than Llanowar Elf because it also has Exalted.

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 20:51

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I'd slim it down a bit closer to 60

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 21:57

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It is at 60...?

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Posted 03 March 2012 at 23:39

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If I were to give any advice it would be to limit the "one ofs" which basically means you should probably put more than one copy of the cards that could win the game for you.

Then again though, decks like this are extremely fun because they play differently almost everytime. Green really isn't my colour and it's the only colour I've never had a deck of so I'm not an expert but awesome first deck man :)

A lot better than my first waay back in the day. Oh and welcome to magic :)

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Posted 04 March 2012 at 13:42

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If you want to use quietus spike, I've posted several decks using it in different ways (mainly doublestrike).

www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=296241

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Posted 05 March 2012 at 16:45

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Dear MTGVault Community,

Please look at this deck... actually an advertisement for decks. I want to get this to the front page so we can see more decks hit the front page.

http://www.mtgvault.com/ViewDeck.aspx?DeckID=307378

Thank you for your support,

~TheyCallMeTim...

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Posted 08 March 2012 at 14:53

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I agree with Protean Hulk in this deck you can bring out almost everything in your deck

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Posted 10 March 2012 at 01:36

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