Subject: Deck Workshop: (MonoGreen) Phat 'Trip Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 15:34:22 -0400 From: "James A. Abele III" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Rising to the challenge to find a quality Mono-green deck, I realize any answer must be able to: 1) recover from Perish as quick as possible 2) deal with shadow and flying critters 3) not run out of fuel/cards in the midgame As many have stated on the net, Green has a lot of potential in its cantrip creatures and other effects that produce permanent threats for no card loss. Plus, in the proper deck, the Wildebeests are undeniably an incredible creature easily on par with any power Phattie like Ernie or the Juzzam. By turning his upkeep into an advantage, one can generate significant benefits. Okay, I'm treading on old turf, I know. What does the Phat (can)Trip have to offer you? Here's the trick: How do we exploit this card advantage? Nevinyraal's Disc Disk power adds a huge rest button that ups the power level and staying power of mono-green decks enormously. Okay, Most creatures in this deck have replaced themselves or provide benefits when destroyed, so disking every now and again is not so bad, especially when the beest can return that key critter to your hand before the Big spin, making your opponent's loss more lasting than your own. Eliminate opponent threats and deploy some more phat that is sitting in your hand. Play early defense with walls and life gaining critters and then go for the kill slowly but surely. I'm not advocating fast beatdown here. Yes, I know this is a green deck, but it does not rely on quick mana except in the form of a few Wall of Roots. Play cautiously and mop up the board after the opponent drops his first round of threats. Wastelands, Quicksands, Biskelion, Hurricanes, Molds, and the Sex Monkeys can do some spot removal to kick them while they are down. Lots of cards in hand and a few artifact critters make Perish hurt much less. Here is another little piece of tech that I think has been overlooked: Sylvan Heirophant Much like the Wall of Blossoms, this little guy is a critter that replaces the card that you spent on him. While his demise is necessary to draw the card, the card selection you get for your patience is worth it. All your Wildebeests and Maro get burned or countered? Get another and go to work. Perish? You get your best guy back nect turn. Recycle the biskelion for some creature elimination or suck more life from the spike feeder to live through a big hurricane. Take advantage of the fact that the Heirophant's death will recall a phattie and attack relentlessly with the guy, because the opponent will often let him pass rather than let you regrow a Maro or whatever. Okay, here's the deck. I honestly think that this deck has the muscle to make it big, so I'd appreciate comments and suggestions.Those who say that Green just can't cut it, check it out for yourself and let me know what you feel are the strong and weak points. Phat 'Trip @ the Disk-o-tech ---------------------------- 4 Stampeeding Wildebeests \ The Phat 3 Maro / Trust me, he's always big 2 Wall of Roots 4 Wall of Blossoms \ 4 Sylvan Heirophants > The 'Trips; keep you wired all night long 2 Striped Bears / 2 Uktabi Urangatan 187, fueled by the beest 2 River Boas Surviving a disc can be big 2 Spike Feeder 4 life is nice, +1/+1 a threat if 2 mana available 2 Bottle Gnomes 3 toughness and non green status are helpful 2 Serrated Biskelion removal/ nonperishable 4 Nevinyrral's Disk Take a spin @ the disco when things heat up 3 Hurricanes Game ender and flying defense 2 Creeping Mold Good for what ails ya 4 Quicksand take out shadows and other annoying weenies 4 Wasteland 14 Forests 60 cards total -------------- 29 creatures 9 pure removal cards 22 lands The creeping molds are sometimes overkill and can be too much combined with the wastelands, monkeys, and the disc. Provoke and Giant Growth go nice in these slots too, any othersuggestions? Plus, I have nothing to do on turn 1. Anybody think of a 1cc spell that would fit tight in the deck? Sideboard help strongly appreciated. Why did Green's Tempest hosers have to suck so bad when compared with chill, perish, and light of day? Happy stomping, Ravers. James A. Abele III "Things aren't as happy as they used to be down UVa Phil. Major '98 here at the unemployment office. Joblessness (804)293-8498 is no longer just for Philosophy majors. Useful jaa3m@virginia.edu people are starting to feel the pinch." -- Kent Brockman of The Simpsons