Melissa DeTora
7/20/2012 10:31:00 AM
Hello everyone! I'm excited to be writing my first article for TCGplayer.com! For those of you who don't know me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa DeTora. I'm a long time player (nearly 15 years) and I've been on and off the Pro Tour since 2003. After taking a year break from competitive Magic in 2011, I returned to the game and managed to qualify for the last two Pro Tours. I ended the year with 17 Pro Points, which was both good and bad. It was good, because it's the best Magic year I've ever had, but bad, because Silver Level in the Pro Player's Club doesn't give me any benefits. This year, my goal is to qualify for the Pro Tour again, and to reach Gold Level. With just two Pro Points earned already, it's going to be a long year.


Today I'm going to talk about one of my favorite Standard decks, Wolf Run Ramp. I really like the deck because it's so powerful against aggressive strategies, and those types of decks can't deal with lots of mass removal and huge creatures. Wolf Run Ramp is very under the radar right now, mostly because Delver and Esper Control decks have gotten very popular. I think the release of M13 will change that. M13 has enough cards to not only make Wolf Run Ramp better, but the reprinting of Rancor gave aggro decks a huge boost as well. If aggro decks are the decks to play, then Wolf Run Ramp will shine again.

First, let's take a look at Wolf Run Ramp pre-M13:

Wolf Run Ramp by Melissa DeTora Main Deck Sideboard 4 Huntmaster of the Fells 4 Inferno Titan 4 Primeval Titan 4 Solemn Simulacrum Creatures [16] 2 Beast Within 3 Bonfire of the Damned 2 Pillar of Flame 4 Rampant Growth 3 Slagstorm 4 Sphere of the Suns Spells [18] 3 Cavern of Souls 4 Copperline Gorge 4 Forest 4 Glimmerpost 2 Inkmoth Nexus 2 Kessig Wolf Run 3 Mountain 4 Rootbound Crag Lands [26] Deck Total [60] 1 Ancient Grudge 2 Beast Within 2 Combust 2 Garruk, Primal Hunter 2 Karn Liberated 2 Naturalize 2 Red Sun's Zenith 2 Zealous Conscripts Sideboard [15] View a Sample Hand! Solitaire this Deck! Click for full deck stats & notes!

This list has quite a few problems. First, it has way too much removal. If you are playing against aggro decks all day that's great. However, once you get paired against a control deck you will get crushed because there are not enough threats to put up a solid fight in the matchup. This deck also struggles against Delver. One of Delver's best cards, Vapor Snag, is amazing against this deck. Sure, you will get some value out of your Titans, but chances are, your opponent will go end of turn Snapcaster a Vapor Snag, untap, swing for lethal. What's worse is when they untap, cast Phantasmal Image on your Titan, and then cast Vapor Snag.

Another problem that this deck has is it doesn't mulligan well at all. You need to keep a hand with a ramp spell, and the deck only has eight of them. If you are forced to mulligan, you have even less of a chance of drawing a ramp spell in your six card hand. The release of M13 has given us some tools to fix most of these problems.

So, what are some of the cards that we should consider for Wolf Run?

High Mid Low

Farseek

$1.01

$0.38

$0.08

Store QTY Price   The End Zone 8 $0.05 NR Store 8 $0.12 GameOnGames 1 $0.15 GameOnGames 5 $0.18 Wooburg 2 $0.18 GameTimeCC 63 $0.19 Comic Asylum 8 $0.20 The Gaming Goat 13 $0.25 Top Tyr Games 8 $0.25 >> View all Prices for Farseek << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Farseek

Farseek can only search for a Mountain, and without Shocklands (hopefully coming soon), Farseek is a very weak replacement to Rampant Growth. I do believe that Farseek plays an important role in Ramp decks. I wouldn't play an entire playset, due to the fact that it can't get Forests, but I do think that increasing the number of ramp spells in the deck is necessary. Having more ramp means less mulligans. I would like to play maybe three Farseek, and cut a few Sphere of Suns. There are times that you will randomly get hated out with an artifact removal spell on the Sphere, and the last thing you want to have happen is get your mana production destroyed.

High Mid Low

Ranger's Path

$0.60

$0.15

$0.03

Store QTY Price   The MTG Place 7 $0.02 The Mana Fix 74 $0.03 The Mana Fix 25 $0.03 Cloak and Dagger 3 $0.04 GameTimeCC 134 $0.04 OldSchoolGaming 40 $0.04 Asgard Games 8 $0.05 IDeal808 49 $0.05 The End Zone 8 $0.05 >> View all Prices for Ranger's Path << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Ranger's Path

Although Ranger's Path is a very slow card, it will ramp you from four to seven mana, allowing you to Green Sun's Zenith for a Primeval Titan as early as turn four. If we were to play this card, it would replace some number of Solemn Simulacrums. I don't think that this card is better than Solemn. I would definitely rather have a 2/2 body and a card than an extra Forest. However, depending on the build of Ramp you are playing, specifically, how important Green Sun's Zenith is to your plan, I could see running one or two.

High Mid Low

Magmaquake

$1.95

$0.39

$0.15

Store QTY Price   The Magic Arena 1 $0.15 NR Store 3 $0.19 Static Age Games 14 $0.20 BuyItNowMTG 1 $0.23 The Card Nexus 8 $0.24 OldSchoolGaming 8 $0.24 Pack Fresh Magic 84 $0.24 GameTimeCC 1 $0.24 Card Titan 12 $0.24 >> View all Prices for Magmaquake << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Magmaquake

It's no Earthquake, but it's pretty close. Right now, there are lots of options for Mass Removal. Slagstorm, Bonfire of the Damned, and even Blasphemous Act are better options than this. It can't hit flyers, which is the main reason why this card won't make the cut. If the metagame shifts and suddenly people are playing decks with multiple Planeswalkers, I could see this card making an appearance.

High Mid Low

Thundermaw Hellkite

$28.88

$15.43

$12.45

Store QTY Price   Top Deck Me 2 $12.45 Buds Place 1 $12.83 Belimos Card Shop 1 $13.08 Top Deck Me 1 $13.11 Manawerx 1 $13.22 Cataclysm Games 1 $13.32 Lucid Gaming 1 $13.40 Geeks MTG 2 $13.40 ChannelFireball 2 $13.49 >> View all Prices for Thundermaw Hellkite << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Thundermaw Hellkite

I remember playing during Onslaught Block. My opponent would think he was in complete control when suddenly, I would tap six mana, slam down a Rorix, Bladewing, and attack for six. Thundermaw Hellkite gives me that same feeling, and I think he can find a home in Ramp. The Hellkite has the added bonus of killing all little flyers and tapping down the big ones. Against Delver, I do see Vapor Snag being an issue with this card, but if you can kill a few Spirit Tokens, then he has done his job.

High Mid Low

Thragtusk

$19.99

$9.95

$5.50

Store QTY Price   AceOfJacks 1 $5.50 DarkVeil Games 1 $6.30 DarkComfypants 1 $6.79 andyspage sales 4 $7.25 Cape Fear Games 1 $7.45 Sylvanica 4 $7.48 West Coast Cards 1 $7.48 Spiritmonger 1 $7.49 Top Deck Cards 1 $7.50 >> View all Prices for Thragtusk << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Thragtusk

Thragtusk is the exact card that Ramp needed. It is great against both of Ramp's problem matchups, Delver and Control, as well as being insane against aggro decks. Gaining five life is a lot of life, and perfect when racing, which is usually what the Delver matchup is all about. It also can't be Vapor Snagged! Well, technically it can, but doing so would be very embarrassing for your opponent, since you will get a Beast Token and gain another five life when you resolve it again. If it resolves against Control, they will have to use two removal spells to deal with it. I like Thragtusk a lot. It's one of the most efficient creatures recently printed, and will definitely be a major player in Ramp.

High Mid Low

Silklash Spider

$1.53

$0.49

$0.15

Store QTY Price   GameLinks 1 $0.15 The Magic Arena 2 $0.24 The Magic Arena 3 $0.25 MTG Sales 1 $0.25 OldSchoolGaming 8 $0.25 HVCCM 1 $0.25 MTG Deals 14 $0.26 MTG Deals 2 $0.26 BuyItNowMTG 1 $0.32 >> View all Prices for Silklash Spider << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Silklash Spider

Silklash Spider is cute, can be searched up with Green Sun's Zenith, and can block and kill flyers. As good as the Spider is, I believe there are better options right now. Corrosive Gale, Stingerfling Spider, and Crushing Vines all require less mana and do not get owned by Vapor Snag. If I'm casting a Green Sun's Zenith for five, I don't see why I would ever get this over a Thragtusk.

High Mid Low

Elderscale Wurm

$4.11

$1.70

$1.05

Store QTY Price   Fateful Software 5 $1.05 NR Store 1 $1.08 The Magic Arena 3 $1.35 JJ Cardstore 2 $1.37 BreakPoint TCG 1 $1.40 GameTimeCC 1 $1.42 Cape Fear Games 1 $1.42 Time Vault Games 6 $1.42 Miniature Exchange 2 $1.43 >> View all Prices for Elderscale Wurm << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Elderscale Wurm

Here's another creature worth considering as a tutor target for Green Sun's Zenith. Remember Worship? As long as you had a creature in play, you basically couldn't die. Elderscale Wurm is very similar to Worship. As long as he is in play, you can't go below seven life. I don't see how a deck like RG Aggro can get around this. Seven toughness is a lot to deal with, and you never have to block with it, since your life total is not ever changing. However, you have to ask yourself, do you really need this card? RG Aggro is going to board in Zealous Conscripts or Act of Aggression, making this card more of a liability than anything. Again, I would rather have a Thragtusk.

High Mid Low

Mwonvuli Beast Tracker

$0.70

$0.19

$0.05

Store QTY Price   Mythic Vault 9 $0.05 GameTimeCC 16 $0.09 TheWarStoreCCG 4 $0.09 IDeal808 60 $0.10 adventuresON 16 $0.10 ChannelFireball 20 $0.10 Pack Fresh Magic 195 $0.10 Geeks MTG 8 $0.10 The MTG Place 8 $0.10 >> View all Prices for Mwonvuli Beast Tracker << Store.TCGplayer.com allows you to buy cards from any of our vendors, all at the same time! Shop, Compare & Save with TCGplayer.com! - [Store FAQ]

Mwonvoli Beast Tracker

This card is worth mentioning because it can search up Primeval Titan, Acidic Slime, or even a good sideboard card such as Stingerfling Spider. However, casting a 2/1 is not something you want to be doing on turn three. It doesn't block well at all, and is a horrible late game topdeck, since you have to wait an entire turn to cast your Titan. This card is strictly worse than Green Sun's Zenith, and I don't think it deserves a slot in Wolf Run Ramp at this time.

Here's how I would build Wolf Run Ramp with M13:

Wolf Run Ramp by Melissa DeTora Main Deck Sideboard 3 Huntmaster of the Fells 4 Primeval Titan 3 Solemn Simulacrum 3 Thragtusk Creatures [13] 3 Beast Within 4 Bonfire of the Damned 2 Dismember 3 Farseek 2 Green Sun's Zenith 4 Rampant Growth 2 Slagstorm 2 Sphere of the Suns Spells [22] 2 Cavern of Souls 4 Copperline Gorge 5 Forest 4 Glimmerpost 1 Inkmoth Nexus 2 Kessig Wolf Run 3 Mountain 4 Rootbound Crag Lands [25] Deck Total [60] 1 Acidic Slime 2 Ancient Grudge 2 Batterskull 2 Blasphemous Act 1 Cavern of Souls 2 Garruk, Primal Hunter 1 Karn Liberated 2 Pillar of Flame 1 Stingerfling Spider 1 Zealous Conscripts Sideboard [15] View a Sample Hand! Solitaire this Deck! Click for full deck stats & notes!

Here's a brief explanation of the card choices:

There is a creature package of four Primeval Titan, three Thragtusk, three Huntmaster of the Fells, and three Solemn Simulacrum. The first distinct change is the lack of Inferno Titan. That may seem strange, but Inferno Titan is terrible against Delver. Sure, it can kill one or two things on the board, including a Delver, but it can't hit a Restoration Angel or a Geist of Saint Traft. Not to mention, Vapor Snag and Phantasmal Image are both great against this card, and Phantasmal Image copying an Inferno Titan can be game winning against Ramp. If there was more aggro decks in the format, Inferno Titan could find a home again, but for now, it's going to sit out. Thragtusk is a great replacement. It solves all of the problems that Inferno Titan created. It's not as good against aggro as Inferno Titan was, but it's still excellent.

The other creature that's noticeably absent is the 1-of Birds of Paradise. Usually, the Birds acts as a ninth ramp spell, however, usually when you Green Sun's Zenith for him on turn two, he just dies, setting you too far behind. If you are playing against a deck with removal, and your opening hand contains Birds as your only ramp spell, you have to mulligan. The Birds got the axe in place of Farseek, so you won't randomly lose a mana source to Gut Shot.

There are two Green Sun's Zenith. Without the Birds of Paradise, Zenith is not a card you want to draw early, because the lowest value for X that you can cast is for is four. Zenith also gets better after board, because you will be bringing in more things to search for. Green Sun's Zenith is not an essential card in this deck, so it's unnecessary to play more than two.

The ramp package includes four Rampant Growth, three Farseek, and two Sphere of the Suns. With the addition of Farseek, you will want to Rampant Growth for a Forest more often than not. The addition of this new ramp spell will hopefully decrease the amount of mulligans you will have to take at the start of the game.

Next up is the removal package. The mass removal includes four Bonfire of the Damned and two Slagstorm. Bonfire of the Damned, while amazing to cast for its miracle cost, is fine to hard cast due to all of the mana that this deck generates, which is why we are maxing out on them. Plus, it feels pretty good to look at your top card, see that it is Bonfire, and flip it over for the win. The other board sweeper we are playing, Slagstorm, is also very important to the deck because it provides a mass removal effect at a much cheaper cost, which this deck sometimes needs.

Our spot removal includes two Dismember and three Beast Within. Dismember is excellent right now, especially with the larger creatures that are being played. Restoration Angel, Golem Tokens, Phyrexian Obliterator, and Wolfir Avenger are just a few of the creatures that Dismember can kill but Galvanic Blast or Pillar of Flame can't. Also because there's a lot more life gain in the deck, the loss of life doesn't hurt as much as it did before. Beast Within is another great removal spell that can hit anything. Not only can it kill things such as Oblivion Ring, Swords, and Planeswalkers, but sometimes your opponent will miss an important land drop and destroying a land or two against a mana screwed opponent is game winning. The Beasts that they will receive are irrelevant because this deck has many ways to deal with them. I personally like it when my opponent double or triple blocks my Primeval Titan, I Beast Within one of the blockers, and I get to keep my Titan and my opponent takes the rest of the trample damage.

Next up is the sideboard. Wolf Run Ramp's weakest matchup is control, so I wanted to focus mostly on that. The Batterskulls, Garruks, Acidic Slime, Zealous Conscripts, and Karn Liberated all come in for the matchup, and the mass removal and spot removal come out. Against control, you really need to play as many threats as possible. Eventually, the control player will run out of answers to your threats, and you will come out ahead. Removal will just clog up your hand and never do anything relevant, so it's best for those cards to not even be in the deck after game one.

The next worst matchup is Delver, so we have a Stingerfling Spider and the Pillars of Flame. Delver is the beatdown in this matchup, so it's important to have ways to deal with all of their threats. There is also another Cavern of Souls so that Mana Leak is less threatening. Depending on the build of Delver you are playing against, Ancient Grudge could also come in.

Against aggro decks, there are Pillars, Batterskulls, and Blasphemous Acts. Sometimes there are huge creatures in play that you just can't kill with a Bonfire of the Damned, such as a paired Wolfir Silverheart. Blasphemous Act takes care of those things quite nicely. Pillars are very cheap and efficient, and can take care of problem creatures such as Gravecrawler, Geralf's Messenger, and Strangleroot Geist.

This sideboard is quite flexible, and there are a lot of cards that are good in multiple matchups. For example, Zealous Conscripts is good against Ramp, but it can also be good against control to get a Planeswalker that's about to go ultimate, or even against Pod or mid-range decks that play big threats. Batterskull is a great card against both aggro decks and control decks. This sideboard plays cards that double up against different strategies, so that you can easily adapt to whatever you are playing against.

Wrapping Up

I think Wolf Run Ramp is an excellent deck to play at your next PTQ, and I hope you give it a try. I'd like to give a special thanks to Jason Liu for helping out with the decklist. Until next time, thanks for reading!

Melissa DeTora
@AllWeDoIsWinMTG on Twitter