Conley Woods
8/3/2012 11:10:00 AM
With M13 still settling in, and Standard still waiting on a pro level event to usher it in, it is safe to say that the metagame is still a bit up in the air. People are experimenting, making it an optimal time for one of two things. 1) If you are a player that is looking to score some boosters, or maybe win a local event, playing one of the known and strong decks, such as Pod or Delver, will allow you to do just that. Or, 2) if you are in preparation for a larger event in the future, you too can use this time to experiment, and not be punished quite as harshly if your ideas don't hold up, as your opponent's might not either! Today then, we are going to be experimenting!

Recently, we have seen a bit of an influx in the number of different tribal decks running around in Standard. Zombies has been around for a while, but with Humans and Elves both gaining in popularity, along with lesser played tribal decks, such as spirits and vampires, there is actually a good bit of diversity. Today, I would like to take a look at specific cards that might be underappreciated as potential inclusions in current tribal decks, as well as some tribal hand-holds for new tribal decks, that are currently not seeing play. Just because we talk about a potential tribal deck does not mean it is ready for play, but it does mean that there is potential, and if Return To Ravnica brings any gifts with it, a deck might just pop up.

Elves

Carapace Forger

I don't actually think this is that viable, but I figured a mention of this and Ezuri's Brigade was worthwhile. While the effects and size on both of these are quite strong, I just don't think you can reliably deploy 3 artifacts. Elves might want a few equipment or the like, but getting to 3 is quite difficult when you maybe have 3 artifacts in your deck total. A cool thought, but I think we should leave these guys alone.

Copperhorn Scout

This guy use to be a well-played card back when Elves was near the top of the Food Chain, but has fallen off ever since cards like Fauna Shaman rotated out of the format. That being said, one of the cool combos with this still remains in the format in the form of Ezuri, Renegade Leader, so I think this might deserve a second look. This is basically used to untap mana creatures until you find an Ezuri, which allows quite the burst of mana, and then once Ezuri hits play, this allows you to Alpha attack with the team, untap them, and then use all your fresh mana makers to activate Overwhelm a couple of times, ending the game. This may not be as viable as it once was, but I would like to see someone give it a shot.

High Mid Low

Yeva, Nature's Herald

$1.98

$0.50

$0.25

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Yeva, Nature's Herald

This is a new card, so I really can't accuse anyone of running it, but for the most part, hype surrounding this card has been minimal. This does not have any inherent Elf synergies beyond the obviously flash granting, but nothing that is relevant to only elves. That said, this is still a 4/4 for 4 that allows you to do a lot of tricky things. Whether that is picking off a Geist of Saint Traft, setting up a lethal attack while avoiding Day of Judgment or Whipflare, or simply playing around countermagic, this guy can do it all. As we mentioned before, without a true tribal synergy, plus the fact that this is legendary, means you probably won't be packing 4 in elves, but looking at it as a potential Green Sun's Zenith target or something seems legitimate.

Zombies

Butcher Ghoul

This guy might seem like a pile, and for most decks he is, but I was able to play with him for Pro Tour Avacyn Restored in Barcelona, and he was pretty good there. The reason this guy should be a consideration for the Zombie player, is that he works so well against sweepers, and therefore with Gravecrawler. Yes, Geralf's Messenger also does those things, and if you could run 8, you would, but you can't. Instead, this gives you a 2 drop, which you desperately need, while being good with Phantasmal Image or Phyrexian Metamorph as well. Going turn 1 Gravecrawler, turn 2 Butcher Ghoul, turn 3 Geralf's Messenger will actively laugh in the face of sweepers though, which is nice.

Cemetery Reaper

I have seen this make an appearance in a few lists, but it is typically absent. Cemetery Reaper is hardly the best lord of all time, but he does pump up your squad for just black mana, which is a strike against Diregraf Captain. In addition, a one-creature threat can pose problems for decks wanting to get value out of sweepers. You have to answer this or he brings his own army over the subsequent few turns. I think this in small numbers is the way to go, as drawing multiples is pretty bland outside of the global pump and you will want this to be a later play anyway, as your 3-drop priority should be Geralf's Messenger.

Phylactery Lich

He's back! I know this guy saw little love the first time around in Standard, but things are different now which leaves me hopeful. First of all, he is a zombie, and a big, undercosted one that survives sweepers, which is ideal. Of course, the requirement is that you are playing with artifacts, but that brings us into modern day Standard. Zombie Pod is already a well defined deck that plays a central artifact and could tutor this up with ease. I could see this as a 1-of in that kind of deck, or in larger numbers in a more traditional Zombie deck with things like Mortapod in the list. Vapor Snag is annoying, but it will be rotating soon!

Veilborn Ghoul

I will admit, this seems like more of a sideboard option or a 1-of in Birthing Pod lists, but is not good enough to make traditional main decks. Five mana is a lot of mana, but it does give you another recursive threat against control out of the sideboard. As a Pod target, it seems fine although rarely exciting. I think this guy has a lot of potential for constructed, but I am not sure if Zombies is the best fit

Human

Attended Knight

I have seen a few of the new Boros lists that have included this Knight, but it has often been in small numbers and those decks are still the minority. This guy actually provides a lot, even if Blade Splicer makes him look a little worse. This gets benefits from Honor of the Pure on both halves, provides two bodies for Battle Cry, and comes with 2 of that power as a first striker. First strike is surprisingly strong right now, as Attended Knight is able to fight of Strangleroot Geist or Geist of Saint Traft without taking any wounds himself. This might be just under the power level you need to feel comfortable for your 3-drop, but he at least deserves consideration.

Delver of Secrets

...just kidding!

Instigator Gang

I haven't seen any mention of this guy basically ever, and it seems like a bit of an oversight to me. I think the biggest barrier to entry for Instigator Gang is the opportunity cost of running it. Hellrider, Hero of Bladehold, and Hero of Oxid Ridge are all powerful 4-drops that pump up your team in one way or another. All of that said, I think this has a chance of being better than Hellrider in human decks, which is important, because both of the other heroes will be rotating in the near future. If cards like Champion of the Parish are a central part of the metagame come 2 months from now, I can really see Instigator Gang getting a shot in the spotlight.

Kruin Striker

This is another card that has popped up from time to time, but I think in general has been glossed over as an option. This is not the strongest card in a fair Boros deck, where you are casting one guy a turn, but for any version that is producing tokens en masse, this can be quite scary. There is a huge problem for Kruin Striker though, and that is Delver. Gut Shot and Vapor Snag are both pretty big blowouts against a Striker, and those are two very popular cards. But once again, Scars of Mirrodin will not be here for forever, so look for the Striker to get stronger in the coming months.

Other

Bloodline Keeper

Bloodline Keeper has seen its fair share of constructed play, but typically, that comes in the form of some Rock deck, or control deck looking for a win condition against opposing control etc. We have not really seen it used as a true lord, but it does have some huge benefits there. First of all, if you have 5 mana open, this comes down as a Tempered Steel for your Vampires, which is incredibly strong in most cases. As a lone threat, this demands an immediate answer or it will do the job of Cemetery Reaper, only better. I love that this naturally allows you to not overextend, or turns your over-extension into an immediate kill so you don't have to pass the turn into the arms of some sweeper. The reprinting of Vampire Nocturnus is stronger than this most likely, but we might see a 4-2 split or something similar, allowing Bloodline Keeper to keep that bloodline going.

High Mid Low

Vampire Nocturnus

$8.99

$3.78

$3.04

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Vampire Nocturnus

This guy really needs no introduction, but he is back, and ready to lead the fanged ones into combat. Vampires had some of the best aggro creatures of all time the last time Nocturnus was around though. Bloodghast, Kalastria Highborn, Vampire Lacerator; these were powerful cards that just happened to be Vampires. These days, the vampires are a little worse and spread across 2 colors, but Nocturnus might be enough of a push for people to start playing them! If nothing else, I would be sure to pay attention to any and all vampires in Return to Ravnica, as that might usher in a new age for the bloodsuckers.

Immerwolf

It is a little sad that thus far, almost all of the werewolves or wolves decks I have seen have been either a troll, or not very great. Immerwolf is a very powerful card and with enough help, I think he could be a part of a viable constructed deck, and not just a blip on the radar. Wolfir Avenger and Wolfir Silverheart are two of the more powerful cards in Standard, and are both Wolves. The beautiful thing as well, is that werewolves can easily be included to flesh out a proper curve, with cards like Reckless Waif or Wolfbitten Captive being included. R/G aggro tends to have more powerful cards individually right now, but once many of those cards rotate, I think there is a good shot Wolves/Werewolves takes the place of the new R/G deck.

Wrap Up

As Scars of Mirrodin rotates, the themes of Innistrad will naturally get more powerful as the format Shrinks and Innistrad remains the only fully released block. Once that happens, I think a lot of the tribal cards on this list, as well as others, will begin seeing more play to support the tribes of Innistrad. Of course, all it takes is another Elf lord or something in Ravnica to allow some other tribe to be dominant, but only time will tell in that department. Standard continues to take shape and looks like a healthy format for the time being, so get out there and enjoy. Thanks for reading!

--Conley Woods--