Playing With Pod

[Encaen]

Playing With Pod

Examining some sames and differences between Birthing Pod lists.

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[2xDouble]

I've seen a pretty nasty emergence of mono-Black and B/U Pod decks of late, focusing around the synergy between [mtg_card=Birthing Pod], [mtg_card=Blood Artist], and [mtg_card=Gravecrawler] (and some surprising synergy with [mtg_card=Dross Hopper]). Naturally, [mtg_card=Geralf's Messenger] is a big player, as well as its less powerful (but lovely 4-cost) cousin, [mtg_card=Bloodhunter Bat]. A few higher-up creatures usually chain up to [mtg_card=Wurmcoil Engine] or [mtg_card=Massacre Wurm] for a final push. [mtg_card=Mutilate] and [mtg_card=Killing Wave] make for lovely Black suicide bombs (so long as you have at least one Blood Artist) and creature control, while [mtg_card=Harvester of Souls] adds some extra draw power and Deathtouch-y goodness. ...also [mtg_card=Murder] because, well, [mtg_card=Murder].

I'm working on tweaking it to fit in denial cards like [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] for a little more utility.

 

[Draconalis]

I remember talking about making a pod deck before they were "a thing," but I didn't like that the pod's activation was at sorcery speed. I always felt that might hurt the deck.

But clearly I'm an idiot.

Other than that, I'd always loved the hell outta the pod idea.

 

[Encaen]

I've seen a pretty nasty emergence of mono-Black and B/U Pod decks of late, focusing around the synergy between [mtg_card=Birthing Pod], [mtg_card=Blood Artist], and [mtg_card=Gravecrawler] (and some surprising synergy with [mtg_card=Dross Hopper]). Naturally, [mtg_card=Geralf's Messenger] is a big player, as well as its less powerful (but lovely 4-cost) cousin, [mtg_card=Bloodhunter Bat]. A few higher-up creatures usually chain up to [mtg_card=Wurmcoil Engine] or [mtg_card=Massacre Wurm] for a final push. [mtg_card=Mutilate] and [mtg_card=Killing Wave] make for lovely Black suicide bombs (so long as you have at least one Blood Artist) and creature control, while [mtg_card=Harvester of Souls] adds some extra draw power and Deathtouch-y goodness. ...also [mtg_card=Murder] because, well, [mtg_card=Murder].

I'm working on tweaking it to fit in denial cards like [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] for a little more utility.

I haven't actually seen more than a couple of Zombie Pod lists updated with M13, and I'm pretty excited to hear that the set is seeing some action. I would love to see your final decklist with [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] if you put it online anywhere, as I'm still looking for reliable ways to utilize that guy!

I remember talking about making a pod deck before they were "a thing," but I didn't like that the pod's activation was at sorcery speed. I always felt that might hurt the deck.

But clearly I'm an idiot.

Other than that, I'd always loved the hell outta the pod idea.

Well it would certainly be better at instant speed!

I still find it amusing that half of the Pod lists I see only run 2 of the namesake card. It's great how they've evolved to stop relying on having the pod out to win, and now they're just decks crammed full of value creatures.

 

[Draconalis]

Well it would certainly be better at instant speed!

I still find it amusing that half of the Pod lists I see only run 2 of the namesake card. It's great how they've evolved to stop relying on having the pod out to win, and now they're just decks crammed full of value creatures.

Hell yeah! "Oh, you want to doomblade my creature? Well go ahead... BUT FIRST! *Sac it for generally bigger in some way creature*"

I've seen a Nayapod deck that didn't run any pods.

I was looking it over and thought to myself "Why even call it a pod deck?"

 

[vxicepickxv]

I've seen a pretty nasty emergence of mono-Black and B/U Pod decks of late, focusing around the synergy between [mtg_card=Birthing Pod], [mtg_card=Blood Artist], and [mtg_card=Gravecrawler] (and some surprising synergy with [mtg_card=Dross Hopper]). Naturally, [mtg_card=Geralf's Messenger] is a big player, as well as its less powerful (but lovely 4-cost) cousin, [mtg_card=Bloodhunter Bat]. A few higher-up creatures usually chain up to [mtg_card=Wurmcoil Engine] or [mtg_card=Massacre Wurm] for a final push. [mtg_card=Mutilate] and [mtg_card=Killing Wave] make for lovely Black suicide bombs (so long as you have at least one Blood Artist) and creature control, while [mtg_card=Harvester of Souls] adds some extra draw power and Deathtouch-y goodness. ...also [mtg_card=Murder] because, well, [mtg_card=Murder].

I'm working on tweaking it to fit in denial cards like [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] for a little more utility.

In a zombie pod, I'd rather run [mtg_card=Tragic Slip] because I can avoid little things like indestructible and regeneration for cheap.

 

[TheGuy(wantstobe)]

Playing With Pod

Examining some sames and differences between Birthing Pod lists.

Read Full Article

PODPODPODPODPODPODPODPOD...

What? I like the deck loads Nice writeup on the current standard ones making the rounds though the modern RW pod that uses it to force kiki+resto angel is equally hilarious and deserves a mention

.................
As it's Gamescom I thought I'd share a little spoiler from the trade day today
Deadbridge Goliath 2GG
Scavenge 4GG (exile this card from your graveyard to put x +1/+1 counters on target creature where x is this creatures power. Use this ability only as a sorcery)
5/5

Launch foil and golgari mechanic spoiler for you since I'm a nice guy and all

edit: Currently this makes a prospective Rock deck for after rotation look something like this (Assuming shocks are getting reprints)

Creatures 28
4 Mana dorks
4 Blood Artist
4 Strangleroot geist
3 Wolfir Avenger
3 Geralf's Messgenger
2 Jarad
3 Deadbridge Goliath
2 Wolfir Silverheart
2 Thragtusk
1 Vorapede

Others 8
4 Rancor
4 Murder

Land 24
4 Woodland Cemetery
4 Overgrown Tomb
8 Forest
8 Swamp

Changes to make would be adding some more scavenge guys in at the lower power/converted cost slots to make even better use of the slots as more are spoiled but otherwise you're either bashing fora bunch each turn or sacrificing a guy to Jared and getting in for massive amounts of lifeloss.

 

[2xDouble]

I haven't actually seen more than a couple of Zombie Pod lists updated with M13, and I'm pretty excited to hear that the set is seeing some action. I would love to see your final decklist with [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] if you put it online anywhere, as I'm still looking for reliable ways to utilize that guy!

Shimian Specter is potentially a scary mfer, and fairly fragile, so it tends to eat removal almost immediately... The most reliable use I've gotten out of him so far is to draw attention away from the pod itself and the zombies.

So far, I've had moderate success combining it with Blue for unblockable stuff (particularly [mtg_card=Tricks of the Trade] and [mtg_card=Artful Dodge]), but I run the risk of designing a completely new deck around the Specter instead of taking advantage of Blood Artist's synergy with killing everything and stuff that hurts when it dies/enters.

I wonder if BG or BUG might be viable; deal damage with [mtg_card=Rancor] on the Specter instead...

 

[fanklok]

Have you ever considered delving into the forays of formats other than standard?

 

[Encaen]

edit: Currently this makes a prospective Rock deck for after rotation look something like this (Assuming shocks are getting reprints)

Spoiler

Creatures 28
4 Mana dorks
4 Blood Artist
4 Strangleroot geist
3 Wolfir Avenger
3 Geralf's Messgenger
2 Jarad
3 Deadbridge Goliath
2 Wolfir Silverheart
2 Thragtusk
1 Vorapede

Others 8
4 Rancor
4 Murder

Land 24
4 Woodland Cemetery
4 Overgrown Tomb
8 Forest
8 Swamp

Changes to make would be adding some more scavenge guys in at the lower power/converted cost slots to make even better use of the slots as more are spoiled but otherwise you're either bashing fora bunch each turn or sacrificing a guy to Jared and getting in for massive amounts of lifeloss.

Oh hey, yeah a turn-two [mtg_card=Geralf's Messenger], however rare, seems like it would be pretty amazing. Also, I love the idea of sac'ing Undying stuff with [mtg_card=Rancor] on it to Jarad. That just seems nasty.

My friend's primary deck at the Pro Tour Qualifier was B/R Zombie Pod, with his 4 drop being Olivia Voldaren, with Hellrider also in the deck for those not to be missed alpha strikes. Though his favorite move remains using pod on Gravecrawler, grabbing Blood Artist, then doing it again next turn until his field was full of artists, and his opponent died for doing anything.

That's pretty awesome! I don't think I've actually seen a list running Olivia or Hellrider before, it's always great to see innovation in deck design! I do love all of the Gravecrawler/Blood Artist interactions. I was playing with mono-Black zombies against a Bant flicker deck and they got the [mtg_card=Stonehorn Dignitary] lock out with [mtg_card=Venser, the Sojourner]. Despite never pulling removal for the Dignitary, I managed to drain them out with [mtg_card=Mortarpod] and [mtg_card=Gravecrawler] and a pair of [mtg_card=Blood Artist]s on board.

I haven't actually seen more than a couple of Zombie Pod lists updated with M13, and I'm pretty excited to hear that the set is seeing some action. I would love to see your final decklist with [mtg_card=Shimian Specter] if you put it online anywhere, as I'm still looking for reliable ways to utilize that guy!

Shimian Specter is potentially a scary mfer, and fairly fragile, so it tends to eat removal almost immediately... The most reliable use I've gotten out of him so far is to draw attention away from the pod itself and the zombies.

So far, I've had moderate success combining it with Blue for unblockable stuff (particularly [mtg_card=Tricks of the Trade] and [mtg_card=Artful Dodge]), but I run the risk of designing a completely new deck around the Specter instead of taking advantage of Blood Artist's synergy with killing everything and stuff that hurts when it dies/enters.

I wonder if BG or BUG might be viable; deal damage with [mtg_card=Rancor] on the Specter instead...

If you do throw together a BG Specter/Rancor deck, let me know how it goes for you! Maybe play it like Infect, where you protect your Specter with stuff like [mtg_card=Ranger's Guile] and [mtg_card=Apostle's Blessing]?

Have you ever considered delving into the forays of formats other than standard?

The main problem is that I'm not nearly as familiar with other formats as I am with Standard, and I'd be concerned about disseminating bad information. I'm working with someone from my local judge community to try to get some Legacy content for you guys, though, so keep an eye out in the coming weeks/months!

 

[vxicepickxv]

Oh hey, yeah a turn-two [mtg_card=Geralf's Messenger], however rare, seems like it would be pretty amazing. Also, I love the idea of sac'ing Undying stuff with [mtg_card=Rancor] on it to Jarad. That just seems nasty.

I'll have to see how great the messenger would be with [mtg_card=Disciple of Bolas]. At least 3 cards & 3 life, maybe more with Rancor. Pod into Bolas, stack the pod under the undying, gain 4 life and 4 cards, then get another messenger. Maybe add in Rancor. [mtg_card=Glissa, the Traitor] might be useful in a B/G zombie [mtg_card=Trading Post]/Pod deck.