#surrak and goreclaw

[almostlookedhuman]

[whatsthatmagiccard]

Ongoing list of the cards under the MB2 playtest cards, as per the official card image gallery. Just text. There's so many. Somebody go put these into the Scryfall Tagger like they did last time.

Interestingly, not all cards that directly reference another make the backing card visible as part of the joke (see Intangible Vibes).

If there wasn't a direct reference, usually, they just used the most recent card they had that fit the frame. Unique cards are bolded.

A Girl and Her Dogs + Abbot of the Sacred Meeple + Defender of the Queue + Jeskai Baller + Knight of Lost Causes + Noble Ox + Plain Walker + Sliver of Hope + Tax Taker -> Phyrexian Pegasus (MOM)

Arcanum Things + Avacyn's Collar, the Symbol of Her Church -> Kor Halberd (MOM)

Brigid, Who's Seen Some Stuff -> Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile (LRW)

Champion of the Hareish -> Champion of the Parish (DDQ)

Essence of Ajani + Friarball -> Surge of Salvation (MOM)

Intangible Vibes -> Intangible Virtue (ONC)

Muraganda Eldrazi -> Eldrazi Displacer (OGW)

New Master of Arms -> Master of Arms (WTH)

Alberix, the Trade Planet + Duelist's Convocation International + Heart of a Duelist + Map to Lorthos's Temple + Two by Four -> Temporal Cleansing (MOM)

Blurry Visionary + Catch of the Day + No-Regrets Egret + Panglacial Shinobi + Search Elemental -> Preening Champion (MOM)

Can't Quite Recall -> Ancestral Vision (TSR)

Night of the Flying Merfolk -> Kiora Bests the Sea God (THB)

Subgoyf -> Sharding Sphinx (MOC)

There / They're / Their -> Said / Done (MH2)

(Wisedrafter's Will is inconclusive; digital print)

(Your Wish is My Command is inconclusive)

(Call from the Grave is inconclusive, though likely Call to the Grave (SCG))

Cleaver Blow + Common Black Removal + Halving Season + TL;DR + You Compleat Me -> Vanquish the Weak (MOM)

Creepy Crawler + Lifening Elemental + Magus of the Chains + Pinchy McStingbutt -> Nezumi Informant (MOM)

Lich's Duel Mastery -> Lich's Mastery (DOM)

Liliana's Other Contract / Liliana's Undead Minion -> Grasping Shadows (LCI)

Odric, Lunar Marquis + Toofer, Keeper of the Full Grip -> Syr Konrad, the Grim (likely MOC)

The Many Deeds of Belzenlok -> Rite of Belzenlok (DOM)

Yawgmoth's Day Planner -> Witch's Cauldron (CMM)

All-Star Kicker + Boulder Jockey -> Trailblazing Historian (MOM)

Bolshak Dragon -> Shivan Dragon (M20)

Boltfire -> Firebolt (MH1)

(Dwarven Confluencer is inconclusive)

(Flanking Licid is inconclusive, but likely Convulsing Licid (STH) or Enraging Licid (TMP))

Gobland -> The Autonomous Furnace (ONE)

Immerstum Battlefield + Planeswalkerificate + Snap Judgement + Toddler's Rage -> Volcanic Spite (MOM)

Pyromancy 101 -> Start From Scratch (STX)

Vuzzle Spaceship -> Shrapnel Slinger (ONE)

Wormhole Warp -> Chaos Warp (likely MOC)

(Zone of Flame is inconclusive)

(Built Bear is inconclusive)

Dairy Cow, Flavor Nightmare, Phyrexian Seedling, Spuzzem Strategist, Starting Town NPC -> War Historian (MOM)

Glade of the Pump Spells -> The Hunter Maze (ONE)

Keeper of the Crown / Coronation of the Wilds -> Lovestruck Beast / Heart's Desire (ELD, showcase)

Meandered Towershell -> Meandering Towershell (KTK)

Naturalize 2 -> Naturalize (M19)

Penumbra Umbra -> Penumbra Spider (MM3)

Plant a Sapling / Fully-Grown Treefolk -> Herbology Instructor (MOM)

Questing Cosplayer -> Questing Beast (ELD)

Teferi, Druid of Argoth -> Surrak and Goreclaw (MOM)

The Colossal Dreadmaw -> Colossal Dreadmaw (XLN)

Werewhat -> Tireless Hauler / Dire-Strain Brawler (MID)

Wrenn and One -> Wrenn and Realmbreaker (MOM)

Anax and Cymede & Kynaios and Tiro + Convention Maro + Chea, Friend to Maybe Too Many + Hish of the Snake Cult + Wowzer, the Aspirational -> Niv-Mizzet, Supreme (MAT)

Chatzuk, Mighty Guitarist -> Melira, the Living Cure (ONE)

Don't Worry About It -> Growth Spiral (DMC)

Fludge, Gunk Guardian -> Yargle and Multani (MOM)

Glimpse, the Unthinkable -> Hidetsugu and Kairi (MOM)

Jund 'Em Out -> Rebuild the City (MAT)

Lutri, Pauper Otter -> Lutri, the Spellchaser (IKO)

Mothers Yamazaki -> Djeru and Hazoret (MOM)

Narod, the Beige Flower -> Doran, the Seige Tower (LRW)

Pokey, the Scallywagg + Terry Pin, Turboturtle -> Baral and Kari Zev (MOM)

Rin and Seri, Inseperabler -> Rin and Seri, Inseperable (M20)

Stone Drake -> Halo Forager (MOM)

Wrath of Finkel -> Shadowmage Infiltrator (inconclusive)

Indicate -> Vindicate (EMA)

Kozilek, Compleated -> Kozilek, Butcher of Truth (ROE)

Marchesa's Surprise Party + Rule with an Even Hand -> Sovereign's Realm (CN2)

Omnipresent Impostor -> Farfinder (IKO)

Who's That Praetor? -> All Is Dust (UMA)

Luxior, Ignited -> Luxior, Giada's Gift (SNC)

Microscope -> Urn of Godfire (MOM)

(Mox Poison is inconclusive)

(Orb of Origin is inconclusive)

Runed Terror -> Skittering Surveyor (MOM)

Fetching Garden -> Blossoming Sands (MOM)

Lazotep Archway -> Scoured Barrens (MOM)

Madlands -> Bloodfell Caves (MOM)

Maestros' Totally Safe Hideout + Omenpath to Naya + Processing Plant + Temur Elevator + Under-Construction Skyscraper -> Jeskai Monastery (MOC)

Slumbering Waterways -> Thornwood Falls (MOM)

The Heron Moon -> Geier Reach Sanitarium (CMM)

Value Town / Take a Trip To... -> Swiftwater Cliffs (MOM)

[dailymtgflavortext]

I wanna hear more about your Thromok deck. I had a fling deck based around it, but it was slow and inconsistent and easily disrupted.

Absolutely, here's the deck as it currently stands:

Thromok

Originally the deck made a lot more tokens, but I guess I've sort of veered away from that strategy over the years. Of course there are still some tokens, but it's more about getting things into play and then gobbling them up when you're able to win.

The problem is that Thromok isn't good. Yeah, it gets huge, but without trample, haste, and a way to take out multiple players you're kinda stuck. So buffs like Surrak and Goreclaw, Xenagos, and Giant Ankheg are extremely important. Heart-Piercer Manticore does offer a "fling" strat in there, and Pathbreaker Ibex turns your entire board (or what's left of it) into Thromoks as well.

I've been experimenting a bit with 2-mana mana dorks that tap for 2, and they've been doing okay. A loooong time ago I had more Wood Elves effects to ramp, but they're too slow now to rely on entirely.

Since this deck is entirely creatures and lands, I've also added in a bunch of hate effects for other types. Ruric Thar can be game-warping against some decks (heck, even Magebane Lizard can be), and cards like Arasta and Heartwood Storyteller give you extra value when your opponents do stuff. It's a neat little sub-theme that makes games more interesting.

Finally, and this was the most fun part of building the deck, I got to dig really deep to find weird "instant/sorcery-like effects" to use instead of true instants or sorceries. Sure, technically the Adventure cards have instants attached, but in the deck they're still creatures. But, Trumpeting Carnosaur is also a (bad) Lightning Bolt! Magus of the Order is a (bad) tutor! Generous Patron is a (bad) Divination! Weaknesses are part of what makes a deck fun, and building this way in spite of that has been a blast.

[markrosewater]

The legendary character pairs in MOM seem to be very structured. There are 10 two-color cards and 5 wedge cards, and none of them represent a single plane more than once. But then there's a lone Surrak and Goreclaw in monogreen which also doubles Tarkir's representation. How did this happen?

Surrak and Goreclaw is a Jumpstart card (which do show up in set boosters, but not draft boosters), so it isn't a main set card.

[eclipsemeteor]

I was thinking of saving this till the actual morning, but a 2am post seems about right.

Elder Gargaroth is an absolute beast of a card, coming in at 5cmc, and boasting a chunk of abilities. What’s nice about this design is...that it’s subtle. EDH is often a format with incredibly high ceilings of what can happen, through combos, explosive card interactions and cheated out powerful creatures. This guy simply hits the board a bit more powerful than your average 5cmc. It’s got incremental value that might not warrant a Sword to Plowshares as soon as it hits the table. Obviously, you wanna draw as many cards as possible, but depending on how budget you are, or how you build your deck, you don’t wanna draw unnecessary hate.

this might be a star in standard, but if you’re a budget player or mono green player (thinking Yeva Flash, Surrak the Hunt Caller or Goreclaw), this might make a spot in your deck.

[animar-seal-of-elephants]

My Animar Decklist

A couple people have asked me about my decklist due to my tumblr handle. This is a deck I’ve been building for roughly 5 years and have gotten it to a build I enjoy playing that I feel is both casual and fun. There are many times I have made all of my opponents scoop and times where it just doesn’t work.

Before you try to recommend changes to my deck, consider: 

Yes, I know there  are better cards

Yes, I know there  are ways to make infinite combos

You’re not my mom

Creatures (57)

1 Animar, Soul of Elements 1 Archetype of Endurance 1 Colossal Whale 1 Genesis Hydra 1 Gyre Sage 1 Hooded Hydra 1 Hydra Broodmaster 1 Hydra Omnivore 1 Karametra's Acolyte 1 Master Biomancer 1 Mistcutter Hydra 1 Nimbus Swimmer 1 Primordial Hydra 1 Rattleclaw Mystic 1 Renegade Krasis 1 Sapphire Drake 1 Savageborn Hydra 1 Simic Manipulator 1 Surrak Dragonclaw 1 Vastwood Hydra 1 Yasova Dragonclaw 1 Managorger Hydra 1 Solemn Simulacrum 1 Prime Speaker Zegana 1 Forgotten Ancient 1 Fathom Mage 1 Vexing Shusher 1 Sphinx of Uthuun 1 Vizier of the Menagerie 1 Bane of Progress 1 Herald of Secret Streams 1 Nezahal, Primal Tide 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 1 Apocalypse Hydra 1 Trygon Predator 1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed 1 Stonehoof Chieftain 1 Lifeblood Hydra 1 Reclamation Sage 1 Vigor 1 Primeval Protector 1 Beast Whisperer 1 Sakura-Tribe Elder 1 Willbender 1 The Locust God 1 Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle 1 Garruk's Packleader 1 Molten Primordial 1 Mystic Snake 1 Loyal Guardian 1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma 1 Incubation Druid 1 Birds of Paradise 1 It That Betrays 1 Hydroid Krasis 1 Artisan of Kozilek 1 Nikya of the Old Ways

Enchantments (5) 1 Hardened Scales 1 Inexorable Tide 1 Hadana's Climb 1 Simic Ascendancy

Instants (1) 1 Signal the Clans

Lands (30) 6 Forest 4 Island 3 Mountain 1 Frontier Bivouac 1 Llanowar Reborn 1 Rugged Highlands 1 Stomping Ground 1 Sulfur Falls 1 Temple of Abandon 1 Temple of Epiphany 1 Temple of Mystery 1 Thornwood Falls 1 Breeding Pool 1 Mosswort Bridge 1 Vivid Creek 1 Swiftwater Cliffs 1 Opal Palace 1 Lumbering Falls 1 Command Tower 1 Spire Garden

Planeswalkers (2) 1 Garruk, Caller of Beasts 1 Domri Rade

Sorceries (6) 1 Nissa's Expedition 1 Peregrination 1 See the Unwritten 1 Shamanic Revelation 1 Lay of the Land 1 Cultivate

[atomwalker]

EDH Temur Nuke Salvo

[COMMANDER] 1 Riku of Two Reflections [PLANESWALKERS] 1 Nissa, Steward of Elements 1 Tamiyo, Collector of Tales [CREATURES] 1 Bear's Companion 1 Champion of Lambholt 1 Combat Celebrant 1 Ghalta, Primal Hunger 1 Glowstone Recluse 1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma 1 Heartfire Immolator 1 Leafkin Avenger 1 Mowu, Loyal Companion 1 Nylea's Disciple 1 Pyroceratops 1 Questing Beast 1 Renata, Called to the Hunt 1 Scrounging Bandar 1 Skyship Stalker 1 Sprite Dragon 1 Stormwing Entity 1 Surrak Dragonclaw 1 Syr Faren, the Hengehammer 1 Tangleclaw Werewolf // Fibrous Entangler 1 Temur Sabertooth 1 Territorial Scythecat 1 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling 1 Thunder Drake 1 Tidal Barracuda 1 Trygon Predator 1 Tuskguard Captain 1 Vastwood Hydra [ARTIFACTS] 1 Contagion Clasp 1 Dragon Throne of Tarkir 1 Ghirapur Orrery 1 Lifecrafter's Bestiary [INSTANTS] 1 Chord of Calling 1 Fated Conflagration 1 Fling 1 Inspiring Call 1 Invigorating Surge 1 Krosan Grip 1 Life Goes On 1 Magma Jet 1 Natural End 1 Neutralize 1 Repopulate 1 Sublime Epiphany 1 Trap Essence [SORCERIES] 1 Bolt of Keranos 1 Cathartic Reunion 1 Cultivate 1 Fireball 1 Foresee 1 Mind Spring 1 Nissa's Revelation 1 Thud [ENCHANTMENTS] 1 Branching Evolution 1 Primal Empathy 1 Propaganda 1 Reconnaissance Mission 1 Retreat to Kazandu 1 Rhythm of the Wild 1 Teferi's Ageless Insight [LANDS] 1 Command Tower 1 Cragcrown Pathway // Timbercrown Pathway 9 Forest 7 Island 1 Ketria Triome 9 Mountain 1 Nephalia Academy 1 Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway 1 Rogue's Passage 1 Rugged Highlands 1 Simic Growth Chamber 1 Skyline Cascade 1 Swiftwater Cliffs 1 Thornwood Falls

[markrosewater]

Do you happen to know who came up with Surrak and Goreclaw? What a perfect way to illustrate usual enemies working together against the invaders, while also being funny and bringing back my favorite character from Tarkir. If you do know, please give a major high-five.

Will do.

[markrosewater]

Hi Mark! Is there a chance of us getting showcase treatments for the team-up cards from the March of the Machine Commander decks? Or Surrak and Goreclaw? I love the team-up showcases, but I'm sad there are some that didn't get one.

It’s hard to catch-up on showcase treatments as we tend to rotate what we use, but it’s always a possibility.

[eclipsemeteor]

Let's talk mono green:

Magic has been one of my favorite all time games to play ever since it was properly introduced to me in the summer of 2011. From the intro deck I bought when i was roughly 10/11, to hand me down cards from my cousin and finally the sight that was Moldgraf Monstrosity, I was hooked on Green, and by extension, the overall basis for a lot of my EDH deck building....playing bomb ass creatures.

My appreciation for the color has grown ever since. Even now, most of my assembled decks run green, and attempts to forego subterfuge, removal or counterspells, and goes straight for the jugular.

Yeva was my second commander deck constructed after Odric. I had an extensive pool of green cards that loved to be able to jump in at instant speed for some tricks, interesting interactions or a surprise pump from a Craterhoof on a swing. Since then, the deck has always managed to take shape in some form (originally being the shell for my current main mono green deck Rhonas fight club). I just made her again recently, and with the right components and support, really goes off without colorless spells or artifacts.

Green continues to provide great green legendaries to spice up my decks, adding their own twist to the green formula. Surrak and Goreclaw will always find a slot in mono green, and Rishkar and Gargos are excellent in utility and creature removal respectively. I hope eventually I'll be able to coalesce these creatures into a single deck and show everyone at the table to not mess with a mono color deck.

How has your experience with green faired? Do you love or despise the color? I'd like to hear from you and see what you have to say.