The One Drop Zoo

Modern Icbrgr

SCORE: 31 | 19 COMMENTS | 2530 VIEWS | IN 6 FOLDERS


FNM Report: Post Fury Ban —Dec. 21, 2023

Placed 3rd in a field of 7 players (1st place Merfolk, 2nd place Creativity)

Game 1 Vs Rhinos (2-1): Tarmogoyf and Engineered Explosives were the MVPs for these games. Goyf was chonkey enough to stave off a rhino and combat tricks enabled the little beasts to overtake the other. This was a very very fun game.

Game 2 Vs Merfolk (0-2): BAD BAD BAD terrible opening hands mulligan to 5 for both games... game one hit with Spreading Seas and double Tide Shaper and just got run over. Game 2 I sideboard in removal via Lightning Helix/Path to Exile; I put Qasali Pridemage on the bottom of my library and was met with Chalice of the Void on and was brutally reminded of that cards existence. The actual games went hilariously terrible for me but we jammed in a few games just for fun and I won the games that didn't count lol.

Game 3 Vs Jeskai Control (2-0): Long and short of it was I was just able to keep pressure and kill before they could stabilize. They played removal and I was just careful to not overextend but just keep playing threats until it was enough to win.

Magicus says... #1

Yes, it‘s funny until chalice of the void… -a hurt Naya-Zoo-Player

September 2, 2022 2:53 p.m.

Icbrgr says... #2

i hear you Magicus... gotta have those 0 or 2 MV/CMC artifact removal ready... Engineered Explosives, Qasali Pridemage and Destructive Revelry can answer Chalice of the Void but sometimes we just get hosed... it just be like that sometimes lol.

September 2, 2022 2:57 p.m.

Magicus says... #3

Yes, you are absolutely right. But then there are situations were you sideboard ideally to counter chalice and some eldrazi,karn,urza bullshit still breaks your neck. Feels like sideboarding to have a chance to play the game, not like sideboarding to increase your odds. Maybe its not about Zoo but my hatred for Tron :D

Anyways, here is a little sugar from my zoo-experience: - Hex Parasite as another chalice counter in the aggro theme - Revenge of the Hunted as a funny random one-of surprise (Blessings of Nature for a similar style)

September 2, 2022 3:17 p.m.

Icbrgr says... #4

Down with tron and titan I say lol thanks for the tips I'll alit to the primer!

September 2, 2022 3:21 p.m.

Magicus says... #5

I totally forgot to say, nice primer! Sorry about the missing hyperlinks. I tried to link the cards, but it did not work. Last try: Revenge of the Hunted Hex Parasite

September 2, 2022 3:29 p.m.

magwaaf says... #6

Collected company!

September 2, 2022 7:48 p.m.

Icbrgr says... #7

@magwaaf I think Collected Company has a lot of potential however; I don't think it is suitable for the low mana curve gameplan that Drop Zoo is going for... this deck doesn't see or even want to see 4 lands very often. Other Zoo builds with a higher land count and more MV/CMC though I think would be an outstanding inclusion.

September 2, 2022 8:26 p.m.

Mrnibbles57 says... #8

I love low to the ground aggro. May you make control players weep. My only suggestion is more Qasali Pridemage.

October 11, 2022 11:56 a.m.

Icbrgr says... #9

Definitely could opt for more pridemage! Because this is a primer I have ratios and tech choices that can easily be swapped out to run more of them... definitely feels good having mainboard answers for Ensnaring Bridge though!

October 11, 2022 1:53 p.m.

Dragaan says... #10

I realize this is more of a 'just for fun' deck, but it still really should have 4 Pelt Collector in it, ESPECIALLY if you're playing Vexing Devil already. I mean, those cards are bff's so you just gotta do it.

October 12, 2022 3:04 a.m.

Dragaan says... #11

also unsure why Guttural Response... Is being able to cast it off a basic mountain worth using it over Veil of Summer?

October 12, 2022 3:12 a.m.

Dragaan says... #12

also unsure why Guttural Response? Is being able to cast it off a basic mountain (and I guess protection from something like an overloaded Cyclonic Rift or an Aetherspouts..) worth using it over Veil of Summer?

October 12, 2022 3:19 a.m.

Icbrgr says... #13

@Dragaan Great card choices!

Guttural Response vs Veil of Summer is a meta decision for people that contend with nonsense like Gifts Ungiven/Cryptic Command/Archmage's Charm... its more narrow of a card choice but because its a sideboard card when its brought in the hybrid mana of can enable the deck to still make aggressive plays while still having appropriate mana available to cast if applicable. I think for a lot of people Veil of summer is probably a better/more rounded choice though and I should definitely mention it and explain this in the primer.

Pelt Collector is another great option that I neglected to mention in my deck description which I will update later on. It feels so so so good to open with and would probably say it is generally a better choice than Kytheon, Hero of Akros  Flip; which frankly is a "win more" card when not just being a fancy Elite Vanguard. My only complaint about the card is that it can feel bad to topdeck but otherwise its outstanding!

October 12, 2022 10:19 a.m.

Dragaan says... #14

Yea, I realize there are some cases where a straight counter (for instants, at least) will protect/prevent things Veil won't. The two things you mentioned are still prevented by Veil, though, I'm pretty sure (?) Veil blocks Cryptic from countering any of your spells, tapping any of your permanents, or bouncing any of your permanents. Doesn't prevent opponent from drawing a card, though (but you get to draw a card as well). I'm pretty sure Veil will stop Gifts Ungiven, as it says "target opponent" and veil gives both your permanents and YOU hexproof from black/blue (again, also drawing you a card). I've never run into this specific interaction online, though, so I'm not positive (correct me if I'm wrong).

At first glance it can be tough to see just how crazy Veil is, but that card feels pretty busted, lol. Again, I understand it doesn't do everything an actual counterspell does, tho.

October 13, 2022 4:06 a.m.

Icbrgr says... #15

Nice catch with gifts! I forgot about the "target" opponent part lol... I'm so used to the first half and then just having the joy of "choosing" lol. No doubt about it is one heck of a card!

October 13, 2022 8:58 a.m.

Dragaan says... #16

Yeah, man.. I mean, at least for me, I really have to sit there for a minute each time I think of using it in any specific scenario, because it works in such a strange way. Even if it didn't cantrip, it would still probably see a decent amt of sideboard play. That's why it's one of those damn $5+ uncommons, lol

October 17, 2022 1:21 a.m.