The topic says it all, but let me further elaborate:
Zoo (as in WRG Aggro) seems to be an interesting endeavor, as far as general power level of the possible cards is concerned. What makes me wonder is whether or not the deck can be consistent enough to compete.
If I were to build something like it, I probably would start with a backbone consisting of the following cards:
0cc
Land Grant
1cc
AEther Vial, Berserk, Birds of Paradise, Chain Lightning, Granger Guildmage, Grim Lavamancer, Isamaru, Jackal Pup, Jungle Lion, Kird Ape, Lightning Bolt, Mogg Fanatic, Mother of Runes, Rancor, Savannah Lions, Scorched Rusalka, Skyshroud Elite, Swords to Plowshares, Tarfire, Tithe
2cc
Blade of the Sixth Pride, Dryad Sophisticate, Gaddock Teeg, Goblin Legionnaire, Incinerate, Jötun Grunt, Kami of Ancient Law, Kataki, Lightning Helix, Magma Jet, Price of Progress, Survival of the Fittest, Tarmogoyf, Tin Street Hooligan, Watchwolf, Wild Mongrel, Winter Orb
3cc
Burning-Tree Shaman, Call of the Herd, Magus of the Moon, Stonecloaker, Sword of Fire and Ice, Troll Ascetic
4cc
Armageddon, Giant Solifuge, Ravages of War
5+cc
Exalted Angel, Genesis
Taking into account that this is already about half a deck and I probably want to play at least 33+ lands, even though the deck's mana curve is rather low, testing has to show, what might be good enough to fill the remaining slots.
But the question remains: Is this even a reliable and solid approach towards an aggro deck? In comparison to the "Firesgeddon" deck from the front page the zoo deck has greatly reduced mana cost (and doesn't have to run moxen and similar stuff which quite frankly I started to dislike due to their randomness), but suffers from smaller creatures and as such a - wild guessing at this time - worse matchup against aggro. As such some space could be filled with Loxodon Hierarch and his ilk (maybe even Brion Stoutarm who at least looks rather solid).
Apart from general viability I have some more general questions:
a) Is my assessment of the Moxen correct? Am I correct in excluding them from such a deck due to inherent card disadvantage and randomness?
b) Should all white decks run Enlightened Tutor? I am inclined towards running it, alongside Seal of Cleansing/Primordium and Seal of Fire, to be able to grab random utility and of course the allmighty Survival of the Fittest.
c) Jötun Grunt - Yay or nay? I find it curious that he is so often excluded from the White Weenie decks that seem to be popping up all over the metagame. Is he to inconsistent?
In any case thanks for anyone who replies and hopefully is able to answer my questions.
Zoo (as in WRG Aggro) seems to be an interesting endeavor, as far as general power level of the possible cards is concerned. What makes me wonder is whether or not the deck can be consistent enough to compete.
If I were to build something like it, I probably would start with a backbone consisting of the following cards:
0cc
Land Grant
1cc
AEther Vial, Berserk, Birds of Paradise, Chain Lightning, Granger Guildmage, Grim Lavamancer, Isamaru, Jackal Pup, Jungle Lion, Kird Ape, Lightning Bolt, Mogg Fanatic, Mother of Runes, Rancor, Savannah Lions, Scorched Rusalka, Skyshroud Elite, Swords to Plowshares, Tarfire, Tithe
2cc
Blade of the Sixth Pride, Dryad Sophisticate, Gaddock Teeg, Goblin Legionnaire, Incinerate, Jötun Grunt, Kami of Ancient Law, Kataki, Lightning Helix, Magma Jet, Price of Progress, Survival of the Fittest, Tarmogoyf, Tin Street Hooligan, Watchwolf, Wild Mongrel, Winter Orb
3cc
Burning-Tree Shaman, Call of the Herd, Magus of the Moon, Stonecloaker, Sword of Fire and Ice, Troll Ascetic
4cc
Armageddon, Giant Solifuge, Ravages of War
5+cc
Exalted Angel, Genesis
Taking into account that this is already about half a deck and I probably want to play at least 33+ lands, even though the deck's mana curve is rather low, testing has to show, what might be good enough to fill the remaining slots.
But the question remains: Is this even a reliable and solid approach towards an aggro deck? In comparison to the "Firesgeddon" deck from the front page the zoo deck has greatly reduced mana cost (and doesn't have to run moxen and similar stuff which quite frankly I started to dislike due to their randomness), but suffers from smaller creatures and as such a - wild guessing at this time - worse matchup against aggro. As such some space could be filled with Loxodon Hierarch and his ilk (maybe even Brion Stoutarm who at least looks rather solid).
Apart from general viability I have some more general questions:
a) Is my assessment of the Moxen correct? Am I correct in excluding them from such a deck due to inherent card disadvantage and randomness?
b) Should all white decks run Enlightened Tutor? I am inclined towards running it, alongside Seal of Cleansing/Primordium and Seal of Fire, to be able to grab random utility and of course the allmighty Survival of the Fittest.
c) Jötun Grunt - Yay or nay? I find it curious that he is so often excluded from the White Weenie decks that seem to be popping up all over the metagame. Is he to inconsistent?
In any case thanks for anyone who replies and hopefully is able to answer my questions.