Metagame Check- Generator Servant

Metagame Check- Generator Servant

with Samuel Wells

Hello once again!

Samuel Wells here, bringing you another Metagame Check. These next couple weeks I plan on highlighting some cards from M15 that I see breathing new life into decks. Either strategies that have more or less died as the meta has developed or decks that I see as stale ideas that could benefit from getting a reboot of sorts.

My article this week will focus on a deck in the latter category. If you follow Star City Games or Chris Van Meter at all, you will certainly have seen Jund Monsters as a deck that has been highlighted and defended as a top tier deck in this format. And for good reason, the deck has consistently put up good results. If you have read my article last week you will know that I agree with them that this deck is a pillar of the format.

This is a deck that I have had a growing appreciation for the more that I have seen and interacted with it. This growing appreciation had spawned a desire to create my own brew based on the deck.

When M15 was spoiled, one lowly red common stood out as a final piece to the puzzle that motivated me to make a Monsters list.

Here’s my take on the monsters strategy:

4 Generator Servant 4 Elvish Mystic 4 Sylvan Caryatid 1 Scavenging Ooze 4 Polukranos, World Eater 3 Stormbreath Dragon 3 Archangel of Thune 1 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes 2 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion 4 Xenagos, the Reveller 3 Banishing Light 2 Mizzium Mortars 2 Boros Charm

4 Temple Garden 4 Stomping Ground 3 Sacred Foundry 2 Temple of Plenty 2 Temple of Abandon 2 Temple of Triumph 2 Battlefield Forge 3 Forest 1 Plains Sideboard: 1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed 4 Mistcutter Hydra 2 Arbor Colussus 1 Chandra, Pyromaster 2 Nyx Fleece Ram 3 Unflinching Courage 2 Deicide

That’s right. A Naya Monsters list. When you look at what White adds to curve toppers it’s surprising that this hasn’t been seen at higher levels. Powering out an early Elspeth or attacking with an Archangel of Thune on turn 3 can be devastating against some decks. I couldn’t resist adding these cards. White seems to have the most cards that benefit from getting powered out at the cost of card disadvantage. Planeswalkers like Elspeth and Ajani immediately mitigate some of the card disadvantage or the sacrifice of board presence with their abilities. This fact is what drew me to going over to white when I began brewing with Generator Servant.

When I worked on Jund monsters I found myself regularly not having something that I wanted to use my generator mana on. Even the most obvious cards like an early Rackdos’ Return I found to be underwhelming and difficult to get to be alligned at a perfect moment. When I switched over to Naya I was getting more draws where Generator Servant was setting up the grossest turn 3 plays. The switch has given the deck a new look and feel.

The other biggest difference besides the color is the omission of two very strong 3 drops in most monsters lists. The first is Domri Rade and Courser of Kruphix. Domri was almost an immediate cut when the switch to Naya occurred. This is because the possibility of card draw of Domri dropped due to a diversification of threats. Namely, adding more Planewalkers as the lynchpin to the deck. Courser is a later and more questionable cut that I made only after bringing this deck to the Bolt Snap Bolt facebook page. Pete Casella pointed out a line that I had to try myself. Turn 1 Mystic, Turn 2 Servant, Turn 3 Elspeth. At that point, I do not see losing many games from that board state. It takes multiple tools from the enemy to stabilize from that start.

Going back to why I cut Courser for Mystic. Courser is very good at transitioning to the late game or playing a grindy long. While I do value this power, this is not a deck that really shines in the mid-game. A deck running a card like Generator Servant is trying to skip the mid-game and get to the endgame as soon as possible. Adding more acceleration pushes this plan to be more reliable. I can’t rely on the draw fixing of Courser or even the straight up card advantage from Domri in this strategy. I want to get the enemy dead before that begins to matter in the slightest.

The deck can be split into 3 categories. The mana dorks(as I’ve described), The monsters (that give the deck its name), and the bare minimum reactive spells. Ramp strategies generally never want to be the reactive deck. That is why I have decided to go to the lowest count I feel comfortable running and I tried to create a mix that can still be played proactively. The one “reactive” spell that white provides is huge to a deck like this. It is Boros Charm, one of the strongest cards in standard that has seemed to have stopped seeing play. All of the modes are very strong in the deck. The indestructible easily can be the most remarkable blowout against the supreme verdict decks. Especially when they are not expecting it. The double strike gives enormous reach when used on a monstrous Polukranos or a post board Mistcutter Hydra. Even the 4 damage upstairs can be the last touch of reach or to kill a walker before it gets out of hand.

Overall, this deck has proven to be an explosive deck that people are not expecting to play against. Not to mention a very enjoyable deck to pilot. If monsters has been a deck that you have liked since the beginning but you were looking for a new look, Naya may be the answer for a last hurrah before Khans in the fall.

Check in next week, when I prime a deck that utilizes my pick for the best new card from M15, Spirit Bond. Until then, this has been Samuel Wells bringing you the metagame check.