After spending a lot of the weekend playing MtG at Pre-Release events, there was only one way to spend the Monday afternoon (considering it’s the end of the academic year and I have no classes) playing MtG and particularly because it was…

Before we got into playing Commander I was lucky enough to get some test games of my new Gruul Dino Standard deck in with Andy. This was the deck I mentioned I ended up building real early Saturday.

We played 3 games, lost all 3 but they were not walk overs. Plus I didn’t side board any cards in that may have made a difference. I wanted to get a feel for the deck and how it played. What cards did I think I needed whilst playing? Had I got the mix right?

Overall I was happy with the way the deck worked.

Ok here is the deck tech bit for those interested.

But before I go any further it’s probably best I give my boiler plate get out of jail disclaimer for my decks.

“I’m not claiming these are the best decks in the world, they certainly are not top competitive decks. They are hopefully fun, affordable (subjective I know) decks. I don’t try and keep to a target price point. I try and use as many cards in my collection as possible to keep my costs down. I’m certainly not a master deck builder claiming this deck will win tournaments, if it is fun to play and does it thing then I’ll be happy.“

Creatures:29

4 Marauding Raptor
3 Otepec Huntmaster
4 Raptor Hatchling
3 Ranging Raptors
3 Ripjaw Raptor
4 Shifting Ceratops
3 Charging Monstrosaur
3 Regisaur Alpha
2 Ghalta, Primal Hunger

Spells:10

4 Commune with Dinosaurs
2 Rhythm of the Wild
1 Savage Stomp
2 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds
1 Vivien, Arkbow Ranger

Lands:21

2 Evolving Wilds
8 Forest
1 Lotus Field
7 Mountain
3 Rugged Highlands

Sideboard:15

3 Thrashing Brontodon
3 Grazing Whiptail
3 Adventurous Impulse
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Hijack
1 Savage Stomp
2 Leyline of Combustion

Even though the AMC is 3.49, which is high for me, that’s not really an issue with this deck. Or it’s less than an issue than it could be. With the discount given by huntmaster and marauding I’m playing those more expensive dinos 1 or 2 turns early.

I’m also loving the cost of the deck, which because the app couldn’t price 3 cards is actually slightly more expensive. But still the cost of those cards will be minimal. For me I had the cards already, plus the new ones I pulled or traded on Friday/Saturday. So it’s a free deck for me. Which is nice. Come rotation this deck gets gutted. But in the meantime I think it’s going to be a fun one to play.

I might play around with the Planeswalkers. Vivien Reid for starters should be in this deck. But my only copy was sitting in my Big Green Stompy Commander deck. I’ve always needed a second, but been too tight to splash out the cash for one. The mythic Chandra would be cool to try out. Although thematically she doesn’t fit in with the deck. But I’m getting the impression that if you splash red in a deck she will be an auto include.

The sideboard does need tweaking. The new Tibalt needs adding for those matchups against lifegain decks.

I’m half tempted to try a game or two with leylines not in my colours! Void and Sanctity are powerful cards. It’s not as if you need the mana to play them if they are in the opening hands!

We were down for 6 player Commander. I was playing big green stompy, that had the new hydras added to it, Vivien Reid and Vivien, Champion of the Wilds, Unbound Flourishing and Wilderness Reclamation.

With Doubling Season out I did ultimate Vivien when she was played. That was fun. But one of us was playing a deck way up on the power scale compared to the rest of us. A bit of a dick thing to do really.

But still I did some stuff. Had a good time. Despite the dick stuff from that player. A great relaxed Monday afternoon. A glimpse of retired life. Sadly for now these are few and far apart.