Fun & Jank Episode 46 • MTG Arena Zone

Welcome again to Fun & Jank, Episode 46! Plum right here, and immediately we’re lastly giving one in every of my favourite decks its day within the solar. Historic may not be the primary place you consider for Shamans, however belief me, the tribe’s bought some actual enamel. It’s been flying beneath the radar most of its life, however the latest Arena Anthologies gave us the a lot welcomed (and far wanted) Ignoble Hierarch, a significant improve for the listing.

This one’s been a very long time coming. We’ve performed variations of the listing on stream right here and there, however we’ve by no means actually given it the highlight it deserves. I actually need to give this deck its time within the solar.

Let’s dive in!

The Core

For this episode, I attempted two totally different spins:

At the top of the day, each variations of Shaman tribal share the identical explosive core that I imagine needs to be in each variation of the listing, from Jund, to Gruul, and even Mono-Red (Fanatic of Mogis is a helluva card).

Harmonic Prodigy – One of the most effective playing cards within the deck, and the principle “engine” that results in such explosive turns. Leading with this and following up with any of our different Shamans with an ETB impact is unbelievable worth. It turns Burning-Tree Emissary right into a ritual. it makes Rage Forger put two counters on all our creatures after which makes every of them ping for 2 harm after we swing. Hell, it even makes a complete military of creatures with Seasoned Pyromancer. Can’t go away dwelling with out it.

Burning-Tree Emissary – The traditional free creature. Obliviously sturdy after we can play one into one thing like Goblin Anarchomancer or Elvish Visionary, however it’s even higher in multiples. Like I discussed above, it pairs very properly with Prodigy which lets you chain a number of Rage Forgers or Collected Companies in a single flip.

Rage Forger – Arguably the most effective tribal lords each printed. We need to see this man each single sport. The everlasting buff to our board is nice, however the actual energy comes from his skill to make all our shamans ping for one harm after they assault (word you’ll be able to hit planeswalkers too!). This man goes completely ham with a Harmonic Prodigy out.

No matter the shell, these three playing cards are important to the tribe. They’re non-negotiable. Other items like Elvish Visionary or Seasoned Pyromancer are sometimes your best option by way of “glue” to carry the deck collectively, and also you’ll additionally see them as a part of the core creatures I utilized in each lists immediately.

New Hotness

One of the most important upgrades this deck bought from Arena Anthology 2 is Ignoble Hierarch. It’s all the pieces we needed rolled into one card: a mana dork that’s truly on tribe, fixes our colours for Jund, and sneaks in further harm off of exalted triggers (which additionally get double by Harmonic Prodigy).

Before this, we had been caught with Llanowar Elves, which at all times felt like a little bit of a clunker within the shell — tremendous on flip one, however depressing off Collected Company, and utterly useless subsequent to Rage Forger because it didn’t decide up a counter. Ignoble modifications that dynamic solely. Now our early mana accelerant can be a menace multiplier, and that makes a world of distinction.

Version #1: Arena of Glory

Now I imagine that splashing black ends in the most effective model of the deck, however I used to be all in favour of testing out one other bundle in a Gruul variation.

In concept, the thought was candy: Ogre provides the tribe a burn-like finisher stapled onto a physique, and Arena can grant it haste. I’ve seen others strive Ogre out of their lists, and I used to be at all times eager on its skill to throw harm at creatures or the opponent’s face. It even will get double depth triggers with Harmonic Prodigy out, give us a really very fast clock and much more attain.

In apply, I discovered Ogre to be a contact too sluggish for my liking. He generally felt clunky at three mana, and with out Arena of Glory whereas explosive when it labored, it wasn’t at all times impactful sufficient by itself. Most of the creatures on this deck present a direct ETB impact, and in the event that they don’t, the potential worth they supply outweighs the fee. Ogre then again simply type of sits there when Prodigy or Arena aren’t there to provide it a lift.

That being mentioned, I did actually like the texture of Arena of Gloryin these shells on the whole. Stapling haste onto Rage Forger, Seasoned Pyromancer, or a top-decked Prodigy was useful within the late sport to sneak in these previous couple of factors of injury.

The Gruul construct might completely run scorching and crush folks, however it lacked a number of the flexibility and grind energy that makes the Jund model shine.

Version #2: Jund Shamans

The Gruul model gave us a streamlined manabase and cute syngeries, however splashing one other shade is just about free with Ignoble Hierarch, Cavern of Souls, and Secluded Courtyard thrown into the combination. This archetype will get an enormous stage up by including black within the type of Judith, the Scourge Diva.

I strongly imagine that should you’re not enjoying Judith, you’re not constructing the deck proper. Next to Rage Forger, Judith is the most effective anthem impact we will ask for.

• She punishes board wipes by turning each fallen Shaman into direct harm.
• Her ping skill means your creatures commerce up in fight.
• She punishes board wipes by turning each useless creature into burn.

It will get higher although! Her demise set off additionally will get doubled by Harmonic Prodigy. This is completely filthy in opposition to mass creature removing like Supreme Verdict, and even the annhilator set off from Ulamog as seen within the image beneath.

I had 7 creatures on the board, together with a Judith and a Prodigy, and Ulamog made me sacrifice all of them, which implies I bought to ping my opponent 14 instances throughout their fight step and win! Many video games finish this fashion, the opponent lastly stabilizes with a sweeper, solely to understand Judith made it their demise sentence.

That mixture of aggression and inevitability is what makes the Jund model shine. You nonetheless get the quick tribal synergy core of Burning-Tree Emissary, Rage Forger, and Harmonic Prodigy, however now you’ve layered in Judith, which punishes them for interacting with our creatures

Gameplay

(Note: this isn’t gameplay of my climb to Mythic)

I believe quite a lot of the uncooked energy comes not solely from the creatures on this deck, but in addition its skill to create pseudo-ramp. This is what lets the deck explode onto the board and hold the strain cranked. There’s basically three traces that get you to a Collected Company on flip 3 fairly constantly.

• Ignoble Hierarch: fixes your mana, swings with exalted, and crucially permits Collected Company on flip three.
• Goblin Anarchomancer: the fee discount provides up quick, usually turning your curve into one thing absurd like Ignoble Hierarch → Anarchomancer → Prodigy + Company on flip three.
• Harmonic Prodigy + Burning-Tree Emissary: a flip two Prodigy allows you to generate 4 mana off of Burning-Tree Emissary the next flip, providing you with a flip three Collected Company.

Hitting CoCo on flip three is among the scary issues this deck can do. It will get even crazier while you chain them collectively.

In this match, I landed a flip three CoCo with a second one in hand. I hit Harmonic Prodigy + Burning-Tree which allowed me to solid the second CoCo, into one other Burning-Tree and buddies. I felt unstoppable. Note, that if my opponent had a board wipe like Brotherhood’s End, Judith would find yourself dealing 18 harm and we nonetheless win. Gross.

Of course Harmonic Prodigy additionally permits you to do come loopy issues mixed with Rage Forger. Making all of your creatures ping for 2 harm is insane. And it solely will get crazier while you add a number of copies.

Sideboard

These playing cards are fairly self explanatory:

• Loaming Shaman – Graveyard hate that doubles as a Shaman hit off Company. It’s slower than Relic, however on-tribe means it nonetheless synergizes with Rage Forger and Prodigy.
• Reclamation Sage – Clean reply to artifacts and enchantments. Just environment friendly and sometimes a two-for-one when doubled by Prodigy.
• Bonecrusher Giant – Versatile removing plus an additional menace. Great to usher in in opposition to creature decks or while you simply need to beef up your menace density. Also needed in opposition to Solemnity lock or The One Ring
• Goblin Ruinblaster – Land hate that punishes grasping mana. Control, Three Color Midrange, and Eldrazi are the standard targets for it.
• Klothys, God of Destiny – A grindy powerhouse. Slowly eats yards, pressures life totals, and supplies incidental lifegain. Perfect when opponents board into extra removing.
• Heroic Intervention – The “nope” button in opposition to sweepers and removal-heavy decks. Protects your board and allows you to overextend with confidence.
• Dismember – Cheap, unconditional removing. Lets you commerce up in opposition to larger creatures that your pink/inexperienced burn can’t simply reply.
• Relic of Progenitus – Fast, repeatable graveyard hate. Important in opposition to Phoenix, Persist Combo, Emperor of Bones, and any deck leaning on recursion.

I went fairly generic with my sideboard selections. This combine provides you instruments for each angle: graveyard hate, artifact/enchantment solutions, land disruption, and resiliency in opposition to removing. It’s tight, however versatile.

Closing Thoughts

This has at all times been one in every of my favourite archetypes, so it’s been nice to see Shamans lastly get some new love with AA2 hitting Arena. Ignoble Hierarch is precisely the improve the deck wanted, smoothing out the mana whereas additionally pushing harm in a method the tribe actually appreciates. With that enhance, the deck feels quick, constant, and able to racing even the highest contenders within the format should you line up the suitable hand.

Hopefully extra folks decide it up and provides it a spin. Shamans deserves its fifteen minutes of fame, and I can’t consider a greater time for it to shine.

Thanks for studying.

As at all times be happy to remark and go away any questions you have got beneath! Make positive to return again subsequent week for much more Fun & Jank!

If you need to see these decks in motion, come hang out with me on stream the place we take a look at, refine, and have a ton of enjoyable collectively! (guys plz, im so lonely)

Happy Brewing!