Introduction
After jamming WR LD for a while, I feel like its edge in the meta has waned. Goryo's, control piles, Omnath piles - not novel enough for me. Decided to build towards Simic Neoform since Yuuki Ichikawa did well with it at the PT.
- Neoform is the center of the deck. It allows you to tutor creatures into targets that are exactly plus one on mana cost - this is an important restriction. Also there's a +1/+1 counter.
- Allosaurus Rider - the other core piece of the deck. Allows Neoform to tutor into 8-drops. Major deckbuilding restriction, crucially has no ETB that creates an opportunity for opponents to remove A. Rider before casting Neoform.
- Eldritch Evolution - duplicate Neoform effect, with the benefit of being able to tutor for +2 OR less. Saccing 6-drops can grab 7s OR 8s, and allows saccing 7s to get 7s.
- Griselbrand - primary tutor target without additional payoffs in hand
- Ghalta Stampede Tyrant - primary tutor target when payoffs are in hand. Second copy opens up get Ghalta trigger > Summoner's Pact for Xenagos OTK lines.
- Ureni, the Song Unending - unbeatable for Wx and Bx removal decks.
- Atraxa - value 7-target, and a green card.
- Summoner's Pact - tutors for Allosaurus Rider, Xenagos mainly. Can tutor for land drop via Disciple of Freyalise.
- Pact of Negation - free interaction on combo turn, can be drawn into via Griselbrand to protect momentum.
- Consign to Memory - four of. Primarily to counters one's own detrimental Pact triggers, bonus for countering opposing colorless spells & sometimes triggers. Can counter Vexing Bauble trigger.
- Veil of Summer, Nature's Claim - maindeck interaction that are green cards to pitch to A. Rider. Veil of Summer also inhibits opposing Vexing Bauble.
- Planar Genesis - dig spell at instant speed, more importantly a green card.
- Disciple of Freyalise, Bridgeworks Battle - lands that are green cards.
- Generous Ent - green card that can turn into land drop.
- Hooting Mandrills - alternate sac fodder
- Endurance - randomly relevant as graveyard hate, can be used to recycle own graveyard
- Preordain - I think this should be an Abundant Harvest.
- SB Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite- solo wins a few matchups. Aka "big small Elesh Norn"
Swiss
- R1 Michael on Gbw Devoted Druid WW (1-0)
Lose the die roll. This is perfect because I get to draw additional green cards to cast Allosaurus Rider and T2 Neoform into Ghalta, put Griselbrand into play.
Game 2. He makes a bunch of mana but doesn't have enough to win. I misplay Pact of Negation on Torpor Orb, Consign my trigger instead of just Consigning the Torpor Orb. Then find Allosaurus Rider, sac into Elesh Norn. - R2 Jamie on WR Energy WW (2-0)
Win the die roll. This is perfect because it allows me to execute the combo before my opponent can develop a board. Game 1 I keep a hand that just needed a Neoform, had Ghalta & Griselbrand in hand which allowed me to OTK on T2.
Game 2 is a lot rougher. They develop a lot very early w/ lifegain, so I can't just grab Ureni and win, so I grab Ghalta to put Atraxa & bonus A. Rider into play. - R3 Jerry on GC Broodscale WW (3-0)
OTD again. This is perfect. T2 Neoform Griselbrand. He moves to concede but that's premature because I still only have two lands in hand after Neoforming. Go back to my turn, having drawn 14 off Griselbrand. Eldritch Evolution Griselbrand to grab Ghalta, Pact for Xenagos, T3 lethal.
G2 OTD, he mulls to 6 for turn 1 Vexing Bauble. Slows me down. T3 Neoform with Consign trigger and beat him before he's able to Emrakul.
Conclusions
- Deck is not that hard to learn. Worth learning for combo experience & knowing how to interact with it.
- One of the major deckbuilding restrictions is pure quantity of green cards. Hard to cut basically any green spell from the maindeck as a result. Many openers are basically one green card away from just doing the combo.
- As the opposition to Neoform, you should absolutely mulligan any hand that doesn't have interaction, and two pieces + any action will probably get you the win, because Neoform often doesn't have enough resources to remove two hate pieces AND do their thing early.
