With the new set Born of the Gods going legal in Standard in the next two weeks, let us explore what possible deck upgrades it has to offer. One archetype in particular that I see will benefit from the set are the Red Green decks or popularly known by the Ravnica Guild, Gruul.

Let us start with an updated decklist:

Lands
4 Temple of Abandon
4 Stomping Ground
2 Mutavault
7 Forest
6 Mountain

Creatures
3 Ghor-Clan Rampager
4 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Xenagos, God of Revels
4 Fanatic of Xenagos
3 Sylvan Caryatid
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Boon Satyr

Spells
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Flesh/Blood
3 Xenagos, the Reveler
4 Domri Rade

The Born of the Gods cards added were Xenagos, God of Revels and Fanatic of Xenagos. The playset of the centaur warrior is an upgrade of the previously mana-intensive Kalonian Tusker. Also, Scavenging Ooze was upgraded to the Xenagos God which I think will work well in the deck.

I still went with the Flesh/Blood route so as to give the deck a good reach and finishing spell and of course combo with Xenagos. The walker count is still at seven with set of Domri and three copies of Xenagos, the Reveler. This makes your matchup favorable against most control decks in the metagame.

We have seven mana critters to access to ramp for an early Polukranos or a Dragon as well as getting our walkers work early in the battlefield.

I am considering a maindeck of Mistcutter Hydra with two copies at the least, but for now we’ll just stick with the standard build. Them Hydras will occupy the sideboard for now.

My initial sideboard list would look like this one:

2 Destructive Revelry
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Plummet
4 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Flames of the Firebrand

I’ve checked the new set’s spoiler for Red and Green and saw no probable new sideboard cards to add. Unravel the Æther can be an option in case Gods becomes a popular route in the top decks. We shall see what new deck strategies may arise or if ever this archetype will gain a spot in the coming weeks.

Thanks for reading and until the next post.