Hey all,

I recently tried making a monogreen control deck in Standard.  After systematically searching the interesting card types of green: enchantment, instant, and sorcery, nothing stood out to justify running straight green.  I plan to revisit the idea with an additional color.

For now, I saw an interesting card for the upcoming sets.  While I don't see much artifact action in the general standard metagame, it is something to consider if yours is full of Everflowing Chalice (or any artifact for that matter).

Check it out...


Baloth Cage Trap, outside of its trap cost, is a 4/4 for 5 that can be played at instant speed.  It's slightly overcosted in today's standards (Ravenous Baloth, Obstinate Baloth) in this aspect.

It's the alternative cost that makes this card worth playing.  2 mana for a 4/4?  Yes, please!

I mention Everflowing Chalice since it's a common early play that can help trigger the trap.  If a blue/X control player drops a Chalice on turn 3, this is still an opportune play.  Even if the other player Mana Leaks the trap, that's one less counter to worry about.

Hardcasting it is also an option.  Playing this during the opponent's end of turn step can either threaten 4 damage next turn or bait a counterspell.  A baited counterspell means that an opponent has less lands available during your main phase, providing a possible opportunity for an uncountered spell.

The main problem I see is that everyone and their mother is running Jace, the Mind Sculptor.  That number's only going to rise with the recent showdown of U/B controls between the Guillames at Worlds; the two final decks packed the upgraded Beleren.  All Jace needs to do is plink a counter off himself to dismiss the token into oblivion, making Baloth an easy answer for them.

For a set that's supposed to revolve around artifacts, Scars of Mirrodin hasn't infused the metagame with the card type yet.  I'm hoping that either an innovative mind or Mirrodin Besieged changes that.

Until next time,
@shadowsketched