I’m pretty sure at this point most of my readers and painfully aware of my love/hate relationship with Mudpost. The deck has done a lot for me but over time I’ve grown tired of the deck’s inconsistencies and have been searching for something better, recently settling on Infect. However, sometimes Aaron needs our Tropical Islands to run Shadless Pox so I have to pick one of other decks to play. He brewed up a new Mud list that I have been having some success with.
Eldrazi Mud
You’ll quickly notice that this deck is extremely different from any Mud list you’ve probably seen before. It runs no Metalworkers, no Wurmcoil Engines, no Kudoltha Forgemasters. The only artifact creatures in the whole list are in the sideboard. The list is also running several new goodies from Battle for Zendikar including the new Ulamog and Titan’s Presence. The deck’s strategy is still to drop a big fatty quickly but instead goes all in on Eldrazi.
Say hello to my big friend.
The deck still contains the 12 traditional post lands and 3 Cavern of Souls, but you’ll see this deck is less focused on an explosive turn one with lands more focused on helping quickly cast Eldrazi spells. I’m finding I enjoy Eldrazi Temple over Ancient Tomb which lets me have two mana for the spells where I really need it without hitting me for two life every time I use it. Sanctum of Ugin is also wonderful in this deck, especially when paired with Crucible of Worlds. If my opponent swords or counters my creature it isn’t as big a deal since by casting it I’m able to tutor up another. Cutting back on the Ancient Tombs has also helped shore up the Burn match-up which can be challenging at times.
The mainboard creatures are entirely Eldrazi. Conduit of Ruin is definitely underrated. Not only does it give me a 5/5, it searches up a creature to the top of my library and makes it cheaper to cast. I actually like that it goes to the top of my library because my local meta is very heavy with BUG decks. If I can’t cast it that turn at least it’s protected. If I do need it that turn I often will have a Sensei’s Divining Top that I can use to draw the card on top of my deck. Ruin Processor is also underrated for the format. It allows me to deal with an opponent’s suspended Ancestral Vision or Rift Bolt while gaining 5 life and getting a 7/8 out on the field.
One of the best parts of this deck though is Voltaic Key which pairs very nicely with Candelabra of Tawnos and Top. Voltaic Key lets you activate Candelabra twice for just one more mana which can be amazingly strong. The combination of the two makes a turn three Emrakul possible. This is nothing compared to its interaction with Sensei’s Divining Top though, which when stacked properly will let you draw the top card of your deck and redraw the top as well. Or if you don’t need the top you can spin the top in between to draw two new cards which is a great addition to a deck known for having abysmal card draw and card selection.
So far I’ve found the deck is more successful and consistent than any of the other Mud lists that I’ve played. Mud has always had a good Miracles matchup but somehow it has gotten even better. The D&T matchup is also a cake walk now along with any of the stoneblade/deathblade decks. BUG can be challenging due to the discard spells and removal but Trinisphere, Pithing Needle and Crucible of Worlds really help. Burn can still be hard but there are several elements to this version of the deck that helps make it less challenging than it has been previously.
With the new potential spoilers from Oath of the Gatewatch this deck is showing more and more potential everyday. It is the strongest version of Mud that I have played yet. I think Mud players should definitely give the deck a shot if they are looking for a better list. I know it’s drastically different from the standard to but in this case change is good.
Kate hails from Worcester MA and also does a bit of Card Altering. Check her Stuff out on Facebook! She mainly plays legacy and modern though will occasionally find herself playing EDH. She has recently succumbed to MTGO.