Arkbow 2.0 (Top 8)

Update: Used the deck last November 30, 2019 and got into the top 8 from a WPN pre-qualifier event with 28 players (5 rounds).

Went to a 3-1-1 finish against:

• Korvold Food: 0-2, consider playing Leyline of the Void in the side.
• Sultai Jace: 1-1-1
• UW Control: 2-1
• Izzet Flash: 2-0
• RB Sacrifice: 2-0

Lost in the quarterfinals to BG Food, 0-2, but almost got to come back because of scry lands entering tapped! Such a close game!

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Hello everyone,

Just a quick tournament report and list update if you wish to try the Arkbow deck I posted here.

Nothing major has changed but I made some tuning to improve synergy, survivability, and consistency especially in the sideboard.

Change logs:

1. Doom Whisperer

A 5-mana 6 power flier is nothing to sneeze about. Back in the days pre-M20, this creature was the king of the skies overlooking huge Wildgrowth Walkers on the ground. Particularly in today’s standard, Doom Whisperer is the biggest flying body for its mana cost. For a Hydroid Krasis to be bigger, the caster must spend at least 8 mana. Feather, Aurelia, Arclight Phoenixes, Crackling Drakes are all relatively smaller than this dude. Against removal, it dodges Aether Gust and has to be 2-for-1’ed with Lava Coil and Shock.

The other great thing about Doom Whisperer is its second line of text: Surveil. With Arkbow in play, you can manipulate the top card of your library to make sure you hit the creature you need. I took out 2 Gilded Goose to make room for two Doom Whisperers in the mainboard.

2. Angel of Grace

As a one-of silver bullet, Angel of Grace always leaves a mark on the games I drew it or had it. She has allowed me to dodge lethal damage in playtesting and synergizes really well with Cavalier of Night because I can deliberately send her to the graveyard and place her secondary ability on standby. She makes casting Murderous Rider easier on your life totals late in the game while she also keeps a panic button live and waiting when she hits the bin. She takes 1 slot from the Goose.

3. Third and fourth Paradise Druid

I took out 1 land and the last Goose for the third and fourth copies of Paradise Druid. We play 6 scry lands and 2 Fabled Passage which in our opening hand comes to play tapped so we’re not as consistent in playing our 1 drop anyway. With so many people playing Bonecrusher Giant, Shock, and Disfigure popping its head back, I’d like a surefire way to get to 5 mana on turn 4. Alongside Akrbow and Charming Prince, we have enough 2 drops to make a decent play to either set up a draw-go strategy, ramp or scry/gain life against aggro decks.

4. Thrashing Brontodon

With Oko gone, Oven and Fires decks have risen in popularity. This makes Thrashing Brontodon a great sideboard card to go with our main deck Knight of Autumn. It’s converted mana cost is also covered by Cavalier of Night’s dying ability which is super neat too. A 3/4 body is also a great wall against mono-red, which partners really well with Lovestruck Beast.

5. The third Liliana

I removed Garruk from the sideboard because in testing it felt more like a win-more card than a “turn the corner” kind of tech. However, Liliana is a great card to bring in against decks that will pack more creature hate. Her passive ability makes trading creatures in combat profitable, she draws us a card when we sacrifice something to Cavalier of Night, or draw us cards when we trigger the legendary rule when we end up playing two Trostanis or Tolsimir and Vojak (the wolf token when it fights). Overall I think Liliana is a better card and the third copy increases our chances to draw her midgame. She takes the slot of one of our Cauldron of Eternity.

I recently joined an 8-man FNM and won all 3 rounds, with 2-0, 2-0, 3-1 record against Izzet Tempo, Jund Sacrifice and Gruul Adventure. I really felt the deck had game against these decks in game 1 which is really important if you want to make sure you get that first win and then streamline the deck better to counter the opponent’s strategy for game 2.

Give the deck a try, it’s really fun to play with and for the spectators, a great game to watch!

Cheers,
Vanson