Massive beasts of Naya stomp across the battlefield. Their footsteps shake the earth and the wavering faith of those that flee before their advance. Who can stand against such mighty foes?
But able warriors await and stand tall. With remarkable gallantry and inspired tactics, they hold back the advancing behemoths... for now.
Reinforcements join the battle, rushing past the opposing combatants and striking the enemy behind their bruising front line. Can their noble effort deal a lethal blow before their defenders fall to the monsters thundering blows upon them? Who will prevail: the mighty or the meek?
I had so much fun creating my first Duel Deck (http://www.mtgvault.com/jre47/decks/duel-deck-elspeth-vs-xenagos) that I decided to try another. Rather than a clash between titans like Elspeth vs. Xenagos, this one is a clash between...well, titans are still on one side, but the other side is anything but titanic. It's beefy beaters versus weenies!
(The opposing deck is here: http://www.mtgvault.com/jre47/decks/duel-deck-numbers-vs-strength)
Here's the "beefy" half. Just like Wizards' Duel Decks, this is centered around one mythic and features primarily Modern-legal cards with some older ones mixed in (which, if printed, would get the new, current border and in some cases updated art as well). It also sticks to just a handful of rares and tends to go with a lot of one-ofs among other cards, with a small handful of key cards that may get multiple copies (and even then, usually only two). Also, unlike Event Decks and other feature decks from Wizards, Duel Decks lack sideboards. I tried very hard to keep with all those restrictions here... believe me, if this were your more typical constructed deck, it would look a lot different!
The mythic is Mayael the Anima, who fits the massive monster theme like a glove, and the rares are Spearbreaker Behemoth, Spellbreaker Behemoth, Paleoloth, Mossbridge Troll, Mayael's Aria, Where Ancients Tread, and Mosswort Bridge. Not much in the way of money-makers, but very thematic.
The name of the game is sheer strength. Many of these creatures have 5 or more power, which is a magical number for many abilities and bonuses to trigger. Any creature that big can get the added benefit of haste (Bloodthorn Taunter), protection (Godtoucher, Spearbreaker Behemoth, Vagrant Plowbeasts), first strike (Rakeclaw Gargantuan), trample (Mosstodon), vigilance (Beacon Behemoth), uncounterability (Spellbreaker Behemoth), cost reduction (Krosan Drover), and even flying (Gustrider Exuberant). And whenever you play one, you can also draw cards (Drumhunter, Garruk's Packleader), gain some life (Sunseed Nurturer), and take massive chunks of life from the opponent and their creatures (Where Ancients Tread).
That's really about all there is to it! The only other support cards provide a little ramp to help you get there (Druid of the Anima and all the aforementioned druids and clerics), thin down your opponent's forces a bit (Magma Jet, Dead//Gone, Assault//Battery), and get around the tapping they're try to throw at your creatures.
In trying to balance these decks against each other, I specifically limited the amount of trample and burn in this deck so the other side would have a better chance. As you compare and constrast, let me know what you think of the balance.
I appreciate any feedback you can provide here, good or bad. Anything I can improve? Any gaping holes that you see? Useful comments will get you +1 rep points and a virtual slap on the back. :-P Thanks for reading...hope you like it!