The Really Bit M11 EDH Review – Green

Primeval Titan will watch you sleep.

And now comes the last of the actual colors (White, Blue, Black, Red are there). With Green comes a whole influx of creatures. That really shouldn’t be all that surprising, should it? White is about gain life and prevent damage and making sure everything is in order. Black kills things, anything to do to win. Blue counters, draws and bounces everything but doesn’t really destroy anything. Red burns and creates havoc while destroying what it can. Green is all about nature and lands and creatures.

My philosophy about Green is it can do anything it wants as long as it’s creature or land related. So while Hornet Sting stands out, it can still, somewhat seem Green related.

To see more of my design philosophies, head over to my Magic design blog: mtgcolorpie.com. I’ve noticed that a number of people come over there to this site, but not the other way around. Thought I’d cross-promote it a little bit.

Cards in italics are reprints. At the very end of all the reviews, you’ll get my Top 10 list of EDH cards for M11.

Like any time when I review these cards, most of them can see play in EDH; there’s only one in this set that is absolute trash in EDH (Squadron Hawk). These are just going to be the better cards I would recommend playing.

Green – 18 Cards (13 New)

• Acidic Slime

See, Green can kill stuff, as long as it’s creature related. Of course, it can’t just kill creatures, but that’s what the deathtouch is for.

• Back to Nature

When is this a combat trick? When you’re playing against Uril. Better than Tranquility.

• Birds of Paradise

One of the best 1-drops ever. Put it in any Green deck ’cause it will make any color. If you don’t have one, get one, they’re way cheap now.

• Brindle Boar

Yeah, a Grey Ogre is nothing to write about, but this one, when sacrificed, will gain 4 life. So, why are you reading about it? I’m going to say it’s better in this format than the rare in M11 that will gain 4 life when it enters play. Before combat rules were changed, you could swing, deal damage, sac and gain 4 life while (hopefully) kill a creature. But the fact that this can be played with a good number of Black cards, while gaining life, is going to be the key. No, it’s not Ravenous Baloth, but then again, this is a boar.

• Cultivate

Kodama’s Reach saw print 6 years ago. According to Magic, I’m really old. So, there’s a good chance you might not have played this card. If you haven’t do try it out. It’s a huge argument for throwing more basic lands into your deck.

• Fauna Shaman

If you think 6 years is a long time in Magic, double that. 12 years since Survival of the Fittest was printed. The differences are stark: Fauna Shaman’s a creature and easier to kill, has summoning sickness and can only be used once a turn. Does that mean it’s not going to be a good card? No, it’ll still be an amazing creature that needs to be killed before it gets out of control. Building a toolbox deck will be even easier once you have two Survivals on the table. Graveyard based decks will love this as well as finding that creature right when you want it. I do think that the funniest thing would be to Survival for your Fauna Shaman.

• Gaea’s Revenge

See, you can Fauna Shaman this guy. What might be the best reanimation target in the set, the only thing it’s missing is trample, but you can add that on later with Behemoth Sledge. He shakes off more bounce and removal (remember, if it still has Green in the casting cost, it’s still green), but he can be chump blocked and killed with enough small creatures getting in its way. More often then not, you’ll have at least one other player in Green as well, so do what Arnold did and tell him you’ll kill him last.

• Garruk Wildspeaker

The only one of the original five Planeswalkers that I actively try to put in my EDH decks where I haven’t picked out a theme yet. The untapping ability is nice, the beast is nice and every so often I might Overrun. The best, of the best of the best, sir.

• Garruk’s Packleader

Because he mixes with Garruk so nicely you might think he’s an auto include as well. Green doe have a number of cards that do make larger creature tokens with 3+ power. With Rampaging Baloths, you play a land, get a 4/4 beast, and draw a card. Seems pretty saucy to me. Again, depends if you can abuse him, but does seem pretty fair.

• Hornet Sting

If Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary, was still legal I’d say It might be an auto include. Now? It’s kinda just a novelty.

• Hunters’ Feast

In what might be the most unassuming card of the entire set will become one of the most powerful due to one other card. Sure, this would fit great in a Group hug deck, but where it really shines is with Kavu Predator. “What’s that, my three opponents all gain 6 life? Ok, my Kavu Predator’s a 20/20 trample. Swing.”

• Mitotic Slime

All hail Squishface. Cute, fun and annoying all into one card. You just can’t kill it with fire, you have to go the full way and just keep getting rid of it. Great for sacrifice fodder.

• Naturalize

Still Green, still effective.

• Nature’s Spiral

The yang to Call to Mind‘s ying. Regrowth is better, Eternal Witness is better, but this is more fitting for Green flavorfully.

• Obstinate Baloth

If you’ve got Green bounce or you play with Blue, then of course this will be the better call to Brindle Boar. But don’t trick yourself holding it in your hand waiting for an opponent to make you discard it. And unless you have a player in your play group who does that all the time, this will sit in there doing nothing. Don’t be that guy.

• Overwhelming Stampede

A new Overrun. Note that the +X/+X is for creature you control, not creature you control that’s attacking. Got a creature that can’t attack? He can still help. – GREEN PRECON FOIL RARE

• Primeval Titan

And now, to the best Titan. Again, it’s not just the mana ramping that I’m excited about, it’s the fact that he goes to get ANY land. AND he puts it in play. If it were basic lands, a collective sigh would be coming from the Magic community and this guy wouldn’t be as talked about. But you can go get man lands, fetch lands, pain lands, and trigger landfall twice. For 6 mana you get any two lands you want and put them into play; oh, you also get a 6/6 Trampler. The Titans are designed for you to attack with, to help with the benefits. Being up 4 lands over an opponent in the mind range of the game will provide with better results and most likely a win.

• Sylvan Ranger

Does not replace Sakura-Tribe Elder since she doesn’t put the land into play. It’s a better Borderland Ranger since it can come down a turn earlier, but don’t get those two confused. Still a good enough card if you got enough basics to go along with it.

That’s Green; a whole lot of creatures and mana ramping. In Core Sets you’re going to get the usual “this is what the color can do” type of cards. Some are more exciting (Primeval Titan) while some are kinda boring (Prized Unicorn). Let’s hear your thoughts below.