Since Zoo hasn’t been doing very well lately, it probably needs a solid retooling. I’m not sure what it needs exactly, but ATOMIC has some ideas. By using
Chalice of the Void alongside Volcanic Fallout, he is hating on the format in an incredibly unique way.
Treasure Cruise is on everyone’s mind and U/R Delver is the obvious home for it. With Chalice of the Void (likely set to one), the majority of their deck
is useless while Volcanic Fallout and Pyroclasm clean up the rest. Against more fair strategies, Volcanic Fallout can team up with Boros Reckoner to kill
bigger creatures.
In order to build around something like Chalice of the Void, especially with a deck that Chalice used to be pretty good against, you’ve got to get a little
creative. Dead//Gone is a reasonable Lightning Bolt replacement that, while it doesn’t go to the face, is still useful once you’ve resolved a Chalice of
the Void. The proliferation of one-drops is gone, and only Wild Nacatl and Loam Lion remain. Instead, the curve goes a little bit higher.
There’s some additional hate in the sideboard, although I feel like there could be more for decks like Splinter Twin or Tron. Qasali Ambusher is adorable,
but it doesn’t seem like it gets the job done in the truly bad matchups. I wouldn’t be surprised if something like Blood Moon becomes a necessity. The
fetchland reprints in Khans of Tarkir open a lot of doors for that card.
Creatures (20)
- 4 Tarmogoyf
- 4 Wild Nacatl
- 2 Qasali Pridemage
- 4 Loam Lion
- 2 Loxodon Smiter
- 2 Boros Reckoner
- 2 Fleecemane Lion
Lands (23)
Spells (17)
