Topic: [Standard] BUG Tempo

I have been working on a BUG Tempo deck. Instead of trying to evolving huge dudes I went with trying to overwhelm with some resilient small dudes. It was inspired by the BUG list that Frank Lepore put on tcgplayer, though I went stronger into the Zombie theme. My list is below:

4 Gravecrawler
2 Deathrite Shaman
3 Lotleth Troll
3 Zameck Guildmage
1 Snapcaster Mage
3 Dreg Mangler
2 Duskmantle Seer

3 Rancor
2 Rapid Hybridization
1 Tragic Slip
3 Essence Scatter
2 Abrupt Decay
2 Golgari Charm
2 Spell Rupture
1 Dimir Charm
1 Simic Charm
1 Ultimate Price

3 Breeding Pool
3 Overgrown Tomb
3 Watery Grave
4 Drowned Catacomb
4 Woodland Cemetery
4 Hinterland Harbor
2 Alchemist's Refuge
1 Grim Backwoods

The list is still really rough. The primary angle of attack is as a BG Zombie deck: Gravecrawler into Troll into Mangler. Even with the all dual mana base, I am still hesitant to run Messenger. Shaman and Seer are primarily just reach in a long game. Snapcaster and Guildmage are card advantage, again for the stalled long game. And yes the Guildmage can only draw cards off a Troll, salvaging a Mangler or most commonly its own first ability. Maybe Strangleroot Geist and Experiment One are better options than the Gravecrawler?

I am really not sure on the proper proportions of charms. Golgari has been the best in testing. Dimir gives a hard counter to miracles and Simic an out to Reanimator, though both may just be better in the sideboard. I guess it depends on what climbs to the top of the meta-heap for which charms are best to run. The same goes for the spot removal.

I really need help with a sideboard. I suck at creating sideboards. BUG is extremely versatile in sideboard cards, but the wealth of options kind of has me scratching my head. Also the meta hasn't solidified yet so I am really not sure what to expect from my opponents. A RDW variations, a Hexproof variation, a Thragtusk variation, and a Reanimator/combo variation would be my guesses.

Advice on a sideboard for the common expectation would be most appreciated.

Re: [Standard] BUG Tempo

So a few thoughts based on how my BUG evolve deck has played (in admittedly casual playtesting):

1) I would suggest throwing a fourth Rancor into the list as you REALLY need one to make Gravecrawler dangerous.  Without one, how do you envision really getting enough through to kill them?

2) I guess you're using Zameck Guildmage for the multifaceted options of pumping Gravecrawlers or drawing cards, but realistically, how often will that be the case?  I can see where it'd help, but I don't know that 3x is necessary.

3) I'm not sold on Duskmantle Seer if for no other reason then him providing them with card draw.  Given that none of your creatures are all that threatening, the idea of helping them draw into something good could be terrible.  I mean you could likely outlast them with the seer, but if you want to play that game, Havoc Festival and Rix Maadi Guildmage are a more consistent, amusing way to get the total jank win.

4) Flying defense?  Vampire Nighthawk and Deadly Recluse are always decent options.

5) I've been really unimpressed with Rapid Hybridization.  Unconditional removal for one is always a plus; BUT, given that you're not exactly sitting on big creatures, giving them a 3/3 doesn't hurt them THAT much.

6) Given the sudden spike in Boros Reckoner I would be inclined to kick Abrupt Decay up to at least 3x. 

7) I would also say to run some other removal options, i.e., Murder and/or Devour Flesh.  I know you have some options, but I find that Murder, despite being one more just beats Ultimate Price.  Similarly, Devour Flesh is a nice early game answer to Geist.

8) Golgari Charm in the mainboard?  You can SB it for people running sweepers, but I don't really know that you'd need it main otherwise.

9) Spell Rupture is not very good, if for no other reason than because it's a conditional Syncopate.  Without anything sizable on the board, you're much better off running Dissipate/Syncopate or any of a variety of other counters.

For the board, there are countless options but my best suggestion is to think about the cards you've run into in the past.  For instance, are the people at your LGS super invested and running net-decks or are they more creative and open to running off-the-beaten-path builds?  Ultimately that should put things into perspective for what you would/wouldn't want in the board.

Presumably you'll want some Naturalizes as any sort of graveyard hate screws you over (no scavenge, no Gravecrawlers, no Deathrite Shaman effects).  Perhaps Devour Flesh belongs in the SB for those hexproof decks.  Same with Golgari Charm - no board wipes, no real need for it.  Simic Charm seems like a good option to keep maindeck.  Perhaps some flying defense in the board?  Desecration Demon, for all its drawbacks, can be an absolute house to deal with.  Obviously these are just ideas, but there are always more options.