[Seeking Opinions/Help] [Standard] Mono Green Devotion

yes, thanks for the response.  I agree with everything you said. 

The only reason I'm doing mono-g at the moment is because I just happened to pull most of the spendy cards out of packs.  When I gather some dough to mutate it over that will be great.

I may end up tossing the burning-tree (4) in anyway, it sure it nice to be able to profit on nykthos turn 3 regardless, whenever it happens.

Gone is vastwood and deadbridge for a couple forests for starters. 

Thanks again, I'll deffinately be taking your comments to heart because what you say is true.

Jason

Having not played G/R devotion myself, I cannot speak to the nuances of its play; however, having played AGAINST it a few times I can say that Burning-Tree Emissary is the real deal in here.  Games against it essentially broke down to, did they get a double BTE draw... if they did, I was hosed and couldn't do anything.  If they didn't, I had a shot.

elpablo is right on the mark about the PWs as they really are what makes the deck more than just another aggro build.  Arguably the biggest problem decks like RDW have is that they run out of gas and cannot keep the pressure on the opponent past turn 4-5.  Well, mono-green devotion will do much the same thing without Domri and Garruk, COB - both of whom are essentially giving you added card draw.  Without them, it's not uncommon to have your hand completely empty by turn 3 or 4, making you an easy target for a board wipe and then it's GG.  But even a single +1 activation off of Garruk can refill half of your hand (you're going to average 2-3 creatures off his ability).

One thing I like about the G/R devotion build is the flexibility once you have the core pieces.  If you want to run Xenagos, go for it.  If you want to run Rubblebelt Raiders, it's a bit undersized for the cost to start, but it easily becomes a threat on its own (and gifts three devotion no less).  Want to have fun with Kalonian Hydra, go for it!  Clan Defiance becomes a MAJOR threat as elpablo describes.  If you want a bit more of a red mix, you can toss in Ember Swallower and have fun setting off his monstrous ability on T4.  Hell, the version I'm sleeving up for my GF to enjoy actually has 1x Worldspine Wurm because, well, why not?  Getting to 11 mana isn't actually all that hard... go figure...

For the specific questions you posed:

No removal?

Okay, this can be an issue sometimes as you don't have as many ways to interact with their side of the board, but odds are you're probably going to just overrun or overpower them with your creatures.  You will already have SOME removal in Polukranos, Arbor Colossus, Domri (pending you're running them), and you can even think of Nylea's pump as a type of removal as they're going to be blocking.  If you toss in a pair of Clan Defiances that's two more... note that the spell can target a ground critter, a flyer, AND the opponent... so that's value right there.

At the four drop?

Polukranos is the best bet here, definitely over Karametra's Acolyte - BUT, as long as you're getting some power here, it's actually hard to go wrong.  Mana is in such abundance in this deck, you won't suffer as much as normal to overload the four-drop.  Deadbridge Goliath and Rubblebelt Raiders are sub-optimal options, but they're solid threats all their own.  Also, one card that seems to be getting overlooked that fits your model perfectly and can add even MORE pressure is Reverent Hunter - with a Mystic and two BTEs, it's a turn 2 7/7... I think that's pretty solid if you were to ask me.

Another Nylea?

I'm going to run 2x in the build for my GF, but I could easily be talked into a third.  The whole legend thing sucks and it's not very common that the opponent will get rid of her, but the ability to spend that extra mana, the 6/6 beat stick, the trample, AND the fact she helps you not over-extend into board wipes care of her pumps... well... I can easily see the argument for 3x of her in a build.

Voyaging Satyr and Nykthos?

They're besties as elpablo described.  I would suggest running 4x of them without a second's hesitation as they can provide fixing (if you splash that red) and otherwise just crap mana into your pool via Nykthos.  This one's a no-brainer.

Garruks?

Ideally you would run the full 4x of good ole Gary, caller of beasts, but they're pricey.  I'd suggest at least 2x but more if you can swing them.  It's possible the mix of 2x Domri, 2x Xenagos, 2x Garruk might be ideal... I haven't playtested other combinations - BUT, that card advantage is a MUST.

Anywhom, elpablo hit most of the stuff before I got to it, but hopefully something here is of some help.

I almost completely forgot... another good piece to add is Ruric Thar, the Unbowed.  He's a solid SB option for the most part, but he REALLY plays into your strategy as he pressures the board (he will frequently be the largest creature out there given the speed with which you ramp into it) AND he locks down the opponents who rely on non-creature spells to keep them in the game - in the worst case scenario, it's a six point burn spell.

Thanks again everybody.  I made some changes.  I can't really add red right now as I don't have the cards.  So I'm getting 2x Garruk to toss in, yanking Karametras, adding voyaging satyr, adding land, putting mistcutter and witchstalker into sideboard, added another bow, ordered another Nylea.

I just pulled a Boon Satyr, so tossing that in to take up some space while I wait for garruk. 

I really appreciate the input.  It sounds like I'm thinking of the right things, but don't have the cards to fulfill my ultimate goal at the moment.

I'll be staying mono Green devotion (I don't have all the duel lands) for the moment.  We'll see what the next set brings out.

Since the mono blue and black were so prevalent this go around, I'm hoping that green can be made better with the introduction of the next set.  Otherwise I'll need to invest in the dual lands.

What do people think about Simic with these green base cards.  I was eyeballing a couple ideas that revolved around the +1/+1 counters, which this deck has a lot of. 

Wish me luck in my first FNM tourney at my local shop tomorrow! 

Thanks again,
Jason / Whisky D

So going with the +1/+1 counters is nice, but the issue comes from the fact you have practically no way to interact with the opponent's board.  Given that the deck Eliterawr linked to only has 8 counters, if they do stick a solid threat on the board, well, you're in trouble. 

That being said, Prophet of Kruphix is a SOLID card and it definitely makes many of the threats a lot better, being at instant speed and all.  Progenitor Mimic strikes me as a solid addition to said deck as it will let you simply win games in response to their Blood Baron, Desecration Demon, etc etc.

But, for the time being, mono-green should perform alright, but keep in mind that there will be some learning to go with it as you need to figure out which decks to go all in and dump everything on the board for and which ones you need to hold back so as not to just waltz into a board-wipe.

Best luck!