8/1/2019

ATSUKI KIHARA'S DEVOTED NEOFORM

Atsuki’s deck should present very consistent turn three wins with the huge amount of tutoring in the list. With 12 one-drops, it’s pretty easy to Neoform or Evolution into turn 2 Devoted and win on the next turn. The big risk with a more all-in version of Devoted combo like this is that your opponent may have more removal in the post-board games.
Atsuki has just the answer with his transformational sideboard. He boards in 4 Allosaurus Rider and 2 Griselbrand in grindy matchups and becomes a Neoform deck. With 4 Eladamri’s Call, this combo also isn’t too hard to set up. There’s no Spirit Guides or Conflagrates to kill the opponent once Griselbrand enters play, but Griselbrand is good enough the vast majority of the time even without support.
One thing I may look at for this deck going forward is moving one copy each of Rider and Griselbrand to the maindeck. That way, if you have a hand with Eladamri’s Call and Neoform/Evolution against a removal-heavy deck, you can go for that combo in game one. I would also look at adding some additional options for big threats. Craterhoof Behemoth could be good, and Terastadon and Woodfall Primus may also be worth looking at.
Delve creatures like Hooting Mandrils could also be worth a slot, as there will be some games where you will have a full graveyard while lacking the extra green cards in hand necessary for the Rider.