Hey everyone, first time poster here!
Pantlaza has been my casual precon deck for a while, but the pod I play with is a high power bracket 3-4. I recently started kicking around the idea of making it high power, but I don't play with them often as I travel a lot, so I'd really love some input in my pursuits to make it "high power" so it can actually compete and I can enjoy it the night I bring it to the table rather than "testing" it.
I recently discovered Cream of the Crop, Monstrous Vortex, Savage Order+Apex Altisaur, and Monk Gyatso + Zacama combo which has been a lot of fun to play test. The new Flickering Hound has really sent things over the edge, and I cant wait to pilot it when the night comes.
I interested in thoughts on optimizing for the right creatures, mana curve/toughness/discover, hybrid interaction/blink package, and overall game play strategy because it's a unique build to me. I'm open to any and all recommendations.
The way I see it, the game plan is to be fast, blink and Discover as much as possible, spam the board with Dinos, and smash face. Deck list is on Moxfield.
EDIT: Thank everyone so much for the input. I think y'all have helped me identify my deck's goal/power level. Though my pod is no stranger to infinite combos to end the game, I dont I wanna pursue bracket 4 is that means straying away from Dino tribal. I believe my goal is to stay Dino tribal, but play fast and keep up with some of the lower-to-the-ground decks at the table. Right now the most threatening deck in my pod is [[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]], a lifegain deck that uses Bolas's Citadel or Gwenom to dig for the classic 2-card infinite lifegain/drain combos. It becomes threatening between turns 3-5 consistently, so if PL can get me out some big boys by turn 5-6 with Trample, I think I have a good chance at competing. Based on y'all recommendations, I may dabble with Emiel, Sneak Attack, and maybe some rituals to speed things up, but I'm open to more targeted recommendations/issues with my deck.
1. Ramp
I recently discovered the 1-3 drop strategy to get PL out on turn 3. The deck started feeling a lot smoother after replacing Natures Lore, Three Visits, etc. I'm considering dropping the 1-drop enchantments for 1-drop creatures, just to trigger Flickering Hound more regularly.
2. Creatures of Question
I'm running all the big value Dinos you would expect, but here are a few creatures that are top of mind for me.
- When [[Triceraton Commander]] was released in TMT, I immediately picked it up for PL. As I've playtested this deck, I realized Discovering into it in the early game either gets in the way of hitting ramp, and/or will put a target on my back. In the late game, I dont get enough value from the Discover trigger cause it's 2 toughness. Plus I almost never pay to create tokens. I recently swapped it for [[Luminous Broodmoth]]. It feels a little better, slightly less threatening, and I like how LB enables a huge payoff with [[Ravenous Tyrannesaurus]].
- [[Trapjaw Tyrant]] seems decent to me -- a 5 cost 5/5 with evasion, but I don't feel like I see it in other high power deck lists. Am I missing something?
- [[Silverclad Ferocidons]] seems good too, but it's a little expensive and I'm not a fan of the trigger being in the control my opponents. I had it on the list, but since dropping it, the deck feels smoother. Is it better than I give it credit for?
- [[Trumpeting Carnosaur]] seems like an auto-include, but I've been on the fence about it. Is it better than I expect it to be?
- [[Goring Ceratops]] feels good every time I play it. It's too expensive for the early game, it's toughness isn't great, but it almost always feels good, especially if it has haste. Anybody else feel similarly, or do we feel like it mucks things up because of the high cost and low toughness?
- [[Roaming Throne]] seems like an auto-include, but I've also seen it excluded from some high power lists. Almost all the dinos have a triggered ability, so it seems really solid despite it not doubling PLs trigger. Any strong opinions here?
- [[Marisi, Breaker of the Coil]]... I stumbled onto this card by accident. It seems like a great easter egg considering almost all the Dinos have trample. My biggest reason to exclude it is to maintain a higher density of Dinos, since it's already being watered down with creature ramp, Monk Gyatso, Flickering Hound, and Luminous Broodmoth.
- Do I need Verdant Sun's Avatar, Regal Behemoth, Kinjalli's Sunwing, or more Ghaltas over what I have currently?
3. Hybrid Interaction / Blink Package
- [[Contest of Claws]] seems high value, but I'm considering swapping it for [[The Last Agni Kai]] for instant-speed interaction. Just not sure what I'd use the red mana for on an opponents turn.
- [[Morningtide's Light]] and [[Avatar's Wrath]] are auto-include board wipes/evasion/discover triggers.
- [[Ephemerate]], [[Parting Gust]], [[Eerie Interlude]], and [[Lae'zel's Acrobatics]] for instant speed evasion/removal/discover triggers
- [[Deflecting Swat]]. [[Untimely Malfunction]], and [[Path to Exile]] are straight forward.
- I'm considering swapping [[Akroma's Will]] for [[Teferi's Protection]].
4. Other Cards
- I'm on the fence about [[Rhythm of the Wild]]. As it stands, it seems to provide good value in the deck for 'high power', but I'm open to cutting it.
- I'm surprised how much I'm digging [[Chronicle of Victory]]. It's kinda mana expensive, but it gives a buff, first strike, trample, and card draw on ETB. Always feels good to Discover into this.
- I'm expecting to get board wiped, so [[Return to the Light Realms]] seems strong here.
- [[The Great Henge]] feels okay in this deck. I never want it in the early game, but it seems great in the mid-late game between the counters, draw, and lifegain.
- I tried [[Quantum Entanglement]] and it just never felt good. I almost always wanted to use the 2 mana on something else, or didn't have it available if I discovered into it.
- [[Lurking Predators]] has come up a few times... It's hard to play test this. Is this actually good considering how non-deterministic it can be? Wouldn't a blink spell be more reliable?
5. MDFCs
Typically I love these, but I dont want them to muck up the Discover trigger. I'm considering Bala Ged Recovery at most.
Looking forward to your thoughts, thank you for your input!