Just for starters, I'd say that Bloorages are bad, even more here...and with the Charioters and other new goodies, I think I'm gonna go the Blood Mist route

2 x Blossoming Defense
1 x Heaven // Earth

1 x Heart of Kiran
3 x Voltaic Brawler
2 x Sylvan Advocate
2 x Duskwatch Recruiter
3 x Harnessed Lightning

3 x Khenra Charioteer
2 x Tireless Tracker
2 x Prowling Serpopard
2 x Aethersphere Harvester
1 x Rhonas the Indomitable
2 x Insult // Injury

2 x Bristling Hydra
1 x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 x Blood Mist

2 x Glorybringer
1 x Nissa, Vital Force
1 x Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
1 x Verdurous Gearhulk

7 x Forest
5 x Mountain

2 x Cinder Glade
2 x Rootbound Crag
4 x Evolving Wilds
3 x Aether Hub
1 x Westvale Abbey

I've been back and forth in Bloodrages for Gruul Midrange. I didnt have then in my initial draft because I don't really have anything to turn into profitable discard. I added them in V2 list because I wanted to make sure Rhonas gets turned on, and also because following T2 Bloodrage with T3 Charioteer seemed good and maybe the extra early pressure would make the discard tolerable.

But then I played against an opponent who was running that yesterday and cast it T2. I responded by getting a 2 for 1 and burning it off the board. Opp never recovered from that early loss of card advantage and it made me really question whether I want it in my build.

I think it's a perfectly fine card for hyper aggressive hellbent decks, or similarly aggressive decks with madness spells or such a low curve ditching a land T2 doesn't really hurt. But currently I'm guessing he'll be in the first round of cuts after I test.

There

Btw...I though that when playing Exemplar of Strenght, for example, you had to place the -1/-1 counters one by one, not all at the same time...

Oy, those cards would be very bad if that were the case. Thankfully Blisterpod/Festering/Carrier/Dissenter etc can soak up as many counters as the creature has to give on ETB.

I haven't had any problems with it yet and have really enjoyed the card so far. Discard 1 card (generally a land) shouldn't make or break your whole game (I'm surprised TIMH that your opponent couldn't recover from that play) and the power it adds to the curve is hard to ignore (unless you draw all 3 and play them consecutively). This is a beatdown midrange, not a value midrange. From T2 to T6 you're likely ahead of most plays and that's what I'm aiming for. I mean a 2 mana card that can typically compete with a lot of 3, 4 and some 5 mana cards is pretty good in my books.


elk

No doubt. You just have to accommodate it - slightly - in the deck.

Opp was on the play and had mulled to 6. That play effectively put him on a 5 card start. He pitched a creature that would have been useful to have later. Idk if his deck was bad or just bad luck, but the pressure wasn't very hard and I was in full control the whole game. Made me rethink the card a bit. I'm still keeping it in for now, but it'll be on a short leash.

The core of my build is:
2 Greenbelt Rampager
3 Lambholt Pacifist
3 Bloodrage Brawler
3 Voltaic Brawler
1 Rhonas the Indomitable
3 Incorrigible Youths
3 Crocodile of the Crossing
2 Honored Hydra

4 Fiery Temper
3 Lightning Axe

Flex slots:
Oath of Nissa (not in my collection yet)
Elemental Bond
Hazoret's Monument
Key to the City
Trial of Strength relevant 4-power creature

Meta slots:
Heart of Kiran good vehicle blocker
Mouth // Feed card advantage but looks as win more
Cartouche of Strength all modes are useful
Heaven // Earth performs very good so far
Shock

I feel the deck does not need plainswalker's and 5-drops as it is so fast.

So what ever happened with this version?

I think it's not that good. BB took it on ladder, but it didn't perform, and I'm in the midst of finals so I can't adjust it yet. There's a deck in there, but I can't fix it for now. Sorry.

My version is energy beatdown based and I'm running a 1-of bloodmist and its been great when I draw it. Trample+double strike is bonkers, especially when your guys are extra beefy.
Mouth to feed has also been useful for when you run out of cards, the 3/3 hippo is expendable and most of my creatures have 3 or more power so its all good and draws you 3-4 cards easy.
I'll post my current list later.

I have 2, as can be seen above...BM was always aplayable card, imho...and now, with Charioteers, Glory, Insult etc is definitely something to consider. Very seriously.

Insult is awesome too...x4 damage isn't pretty.

Elk and others, do you guys have an ideal way to use Nissa Vital Force? Obviously you +1 first in almost any situation. You attack if she's protected, you try to spend the mana before +1.

If she's going to die for sure, you -3 to get something back

My hardest decision with her is when she's at 6. If I'm not holding up a land, it's the same decision tree as 5 above, unless she's for sure going to die then I MIGHT go suicide Emblem

But what if she's at 6 and I have a land to play? I find this situation really tough. If I can kill opponent in two turns or less, I will make a land creature but if I can't win soon, I think I need to suicide emblem cuz the card advantage will be too strong to pass up

What do you guys do? Do you greedily try to get her to 7 before emblem for the best of both worlds?

It's very context dependent, and difficult to have a rule on what to do with her when at 6 loyalty with a land in hand. I personally don't like suiciding her if I can tick to 7 in a situation where I can protect her. Since the deck is beatdown packing trample, the games shouldn't go SUPER long where the payoff on land draws is that high, or would take precedence over attacking with big creature lands. But if stuck in a grindy match where I know I'll be drawing a lot of my deck, I'd be more inclined to suicide her for the extra draw power.

If I have Sylvan Advocate out, I prioritize the land creatures, but if I don't , I've been wanting to draw

I tend to +1 most games because of the pressure. I go for value against control or heavy removal. Everything else is situational.


elk

This is my version, when it curves out well its usually too much beatdown muscles to handle, especially on the play. Has tokens a loss or 2 mainly to flooding and time unexpected sweepers.

Gruul energy aggro
Creature(26)
2 x Bloodlust Inciter
2 x Greenbelt Rampager
3 x Thriving Grubs
3 x Longtusk Cub
3 x Voltaic Brawler
2 x Lathnu Hellion
2 x Tireless Tracker
3 x Khenra Charioteer
1 x Rhonas the Indomitable
2 x Bristling Hydra
2 x Glorybringer
1 x Samut, Voice of Dissent

Instant(5)
3 x Harnessed Lightning
2 x Highspire Infusion

Split(2)
2 x Mouth

Enchantment(1)
1 x Blood Mist

Planeswalker(1)
1 x Arlinn Kord

Artifact(2)
2 x Aethersphere Harvester

Land(23)
8 x Mountain
2 x Cinder Glade
7 x Forest
2 x Rootbound Crag
1 x Timber Gorge
3 x Aether Hub

To view this deck go to: https://www.magicduelshelper.com/deckli ... e5a808c169

Created using Magic Duels Helper: http://www.magicduelshelper.com

I may have to goodstuff it up, adding stuff like Nissa and obnoxious stuff like that.

Elk, I'm playing your deck all evening until cap or two consecutive losses

1-0
Samut is weird. Haste is way better than flash

1-1
I need to talk about this game. I played against Abzan humans with lots of death touch. That focking Brawler totally screwed me cuz I needed an early drop so I ditched a land which led me to get stalled out at four mana for most of the game holding up Glorybringer and Nissa Vital Force for a certain win. However the Brawler got flung into Thalia who was putting on a pair of Angelic Destiny wings so that would have cost me the game certainly if I hadn't been able to fling Brawler there. I played a creature every turn but it wasn't enough, I desperately needed removal but never got any. If I lose the next one I'm done with this deck

2-1
Same opponent! This one is for all marbles. He gets a great start with two hamlet captains, oath of Lilly and a kytheon irregulars. I get a couple of early Brawlers but Barney learns his lesson! He uses a Brawler to discard a Brawler and decides to keep Insult and Blossoming Defence. He's swinging with both Captains each turn but I don't care, I'm waiting for my opening which he foolishly gives. I swing into his irregular with one of each type of Brawler and a Leopard for good measure. I played Insult in my main phase and the blossoming defence is just candy. Win!

3-1
Played against Gruul Monsters. Once this deck gets to five mana, it's devastating. I had double Insult and could play both but I wasn't sure they stack. Anyone know? My curve was incredible. I used Arlinn for key removal and eventually hasting a Charioteer which was devastating with Heart of Koran (amazing in this deck, I forgot I can use loyalty counters). My opponent dropped creatures every turn and good ones starting at 4cc and even then I still won with 20 life

Awww man. Only 2 losses? I think this archetype is going to be a big part of the meta this set. I hope you don't give up on it!


elk

Two consecutive losses I haven't hit it yet but I just lost again

3-2
Lost a disheartening match to Izzet Mill with Dynavolt. It was very painful. I should have held up a Blissoming Defence at one point but I made it count later. This new graveyard interaction button is fantastic with this deck. I just realized the Brawlers can safely toss split cards and embalm cards too. That makes it easier. I'll keep going with this deck but between this deck and DJs attempt , I don't think this archetype is good at all. I'll keep going though