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The Magic Chest 27: Pygmy Kavu
I'm not crazy about color hosers, because they're usually either too weak to bother with or too strong, so playing it becomes an instant win. Pygmy Kavu is different, though. In casual play it can get you three or four cards easily against a black opponent, which is good, but it doesn't say "I win!" like Perish often does. But I don't want to build a deck around a sideboard card, so how can it be useful in the main deck? Two cards spring to mind immediately: Darkest Hour and Shifting Sky. The first turns all creatures black and the second can turn all non-land permanents black. In this case I prefer Shifting Sky, because it turns enchantments and artifacts black as well, which could come in handy with some of the other cards I plan to use. Light of Day: With a Shifting Sky in play, this will shut most creature decks down completely. As a bonus, it won't touch any creatures that are in play, so Pygmy Kavu is still just as useful. On the down side, it will shut your own creatures down as well, forcing you into building a more controlish deck. Reap: Another useful bit of card advantage with a Shifting Sky in play and a good reason to pick Shifting Sky over Darkest Hour, because Reap checks black permanents instead of just black creatures. Always pick a Reap in your graveyard as one of the cards to return to your hand and you can continue reaping as often as necessary. Counterspell: This deck shouldn't have any problems dealing with creatures, but cards like Tranquility could be a problem, especially with enough creatures in play to win immediately. The counterspells can be reused with Reap for devastating effect. Swords to Plowshares: Kavu Chameleon could be a problem (if I understand the rules correctly), because it can't be countered and can get around the Shifting Sky. Swords to Plowshares will get rid of it, though. Honorable Scout: A bit of lifegain will help against burn, especially if it's uncounterable, like Urza's Rage. Northern Paladin: Useful to destroy any non-land threatening permanent, but not really worth playing with, I think. Greater Realm of Preservation: I considered a Circle of Protection: Black, but Greater Realm of Preservation will help against burn as well as damage coming directly from permanents, like pingers and Goblin Bombardment. Elephant Grass: A green version of light of day that's both cheaper and useful against non-black creatures as well. The big drawback is the cumulative upkeep: 1. I prefer the Light of Days, but a few Elephant Grasses in the sideboard won't hurt. Hurricane: The deck doesn't have a kill card yet. Creatures aren't really an option and Hurricane is a rather stylish way to do it. One is enough, because it can be reused with Reap. Honorable Scouts will help keep you ahead in life. Disenchant: In case of emergency. Questing Phelddagrif: If your opponent is on to you, he or she may decide not to play anything but lands at first to keep you from using your Pygmy Kavus and Reaps. A Questing Phelddagrif is big enough to win in a few turns if necessary or it can be used to give your opponent black Hippos. The protection from black is just a bonus. The best part is that it's green, white and blue, fitting perfectly into this deck. Enlightened Tutor: Either Impulse or Enlightened Tutor is needed to make it easier to get the Shifting Sky and Light of Day when they are needed. I like Impulse, but I think I'll stick with Enlightened Tutor anyway, because it offers more security. Dissipate: There is room in the deck for more counterspells. A few Dissipates are useful against recurring spells like Hammer of Bogardan. Forbid: In case no Reaps are forthcoming, these can buy themselves back in a pinch. High Market: A quick way to reuse Pygmy Kavus and Honorable Scouts that get stuck in play. Wasteland: Against troublesome non-basic lands. Skyshroud Blessing: Land destruction could be a problem, as the deck's mana base is pretty fragile. The finished deck:
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