Jund and M11

Until October, Jund will be running around Standard giving players Sprouting Thrinax filled nightmares. While the Jund color wheel might not have gotten the best crop of cards in the set, M11 still gives Jund some powerful options. Id like to highlight a few cards that I feel will make an impact on the most played deck in the format.

Cultivate: There have been many Jund builds that featured cards like Rampant Growth and I fully expect to see them make the switch to Cultivate. It may cost one more but you get another land for that extra colorless. Combine that with cards like Lotus Cobra (which I run in a Jund build) you will have some serious mana production.

Fling: This is a card that I feel will fly under the radar until someone wins a Pro Tour with it. It has many uses outside of Jund but I can see someone using Fling to get chump blockers out of Sprouting Thrinax or using it in combination with Abyssal Persecutor. Attack with the Persecutor and other creatures, Fling the Persecutor for 6. Yeah, I can see that happening.

Garruk’s Companion: Better than Putrid Leech? Maybe in the right setting. Being a 3/2 trampler is huge against Elspeth and her chump blockers. It can’t be pumped out of Bolt range, but facing any deck that doesn’t have a quick answer, it can run over most creatures in its mana range.

Grave Titan: While harder to cast than Broodmate Dragon, this sucker is much better. Getting 10 points of damage out of 6 mana is nuts with any card, but throw in deathtouch and the fact you keep getting 2/2 zombies everytime he attacks, yeah I would take that over Broodmate Dragon any day. I can see some sort of ramp with Cultivate to get him out fast.

Mitotic Slime: Some people will replace Sprouting Thrinax with this but I don’t see the reason. One of the things that is so attractive about Sprouting Thrinax is having a 3/3 out turn 3 that turns into chump blockers. Granted the Slime is out of Bolt range, I just don’t see it being fast enough for much use.

Nantuko Shade: Another possible replacement for Putrid Leech. I think it is too black dependant to make any noise, but I won’t be surprised if someone tries it.

Obstinate Baloth: The Great Sable Stag of M11, this card is a Jund hoser and a great Jund sideboard option in the mirror. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it main decked in certain meta’s where Jund is heavy.

Plummet: Another good sideboard option to take out those pesky Baneslayer Angel‘s flying around.

Primeval Titan: This is a great card but I really don’t see the use for it in Jund. By the time I have 6 mana the only other land I would want is manlands. Compared to Grave Titan, I really don’t see a place for it.

Sylvan Ranger: Replaces Borderland Ranger, but I never saw a reason to run it.

I am sure there will be other cards included in the various Jund builds, but I feel the ones I listed will lead the pack. I am looking forward to seeing what the next Jund evolution will bring and hopefully I will be one of the innovators!