Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
This deck only recently came together though I've been working on it for a while. The only problem that seemed to remain was getting land. Let me know what you think.
Enchantments
Collective Blessing x2
Sphere Of Safety x2
Hunting Ground x2
Growing Ranks x4
Enchant Land
Urban Burgeoning x2
Instant
Rootborn Defense x4
Druid's Deliverance x4
Harrow x4
Sorcery
Mulch x4
Chatter of the Squirrel x4
Artifact:
Slate of Ancestry x2
Creature:
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage x2
Deranged Hermit x2
Krosan Beast x4
Nut Collector x4
Lands:
Greypelt Refuge x2
Gaea's Cradle x1
Swarmyard x1
Plains x9
Forest x10
Sideboard:
Acorn Harvest x4
Collective Blessing x2
Far Wanderings x4
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
I'd drop the growing ranks for Parallel Lives as I find the Ranks aren't all they're cracked up to be.
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
When I look at everything, a combination of those could be a little absurd. Mix in the Proliferate with the Parallel Lives effect and it is very easy to get a good number from the existing structure. Still, Parallel Lives offers a nice boost.
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
I agree that Parallel would be better than Ranks but I also like Cathar's Crusade over collective blessing in this deck. Since your tokens enter play at the same time and so do the extras with Parallel they all see each other for Cathar's. So a Hermit with a Parallel and Cathar's out will net you...
a 10/10 hermit and 8 10/10 squirrels (1/1 + 8 counters + hermit ability). Not to mention 9 more +1/+1 counters on every guy you already had in play.
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
I would cut the population all together. When you're just populating 1/1 Squirrels, it's not particularly effective. Except for Rootborn Defences, because that's a fine card even without populating. I'm also not entire sure what Urban Burgeoning is doing. Nor the ramp spells or Hunting Ground - what are you trying to ramp into? Finally, I'd add something a bit spicy to take advantage of Gaea's Cradle - a big X spell, more expensive bombs, or even jnust more activated abilities to use.
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
I see what you mean with the deck needing some tuning. It has been apparent when I have played it. Hunting Grounds has not been used once even though I tend to get it into play every game. Cathar's Crusade sounds like a great replacement for it and Urban Burgeoning. Mulch is also on its way out to be replaced by Growth Spasm. If I'm going to use Populate, I'm going to make sure I can get a lot out of it. Honestly, most of the land search is to get the Nut Collector/Deranged Hermit/Krosan beast down. Honestly, I want to find a way to get some Explorer's Maps in here. Zendikar has some good stuff for getting lands in.
As for an "X" spell, there is one really good one that Squirrels have: Liege of the Hollows. I know it gives others a chance but having Gaea's Cradle, if I ever get it out, would give me a nice edge. Couple that with some of the other options for this deck and that leads to a very nice explosion of squirrels.
Re: Selesnya Squirrels (Non-Earthcraft Squirrels)
So this deck is slated to get an overhaul. I've considered a lot of things and want to ensure I can get a lot of squirrels without much trouble. That is the main reason Growing Ranks has persisted with the other populate cards. I've changed the ramp cards to something else: Growth Spasm gives me another target for populate and aids in building mana. I just outright dropped Hunting Grounds because it was just too slow in this deck. In a deck built around Threshold it'd be a lot better. Now this deck also has its "X" spell to use Gaea's cradle: Liege Of The Hollows. This is something else the Spawn can be fed into or I can just use Gaea's Cradle and watch the expansion of my ranks.
I'll be getting it constructed enough for play soon. Any feedback on the changes would be nice.
Enchantments: 10
Cathar's Crusade x2
Sphere Of Safety x4
Parallel Lives x2
Growing Ranks x2
Instant: 8
Rootborn Defense x4
Druid's Deliverance x4
Sorcery: 16
Growth Spasm x4
Cultivatex4
Chatter of the Squirrel x4
Artifact: 2
Slate of Ancestry x2
Creature: 12
Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage x2
Deranged Hermit x2
Nut Collector x4
Liege Of The Hollows x4
Lands: 23
Greypelt Refuge x2
Gaea's Cradle x1
Swarmyard x1
Plains x9
Forest x10
Sideboard:
Acorn Harvest x4
Krosan Beast x2
Growing Ranks x2