Stompy Rod

Charge Rod is dead. Long live Stompy Rod!

Stompy Rod is a continuation of previous Shepherd's Rod decks, taking into account all the beefy new overwhelm technology we've gotten in the meantime. At its core, it's a midrange deck that preys on other midrange by going over the top with big Divining Rod plays. However, the high threat density and neverending Dawnwalkers give good game against control, and Shepherd's Horn can ruin aggro's day.

Ideal pattern of play involves playing out a turn 3 ramp in the form of Shepherd's Horn or Auralian Merchant (which almost always fetches Rod or sigil if you're powerscrewed), playing Worldbearer Behemoth or Cirso, the Great Glutton t4, and setting up a Rod turn as soon as possible. The deck also sometimes curves out with a lucky Teacher of Humility on turn 2 or beefy 3s False Prince and Dawnwalker to hold down the fort.

Mulligan for early game and ramp. Don't worry about having fatties in your opener, because you'll draw them soon enough.

Card Choices

Daraka, Queensguard and Thundering Kerasaur are your haymakers and best Rod hits, but as 6 drops I don't think you want more than 6. Split them according to your meta -- if you're seeing a lot of midrange, go with more Darakas, but if you're seeing a lot of control, Kerasaur is where you want to be.

Talir, Who Sees Beyond is something of a fun-of, but Rod can cheat her out and the deck has enough ramp that she's not too hard to cast. I think she's worth keeping, and everyone has one copy anyway!

Crystallize can be a 1 or 2 of. It's pretty essential for breaking through board stalls, and can be pretty nice against tokens and aggro on turn 5. The deck gets enough power on the board that many games I'm thinking "topdeck Crystallize and I win." More than worth it for the times when it's dead in hand.

As for the market, you can mess around with it. Rod and banner are always in, but Xenan Initiation can be exchanged for Striking Snake Formation if you're seeing less aggro and more midrange, for example.

Tips and Tricks

Dawnwalker will give you life every time you recur it with Horn out, so make sure to abuse that vs aggro.

Fatty + Xenan Initiation + attack a dork can be 6+ damage to finish your opponent off, because everything big except Titan has overwhelm.

Prioritize killing Sandstorm Titans in midrange mirrors so your Crystallize can guarantee lethal.

Please don't Xenan Initiation your False Prince.


Go forth and stampede, my friends!