40-Card Pauper Starters

[Polyjak]

Had an idea for "intro" decks of my own. 40-card "Pauper Starters" that focus on fun and interactivity so people who don't know the game can get into it. I want to limit confusion, but maximize fun. Limit of 2 copies of any given card, no sideboard. I want to make one for each of the 10 color pairs. So far I have green-blue and red-white. These are in paper.

I will avoid cards with any expansion-specific mechanics or keywords, using only 'evergreen' abilities. (I considered using Flanking, but decided against it.)

Green-Blue Pauper Starter, draft 1

2 Llanowar Elves
2 Elvish Visionary
2 Merfolk Looter
2 Stonybrook Angler
2 Sage Owl
2 Briarberry Cohort
2 Wind Drake
2 Snapping Drake
2 Giant Spider
2 Assault Zeppelid
1 Craw Wurm

2 Giant Growth
2 Disperse

8 Forest
7 Island

I like the cards I included in here, but I think it would be better to have more spells. I put Sage Owl instead of Ponder, and Elvish Visionary instead of Divination. Disperse is my idea for answers to Pacifism etc. This deck also needs more removal. I think the Snapping Drake can be removed in favor of something like Ice Cage (which seemed to have too much text for my tastes). Also, I really hate Sage Owl, so maybe Ponder is a better option after all. Or more removal. I wouldn't mind having those trampling rhinos from M10, once I get a few copies.

Red-White Pauper Starter, draft 1

8 Plains
7 Mountain

2 Shock
2 Seal of Fire
2 Incinerate
1 Trumpet Blast

2 Suntail Hawk
2 Goldmeadow Harrier
2 Cerodon Yearling
2 Ronom Unicorn
2 Veteran Armorer
2 Wild Griffin
2 Ballynock Cohort
2 Skyknight Legionnaire
2 Mudbutton Torchrunner

This can't answer artifacts, not that I have any in these decks. But some cheapo equipment would be nice. Bonesplitter. Or, isn't there something that costs 0 and only 1 to equip for +1/+0? That'd be cool.

After looking at these lists, I need to increase the diversity of card types -- get some auras and artifacts into each. I don't want to include Terramorphic Expanse because shuffling is no fun. I guess mana screw is no fun, either, so maybe I'll change my decision on that. I could include Shimmering Grotto, though. Or Signets.

I'll see what I can do.