Five mana is a high price to pay when youre trying to cast lots of cheap spells quickly, but if you can ramp it out fast enough then Lier is a hugely powerful protection point for all your spells, as well as being a permanent Snapcaster Mage for your entire graveyard
Pteramander fared a bit better as a key part of mono-blue tempo decks, including the one piloted by Autumn Burchett to great success
Bracket3 View on Archidekt Commander (1) 1 Lumra, Bellow of the WoodsLumra, Bellow of the Woods Instants (12) 1 Archdruid's CharmArchdruid's Charm 1 Beast WithinBeast Within 1 Collective ResistanceCollective Resistance 1 Crop RotationCrop Rotation 1 Entish RestorationEntish Restoration 1 HarrowHarrow 1 Nature's ClaimNature's Claim 1 OverprotectOverprotect 1 Ram ThroughRam Through 1 Roiling RegrowthRoiling Regrowth 1 Smuggler's SurpriseSmuggler's Surprise 1 Worldly TutorWorldly Tutor Creatures (27) 1 Aftermath AnalystAftermath Analyst 1 Ancient GreenwardenAncient Greenwarden 1 Ashaya, Soul of the WildAshaya, Soul of the Wild 1 Augur of AutumnAugur of Autumn 1 Azusa, Lost but SeekingAzusa, Lost but Seeking 1 Blossoming TortoiseBlossoming Tortoise 1 BrawnBrawn 1 Famished WorldsireFamished Worldsire 1 Horizon ExplorerHorizon Explorer 1 Icetill ExplorerIcetill Explorer 1 Loot, Exuberant ExplorerLoot, Exuberant Explorer 1 Lotus CobraLotus Cobra 1 Mossborn HydraMossborn Hydra 1 Nissa, Resurgent AnimistNissa, Resurgent Animist 1 Rampaging BalothsRampaging Baloths 1 Scute SwarmScute Swarm 1 SixSix 1 Sowing MycospawnSowing Mycospawn 1 Surrak, Elusive HunterSurrak, Elusive Hunter 1 Sylvan SafekeeperSylvan Safekeeper 1 Tato FarmerTato Farmer 1 Tireless ProvisionerTireless Provisioner 1 Tireless TrackerTireless Tracker 1 Titania, Voice of GaeaTitania, Voice of Gaea 1 Ulvenwald TrackerUlvenwald Tracker 1 Vorinclex // The Grand EvolutionVorinclex // The Grand Evolution 1 World ShaperWorld Shaper Planeswalkers (1) 1 Wrenn and SevenWrenn and Seven Artifacts (4) 1 Exploration BroodshipExploration Broodship 1 Hedge ShredderHedge Shredder 1 The Great HengeThe Great Henge 1 Zuran OrbZuran Orb Sorceries (6) 1 Awaken the WoodsAwaken the Woods 1 Esper Origins // Summon: Esper MaduinEsper Origins // Summon: Esper Maduin 1 Ezuri's PredationEzuri's Predation 1 Nature's RhythmNature's Rhythm 1 Season of GatheringSeason of Gathering 1 Will of the SultaiWill of the Sultai Enchantments (3) 1 Kenrith's TransformationKenrith's Transformation 1 SpelunkingSpelunking 1 Virtue of Strength // Garenbrig GrowthVirtue of Strength // Garenbrig Growth Lands (46) 1 Ancient TombAncient Tomb 1 Argoth, Sanctum of NatureArgoth, Sanctum of Nature 1 Boseiju, Who EnduresBoseiju, Who Endures 1 Cryptic CavesCryptic Caves 1 Crystal VeinCrystal Vein 1 Demolition FieldDemolition Field 1 Eden, Seat of the SanctumEden, Seat of the Sanctum 1 Emergence ZoneEmergence Zone 1 Geier Reach SanitariumGeier Reach Sanitarium 1 Ghost QuarterGhost Quarter 1 Hickory WoodlotHickory Woodlot 1 Maze of IthMaze of Ith 1 MirrorpoolMirrorpool 1 Ominous CemeteryOminous Cemetery 1 Sanctum of EternitySanctum of Eternity 1 Shifting WoodlandShifting Woodland 27 Snow-Covered ForestSnow-Covered Forest 1 Strip MineStrip Mine 1 Tranquil ThicketTranquil Thicket 1 WastelandWasteland At Bracket 4 (Optimized), players expect: decks to be lethal, consistent, and fast, designed to take people down as fast as possible
Green Green puts the natural ahead of everything else, and creatures are the most natural card type in Magic
Then milk value and stall with your midgame until you can close the deal with spiders or Eldrazi or even just too much value and control to lose from your position
