I had a friend insist that Rancor deserved a slot in werewolves.  Of course, he was wrong because he didn't understand how the tribe works, how Full Moon's Rise already grants trample and a power boost.  Yet he maintained that he was right even though he couldn't back up his claim.

     Rancor is better in Selesnya, in decks that have overpowered creatures needing trample to get damage through.  Put the aura on a Strangleroot Geist or a Loxodon Smiter and you have a winner.  Put it on a 1/1 Mayor of Avabruck who really doesn't want to die because he needs to generate tokens later on and increase everybody's power/toughness stats and you are out of your mind.  This is why Rancor has no place in werewolves. 

     Another friend said add burn.  Well, their werewolves have burn.  Lots of it actually.  And they get two at least.  I don't have burn and I have the same winning percentage as them.  So burn isn't necessary in the deck.  It can help but in a world where Thragtusk gains an opponent five life points and Angel of Serenity has 6 toughness, direct damage isn't that effective.

     This is the reason why I have Full Moon's Rise.  To make sure that my damage does get through and negate whatever lifegain the opponent has in his deck.  This is the reason why I have 26-30 creatures at any given time because the best way to reduce an opponent from 20-0 is via combat.  This is why I maintain that the only kind of burn I might consider in a werewolf deck is Bonfire of the Damned.  Other than that, I prefer using Giant Growth and Titanic Growth because they help my creatures survive combat and continue to punish the opponent for relying on lifegain.  Because if he is gaining life then he isn't dealing damage.  I feel that I am winning in that scenario.  Have you ever seen me cast Titanic Growth on my Nightfall Predator and fight Angel of Serenity?  So much fun!

     Werewolves can win in this metagame but it needs to be built right.  No Rancor, no burn.  Okay, maybe a little burn.  But that's it.  Rely on the pack and the pack will see you through the end. In style.