B/R Aggro

[Bouncin12]

[deck]Dos Rakis Theros[/deck]

This is the list that I want to run going forward. I feel like Marauder will be a big player, helping push our damage through huge blockers like Smiter or the new Sylvan Caryatid. I chose Thrill-Kill because its another black 2-drop, and the deathtouch lets it plow into anything and trade. It also swing into Voice of Resurgence without fear. As an end game/curve topper, the Cerberus demands the correct answer. Being near unblockable, one swing from it should almost always be a game ender, and if it does die, we get to refuel our hand with goodies. I opted for each
creature to have at least one devotion to black, in order to best use the Marauder. I'm considering maindecking some copies of dreadbore, or changing the numbers on various things. Just wanted to get some thoughts going on this archtype.

[hoeiberg]

Hi there.

I have been running this list for the last few weeks before rotation.

[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Spike Jester
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Mindsparker
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

3 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear
3 Dreadbore

23 Lands
[/deck]
Or at least very close to that (i might have some numbers wrong here, don't have the list in front of me)

Now i'm thinking of "growing" a little with some of the new creatures, mainly Underworld Cerberus which i think could be a real boss in the deck.
The changes I'm considering are: -4 Foundry Street Denizen -3 Pillar (obviously since it's no longer legal) -4 Searing spear +4 Legion Loyalist or Firedrinker Satyr (probably gonna settle on Satyr main and loyalist in the bord against
stuff with tokens (advent of the wurm) +3/4 Boon of Erebos +3/4 Lightning Strike/Magma Jet. I like the boon because i lets my small creatures kill bigger threats and live. I can't quite decide between Jet and Strike, i suppose it will be decided by the meta (will 2 or 3 be the magical number for toughness?).

My real issue is what to cut for the Cerberus, since i will probably need more lands to run him as well as the slots for him, and at the moment i really like all my creatures, although i think Sparker is probably the weakest, so maybe something like -4 Sparker +1 land +1 Hammer of Purphoros +2 Underworld Cerberus.

i too would like feedback on my list

[kloned1]

This is my first attempt at creating a B/R Aggro deck for the new Standard.

1. Before I start testing, is the outline viable?
2. I'm unsure about Hellhole Flailer in the 3cmc slot. What other creatures to consider?
3. Any other overall suggestions?

Thanks!

B/R Aggro First Draft
[deck]Creatures (26)
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
4 Hellhole Flailer
4 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (12)
4 Magma Jet
4 Doom Blade
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Dreadbore

Land (23)
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
10 Mountain
5 Swamp

Sideboard (15)
4 Burning Earth
3 Rakdos's Return
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Dreadbore
2 Peak Eruption
2 Devour Flesh
[/deck]

[redthirst]

The deck doesn't look bad, but I think playing tap lands in an Aggro deck is going to regularly bite you in the ass - it's probably better than not having the right color mana, but it's still annoying and will probably lose you a few games.

Otherwise creatures look pretty good, though I prefer the Haste and evasion of Phoenix over the higher P/T stats of Flailer and I think you probably don't want 4 Exava. Maybe just 3 and a 1-of like Hammer of Purphoros or Fanatic of Mogis.

Regarding spells I really feel like you're going to want 4 Lightning Strike over some of the spot removal.

[kloned1]

The deck doesn't look bad, but I think playing tap lands in an Aggro deck is going to regularly bite you in the ass - it's probably better than not having the right color mana, but it's still annoying and will probably lose you a few games.

Is there a viable way to change this deck from an "aggro" archetype to a more "mid-range" strategy with the current creature pool for B/R? I guess I could just live with the mana problems for aggro. I like combining black spot removal with burn so much and the B/R sideboard cards! I want this to work!

Otherwise creatures look pretty good, though I prefer the Haste and evasion of Phoenix over the higher P/T stats of Flailer and I think you probably don't want 4 Exava.
Maybe just 3 and a 1-of like Hammer of Purphoros or Fanatic of Mogis.

Yep, after I posted this, I immediately thought it would be great to add Hammer of Purphoros to the list. I hadn't considered Fanatic of Mogis. I'll experiment with which card makes a bigger difference with the deck. Chandra's Phoenix is a superior card choice. Thanks!

Regarding spells I really feel like you're going to want 4 Lightning Strike over some of the spot removal.

Right on. Red Thirst wins again. Thanks man!

B/R Aggro Second Draft
[deck]Creatures (25)
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (11)
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
2 Doom Blade
1 Mizzium Mortars


Artifacts (1)
1 Hammer of Purphoros

Land (23)
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
10 Mountain
5 Swamp

Sideboard (15)
4 Burning Earth
3 Rakdos's Return
2 Mizzium Mortars
2
Dreadbore
2 Peak Eruption
2 Devour Flesh
[/deck]

[redthirst]

Is there a viable way to change this deck from an "aggro" archetype to a more "mid-range" strategy with the current creature pool for B/R? I guess I could just live with the mana problems for aggro. I like combining black spot removal with burn so much and the B/R sideboard cards! I want this to work!

There are a lot of solid Midrange choices in R/B, here's just something to mess with off the top of my head:

[deck]
Creatures: 19
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Ember Swallower
3 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells: 17
4 Dreadbore
4 Magma Jet
3 Mizzium Mortars
3 Rakdos's Return
3 Chandra, Pyromaster

Lands: 24
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
2 Godless Shrine
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
13
Mountain
[/deck]

[zemanjaski]

Honestly, Dreadbore > Doom Blade currently.

[kloned1]

Honestly, Dreadbore > Doom Blade currently.

Too many linchpin, black creatures in the meta?
e.g.
[cards]Desecration Demon
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Lifebane Zombie[/cards]

[Platypus]

I'm here right now with my Rb list, but it's untested. It's more midrange than aggro.

[deck]
Lands (25)
4 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Blood Crypt
13 Mountain
4 Godless Shrine/Orzhov Guildgate/BW Scryland

Creatures (21)
4 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Boros Reckoner
3 Fanatic of Mogis
3 Ember Swallower

Spells (14)
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
4 Dreadbore
2 Hammer of Purphoros

Sideboard (15)
4 Frostburn Weird
3 Flames of the Firebrand
1 Pyromancer's Gauntlet
3 Act of Treason
4 Mizzium Mortars
[/deck]

The list could certainly benefit from some Chandras, a copy of Nykthos, and perhaps some Rakdos's Returns.

[zemanjaski]

Honestly, Dreadbore > Doom Blade currently.

Too many linchpin, black creatures in the meta?
e.g.
[cards]Desecration Demon
Obzedat, Ghost Council
Lifebane Zombie[/cards]

Planeswalkers redbro. Jace and Elspeth will be everywhere at States.

[LP, of the Fires]

[deck]
Creatures: 20
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Ember Swallower
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells: 16
2 Dreadbore
4 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Rakdos's Return
3 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Lightning Strik
1 Rakdos Keyrune

Lands: 24
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
2 Godless Shrine
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
13 Mountain
[/deck][/quote]

Slight mod to thirst's list

[dpaine88]

That list looks solid, wouldn't mind a 25th land though.

Has plenty of threats, a must for midrange right now. I like the 4 Dreadbore plan myself though.

[TBuzzsaw]

What I've been testing so far:

[deck]Creatures
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
3 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
2 Underworld Cerberus

Spells
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
2 Hammer of Purphoros
2 Dreadbore

Land
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
10 Mountain
6 Swamp

Sideboard
3 Burning Earth
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Dreadbore
2 Peak Eruption
4 Legion's Loyalist
[/deck]

It's all about fast hasty suicidal creatures. Hammer and Cerberus out at the same time is just about game. If they kill Cerberus you get back your hasty guys.

The only problem I have with it is Spike Jester. I'm not sold on casting him turn two without problems, so I may just replace him with Firefist Striker and take out some swamps for more mountains.

[Elricity]

85.6% chance that you can cast spike jester on the play assuming you can play the gate first turn.

Speaking of gates, 86.1% chance of casting a turn 1 satyr.

[Gigex]

Been thinking of something hyperaggressive ........like this:
[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Tormented Hero
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Spike Jester
4 Mogis's Marauder
4 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

2 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore

4 Blood Crypt
9 Swamp
9 Mountain[/deck]

[Elricity]

You have an even less chance of casting turn 1 satyr or hero than the previous list. Personally, I don't think Hero is that great, particularly since you can't use his heroic and you can't haste it (enter tapped). Legion Loyalist would be a better card with your bigger power list if you want more than 8 one drops. I get that you're trying to make use of Mogis but a 2/2 for 3 that with your black might only trigger for itself is...really underwhelming.

Also, thoughtseize is not an agressive card. It's midrange to control. You "thoughtsieze" people by killing them while they still have 4-5 cards in hand they couldn't cast in time. Magma jet or shock would fit better.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Platypus]

Been thinking of something hyperaggressive ........like this:
[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Tormented Hero
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Spike Jester
4 Mogis's Marauder
4 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

2 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore

4 Blood Crypt
9 Swamp
9 Mountain[/deck]

-4x Firedrinker Satyr
+4x Rakdos Shred-Freak
-2x Thoughtseize
-1x Exava
+3x Magma Jet

[Elricity]

Satyr is better than hero in all ways mainboard. I agree with the rest.

[Jack]

Not really. Cutting Satyr means you don't need red on turn one, which allows you to cut some mountains in favor of more swamps, leaving you with a more consistent mana base. Hero is also better with Mogis's Marauder.

[Platypus]

Well, you can't have both, since it's a bit awkward colorwise. Hero helps with the devotion on Marauder and you don't really need the pump on Satyr since you have both GHC and Spike Jester with power 3.

[Str1fe5]

I've been thinking of running a RDW shell with a light splash of black for things like Dreadbore and Thoughtseize and Rakdos Return. When I play versions of RDW, my biggest problems are bigger creatures than I have and control decks being able to disrupt my early game enough to survive to the late game. I don't think any of the black creatures currently in Standard really lend themselves very well to an aggressive deck, so I don't know if it's worth it to go more than a light splash. I want to be able to have access to [mana]b[/mana] by turn 3 or 4 and otherwise filter through my normal RDW plan. Here's what I'm' thinking:

[deck]
Lands (22):
1 Swamp
11 Mountain
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate

Creatures (28):
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Chandra's
Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Spells (10):
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Dreadbore

Sideboard:
2 Dreadbore
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Rakdos Return
1 Flames of the Firebrand
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Thoughtseize
[/deck]

This is obviously heavily based off of the version that took down SCG last weekend, but honestly I'd been playing something similar minus the black (basically subbing Hellriders for Fanatics) and was pretty happy with the results. Dreadbores main gives me a lot more flexibility over Shock against a lot of strategies and also opens up space in the sideboard. Against bigger creature decks obviously Doom Blade's instant ability is pretty desirable but I want that flexibility to hit Planeswalkers as well against the tap out control decks out there. The idea is that if I can do my normal thing for the first 2 or 3 turns with Thoughtseize back up to disrupt the controlling player's game plan I should be in
a much better position to win. A lot of times they have to rely on Jace, Architect of Thought to stabilize. Well following up with Dreadbore the turn after they play it can be back breaking.

Thoughts?

[Elricity]

I know I'm being contrary here but I still don't like it but admittedly that may be my untested bias against Mogis.

About improving the mana base, why choose Hero? Using Platypus's changes, which I mostly think are correct, you have 11 [mana]1R[/mana] spells and 4 [mana]2B[/mana]. All of your other spells are either [mana]RBX[/mana] or . Strictly speaking, shifting your lands to black and not putting in gates hurts your mana base much more. It risks denying you all your removal, card fixing, and 2nd best 2 drop. If you lower your mountains further, you're probably better off changing Gorehouse to Thrill-Kill Assassin and lightning strike to doom blade or some equivalent. They're similar cards for punching
through and offering haste.

If hero didn't come into play tapped, I would fully be on board as it would be the potential of 4 damage on an empty board. It can't though so it's a bad card in the one scenario it would be a good card.

Here's the summary. If you go red, you're improving your matchup vs control and weakening it vs midrange. If you go black, other way around. Which matters more to you in your meta? Personally, I'm more concerned with control.

P.S. Wow I wasn't aware how limited the one and 2 drops are right now until I started digging. Is Tymaret, the Murder King an option in this deck for reach? Remember you can sac one Tymaret to get another back if one is going to die. It's probably bad.

[Mikaeus]

Hello. New here and am looking to improve my new BR deck.

[deck]
Lands (23):
12 Mountain
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
3 Godless Shrine

Creatures (25):
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Tormented Hero
3 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
3 Gore-House Chainwalker
2 Mogis's Marauder
2 Boros Reckoner
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
2 Underworld Cerberus

Spells (12):
3 Mizzium Mortars
3 Magma Jet
3 Hero's Downfall
3 Dreadbore

Sideboard (15):
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Rakdos Return
2 Boros Reckoner
1 Godless Shrine
3 Frostburn Weird
2 Thoughtseize
2 Lifebane Zombie
[/deck]

Will appreciate any tips or feedback on improving this.

[Platypus]

I know I'm being contrary here but I still don't like it but admittedly that may be my untested bias against Mogis.

About improving the mana base, why choose Hero? Using Platypus's changes, which I mostly think are correct, you have 11 [mana]1R[/mana] spells and 4 [mana]2B[/mana]. All of your other spells are either [mana]RBX[/mana] or . Strictly speaking, shifting your lands to black and not putting in gates hurts your mana base much more. It risks denying you all your removal, card fixing, and 2nd best 2 drop. If you lower your mountains further, you're probably better off changing Gorehouse to [card:
214tgezy]Thrill-Kill Assassin[/card] and lightning strike to doom blade or some equivalent. They're similar cards for punching through and offering haste.

If hero didn't come into play tapped, I would fully be on board as it would be the potential of 4 damage on an empty board. It can't though so it's a bad card in the one scenario it would be a good card.

Here's the summary. If you go red, you're improving your matchup vs control and weakening it vs midrange. If you go black, other way around. Which matters more to you in your meta? Personally, I'm more concerned with control.

P.S. Wow I wasn't aware how limited the one and 2 drops are right now until I started digging. Is Tymaret, the Murder King an option in this deck for reach? Remember you can sac one Tymaret to get another back if one is going to die. It's probably bad.

I haven't tested Mogis's Marauder in play myself either, but others have
and consider it quite good.

About the manabase. You either go Br or Rb. If you go Br, then Hero and Cackler are you choices for 1-drops. And GHC -> TKA is probably wise as well. Keep Marauders in this case. And a couple of Guildgates are probably ok. Something like this:

[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Tormented Hero
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Thrill-Kill Assassin
4 Spike Jester
4 Mogis's Marauder
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore

4 Blood Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
x Swamp (I don't have time right now to figure out the best ratio of the basics)
x Mountain
[/deck]

If you go Rb, then you want to skip Marauders and go with Chandra's Phoenix instead, and of course Satyr. And maybe Ash Zealot instead of Shred-Freak, although Shred-Freak is easier to cast. Like this:

[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Spike Jester
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
n4 Dreadbore

4 Blood Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
x Swamp
x Mountain
[/deck]

Which is better I can't say. And is the Rb version better than straight mono-red? I'm not sure about that. Decks similar to the Br one have been tested and found to be quite good.

I don't really understand you complaint about Hero entering the battlefield tapped. Satyr doesn't have haste. Entering the battlefield tapped or no haste, doesn't matter on an empty board. Satyr can be pumped though, if needed. So that's a bonus.

[Elricity]

I haven't tested Mogis's Marauder in play myself either, but others have and consider it quite good.

About the manabase. You either go Br or Rb. If you go Br, then Hero and Cackler are you choices for 1-drops. And GHC -> TKA is probably wise as well. Keep Marauders in this case. And a couple of Guildgates are probably ok. Something like this:

---

[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Tormented Hero
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Thrill-Kill Assassin
4 Spike Jester
4 Mogis's Marauder
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore

4 Blood
Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
x Swamp (I don't have time right now to figure out the best ratio of the basics)
x Mountain
[/deck]

If you go Rb, then you want to skip Marauders and go with Chandra's Phoenix instead, and of course Satyr. And maybe Ash Zealot instead of Shred-Freak, although Shred-Freak is easier to cast. Like this:

---

[deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Spike Jester
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

3 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore

4 Blood Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
x Swamp
x Mountain
[/deck]

Which is better I can't say. And is the Rb version better than straight mono-red? I'm not sure about that. Decks similar to the Br one have been tested and found to be quite good.

I don't really understand you complaint about Hero entering the battlefield tapped. Satyr doesn't have haste. Entering the battlefield tapped or no haste,
doesn't matter on an empty board. Satyr can be pumped though, if needed. So that's a bonus.

For lands, 4 shock, 2 gate, 12 main 4 splash gets a 90% chance of the main color turn 1 and 70.5% to hit the splash by turn 2 (assuming you don't gate the first two turns). 11 main 5 splash gets you 88%/75%. 10/6 is 86%/79%. Guess it depends on how important that one drop is.

I guess my complaint on hero tapped is this. It can never haste at all. Satyr can haste if any other black is in play although it wouldn't share intimidate but you still have more potential power swinging. It can share intimidate with shred freak. You can hold mogis + card waiting for the board sweep and if it doesn't come, drop 4 extra power on the board and finish the game.

And once Mogis has done its thing, Hero is always an inferior Satyr. Hero vs Satyr's main strength is on turn 3 where it represents 2 unblockable (given current meta anyway) and I'm not seeing that being worth playing the more narrow card.

nShort version, I think the haste is more relevant than the intimidate right now if you have to choose, like this instance. If midrange takes a bigger hold, then I can see the intimidate being of greater value. I just wish there was another good black one drop that would make this choice irrelevant. Technically there is Shadow alley denizen if you really like the intimidate as it would allow all the creatures in Br to push damage through instead of just Mogis. I suspect it's worse than Hero but I'd be curious if there's a way to math out if I'm wrong. I could definitely see it as one drop 9 and 10 though.

That said, you're probably right that any Rb build right now is going to be strictly worse than mono red.

[Platypus]

I always forget about the Haste given by Marauder. You got a point there. Another thing about Marauder is that the intimidate isn't so good against the mirror. And now I'm not talking about the exact mirror but a Red-based aggro deck, since several of the creatures are red as well and can still be blocked.

Shadow Alley Denizen isn't worth it, that I'm sure of.

I really wish Nuwen or Fate would comment on this, since they have tested most with the Br variants.

[Elricity]

Heh, I saw the haste and missed the intimidate on Marauder at first. Too much midrange boros last season with Slayers' Stronghold and such.

I'm looking forward to some playtest results too. I'm starting to see how this could be more fun to play than I first suspected. I don't have time to test it now myself but I could see bringing it to an FNM in a few weeks. My LGS seems to be midrange happy.

[TBuzzsaw]

I know this is really ambitious and possibly stupid, but I'm going to see if I can put something together that utilizes Xathrid Necromancer and Purphoros. I don't have high hopes, but I'm going to brew to see what I can come up with that's remotely playable. Reasoning behind this deck idea is my meta is chalked full of control and a billion Supreme Verdicts, and Rakdos aggro tends to be weaker towards removal now that Falkenrath is gone. My Underworld Cerberus testing is decent, but not too reliable.

[Link]

a lot of the power from B/r comes from your deck literally being immune to doom blade. Your opponent having dead cards in hand when youre aggro is a HUGE advantage, and trying to play ash zealot and spike jester withotu dragonskull summits is just asking for trouble. Chandra's phoenix is pretty hard to reliably hit.

We've found the only double costed cards we've found to be worth it are 4-drops, because by 4 mana you have better chance of double black or double red.

Intimidate AND haste are huge keywords and what makes this color combination one fo the stronger aggro decks that people cant handle and dont have on the radar ala SCG games decklists.

[NerdBoyWonder]

I know this is really ambitious and possibly stupid, but I'm going to see if I can put something together that utilizes Xathrid Necromancer and Purphoros. I don't have high hopes, but I'm going to brew to see what I can come up with that's remotely playable. Reasoning behind this deck idea is my meta is chalked full of control and a billion Supreme Verdicts, and Rakdos aggro tends to be weaker towards removal now that Falkenrath is gone. My Underworld Cerberus testing is decent, but not too reliable.

Purphoros is just too slow. In an aggro deck keeping pressure is so key and especially on turn 4 where you want to be close to or just straight closing out your game. Purphoros is sadly looking to be EDH fodder, a combo piece or a midrange tool.

nEven if you partner Purphoros with something like Assemble the Legion you are taking two turns to do nothing. In a match against aggro thats not where you want to be.

[TBuzzsaw]

I know this is really ambitious and possibly stupid, but I'm going to see if I can put something together that utilizes Xathrid Necromancer and Purphoros. I don't have high hopes, but I'm going to brew to see what I can come up with that's remotely playable. Reasoning behind this deck idea is my meta is chalked full of control and a billion Supreme Verdicts, and Rakdos aggro tends to be weaker towards removal now that Falkenrath is gone. My Underworld Cerberus testing is decent, but not too reliable.

Purphoros is just too slow. In an aggro deck keeping pressure is so key and
especially on turn 4 where you want to be close to or just straight closing out your game. Purphoros is sadly looking to be EDH fodder, a combo piece or a midrange tool.

Even if you partner Purphoros with something like Assemble the Legion you are taking two turns to do nothing. In a match against aggro thats not where you want to be.

The idea is a Necromancer on turn three and Purphoros turn four. Any attempt of blocking/killing from then on still deals 2 damage when the humans die. This is the best I can come up with.

[deck]Creatures
4 Tormented Hero
4 Rakdos Shred-freak
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Thrill-Kill Assassin
3 Mogis's Marauder
4 Xathrid Necromancer
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

Spells
3 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Lightning Strike
3 Magma Jet
3 Shock

Land
4 Blood Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
1 Mutavault
8 Swamp
8 Mountain
[/deck]

Marauder helps get the damage through past blockers early on. Pyromancer is Pyromancer, and adds value it if comes down
after Purphoros.

Flawed and not going to top any tournies, but it's fun and has possible potential.

[NerdBoyWonder]

The idea is a Necromancer on turn three and Purphoros turn four. Any attempt of blocking/killing from then on still deals 2 damage when the humans die. This is the best I can come up with.

[deck]Creatures
4 Tormented Hero
4 Rakdos Shred-freak
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Thrill-Kill Assassin
3 Mogis's Marauder
4 Xathrid Necromancer
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

Spells
3 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Lightning Strike
3 Magma Jet
3 Shock

Land
4 Blood Crypt
2 Rakdos Guildgate
1 Mutavault
8 Swamp
8 Mountain
[/deck]

Marauder helps get the damage through past blockers early on. Pyromancer is Pyromancer, and adds value it if comes down after Purphoros.

Flawed and not going to top any tournies, but it's fun and has possible potential.

n
Young Pyromancer needs roughly a minimum of 12 spells to really get any value out of him. I would not run Shock but instead run Dreadbore to have the option to hit Planeswalkers.

By going the route of Purphoros you dilute the deck's efficiency for a card that appears to have synergy and potentia BUT sadly it only APPEARS to have this synergy and potential. Esper/Azorious control can negate your damage with a Sphinx if the game goes long enough. They also pack enough removal where your tokens may not be an issue. Also Purphoros will never be able to be a creature. He hits the field nothing happens. Speed is your best weapon against control.

On the matter of midrange if they are ramping into fatties playing Purphoros puts you behind a bit. Why waste a turn 4 pretty much not doing anything when you can just play Exava and force them to answer a 4/4 first strike haste?

Originally I wanted to play a midange deck that utilized Young Pyromancer, Purphoros and Murder King. With a strong
spell base YP and Murder King are value. Purphoros when put into play always ended up in a wasted turn because of his lack of board impact. I honestly thing a deck using YP, Murder King and Chandra's Phoenix could work.

[Zooligan]

No Slaughter Games in anyone's SB???

[photodyer]

No Slaughter Games in anyone's SB???

This was my question last year...it's flat amazing to me what one can learn by being a part of this clan for any length of time.

In the current meta--and as a general rule--cards like SG really have no place in an aggro deck. Turn 4 should be about dropping a "must be answered" threat, and if you spend T4 lobotomizing their deck, that's another turn you're giving midrange and control to play more land and draw more threats/answers. It's spending a card and mana without developing your board or doing them hurt, and that isn't a winning plan for aggro.

Yes, Slaughter Games, can get rid of a wincon, but in most cases decks are going to be diverse enough that they
can find other paths to victory, especially with the turn you just gave them.

[Zooligan]

No Slaughter Games in anyone's SB???

This was my question last year...it's flat amazing to me what one can learn by being a part of this clan for any length of time.

In the current meta--and as a general rule--cards like SG really have no place in an aggro deck. Turn 4 should be about dropping a "must be answered" threat, and if you spend T4 lobotomizing their deck, that's another turn you're giving midrange and control to play more land and draw more threats/answers. It's spending a card and mana without developing your board or doing them
hurt, and that isn't a winning plan for aggro.

Yes, Slaughter Games, can get rid of a wincon, but in most cases decks are going to be diverse enough that they can find other paths to victory, especially with the turn you just gave them.

I half-suspected that would be the answer

Makes sense. However...

It does make me come up with more questions (which may be the same path you went down a year ago), like:

What's the philosophy of the SB if not to make your matchups better in your known local meta?

I know the whole "transformational SB" idea, but wouldn't SG fit right into that?

[NerdBoyWonder]

I half-suspected that would be the answer

Makes sense. However...

It does make me come up with more questions (which may be the same path you went down a year ago), like:

What's the philosophy of the SB if not to make your matchups better in your known local meta?

I know the whole "transformational SB" idea, but wouldn't SG fit right into that?

General rule I follow when it comes to building sideboards is "What cards further my plan and disrupts my opponents plan?"

Slaughter Games fails 1 of 2 criteria

1) Does it further my plan as an aggro deck? NO

2) Does it disrupt my opponents plan? YES

Slaughter Games is a powerful
card with a cost on our curve where we are winning the match or are close to shutting the game out. Transformational sideboards pretty much are there to completely negate your opponents hate plan against you.

If your sideboard plan in an aggro deck is to go big game two then I would think some big midrange creatures such as Boros Reckoner, Desecration Demon, Stormbreath Dragon, or Underworld Ceberus is where you want to be followed up with more removal and Thoughtseize support.

[stuffydollfan]

I posted this deck list on the budget section in the MTG Salvation forum…

[deck]23 Creatures

4x Akroan Crusader
3x Tymaret, The Murder King
4x Young Pyromancer
4x Trill-Kill Assassin
4x Xathrid Necromancer
4x Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

15 Instants and sorceries

2x Read the Bones
2x Dynacharge
3x Coordinated Assault
3x Titans Strength
3x Molten Birth
2x Mad Cap Skills

22 Lands

4x Blood Crypt
3x Rakdos Guildgate
4x Swamp
10x Mountain


Side

2x Slaughter Games
3x Duress
2x Hammer of Purphoros
2x Madcap Skills
4x Frostburn Weird
2x Read the Bones[/deck]

The main focus here was attacking, getting damage through, and generating a whole bunch of tokens to keep on the assault. Between the Crusader, Pyromancer, and Necromancer, the deck will generate lots of tokens. Tyramet is there as a sac outlet. And both Exava and the Assasin are the main beaters.

I am currently working on a
revised version that doesn’t have any budget restraints. Chandra, Purphoros both would seem good in here but in different ways. I guess kill spells like dread bore or lightning strike would probably still be good, but they misses out on a bunch of interactions with our creatures.

[Aodh]

Anyone have some feedback on this ported Dos Rakis list?

[deck]4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Spike Jester
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
3 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells
4 Lightning Strike
4 Dreadbore
2 Magma Jet

Lands
4 Blood Crypt
4 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Godless Shrine
12 Mountain

Sideboard
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Doom Blade
2 Frostburn Weird
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Rakdos's Return
1 Slaughter Games
2 Burning Earth[/deck]

What do ya'll think?

[Baztsing]

IMO seems good, is very similar to mine. I'm not sure about the guildgates, they just stop u in a aggro deck but is my opinion. i prefer the 4 magma jet set, is tooo good to guide ur next draws...In the SB my experiencie with Burning Earth has been horrible, so few decks using 3 mana, and the decks with it, plays so many basic lands, so i thinks is a lost slot. The artifacts like Spear of Heliod and Whip of Erebos gives too much trouble to this deck, so the rakdos charms could be a good inclusion.

Greetings.

[Elricity]

If he's worried about artifacts, he's already splashing white for wear // tear. I wish rakdos charm's other modes were good right now.