Primer: R/w/x Aggro

[LP, of the Fires]

I think his point is why play the deck if it has such a mediocre>bad matchup spread.

Seems like unless there's a bunch of esper(assuming that matchup spread is accurate) that you'd be better of playing any other red deck.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I don't any red deck variants or top teir decks would have a better spread. Format seems very balanced ATM. There is no best deck.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Matchup spread was put there for discussiin, and is not written in stone. It's alao based on feelings, not statistics as I have only played most of those decks once.

For reference:

Vs mono black 1-0-0

Vs mono blue 1-0-0

Vs mono red 1-3-0

Vs Esper / UW 4-0-0

VS R/G monsters 1-0-0

Vs Dega 1-1-0

[zemanjaski]

I agree that there's no best red deck; they're all adapted for different opposition AND different play styles.

[Jedi_Knight]

Zooligan - I wouldn't side out Dragons against Esper, certainly not for Lightning Strikes. If for something, then for Skullcrack. And against MonoB, J_S plan (siding out Magma Jets and Reckoners) really works, at least for me - tried it today against 2 MonoB decks in 8-men (with the new addition of Satyr in place of Shocks) and it worked wonderfully. You really are the beatdown there and Satyr works flawlessly here.

Also, I wouldn't board in Peak Eruption against MonoR. Boros Charm could blow their removal on your creatures or may double up as removal in rare cases, Peak Eruption rarely slows aggro down if they aren't stranded on lands already. Just my thoughts there.

[zemanjaski]

Big Boros is probably the best against Mono U, so there's that.

[Zooligan]

Thanks for the coaching J_K! Made tweaks in the SB.

I only have 2 Mutavault in the land array, mainly because that's all I've got a the moment. Can this manabase really support more?

[Lightning_Dolt]

Thanks for the coaching J_K! Made tweaks in the SB.

I only have 2 Mutavault in the land array, mainly because that's all I've got a the moment. Can this manabase really support more?

I play four. It's tripped me up once in recent memory.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I've noticed a few of you are playing bigger versions of the deck. Is anyone playing a smaller version?

[Gigex]

Good job Gigex!

lol thnx man. Also thnx to JS and everyone else who contributed. Your SB strategies really helped over the course of the tournament.

@JS - i understand why you want to scry but relatively speaking, don't you think magma jet is a rather low impact card when compared to the rest of the spells in this deck? Lightning Strike just seems to deal with a whole lot more.

[Jedi_Knight]

I've noticed a few of you are playing bigger versions of the deck. Is anyone playing a smaller version?

I actually jumped to the middle ground - cut Aurelia and Shocks for a quadruple Satyr. Not sold on Cackler though. 8 onedrops really change the whole dynamic of the deck.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Good job Gigex!

lol thnx man. Also thnx to JS and everyone else who contributed. Your SB strategies really helped over the course of the tournament.

@JS - i understand why you want to scry but relatively speaking, don't you think magma jet is a rather low impact card when compared to the rest of the spells in this deck? Lightning Strike just seems to deal with a whole lot more.

[
quote="NerdBoyWonder » Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:29 am"]

Magma Jet is being swapped in because:

A) All the matches I lose are due to consistency issues.

B) None of the top placing decks are running lightning strike. They are running MJ / mortars.

While I think Lightning Strike is better in a vacuum, there are only five creatures that Lightning Strike is better than Magma jet against (Kalonian Tusker, Boros Reckoner, Nightveil Specter, Fleecemane Lion, [card]
Omenspeaker[/card]). I think we really need the scry.

[/quote]

Of those five, only two see main-stream play. The other three are fringe cards.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I've noticed a few of you are playing bigger versions of the deck. Is anyone playing a smaller version?

I actually jumped to the middle ground - cut Aurelia and Shocks for a quadruple Satyr. Not sold on Cackler though. 8 onedrops really change the whole dynamic of the deck.

I was thinking maybe something like this:

[deck]Creatures (26)
4x Firedrinker Satyr
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Ash Zealot
4x Imposing Sovereign
4x Boros Reckoner
4x Chandra's Phoenix
2x Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (11)
4x Lightning Strike
2x Chained to the Rocks
3x Boros Charm
n2x Chandra, Pyromaster

Land (23)
2x Mutavault
2x Plains
4x Temple of Triumph
4x Sacred Foundry
11x Mountains
[/deck]

[Gigex]

Ah ok got it. Thnx. As for a "smaller" version, been toying around with this :

[deck]
Creatures
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers
2 Chandra Pyromaster

Other Spells
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks

Lands
3 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
13 Mountain

Sideboard
2 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks
1 Assemble the Legion
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Burning Earth
2 Warleader's Helix
2 Wear // Tear[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

Ah ok got it. Thnx. As for a "smaller" version, been toying around with this :

[deck]
Creatures
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers
2 Chandra Pyromaster

Other Spells
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks

Lands
3 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
13 Mountain

Sideboard
2 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks
1 Assemble the Legion
4 Mizzium Mortars
2 Burning Earth
2 Warleader's Helix
2 Wear // Tear[/deck]

That looks good. I'd really like another two drop to fix the curve.

[Jedi_Knight]

I can get behind that. It is more of a beatdown with top end but also the utility these two colors presents. I would go with J_S list though, the second two-drop will really go a long way to being the proper beatdown.

I just noticed I keep commenting like I know how it should be and what's best etc. - that wasn't my intention, I am still trying to get around here, so take my comments with a grain of salt, I do not possess expertise these guys have.

[Aodh]

Imposing Sovereign looks sick, JS. Just remember that you really want 12 white sources for turn-2 plays, so that'll probably force some Mutavaults out of the list. I'd run: 8 duals, 4 plains, and 11 mountains. Dropping the curve so low lets you remove some lands (23 land in 2-dragon zombies last season worked fine). Going up to 24 land, I'd probably add a mountain to put as at 20 sources for Ash Zealot and FBW (if those are there), but could probably work as a Mutavault; 25th land can definitely be colorless.

[Jedi_Knight]

4-0 (technically 3-0-1) daily even report.

[deck]Creatures (20)
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers (3)
3 Chandra, Pyromaster

Spells (12)
2 Chained to the Rocks
4 Magma Jet
3 Lightning Strike
1 Mizzium Mortars
2 Warleader's Helix

Lands (25)
13 Mountain
2 Mutavault
2 Boros Guildgate
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard (15)
2 Chained to the Rocks
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Wear // Tear
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Pithing Needle
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Hammer of Purphoros
2 Assemble the Legion[/deck]

R1 - MonoU

OK, just wanted to have some fun and first round I get this. Right on then. He keeps a questionable hand G1 (2 Raptors, Weird and Jace). He doesn't really prevent me from bashing in with Zealots and Vault. He then sacs Jace for cards. He has 5 mana and the three cards are [card]Island[/
card], Cyclonic Rift, Master of Waves. I separate them Rift vs Island + MoW (I had Chandra in play and Chains in hand). He takes MoW and puts him into play. Next turn he gets Chained and he concedes. G2 I keep 3 Temples... He goes land go, land go. Couldn't be happier. His first play is T4 Domestication on my Ash Zealot, followed by Jace. I go another Ash Zealot. He goes Tidebinder and Thassa. I kill the Tidebinder and Chain Thassa. He eventually manages to get MoW with 3 tokens. Next turn he uses Rapid Hybridization on my Dragon (that's fair), but attacks with MoW to lower counters on Chandra (that's stupid). I block with the token, clear his table and he scoops after I drop another Dragon next turn.

SB: + 2 Chained, +2 Mortars, +1 Ratchet Bomb, +1 Hammer, -4 Satyr and I think -1 Chandra -1 Dragon. Not sure about Hammer there.

R2 - MonoR Fanatic Devotion[/
b]

G1 We trade back and forth and I eventually stabilize at about 7 life. He decides to swing his Firedrinker Satyr into my Boros Reckoner with me having one mana... I forget to activate first strike (just pressed F6, didn't really think he would attack), he pumps, I redirect to him. I am down Reckoner, he is down Satyr and 7 life making me able to get him into burn range. He drops a Reckoner, but my 2 Phoenixes end him. G2 he leaves Satyrs in (I told him it was courageous, he said he doesn't have anything better... oh well). My Zealot gets toasted and next turn we witness Anger of the Gods, setting his life at 14 while I end up at 12. He drops Fanatic next turn of course. Boros Reckoner and airforce take it from there.

SB: +2 Chained, +2 Mortars, +3 Anger of the Gods, -4 Satyr, -2 Dragons, -1 Mountain

R3 - [b:
2bljznly]MonoB

G1 he goes Specter (got struck by lightning), Demon (got chained to the rocks), Merchant (mortared to death). I then proceed to drop Dragon, Dragon and Chandra. G2 he gets stuck on two lands while I keep a hand with 5 lands, Mortars and a Dragon. Fortunately I draw into Mutavault (I don't attack with it until fifth turn though, didn't want to lose it), Chandra and Zealot. He kills the small dudes, Chandra found out that even heroes can meet their downfall. On the other side of the table, Nightveil Specter's veil of the night didn't prevent Keranos from striking it down with lightning. I then drew a Hammer and few Phoenixes, while he only had removal and Merchant. Tokens eventually overwhelmed him.

SB: +2 Chained, +2 Mortars, +2 Wear // Tear, +2 Assemble, -4 Magma Jet, -4 Boros Reckoner

R4 - split (I get the QP, he gets the boosters)

The most exciting thing is that for the first after starting with MTGO 4 months ago, I now have 15 QP.
Very excited about that. And that wasn't really grinding, just playing for fun.

[LaZerBurn]

Well done on the 4 - 0 and the 15 QP Love the report too

[Lightning_Dolt]

Back from FNM. Hit all the variance today. 1-2 (3rd round bye)

[deck]Creatures (24)
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Spells (9)
3 Boros Charm
4 Magma Jet
2 Mizzium Mortars

Lands (25)
13 Mountain
4 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph

Sideboard (15)
1 Assemble the Legion
2 Burning Earth
4 Chained to the Rocks
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Anger of the Gods
2 Warleader's Helix
1 Wear // Tear[/deck]

Round 1 vs Devotion Red

G1: He curved out, I drew nothing but land.

G2: 1 mountain, no other land, so I mulligan to 6. 6 was good, I curved out and got him.

G3: 1 mutavault, no other land, so I mulligan to 6. 1 mutavault, no other land, so I mulligan to 5.
Keep a really good 5 (Mountain, mountain, mutavault, anger of the gods, anger of the gods. I draw all white cards with no white source and he recovers from the board wipes to deliver an ass whoopin. Felt bad.

0-1-0

Round 2 vs Black Devotion

G1: On the play I curve out and stomp.

G2: I get him to three, but top decked Doom Blades three turns in a row beats two dragons and a Boros Charm.

G3: I get stuck on 4 and never see a fifth land (2 dragons in hand), in spite of using Chandra's zero ability 4 times.

0-2-0

Round 3 vs BYE (because you suck too much to play)

1-2-0 (last)

First time I've finished outside the money in a while.

The one positive thing to come out of this is that I am sold on Anger of the Gods.
It is very good against BTE decks. Only cast Magma Jet once all night, so hard to tell how it was.

Hope you guys had better FNM's and Lady Luck is on your side.

[Zooligan]

That's a bummer J_S, but it does sound familiar. I know variance. Too well.

[Wipe Out]

I have been following the discussion here and trying to tweak the Big Boros deck for my local meta. Overall, I have had success with the deck, though it did not perform very well at Game Day (piloting issues plus maybe a little variance in there). I've been running a list very similar to Johnny_Spike's and it has been a blast. Chained to the Rocks all day, err'yday as far as I'm concerned.

[deck]
Creatures
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Storm Breath Dragon
Other Spells
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks
4 Magma Jet
Land
13 Mountain
4 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
Sideboard
2 Assemble the Legion
2 Wear // Tear
2 Burning Earth
3 Shock
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Chained to the Rocks
1 Boros Charm
[/deck]

I've been wondering about some alterations overall.
1) Is it unwise to go to 3 Chandras?
I'm usually so happy to see her and she can offer CA and a threat they have to deal with all while bringing our Phoenix back home. I'm just unsure what I would cut in that case.
2) Skullcrack, the eternal debate. Is it worth sideboarding? It has some nice utility versus annoying matchups, MonoB/Orzhov/Junk, G/W, Blood Baron. But it seems that maybe that's not what Big Boros is going for.
3) Burning Earth. It is great to lockdown 3 color decks, but does anyone else have problems with this hitting ourselves? I find myself with a good spread of duals and mutas down, in which case I'm pretty limited as well. People are playing more basics in general, so unless they are really greedy, are people having a lot of success with it? If you can truly lock them all the way down then it's okay to play around it.
4) Anger of the Gods. Seems a good choice for the sideboard. I personally have trouble with the Devotion Red matchups and this is nice to deal with devotion decks in general. What would come
out for it? Shocks?

Thank you guys for all of your insight and hard work, this deck is awesome and I am really enjoying it.

[Elricity]

You can't board out enough things to make Anger playable in your deck. Shock is a better card in that matchup since it's quicker and gives you an option of getting back phoenixes to block. Why not Flames of the firebrand instead of burning earth since you're already mentioning it not working so great. You have a decent chance of it giving 2 for 1's for creatures or 0 for 1 if you kill a creature and recur a phoenix.

[Gigex]

yea i'm not sold on the anger of the gods plan either. It just doesn't seem like a winning strategy. Anyways, took the "smaller" build to FNM tonight.................with less than stellar results. Got roflstomped from devotion red in round1, won against G/W (they really have no answer to reckoner) and U/R control ( he mullied to 4 one game). Losing the last round to B/R control for a 2-2 finish.

I've found that I really....really .....REALLY wanted to draw dragons when i wasn't. There wasn't enough aggression early on, which normally isn't bad cuz there are usually 4 dragons in the deck to ride to victory, but with 2, it didn't pan out. Not playing the full amount of boros charms really didn't let me blank their removal spells like i was used to doing. Magma jet was helpful in fixing draws and finding dragons tho....i think i'll go back to the "stock" 4 dragon build

[Lightning_Dolt]

You can't board out enough things to make Anger playable in your deck. Shock is a better card in that matchup since it's quicker and gives you an option of getting back phoenixes to block. Why not Flames of the firebrand instead of burning earth since you're already mentioning it not working so great. You have a decent chance of it giving 2 for 1's for creatures or 0 for 1 if you kill a creature and recur a phoenix.

I disagree.

-4 Firedrinker Satyr, -4 rakdos cackler, -3 Boros Charm
+3 Anger of the Gods, +2 Mizzium Mortars, + 2 Warleader's Helix, +4 Chained to the Rocks.

I am very confident I would have won the match if not for double mulligan > colour screw.

I've cut shock because I'm
running magma jet and I don't want more two damage effects, which are unplayable vs Black / Dega / Orzhov.

Burning Earth is for Esper / other three colour decks. Flames of the Firebrand does nothing there.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Also, the mono black matchup is much more favourable than I originally believed it to be.

[Zooligan]

[quote="[url=viewtopic.php?p=130763#p130763:2cvqc0tu]Zooligan » Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:18 pm[/url:2cvqc0tu]":2cvqc0tu]That's a bummer J_S, but it does sound familiar. I know variance. Too well.[/quote:2cvqc0tu]

Jinxed myself. Even running just 2 Mutavault and 1 Plains, got f#%*ed on land 3 of 7 games. Unbelievable! When the mana cooperated though, kicked the ass of Esper, B/R midrange, and U/W/R PW control. Just didn't happen enough to win against any but B/R.

Was running the smaller version with a little more burn. Maybe go to 25 lands next time with just duals for white. Not being able to cast Zealot turn 2 and Phoenix turn 3 because no double red makes me think no non-red sources (at least for my insanely unlucky ass).

1-2 + 1 bye

[Tyrael]

I've noticed a few of you are playing bigger versions of the deck. Is anyone playing a smaller version?

I actually jumped to the middle ground - cut Aurelia and Shocks for a quadruple Satyr. Not sold on Cackler though. 8 onedrops really change the whole dynamic of the deck.

I was thinking maybe something like this:

[deck]Creatures (26)
4x Firedrinker Satyr
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Ash Zealot
n4x Imposing Sovereign
4x Boros Reckoner
4x Chandra's Phoenix
2x Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (11)
4x Lightning Strike
2x Chained to the Rocks
3x Boros Charm
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

Land (23)
2x Mutavault
2x Plains
4x Temple of Triumph
4x Sacred Foundry
11x Mountains
[/deck]

Love this list, I'm a huge fan of Imposing Sovereign! That card has been a huge help in my local meta because of all the ramp decks being forced to bring in all their blockers tapped.[I'm playing W/R weenie though, small difference , I'm also hoping zem doesnt see this because according to him WW is dead and gone, hehe]

Still waiting for my Dragons too, the shop is out of them and I haven't been able to find anyone willing to trade them to me... FML

[Lightning_Dolt]

I've noticed a few of you are playing bigger versions of the deck. Is anyone playing a smaller version?

I actually jumped to the middle ground - cut Aurelia and Shocks for a quadruple Satyr. Not sold on Cackler though. 8 onedrops really change the
whole dynamic of the deck.

I was thinking maybe something like this:

[deck]Creatures (26)
4x Firedrinker Satyr
4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Ash Zealot
4x Imposing Sovereign
4x Boros Reckoner
4x Chandra's Phoenix
2x Stormbreath Dragon

Spells (11)
4x Lightning Strike
2x Chained to the Rocks
3x Boros Charm
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

Land (23)
2x Mutavault
2x Plains
4x Temple of Triumph
4x Sacred Foundry
11x Mountains
[/deck]

Love this list, I'm a huge fan of Imposing Sovereign! That card has been a huge help in my local meta because of all the ramp decks being forced to bring in all their blockers tapped.[I'm playing W/R weenie though, small difference , I'm also hoping zem doesnt see this because according to him WW is dead and gone, hehe]

Still waiting for my Dragons too, the shop is out of them and I haven't been able to find anyone willing to trade them to me...
FML

I think if Temple of Triumph was Clifftop Retreat, the deck would be really good, but I don't think you can play a T2 Sovereign often enough because of shitty, comes into play tapped lands.

[zemanjaski]

[Lightning_Dolt]

I know you're a fan Z, I'm really not. Pain lands or filter lands would have been better.

[Tyrael]

Well they wanted to push mono colors with this block so you gotta suffer if you're running 2 or 3 colors I guess .

[Lightning_Dolt]

Well they wanted to push mono colors with this block so you gotta suffer if you're running 2 or 3 colors I guess .

I'd be happier if they pushed two colour decks since we just got off Return to Alara block.

[Tyrael]

My playset Soldier of The Pantheon would have surely loved that haha.

[Lightning_Dolt]

My playset Soldier of The Pantheon would have surely loved that haha.

I cracked a foil playset

[Tyrael]

You lucky bastard

[Lightning_Dolt]

You lucky bastard

I put them up for sale. Hope they move.

[Tyrael]

The foil ones are selling at a very healthy 9.99 euros a piece in my local store so yeah I hope the same for you

[zemanjaski]

[deck]
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Stormbreath Dragon

1 Aurelia, Warleader
2 Heliod, God of the Sun

2 Chandra, Pyromaster

4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Spear of Heliod
4 Warleader's Helix

1 Boros Guildgate
4 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph

6 Mountain
6 Plains
[/deck]

[Wipe Out]

I haven’t submitted a round report here yet, so excuse me if it isn’t the exact format people are used to. I’ve been doing well with the deck, winning random weekday tournaments and an FNM at a couple different shops. Played a typical Sunday-afternoon tournament at the LGS with 12 players and thought I would try my hand at a report here.

This is what I've been running based mostly off the JS build.

[deck]
Creatures (24)
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Vengeful Redheads (2)
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Spells (9)
2 Chained to the Rocks
3 Boros Charm
4 Magma Jet

Land (25)
13 Mountain
4 Temple of Triumph
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Mutavault

Sideboard (15)
2 Burning Earth
2 Wear // Tear
4 Mizzium Mortars
3 Shock
1 Boros Charm
2 Chained to the Rocks
1 Warleader's Helix
[/deck]


MonoBlack piloted by Jeff[/b:
2e3nvxlx]

G1: I’m on the draw and curve out pretty well. He gets down a demon which I Chained, a whip, and then Gary came down to buy him some life but I kept the pressure on.

G2: On the draw again, drop a couple of Cacklers in the first turns, each of them eating a Phareeka’s Cure before they could do anything. Drop an Ashley and a Phoenix and both end up eating a Devour Flesh. I finally get a Phoenix to stick and have a mutavault out and punch him down to 9 while drawing land. He drops Gary onto an empty field, gains two life to move up to 11. I draw a Stormbreath Dragon, drop it and swing with phoenix, putting him down to 5. His turn, Gary #2 is dropped, putting him back up to 9 and a doom blade eats my dragon. With my Phoenix and a Mortars, I kill a Gary and get him down to 3. He drops a whip and brings back that Gary to stabilize and takes me down. I think I should have prioritized Chaining the first Gary so he couldn’t be whipped back.

G3: On the play, feeling good, close games so
far. Drop Cackler->Ashley-> Satyr and even after he uses Phareeka’s Cure I get him down to 3. He has Underworld Connections and drops Gary, bouncing up to 7 and I’m only left with a Satyr and Cackler. After a couple of turns I burn Gary but it is too late, he stopped my ground assault and a Whip and an Abhorrent Overlord finish me.

Conclusions: Never saw Wear // Tear though I needed it desperately. Demon isn’t that scary anymore. Assemble the Legion should have a lot of power here but I’m unsure when to drop it. If I have it in hand on turn 5 but I have a dragon or phoenix/Ashley sitting in hand do you play it? I feel like I need to keep my foot on the gas but ultimately I think as long as the game lasts another 3 turns Assemble will be too much for them. I did not play it early enough. Ultimately, I might need to work on Chaining Merchants just so there can’t be any recursion with them. Close games that came down to the wire, I’m sure there could have been another line of play that could
have won out.

SB decisions: -4 Reckoner, -4 Magma Jet, +2 Wear // Tear, +1 Assemble the Legion, +2 Chained to the Rocks, +2 Mizzium Mortars, +1 Warleader’s Helix

Record: 0-1

Red Devotion played by Richard

G1: On the draw, I curve out, he mana floods, donezo.

G2: Hit him fast again, Ashely->Phoenix->Chandra Pyromaster. However he burns out Chandra, drops Reckoner and manages to make a Purphoros stick, though he’s at 10. Phoenix and a Charm to the face bring him to 4 while I’m at 17. However, he gets me down to 1 at the end of his turn: with Reckoner and Purphoros on board, he drops Fanatic, that’s 2 damage from the Purphoros trigger and 5 from the devotion trigger, putting me at 10 and devotion activating Purphoros. God and Reckoner swing for 9 but can’t seal the deal. I should have mortared the Reckoner and just been prepared to take the 4 damage at that time rather than the 6 damage later. I had enough reserve firepower to finish him on my turn.

SB plan:
Normal anti-aggro transformation. -8 one drops, -1 Boros Charm, +3 Shock, +4 Mizzium Mortars, +2 Chained to the Rocks

Record: 1-1

Esper played by Graham

Normal Esper matchup

G1: Curve out, kill Ashiok along the way (sometimes not sure when to ignore the Planeswalker or to finish them, as you will see in Round 4 I chose poorly in that other matchup).

G2: He can’t get his Jace down due to mana troubles, he D-spheres my Phoenix and kills Chandra but otherwise he can’t stop the pain train, especially after I drop a Burning Earth.

SB plan: -4 Reckoner, -1 Magma Jet, +2 Wear // Tear, +1 Assemble the Legion, +2 Burning Earth

Record: 2-1

G/R Ramp Monsters played by Brian

G1: I’m on the draw but manage to overwhelm him before he can get his ramp/devotion running.

G2: I chip away out of the gate, then he gets enough dorks/devotion to drop Garruk and Nylea. Next turn I drop a Stormbreath and have a Reckoner on my team already. He Has
Nylea, Garruk and a couple tapped mana dorks, Garruk at 5 loyalty. I’m tapped out and swing with my Reckoner and Dragon at Garruk and he is sitting at 17 life. I have a magma jet in hand I can cast next turn to finish off Garruk if he ends this turn at 1 Loyalty and a Chained to the Rocks I can’t cast yet b/c I don’t have any W mana yet that I am itching to hit Nylea with. Stormbreath does 4 to Garruk and Nylea blocks Reckoner killing it and giving me 6 damage to redirect. I was too tempted and directed it at Brian, pushing him to 11 life and leaving Garruk alive, thinking with Stormbreath and some burn I can end this game soon. Next turn, he draws FOUR creatures out of his top 5 cards with Garruk, does some BTE, Nykthos shenanigans to drop 3-4 creatures including the centaur that gives you life for your devotion and a Polukranos, bouncing him up to 22 life and giving him a whole field of monsters that I can’t answer.

G3: I’m on the play and he keeps what was probably a slow hand and he’s dead in 6
turns as I burn his dorks along the way.

SB: -4 Firedrinker Satyr, -4 Rakdos Cackler, -1 Boros Charm, +2 Chained to the Rocks, +4 Mizzium Mortars, +2 shocks, +1 Warleader’s helix.

Record: 3-1

Thoughts:. I’ve been overall having a lot of success with this build after running it the first time at Gameday and stumbling. Red Devotion and Orhzov-y stuff give me the biggest problems (Obzedat and Blood Baron can really stop things up quickly and Fanatic can swing the game so wildly it is hard for me to know when to fully commit or play more conservatively). I did not have too much luck with Warleader’s Helix, sometimes it was opportune but actually if a game was starting to go long I usually wanted a Mortars to overload and rarely seemed to find them even after boarding in 4. I am always happy to see Chandra, I’m thinking of making her a 3-of but still unsure what to take out, perhaps a Boros Charm? Thanks to everyone for all their decklists and ideas, it has been a lot of fun.