[Primer] PyroRed

[Tyrael]

Burn still runs 8 taplands, the scry is just too important for a deck which usually ends up playing control but lacks the raw card advantage through card draw like a 'real' control deck.

[Purp]

@magicdownunder Ah, I should have been more clear that this is actually for paper magic. I simply picked the the Anti MODO list as a starting point to start playing the core shell of the deck and applying all the concepts it revolves around. Though your advice is something I'll take into account to start practising with.

I think since you are preparing for the gp, you should be playing a Pyros/PyroDragons variant. The white splash is essential in paper magic. There really is not much a difference in playstyle, the deck still functions the same. PyroWhite gives you the ability to grind and sequence plays more due to the tap lands. I recommend printing off proxies of the top decks, and getting your PyroWhite list asap(even if that means proxies until
you get the cards), and just start practicing away. I like modo, I think it is good for testing and learning basics or metagames etc, but you need to hit every FNM/event you can. I for one, do not play a lot of magic, but I have had a pretty fair bit of success over the past 2 years. Knowledge is power. Read everything you can, watch everything you can, understand the play sequences in MDU's videos. I also recommend writing down SB strats on the last page of your scorepad (remember these can only be looked at DURING sideboard time). It really helps reassure you that you are making the write decisions during SB, so you enter each game with the most confidence.

@Raida - Glad you like the list, and you're probably right the hammer could be cut. The 3rd mortars is probably better due to SBD most likely seeing more play this weekend. The idea is that the list adds the extra removal you need to hit NVS when its played. I am also a fan of the 3 mutavaults over 4.

[Helios]

MDU: Whenever photo gets around to it. Go ahead and add it asap and if you don't make it, shoot me a PM.

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

So I just breezed through a 8-man with this list:
[deck]

MAINDECK (60 Cards)
20 Creatures
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
3 Young Pyromancer
1 Pyrewild Shaman
17 Spells
4 Lightning Strike
3 Chained to the Rocks
3 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Magma Jet
3 Shock
1 Flames of the Firebrand
23 Lands
11 Mountain
4 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Silence
SIDEBOARD (15 Cards)
3 Mizzium Mortars
3 Boros Reckoner
2 Skullcrack
2 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Fanatic of Mogis
1 Chained to the Rocks
1 Boros Charm
1 Rod of Ruin
[/deck]
Round 1: Mono Blue
Game 1- I opened with triple Phoenix and a Chained. He had no one drops, but he went Weird and attack with full pump twice. Hen then went Thassa into Tidebinder on his next turn. I drew a second Chained which let me Chain Thassa. I just won through airbeats from there.
Sideboarding: -4 Rand Al'Thor, -4 Cackler,-1 Pyrewild, +2
Dragon,+3 Mortars,+1 Rod, +2 Dragon,+1 Chained (realized Fanatic has no place in board with Dragon. D'oh.)
Game 2- It was the ideal game for us postboard. I got two Zealots on the table to lockout his ground game, had Rod on the field, and I was attacking in the air with two Phoenixes.
2-0

Round 2- B/g Devotion
Game 1- He mulled to five and led off with a Golgari Guildgate. I had a 2 one-drop start backed by a Phoenix and Zealot (I think) and I beat him before he did anything other than play an Ultimate Price. Due to the start I saw, I incorrectly put him on G/B Aggro.
Sideboarding- -4 Al'Thor,-4 Cackler,+3 Reckoner,+3 Mortars,+1 Chained,+1 Charm
Game 2- He kept a bad opener and just played two removal spells until a Gray Merchant turn 5. I just aggroed him out.
2-0

Round 3- Mono Black Devotion
Game 1- I had two one-drops, a Zealot, and a Phoenix backed by double Mutavault which got there before he could do much of anything.
Sideboarding--1 Pyrewild,-3 Jet,-1 Shock,+2 Skullcrack,+1Charm,+1
Chained,+1 Mortars
Game 2-He had removal, double Demon, and double Gary. I had two Chained, but I had to blow one on a Pack Rat because I didn't have any burn in hand. He overwhelmed me.
Game 3- Triple one-drop, Zealot, Phoenix, Shock, two land (both red). Yeah, I won this game.
2-1

I went back to a traditional list because I just felt more comfortable with it than the PyroDragon build and I like having 3 Chandra. I realized that Fanatic will have minimal impact in the board because you bring in Dragon in the G/x matchups and against Mono U anyway. There is no room in the deck for him against Mono U. So he has one matchup he comes in in. I might cut him.
Unrelated question: how do I watch replays of constructed events? I tried my best reconstructing this from memory.

[magicdownunder]

@RedEyesBlackGamer, you can't - 2-Mans and 8-Mans don't allow it and the auto-save replay option is still broken. You best bet is to wait for DE again or record your own games live.

@Helios, its done - I posted them last night.

[Helios]

Excellent MDU, you're the best (don't tell Z )

[Lightning_Dolt]

@rcwraspy, looks awesome.

I went 2-1 at fnm.

Mono black 2-0 (g2 on a mull to 4)
UW 0-2 (7x azorios charm. Fuck that card. Two play mistakes, one SB error. Deserved to lose.)
Prime Speaker bant 2-1 (so annoying, wish people would fuck off with this deck)

[RaidaTheBlade]

Alright, so haven't heard how vundo's testing went last night, so guess this is what I'm gonna be rolling with at today's iq. Looking forward to it

[deck=PyroDragons variant: 'ItBurnsWhenIPlay']Creatures:
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Thighs:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Instants:
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Shock

Enchantments/Sorceries:
4 Chained to the Rocks
2 Flames of the Firebrand
2 Mizzium Mortars

Land:
12 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Mutavault

Sideboard:
2 Fanatic of Mogis
3 Boros Charm
3 Skullcrack
2 Last breath
1 Rod of Ruin
3 Boros Reckoner
1 Mizzium Mortars[/deck]

[magicdownunder]

Its a solid list, I think you'll do quite well.

It will all comedown to your SB and sequencing skills, good luck

(I suggesting writing down your entire SB plan against each MU, review and think it through - I still recall you once suggested that we should use FoM against Control (shiver....))

[RaidaTheBlade]

Hey now, that was at 1am after about 30 hours awake. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it ;P

Yeah, I always mean to write down my sideboard, but it's something that I never get around to...
The biggest matches I'm expecting are u/x devotion and esper, and my sideboards for those are pretty set in stone.

U/x: -6 1drops, +2 last breath, +1 rod, +1 mortars, +2 reckoner. I know you're against reckoner here, but I think it's the best option in my sideboard for those 2 slots. Fanatic is something i've herd discussed, but I wouldn't know what to remove, and he's not as shiny without reck.

Esper: -4 chained, -2 fotf, -1 shock, +3 skullcrack, +3 boros charm, +1 mortars.


My aggro and b/x are also fairly set:

Aggro:-6 1drops, +3 reckoner, +1 mortars, +2 (charm or fanatic. Depends on exact type. More likely to do fanatic against white weenie since no direct removal, so my board prescense should be a bit
better. Charm isn't amazing, but the indestructibility can help block-wipe)

B/x: -3 shock, -2 fotf, -2 jet, +3 skullcrack, +3 charm, +1 mortars


The rest is a bit less hammered out. G/r, g/w, and naya all have vague plans attached, which generally involve more removal, and charms vs anything that runs anger.



Oh, and on the off chance that I face maze's end AGAIN, charms and skullcracks are ready to be shoved up their ass.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Maze's End... fuck that deck.

[RaidaTheBlade]

In the last month, every tournament but 1, I have faced maze's end. Even if only 1 person in a 55 man event is playing it, I've faced them.

So far I haven't dropped a single match. Only lost a single game

The best part of it is how smug every maze's end player I've played is. They always act like big badasses and claim to be all-mighty.

[magicdownunder]

Since your deck is 71/75 my deck (at least the older version), I think I can give you a fair SB plan.

U/x: -6 1drops, +2 last breath, +1 rod, +1 mortars, +2 FoM. - FoM is good here because you will resolve and stick your creatures, even if its just 1x Bird you deal 3 damage and have a threat.
Esper: -4 chained, -2 fotf, +3 skullcrack, +3 boros charm - if you keep in 3 control spells you will lose, you don't have 4x vaults or Ash so the longer the game progress the worst it get esp. with this version
B/x: -3 shock, -1 jet, -2 SBD, +3 skullcrack, +3 charm - The dragons die to every removal they run and they can't deal with the Demons, Fotfb kills rats and nightveil (which is really important), your the aggro player here not the control player 7 removal isn't great.

If you like being 4-for-1 by Ux your welcome to use Boros Reckoner G2+3.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Fair enough on each of those.
I'll try u/x your way today, cause why not?

As for esper, we're pretty much the same. I bring in my extra mortars instead of a shock just to deal with barons, which give me problems e.e

And for b/x I see what you mean. I'm always loath to leave the dragons behind, because in my experiences, by the time I play it, all their removals gone to other shit. But I definitely see what you mean, so I'll defer to your wisdom here :3

[magicdownunder]

You can cut +2 jets for SBD if you like? I love scry which is why I always try to keep as many jets as possible, but I do know Z suggest cutting Mj all the time vs Black.

EDIT: heck you could cut all the jets and +Mortars and keep the dragons if you really want...

[RaidaTheBlade]

Hmm... I love scry too, but the only thing jet really can do for us in this matchup is kill a rat early and recur phoenix.
Now the idea of cutting them all is both interesting and scary, lol.

I'm not quite sure here. I'll probably try it both ways just to feel it out. If I feel like I need more creatures in the matchup, then dragons will stay, but if the scry proves more valuable then I'll keep them.

[magicdownunder]

Hmm... I love scry too, but the only thing jet really can do for us in this matchup is kill a rat early and recur phoenix.
Now the idea of cutting them all is both interesting and scary, lol.

I'm not quite sure here. I'll probably try it both ways just to feel it out. If I feel like I need more creatures in the matchup, then dragons will stay, but if the scry proves more valuable then I'll keep them.

Purely preference on my part, MJ doesn't really do anything so cutting it is most likely the correct choice (don't cut fotf though that would be silly).

Though I stand by my choice vs UX and Esper I hope more people chime in with SB
discussion before your IQ starts.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna try with all the mj cut and the dragons and extra mortars in first.

And I already agreed with your U/X plan, and our esper plan is pretty much exactly the same.
I won't back down on wanting the extra mortars though. It seems silly, but every match I've lost to esper recently has been to the damn baron.

[Helios]

Charm seems better than Dragon against B/x, unless you really think he'll stick for more than a turn. Charm is a guaranteed 4 with options, Dragon is a maybe 4, maybe 8.

(Warning: I haven't played either of those cards against black in ages)

[magicdownunder]

Ya know with the PyroDragon list with an heavy focus on removal, don't you think post board when you cut your 1-drops you don't have enough threats?

I think it maybe ideal to up the Chandra count since your already killing everything anyways so something like this:

[deck]PyroDragon Burn Focused Variant[/deck]

Thoughts?

[Helios]

I like it.

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

@ MDU I definitely like that idea. Chandra is the best card in the deck, in my opinion.

I just won another 8-man with the same list except for -2 Fanatic,+1 Assemble the Legion,+1 Charm in the sideboard (I beat a BUG control list, Mono U, and White Weenie). I also have a good record in 2-mans (8-2). I really feel ready for the daily events. I just want to thank everyone here for their reports and posts, especially Zem for creating the deck and MDU for putting so much work into developing it and posting numerous videos that have really helped me as a player. I just recently took the step into MODO and the competitive scene in general after playing at the FNM level for 2 years and a half years. You guys have turned me into a red mage and really helped me out as I've taken my first steps on MODO. Thanks, guys.

[magicdownunder]

@ MDU I definitely like that idea. Chandra is the best card in the deck, in my opinion.

I'm glad you said that, after posting on the Big Boros Thread for awhile I was starting to believe that only Johnny_Spike and I saw the value in Chandra. I can't recommend 4x Boros Charms but the Assemble the Legion is hilarious .

What is your MODO name, a number of us already log on and conspire together during matches

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

@ MDU I definitely like that idea. Chandra is the best card in the deck, in my opinion.

I'm glad you said that, after posting on the Big Boros Thread for awhile I was starting to believe that only Johnny_Spike and I saw the value in Chandra. I can't recommend 4x Boros Charms but the Assemble the Legion is hilarious .

What is your MODO name, a number of us already log on and conspire together during matches

I only run 2 Charm. It is RedEyesBlackGamer. I don't know, I still consider myself a pretty terrible player. I'm afraid that your reactions during my matches would mostly be:
I already have access to 3 Chandra and 2 Stormbreath post board in my list, it is pretty sweet.
Edit: When I said "same list", I meant the one I posted on this page earlier.

[vundo]

@ MDU I definitely like that idea. Chandra is the best card in the deck, in my opinion.

I'm glad you said that, after posting on the Big Boros Thread for awhile I was starting to believe that only Johnny_Spike and I saw the value in Chandra. I can't recommend 4x Boros Charms but the Assemble the Legion is hilarious .

What is your MODO name, a number of us already log on and conspire together during matches

I never gave up on her ._.
and she has the best Chandra art


*edit* I can't wait for Dec11. I'll probably do a daily the morning before the invi

[bmbmbmbmbmbmbmbmbmb]

I've been lurking this thread for about three weeks and have been running PyroDragons for the last two weeks. I just stopped by to say I am totally in love with the deck and everyone here developing it. It's gotten me 3-0 in the last two FNM's and only dropped one game (vs Wr Aggro before boarding in ALL THE HATE CARDS.)

I have been wondering about a few things (I'm relatively new to competetive Magic) and I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts

1) What do you guys think about running Assemble the Legion SB in this setup? I ran 2 of them in my SB at my first FNM with the list, and it was a total all-star in my third round pairing vs Selesnya Aggro. I haven't heard much about people running it here and I'm not sure what your opinions are of it. I get the impression that the mindgames of G1 full aggro G2 Assemble
the Legion wincon could be very hard to play against.

2) I'd be interested in your opinions of which archetypes in standard the current PyroDragons list is strong/weak/even with. I don't think I get a large enough sample size playing locally to be able to evaluate the overall performance against a lot of decks one might see online.

3) I have had 2 Fanatic of Mogis SB for awhile, and never seem to use them. Which matchups do you bring them in, and do you think that they are a good choice vs monoblue? Running Reckoners seems to be a big liability vs Monoblue and without the +3 devotion it seems like FoM would be mediocre.

EDIT: 4) OOH and why did Pyrewild Shaman go away? He seemed like awesome super-secret tech and I was wondering what happened to him. He seemed especially good in lists with Ashley.

[Jack]

FoM is great when you can bring it in alongside Reckoner (like with red or white or green aggro or green-based midrange) and still better than some of your MB cards against mono blue.

[rcwraspy]

re: Magma Jet against black. It's been the MVP of my wins against black. And I can't remember many losses, so it's certainly not the culprit of those.

The way I use it against black isn't as removal (unless I can) but as Phoenix recursion, which is great against Desecration Demon, and the ability to tap 2 lands and say "bring Phoenix back to hand, scry 2, find my wincon" has saved my bacon more than once. And sometimes the reach REALLY comes into play against that deck. Their life totals are so swingy that any damage you can do is great - and when you get advantages like Phoenix from gy to hand, YP tokens, and dig, while getting them incrementally closer to death, it's really great.

That's been my experience with it in the matchup but ymmv.

[Jack]

Re: Pyrewild - he got cut (along with Ashley in some lists and sometimes some number of Firedrinker as well) in favor of more removal and dragons. In fact, I feel like he served a similar purpose to Stormbreath, and with Ashley out of most lists, it's clear which one is better.

[rcwraspy]

Addendum to my post about Magma Jet - I do side out Shock in the Mono Black Devotion matchup, so I certainly wouldn't knock siding out Magma Jet also. I just find that in an incremental advantage type deck it has a few more "modes" of incremental advantage than Shock does.

[zemanjaski]

Side out Shock and Magma Jet vs MBC. They're just not good as Lava Spike variants.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Update on ow the iq went yesterday. Went 3-3, with three wins in a row followed by 3 losses.
The first two losses were really close, and the last was mono-u so not really.

I did start getting sick apparently, and was actually having trouble swallowing starting about the end of round 4, so...

I'm currently laid up in bed on meds and will do a write up next time I can.

[rcwraspy]

feel better, Raida!

[Helios]

Assemble the Legion = Free wins. There's a reason it's never left my sb.

bmbmbmb - welcome! 1) see above. 2) see primer. 3) search the thread, it's been discussed multiple times. 4) "in lists with Ashley." <- that's why 5) please change your screen name, it's causing issues with posts resizing.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Alright, finally back to being (mostly) alive, so time for the iq report.

First off, my list was:
[deck=PyroDragons variant: 'ItBurnsWhenIPlay']Creatures:
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Thighs:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Instants:
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Shock

Enchantments/Sorceries:
4 Chained to the Rocks
2 Flames of the Firebrand
2 Mizzium Mortars

Land:
12 Mountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Mutavault

Sideboard:
2 Fanatic of Mogis
3 Boros Charm
3 Skullcrack
2 Last breath
1 Rod of Ruin
3 Boros Reckoner
1 Mizzium Mortars[/deck]


So, first round was vs Brandon with Esper.
- Game 1 I got land starved and he just beat me down with an aetherling.
Sideboard: -4 Chained, -2 fotf, -1 shock, +3 skullcrack, +3 boros charm, +1 mortars.
- Game 2 I just aggro'd him out. He dropped an aetherling with only
1 blue to protect it, to try and minimize damage, but I had enough burn to stop it.
- Game 3 Went even faster.
1-0 (2-1)

Round 2 was vs Justin with Boss Sligh. He was the boss sligh I played at thursday night magic.
- Game 1 and game 2 I just burned all his stuff and killed him.
2-0 (2-0)

Round 3 was vs a G/W aggro list, and it went weird.
- Game 1 I was on the play and managed to get a few small guys out, and then answered all of his guys. Funny enough though, I never drew a white land or chain, so he thought I was mono-red.
Sideboard: -6 1drops, +3 reck, +1 Mortars, +2 Fanatic (game three these were charms instead... Or vice versa, can't quite remember)
- Game 2 the same thing with mana happened, though I had a chained in hand most of the game. He just got courage on a smiter and that was it.
- Game 3 I finally got white on my turn 4, shocking myself to throw down a chandra. The dude was seriously confused until I explain that I was actually r/w. I used the card advantage and removal I had
in hand to just stop all of the shenanigans.
3-0 (2-1)

Round 4 was vs Anthony with Jund.
- Game 1 He just controlled me and kept landing all of his goodstuff threats.
Sideboard: -2 satyrs, -3 shock, +2 skullcrack, +3 charm (i think? I can baerly remember. I do know that after game 2 the cacklers came out as well, since I was on the draw.
- Game 2 I managed to keep up the pressure and then burn him out.
- Game 3 went the same way as the first. This is also about the point where I started coughing and feeling uncomfterable.
3-1 (1-2)

Round 5 was vs Keith with White Weenie 'boros aggro'. By this time my head was swimming and I was having trouble thinking straight.
- Game 1 I got stuck on land, and he overran me.
Sideboard: -6 1drops, +3 reck, +2 lastbreath, +1 mortars.
- Game 2 I burned out his stuff and just ran the match.
- Game 3 I got stuck on lands even worse then game 1.
3-2 (1-2)

Round 6 was vs Justin with Mono-u. Here I was basically having trouble breathing, cause my throat was
so swollen e.e
I don't really even need to go into much detail here. He just ate me alive.
3-3 (0-2)

As soon as that round ended I forced my friends into the car and we left. Normally I stickaround to cheer for people i know in the top8, but I was not doing good.


Overall I think I could have won the jund and the white weenie if I had been feeling good, cause I was making really bad misplays both games. Mono-u I didn't really do anything that matter either game. I burned and exiled all game, but it never mattered.



As for future changes to the deck, mogis didn't really do much for me. I like the idea of assemble in the side, could help vs decks with the 1-for-1 removal like the annoying jund list I faced. I would consdier them instead of mogis.

[poppa_f]

for the mana stuck games, did you mulligan down at all, and what hands did you end up keeping?

Sorry to hear you got so ill during the iq

[RaidaTheBlade]

The mana stuck games were pretty much because I had to mulligan down to 5 or 6 and had to keep a one or two lander and just never drew anything.


It happens I guess... A bit bummed, but I still did okayish. Hopefully won't happen in a few weeks when I go to a ptq.

[BonfireOftheDamned]

Hi guys,

this is my first post, but i've followed the forum since the begin of this t2 season. Today i've finished to build my pyrodragon boros deck on mtgo and i start to practice. I really love the deck and the interaction between cards (chandra and young pyromancer are my favourite standard cards). If i can i give my contribute to the development of this deck. Thanks to everyone for your Magic's passion.

On topic, i can't find on the first page so i'm going to ask here: i'm playing the exact 75 of the MDU's deck ('pyrodragon burn focused deck') and i'm wondering what's the plane against monoU devotion.

p.s.
I'm italian, so sorry for my poor English!

[Jack]

On mono blue: our one drops are low-power. Theirs are important, so shock and Jet are good. Bring in all of your removal postboard. Dragons are good. Chain Thasaa and MOW on sight.

[Jack]

Phoenix is key. Just survive until you can get yourself in a spot where going over the top is a good path to victory.