Primer: Mardu Midrange

[Aodh]

At least one dragon should be Sarkhan; at least one land should be Swamp. Looks awesome, though.

[Lightning_Dolt]

This is the new shit:

[deck] New Aristocrats[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

Cool man.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Wonder about something like this:

[deck] Creatures:23
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Foundry Street Denizen
2 Tymaret, the Murder King
4 War-Name Aspirant
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Butcher of the Horde
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge

Spells:13
4 Thoughtseize
4 Crackling Doom
3 Mardu Ascendancy
1 Raiders' Spoils
1 Dictate of Erebos

Lands:24
4 Battlefield Forge
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Silence
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard:15
2 Despise
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
3 Arc Lightning
1 Harness by Force
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Murderous Cut
[/deck]

[Toblakai]

I like the BR splash W midrange build with demons and dragons. I don't have Brimaz at the moment; is Seeker of the Way a decent replacement?

[Lightning_Dolt]

It's seen some success but I think the spel count is too low. I'd think about Hordeling Outburst or Mardu Charm.

[LP, of the Fires]

This is the new shit:

[deck] New Aristocrats[/deck]

18 3-drops?

Vomit.

[Lightning_Dolt]

That's the reality of a fornat without 2cc Doomblades.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Just for you LP:

Creatures:17
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
3 Tymaret, the Murder King
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Butcher of the Horde
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge

Spells:19
4 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
2 Crackling Doom
2 Hordeling Outburst
2 Mardu Ascendancy
1 Dictate of Erebos

Lands:24
4 Battlefield Forge
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Silence
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard:15
2 Despise
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
3 Arc Lightning
1 Harness by Force
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Murderous Cut

[admin]

I tried posting the OP on the front page but since I'm the world's worst editor I was unsuccessful. It should be up soon though.

its been there for two days already...

[poppa_f]

(I originally posted this in the Mardu Aggro thread, but realised it's more a mid-range deck, so re-posting here)

I've been testing out a Mardu deck for rotation, been through a few iterations, quite happy with the current list:

[deck]Mardu Midrange[/deck]

I'm not 100% sure the manabase is right. Wanting to cast Brimaz turn three I want more white sources. I don't have any BB spells, so could cut a swamp for a plains maybe.

Game plan against deck archetypes:

G/x ramp:
Game 1 you remove their dorks and coursers, try and beat down before they can get their engine going. Finish them off with flyers. I've included 2 pump spells and Seeker of the Way to make them nervous about blocking (I've played against Seeker as ramp, and it's pretty scary blocking a Seeker with courser/caryatid in to open mana). Game 2 you sideboard out the 1 drops and pump spells and bringing in thoughtseize, revoker and hushwing griff. Thoughtseize to strip bombs, Revoker to shut down dorks or walkers and Griff is there for Hornet Queen and Nylea's Disciple, which I'd both expect to see heavily post-board

Jeskai Burn:
Plan is to stabilize via the lifegain from Seeker/Butcher/Sorin and then beat them down with your bigger flyers. Ultimating Sarkhan or Sorin at first opportunity should win the game as well. Sideboard out the pump spells and bring in Burn Away and Sorin. It's possible Haruspex should come in as well. Burn Away is there to slow down their Dig Through Time if you manage to draw it in time.

Control:
Plan is to beat down as quickly as possible. If I'm well ahead on the board then I'd consider playing the duress option on Mardu Charm when they hit 5 mana to try and catch End Hostilities. Sideboard in Thoughtseize and Grim Haruspex, side out Seeker and Crackling Doom, unless they're playing troublesome creatures like Prognostic Sphinx.

Aggro:
Plan is to remove their creatures and race them with the lifelink from Seeker/butcher/Sorin. Game 2 you sideboard out the 1 drops and pump spells and bring in Scouring Sands and Sorin and a couple of Haruspex (for card advantage if the game goes long).

I've not had a chance to test with Hushwing Griff, but I think Hornet Queen is going to be a big player in the early Standard, so need to figure out some ways to get past her (the other obvious option is to play Bile Blight). I'm on the fence about Mardu Charm as well. If there's not much control in the meta, then I'd probably cut it for more Crackling Doom and Banishing Lights.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Your deck looks rather confused.

[poppa_f]

Yeah it's very much a work in progress.

The basic idea is to have enough lifegain to be able to beat rabble/aggro/burn (big worry as so much life loss from the manabase), but to still be aggro enough to kill the ramp decks before they can get going properly

[Lightning_Dolt]

I don't think the spell count is high enough to get much millage out of Seeker and Titan Strength seems too narrow.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Decklists from States:

[deck] Mardu Midrange by Nathan Wulf, Iowa State Champion[/deck]

[deck] Mardu Midrange by Jon Stigall, Kentucky Champion[/deck]


[deck] Mardu Midrange by Brian Saari, Minnesota Champion[/deck]

Wonder what the missing card is? Sarkan?

[deck] Mardu Midrange by Richard Grube, North Carolina Champion[/deck]




And for something completely different:

[deck] Mardu Midrange by Donovan Lachney, Wyoming Champion[/deck]

[Toblakai]

That one midrange build running 3 Brimaz, sets of Rabblemaster, Butcher with 3 Stormbreath: is it actually worth investing in? Seems kind of risky, moreso than the other Mardus. That one guy here that wanted to salvage Sledgehammer Red; Mardu seems to give us the tools for such a build. Stormbreath in place of TMaw, Butcher in place of Hellrider, Rabblemaster or Brimaz in place of Reckoner...dropping on down to War-Name Aspirant and maybe that WB Mardu pump warrior.

[AledM11]

Mardu midrange is doing really well in the pro tour from what i saw. Should be interesting to see how far it gets.

[Lightning_Dolt]

That one midrange build running 3 Brimaz, sets of Rabblemaster, Butcher with 3 Stormbreath: is it actually worth investing in? Seems kind of risky, moreso than the other Mardus. That one guy here that wanted to salvage Sledgehammer Red; Mardu seems to give us the tools for such a build. Stormbreath in place of TMaw, Butcher in place of Hellrider, Rabblemaster or Brimaz in place of Reckoner...dropping on down to War-Name Aspirant and maybe that WB Mardu pump warrior.

You might want to wait until after the PT.

[Toblakai]

Taking a crack at Mardu Midrange:

[deck]Mardu[/deck]

I am not sure if this deck is sending mixed messages or not. Bloodsoaked seems like something to do early on that can synergize with Butcher later on in the game.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Went 3-1 at my local Saturday tournament today with the tokens list I posted.

Faced RU Ensoul Artifacts (2-0), Jeskai Assendancy (2-0), Abzan Mirdange (0-2) and GR Monsters (2-0).
After this event, I suggest updating to:

[deck] The New Aristocrats[/deck]

High point was Harnessing a monsterous Storm Breath Dragon and a Polukranos and swinging for 17 before saccing them to my butcher for the concession.

Low point was mull to 5 into flood, mull to five into screw round three.

Finished 3rd of 21 because there were only 2 3-0s and they split to go 3-0-1 and I had the best breakers of the 3-1s.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Still haven't cast Purphoros.

Dictate overperformed.

Tymaret was very good.

Banishing Light seems necessary in case the have circle of flame.

[Toblakai]

Durdling around with Jon Goss's list, I made an on the spot version that compensates for my lack of Hero's Downfall and Crackling Doom playsets. This is my spell lineup.

4 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
2 Anger of the Gods
2 [card]Hero's Downfall[/card]
2 Mardu Charm
2 Crackling Doom

What do you guys think about this lineup? I am working on finishing my sets of Downfall and Doom, but this still feels kind of powerful.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Mardu Charm has been pretty terrible. Also find main board Anger questionable. I think it should be in the side for when you boatd rabble out and ram in.

[Toblakai]

A single Mardu Midrange made it into PTK's top decks. It used something like Goss's list:

4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Brimaz
4 Butcher of the Horde
2 Stormbreath Dragon

2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion

With a slight alteration to the planeswalker lineup.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Yeah, Mardu, Temur and Sultai did nothing this Pro Tour.

The planeswalkers lists seemed to fair better.

[Lightning_Dolt]

[deck] Mardu Planeswalkers by PIERRE DAGEN, Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir[/deck]

[deck] Mardu Midrange by NATHAN HERKIMER, Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

Only two Mardu Decks in trhe top standard decks.

[Purp]

This temur list did well..

[deck]
Creature (26)
4 Elvish Mystic
3 Rattleclaw Mystic
4 Heir of the Wilds
4 Boon Satyr
4 Savage Knuckleblade
4 Polukranos, World Eater
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Ashcloud Phoenix

Sorcery (4)
4 Crater's Claws

Instant (6)
3 Lightning Strike
3 Temur Charm

Land (24)
4 Frontier Bivouac
4 Yavimaya Coast
1 Shivan Reef
3 Mana Confluence
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Forest
3 Mountain
1 Temple of Epiphany


Sideboard (15)
1 Lightning Strike
4 Stubborn Denial
2 Surrak Dragonclaw
3 Hunt the Hunter
1 Magma Spray
1 Hornet Nest
1 Temur Ascendancy
2 Destructive Revelry
[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

I meant relatively. Of course there were a couple, but the winning decklists are:

Jeskai (35%)
Abzan (29%)
Dimir Control (8%)
Boros Aggro (6%)
Green Devotion (4%)
Mardu (4%)
Black Green Devotion (4%)
Temur (2%)
Naya Mid (2%)
Esper Control (2%)
Gruul Monsters (2%)

Hard to say Sultai (0%), Temur (2%) or Mardu (4%) did much when you have Jeskai at 35% and Abzan at 29% and The top 8 only had Jeskai, Abzan and Dimir Control.

[Nezeru]

I've had great results with an Aggro-Midrange hybrid containing Bloodsoaked Champions, Chief of the Edge, Rabblemaster, Butcher, one Ankle Shanker to crush everything green, two Sarkhan, two Stormbreath, three Sorin, four Crackling Doom, and some flex spots. I've been testing singletons of Spear of Heliod, Raiders' Spoils, Spirit Bonds, Mardu Ascendancy...the deck can turn 4 you (I did this at States against MBA and against a Caryatid deck) or play the long game. I don't have the numbers perfect yet, but it's great against Abzan and everything green.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Do you have a list?

[Lightning_Dolt]

Fwiw I think dictate plays a similar role to ankle shanker and is likely better.

[Lightning_Dolt]

This is what I'm looking at moving forward:

[deck] New Aristocrats post PT[/deck]

[Lightning_Dolt]

Or maybe this:

[deck]Creatures:13
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
3 Tymaret, the Murder King
4 Butcher of the Horde
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge

Spells:23
4 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Mardu Charm
1 Dictate of Erebos
2 Murderous Cut

Lands:24
4 Battlefield Forge
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Silence
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard:15
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Glare of Heresy
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
3 Arc Lightning
1 Harness by Force
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
[/deck]

I realize it's probably insane to cut rabblemaster, but he's not that great of defense and often just dies to 1 for 1 removal.

More gas for Purphoros, more gas for Murderous Cut.

[Nezeru]

Ankle Shanker is way better against green decks with Hornet Queen, and in an aggressive list with no sac outlets.

Here's the core of my list, though it changes almost daily:
[deck]
Creatures: 19
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Chief of the Edge
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Butcher of the Horde
2 Stormbreath Dragon
1 Ankle Shanker

Planeswalkers: 5
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker

Other Spells: 11
4 Crackling Doom
2-3 Mardu Charm
0-2 Mardu Ascendancy
0-1 Raiders' Spoils
0-1 Spirit Bonds
0-1 Spear of Heliod
0-3 Hero's Downfall
0-3 Thoughtseize

Lands: 25
4 Nomad Outpost
4 Temple of Silence
1 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Triumph
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Battlefield Forge
1 Mana Confluence
3 Bloodstained Mire
2 Swamp
2 Mountain
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard: 15
1-4 Thoughtseize
0-4 Hero's Downfall
0-3 Anger of the Gods (especially if running Mardu Ascendancy)
0-3 Lightning Strike (emergency stuff if I don't find what to put in really, this isn't a serious consideration)
2-3 Stoke the Flames
0-1 Resolute Archangel
1-2 Whip of Erebos
0-1 Spear of Heliod (if not running main)
1 Ajani Steadfast
4th Sorin maybe?
[/deck]

Overall, it's flexible, fun, runs 10 taplands because honestly, you really don't need Bloodsoaked Champion turn1 unless you are killing turn4 and it can't block anyway.

[Toblakai]

What's our MU against RG Monsters like? It seems like they could overwhelm us quicker than we can fire off removal, for the most part. I've decided to take a more BR track with my Mardu midrange, cutting Brimaz.

[deck]Mardu Midrange Classic[/deck]

I do prefer this to the Brimaz build in terms of speed.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Brimaz has been too slow / consistently bad for me. Ankle Shanker is better agaist Hornet Queen, but it only seems good when you're trying to force through damage and race. Seems pretty bad if you're behind. Dictate gives you a quasi-lock where they can't attack into you or they trade for your tokens and you can just wait to blow them out. Harness by force is a beating vs Mosters if you can make it to T6.

[Christen]

Or maybe this:

[deck]Creatures:13
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
3 Tymaret, the Murder King
4 Butcher of the Horde
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge

Spells:23
4 Thoughtseize
4 Lightning Strike
4 Raise the Alarm
4 Hordeling Outburst
4 Mardu Charm
1 Dictate of Erebos
2 Murderous Cut

Lands:24
4 Battlefield Forge
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Mana Confluence
2 Mountain
4 Nomad Outpost
1 Swamp
2 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Silence
1 Temple of Triumph
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard:15
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Glare of Heresy
4 Nyx-Fleece Ram
3 Arc Lightning
1 Harness by Force
3 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
[/deck]

I realize it's probably insane to cut rabblemaster, but he's not that great of defense and often just dies to 1 for 1 removal.

More gas for Purphoros, more gas for Murderous Cut.

I highly suggest trying a one-of of Spirit Bonds. It makes an insane mana sink combined with Bloodsoaked Champion.

[Lightning_Dolt]

I don't know and have no ability to test right now.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Cleaned up the primer a little, but now the formatting is fucked. I checked carefully and it's all typed right, so hopefully it will sort itself out.

I have come to the conclusion that the "New Aristocrats" build isn't that good. I'll be going back to the drawing board.