[Primer] PyroRed

[Helios]

Assemble seems better against an unknown field, in that case.

[zemanjaski]

Agree. A lot if decks won't see it coming and can't beat it.

[Yarpus]

Are you playing Warleader's Helix in PyroBoros (at least SB)? While testing Kuroda, I found this card to be really, really versatile and good. It's a big-hitter against Control, stabilizer against Aggro and good removal against Midrange.

[Helios]

Not at the moment. It doesn't really fill a niche the way the current sideboard cards do. Boros Charm is the same effect but better against control.

[zemanjaski]

It's a good card that's less good than any of the cards I'm bringing in.

[DerWille]

I plan on switching over to PyroWhite (I love my R/W) and I was thinking about using Assemble the Legion in the slot my 4th Reckoner (I only have 3). Would Assemble come in against aggro decks as a finisher or would I be better off with another card from the sideboard?

[Helios]

Assemble is too slow against aggro- Mortars is good in the aggro matchup, if you aren't already playing 4. Consider Frostburn Weird, as well.

[warwizard87]

I had one guy at states sware on assemble and porphoros.....-_- sigh. Cant explain it to idiots even after pointing out Elspath is better then the god there.

[Calamity]

Which do you think i should run going into an unknown meta? I'm going to a different store than usual for FNM t his week.

On one hand, I've played tons of games with the mono red version, but on the other the boros version seems so much more versatile while only sacrificing a little consistency for the white. Is playing the boros version much different than the mono red?

[Narcasus]

I don't think there is a huge learning curve between the two Calamity. You get more scrys from the land and better answers main deck from chained and a better sideboard. If you can play a few games with it and get used to playing with 4 tap lands, i don't see why you wouldn't want to run boros

[Calamity]

I like to be prepared.

Plus card availability. I'd need to get 3 more rw scrylands and 2 more chained. At this point I'm probably running boros if I can get the cards for it by Thursday (which is when I do playtesting for paper)

[Narcasus]

The feeling of chaining their turn 4 demon is the best i must say. I can almost feel their rage as i swing through

[Helios]

Agreed, there isn't much of a learning curve between the red/boros. If you've played magic with lands that come into play tapped, you're good.

Just don't try to Chain a Blood Baron. That fucker gets me every time.

[Calamity]

I fuckin' hate that guy

[Narcasus]

I faced a few aggro boros decks tonight online, I sided +4 Reckoners +4 Peak Eruption +2 chains +2 mortars, siding out my one drops and 4 shocks. You guys agree with this? i ended up blowing out one of them, baiting him into chaining my pheonix turn 3 and blowing it free turn 4.

[zemanjaski]

I think I'd keep my shocks in. Depends on what I'm seeing / how relevant shock is i guess.

[photodyer]

Hey now, Calamity...don't be hatin' on my Baron! Anthony Palumbo was nice enough to sign my playset at Spectrum last year (he and his gf Winona Nelson were there just for fun rather than running a booth), in pretty gold no less. I love to play Mountains, but black-based control is my other passion.

[Yarpus]

Okay, did some minor testing and work on the decklists. I ackownledge the superiority of PyroBoros over any other iteration of this deck. Chained to the Rocks is just too good. Still, I will talk here about both PyroRed and PyroBoros as I'm piss poor.

[deck]Creatures:
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix

Planeswalkers:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Other Spells:
4 Chained to the Rocks
4 Shock
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike

Lands:
2 Mutavault
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
12 Mountain

Sideboard:
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Flames of the Firebrand
4 Boros Charm
2 Peak Eruption
1 Wear // Tear[/deck]

Switching the deck to Mono Red is easy: -8 dual lands, -4 Chained to the Rock, +8 Mountain +4 Annihilating Fire.

I am working on Sideboard now. As I understand, I don't want 1-drops in both Aggro and Midrange matchups while I don't want Shock/
possibly Magma Jet in Control matchups. That's why my SB could be like:

- 8 Anti-Creature Cards
- 4 Anti-Control Cards
- 3 free slots (preferable disruption and proactive answers)

In case of PyroBoros I'd play:
[deck]4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Flames of the Firebrand
4 Boros Charm
2 Peak Eruption
1 Wear // Tear[/deck]

In case of PyroRed I'd play:
[deck]4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Flames of the Firebrand
4 Skullcrack
2 Peak Eruption
1 Pithing Needle[/deck]

Money issues make Reckdaddy unavailable for me, but I can't say I'd be 100% sold on him.

Also, I do have potential break out card for low-removal Aggro/Midrange games. For example Mono Blue or Mono Green.

[Jack]

Calamity, you're fine staying red. Mono red has its upsides, and is still a very strong deck overall. If you know how to play it, you can win.

[Helios]

Yarpus-

R/W: Consider -1 Chained, +1 Plains. This deck is really mana hungry, and the extra white helps you out post sb.

Flames of the Firebrand: Are you facing decks where this is giving you consistent 2-for-1s? I was underwhelmed by it, and LP offered the sweet Annihilating Fire tech.

Peak Eruption: In order for this to be an effective option, you want to see it early. Consider adding 1 or 2 more. It isn't exactly a dead draw, but seeing it early (and in multiples) ends games.

[Narcasus]

I wanted to bring up something that i just thought of. Most mono red decks are starting to run peak eruption, especially against decks they think are going to be running chained to the rocks. Would it almost be better to bring in the boros charms over the extra chained. We lose answers to the opposing pheonix, but boros charm can help us take down reckoner with indestructibility without opening ourselves up to getting our chained 2 for 1'd with our land. Possibly siding out all the chains and putting in 2 of our own peak eruptions. Or maybe going 4 peak instead of playing the boros charms.

Am I just over thinking this and we should force them to have an answer to chains or should we be trying to play around opposing peak eruptions post board.

[Elricity]

I typically take out chained against red decks game 2 and if they don't show peak eruption, bring them back for game 3, if there is one. You take a risk with their phoenix's because if you don't draw one to counter theirs, you're in big trouble. If you have your own to match, you have more burn and win that fight. I have alternate forms of removal in glare of heresy and renounce though so I can customize more than the faster decklists.

I don't think you have to take out chained though. Just don't cast it early because they're going to bomb your lands asap. If they topdeck a peak eruption, that is unfortunate.

About massive raid: I think it's win more. If you've stalled out the board state with the token swarm vs midrange, you have probably already won.

[Helios]

Indestructible Reckoners make me happy.

About massive raid: I think it's win more. If you've stalled out the board state with the token swarm vs midrange, you have probably already won.

This.

[InflatablePie]

For those of us unable to switch to PyroBoros, but want some number of Peak Eruption in the SB, what would you recommend dropping?

Current SB: 4x Reckoner, 4x Mortars, 2x Traitorous Instinct, 2x Skullcrack, 2x Hammer, 1x Flex (currently foil Stomp)

Maybe drop the flex slot, one Mortars, one Hammer?

[windstrider]

Mine is -2 Skullcrack, -1 Flex for +3 Peak Eruption. Haven't had a chance to test it yet.

[zemanjaski]

^ what Windstrider said.

Also, taking out chained in case someone has peak eruption is theoretically incorrect if you're not at least 50% sure they have a full playset; it's the second best card in the semi-mirror after Reckoner and one of your main advantages.

[stephan]

If i look at the lately DE results, there were high numbers of MonoB and MonoU Devotion Decks. I never played against the black version, but i think that the PyroBoros chance is slightly worser than against MonoU which i would rate 40-50%?
Is it recommendable to adjust the sideboard to some numbers of RatchetBomb/Electrickery against MonoU and maybe some Skullcracks against MonoBlack?

Im very unsure when and how to make changes to the sideboard, but would like your thougts an the percentages and Sideboard considerations.

[zemanjaski]

Yeah they're very popular and are pushing out GW and GR variants (not bad for is really). Ill be giving it some thought and making adjustments myself.

[zemanjaski]

I'm now probably going to cut my peak eruptions for cards that are good against;
- mono blue master
- mono black or UB control
- bw midrange
- UW control (seems to be back)

I've got four slots. Ill think about it and get back with some updates. Maindeck is unchanged.

[Calamity]

2 skullcrack 2 electrickery?

[zemanjaski]

Skullcrack is a maybe. I like that it's easier to cast than Boros Charm.

Ill probably put back in the second Hammer, which helps a lot of the controlling matchups.

Bringing back in the threatens are an option as well; I don't like having to bring in 4x chained; having something more proactive feels better because you do need to close games out quickly. Assemble the Legion could work as well as they're so soft to it. But threatens are better for Naya / GR.

That still leaves mono blue (the most even of these matchups anyway); I'd like another way to kill Spectre/Master in white but I can't think of any.

[Jack]

Nightveil Specter isn't exactly hard to kill. They only have four of them, and we have a lot more than 4 cards that can kill it.

[zemanjaski]

Sure, but I also beer to kill master, cloudfin raptor and Frostburn weird. Where's my bonfire of the damned at??

[Jack]

Sure, but I also beer to kill master, cloudfin raptor and Frostburn weird. Where's my bonfire of the damned at??

[zemanjaski]

Lol need, not beer. Auto-correct.

You believe me, right?

[Khaospawn]

I beer-lieve you.

[Jack]

[LaZerBurn]

"I'd like another way to kill Spectre/Master in white but I can't think of any."

What about Last Breath? I know giving them life isn't the best but it kills Master, Spectre, Omenspeaker and Tidebinder on sight and isn't bad against Weird, especially an early one and if Cloudfin is out of range you're probably already dead

It's also easy to cast and triggers YP.

I should point that this is theory and backed up by no testing at all

[LaZerBurn]

I am also considering Wear/Tear for Mono B as the Whip is what really seems to swing the match up for them. Thoughts anyone?

[stephan]

@LaZerBurn was also going to shout Last Breath

It is also a viable answer to Wall of Frost, Voice of R., and maybe Phoenix, but i dont like the life gain part in the Red mirror.