MDU's Rx Builds

[magicdownunder]

Cheers Pedros~

I think dauntless is correct for the deck direction as well - splashing for that third color OR going big for languish and Goblin Dark-Dwellers sounds quite powerful.

...I need to get over my Midrange/Control bias - right now I think Grixis Control is really well positioned.

- - - -

[deck=MDU's RB Madness]Lands 24
4 Foreboding Ruins
4 Swamp
4 Smoldering Marsh
12 Mountain

Creatures 16
4 Heir of Falkenrath
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Goblin Dark-Dwellers

Spells 20
4 Alms of the Vein
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Temper
4 Tormenting Voice[/deck]

^Would that work? 4 Tormenting Voice with 24 land seems like hitting 5 lands won't be that difficult.

- - - -

Thoughts on Abbot and Titan Strengths in Dragon Aggro?

Traditionally Dragon Aggro doesn't swarm the board making it prey to spot removal and by its nature a HORRIBLE top-deck - in these conditions is Titan Strengths still worth it? Its great for combat tricks and can help your 4/4 take hits from chandra.

In Abbot's case we're running 10+ 3-drops making him risky - he is like someone on MTGS said Red Variance Cardboardfied, is he worth the risk? He is really good vs Aggro when you board in tons of 1cc spells and he can help you find land in a pinch (if your drawing lands 3+4 the dragon or whatever Abbot pitches won't be helping you anyways).

[dauntless268]

I actually like your Red Tricks list a lot. If Shaman is a good roleplayer, this might actually work. I have tested it very briefly to a quick 2-0 (played Gorger instead of Berserker and 4 Looming Spires - I think they are really worth it in a deck with x/1s) and liked it. But never drew Shaman...

Nothing much to comment on the Midrange list, except that I would prefer 25 lands and maybe to see at least a Singleton Dragonlord Kolaghan as a fun-of. I've so far been a bit doubtful about Alms, but I can see the that the list can burn out people in a pinch and also the recurring effect with GDD, so it might actually be brilliant as your ideas so often are, MDU

I wouldn't worry at all about Titan's Strength - there will be just too many times when it'll be rotting in your hand. Plus at 4-5 mana you'll be tapping out...

EDIT: Dragons + Madness = No room for Abbot IMO

EDIT: the midrange list can definitely support a number of Haven and/or Drownyard Temple

[magicdownunder]

[deck= MDU's R Chandra Aggro] Lands 22
20 Mountain
2 Looming Spires

Creatures 26
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 12
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
2 Titan's Strength
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
1 Devour in Flames
2 Goldnight Castigator
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Scab-Clan Berserker [/deck]
Video report (click to watch):
G1 W Humans vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G2 4C Company vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G3 Abzan vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G4 GW Tokens vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G5 Grixis Control vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15

- - -

I 5-0 with my Atarka Chandra List (beating R Eldrazi, Bant Humans, Bant Humans, Bant Ramp (aka tentacle romance) and 4C Crats:

[deck=MDU's Rg Chandra Aggro] Lands 22
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 23
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Lightning Berserker
1 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 15
4 Draconic Roar
1 Tormenting Voice
1 Roast
3 Atarka's Command
2 Fiery Temper
4 Exquisite Firecraft

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Clip Wings
2 Goldnight Castigator
1 Atarka's Command
1 Roast[/deck]

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Eldrazi vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G2 Bant vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G3 Bant Humans vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G4 Bant Humans vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G5 4C Company vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16

Notes:
[card]Atarka's Command[/card] is really good against the top tier decks like Crats, Tokens (blocking fliers), WB and Grixis Control.

Not sure about 2x Clip Wings it might be better to have the 3rd Roast/More control hate

Not sureTimber Gorge (it might be better to just go 14 mountain and pray to the variances gods).

[Pedros]

MDU

On Salvation you wrote something about RW googles burn. Can you share a decklist?

EDIT:

Did you see this decklist? Looks sweet and might be even good in a meta right now (as long as languish is more played than radiant flames)

[deck]Creatures (25)
3 Falkenrath Gorger
3 Lightning Berserker
4 Village Messenger
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Reckless Bushwhacker
4 Goldnight Castigator
Spells (12)
4 Atarka's Command
4 Dragon Fodder
4 Exquisite Firecraft
Lands (23)
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
14 Mountain
1 Timber Gorge
Sideboard
3 Rending Volley
1 Clip Wings
4 Magmatic Chasm
3 Roast
4 Scab-Clan Berserker[/deck]

[magicdownunder]

@Pedros:

For Rw Goggles: (link) it kinda folds to discard but its solid vs everything else.

For that Rg deck - I tested it in 3 leagues, its quite good at what it does (beating control) my only issues are that you will ALWAYS lose G1 vs aggro + creature based midrange (like token) but 4x Magmatic Chasm is really good (I don't even bother with removal and just try and set up wins) and that the flier MUs are really terrible like Ux Flash, U Eldrazi and Esper Dragons.

[magicdownunder]

I swear this card really represents Red Aggro right now:


So little **** given - its wonderful .

[Pedrobear]

I actually just bought a foil chinese playset on eBay.

I tried twice to get the auctionned playset in Japanese but some hardcore buyer beat me 2 seconds before the end.

[dauntless268]

A bit more testing done: So far the red tricks version worked best for me. Ire Shaman helps quite a bit when we're flooded which at 22 land happens about 50% of the time (with screw taking the other half ) VERY happy with Looming Spires as a 4-of, suggest you test it out, too. The reason is that 2/3 of our burn comes online only at 3 mana, so t2 spires + 1 drop is a great way to get some early damage in and build your board position before starting to deal with whatever the opponent has played.

The midrange list needs another early threat IMO, possibly Olivia Bloodsworn. Alm's Vein felt lackluster as I ha suspected, mainly because it takes a lot of the flexibility out of the deck. Starting with MDU's MD, maybe replace Alms with Bloodsworn and play a 2/2 Split of Voice and Read the Bones?

Atarka didn't work out for me, at least not with a very low curve due to manabase issues.

[magicdownunder]

Cheers Dauntless I can't tell you how much I appreciate extra testing!

I kinda gave up on my midrange 'burn' list, I also like tricks a lot I didn't test it much since I want to give that list Pedros posted ago (I ended up disliking it due to throwing games against half the meta). In regards to tricks my only concern is that it feel kinda "cute" at times with voice and madness shenanigans (....but when it works) - 4x Looming does sound interesting (I've been playing Rg so I kinda gotten use to ciptl now ).

- - - -

[deck=MDU's Rg Chandra Aggro] Lands 23
14 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 24
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
1 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 13
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Clip Wings
2 Goldnight Castigator
1 Atarka's Command
1 Roast[/deck]

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Rb Midrange vs Rg Chandra Standard LE 17
G2 U Mill vs Rg Chandra Standard LE 17
G3 BG Aurora Control vs Rg Chandra LE 17
G4 Mardu Control vs Rg Chandra LE 17
G5 BW Control vs Rg Chandra LE 17

Which I 5-0 beating: Rb Midrange, U Mill, BG Aurora Control, Mardu Control and BW Control (the other list which I 5-0 with has 22 lands, 2x Temper and 1x Voice which I thought was to "cute").

I'm not overly fond of 23 lands and W Human seems like a nightmare without Abbot - so I'm going to work them back into the list for the next test .

- - -

Here is the updated list:

[deck=MDU's Rg Aggro] Lands 22
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 25
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 13
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Goldnight Castigator
2 Scab-Clan Berserker
1 Clip Wings
1 Atarka's Command[/deck]

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Sultai Midrange vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 18
G2 Gr Werewolves vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 18
G3 Naya Superfriends vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 18
G4 Bant Company vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 18
G5 Rg Ramp vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 18

I finished 4-1 losing against Naya Superfriends after I made some of the most oddest sideboard decisions (I blame the caffeine high)

[dauntless268]

Atarka list looks very solid I have to admit...

4 Impulse, 3 Bolt, 2 Volley - wow, you must really despise the MonoW matchup. That said, I've experienced the matchup as far worse than it would look on paper, so most likely you are very right....

Did you test the midrange version or give up on it before?

[magicdownunder]

I gave up on it before testing the GDD list - it just looked like a poor mans Rw Burn list to me (I think if we want to go Rb midrange we need more bodies like you suggested and that Rb Command for extra gas).

p.s. Yes... I do really HATE the Human MU, though impulses are mainly for 4C Company which is why I'm not on 3-4 Volley.

p.s.s. What is better vs Control and Midrange: Scab-Clan Berserker or Extra Burn (like Temper)

[dauntless268]

I don't think Temper is worth it as a SB card (either MD even if it's a little cute as you say or not at all). Berserker is good, but I've found Castigator more effectful because it dodges black removal quite effectively, so I've made the switch to a full four of some time ago.

Is Impulse good vs. CoCo (which version)? I would assume in this list it's more difficult to trigger Spell Mastery, and that puts a lot if their x/3s outside range...

EDIT: How would you SB vs. GW tokens with your current list?

[magicdownunder]

I like impulse vs all version of Coco esp. 4C Rites - the game are grindy as hell anyways so hitting Spell Mastery after boarding isn't that hard (I think I have 20 spells postboard).

Hmmm... I generally prefer Castigator as well but running 8 4-Drops kinda worries me (esp. with Abbot and 22 lands) + hitting Angel is kinda risky in huge numbers since it mean that you can hit them early and get lethal or provide them with tons of life out of nowhere (like Sorin). That said Scab-Clan's Window of opportunity is so narrow maybe its just better to take the Angels since they will at least do something...

[dauntless268]

Good point on the grindy matchup vs co-co. What do you board out there for all your spells? 1-drops? See also my question above re: GW - thanks!!

[magicdownunder]

I don't have a SB plan for my current build yet but vs Coco and GW I tend to board out most of my one drops (I try and leave as many Insolent Neonate as possible) then fill in the gaps with whatever SB I think will help (vs GW and 4C Rites this include 1-2x Goldnight Castigator because we can't really control these MUs for long - though sometimes 4C bricks rather hard).

- - -

I decided to cut the Scab's but with the rise of Grixis and Auroras control I'm not sure what i should replace them with..

Its either (YOLO) +2 Goldnights or +1 Roast and +1 Goldnight (of course this will hurt my Rw Goggles MU with no Scab Clan but that MU is so rare so ).

- - -

[deck=MDU's Rg Aggro] Lands 22
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 25
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 13
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
4 Goldnight Castigator
1 Clip Wings
1 Atarka's Command[/deck]

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Bant Humans vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 19
G2 Ug Flash vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 19
G3 Grixis Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 19
G4 4C Company vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 19
G5 BW Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 19

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Grixis Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 20
G2 Bant Humans vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 20
G3 BG Aurora Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 20
G4 BU Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 20
G5 BW Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 20

[dauntless268]

I've kinda gotten used to Goldnight + Roast as a good combination to board in, just to make sure you don't die before they do...

How do you play vs. these colorless Eldrazi decks? I find it hard to play against a deck that bricks hard in the beginning (Walker), draws the best spells out of your hand (Thought Knot Seer) and at the same time is very hard to control (Reality smasher), all at same time....

And what's your current thinking re: Village Messenger? Worth it?

[magicdownunder]

vs Eldrazi: Twin bolts... lots of Twin bolts... followed by flying, burn and menace (its a rough MU but still better then GW imo)

I don't like Village Messenger but I think he is necessary (he could be replaced by Ire Shaman but it just makes sweepers worst for you) - esp. against annoying MUs like BW Control and Aurora Control which play the control game but fill the ground with bodies.

[GoblinWarchief]

Guys, i really appreciate your work on red builds. Today i should have played in a preptq with a mono red list featuring 4 abbot and 4 ire shaman (similar to the one mdu posted a while ago), but after staying awake until almost dawn debating the last few slots i then didn't wake up in time. Yes i'm a complete idiot

i have to say i don't like atarka lists that much.... it seems to me that making your manabase so much worse just for atarka's command is not worth it. with mono red you have no taplands and if you want there is room for utility lands (haven of the spirit dragon mainly) unless you are heavy on lightning berserkers that don't like colorless mana.
And... why no zurgo in your latest list MDU ?

[magicdownunder]

Two reasons:

1) I ran out of space.
2) Out of the 4 acceptable 1-drops, I feel that Zurgo is the weakest - being legendary, not being block and "only" being 2/2 are issues (I'll run him in MonoR though since I won't need to find room to cram in Atarkas).

- - - -

Why I think "skullcrack" is worth splashing for:

1) Control has gotten better at combating aggro with more lifegain effects which once resolved basically means we can't keep up.
2) The +1/+1 is relevant against half the sweepers in the format.
3) Sometimes ramping into T3 Dragon can really help.

[dauntless268]

5-0 yesterday and 4-1 today - only 2-mans, but I'm slowly getting the hang of this deck.

According to LaZer's Motto "bad burn is better than no burn " I tested Burn from within as both a way to get rid of pesky t2 Hangarbacks and as a late game kill spell and must say I quite like it!

Believe it or not, I bought the paper cards for the deck - cheapest Red deck in a long while so couldn't resist the temptation. Brace yourself for reports from FNM!! (I know how much you love those)

[magicdownunder]

As much as I hate [mana]X[/mana] spells - this format is so slow that you maybe right with Burn from Within being acceptable...

How many lands are you running?

[dauntless268]

In that testing configuration I was running 23 lands with 4 Abbot, 4 Shaman, 3 Berserker and 3 Burn from Within as possible Mana Sinks

Should have run full 4 Berserkers probably...

[stuffydollfan]

Good to see some action in this thread.
I know that standard is really bad for red right now so i appreciate the work going into this.

With that being said I played the red/black deck list posted about a page back in a small tournament on Saturday. Ended up going 3-1 with all my matches being close. Keep in mind that i've been out of regularly playing magic for about a year now. Anyways I like going over the air for some damage. With the amount of 3 cc spells you'd think that the deck would be clunky as all hell but that's not the case with all the madness enablers. Really like the inclusion of draconic roar since it kills something early on which isn't that bad and it's so good when you get the bonus. I think the deck is far from optimized but there is something great here.

[dauntless268]

I 4-1ed the League with this (winning against Grixis Control 2x Eldrazi 1x and BantCoCo 1x, losing to Bant CoCo - almost identical deck)

[deck=Dauntless' Dragons]
Creatures 26
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
3 Falkenrath Gorger
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Ire Shaman
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Burn 11
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
3 Burn From Within

Lands 23
19 Mountain
4 Looming Spires

Sideboard 15
2 Roast
4 Fiery Impulse
1 Rending Volley
1 Act of Treason
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
3 Goldknight Castigator
2 Twin Bolt
[/deck]

What can I say - Burn from within feels awkward (at times) but win's games
No clue honestly if this build is any better or worse than the one with Fiery Temper & Tormenting Voice....
But 4x Lightning Berserker is very good in this Meta I have to say...
----------

[magicdownunder]

@Dauntless: nicely done - Falkenrath Gorger seems rather good combined with Looming Spires and beating Grixis and Eldrazi is impressive (those are really rough MUs) - in regards with Bant Coco I find that the MU usual revolves around how many mages they hit (if its >2 you'll most likely win) same with 4C Company.

EDIT: The more I look at the build the more I like it (I'm kinda bias towards cramming in messengers though).

@stuffydollfan: lots of people like that deck, I'm not really sure how to improve it though - I think it needs more "pressure" aka creatures.

- - -

If your wondering why I haven't posted any list recently it is because I've just been sticking with Rg while adjusting the SB slightly (I currently have 6 finishes 4-1 or higher recorded in LE).

I'm testing 2x Radiant Flames in my Rg list so that I can deal 1 dmg to all the flying tokens or 2 dmg to all if I must (haven't drawn it yet though ).

- - -

Question: Is Chandra win more or is she a game changer vs aggro and creature based midrange?

[dauntless268]

Please do post your current list - I may have discarded RG too quickly (mainly focusing Mono Red now because I have the paper cards too )

The more I play with Chandra, the more I'm getting to the same conclusion that she may be just win more. I like her vs. straight RB Aristocrats and vs. Mono White Humans, but not sure that justifies her. I have her in SB and usually bring her in against whatever I consider low removal decks, but more often than not she doesn't live to untap... A bit the same actually applies to Ire Shaman, but with him you have much more strategic options in terms of deciding how much risk you take with it, and if you play it face down on t3 and the opponing zings it you have mostly yourself to blame

[dauntless268]

LE 2-3 with this (win vs. Naya midrange, UW Archangel of Tithes, loss vs. Bant Humans, Atarka Red, 4C Co-Co)

[deck=Dauntless' Dragons v1]
Creatures 23
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Ire Shaman
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Burn 13
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Temper
1 Roast

Draw 2
2 Tormenting Voice

Lands 22
18 Mountain
4 Looming Spires

Sideboard 15
2 Roast
4 Fiery Impulse
1 Rending Volley
1 Act of Treason
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
3 Goldknight Castigator
2 Twin Bolt
[/deck]

followed by LE 4-1 with this (win vs. GW tokens, RW Eldrazi, Grixis, BW Control, loss vs. GW Tokens)

[deck=Dauntless' Dragons v2]
Creatures 26
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
3 Village Messenger
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Ire Shaman
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Burn 12
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Temper

Lands 22
18 Mountain
4 Looming Spires

Sideboard 15
2 Roast
4 Fiery Impulse
1 Rending Volley
1 Tears of Valakut
3 Twin Bolt
1 Act of Treason
3 Goldknight Castigator
[/deck]

I clearly seem to fare better with more 1-drops even though I still haven't quite figured out which ones are the least worst options (Messenger almost never flipped in that second list - is Glory Chaser in combination with 4 Looming Spires maybe just about playable??). I think I need to resist my bias to make the deck more midrangey. Tormenting Voices is nice when it works, but takes away important slots that we really need for the early game.

On the same note, I decided Burn from Within isn't worth it as it's only worthwhile in the early game under very specific circumstances (not too many Hangarbacks out there outside of GW really) and makes the deck a bit too clunky....

Note no Chandra in the second list, and she wasn't missed... :

[magicdownunder]

I know how you feel Dauntless - I like "cute" tricks as well so I try cramming in Madness cards + Discard outlets for CA/Fun shenanigans but at the end of the day it usual just results in running 6-8 sub-optimal cards (which are sometimes AMAZING but most of the time meh).

I personally like Messenger he does force you to slow-roll sometimes but he tends to make the opp. do the same fast play which is quite interesting - I don't think Glory Chaser is playable though (I don't really think Gorger is either but people still like it).

- - -

Yeah... I like Chandra vs coco (I count crats as coco now as well), creature based midrange and humans - she rarely flips thou even in those MUs because the opp. kills her most of the time. I think for those MUs alone she maybe be justified as a 2x or 3x slot MD thou she gets worst postboard when more control spells come in.

- - -

In regards to my current list, its:

[deck=MDU's Rg Aggro] Lands 22
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 25
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 13
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Goldnight Castigator
3 Rending Volley
2 Radiant Flames
1 Roast
1 Clip Wings
1 Atarka's Command[/deck]

I only tested it once so far but I 5-0 the event (as you'll note I havn't changed the 60 at all since the last list I posted - which has netted me 5-0x2 and 4-1x2 though I feel like one of those 4-1 could have been won but I made some rather sloppy choices at key intervals).

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Sultai Ramp vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 21
G2 BW Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 21
G3 4C Company vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 21
G4 RU Eldrazi vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 21
G5 UR Mill vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 21

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Bant Humans vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 22
G2 UR Mill vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 22
G3 GR Ramp vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 22
G4 RU Midrange vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 22
G5 Wr Humans vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 22

[dauntless268]

I'm not a fan of Chandra vs. decks with Reflector Mage in theory, but admit I haven't tested it with more 1-drops - if they burn their removal and pseudo removal early she might stick, hmm...

[magicdownunder]

GAaaaah! I had a HORRIBLE run today losing against my own deck... not even joking I lost against UR Worldbuilder three times (this is not a MU we should be losing that often (though its possible)).

I could run more lands but I really shouldn't... 8x sudo draw effects and 22 lands "should" be enough to hit 2-3 lands on curve most of the time.

[dauntless268]

Something to cheer you up (against one of my favorite opponents online - he sure as hell always rage quits and I always get the BEST board states against him )

[magicdownunder]

I'm gonna give the crazy 4x Looming Spires tech a shot (sometime this week or next week at the latest - then I'll go back and work on some Modern) with maybe something like this:

[deck=MDU's R Aggro] Lands 23
19 Mountain
4 Looming Spires (*)

Creatures 27
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker (*)
3 Zurgo Bellstriker (*)
4 Abbot of Keral Keep (*)
4 Dragon Whisperer (*)
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 10
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
2 Fiery Temper

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Goldnight Castigator
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Roast [/deck]

I still want to jam lil.Chandra in somewhere.... the * are cards I'll be willing to cut if I toss in lil.Chandra.

Video report (click to watch):
G1 BW Control vs R Aggro Standard LE 23
G2 4C Company vs R Aggro Standard LE 23
G3 Mardu Control vs R Aggro Standard LE 23
G4 Wr Humans vs R Aggro Standard LE 23
G5 GW Superfriends vs R Aggro Standard LE 23

[dauntless268]

PLEEEASE...don't stop working on Standard, MDU. You've been reviving Red Aggro in the current standard all on your own, Magic needs you!

Your list might well be the better version of where I have eventually arrived after a lot of testing (looming Spires is good! ). After playing a bit more with Messenger, I actually quite like it and the slow-rolling argument is quite spot on.... so until further notice he my preferred 4th 1-drop.

A few questions, comments on your list
[*] Thoughts on Dragon Whisperer vs. Ire Shaman? This is the main difference between our lists. They fulfill similar roles in the deck (2-drop with evasion that has reasonable late game value)
[*] Given that you have already 4 Lightning Berserkers, I feel 2 Dragon Whispies would be the most natural cutto slip in a pair of Chandras
[*] If you prefer playing with 2 Temper only (i don't mind using Neonate + Temper as a sort of Lightning Strike if needed), maybe 2 Roast would be good to ensure you have a bit more burn available?

I would personally consider with -0-1 Lightning Berserker -2-3 Dragon Whisperer, +1-2 Roast +1-2 Chandra -1 Mountain

[magicdownunder]

[*] Thoughts on Dragon Whisperer vs. Ire Shaman? This is the main difference between our lists. They fulfill similar roles in the deck (2-drop with evasion that has reasonable late game value)[/i]

Dragon Whisperer is better vs Midrange, Coco (+Crats but I now count them as Coco) and Tokens because flying is better then menace vs swarms of creatures which you can't realistically keep under control.

Ire Shaman is better vs Aggro where you CA them to death (CA is pretty much the only way we beat aggro...), it also does stuff vs Control when the games goes the distant (where you can morph and unmorph on the same turn) - you can also argue that its better vs Displacer Combo as well since you really need to kill it asap.

[*] If you prefer playing with 2 Temper only (i don't mind using Neonate + Temper as a sort of Lightning Strike if needed), maybe 2 Roast would be good to ensure you have a bit more burn available?[/i]

I personally think Fiery Temper is a "cute" card - I'm hoping this changes with the next set, so I'm mainly running them to help close out games and for cute tricks with Spires during combat and Neonate. I do want Roast in MD though (same with Chandra but making room is hard).

- - - -

In regards with standard - I plan on recording 34 LE and stopping because by the time I finish uploading them the next set will be out on paper (which kinda kills view counts making it not worth doing). So far I've only uploaded 14 LE so long way to go, anyhows the guys who watch modern have been bugging me (no one watches pauper and legacy so I'm not bother with them and with limited.... lets just say I hate limited).

(curse you limited)

- - -

Well I 4-1 the LE beating BW Control, Mardu Control, Naya Superfriends (really happy about this win), Wr Humans (really long game....) and then losing against 4C Company (in the video I complain I lot - but it really came down to triple reflector on both M2-3).

Not really sure how I feel about the deck yet - didn't really get punished by Looming Spires nor did it really help yet.

- - -

Made some changes and then proceeded to go 4-1 again...

[deck=MDU's R Aggro] Lands 23
21 Mountain
2 Looming Spires

Creatures 27
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
2 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 10
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
2 Fiery Temper

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Goldnight Castigator
2 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Roast
1 Act of Treason[/deck]

Video report (click to watch):
G1 GB vs R Aggro Standard LE 24
G2 Mirror Standard LE 24
G3 GR Eldrazi vs R Aggro Standard LE 24
G4 BW Control vs R Aggro Standard LE 24
G5 W Eldrazi vs R Aggro Standard LE 24

I need to adjust the some of the SB and MD numbers since boarding was really messy, the game which I did lose was against BW Control (which played poorly I might add) I made poor boarding choices and was punished for it. I have to say I like Looming Spires because it doesn't make me feel guilty for playing with 23 lands but I really do miss the green splash.

Video report (click to watch):
G1 Bant Humans vs R Aggro Standard LE 25
G2 BR Madness vs R Aggro Standard LE 25
G3 Fevered Visions vs R Aggro Standard LE 25
G4 Blue Prison vs R Aggro Standard LE 25
G5 Bant Humans vs R Aggro Standard LE 25

[magicdownunder]

OKAY!

I done more testing with MonoR Looming Spires, I agree its solid (esp. combined with Lightning Berserkers - I never got to do combat tricks with it though which is a shame) I think overall though I prefer splashing green for Radiant Flames, [card]Atarka's Command[/card] (hitting flying tokens is key in beating GW...) and Clip Wings.

Thus from tomorrow I'll be back on my Rg list.

Note: LE 1-25 have been recorded and 1-15 have been uploaded (LE 16 will be uploaded soon) - if anyone is interested I can do a small write-up on my thoughts on Red this season once LE 1-34 are completed.

- - -

[deck=MDU's Rg Aggro] Lands 22
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge

Creatures 25
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Spells 13
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Goldnight Castigator
3 Rending Volley
2 Radiant Flames
1 Roast
1 Clip Wings
1 Atarka's Command


[/deck]Video report (click to watch):
G1 BU Brain vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 26
G2 Naya Ramp vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 26
G3 RG Googles vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 26
G4 Blue Prison vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 26
G5 GB Control vs Rg Aggro Standard LE 26

Note: I think i prefer 23 lands overall

[dauntless268]

FINALLY managed my first 5-0 league with the deck...

SO I'm going to play my first ever paper FNM tomorrow, using more or less the same build - I know I'm going to be massacred... (all of these missed triggers...)

[deck=Dauntless' Dragons v3]
Creatures 26
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Village Messenger
2 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Ire Shaman
4 Thunderbreak Regent

Burn 12
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Temper

Lands 22
18 Mountain
4 Looming Spires

Sideboard 15
4 Fiery Impulse
2 Roast
2 Rending Volley
2 Twin Bolt
1 Act of Treason
1 Tormenting Voice
3 Goldknight Castigator
[/deck]

I expect quite a bit of aggro, simply because I can't imagine many people being able to afford current standard prices in paper

That said, I don't really want to radically change my deck and rather play what I've gotten some practice with now, so just one minor tweak from my current MTGO list (-1 Zurgo +1 Ire Shaman MD). I ***might*** be tempted to stick my pair of Chandra into the maindeck (they were the most expensive cards, and MDU convinced me that it's not really worth running the SB), but not really sure what to cut....

---------------------------------------------------------

After that, I'll be exploring Atarka Red, because MDU you think it's good and because I hadn't tested it properly last time round.... So keep posting these lists, Sir!

[magicdownunder]

Chandra isn't horrible in the SB she just gets slightly worst - in regards with Rg Aggro, it slightly improves our worst MUs at the price of REALLY crippling our early and mid games at time - which may or maynot really be worth it (splashing has a price in this current meta).

Anyhow I'm having a really poor run today with Rg - I think I'm tilted or something because I'm making a fair number of game ending misplays T_T.

Thus back to MonoR testing (perhaps with titan strength for library manipulation over the 23rd land).

- - -

Gonna try out some crazy MDU tech (almost as craycray as Stormbreath Dragon in a 20 lands deck vs Control with PtE in Modern or Rod of Ruin in Pyrowhite vs Merfolk or Screamreach Brawler vs [card]Kozilek's Return[/card]... ok looking back I really do try insane things...).

So here is my new amazing tech for MonoR to combat BW Control and GW Tokens - Secure the Wastes into Abby play (+ hitting all the annoying x/1 fliers): [card]Chandra's Fury[/card] (1x in the SB ).

P.S. I'm back on the MonoR train

[dauntless268]

Twin Bolt?

[magicdownunder]

Twin Bolt is many times better T1-7, but the games can be grindy which is what the [card]Chandra's Fury[/card] tech is for (now as the Red deck we really shouldn't be letting the game go on for that long... but its kinda hard to finish matches quick with our current tools).

- - -

How did your FNM go dauntless? Also do you think B splash is needed for GW Tokens? ....that RB Madness list I built with 24 lands and GDD is shocking good against GW Tokens.

[magicdownunder]

....WHAT MADNESS IS THIS: UR Fliers <-- So Cheap - is this the GW Killer we need? Can this beat BW or Grxis Control?