Dies to Removal

[deck]
Creatures 9
3 Young Pyromancer
3 Goblin Electromancer
3 Chandra's Phoenix

Planeswalkers 5
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Ral Zarek
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Spells 22
3 Warleader's Helix
4 Skullcrack
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
2 Detention Sphere

Lands 24
4 Steam Vents
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Temple of Triumph
4 Mountain
4 Island

Sideboard 15
4 Counterflux
2 Essence Scatter
2 Anger of the Gods
3 Chained to the Rocks
2 Pithing Needle
2 Assemble the Legion
[/deck]


I've been playing around on Cockatrice with this to take a break from Red Devotion. Any thoughts or suggestions?

There's a few people in my playgroup that are testing different versions of this, and it's solid. It's a skill-intensive deck, but if nothing else it looks fun as hell to play.
Goblin Electromancer is probably the weakest link, at least from a theoretical standpoint: it's a midrange/control deck, and if you're in a position where you absolutely, positively need to get that spell in for one cheaper, that's a bad place to be anyway. The Verdicts are probably overkill, and maindeck Skullcrack is an interesting choice, especially when you're already running a billiondy other spells in the 2-drop slot. I'd consider cutting some number of those cards, going up to 26 land, and putting in some number of Mutavaults. I'm also kind of surprised you're not running at least a token number of counterspells, like a 2-of Syncopate[/c:
d88pi7u3] or [c]Dissolve.

Goblin Electromancer is a bad card. Don't play it. Instead play another Young Pyromancer, an extra Detention Sphere, and some kind of Fireball effect for when you need a way to win that isn't Elspeth.

Thanks dudes. I played a deck at FNM that was similar to this one and went 3-1. Lost a close game vs MBD.

[deck]
Creatures 9
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandras Phoenix
1 Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalkers 6
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Ral Zarek
2 Jace, Architect of Thought


3 Warleaders Helix
2 Boros Charm
4 Magma Jet
4 Izzet Charm
3 Supreme Verdict
2 Detention Sphere
2 Mizzium Mortars

Lands 25
2 Mutavault
4 Temple of Triumph
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Steam Vents
7 Mountain
[/deck]

Is Ral Zarek better than 1 more each of Jace and Chandra? Or maybe Keranos or something? Honest question.

In short, yes. He still recurs phoenix, while doing more damage at the same time. Chandra's falter is basically wasted, and if we really need to falter a blocker, then Ral can just tap it anyway. Ral can also be used to ramp into overloading Mizzium Mortars, or give that 1 extra mana required to play multiple small spells.

Took second at FNM Friday with a R/U Counterburn list.

Keranos definitely has a place, and Counterburn definitely has a place. It's just a matter of deciding what route needs to be taken. Do you want to use the Sigiled Starfish, Young Pyromancer, or Frostburn Weird[/card]? Do you run the Phoenix at all? I'm probably going to drop Young Pyromancer for now, and start testing the Frostburn or the Scryfish. With a deck that relies on have the right spells at the right times, using the Scryfish seems very helpful.

Could you take a look at my Counterburn list in the other thread?

Todays FNM list, going 3-1 for the night. Beat MBD, MBD, Mono black aggro(With Thoughtseize, Duress, and Brain Maggot), and finally lost to White Weenies. Didn't lose a single game to MBD.

[deck]
Creatures 10
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix
2 Spellheart Chimera

Spells 23
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Strike
4 Skullcrack
4 Magma Jet
4 shock
3 Warleader's Helix

Planeswalkers 2
2 Jace, Architect of Thought

Echantments 2
2 Chained to the Rocks

Lands 23
4 Temple of Triumph
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Steam Vents
7 Mountain

Sideboard 15
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Blind Obediance
2 Spite of Mogis
3 Supreme Verdict
1 Chained to the Rocks
3 Negate
2 Essence Scatter
2 Mutavault
[/deck]

Thoughts:

Young Pyromancer didn't actually make its way to my hand too often, but it's obviously good.
Chandra's Phoenix is a beating, every single game.
Spellheart Chimaera
only resolved once, and it ate a doom blade. No idea how it actually performs.
Spell package is fast, wouldn't change a thing mainboard.
Land base was perfect all night except for 1 of the games vs White Weenies, where I needed a blue to cast a verdict and stabilize.

Keranos is a baller.
Didn't play Blind Obediance, but I played against zero haste.
Spite of Mogis. I think I'm in love with this card.
Supreme Verdict is obviously good, except for that one time I couldn't cast it.
Chained to the Rocks. This 1 of will probably get replaced.
Negate never came in, since I played against zero control or burn.
Essence Scatter did pretty good when I had it. Countering a Gary seems pretty good, lol.
Mutavault's from the side did some work when I needed to up my land count for longer games.


To help against the White Weenie and other fast aggro decks, I think I need more turn 1-3 spot removal. Perhaps Elecktrickery could find a place in the side as a 2-of. Actually, thinking about it now, I may
just try to find room for a couple copies of Magma Spray. Works against aggro, and exiles RW Burns Phoenixes.

Spellheart Chimaera only resolved once, and it ate a doom blade. No idea how it actually performs.

I think it mostly eats doom blades, so that's about right.
Flames of the Firebrand for weenies? And anger of course for necromancer/atheros decks but I am not sure it's practical to have both that and verdict in the SB. I would probably try this deck, but have little interest in obtaining UW duals for $60. Hmm... I guess by your list I could run sacred foundries and 4 islands.