Hi readers of Attacking 4 Lethal!
Just a quick post to let you know that new posts are on the way! I had a break over Christmas and have been to about 3 or 4 Magic tournaments in that time. Don't worry, they are on the way!
Callum
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Friday, 21 December 2012
Feuding at a GP Trial
Hello and welcome back to Attacking 4 Lethal! It's been a little while since my last post, so hopefully this one will make up for the time you have waited.
In between my last post and this post, I have managed to assemble a new Magic deck. And no, its not Red Deck Wins! This time, I decided to play 3 colours instead of one. So, without further ado, I present....
Jund Feud!
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Evolving Wilds
10 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Mountain
2 Swamp
24 land
4 Elvish Visionary
3 Galvanic Juggernaut
2 Manor Gargoyle
1 Primal Clay
3 Stuffy Doll
4 Volatile Rig
17 creatures
1 Abrupt Decay
3 Blasphemous Act
4 Farseek
2 Guild Feud
3 Rakdos Keyrune
2 Rakdos's Return
2 Treasured Find
17 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 planeswalkers
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Blasphemous Act
2 Electrickery
2 Naturalize
1 Pithing Needle
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Sever the Bloodline
3 Slaughter Games
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Treasured Find
15 sideboard cards
Deck Tech - Creatures
With a lot of inspiration from Matt Higgs (from Untap Target Player), I have successfully assembled this rather unusual decklist. It was a tonne of fun to playtest, and I hope you enjoy this deck tech!
Elvish Visionary
This card is essential. With a tonne of aggressive decks in the format, he can just chump block AND draw you a card. In playtesting, I have realized how flexible this card is. Four is definitely the right number.
Galvanic Juggernaut
This aggressively costed juggernaut is an excellent fit for this deck. If you reveal this off a Guild Feud, it will outright kill Geist of Saint Traft, Huntmaster of the Fells, Restoration Angel and more! It also trades with Thragtusk. The "locked in the untap step" wording is usually irrelevent, as creatures are usually dying left right a centre. I decided to play three of this card.
Manor Gargoyle
This card is a very underrated one. It recently saw play at a Standard Grand Prix, showing off how good he is. It blocks a lot of the best creatures in the format and (usually), lives to tell the tale. It has been excellent in playtesting. He is a little clunky, so I only decided to play two.
Primal Clay
This is a very flexible card. Although not great in your hand, he is excellent from Guild Feud reveal. He makes for a nice singleton.
Stuffy Doll
I love this card. THE FLAVOR! He looks like he is Creepy Doll's older brother! This doll's role in the deck is too punish high power creatures on a Guild Feud reveal. He also combines well with Blasphemous Act. Three seems to be a good number.
Volatile Rig
Um... awkward?
When I put this card in the deck, I considered changing the deck's name to "Tension Feud," as the die rolling is just crazy. Although he is unpredictable, I chose to play a playset.
Other Spells
Abrupt Decay
I am lucky enough to have an Abrupt Decay in my trade binder. Now, I am lucky enough to have an Abrupt Decay in my Jund Feud deck. This is pretty straight forward, mainly to wipe Liliana of the Veil from the board. I only have one copy, so one copy it is!
Blasphemous Act
This card is excellent in this format. With decks like RDW and Humans running around, this just wipes them out, and usually they will never see it coming. He also combines well with Stuffy Doll. I chose to play three maindeck, with a fourth in the sideboard.
Farseek/Rakdos Keyrune
I decided to cover these two cards together, as they functionally do the same thing.
I have no shocklands in the Jund colours, so Farseek does become significantly worse. However, it functions as a Rampant Growth, and this deck needs as many ramp effects it can get. I decided to play a playset.
Rakdos Keyrune, however, is a much more versatile card. It ramps you up from 3 to 5 on turn 4, and it becomes a decent creature when you need it. You don't want to draw a handful, so I decided to play three.
Guild Feud
Where the deck gets its name, Guild Feud is the "build-around" card of this deck. There are so many possible scenarios this card can produce, which makes for some fun games. It is VERY clunky to draw at least two, so I decided to play just two copies.
Rakdos's Return
When I was planning this deck out, I didn't have any copies of Rakdos's Return. However, a trading session with friends at my local game store landed my TWO of them. So I threw them in. I mean, why not? He punished pretty much every deck. And with all the ramp in the deck, its pretty easy to wipe someone's hand with this.
Treasured Find
This is a very underrated card. This card can return ANYTHING from your graveyard. ANYTHING. A Wolf Run, Garruk, Blaspehmous Act. ANYTHING. I only played two in the maindeck, but this is THE CARD you want against a deck that has the ability remove a range of your permanents.
Planeswalkers
Garruk, Primal Hunter
This guy is fantastic! I only have one, but one is probably the right number anyway! Garruk is a great source of card advantage against control and aggro alike.
Vraska the Unseen
I have a Vraska, so why not play her? This deck is lacking removal, so having the flexibility of destroying anything over and over (very...slowly) is valuable. Nothing much to say, she is always welcome in this deck.
Lands
The mana base is pretty shaky. I have no shocklands in these colours, only a playset of Dragonskull Summits (wonder where they came from). I decided to play a single Wolf Run for the late game when you have a tonne of mana in play. The Wilds are there to fix if you are desperate.
Sideboard
Nothing much here. I'll dot point this section.
Ancient Grudge - Um.. Artifacts?
Blasphemous Act - Aggro
Electrickery - Lingering Souls/Tokens
Naturalize - .....
Pithing Needle - Planeswalkers
Rakdos Charm - Reanimator
Sever the Bloodline - Tokens/Entreat the Angels
Slaughter Games - :) - Midrange/Control
Treasured Find - Control/OTT Removal
Tormod's Crypt - Reanimator
Anyway, that's the deck!
I was trying to arrange a time to take this deck for a run. However, I was held up a little bit, with end of year stuff. So, I ended up taking this deck to a GP Trial.
I thought the deck actually had potential, so I decided to take it to the GP Sydney Trial.
I also took along my mate, Cale. He stayed at my place on the night before the tournament, so we ended up playing a lot of Magic. The deck he was piloting was Azorius Control (Not UW Flash). Like me, he does not have access to EVERY CARD IN THE STANDARD FORMAT LIKE ALL THE "PRO" PLAYERS OUT THERE, so his deck was... okay.
Anyway, me and Cale were driven down to our LGS by my Mum. The event was WAY smaller then I thought it would be, with only sixteen players. After chatting together, me and Cale were sent to separate tables for the players' meeting. After going over some rules, pairings were put up for Round 1 out of 5.
Round 1 - vs. Grant (Izzet Guttersnipe)
In Round 1, I sat down across from Grant, a friendly man. After shuffling up, we began.
After realizing his strategy all too late, I fell to some curious, damage-dealing, card-drawing goblins (AKA 2 Guttersnipes enchanted by Curiosity, and lots of card-drawing/burn spells).
Game 2 was just as bad for me, although it took Grant a while to find a third land, while his Delver decided it wanted to stay human. He eventually resolved a Curious Guttersnipe, draw him through possibly half his deck. After a flurry of burn spells were sent my way, there was little I could do as he burned me 4 lethal.
0-1
That matchup was a bad one. If this deck had more removal, it might have evened the odds a little, but it still would struggle against burn and counter.
I went over to see how Cale was doing. He had lost his first round too.
"We could be facing each other", I remarked.
We didn't.
Round 2 - vs. Ryan (Junk Midrange/Reanimator)
I sat down for round 2 across from Ryan, another friendly chap (everyone at my LGS seems to be very friendly). I won the die roll, and decided to play.
In game 1 I had an excellent start, Farseeking into a Galvanic Juggernaut on turn 3. After summoning some other undercosted creatures, Game 1 ended in my favour.
For sideboarding, Slaughter Games, Rakdos Charm and Tormod's Crypt came in, as Ryan's deck had some reanimation targets as well as midrange creatures.
Game 2 went quick, Ryan curved out well with a turn 1 Arbor Elf; turn 2 Silverblade Paladin; turn 3 Sublime Archangel, bond with Paladin, attack for 10. Yeah, that game was definitely his.
Game 3 was very close. Ryan and I started with some smaller threats and started removing them. However, I was falling behind. I a vital turn, my Juggernaut had to attack, so it did so. Ryan called no blocks, so I pumped my juggernaut with my Wolf Run to sneak in 2 extra damage, putting Ryan at 6, while I was at 10. However, I had left 2 mana up. On the next turn, when Ryan attempted to Unburial Rites his Craterhoof Behemoth, I cast Rakdos Charm, removing his graveyard. He then attacked with his Archangel, putting me at 4.
On the next turn, I attacked with a Visionary and a Juggernaut. When Ryan declared blocks on the Juggernaut, I pumped my Visionary for +5/+0, which was exactly lethal.
1-1
I was so happy to have that Rakdos Charm in hand. What a win!
I went to see how Cale had gone. He had lost again. I kept saying to him,"Don't worry. You'll WILL get a win."
Callum: 1-1
Cale: 0-2
After having some lunch, everyone was called for Round 3.
Round 3 - vs. Matthew (USA Control)
In Round 3 I sat down across from Matthew, one of the game store's "legends" in my opinion. From memory, Matthew won the die roll and decided to play.
Game 1 was a slow, agonising death, as I played a Visionary and not much else. He eventually resolved a Gisela, and hit me for half my lift total, then hit me dead. I got a warning for not announcing my Stuffy Doll's ETB ability (it's very easy to forget), so I would have to tread carefully for the rest of the tournament.
For game 2, I sided in Slaughter Games and Pithing Needle, as his deck contained Jace.
Game 2, however, was just like game 1, except I struggled on land. When I hit my fourth land, I cast Slaughter Games on Jace, then I Gamed his Sphinx's Revelation, which Matthew found odd. However, it didn't matter, as he resolved a Sigarda off a Cavern of Souls, and hit me with her until he attacked 4 lethal.
1-2
I have found Slaughter Games to be a very difficult card to play. At first, I found it simple, just name their "big" card and remove it. However, when playing a game, you have to take in the board state, life totals and the probability of drawing a particular card. In this case, when I named Revelation, I should have named Angel of Serenity, as I had seen it in his hand after the first Slaughter Games.
Cale was not doing well either, losing his third round in a row.
Callum - 1-2
Cale - 0-3
Soon after, Round 4 was upon us.
Round 4 - vs. Erik (GW Tokens splash black)
I sat down across from Erik in Round 4. Erik is a very young, bright and funny person, however he is very serious while playing Magic. After shuffling, I decided to play after a good die roll.
Game 1 was very easy. After resolving two Galvanic Juggernauts, Erik had to go into chump-block mode with his Lingering Souls tokens. After a Rakdos Keyrune joined the party, we moved on to game to.
For sideboarding, Blasphemous Act, Sever the Bloodline and Electrickery came in.
Game 2 was also easy. After holding off some Midnight Haunting tokens, I resolved a Stuffy Doll (remembering the trigger this time), and next turn using a Blasphemous Act (only costing 1R). After playing another Blasphmous Act next turn, Erik scooped as I sweeped 4 lethal.
2-2
This was a relatively easy match, as Blasphemous Act pretty much demolishes tokens.
Cale, however, still hadn't won a match. I was feeling sorry for him, as he wasn't having the best of times.
Callum - 2-2
Cale - 0-4
Unlike FNM, this tournament had 5 rounds. The pairings were soon put up and we were underway.
Round 5 - vs. Matthew (Jund Aggro)
For the last round, I sat across from (another) Matthew, who was playing a very mana-hungry Jund list. As we got underway, I realised how mana intensive Matt's deck was, as he played creatures from Strangleroot Geist to Geralf's Messenger to Hellrider to Predator Ooze. That was only game 1, and I lost very convincingly.
For sideboarding, Slaughter Games (his deck took a little while to set up) and Sever the Bloodline came in. Cards like Strangleroot Geist, Geralf's Messenger and Predator Ooze are very good against Blasphemous Act.
Game 2 was close, but a Garruk helped pull me ahead. After killing Garruk to draw 5 cards, I used Treasured Find on him, and played him again to make a Beast. Next turn, 5 more cards. Soon, I had assembled the Stuuf Doll + Blasphemous Act combo, and I won game 2.
Game 3 was fairly easy, mostly because Matthew got mana screwed. He did get me down to 5 life, but his deck was too mana-hungry to do anything else, and he could only shake his head as I attacked 4 lethal.
3-2
That match was a comeback in progress. I was glad to win against a deck with resilience to sweepers.
Cale, unfortunately, lost his last match, putting a very dismal end to his dismal day.
Callum - 3-2
Cale - 0-5
There were 16 participants, and I finished 7th, surprising myself, and the shopkeeper. Poor Cale got 16th. I won 4 boosters, choosing 2 RTR and 2 M13. The M13 boosters held an Ajani, Caller of the Pride, a Diabolic Revelation and a foil Touch of the Eternal. The RTR boosters were less exciting, holding my third Cyclonic Rift, and my fifth Jarad's Orders. However, after some trading, I now only own 1 Jarad's Orders.
Overall, the deck performed okay. In the third round, I knew my opponent had counterspell mana up, but when I played some oddball creatures (Volatile Rig?), he simply let them resolve. This was one of the strategys that the deck used to defeat a range of decks.
I won't go over the MVPs, as nearly every card in the deck pulled its weight. However, there was one card that I never cast during the whole tournament.
This card spent its time clogging my hand while I played more relevant spells like Galvanic Juggernaut and Stuffy Doll. I was actually worried at some stages to cast Guild Feud, fearing that my opponent would hit a creature and I wouldn't. So, overall, the card that gives the deck its name was the worst card in the deck.
In the sideboard, Slaughter Games, Sever the Bloodline and Blasphemous Act were the all stars (and who could forget that use of Rakdos Charm that won me Round 2!). Games removed my opponents good cards, while Sever dealt with tokens and indestructible creatures alike. The fourth Blasphemous Act was excellent. It definitely wasn't a card that I wanted four-of in the maindeck, but against aggressive decks, having this available was the icing on the cake.
I like to end this article to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends and I hope you all get some neat prezzies!
I would also like to give you guys a sneak peek at what deck I will be covering in the next article. It's in code, but see if you can work it out.
IWDLEBSAMTSAETR
Hint: IW = WI
Hope you can figure it out!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
And Merry Christmas!
Callum
In between my last post and this post, I have managed to assemble a new Magic deck. And no, its not Red Deck Wins! This time, I decided to play 3 colours instead of one. So, without further ado, I present....
Jund Feud!
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Evolving Wilds
10 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Mountain
2 Swamp
24 land
4 Elvish Visionary
3 Galvanic Juggernaut
2 Manor Gargoyle
1 Primal Clay
3 Stuffy Doll
4 Volatile Rig
17 creatures
1 Abrupt Decay
3 Blasphemous Act
4 Farseek
2 Guild Feud
3 Rakdos Keyrune
2 Rakdos's Return
2 Treasured Find
17 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 planeswalkers
2 Ancient Grudge
1 Blasphemous Act
2 Electrickery
2 Naturalize
1 Pithing Needle
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Sever the Bloodline
3 Slaughter Games
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Treasured Find
15 sideboard cards
Deck Tech - Creatures
With a lot of inspiration from Matt Higgs (from Untap Target Player), I have successfully assembled this rather unusual decklist. It was a tonne of fun to playtest, and I hope you enjoy this deck tech!
Elvish Visionary
This card is essential. With a tonne of aggressive decks in the format, he can just chump block AND draw you a card. In playtesting, I have realized how flexible this card is. Four is definitely the right number.
Galvanic Juggernaut
This aggressively costed juggernaut is an excellent fit for this deck. If you reveal this off a Guild Feud, it will outright kill Geist of Saint Traft, Huntmaster of the Fells, Restoration Angel and more! It also trades with Thragtusk. The "locked in the untap step" wording is usually irrelevent, as creatures are usually dying left right a centre. I decided to play three of this card.
Manor Gargoyle
This card is a very underrated one. It recently saw play at a Standard Grand Prix, showing off how good he is. It blocks a lot of the best creatures in the format and (usually), lives to tell the tale. It has been excellent in playtesting. He is a little clunky, so I only decided to play two.
Primal Clay
This is a very flexible card. Although not great in your hand, he is excellent from Guild Feud reveal. He makes for a nice singleton.
Stuffy Doll
I love this card. THE FLAVOR! He looks like he is Creepy Doll's older brother! This doll's role in the deck is too punish high power creatures on a Guild Feud reveal. He also combines well with Blasphemous Act. Three seems to be a good number.
Volatile Rig
Um... awkward?
When I put this card in the deck, I considered changing the deck's name to "Tension Feud," as the die rolling is just crazy. Although he is unpredictable, I chose to play a playset.
Other Spells
I am lucky enough to have an Abrupt Decay in my trade binder. Now, I am lucky enough to have an Abrupt Decay in my Jund Feud deck. This is pretty straight forward, mainly to wipe Liliana of the Veil from the board. I only have one copy, so one copy it is!
Blasphemous Act
This card is excellent in this format. With decks like RDW and Humans running around, this just wipes them out, and usually they will never see it coming. He also combines well with Stuffy Doll. I chose to play three maindeck, with a fourth in the sideboard.
Farseek/Rakdos Keyrune
I decided to cover these two cards together, as they functionally do the same thing.
I have no shocklands in the Jund colours, so Farseek does become significantly worse. However, it functions as a Rampant Growth, and this deck needs as many ramp effects it can get. I decided to play a playset.
Rakdos Keyrune, however, is a much more versatile card. It ramps you up from 3 to 5 on turn 4, and it becomes a decent creature when you need it. You don't want to draw a handful, so I decided to play three.
Guild Feud
Where the deck gets its name, Guild Feud is the "build-around" card of this deck. There are so many possible scenarios this card can produce, which makes for some fun games. It is VERY clunky to draw at least two, so I decided to play just two copies.
Rakdos's Return
When I was planning this deck out, I didn't have any copies of Rakdos's Return. However, a trading session with friends at my local game store landed my TWO of them. So I threw them in. I mean, why not? He punished pretty much every deck. And with all the ramp in the deck, its pretty easy to wipe someone's hand with this.
Treasured Find
This is a very underrated card. This card can return ANYTHING from your graveyard. ANYTHING. A Wolf Run, Garruk, Blaspehmous Act. ANYTHING. I only played two in the maindeck, but this is THE CARD you want against a deck that has the ability remove a range of your permanents.
Planeswalkers
Garruk, Primal Hunter
This guy is fantastic! I only have one, but one is probably the right number anyway! Garruk is a great source of card advantage against control and aggro alike.
Vraska the Unseen
I have a Vraska, so why not play her? This deck is lacking removal, so having the flexibility of destroying anything over and over (very...slowly) is valuable. Nothing much to say, she is always welcome in this deck.
Lands
The mana base is pretty shaky. I have no shocklands in these colours, only a playset of Dragonskull Summits (wonder where they came from). I decided to play a single Wolf Run for the late game when you have a tonne of mana in play. The Wilds are there to fix if you are desperate.
Sideboard
Nothing much here. I'll dot point this section.
Ancient Grudge - Um.. Artifacts?
Blasphemous Act - Aggro
Electrickery - Lingering Souls/Tokens
Naturalize - .....
Pithing Needle - Planeswalkers
Rakdos Charm - Reanimator
Sever the Bloodline - Tokens/Entreat the Angels
Slaughter Games - :) - Midrange/Control
Treasured Find - Control/OTT Removal
Tormod's Crypt - Reanimator
Anyway, that's the deck!
I was trying to arrange a time to take this deck for a run. However, I was held up a little bit, with end of year stuff. So, I ended up taking this deck to a GP Trial.
WHAT?!
I also took along my mate, Cale. He stayed at my place on the night before the tournament, so we ended up playing a lot of Magic. The deck he was piloting was Azorius Control (Not UW Flash). Like me, he does not have access to EVERY CARD IN THE STANDARD FORMAT LIKE ALL THE "PRO" PLAYERS OUT THERE, so his deck was... okay.
Anyway, me and Cale were driven down to our LGS by my Mum. The event was WAY smaller then I thought it would be, with only sixteen players. After chatting together, me and Cale were sent to separate tables for the players' meeting. After going over some rules, pairings were put up for Round 1 out of 5.
Round 1 - vs. Grant (Izzet Guttersnipe)
In Round 1, I sat down across from Grant, a friendly man. After shuffling up, we began.
After realizing his strategy all too late, I fell to some curious, damage-dealing, card-drawing goblins (AKA 2 Guttersnipes enchanted by Curiosity, and lots of card-drawing/burn spells).
Game 2 was just as bad for me, although it took Grant a while to find a third land, while his Delver decided it wanted to stay human. He eventually resolved a Curious Guttersnipe, draw him through possibly half his deck. After a flurry of burn spells were sent my way, there was little I could do as he burned me 4 lethal.
0-1
That matchup was a bad one. If this deck had more removal, it might have evened the odds a little, but it still would struggle against burn and counter.
I went over to see how Cale was doing. He had lost his first round too.
"We could be facing each other", I remarked.
We didn't.
Round 2 - vs. Ryan (Junk Midrange/Reanimator)
I sat down for round 2 across from Ryan, another friendly chap (everyone at my LGS seems to be very friendly). I won the die roll, and decided to play.
In game 1 I had an excellent start, Farseeking into a Galvanic Juggernaut on turn 3. After summoning some other undercosted creatures, Game 1 ended in my favour.
For sideboarding, Slaughter Games, Rakdos Charm and Tormod's Crypt came in, as Ryan's deck had some reanimation targets as well as midrange creatures.
Game 2 went quick, Ryan curved out well with a turn 1 Arbor Elf; turn 2 Silverblade Paladin; turn 3 Sublime Archangel, bond with Paladin, attack for 10. Yeah, that game was definitely his.
Game 3 was very close. Ryan and I started with some smaller threats and started removing them. However, I was falling behind. I a vital turn, my Juggernaut had to attack, so it did so. Ryan called no blocks, so I pumped my juggernaut with my Wolf Run to sneak in 2 extra damage, putting Ryan at 6, while I was at 10. However, I had left 2 mana up. On the next turn, when Ryan attempted to Unburial Rites his Craterhoof Behemoth, I cast Rakdos Charm, removing his graveyard. He then attacked with his Archangel, putting me at 4.
On the next turn, I attacked with a Visionary and a Juggernaut. When Ryan declared blocks on the Juggernaut, I pumped my Visionary for +5/+0, which was exactly lethal.
1-1
I was so happy to have that Rakdos Charm in hand. What a win!
I went to see how Cale had gone. He had lost again. I kept saying to him,"Don't worry. You'll WILL get a win."
Callum: 1-1
Cale: 0-2
After having some lunch, everyone was called for Round 3.
Round 3 - vs. Matthew (USA Control)
In Round 3 I sat down across from Matthew, one of the game store's "legends" in my opinion. From memory, Matthew won the die roll and decided to play.
Game 1 was a slow, agonising death, as I played a Visionary and not much else. He eventually resolved a Gisela, and hit me for half my lift total, then hit me dead. I got a warning for not announcing my Stuffy Doll's ETB ability (it's very easy to forget), so I would have to tread carefully for the rest of the tournament.
For game 2, I sided in Slaughter Games and Pithing Needle, as his deck contained Jace.
Game 2, however, was just like game 1, except I struggled on land. When I hit my fourth land, I cast Slaughter Games on Jace, then I Gamed his Sphinx's Revelation, which Matthew found odd. However, it didn't matter, as he resolved a Sigarda off a Cavern of Souls, and hit me with her until he attacked 4 lethal.
1-2
I have found Slaughter Games to be a very difficult card to play. At first, I found it simple, just name their "big" card and remove it. However, when playing a game, you have to take in the board state, life totals and the probability of drawing a particular card. In this case, when I named Revelation, I should have named Angel of Serenity, as I had seen it in his hand after the first Slaughter Games.
Cale was not doing well either, losing his third round in a row.
Callum - 1-2
Cale - 0-3
Soon after, Round 4 was upon us.
Round 4 - vs. Erik (GW Tokens splash black)
I sat down across from Erik in Round 4. Erik is a very young, bright and funny person, however he is very serious while playing Magic. After shuffling, I decided to play after a good die roll.
Game 1 was very easy. After resolving two Galvanic Juggernauts, Erik had to go into chump-block mode with his Lingering Souls tokens. After a Rakdos Keyrune joined the party, we moved on to game to.
For sideboarding, Blasphemous Act, Sever the Bloodline and Electrickery came in.
Game 2 was also easy. After holding off some Midnight Haunting tokens, I resolved a Stuffy Doll (remembering the trigger this time), and next turn using a Blasphemous Act (only costing 1R). After playing another Blasphmous Act next turn, Erik scooped as I sweeped 4 lethal.
2-2
This was a relatively easy match, as Blasphemous Act pretty much demolishes tokens.
Cale, however, still hadn't won a match. I was feeling sorry for him, as he wasn't having the best of times.
Callum - 2-2
Cale - 0-4
Unlike FNM, this tournament had 5 rounds. The pairings were soon put up and we were underway.
Round 5 - vs. Matthew (Jund Aggro)
For the last round, I sat across from (another) Matthew, who was playing a very mana-hungry Jund list. As we got underway, I realised how mana intensive Matt's deck was, as he played creatures from Strangleroot Geist to Geralf's Messenger to Hellrider to Predator Ooze. That was only game 1, and I lost very convincingly.
For sideboarding, Slaughter Games (his deck took a little while to set up) and Sever the Bloodline came in. Cards like Strangleroot Geist, Geralf's Messenger and Predator Ooze are very good against Blasphemous Act.
Game 2 was close, but a Garruk helped pull me ahead. After killing Garruk to draw 5 cards, I used Treasured Find on him, and played him again to make a Beast. Next turn, 5 more cards. Soon, I had assembled the Stuuf Doll + Blasphemous Act combo, and I won game 2.
Game 3 was fairly easy, mostly because Matthew got mana screwed. He did get me down to 5 life, but his deck was too mana-hungry to do anything else, and he could only shake his head as I attacked 4 lethal.
3-2
That match was a comeback in progress. I was glad to win against a deck with resilience to sweepers.
Cale, unfortunately, lost his last match, putting a very dismal end to his dismal day.
Callum - 3-2
Cale - 0-5
There were 16 participants, and I finished 7th, surprising myself, and the shopkeeper. Poor Cale got 16th. I won 4 boosters, choosing 2 RTR and 2 M13. The M13 boosters held an Ajani, Caller of the Pride, a Diabolic Revelation and a foil Touch of the Eternal. The RTR boosters were less exciting, holding my third Cyclonic Rift, and my fifth Jarad's Orders. However, after some trading, I now only own 1 Jarad's Orders.
Overall, the deck performed okay. In the third round, I knew my opponent had counterspell mana up, but when I played some oddball creatures (Volatile Rig?), he simply let them resolve. This was one of the strategys that the deck used to defeat a range of decks.
I won't go over the MVPs, as nearly every card in the deck pulled its weight. However, there was one card that I never cast during the whole tournament.
This card spent its time clogging my hand while I played more relevant spells like Galvanic Juggernaut and Stuffy Doll. I was actually worried at some stages to cast Guild Feud, fearing that my opponent would hit a creature and I wouldn't. So, overall, the card that gives the deck its name was the worst card in the deck.
In the sideboard, Slaughter Games, Sever the Bloodline and Blasphemous Act were the all stars (and who could forget that use of Rakdos Charm that won me Round 2!). Games removed my opponents good cards, while Sever dealt with tokens and indestructible creatures alike. The fourth Blasphemous Act was excellent. It definitely wasn't a card that I wanted four-of in the maindeck, but against aggressive decks, having this available was the icing on the cake.
I like to end this article to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you all have a wonderful time with family and friends and I hope you all get some neat prezzies!
I would also like to give you guys a sneak peek at what deck I will be covering in the next article. It's in code, but see if you can work it out.
IWDLEBSAMTSAETR
Hint: IW = WI
Hope you can figure it out!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
And Merry Christmas!
Callum
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Another Deck Idea
Hello everyone!
This is just a quick post to tell everyone about another deck I have found looks to be fun. The deck is below:
Mono-Green Beastmaster (original decklist by Gavin Verhey) - Daily MTG - Reconstructed
21 Forest
21 lands
4 Arbor Elf
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Champion of Lambholt
1 Druid's Familiar
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Wild Beastmaster
3 Wolfir Avenger
4 Wolfir Silverheart
28 creatures
3 Giant Growth
4 Rancor
3 Revenge of the Hunted
10 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 planeswalker
This deck was supposed to be a budget list, and it certainly is. The only difference to the original decklist I have made is swapping a Garruk for a Silverheart (I only have 1 Garruk).
To check out Gavin's article on his "Unleash the Beastmaster!" decklist, click the link above the decklist.
Anyways, just thought I would share this with you! There are now 5 decks I'm working on. Check them out in the previous article and this article!
Also, PLEASE comment and vote in the polls! It will help me boost this blog's popularity!
See you next time, and good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
This is just a quick post to tell everyone about another deck I have found looks to be fun. The deck is below:
Mono-Green Beastmaster (original decklist by Gavin Verhey) - Daily MTG - Reconstructed
21 Forest
21 lands
4 Arbor Elf
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
4 Champion of Lambholt
1 Druid's Familiar
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Wild Beastmaster
3 Wolfir Avenger
4 Wolfir Silverheart
28 creatures
3 Giant Growth
4 Rancor
3 Revenge of the Hunted
10 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 planeswalker
This deck was supposed to be a budget list, and it certainly is. The only difference to the original decklist I have made is swapping a Garruk for a Silverheart (I only have 1 Garruk).
To check out Gavin's article on his "Unleash the Beastmaster!" decklist, click the link above the decklist.
Anyways, just thought I would share this with you! There are now 5 decks I'm working on. Check them out in the previous article and this article!
Also, PLEASE comment and vote in the polls! It will help me boost this blog's popularity!
See you next time, and good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Sunday, 2 December 2012
4 Fun and Competitive Decks
Hi All!
Below are 4 decks that look to be fun to play with, but also competitive. Most of them are not mine, so I have listed a source to show you where the original decklist came from.
Esper Loner (original decklist by Matt Higgs - Star City Games
2 Cathedral of War
2 Drowned Catacomb
3 Evolving Wilds
6 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
8 Plains
2 Swamp
24 lands
1 Fettergeist
3 Hussar Patrol
3 Invisible Stalker
2 Lone Revenant
1 Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
10 creatures
3 Azorius Charm
3 Azorius Keyrune
1 Demonmail Hauberk
3 Divine Reckoning
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Homicidal Seclusion
4 Lingering Souls
1 Runechanter's Pike
4 Ultimate Price
26 other spells
This list, originally designed by Matt Higgs, author of Untapped on StarCityGames and author of the Untap Target Player MTG Blog (which gave me a lot of inspiration to start this blog!), is about only having one creature on the board, which is pretty easy with cards like Divine Reckoning and Demonmail Hauberk. I liked the look of it, so I have started gathering the cards for it. I only need to get one more Revenant, 1 Cathedral of War, 1 Homicidal Seclusion and all 3 Divine Reckoning.
To read Matt Higgs' full article on the "Esperado" deck, click on the link above the decklist. Matt does a very good job!
Jund Feud (original decklist by Matt Higgs) - Untap Target Player
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Evolving Wilds
10 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Mountain
2 Swamp
24 lands
4 Elvish Visionary
3 Galvanic Juggernaut
2 Manor Gargoyle
1 Primal Clay
3 Stuffy Doll
4 Volatile Rig
17 creatures
3 Blasphemous Act
4 Farseek
2 Guild Feud
3 Rakdos Keyrune
2 Rakdos's Return
1 Tragic Slip
2 Treasured Find
17 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 planeswalkers
This is list has been a lot of fun to playtest. I have almost gotten all the cards for it, I'm only off 2 Farseeks. Guild Feud is one of the most fun cards ever, and the Volatile Rigs create a lot of suspense.
Once again, thank you Matt Higgs for the inspiration!
To read Matt's article on his "Feudposting" decklist, click on the link above the decklist.
Izzet Clones (original decklist by Kevin Klotz) - Facebook - KlotzProductions
1 Desolate Lighthouse
10 Island
4 Izzet Guildgate
9 Mountain
24 lands
1 Charmbreaker Devils
4 Clone
4 Dungeon Geists
4 Izzet Staticaster
4 Zealous Conscripts
17 creatures
4 Cackling Counterpart
3 Izzet Charm
4 Pillar of Flame
2 Rolling Temblor
4 Searing Spear
17 other spells
2 Chandra, the Firebrand
2 planeswalkers
Thanks to Kevin Klotz, there is another interesting, budget-friendly decklist. The deck's main goal is to have the opponent play a very good creature with an ETB effect (Thragtusk, anyone?), copy their copy with a Clone, then make copies of your copy with more Clones of Cackling Counterpart. Or you can make multiple copies of your own creatures (which hold off your opponents' creatures). I still have quite a few cards to get before the decklist is finished (4 Dungeon Geists, 3 Zealous Conscripts, 1 Cackling Counterpart, 1 Rolling Temblor and 1 Chandra, the Firebrand)
Kevin made some comments on Facebook about playtesting his deck. To see his original decklist and the comments, cluck on the link above the decklist.
Mono-Black Rat Discard (original list by ME!) - Attacking 4 Lethal
21 Swamp
21 lands
3 Blood Artist
4 Drainpipe Vermin
4 Pack Rat
4 Ravenous Rats
3 Typhoid Rats
18 creatures
1 Dead Weight
3 Duress
4 Mind Rot
1 Murder
4 Shrieking Affliction
3 Sign in Blood
2 Ultimate Price
3 Tragic Slip
21 other spells
While it may look like a bunch of inefficient Rats and discard spells, this deck actually works. While being the most budget-friendly of the 4 decklists, it is probably one of the most competitive. I have playtested against both aggro, midrange and control, and the deck does okay against each. Pack Rat is an all star, as you can discard excess lands to it. There are also other Rat creatures in the deck that both pump Pack Rat and strip your opponent of their cards.
I have almost collected all the cards for this deck to, I'm only off 3 Ravenous Rats!
Anyway, just thought I would share these with y'all. I will probably be playing one of these decks at the next tournament that go to, so be ready!
I will also put a new poll up asking which of the decks you either want me to play next, or which deck is your favourite!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Below are 4 decks that look to be fun to play with, but also competitive. Most of them are not mine, so I have listed a source to show you where the original decklist came from.
Esper Loner (original decklist by Matt Higgs - Star City Games
2 Cathedral of War
2 Drowned Catacomb
3 Evolving Wilds
6 Island
1 Moorland Haunt
8 Plains
2 Swamp
24 lands
1 Fettergeist
3 Hussar Patrol
3 Invisible Stalker
2 Lone Revenant
1 Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
10 creatures
3 Azorius Charm
3 Azorius Keyrune
1 Demonmail Hauberk
3 Divine Reckoning
4 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Homicidal Seclusion
4 Lingering Souls
1 Runechanter's Pike
4 Ultimate Price
26 other spells
This list, originally designed by Matt Higgs, author of Untapped on StarCityGames and author of the Untap Target Player MTG Blog (which gave me a lot of inspiration to start this blog!), is about only having one creature on the board, which is pretty easy with cards like Divine Reckoning and Demonmail Hauberk. I liked the look of it, so I have started gathering the cards for it. I only need to get one more Revenant, 1 Cathedral of War, 1 Homicidal Seclusion and all 3 Divine Reckoning.
To read Matt Higgs' full article on the "Esperado" deck, click on the link above the decklist. Matt does a very good job!
Jund Feud (original decklist by Matt Higgs) - Untap Target Player
4 Dragonskull Summit
3 Evolving Wilds
10 Forest
1 Kessig Wolf Run
4 Mountain
2 Swamp
24 lands
4 Elvish Visionary
3 Galvanic Juggernaut
2 Manor Gargoyle
1 Primal Clay
3 Stuffy Doll
4 Volatile Rig
17 creatures
3 Blasphemous Act
4 Farseek
2 Guild Feud
3 Rakdos Keyrune
2 Rakdos's Return
1 Tragic Slip
2 Treasured Find
17 other spells
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 planeswalkers
This is list has been a lot of fun to playtest. I have almost gotten all the cards for it, I'm only off 2 Farseeks. Guild Feud is one of the most fun cards ever, and the Volatile Rigs create a lot of suspense.
Once again, thank you Matt Higgs for the inspiration!
To read Matt's article on his "Feudposting" decklist, click on the link above the decklist.
Izzet Clones (original decklist by Kevin Klotz) - Facebook - KlotzProductions
1 Desolate Lighthouse
10 Island
4 Izzet Guildgate
9 Mountain
24 lands
1 Charmbreaker Devils
4 Clone
4 Dungeon Geists
4 Izzet Staticaster
4 Zealous Conscripts
17 creatures
4 Cackling Counterpart
3 Izzet Charm
4 Pillar of Flame
2 Rolling Temblor
4 Searing Spear
17 other spells
2 Chandra, the Firebrand
2 planeswalkers
Thanks to Kevin Klotz, there is another interesting, budget-friendly decklist. The deck's main goal is to have the opponent play a very good creature with an ETB effect (Thragtusk, anyone?), copy their copy with a Clone, then make copies of your copy with more Clones of Cackling Counterpart. Or you can make multiple copies of your own creatures (which hold off your opponents' creatures). I still have quite a few cards to get before the decklist is finished (4 Dungeon Geists, 3 Zealous Conscripts, 1 Cackling Counterpart, 1 Rolling Temblor and 1 Chandra, the Firebrand)
Kevin made some comments on Facebook about playtesting his deck. To see his original decklist and the comments, cluck on the link above the decklist.
Mono-Black Rat Discard (original list by ME!) - Attacking 4 Lethal
21 Swamp
21 lands
3 Blood Artist
4 Drainpipe Vermin
4 Pack Rat
4 Ravenous Rats
3 Typhoid Rats
18 creatures
1 Dead Weight
3 Duress
4 Mind Rot
1 Murder
4 Shrieking Affliction
3 Sign in Blood
2 Ultimate Price
3 Tragic Slip
21 other spells
While it may look like a bunch of inefficient Rats and discard spells, this deck actually works. While being the most budget-friendly of the 4 decklists, it is probably one of the most competitive. I have playtested against both aggro, midrange and control, and the deck does okay against each. Pack Rat is an all star, as you can discard excess lands to it. There are also other Rat creatures in the deck that both pump Pack Rat and strip your opponent of their cards.
I have almost collected all the cards for this deck to, I'm only off 3 Ravenous Rats!
Anyway, just thought I would share these with y'all. I will probably be playing one of these decks at the next tournament that go to, so be ready!
I will also put a new poll up asking which of the decks you either want me to play next, or which deck is your favourite!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Red Deck Wins - A Second Chance
Hello everyone and welcome back to Attacking 4 Lethal! In this article, I will be going over what happened when I took my RDW list from last week down to my LGS.
Here is the decklist:
4 Dragonskull Summit
2 Hellion Crucible
15 Mountain
21 lands
4 Ash Zealot
2 Goblin Arsonist
2 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Hellrider
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Stromkirk Noble
27 creatures
2 Brimstone Volley
2 Nightbird's Clutches
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear
12 other spells
1 Annialating Fire
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle
2 Reckless Waif
3 Slaughter Games
1 Smelt
2 Tormod's Crypt
3 Traitorous Blood
15 sideboard cards
Deck Tech - (See FNM with Mono-Red)
There are no changes to the maindeck since the last time I played this deck 1-2 weeks ago. However, in the sideboard, I have taken out 1 Annialating Fire and put in the third Slaughter Games I pulled from my booster winnings from FNM.
Anyway, enough about that! I took thsi deck to FNM again! Let's dive into the gameplays!
Round 1 - vs. Thomas (Selesnya Tokens)
My Round 1 opponent was a very nice man that goes by the name of Thomas. We shuffled up for game 1 in silence. After a die roll, Thomas would end up on the play. He started out with 2 lands and a Call of the Conclave, while I played a Stromkirk Noble, and on the 2nd turn burned his Centaur with a Searing Spear. However, he started getting some more aggression going with a Selesnya Charm making a Knight, and a Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, which would soon make another knight. I was running out of resources, and after Thomas populated what might have been a million times, I reached for my sideboard. I brought in Slaughter Game for the planeswalkers that Thomas had mentioned, Garruk (Primal Hunter) and Ajani. I also brought in a Pithing Needle, hoping to shut down Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage. In game 2, I started off with a Rakdos Cackler, while Thomas started with an Arbor Elf. However, I had kept a burn heavy hand, and after burning my way through Elfs, Centaurs, and Wayfaring Temples, I cleared a path for victory.
Game 3 was very similar to game 1, except Slaughter Games was a big factor, Thomas started with an Avacyn's Pilgrim that soon died to a Pillar of Flame. However, he had a Call of the Conclave on turn 2. I tried to develop my own board, but it wasn't working. On turn four, he summoned a sideboarded Serra Avenger, which is very good against RDW except for the fact that it dies to Brimstone Volley and Searing Spear. After Slaughter Gaming his Garruks, and then next turn Gaming his recently spotted Trostanis, it still wasn't enough. After top-decking an Ajani to pump his Avenger, there was little I could do as he attacked 4 lethal.
0-1
Even though I lost this match, I was happy to make it to Game 3. Selesnya isn't a great matchup for RDW.
After catching up with friends, Round 2 came.
Round 2 - vs. Brian (UW Aggro)
Brian, a nice, well-relaxed gentleman, gave me a smile as we shuffled up for the second round.
After winning the die roll, I decided to play.
Game 1 was very strong. After playing a Stromkirk Noble (which is very good in this matchup) and a Rakdos Shred-Freak, to his Gathered humans and Geist of Saint Traft (which soon had to chump-block), it was time for game 2.
Slaughter Games came in again, but nothing else.
Game 2 was very slow going, but Brian gained the advantage, with a Thalia, a Sublime Archangel, and some more Gathered humans, allowing his Thalia to attack for 6 first strike damage. After managing to not hit many land drops, Game 3 was upon us.
This game was close, but in the end it came down to a race, and a top-deck. I started some aggression with a Rakdos Cackler and a Stromkirk Noble. The Noble was able to walk through Brian's Precinct Captain, Gathered humans and Thalia, becoming a 4/4 quite quickly. However, a Detention Sphere sent him packing. After summoning a Pyreheart Wolf (which soon chump-blocked a Precinct Captain) and a Hellrider, it was game on. After swinging at each other many times with our little armies, we were both at 8 life. To win, I need to top-deck either a burn spell, or a two-mana haste guy. The tension rose as I lifted the top card of my library. What was it?
Pillar of Flame.
"Yes!" I said as I attacked 4 lethal.
1-1
It was close, but in the end I was the victor. I should be noted that I only brought in Slaughter Games to cover off Brian's Geist of Saint Trafts, but in the end, I didn't even need to use it.
After celebrating my close victory, Round 3 suddenly arrived.
Round 3 - vs. Rohan (GW Aggro splashing blue)
My Round 3 opponent was Rohan, a very focused, wise Magic player that was piloting an interesting deck, which was a GW package splashing blue just for Geist of Saint Traft. Rohan would be on the play.
Both of us developed solid boards, with Rohan accelerating a Loxodon Smiter off an Arbor Elf, while losing 6 life in the process as he played untapped Shocklands to do so. However, my Rakdos Cackler, Pyreheart Wolf and Hellrider stomped over the top of his Smiter and Geist of Saint Traft.
For sideboarding, once again, only Slaughter Games was present, hoping to remove, Smiter, Geist or Silverblade Paladin.
Game 2 was a bad one, with Rohan developed a much more solid board, and after a bad keep from myself, it was time for game 3.
Game 3 was a slow death. Rohan played some creatures, while I struggled to assemble a solid board.
After making my 4th land drop, I looked at the current board state. Rohan had a Smiter, a Centaur Healer paired with a Silverblade Paladin and a Gavony Township that was already buffing his team. I decided to cast Slaughter Games, naming Rancor, leaving Rohan a tad confused. I didn't matter though, as he was soon attacking 4 lethal with his Centaur Healer for 16 damage.
1-2
After the match, Rohan gave me some very good advice, stating that Slaughter Games isn't very good against blinding-fast aggressive decks like his. I thanked him for his advice, starting to wonder if I had made the wrong decision to side Games in against nearly every deck.
After buying some single cards for some decks I am building (more on this in the next blog post), Round 4 was starting.
Round 4 - vs. Nathan (BR Vampires)
In Round 4, I sat down across from old friend Nathan, who, if you have a good memory, beat me te last time I played this deck (see FNM with Mono-Red). Anyway, he was playing the same deck as before, except he had now made Red an important colour for his deck.
In Game 1, Nathan struggled for land, while summoning a couple of Stromkirk Nobles. However, a managed to curve out with Cackler, Zealot, Pyreheart and Hellrider. Stromkirk Nobles aren't very good at defending that kind of a board state, so Game 1 was mine.
With sideboarding, I still sided in the Slaughter Games, hoping to name Blood Artist or Falkenrath Aristocrat. I also sided my 1 Annialating Fire for Falkenrath Noble and Blood Artist.
However, Game 2 was similar to game 1. Nathan struggled for land again, only managing 1 Stromkirk Noble this time. After I curved out well again, he could do nothing as attacked 4 lethal.
2-2
I was happy to beat Nathan after he beat me last time. After the match, we had a chat about his mana-base. He said he was running 22-23 lands, and I suggested that he might move that up to 24 lands. he said that his mana had been doing okay until he faced me, so I don't know whether it was luck, or if I jinxed him.
Then the results came in. I placed 12th out of 20 people, winning another 2 boosters of my choice. I chose RtR again, and I'm glad I did. My rares were a Pack Rat (I had just traded someone for a playset!) and a Mizzium Mortars. I also pulled a foil Basic Plains with the newer art by Richard Wright (his art is amazing!). Other playables included a Psychic Spiral, a Golgari Keyrune, and a Treasured Find (which I find is underrated).
MVPs: Pyreheart Wolf and Hellrider
Just like last time, these two were outstanding. Curving out with Wolf then Hellrider is pretty brutal, and won me a lot of games.
Sideboard MVP: Slaughter Games
Not much to say here. I actually got to cast this card multiple times in this tournament, unlike last time.
Anyway, this deck was fun to play, but now it's starting to go off. Check out my next article for some new decks I have been working on.
Be sure to write in the comments, vote in the poll, and keep following my journey through the world's largest CCG, Magic the Gathering!
See you next time, and good luck when attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Here is the decklist:
4 Dragonskull Summit
2 Hellion Crucible
15 Mountain
21 lands
4 Ash Zealot
2 Goblin Arsonist
2 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Hellrider
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Stromkirk Noble
27 creatures
2 Brimstone Volley
2 Nightbird's Clutches
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear
12 other spells
1 Annialating Fire
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle
2 Reckless Waif
3 Slaughter Games
1 Smelt
2 Tormod's Crypt
3 Traitorous Blood
15 sideboard cards
Deck Tech - (See FNM with Mono-Red)
There are no changes to the maindeck since the last time I played this deck 1-2 weeks ago. However, in the sideboard, I have taken out 1 Annialating Fire and put in the third Slaughter Games I pulled from my booster winnings from FNM.
Anyway, enough about that! I took thsi deck to FNM again! Let's dive into the gameplays!
Round 1 - vs. Thomas (Selesnya Tokens)
My Round 1 opponent was a very nice man that goes by the name of Thomas. We shuffled up for game 1 in silence. After a die roll, Thomas would end up on the play. He started out with 2 lands and a Call of the Conclave, while I played a Stromkirk Noble, and on the 2nd turn burned his Centaur with a Searing Spear. However, he started getting some more aggression going with a Selesnya Charm making a Knight, and a Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, which would soon make another knight. I was running out of resources, and after Thomas populated what might have been a million times, I reached for my sideboard. I brought in Slaughter Game for the planeswalkers that Thomas had mentioned, Garruk (Primal Hunter) and Ajani. I also brought in a Pithing Needle, hoping to shut down Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage. In game 2, I started off with a Rakdos Cackler, while Thomas started with an Arbor Elf. However, I had kept a burn heavy hand, and after burning my way through Elfs, Centaurs, and Wayfaring Temples, I cleared a path for victory.
Game 3 was very similar to game 1, except Slaughter Games was a big factor, Thomas started with an Avacyn's Pilgrim that soon died to a Pillar of Flame. However, he had a Call of the Conclave on turn 2. I tried to develop my own board, but it wasn't working. On turn four, he summoned a sideboarded Serra Avenger, which is very good against RDW except for the fact that it dies to Brimstone Volley and Searing Spear. After Slaughter Gaming his Garruks, and then next turn Gaming his recently spotted Trostanis, it still wasn't enough. After top-decking an Ajani to pump his Avenger, there was little I could do as he attacked 4 lethal.
0-1
Even though I lost this match, I was happy to make it to Game 3. Selesnya isn't a great matchup for RDW.
After catching up with friends, Round 2 came.
Round 2 - vs. Brian (UW Aggro)
Brian, a nice, well-relaxed gentleman, gave me a smile as we shuffled up for the second round.
After winning the die roll, I decided to play.
Game 1 was very strong. After playing a Stromkirk Noble (which is very good in this matchup) and a Rakdos Shred-Freak, to his Gathered humans and Geist of Saint Traft (which soon had to chump-block), it was time for game 2.
Slaughter Games came in again, but nothing else.
Game 2 was very slow going, but Brian gained the advantage, with a Thalia, a Sublime Archangel, and some more Gathered humans, allowing his Thalia to attack for 6 first strike damage. After managing to not hit many land drops, Game 3 was upon us.
This game was close, but in the end it came down to a race, and a top-deck. I started some aggression with a Rakdos Cackler and a Stromkirk Noble. The Noble was able to walk through Brian's Precinct Captain, Gathered humans and Thalia, becoming a 4/4 quite quickly. However, a Detention Sphere sent him packing. After summoning a Pyreheart Wolf (which soon chump-blocked a Precinct Captain) and a Hellrider, it was game on. After swinging at each other many times with our little armies, we were both at 8 life. To win, I need to top-deck either a burn spell, or a two-mana haste guy. The tension rose as I lifted the top card of my library. What was it?
Pillar of Flame.
"Yes!" I said as I attacked 4 lethal.
1-1
It was close, but in the end I was the victor. I should be noted that I only brought in Slaughter Games to cover off Brian's Geist of Saint Trafts, but in the end, I didn't even need to use it.
After celebrating my close victory, Round 3 suddenly arrived.
Round 3 - vs. Rohan (GW Aggro splashing blue)
My Round 3 opponent was Rohan, a very focused, wise Magic player that was piloting an interesting deck, which was a GW package splashing blue just for Geist of Saint Traft. Rohan would be on the play.
Both of us developed solid boards, with Rohan accelerating a Loxodon Smiter off an Arbor Elf, while losing 6 life in the process as he played untapped Shocklands to do so. However, my Rakdos Cackler, Pyreheart Wolf and Hellrider stomped over the top of his Smiter and Geist of Saint Traft.
For sideboarding, once again, only Slaughter Games was present, hoping to remove, Smiter, Geist or Silverblade Paladin.
Game 2 was a bad one, with Rohan developed a much more solid board, and after a bad keep from myself, it was time for game 3.
Game 3 was a slow death. Rohan played some creatures, while I struggled to assemble a solid board.
After making my 4th land drop, I looked at the current board state. Rohan had a Smiter, a Centaur Healer paired with a Silverblade Paladin and a Gavony Township that was already buffing his team. I decided to cast Slaughter Games, naming Rancor, leaving Rohan a tad confused. I didn't matter though, as he was soon attacking 4 lethal with his Centaur Healer for 16 damage.
1-2
After the match, Rohan gave me some very good advice, stating that Slaughter Games isn't very good against blinding-fast aggressive decks like his. I thanked him for his advice, starting to wonder if I had made the wrong decision to side Games in against nearly every deck.
After buying some single cards for some decks I am building (more on this in the next blog post), Round 4 was starting.
Round 4 - vs. Nathan (BR Vampires)
In Round 4, I sat down across from old friend Nathan, who, if you have a good memory, beat me te last time I played this deck (see FNM with Mono-Red). Anyway, he was playing the same deck as before, except he had now made Red an important colour for his deck.
In Game 1, Nathan struggled for land, while summoning a couple of Stromkirk Nobles. However, a managed to curve out with Cackler, Zealot, Pyreheart and Hellrider. Stromkirk Nobles aren't very good at defending that kind of a board state, so Game 1 was mine.
With sideboarding, I still sided in the Slaughter Games, hoping to name Blood Artist or Falkenrath Aristocrat. I also sided my 1 Annialating Fire for Falkenrath Noble and Blood Artist.
However, Game 2 was similar to game 1. Nathan struggled for land again, only managing 1 Stromkirk Noble this time. After I curved out well again, he could do nothing as attacked 4 lethal.
2-2
I was happy to beat Nathan after he beat me last time. After the match, we had a chat about his mana-base. He said he was running 22-23 lands, and I suggested that he might move that up to 24 lands. he said that his mana had been doing okay until he faced me, so I don't know whether it was luck, or if I jinxed him.
Then the results came in. I placed 12th out of 20 people, winning another 2 boosters of my choice. I chose RtR again, and I'm glad I did. My rares were a Pack Rat (I had just traded someone for a playset!) and a Mizzium Mortars. I also pulled a foil Basic Plains with the newer art by Richard Wright (his art is amazing!). Other playables included a Psychic Spiral, a Golgari Keyrune, and a Treasured Find (which I find is underrated).
MVPs: Pyreheart Wolf and Hellrider
Just like last time, these two were outstanding. Curving out with Wolf then Hellrider is pretty brutal, and won me a lot of games.
Sideboard MVP: Slaughter Games
Not much to say here. I actually got to cast this card multiple times in this tournament, unlike last time.
Anyway, this deck was fun to play, but now it's starting to go off. Check out my next article for some new decks I have been working on.
Be sure to write in the comments, vote in the poll, and keep following my journey through the world's largest CCG, Magic the Gathering!
See you next time, and good luck when attack 4 lethal!
Callum
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Thursday, 22 November 2012
Green-White Standard Deck Ideas
Hi again!
I was thinking about green-white aggressive decks in standard, and came up with these ideas!
GW Beastmaster of Tokens
4 Champion of Lambholt
3 Elvish Visionary
4 Wild Beastmaster
11 Creatures
1 Break of Day
4 Gather the Townsfolk
4 Giant Growth
4 Intangible Virtue
4 Lingering Souls
4 Midnight Haunting
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Selesnya Charm
26 Other Spells
3 Evolving Wilds
7 Forest
7 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
2 Swamp
23 Lands
The list above was inspired by an interesting combo I found using Champion of Lambholt and Wild Beastmaster. Combined with tokens, anthem affects and pump effects (hell yeah! Giant Growth!), the game can be over within 4-5 turns.
Here is the other list I was thinking about.
GW Aggro
4 Arbor Elf
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Wayfaring Temple
21 Creatures
4 Call of the Conclave
2 Collective Blessing
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Rancor
3 Selesnya Charm
13 Other Spells
2 Gavony Township
11 Forest
4 Sunpetal Grove
7 Plains
This is just a beatdown deck full of undercosted creatures. A 3/3 for 2? Sure. A 4/4 for 3? Absolutely. A 5/5 for 4? Just... wow.
Anyway, just thought I'd share these brews with ya'll. If you have an suggestions or comments in the two decks above, be sure to send me feedback via the comments button below!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
I was thinking about green-white aggressive decks in standard, and came up with these ideas!
GW Beastmaster of Tokens
4 Champion of Lambholt
3 Elvish Visionary
4 Wild Beastmaster
11 Creatures
1 Break of Day
4 Gather the Townsfolk
4 Giant Growth
4 Intangible Virtue
4 Lingering Souls
4 Midnight Haunting
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Selesnya Charm
26 Other Spells
3 Evolving Wilds
7 Forest
7 Plains
4 Sunpetal Grove
2 Swamp
23 Lands
The list above was inspired by an interesting combo I found using Champion of Lambholt and Wild Beastmaster. Combined with tokens, anthem affects and pump effects (hell yeah! Giant Growth!), the game can be over within 4-5 turns.
Here is the other list I was thinking about.
GW Aggro
4 Arbor Elf
4 Avacyn's Pilgrim
3 Deadbridge Goliath
4 Loxodon Smiter
4 Strangleroot Geist
2 Wayfaring Temple
21 Creatures
4 Call of the Conclave
2 Collective Blessing
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Rancor
3 Selesnya Charm
13 Other Spells
2 Gavony Township
11 Forest
4 Sunpetal Grove
7 Plains
24 Lands
This is just a beatdown deck full of undercosted creatures. A 3/3 for 2? Sure. A 4/4 for 3? Absolutely. A 5/5 for 4? Just... wow.
Anyway, just thought I'd share these brews with ya'll. If you have an suggestions or comments in the two decks above, be sure to send me feedback via the comments button below!
Until next time, good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
FNM with Mono-Red
Hello and welcome back to Attacking 4 Lethal!
Here it is: my first post with a decklist in it! Today we are looking at a recently revitalised deck: Red Deck Wins!
Earlier in the year, I ran RDW, as it was one of my favourite decks at the time. However, it didn't contain many of the powerful red cards in Standard at that time (eg. Stromkirk Noble, Chandra's Pheonix). As far as I recall, I went 1-3.
However, a new Standard format and 4 Stromkirk Nobles (and various other rare cards) later, and a true RDW decklist was born!
Here is the deck:
4 Dragonskull Summit
2 Hellion Crucible
15 Mountain
21 Land
4 Ash Zealot
2 Goblin Arsonist
2 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Hellrider
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Stromkirk Noble
27 Creatures
2 Brimstone Volley
2 Nightbird's Clutches
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear
12 Other Spells
2 Annialating Fire
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle
2 Reckless Waif
2 Slaughter Games
1 Smelt
2 Tormods Crypt
3 Traitorous Blood
Deck Tech - Creatures
I'll just put it out there now, the deck techs I do won't go for long. I am still in high school, so I can't always be writing posts (with homework and all). However, if you notice anything that could be changed in the deck techs I do, be sure to send any feedback!
About the deck- RDW is a real 20-0 kind of deck. Using efficient creatures and burn to finish off the opponent. While probably not the best choice with Thragtusk running around, because I have played the deck before I am willing to give it a shot.
What was I talking about? Oh, creatures...
Ash Zealot
Ash Zealot is there to punish control (and bash for 2). She has first strike too, which is relevant against Geist of Saint Traft and Huntmaster. She is very efficient, so a playset seemed like the best choice.
Goblin Arsonist
The arsonist isn't the best, but he is a one-drop, and that is why he is here. His ping ability is quite relevant, with mana dorks, Lingering Souls and Rakdos Keyrune running around. Like I said, he isn't the best, so I decided to play 2 of him.I wish Grim Lavamancer was still legal I will always be happy to have him here.
Gore-House Chainwalker
Gore-House is okay. He provides you with a 3/2 if you are the aggressor, of a 2/1 if you are in trouble in the late game (there should hopefully not be a late game though).
There are some other 2-drops that I decided to play over him, but he is good enough that I am willing to play 2 of him.
Hellrider
Oh, yes, the icing on the cake. Hellrider gives you an excellent late game threat. If you curve out with Rakdos Cackler, Ash Zealot, Pyreheart Wolf, then this guy, your opponent will be getting hit for 12 on turn four, plus whatever other damage you have dealt in the early game. Even though he is 4 mana, he is so good I decided to play a playset.
Pyreheart Wolf
With Thragtusk being a force to be reckoned with, Pyreheart Wolf seems to be an excellent choice. First, your opponent will have to kill him twice (minus Pillar of Flame). Second, decks that play Thragtusk usually aren't that creature heavy, making the Wolf even better. He isn't great in multiples, but he is good enough that I am willing to play 3 of him.
Rakdos Cackler
Rakdos Cackler is one of my favourite cards in Return to Ravnica. He is a 2 power one drop that can't block (so why isn't he a zombie?), or he can be a 1/1 that can chump-block or attack for 1. The versitility of unleash is extremely underrated, I believe.
If I wasn't playing 4 of these in my RDW deck, I think I would have been doing it wrong.
Rakdos Shred-Freak
RtR has given the Standard format not one, but 2(!) 2 mana haste guys! There isn't really much to say about Shred-Freak. While definitely outclassed by Ash Zealot, I am still willing to play 4 of him.
Stromkirk Noble
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Noble is a very efficient creature. There are a lot of heavily played creatures he gets past (Avacyn's Pilgrim, Thalia, Huntmaster). Best of all, he gets bigger every time. While not a good late game draw, 4 is the right number of copies when it comes to this Vampire.
Deck Tech - Other Spells
Burn - Brimstone Volley, Pillar of Flame, Searing Spear
This is just what you expect in a RDW deck, efficient removal that can also remove your opponent and their planeswalkers. I only played 2 Volleys because they are clunky in multiples, but Pillar and Spear are cheap, (also efficient) burn spells, so I played a playset of each of them.
Nightbird's Clutches
This card was a last minute add for this deck. It provides you with the safety of getting through Thragtusks, Huntmasters or a Pike-equipped Geist. While not quite as good when you flash it back with a Zealot in play, it's still a very good and interesting card, so I decided to play 2 of it.
Deck Tech - Lands
Nothing much to say here. This is actually not a fully red deck. There is a very powerful, underrated new card from RtR in the sideboard (more on this in a moment) that is definitely worth splashing for (hence the playset of Dragonskull Summits). The Hellion Crucibles are there as a powerful late game tool. It is very underrated right now, and I like having 2 of them in the deck as it helps your matchups against control.
Other than that, just Mountains... yay!
Deck Tech - Sideboard
The sideboard is nothing special. Annialating Fire is extra backup against Zombies, however Zombies has dropped in popularity since the beginning of the new format. Electrickery is against the Lingering Souls token decks and decks with all lot of 1-toughness creatures (obviously). Pithing Needle for cards like Jace, Architect of Thought, other planeswalkers and Deathrite Shaman. Reckless Waif is for the control decks that don't have many turn one plays, most of the time replacing Goblin Arsonist in that matchup. Smelt for Runechanter's Pike and other various artifacts. Tormod's Crypt for reanimator and control. Traitorous Blood for the Midrange decks that play Huntmaster, Olivia Voldaren and Thragtusk.
Now here is an interesting card...
Yes, Slaughter Games does have black in its mana cost, however, it is worth splashing. Slaughter Games is one of the most underrated cards in Standard right now, and it is yet to make a proper appearance in some decks. I had 2 in my binder and thought,"Sure, I can name Thragtusk if I want, or Restoartion Angel or Lingering Souls." There is so much this card does, and the money spent on the missing Dragonskull Summits was worth it.
Anyway, that was my first deck tech! Hope you enjoyed it!
But wait... its not over yet.
I took this deck to my LGS about 20 minutes down the road, to Friday Night Magic. For those who don't know, if FNM didn't exist, then I don't know what I would do with my Magic decks. It's just one of the best things ever!
Anyway, I "magically" memorised my opponents decks and names for the rounds at FNM, so here is a little bit about each round.
Round 1 - vs. Tim (Jund Midrange)
I sat down for the first round against Tim, a polite gentleman who looked very serious while we shuffled up. As far as I recall, I won the die roll, and chose to play. I started with a Goblin Arsonist, followed up with an Ash Zealot on turn 2 and bashed for 3. Tim, meanwhile, played about 3 Farseeks and a Rakdos Keyrune, developing his mana. I eventually got him down to just 1 life, after we had traded creatures and removed others. I still had my one Arsonist on the battlefield, and because Tim was at 1 life, I thought I was home free.
However, he had a Sever the Bloodline in his graveyard, and with a tonne of mana, was able to EXILE the Arsonist. My first thought was,"If I still had my Ash Zealot, he would have been dead anyway." But because he EXILED my Arsonist, I was bummed. Out of cards in hand, I was playing off the top of my deck, trying to draw the ONE BURN SPELL I needed to win. However, I was drawing land and creatures. The creatures looked good, until he played a Dark Imposter. He then attacked continuously until I was reaching for my sideboard.
For sideboarding, I brought in 2 of my Traitourous Bloods and both Slaughter Games, hoping to either steal his threats, or just remove them entirely.
Unfortunately, in game 2, I mulled to 5 on the draw. I kept a burn heavy hand, going on the "Kill him with my removal" path. However, he developed a solid board, and attacked 4 lethal.
0-1
I was very disappointed with this match. I came very close to winning game 1 with my Arsonist, but I couldn't keep up in game 2. What was even more disappointing was that I had a Slaughter Games in hand, ready to name either Thragtusk or Huntmaster, but I didn't hit my fourth land drop.
Anyway, after seeing how some of my friends went in the first round, it was time to start round 1+1 (which equals 2, by the way)
Round 2 - vs. Joshua (Junk Token/Midrange)
Josh, an old friend that I have seen here on numerous occasions, was piloting another midrange deck. Yay!
After being sent to the back room to play our match (they didn't have enough room in the front room), and exchanging some Standard Metagame opinions (boo, Thragtusk. I just DETEST THRAGTUSK!), we got underway, with me on the play (that rhymes!). I got a nice aggressive start, curving out with Cackler, Shred-Freak, Ash Zealot, and Hellrider, and, after keeping a two land hand (2 forests, as he told me later), we was dead by turn 5.
For sideboarding, I (surprisingly) sided in Slaughter Games, mainly to exile his Lingering Souls or his Rootborn Defenses (he only had 2 copies in his maindeck, but that card is annoying!). I also sided in Electrickery, hoping that, if I didn't hit a Slaughter Games, I could wipe most of his creatures of the board with one card.
For game 2, Josh mulled to 6, keeping, once again, a 2 land hand (2 plains, as he told me later). Just like game 1, a curved out well, while Josh was still stuck on 2 land. After casting Slaughter Games naming Lingering Souls (because I could), he extended his hand as I attacked 4 lethal.
1-1
After losing the first round, winning the second was fantastic. However, I was quick to make sure I didn't get overexcited. The main reason I won was because of his scrappy hand keeps. After playing some friendly games, he smashed me 75% of the time. :)
After some more chit-chat, Round 3 was upon us.
Round 3 - vs. Nathan (Mono-Black Vampires)
Nathan, a ready-to-go, enthusiastic player started some funny conversation as we shuffled up for the match. He said some stuff that I shouldn't even think about putting on this blog, but that's beside the point.
In game 1, I was on the play (again!), and I got some nice aggression going, with a Cackler, Shred-Freak and Pyreheart Wolf. After landing a Hellrider, he was dead with only a Vampire Nighthawk and Blood Artist on board.
For sideboarding, once again, Slaughter Games came in, as I was hoping to name Blood Artist, Vampire Nighthawk or Vampire Nocturnous. I also brought a single Traitorous Blood in, hoping to steal a Nighthawk for a turn.
In game 2, it started pretty badly, with me keeping a no-land hand that was heavy on one-drops. After drawing no land for three turns, I was dead to multiple Nighthawks.
Game 3 was close. Too close. It started after I kept a more easy hand, with 3 lands and some one & two drops. He was eventually down to 1 in a few turns.
However, he was developing his own board, with 2 Nighthawks and a Blood Artist, screwing up my combat math very badly. On a very crucial turn, I attacked, forgetting to crack my Hellion Crucible, which would have won me the match.
After attacking, he gained a ton of life from the Nighthawks and Blood Artist triggers. After this, his life total was out of reach, and there was little I could do as he attacked 4 lethal.
1-2
I punched myself over my misplay. If only if I had been paying proper attention to my lands. I had that game in the bag, just like the first game of the first match, but it just slipped away...
After night-dreaming about Ash Zealots and Chainwalkers dying to Vampire Nighthawks and Blood Artists, it was time for the final round.
Round 4 - vs. Shayne (Budget? White Weenie)
I sat down across from Shayne in round 4, a polite, quiet guy that was enjoying the fun of playing Magic. After we silently shuffled up and rolled the dice (I was on the draw for the first and last time!), we were ready to go.
In game 1 Shayne started playing odd cards like Silvercoat Lion and Angel's Mercy to pressure me. Angel's Mercy is surprisingly hard to get around with this type of deck. However, after he played an Angel of Jubilation, I landed a Hellrider, and it seemed his deck didn't contain a lot of removal, so he was dead from there.
For sideboarding, I did nothing. I was very confident with this matchup, and was hoping for a 2-0 win.
Game 2 was very similar to game 1, he played Silvercoat Lion, I played some small creatures, he played a couple of Angel's Mercy, I played more creatures and burned his Silvercoat Lion. After he landed another Angel of Jubilation, I just so happened to have another Hellrider, giving me a pretty convincing win as I attacked 4 lethal.
2-2
That last one was relatively easy. Shayne and I talked a little after the match about his deck. I suggested cards like Doomed Traveler, Silverblade Paladin, Thalia, and maybe even Odric. He, like me didn't spend too much money on cards, so I tried to help where I could.
After finishing 2-2, I was 8th out of 15 people, winning 2 boosters of my choice. I chose RtR (who wouldn't!) The rares were a Grave Betrayal and a third Slaughter Games (sick!). Other playables included my second Rakdos Keyrune, my first Syncopate, and my second Ultimate Price. I also pulled a foil Annialating Fire (with art like that, a foil of it is sick!)
Overall, the deck performed okay. It could have done a little better, but 2-2 is better than 1-3.
MVPs: Hellrider and Pyreheart Wolf
Hellrider is excellent in this metagame. In a creature heavy deck like this one, he is an all-star! PLAY HIM!
Pyreheart Wolf is also very good in this current metagame. Limited your opponent's blocking options is huge, and if you have a Hellrider, at least 2 other creatures, and a Pyreheart Wolf, you're in good shape.
Sideboard MVP: Slaughter Games
Surprise, Surprise! This card was excellent. Even though I didn't get to cast it every match, I brought it in against 3/4 opponents.
Sideboard LVP: Annialating Fire
With Zombie falling a little out of the limelight, the Fire just didn't do anything other than gather dust in the sideboard. I might keep one in the sideboard, but not two.
Overall, RDW is a fun deck to play, and I will definitely play it again in the future :)
Well, that's the end of my first deck post! I hope you enjoyed it! I'll be on posting deck ideas every few days and asking for your opinions, and what I can do to improve them. Who knows, I might cover one of those decks in a deck tech!
Also, I live in Australia, if anyone asks...
See you next time, and good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
Here it is: my first post with a decklist in it! Today we are looking at a recently revitalised deck: Red Deck Wins!
Earlier in the year, I ran RDW, as it was one of my favourite decks at the time. However, it didn't contain many of the powerful red cards in Standard at that time (eg. Stromkirk Noble, Chandra's Pheonix). As far as I recall, I went 1-3.
However, a new Standard format and 4 Stromkirk Nobles (and various other rare cards) later, and a true RDW decklist was born!
Here is the deck:
4 Dragonskull Summit
2 Hellion Crucible
15 Mountain
21 Land
4 Ash Zealot
2 Goblin Arsonist
2 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Hellrider
3 Pyreheart Wolf
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Stromkirk Noble
27 Creatures
2 Brimstone Volley
2 Nightbird's Clutches
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Searing Spear
12 Other Spells
2 Annialating Fire
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle
2 Reckless Waif
2 Slaughter Games
1 Smelt
2 Tormods Crypt
3 Traitorous Blood
Deck Tech - Creatures
I'll just put it out there now, the deck techs I do won't go for long. I am still in high school, so I can't always be writing posts (with homework and all). However, if you notice anything that could be changed in the deck techs I do, be sure to send any feedback!
About the deck- RDW is a real 20-0 kind of deck. Using efficient creatures and burn to finish off the opponent. While probably not the best choice with Thragtusk running around, because I have played the deck before I am willing to give it a shot.
What was I talking about? Oh, creatures...
Ash Zealot
Ash Zealot is there to punish control (and bash for 2). She has first strike too, which is relevant against Geist of Saint Traft and Huntmaster. She is very efficient, so a playset seemed like the best choice.
Goblin Arsonist
The arsonist isn't the best, but he is a one-drop, and that is why he is here. His ping ability is quite relevant, with mana dorks, Lingering Souls and Rakdos Keyrune running around. Like I said, he isn't the best, so I decided to play 2 of him.
Gore-House Chainwalker
Gore-House is okay. He provides you with a 3/2 if you are the aggressor, of a 2/1 if you are in trouble in the late game (there should hopefully not be a late game though).
There are some other 2-drops that I decided to play over him, but he is good enough that I am willing to play 2 of him.
Hellrider
Oh, yes, the icing on the cake. Hellrider gives you an excellent late game threat. If you curve out with Rakdos Cackler, Ash Zealot, Pyreheart Wolf, then this guy, your opponent will be getting hit for 12 on turn four, plus whatever other damage you have dealt in the early game. Even though he is 4 mana, he is so good I decided to play a playset.
Pyreheart Wolf
With Thragtusk being a force to be reckoned with, Pyreheart Wolf seems to be an excellent choice. First, your opponent will have to kill him twice (minus Pillar of Flame). Second, decks that play Thragtusk usually aren't that creature heavy, making the Wolf even better. He isn't great in multiples, but he is good enough that I am willing to play 3 of him.
Rakdos Cackler
Rakdos Cackler is one of my favourite cards in Return to Ravnica. He is a 2 power one drop that can't block (so why isn't he a zombie?), or he can be a 1/1 that can chump-block or attack for 1. The versitility of unleash is extremely underrated, I believe.
If I wasn't playing 4 of these in my RDW deck, I think I would have been doing it wrong.
Rakdos Shred-Freak
RtR has given the Standard format not one, but 2(!) 2 mana haste guys! There isn't really much to say about Shred-Freak. While definitely outclassed by Ash Zealot, I am still willing to play 4 of him.
Stromkirk Noble
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Noble is a very efficient creature. There are a lot of heavily played creatures he gets past (Avacyn's Pilgrim, Thalia, Huntmaster). Best of all, he gets bigger every time. While not a good late game draw, 4 is the right number of copies when it comes to this Vampire.
Deck Tech - Other Spells
Burn - Brimstone Volley, Pillar of Flame, Searing Spear
This is just what you expect in a RDW deck, efficient removal that can also remove your opponent and their planeswalkers. I only played 2 Volleys because they are clunky in multiples, but Pillar and Spear are cheap, (also efficient) burn spells, so I played a playset of each of them.
Nightbird's Clutches
This card was a last minute add for this deck. It provides you with the safety of getting through Thragtusks, Huntmasters or a Pike-equipped Geist. While not quite as good when you flash it back with a Zealot in play, it's still a very good and interesting card, so I decided to play 2 of it.
Deck Tech - Lands
Nothing much to say here. This is actually not a fully red deck. There is a very powerful, underrated new card from RtR in the sideboard (more on this in a moment) that is definitely worth splashing for (hence the playset of Dragonskull Summits). The Hellion Crucibles are there as a powerful late game tool. It is very underrated right now, and I like having 2 of them in the deck as it helps your matchups against control.
Other than that, just Mountains... yay!
Deck Tech - Sideboard
The sideboard is nothing special. Annialating Fire is extra backup against Zombies, however Zombies has dropped in popularity since the beginning of the new format. Electrickery is against the Lingering Souls token decks and decks with all lot of 1-toughness creatures (obviously). Pithing Needle for cards like Jace, Architect of Thought, other planeswalkers and Deathrite Shaman. Reckless Waif is for the control decks that don't have many turn one plays, most of the time replacing Goblin Arsonist in that matchup. Smelt for Runechanter's Pike and other various artifacts. Tormod's Crypt for reanimator and control. Traitorous Blood for the Midrange decks that play Huntmaster, Olivia Voldaren and Thragtusk.
Now here is an interesting card...
Yes, Slaughter Games does have black in its mana cost, however, it is worth splashing. Slaughter Games is one of the most underrated cards in Standard right now, and it is yet to make a proper appearance in some decks. I had 2 in my binder and thought,"Sure, I can name Thragtusk if I want, or Restoartion Angel or Lingering Souls." There is so much this card does, and the money spent on the missing Dragonskull Summits was worth it.
Anyway, that was my first deck tech! Hope you enjoyed it!
But wait... its not over yet.
I took this deck to my LGS about 20 minutes down the road, to Friday Night Magic. For those who don't know, if FNM didn't exist, then I don't know what I would do with my Magic decks. It's just one of the best things ever!
Anyway, I "magically" memorised my opponents decks and names for the rounds at FNM, so here is a little bit about each round.
Round 1 - vs. Tim (Jund Midrange)
I sat down for the first round against Tim, a polite gentleman who looked very serious while we shuffled up. As far as I recall, I won the die roll, and chose to play. I started with a Goblin Arsonist, followed up with an Ash Zealot on turn 2 and bashed for 3. Tim, meanwhile, played about 3 Farseeks and a Rakdos Keyrune, developing his mana. I eventually got him down to just 1 life, after we had traded creatures and removed others. I still had my one Arsonist on the battlefield, and because Tim was at 1 life, I thought I was home free.
However, he had a Sever the Bloodline in his graveyard, and with a tonne of mana, was able to EXILE the Arsonist. My first thought was,"If I still had my Ash Zealot, he would have been dead anyway." But because he EXILED my Arsonist, I was bummed. Out of cards in hand, I was playing off the top of my deck, trying to draw the ONE BURN SPELL I needed to win. However, I was drawing land and creatures. The creatures looked good, until he played a Dark Imposter. He then attacked continuously until I was reaching for my sideboard.
For sideboarding, I brought in 2 of my Traitourous Bloods and both Slaughter Games, hoping to either steal his threats, or just remove them entirely.
Unfortunately, in game 2, I mulled to 5 on the draw. I kept a burn heavy hand, going on the "Kill him with my removal" path. However, he developed a solid board, and attacked 4 lethal.
0-1
I was very disappointed with this match. I came very close to winning game 1 with my Arsonist, but I couldn't keep up in game 2. What was even more disappointing was that I had a Slaughter Games in hand, ready to name either Thragtusk or Huntmaster, but I didn't hit my fourth land drop.
Anyway, after seeing how some of my friends went in the first round, it was time to start round 1+1 (which equals 2, by the way)
Round 2 - vs. Joshua (Junk Token/Midrange)
Josh, an old friend that I have seen here on numerous occasions, was piloting another midrange deck. Yay!
After being sent to the back room to play our match (they didn't have enough room in the front room), and exchanging some Standard Metagame opinions (boo, Thragtusk. I just DETEST THRAGTUSK!), we got underway, with me on the play (that rhymes!). I got a nice aggressive start, curving out with Cackler, Shred-Freak, Ash Zealot, and Hellrider, and, after keeping a two land hand (2 forests, as he told me later), we was dead by turn 5.
For sideboarding, I (surprisingly) sided in Slaughter Games, mainly to exile his Lingering Souls or his Rootborn Defenses (he only had 2 copies in his maindeck, but that card is annoying!). I also sided in Electrickery, hoping that, if I didn't hit a Slaughter Games, I could wipe most of his creatures of the board with one card.
For game 2, Josh mulled to 6, keeping, once again, a 2 land hand (2 plains, as he told me later). Just like game 1, a curved out well, while Josh was still stuck on 2 land. After casting Slaughter Games naming Lingering Souls (because I could), he extended his hand as I attacked 4 lethal.
1-1
After losing the first round, winning the second was fantastic. However, I was quick to make sure I didn't get overexcited. The main reason I won was because of his scrappy hand keeps. After playing some friendly games, he smashed me 75% of the time. :)
After some more chit-chat, Round 3 was upon us.
Round 3 - vs. Nathan (Mono-Black Vampires)
Nathan, a ready-to-go, enthusiastic player started some funny conversation as we shuffled up for the match. He said some stuff that I shouldn't even think about putting on this blog, but that's beside the point.
In game 1, I was on the play (again!), and I got some nice aggression going, with a Cackler, Shred-Freak and Pyreheart Wolf. After landing a Hellrider, he was dead with only a Vampire Nighthawk and Blood Artist on board.
For sideboarding, once again, Slaughter Games came in, as I was hoping to name Blood Artist, Vampire Nighthawk or Vampire Nocturnous. I also brought a single Traitorous Blood in, hoping to steal a Nighthawk for a turn.
In game 2, it started pretty badly, with me keeping a no-land hand that was heavy on one-drops. After drawing no land for three turns, I was dead to multiple Nighthawks.
Game 3 was close. Too close. It started after I kept a more easy hand, with 3 lands and some one & two drops. He was eventually down to 1 in a few turns.
However, he was developing his own board, with 2 Nighthawks and a Blood Artist, screwing up my combat math very badly. On a very crucial turn, I attacked, forgetting to crack my Hellion Crucible, which would have won me the match.
After attacking, he gained a ton of life from the Nighthawks and Blood Artist triggers. After this, his life total was out of reach, and there was little I could do as he attacked 4 lethal.
1-2
I punched myself over my misplay. If only if I had been paying proper attention to my lands. I had that game in the bag, just like the first game of the first match, but it just slipped away...
After night-dreaming about Ash Zealots and Chainwalkers dying to Vampire Nighthawks and Blood Artists, it was time for the final round.
Round 4 - vs. Shayne (Budget? White Weenie)
I sat down across from Shayne in round 4, a polite, quiet guy that was enjoying the fun of playing Magic. After we silently shuffled up and rolled the dice (I was on the draw for the first and last time!), we were ready to go.
In game 1 Shayne started playing odd cards like Silvercoat Lion and Angel's Mercy to pressure me. Angel's Mercy is surprisingly hard to get around with this type of deck. However, after he played an Angel of Jubilation, I landed a Hellrider, and it seemed his deck didn't contain a lot of removal, so he was dead from there.
For sideboarding, I did nothing. I was very confident with this matchup, and was hoping for a 2-0 win.
Game 2 was very similar to game 1, he played Silvercoat Lion, I played some small creatures, he played a couple of Angel's Mercy, I played more creatures and burned his Silvercoat Lion. After he landed another Angel of Jubilation, I just so happened to have another Hellrider, giving me a pretty convincing win as I attacked 4 lethal.
2-2
That last one was relatively easy. Shayne and I talked a little after the match about his deck. I suggested cards like Doomed Traveler, Silverblade Paladin, Thalia, and maybe even Odric. He, like me didn't spend too much money on cards, so I tried to help where I could.
After finishing 2-2, I was 8th out of 15 people, winning 2 boosters of my choice. I chose RtR (who wouldn't!) The rares were a Grave Betrayal and a third Slaughter Games (sick!). Other playables included my second Rakdos Keyrune, my first Syncopate, and my second Ultimate Price. I also pulled a foil Annialating Fire (with art like that, a foil of it is sick!)
Overall, the deck performed okay. It could have done a little better, but 2-2 is better than 1-3.
MVPs: Hellrider and Pyreheart Wolf
Hellrider is excellent in this metagame. In a creature heavy deck like this one, he is an all-star! PLAY HIM!
Pyreheart Wolf is also very good in this current metagame. Limited your opponent's blocking options is huge, and if you have a Hellrider, at least 2 other creatures, and a Pyreheart Wolf, you're in good shape.
Sideboard MVP: Slaughter Games
Surprise, Surprise! This card was excellent. Even though I didn't get to cast it every match, I brought it in against 3/4 opponents.
Sideboard LVP: Annialating Fire
With Zombie falling a little out of the limelight, the Fire just didn't do anything other than gather dust in the sideboard. I might keep one in the sideboard, but not two.
Overall, RDW is a fun deck to play, and I will definitely play it again in the future :)
Well, that's the end of my first deck post! I hope you enjoyed it! I'll be on posting deck ideas every few days and asking for your opinions, and what I can do to improve them. Who knows, I might cover one of those decks in a deck tech!
Also, I live in Australia, if anyone asks...
See you next time, and good luck when you attack 4 lethal!
Callum
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