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
No comments:
Post a Comment