Two Deck Ideas
February 20, 2009 by Mark Ian
Filed under Magic The Gathering
Okay, I might confuse you with the title. I will not be posting any new deck ideas I came up with (as if I have formulated any) but rather I’ll just share to you the two decks I’m choosing to pilot for this Saturday’s Standard Tournament.
The primary cause of this very late decision is the lack of time we had to meet up and do some deck construction. We were only able to do so just hours before my shift last night. I just can’t blame my card pool buddy because of the busy schedule. Oh well, moving on the decks…
Deck Option No. 1 – Boat Brew
I always wanted to recreate a Boros (Red White Guild in Ravnica) type aggro deck but wasn’t able to come up with a good list until this deck rose in popularity (and fulfilled my dream. lol). This deck is no doubt the number one choice of most players in the current Standard. Thus, as any economic principle would apply, popularity means more demand and that lessens the supply (availability) of the cards, which of course would lead to scarcity and higher prices.
To make it short, I couldn’t find anyone in our area who is selling their non-foil Ajani Vengeant. I would only resort into borrowing cards, which makes it unsure if the deck will be completed. I tried doing some substitutes, like using “Ajani in his Lorwyn days” (Ajani Goldmane) to fill up the two slot of his vengeant self, but that would really alter the deck’s performance.
For example, I will be siting a board position in our test play with my friend’s Bant Aggro deck. He was on the play, summoned a Rhox War Monk on turn three and had Rafiq on turn four. He bashed for 8 lifelinking double striking damage. I wasn’t holding any spot removal that time and got instead an Ajani Goldmane in hand. My fourth turn would have been a good play if that was Ajani Vengeant instead. The sequence would be playing Ajani and helixing Rafiq so that my 4/4 Figure will deal with the War Monk, until I swarm the board with Siege Gang Commanders. Okay enough with this rant. I know you get the idea.
Wanting to complete the deck, I messaged a few friends if they will be able to lend me their Ajani Vengeants. They said maybe they can and that made me doubt if I can complete the deck just in time, which makes me lead to my second option (plan B)…
Deck Option No. 2 – Blightning Aggro
This is the deck that I’m definitely a fan (obviously with the months of pilot) except for the card in the deck name itself, Blightning. I’m not sure what’s real deal but my reason is that discarding your opponent will only do little effect on his/her board. I’d rather replace it with Puncture Blast or other burn spells.
The deck though has surprisingly became one of the top decks after Conflux. Maybe its because of the Fae hate cards Banefire and Volcanic Fallout. I’m not sure. Also, I have read that the deck can defeat 5 Color Control, in which my Blightningless build became a pawn. That led me to curiosity to try the deck in the tournament.
I looked for several list and it was good to know that Conflux has given the deck quite a lot of card options, some worth mentioning are Shambling Remains, Hellspark Elemental and the pro-white Goblin Outlander. With these options at hand, I can go with fast aggro like what Matt Nass piloted at Superstars Standard or go with the usual build of early beats and late game finishers like Demigod or Siege-Gang Commander. I think I’ll go with the latter and created an initial list.
BR Blightning
by Mark Ian Alloso
Main (36)
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Shambling Remains
4 Siege-Gang Commander4 Blightning
4 Flame Javelin
4 Incinerate4 ??? (I’m choosing between Stigma Lasher, Goblin Outlander and Magma Spray)
Lands (24)
4 Auntie’s Hovel
4 Ghitu Encampment
4 Graven Cairns
6 Mountain
2 Reflecting Pool
4 Sulfurous Springs
I haven’t came up with the sideboard yet but the cards I’m looking forward to add is Infest, Thoughtseize, and Volcanic Fallout. No Banefires because I have none at the moment and no plan of buying with its current overpriced value.
So there, the two deck options I needed to finalize and decide which to choose. If you would be asked, which of these two would you prefer?
i’m a big fan of blightning beat down. it’s more teir 1.5 right now though. i don’t think your list adequately reflects/utilizes some of the black out there. what about ashmore gouger? 4/4 for 3? it’s like another shambling remains. i _Really_ like shambling remains. you’re also missing the hellspark elemental! maybe you’re undervaluing unearth? unearth mechanic could read “use this burn spell twice.” along those lines, i actually think that spark elemental (Lol) is better than figure since you’re really looking to just hit for as much as freaking possible each turn. figure of destiny is a bit counter-productive in that sense. like you don’t REALLY want to spend mana pumping him up. it’d be better to just swing in with a creature and have mana left over for a “normal burn” or to drop another shambling remains.
what about hell’s thunder? 3cc for 4 damange. not bad. where’s your banefire? i’d think 2x bane fire for “late game”.
you’re going to use volcanic fallout for SB, right?
Thanks for the comment James. Gouger is good and has been proven but based on today’s spot removal (i.e. PtE, Bant Charm), I don’t think he would see much play. I preferred the Ram Gang because it can deal fast damage and won’t be afraid to run into a Colossus because of the wither.
I also liked Unearth but having creatures that leaves play at end of turn is a bad idea IMO. Of course you can deal early and fast damage but you’ll probably ran out of gas early also. Though I’m sure Hellspark Elemental will see play in Lightning Bolt decks in Extended. FOD is no doubt the best first drop that can deal a lot of early damage without spending the rest of your hand, only mana.
I’m considering to add Banefire, maybe a single copy in the main and another in the board.
Hey Makoy! I got a RW Token Deck and Blightning Gobs! hehe
here’s my decklist for RW Tokens and I’m callin it RW Breakfast hehe
25 LANDS
4 Rugged Prairie
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Reflecting Pool
4 Windbrisk Heights
3 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Mutavault
2 Rustic Clachan
13 CREATURES
2 Voracious Dragon
4 Seige-Gang Commander
3 Burrenton Forge Tender
4 Figure of Destiny
22 SPELLS
4 Spectral Procession
4 Path to Exhile
3 Goblin Assault
4 Dragon Fodder
3 Glorious Anthem
3 Ajani Vengeant
1 Elspeth Knight Errant
12 SIDEBOARD
4 Celestial Purge
3 Guttoral Response
4 Volcanic Fallout
1 Burrenton Forge Tender
3 Ranger of Eos
I don’t have any banefire so i don’t have it on my list.
23 Lands
4 Auntie’s Hovel
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Graven Cairns
2 Mutavault
9 Mountains
23 Creatures
4 Mogg Fanatic
3 Intimidator Initaite
4 Goblin Outlander
3 Goblin Death Raiders
4 Goblin King
2 Mad Auntie
3 Wort, Boggart Auntie
14 Spells
4 Incinerate
4 Flame Javelin
2 Sigil of Distinction
4 Blightning
15 Sideboard
3 Unwilling recruit
3 Thoughtsieze
2 Loxodon Warhammer
4 Terror
3 Volcanic Fallout
My experience with Hellspark Elemental is that it is more than worth playing. Running out of gas is difficult when you can bring it back again. You are playing 4 Siege Gang Commanders, which means that you are going to have a hard time dropping your hand quickly anyway.
Also, five color control often taps itself out and hastey attackers can greatly help kill them off right after they play wrath of god.
James’s last blog post..Shards of Alara Block Part 11: Naya
The Siege Gangs are actually for mid and late game scenarios when your early threats were already dealt with. There’s are alot of creatures who can actually do the early beats for you (i.e. Figure and Mogg Fanatic) so I don’t mind having a 5 casting cost card in the list.
Hey Alex, that’s a cool RW Breakfast list. You can also use Ajani Goldmane for additional pump of your tokens and giving them vigilance too.
Hehee thanks!
I tried Golmane but It has a conflict with Vengeant.
Vengeant is much better coz of the “helix” ability.
I preferred glorious anthem than Goldmane which is only a 3cc card.