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 Commander

4 Blightning
4 Flame Javelin
4 Incinerate

4 ??? (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?