hi there! I just started playing iroas and I feel that playing too many high cost creatures can hurt you in the early game especially when someone in your playgroup plays aggro(mine being anafenza and alesha). May I know how well have you been doing with this current list? I currently running a token based variation and I'm trying to include more low cost creatures that has battalion. what do you think of my game plan?
Hey Fiedit! First off, I want to give some context for the deck as it is currently. My local meta is very Utlity/Control based. The only form of aggro we have are hay-maker strategies that come out of nowhere, or efficient creatures that are good enough to just be included (I'm looking at you Serra Ascendant). This being said, our meta also runs a very LARGE amount of tokens (at least 1 token deck per game, with people rotating decks), since bodies are easy to abuse for value. The issue with running token tactics with this deck, is that Token counters would cut Boros Token tactics at the knees, where as other Token Strategies can get going again more easily. Iroas is very popular as a token deck as far as I have seen through the forums, but I believe running high value creatures would be justifiable as well. I also want you to know that this deck hasn't been play tested yet, since I am still swapping cards and thinking on how they would interact with my playgroup.
Now, with this context I can discuss some of your other comments.
1: We have little, to no 'aggro' decks. Sometimes a Voltron commander, rarely.
2: Deck hasn't been played yet, posted to get further insight before buying cards.
3: My meta runs so much token hate, that running it here would goldfish (Make me not important to the actual game) me.
4: It really depends on your meta. I'd also need to look at your list. Stuff like battalion scares me, because it requires you invest into your board state. I like keeping decent stuff out, because I don't need to 'force the issue' only to get a board wipe. If you have a bunch of people running aggro though, I could see running a bunch of stat efficient battalion beaters though.
Overall, I'd focus on more tokens, over Battalion effects. Your meta might be different though! Ask your group if you can run some play testing with proxxied cards before you invest in either version (Battalion/Token) of the deck. Above all else, make sure you enjoy playing the deck!
Ok, I agree with the comment on the high curve. To some degree it can be forgiven because you are boros so you wont really chain draw as nicely so having a slightly higher curve can be forgiven because in a lot of means you need more value per card because you are not going to draw as well.
In general though, I just dont see this deck getting there as far as doing enough damage fast enough. Sure your creatures are harder to block but you arent really doing tons of damage with much of any of your creatures. You are trying to out attrition people in boros which just wont happen. You need to red zone harder as boros because thats what boros can do.
In general, I dont really believe that this is going to be an improvement over your Aurelia list. I just know what your complaints were with that deck and this feels like a weaker deck to me. If you are going to stick with the commander go with more red zone cards like Manabarbs / Spellshock / Scab-Clan Berserker like I had suggested earlier. Stop trying to sustain forever and move instead to seeing if you can burn people out before they can stabilize in the late game with their draw and wraths. The truth of the matter is you wont ever beat UB control in the super late phases of the game with boros unless something is really messed up.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
Your comments are agreeable. This likely won't get play-tested. I did enjoy putting this together still. It helped me find some good Boros cards that should push my other Boros deck(s).
1x Iroas, God of Victory
Creature (24)
1x Serra Ascendant
1x Weathered Wayfarer
1x Knight of the White Orchid
1x Burnished Hart
1x Imperial Recruiter
1x Silverblade Paladin
1x Angelic Field Marshal
1x Cyclops Gladiator
1x Emeria Angel
1x Heliod, God of the Sun
1x Hero of Bladehold
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1x Shard Phoenix
1x Urabrask the Hidden
1x Yuan Shao, the Indecisive
1x Aurelia, the Warleader
1x Inferno Titan
1x Sun Titan
1x Angel of Serenity
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1x Emeria Shepherd
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Artifact (13)
1x Mana Crypt
1x Expedition Map
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sol Ring
1x Scroll Rack
1x Sword of the Animist
1x Coalition Relic
1x Commander's Sphere
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Mind's Eye
1x Land Tax
1x Aura of Silence
1x Spellshock
1x Sulfuric Vortex
1x Manabarbs
1x Outpost Siege
1x Pyrohemia
1x Gratuitous Violence
1x True Conviction
Instant (7)
1x Brand
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Tithe
1x Unexpectedly Absent
1x Chaos Warp
1x Return to Dust
1x Reforge the Soul
Sorcery (7)
1x Faithless Looting
1x Gift of Estates
1x Idyllic Tutor
1x Wheel of Fortune
1x Fiery Confluence
1x Tragic Arrogance
1x Austere Command
Planeswalker (1)
1x Daretti, Scrap Savant
Land (38)
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Command Tower
1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1x Flamekin Village
1x High Market
1x Homeward Path
1x Kher Keep
1x Kor Haven
1x Maze of Ith
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Strip Mine
1x Plateau
1x Temple of the False God
1x Temple of Triumph
1x Thawing Glaciers
12x Plains
9x Mountain
Feedback is Welcome.
Basic lands are split as such due to intensity of White versus Red Symbols.
Current EDH
Akroma W | Tymna and Bruse RBW
Now, with this context I can discuss some of your other comments.
1: We have little, to no 'aggro' decks. Sometimes a Voltron commander, rarely.
2: Deck hasn't been played yet, posted to get further insight before buying cards.
3: My meta runs so much token hate, that running it here would goldfish (Make me not important to the actual game) me.
4: It really depends on your meta. I'd also need to look at your list. Stuff like battalion scares me, because it requires you invest into your board state. I like keeping decent stuff out, because I don't need to 'force the issue' only to get a board wipe. If you have a bunch of people running aggro though, I could see running a bunch of stat efficient battalion beaters though.
Overall, I'd focus on more tokens, over Battalion effects. Your meta might be different though! Ask your group if you can run some play testing with proxxied cards before you invest in either version (Battalion/Token) of the deck. Above all else, make sure you enjoy playing the deck!
Current EDH
Akroma W | Tymna and Bruse RBW
It still looks bad lol
Ok, I agree with the comment on the high curve. To some degree it can be forgiven because you are boros so you wont really chain draw as nicely so having a slightly higher curve can be forgiven because in a lot of means you need more value per card because you are not going to draw as well.
In general though, I just dont see this deck getting there as far as doing enough damage fast enough. Sure your creatures are harder to block but you arent really doing tons of damage with much of any of your creatures. You are trying to out attrition people in boros which just wont happen. You need to red zone harder as boros because thats what boros can do.
In general, I dont really believe that this is going to be an improvement over your Aurelia list. I just know what your complaints were with that deck and this feels like a weaker deck to me. If you are going to stick with the commander go with more red zone cards like Manabarbs / Spellshock / Scab-Clan Berserker like I had suggested earlier. Stop trying to sustain forever and move instead to seeing if you can burn people out before they can stabilize in the late game with their draw and wraths. The truth of the matter is you wont ever beat UB control in the super late phases of the game with boros unless something is really messed up.
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
Current EDH
Akroma W | Tymna and Bruse RBW