Hey-o, some of my friends recently started doing a lot of Pauper, semi-competitive. While I enjoy some of the Tier 1 lists like Mono-U / Mono-B Control I wanted to try for some speed and test a hyper-aggression red deck that isn't burn or tribal goblins because that's been done and I just wanted to explore different archetypes. After some play-testing and extensive tweaking I've come to a list that I'm feeling pretty good about. I'm looking for further suggestions on the list and, more critically, sideboard options because my Mono-B match-up is abysmal to the point where I can't win unless he stumbles on lands.
The main reason for Glitterfang is to have a guaranteed trigger for Cohort, Denizen, and Striker. I set Bushwhacker as a 2-Drop because there's almost no situation where I'm forced to play it un-kicked. The 14 lands have been running perfectly for me so far where I can even keep 1 land hands and just get that 2nd or 3rd land drop no problem and my odds to have a 2 land hand are decent as well.
Mono-Red doesn't have much to combat Mono-B. I guess you can run Apostle's Blessing to stop the spot removal from killing your guys.
Your list reminds me of a list I posted a while ago. This is the thread.
I think Onslaught would be awesome in this deck! It gives you a lot of control for a red deck. Tapping down threats or blockers in general can turn your deck into a huge problem.
I noticed Onslaught as an option before and I agree it can be really powerful, especially if I ran more Giitterfangs and their ilk like your list. I dropped it because I worried about the effect being mandatory. I'll pick up a few copies to test out somewhere in the 75. Blessing probably will be my best bet for Mono-B, thanks on that. Looking in the other thread made me realize that 2x Fireblast might be good to squeeze into the list as some reach for those last few points.
On a side-note, I see many list run Forgotten Cave and I can't understand why one would risk being forced to play it and lose a whole turn of tempo on it for the benefit of a cantrip. Is it okay in general and I just run them or are they for a certain reasons because I don't think I can afford tap-lands in this list.
Edit: The horror in my eyes when I saw that I can't get foil Onslaughts.
I noticed Onslaught as an option before and I agree it can be really powerful, especially if I ran more Giitterfangs and their ilk like your list. I dropped it because I worried about the effect being mandatory. I'll pick up a few copies to test out somewhere in the 75. Blessing probably will be my best bet for Mono-B, thanks on that. Looking in the other thread made me realize that 2x Fireblast might be good to squeeze into the list as some reach for those last few points.
Onslaught is a mandatory effect, but there are ways around it. For example, you can always tap down your weakest creature and keep targeting the same creature if you cast multiple creatures. Or if your opponent only has one creature, just keep targeting that creature since it doesn't force you to target an untapped creature.
Fireblast is a great card as well. 4 damage for free can be a big game changer.
On a side-note, I see many list run Forgotten Cave and I can't understand why one would risk being forced to play it and lose a whole turn of tempo on it for the benefit of a cantrip. Is it okay in general and I just run them or are they for a certain reasons because I don't think I can afford tap-lands in this list.
I usually run only a couple of Forgotten Caves. Mainly to have an opening cycle or just to prevent late game lands draws. It's really a matter of preference though. Definitely not a requirement for your deck, Since you're running 14 land I'd definitely go without Forgotten Cave.
You might consider rubblebelt maaka. He's every bit as good as brute force for most purposes, but is uncounterable (as a pump), and worst case scenario its a creature. Given all of your 1 toughness dudes it seems like a decent fit for both saving your guys and pushing extra damage through.
You might consider rubblebelt maaka. He's every bit as good as brute force for most purposes, but is uncounterable (as a pump), and worst case scenario its a creature. Given all of your 1 toughness dudes it seems like a decent fit for both saving your guys and pushing extra damage through.
Rubblebelt Maaka is a good choice, just remember Bloodrush can only used during combat, so if you know you might be facing burn Brute Force would be a better choice since you can cast it in response to a Bolt. But having a creature and pump is also a great choice, so the choice depends on your meta.
I know it's only usable on the attack, but it Isn't like brute force gets used for much else, you probably won't even have the mana open on their turn.
Maaka is cool I agree. I feel like there are just too many good / decent options for this deck to really pin down what's truly the best main deck. I find my deck really does have issues getting in bigger swings so Maaka or Brute Force would be good but what I really want is more trample on my guy and almost nothing provides.
A few updates, my friend playing mono-black tagged out his Ravenous Rats for Cuombajj Witches and it's disgusting to watch half my dudes run into a 1 / 3 that just kills them anyway. Sideboard wise Apostle's Blessing has done bugger all to shore up the matchup as well because it's hard to determine if I can reasonably tap out to keep board presence vs saving what I have and even then Geth's Verdict exists. We've just about come to the conclusion that the matchup is 9-1 in his favor because the only way he loses is on shoddy keeps and doesn't peel removal or witches 2 turns in a row.
I'm also having actual mana issues now so I'm considering going to 15 or 16 lands and probably tossing Glitterfang out despite how much fun he is.
Maaka is cool I agree. I feel like there are just too many good / decent options for this deck to really pin down what's truly the best main deck. I find my deck really does have issues getting in bigger swings so Maaka or Brute Force would be good but what I really want is more trample on my guy and almost nothing provides.
A few updates, my friend playing mono-black tagged out his Ravenous Rats for Cuombajj Witches and it's disgusting to watch half my dudes run into a 1 / 3 that just kills them anyway. Sideboard wise Apostle's Blessing has done bugger all to shore up the matchup as well because it's hard to determine if I can reasonably tap out to keep board presence vs saving what I have and even then Geth's Verdict exists. We've just about come to the conclusion that the matchup is 9-1 in his favor because the only way he loses is on shoddy keeps and doesn't peel removal or witches 2 turns in a row.
I'm also having actual mana issues now so I'm considering going to 15 or 16 lands and probably tossing Glitterfang out despite how much fun he is.
For trample there are a few options. Messenger's Speed is new and gives Haste and Trample. Fury Charm and Bestial Fury are some options too but Bestial Fury is probably too high on the curve.
The Witches can be taken care of by a nice Bolt or Flame Slash. Granted MBC is probably the worst match up for this deck, so you will have problems.
Adding more lands is a pretty good choice. I'd definitely up the number to 16.
Yey-o, figured I would do a little update again. I've made my switch back to 16 lands and removed glitterfang which kinda sucks because I just got foil ones, haha. I still like the creature but this 1/1 just can't dish out the beats like I want. I had a bunch of matches vs one of my other friend's MBC and it was a much different story. Instead of using witchs, gray merchant, and tendrils of corruption he went for Syphon Life as his main win condition with minimal creature focus. My deck stomped in the exact opposite direction, winning 5-6 games in a row iirc. So at the end of the day I guess the MBC match-up isn't set in stone but certain versions will just wreck a creature deck like mine.
Next on the testing horizons will be subbing in Rubblebelt Maaka replacing Fervent Cathar. I really like both cards but sometimes I never get to 3 so having a combat trick like Maaka should work wonders and technically push more damage through than the Cathar in some cases. Again, Trample would be sweet but I can't see myself running any of the trample cards avalible at this time. The closest one I thought about was Satyr Rambler and he's just a worse Kruin Striker 99% of the time. I'm supposed to get in a few rounds with a Green Big Dumb Creatures deck soon so we'll see how that goes.
I'd make some room for rift bolts. More burn = more reach, and reach might be just the answer to your friend's deck, as you have a better chance to get the kill after he's stabilized.
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4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Goblin Cohort
2 Glitterfang
4 Goblin Shortcutter
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Kruin Striker
3 Bloodcrazed Neonate
Non-Creatures
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Furor of the Bitten
4 Madcap Skills
14 Mountain
The main reason for Glitterfang is to have a guaranteed trigger for Cohort, Denizen, and Striker. I set Bushwhacker as a 2-Drop because there's almost no situation where I'm forced to play it un-kicked. The 14 lands have been running perfectly for me so far where I can even keep 1 land hands and just get that 2nd or 3rd land drop no problem and my odds to have a 2 land hand are decent as well.
3 Volcanic Strength
3 Traitorous Blood
2 Furor of the Bitten
2 Electrickery
1 Manic Vandal
The only things I've considered changing on the SB are -2 Electrickery for 2 Seismic Stomp or 2 Nightbird's Clutches and then some number of other things for Sylvok Lifestaff.
Feel free to test out the deck and let me know what you think!
Your list reminds me of a list I posted a while ago. This is the thread.
I think Onslaught would be awesome in this deck! It gives you a lot of control for a red deck. Tapping down threats or blockers in general can turn your deck into a huge problem.
On a side-note, I see many list run Forgotten Cave and I can't understand why one would risk being forced to play it and lose a whole turn of tempo on it for the benefit of a cantrip. Is it okay in general and I just run them or are they for a certain reasons because I don't think I can afford tap-lands in this list.
Edit: The horror in my eyes when I saw that I can't get foil Onslaughts.
Onslaught is a mandatory effect, but there are ways around it. For example, you can always tap down your weakest creature and keep targeting the same creature if you cast multiple creatures. Or if your opponent only has one creature, just keep targeting that creature since it doesn't force you to target an untapped creature.
Fireblast is a great card as well. 4 damage for free can be a big game changer.
I usually run only a couple of Forgotten Caves. Mainly to have an opening cycle or just to prevent late game lands draws. It's really a matter of preference though. Definitely not a requirement for your deck, Since you're running 14 land I'd definitely go without Forgotten Cave.
Rubblebelt Maaka is a good choice, just remember Bloodrush can only used during combat, so if you know you might be facing burn Brute Force would be a better choice since you can cast it in response to a Bolt. But having a creature and pump is also a great choice, so the choice depends on your meta.
A few updates, my friend playing mono-black tagged out his Ravenous Rats for Cuombajj Witches and it's disgusting to watch half my dudes run into a 1 / 3 that just kills them anyway. Sideboard wise Apostle's Blessing has done bugger all to shore up the matchup as well because it's hard to determine if I can reasonably tap out to keep board presence vs saving what I have and even then Geth's Verdict exists. We've just about come to the conclusion that the matchup is 9-1 in his favor because the only way he loses is on shoddy keeps and doesn't peel removal or witches 2 turns in a row.
I'm also having actual mana issues now so I'm considering going to 15 or 16 lands and probably tossing Glitterfang out despite how much fun he is.
For trample there are a few options. Messenger's Speed is new and gives Haste and Trample. Fury Charm and Bestial Fury are some options too but Bestial Fury is probably too high on the curve.
The Witches can be taken care of by a nice Bolt or Flame Slash. Granted MBC is probably the worst match up for this deck, so you will have problems.
Adding more lands is a pretty good choice. I'd definitely up the number to 16.
Next on the testing horizons will be subbing in Rubblebelt Maaka replacing Fervent Cathar. I really like both cards but sometimes I never get to 3 so having a combat trick like Maaka should work wonders and technically push more damage through than the Cathar in some cases. Again, Trample would be sweet but I can't see myself running any of the trample cards avalible at this time. The closest one I thought about was Satyr Rambler and he's just a worse Kruin Striker 99% of the time. I'm supposed to get in a few rounds with a Green Big Dumb Creatures deck soon so we'll see how that goes.