Greetings fellow gamers. Well, I'm at it again - is it possible to make burn a viable EDH strategy at the kitchen table? My journey started off with Wort, the Raidmother goblin tribal, conspiring as many burn spells as I could. I had a brief respite before trying again with Omnath, Locus of Rage, again with a focus on burn, though this time it was dependant on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.
Now it's time to try again - I'm mixing both elements together. "Goblin tribal" and "Burn ETB's and LTB's" - to be led by Vial Smasher the Fierce. Will this be competitive? probably not...but I'm at least hoping it will be fun. and I have the cards....
I call the deck: Vial's Secret Hot Sauce
Objectives of this deck is to grab the key pieces to make my plan work. Vial Smasher the Fierce will damage opponents on the cast (would love 1-2 more effects of this nature). Cards like Impact Tremors will burn on the ETB. Cards like...Goblins...will aggro combat damage...and then will burn on the way out with cards like Goblin Bombardment.
Would love to hear from the community on ways I can spice this hot sauce up more. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are always welcome.
All my decks try to adhere to these guidelines:
1) Be able to win.
2) Be mostly true to a flavor and a theme.
3) Be good against one or multiple opponents.
5) Be fun to pilot or to play against and interactive.
6) Have multiple paths to victory.
7) Have lots of cool interactions and synergy.
8) Play out differently every game to keep it fun over a long time.
9) Be streamlined and fast to play without excessive upkeep, time-consuming play or overcomplicated boardstates.
10) Integrate the Commanders abilities into the strategy at least a little, but be able to win without ever playing the commander.
The number in front of the card will denote CMC of the creature/spell.
Both games played struggled with the land base. I'm kinda hoping that this was because of the deck not being shuffled as good as it could have been. Otherwise, I'm not certain as the what the problem would be. Is my cmc curve too high for 35 lands and 5 rocks? Am I overlooking some obvious must includes for RB ramp?
First game was quite slow and I had trouble getting my goblins out. A lack of fliers made defending quite difficult and I ended up losing control of the board to a Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and lost to poison. Definitely found out that it's really difficult to win from behind...gotta keep the tempo pressure going.
Second game I did just that. Really pushed the tempo and was quite a bit more successful with the early game damage. Then slowed down once the mid-late game creatures started to drop. Had some control to mitigate, but was running out. Living Death was then cast by my parner (2HG) to wipe the opponents field and allow me to apply more pressure again, but it was copied so the final board state was going to be the same. However, I stumbled across the power of a sacrifice outlet and was able to sacrifice my entire board state after resolution of the first copied Living Death for maximum pressure after the resolution of the actual Living Death. Smashed across the field with 30+ damage for the win.
Overall, I see some room for deck improvements. I've highlighted some potential cuts and adds in the original post. This is definitely a deck that I'm finding I have to pilot very carefully to be successful.
Now it's time to try again - I'm mixing both elements together. "Goblin tribal" and "Burn ETB's and LTB's" - to be led by Vial Smasher the Fierce. Will this be competitive? probably not...but I'm at least hoping it will be fun. and I have the cards....
I call the deck: Vial's Secret Hot Sauce
Objectives of this deck is to grab the key pieces to make my plan work. Vial Smasher the Fierce will damage opponents on the cast (would love 1-2 more effects of this nature). Cards like Impact Tremors will burn on the ETB. Cards like...Goblins...will aggro combat damage...and then will burn on the way out with cards like Goblin Bombardment.
Would love to hear from the community on ways I can spice this hot sauce up more. Comments, suggestions, and criticisms are always welcome.
All my decks try to adhere to these guidelines:
1) Be able to win.
2) Be mostly true to a flavor and a theme.
3) Be good against one or multiple opponents.
5) Be fun to pilot or to play against and interactive.
6) Have multiple paths to victory.
7) Have lots of cool interactions and synergy.
8) Play out differently every game to keep it fun over a long time.
9) Be streamlined and fast to play without excessive upkeep, time-consuming play or overcomplicated boardstates.
10) Integrate the Commanders abilities into the strategy at least a little, but be able to win without ever playing the commander.
The number in front of the card will denote CMC of the creature/spell.
3 Vial Smasher the Fierce
//Planeswalkers (2)
4 Angrath, Captain of Chaos
5 Jaya, Venerated Firemage
//Goblins (24)
1 Skirk Prospector
1 Mogg Raider
1 Goblin Bushwhacker
1 Legion Loyalist
2 Goblin Wardriver
2 Goblin Cratermaker
2 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
2 Frogtosser Banneret
2 Skirk Drill Sergeant
3 Goblin Chieftain
3 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
3 Zo-Zu the Punisher
3 Mad Auntie
3 Goblin Warchief
3 Goblin King
3 Sensation Gorger
3 Goblin Sharpshooter
4 Goblin Trashmaster
4 Krenko, Mob Boss
4 Beetleback Chief
4 Boggart Mob
4 Goblin Ringleader
4 Wort, Boggart Auntie
5 Siege-Gang Commander
2 Metallic Mimic
3 Burnished Hart
3 Judith, the Scourge Diva
4 Hellrider
//Card Advantage (6)
1 Skullclamp
3 Risk Factor
4 Slate of Ancestry
5 Reforge the Soul
5 Vanquisher's Banner
5 Torrent of Souls
//Buff (7)
2 Impact Tremors
2 Goblin Bombardment
2 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
3 Boggart Shenanigans
4 Whip of Erebos
5 Dictate of Erebos
5 Exquisite Blood
//Control (10)
1 Vandalblast
2 Go for the Throat
2 Terminate
3 Chaos Warp
3 Bedevil
4 Fodder Launch
5 Murderous Cut
5 Living Death
5 Mogg Infestation
9 Blasphemous Act
3 Hordeling Outburst
4 Empty the Warrens
5 Goblin Rally
//Ramp (8)
1 Sol Ring
1 Brightstone Ritual
2 Ruby Medallion
2 Battle Hymn
2 Talisman of Indulgence
2 Rakdos Signet
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Ashnod's Altar
//Land (36)
0 Command Tower
0 Foreboding Ruins
0 Akoum Refuge
0 Bojuka Bog
0 Molten Slagheap
0 Goblin Burrows
0 Terramorphic Expanse
0 Evolving Wilds
17 Mountain
11 Swamp
100 cards so far...
//WISHLIST
//IDEAS
2 Goblin Deathraiders (cut?)
2 Goblin Outlander (cut?)
1 Faithless Looting (cut?)
2 Goblin Lore (cut?)
5 Tamiyo's Journal
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Rakdos Cluestone
4 Hedron Archive
Oct 26 2017:
Goblin Arsonist >> Guttersnipe
Squeaking Pie Sneak >> Goblin King
Tar Pitcher >> Kaervek the Merciless
Crux of Fate >> Living Death
Dark Ritual >> Battle Hymn
Curse of Opulence >> Vandalblast
Ruby Medallion >> Dragonrage
Mountain >> Bojuka Bog
Nov 24 2017:
Warren Pilferers >> Krenko, Mob Boss
Signal Pest >> Throne of the God-Pharaoh
Barrage of Expendables >> Impact Tremors
Aftershock >> Chaos Warp
Strionic Resonator >> Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
Jan 5 2018:
Gravepurge >> Swamp
Kaervek the Merciless >> Ruby Medallion
Painful Quandary >> Dictate of Erebos
Goblin Ruinblaster >> Slate of Ancestry
Spike Jester >> Ogre Battledriver
Dragon Fodder >> Goblin Ringleader
Krenko's Command >> Goblin Sharpshooter
Tempt with Vengeance >> Goblin Rally
April 28 2018:
Smoldering Marsh >> Swamp -- Need for Darigaaz deck. Will replace again when I get another copy.
Ogre Battledriver >> Garna, the Bloodflame
Swamp >> Squee, the Immortal
Goblin Spymaster >> Basilisk Collar
Aug 15 2018:
Murderous Redcap >> Goblin Trashmaster
Squee, the Immortal >> Zo-Zu the Punisher
Voracious Dragon >> Exquisite Blood
Nov 1 2018:
Guttersnipe >> Metallic Mimic
Clickslither >> Goblin Cratermaker
Garna, the Bloodflame >> Necrotic Wound
Carnage Altar >> Risk Factor
Wheel of Fate >> Vanquisher's Banner
Feb 16 2019:
Necrotic Wound >> Bedevil
Phyrexian Reclamation >> Judith, the Scourge Diva
May 5 2019:
Boggart Harbinger >> Krendo, Tin Street Kingpin
Basilisk Collar >> Angrath, Captain of Chaos
Dragonrage >> Jaya, Venerated Firemage
| B Erebos, God of VampiresB | GYeva SmashG | RBosh ArtifactsR | GURAnimar +1 BeatsGUR | RBVial's Secret Hot SauceRB | UBRNekusar, Draw if you DareUBR | RGBDarigaaz'z DragonsRGB | GBSlimeFEETGB | UBOn-Hit LazavUB | URBrudiclad's Artificer InventionsUR | GUBMuldrotha's ElementalsGUB | WUGKestia's EnchantmentsWUG | GUTatyova - Draw, Land, Go!GU | WGArahbo's EquipmentWG | BUWVarina's ZOMBIE HORDESBUW | WLyra's Angelic SalvationW | WBChurch of TeysaWB | UAzami...WizardsU
Both games played struggled with the land base. I'm kinda hoping that this was because of the deck not being shuffled as good as it could have been. Otherwise, I'm not certain as the what the problem would be. Is my cmc curve too high for 35 lands and 5 rocks? Am I overlooking some obvious must includes for RB ramp?
First game was quite slow and I had trouble getting my goblins out. A lack of fliers made defending quite difficult and I ended up losing control of the board to a Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and lost to poison. Definitely found out that it's really difficult to win from behind...gotta keep the tempo pressure going.
Second game I did just that. Really pushed the tempo and was quite a bit more successful with the early game damage. Then slowed down once the mid-late game creatures started to drop. Had some control to mitigate, but was running out. Living Death was then cast by my parner (2HG) to wipe the opponents field and allow me to apply more pressure again, but it was copied so the final board state was going to be the same. However, I stumbled across the power of a sacrifice outlet and was able to sacrifice my entire board state after resolution of the first copied Living Death for maximum pressure after the resolution of the actual Living Death. Smashed across the field with 30+ damage for the win.
Overall, I see some room for deck improvements. I've highlighted some potential cuts and adds in the original post. This is definitely a deck that I'm finding I have to pilot very carefully to be successful.
Comments and suggestions appreciated.
| B Erebos, God of VampiresB | GYeva SmashG | RBosh ArtifactsR | GURAnimar +1 BeatsGUR | RBVial's Secret Hot SauceRB | UBRNekusar, Draw if you DareUBR | RGBDarigaaz'z DragonsRGB | GBSlimeFEETGB | UBOn-Hit LazavUB | URBrudiclad's Artificer InventionsUR | GUBMuldrotha's ElementalsGUB | WUGKestia's EnchantmentsWUG | GUTatyova - Draw, Land, Go!GU | WGArahbo's EquipmentWG | BUWVarina's ZOMBIE HORDESBUW | WLyra's Angelic SalvationW | WBChurch of TeysaWB | UAzami...WizardsU