The last couple of days i have been trying to make Hazorat and the new Gideon work in my deck, and yet again the very nature of the deck allows for a small variety of cards. In fact, if a card cannot win on its own right away, then it simply isn't included, with the exception of 1-drops like the Lynx and of course Path, which is the best removal of the format.
Final verdict of the new cards: Hazorat is fine against nonwhite midrange decks, ok against control and abysmal against aggro. Gideon is alright against Eldrazi, some combo decks and midrange that cannot wall it (aka Rhino and Goyf). Thus, Hazorat may be okeish as a 1-off maindeck, while Gideon can be included as a 1-off maindeck or in the side, in the best of cases. I will keep playtestig though.
In different shells i guess they can work better.
Because i want to play something more similar to zoo than burn, but realize that without G this is not possible yet (i firmly believe that we are one hasty premium 1-drop away for this to happen though), so it tends to work more like the latter.
Searing Blaze was a staple in my deck, but got replaced by Lava Spike because it was underperforming lately, as the creature light decks increased.
I dont like the Eidolon. Call me biased or idiot if you must.
This is the first set after Tarkir practically, that R gets to be again the small aggro color. Hopefully something aggressive with exert or a good burn spell comes out. Hazorat and Gideon are leading the way.
Not really main deck but a power house sideboard card that may signal the return of Twin or just be a good option to keep in the back pocket as meta games shift. I'm more excited for this as I've been moving into a legacy and been begging for an excuse to build Boros Taxes.
Well I know people are testing RW taxes. I'm looking for something to build in Boros colors that isn't burn. I WAS planning to build a Nahiri/GDD land destruction build but we know how that turned out.
That's a month ago now! LOL I don't get to go out and play any more so I haven't been able to try new tech. I was stoked for Mentor for Legacy as Top hating Tech.
For being dialed a little slower it doesn't feel like there's a bug enough pay off. Seeker doesn't do much without a reliable engine to ensure it's getting Prowess. Probably swap it for a Soul-Scar Mage or Abbot. 3 Brimaz is also a bit much without some pay off to extras in hand. If you want to push the game a little longer against Aggro decks by gaining life, why not Soulfire Grand Master? I don't like Rift Bolt in decks that aren't just Burn strategies. Could easily be Searing Blaze and be able to take out a blocker and still hit their face. Also Searing Blood similarly. I don't like 4 Sacred Foundry as you risk taking too many hits yourself when they could be fetches, while also hitting you instead thin the deck a hair and fuel any Grimm Lavamancers. I go back and forth between 2 and 3 Sacred Foundry.
Much better. Maybe a 1-2 of Pyoclasm or Volcanic Fallout in the board for Lingering Souls tokens and such. Soul-Scar Mage also means if they try to swarm and go wide you'll at least bring everything they have down to your level even if they don't die. Burning a Goyf has never been this easy!
FINALLY got to test my above list. Got a lot of information out of the testing session.
1. Atarka's Command is not for me: I love the value synergy between Command and the Prowess creatures, but the green splash became awkward half the time. The other half I felt like I was playing a slower version of Naya Burn. It is my firm belief that Command pushes the deck towards either a Naya Burn or a Zoo playstyle, while the midrange creatures and PW's suggest a slower game. I have found that my personal play style prefers to be more midrange than pure aggro, so I have dropped Command.
2. Soulfire Grand Master is worth it: I have played around with the SGM vs Seeker debate for some time now, and my conclusion is that Seeker is better in lists with burn spells and Goblin Guides that want a linear Prowess approach, while Soulfire is better in midrangier builds that want to last longer on the field. She's a must answer threat, and the Lifelink has sabilized me in multiple games.
Correct. The Atarka's Commands require forcing some extra creatures and a much wider scope of attackers OR to be more burn centric. If the more grindy "true midrange control/ Aggro control" deck that Boros lives at it's too slow or turns you to a different deck period. The Green splash has never felt worth it. The only worth it splashes that are more opportunity cost on access to addition parts of good cards are B or U. Mardu offers enough of what you already want and same with Jeskai BUT you run the "my mana base is destabilized some more and actively trying to kill me" problem the true 3 color decks have.
And now you see why I've push on Seeker getting dropped. There is such little room in the 2 slot and Seeker becomes out classed quickly. It also again doesn't live in that narrow game plan space that Boros again exists. Too slow for the Aggro and too small for the midrange/control end.
SFGM+Elspeth are homies! Being able to pull WAY back into the game off one card the moment you play it with one burn spell up is big. For your Prowess creatures offering to recur your burn or Paths to open up lines of attack and trigger Prowess over and over is great! As great as she is, she's still unassuming to do much of the Modern meta that opponents will try to use removal on your other creatures before her which leaves windows open to get in your activations or simply "Lightning Helix, gain 6".
Both Soul-Scar and Chandra are performing excellently. Soul Scar is helping with 4+ toughness (a big weakness of mine), and Chandra is value every timeI've landed her. Collective Defiance is a good "utility"slot (better than the Firecrafts I ran before) although I think I should drop one Collective for a third Blaze.
Not a whole lot catching my eye just yet... This could get some work done though. Haste 2 power for 2 that can also keep an opposing creature off blocking can add damage quick as well as if the late game kicks in you can get a finisher without having to invest a whole new deck slot and acts as card advantage.
Obviously we have potential for some Exert variant builds, especially for newer players that might want to go for a budget and build off their standard cards. This may die to Bolt but not to Push unless Revolt active. It's also just decent in it's own. Multiples are good and only get better with more copies and more Exert.
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GOT THERE
4 Goblin Guide
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Steppe Lynx
2 Kytheon, Hero of Akros
1 Zurgo Bellstriker
1 Abbot of Keral Keep
Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lava Spike
4 Skullcrack
4 Boros Charm
4 Lightning Helix
1 Burst Lightning
3 Path to Exile
3 Sacred Foundry
2 Inspiring Vantage
4 Arid Mesa
4 Windswept Heath
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Mountain
1 Plains
2 Flames of the Blood Hand
2 Exquisite Firecraft
1 Slagstorm
1 Molten Rain
1 Ingot Chewer
2 Tear//Wear
1 Deflecting Palm
2 Kor Firewalker
1 Declaration in Stone
2 Stony Silence
The last couple of days i have been trying to make Hazorat and the new Gideon work in my deck, and yet again the very nature of the deck allows for a small variety of cards. In fact, if a card cannot win on its own right away, then it simply isn't included, with the exception of 1-drops like the Lynx and of course Path, which is the best removal of the format.
Final verdict of the new cards: Hazorat is fine against nonwhite midrange decks, ok against control and abysmal against aggro. Gideon is alright against Eldrazi, some combo decks and midrange that cannot wall it (aka Rhino and Goyf). Thus, Hazorat may be okeish as a 1-off maindeck, while Gideon can be included as a 1-off maindeck or in the side, in the best of cases. I will keep playtestig though.
In different shells i guess they can work better.
Why not just play "R/W Burn" ?
The lists are very similar but you play some less efficient creatures (Steppe Lynx, Abbot, Kytheon and Zurgo) instead of Eidolon of the Great Revel
(and Grim Lavamancer) and the extra burn spells (Rift Bolt, Searing Blaze).
Searing Blaze was a staple in my deck, but got replaced by Lava Spike because it was underperforming lately, as the creature light decks increased.
I dont like the Eidolon. Call me biased or idiot if you must.
This is the first set after Tarkir practically, that R gets to be again the small aggro color. Hopefully something aggressive with exert or a good burn spell comes out. Hazorat and Gideon are leading the way.
4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Seeker of the Way
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm
4 Path to Exile
4 Lava Spike
3 Rift Bolt
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Inspiring Vantage
2 Mountain
2 Plains
That's a month ago now! LOL I don't get to go out and play any more so I haven't been able to try new tech. I was stoked for Mentor for Legacy as Top hating Tech.
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Monastery Swiftspear
2x Seeker of the Way
2x Soulfire Grand Master
2x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1x Monastery Mentor
Planeswalkers:
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Face Burn/ Utility
4x Atarka's Command (the +1/+1 and Lava Spike modes are most relevant, but having a 'crack effect is also nice.)
4x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
4x Path to Exile
3x Searing Blaze
Mana Base:
4x Arid Mesa
4x Wooded Foothills
3x Sacred Foundry
2x Stomping Ground
4x Inspiring Vantage
2x Mountain
1x Plains
4x Destructive Revelry
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2x Rest in Peace
2x Blessed Alliance
3x Kor Firewalker
1x Grim Lavamancer
1. Atarka's Command is not for me: I love the value synergy between Command and the Prowess creatures, but the green splash became awkward half the time. The other half I felt like I was playing a slower version of Naya Burn. It is my firm belief that Command pushes the deck towards either a Naya Burn or a Zoo playstyle, while the midrange creatures and PW's suggest a slower game. I have found that my personal play style prefers to be more midrange than pure aggro, so I have dropped Command.
2. Soulfire Grand Master is worth it: I have played around with the SGM vs Seeker debate for some time now, and my conclusion is that Seeker is better in lists with burn spells and Goblin Guides that want a linear Prowess approach, while Soulfire is better in midrangier builds that want to last longer on the field. She's a must answer threat, and the Lifelink has sabilized me in multiple games.
3. Chandra and Elspeth are good cards.
so here is the current decklist I am running now:
4x Arid Mesa
4x Inspiring Vantage
2x Mountain
2x Plains
2x Rugged Prairie
3x Sacred Foundry
3x Wooded Foothills
Planeswalker (3)
2x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Sorcery (3)
3x Collective Defiance
4x Boros Charm
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Lightning Helix
4x Path to Exile
2x Searing Blaze
Creature (15)
3x Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Soulfire Grand Master
Artifact (1)
1x Sword of War and Peace
2x Blessed Alliance
2x Deflecting Palm
2x Mirran Crusader
1x Monastery Mentor
2x Rest in Peace
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
2x Timely Reinforcements
3x Wear
And now you see why I've push on Seeker getting dropped. There is such little room in the 2 slot and Seeker becomes out classed quickly. It also again doesn't live in that narrow game plan space that Boros again exists. Too slow for the Aggro and too small for the midrange/control end.
SFGM+Elspeth are homies! Being able to pull WAY back into the game off one card the moment you play it with one burn spell up is big. For your Prowess creatures offering to recur your burn or Paths to open up lines of attack and trigger Prowess over and over is great! As great as she is, she's still unassuming to do much of the Modern meta that opponents will try to use removal on your other creatures before her which leaves windows open to get in your activations or simply "Lightning Helix, gain 6".
How was Soul-Scar?
How has Definace been for you?