Sorry for never chiming in with my last 4-1 League result but here is my latest, still cant hit a 5-0 but the deck has game.
Round 1: Vs UW Flash - Not sure if this is a deck or a brew, the latter I suspect. Game 1: Once I knew his plan Flash/Counter It was easy to flood the board and bait Counters then hit him with surged Bushwacker and Firecrafts. Game 2: Sideboard In 3 Volley, 3 Scab Clan - Out 3 Falkenrath Gorger 2 Dragon Fodder 1 Thunderbreak. Haste was the Key in game 2 and expecting Sweepers I sided out my fodders and 3 1 drops and having already seen counter magic Scab Clan was an easy include, Rending Volley for flash Blockers both turned up both performed, easy 2-0 Win.
Round 2: Vs UR Eldrazi - Game 1: This was a close affair with my flyers eventually taking over the skies after some dubious chump block's made by him. Sideboard In 3 Thunderbreak Regent 4 Roast - Out 2 Goldnight castigator 3 Falkenrath Gorger 2 Dragon Fodder. Game 2: I mulled to 5 Kept two 3 drops never really got going when Double Vile Aggrigate and tokens overran me. Game 3: Kept my sideboard plan the same, early pressure from a sweet curve and I killed vile aggrigate x 2 with roast before he stabilised the ground again with Tokens and a couple of Thoughtknot seer's which stole my 2 Thunderbreaks before again my flying creatures stole the game along with Double Sin Prodder, Dragon Whisperer doing lots of work as the Flyer. 2-1 Win
Round 3: Vs WB Control Game 1 My opponent 1 for 1 removed all of my threats early before landing Gideon and Sorin easy gg. Sideboard Out: 3 Castigator 2 Dragon Fodder 3 Bushwacker In: 3 Thundermaw 3 Scabclan 4 Roast Game 2: Plan was to hit him early for as much Damage as possible early on with a view to him removing irrelevant threats that had already dealt damage, I was basically treating my early creatures almost like burn spells that would see my "punishers" ( Sin Prodder, Scab Clan and Thundermaw) hopefully survive and do there job in the late game. Game 2 and 3 Both played out just like that, Dash/Haste Creatures were very very good before I commited things like Abbot and Whisperer to the board to bait Languish out then I followed up punishing the 4 drop tap out with a Renowned Scab clan and Thunderbreak hitting him hard for lethal, 2 Kalitas came saw and died to Roast and Firecraft respectively as did a couple of Tireless Tracker and Sylvan Advocate along the Way 2-1 Win
Round 4: Sultai / GB Control Same Gameplan as vs WB Control Same result only much much easier as he durdled a lot. 2-0 Win
Round 5: Vs Mono White Humans, My 1 drops all feel awful, Castigator is the literal worst, this matchup is so difficult. 0-2 Loss.
Round 5: Vs Mono White Humans, My 1 drops all feel awful, Castigator is the literal worst, this matchup is so difficult. 0-2 Loss.
How does the mono-white human match go for you? My current tactic is match them with 1/2 drop creatures early, hit them with removal turns 3/4 and then hope for Thunderbreaks/Dragon Roars). It seems to work 'OK' in my meta (still damned tough - I managed to get a comfortable 2-1 in my last FNM and am 2-0 and 2-0 in real life testing. Online testing I'm about 40/60 with now.), I'm just wondering what your current tactic is - who are you siding in/out, etc.
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Titan Strength has proven very useful against Mono-White for me. Once Zurgo enters turn 3/4 he becomes kind of useless (as can't block anything they will be attacking with), but throw a Titan Strength on him and he is suddenly formidable and getting you 5 damage.
Atm I am taking out 2 Zurgo 3 Falkenrath gorger, 3 Goldknight Castigator, in come 3 volley, 3 Thunderbreak and 2 Roast or 2 Chandra - I have tried Seismic rupture in the sb i have tried fiery impulse main, 4 rending volley. They just curve really fast and if any of the anthems hit you are in trouble fast. I have taken down the matchup a few times but id say im 30/70 on Mono White and 40-60 vs the U/G/W variants
I was reading your last report and noticed that your bringing them in against control + midrange and I know your bring them in against aggro since you used them against me. It would kinda make sense if you left them in the SB to avoid clogging your hand vs control or midrange but if your also bringing them in for those MU they should just be main (unlike Goldnight Castigator they won't just ruin you against certain MUs or situations).
In regards with Humans - I still believe Wu to be the hardest due to SB options and Alway Watching + Dragon being brutal vs MonoR (so I'm glad its falling out of favor), against MonoW the MU is really "fair" so anything which give you CA can really help you get ahead assuming you have enough removals.
P.S. I would suggest boarding out Reckless Bushwhacker in this MU since your not racing here, Falkenrath Gorger would be slightly better since it can at least threaten blocks for T1-2 which can buy you much needed breathing room.
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My recent games in tournament have shown that my current 24 land list is prone to flooding, but I'm not too keen on moving to 23 lands with four Neonate, that is the plan as I want to keep the 5 dragons rather than swap Avaricious to the 4th Neonate. The early drops plan is what gets me within range to finish the job with burn rather than defend myself before I lose, half of the time if I'm not burning a blocker for my menace creatures I'm losing. That is the real trouble, having to chip at their health mid to late game, the early game is key, deal damage, eat removal, set up the way for 3-5 burn spells, easily done with GDD.
Top end with 4 four cmc cards and 24 lands seems unbalanced. I think I would cut to 22-23, also I would bet that main deck Castigators makes the mirror match scary.
Do you always put out Sin Prodder on t3?
Depends on the matchup.
I 90% do play Sin Prodder if my opponent used spot removal on my 1 and 2 drops and especially if I have another drop on curve right after that, the idea is you lay them down to empty their hand for your higher cmc cards to stick.
If you play t1 Berserker and they don't remove just attack as many turns as you can unblocked, many many games I've been able to attack and fully pump three times to a total of 12 damage, and then I just cast threeto four burn spells or GDDs to finish the game. You have to also consider how much damage is lost if you use a burn spell. Let's say you can cast a fiery temper for 3 to attack with a berserker unblocked, assuming no blocker,that mana goes equally spent on damage but you both trade a card (their blocker for your fiery temper) rather than keep it in your hand. You will find that in a deck with menace creatures and versus CoCo most of thr time, you will be holding removal on attack just in case to get damage through or save your guys from double blocks for your menace creatures. I always hold instant removal for CoCo so they can lose the smaller blocker while I remove the bigger one for a good 2 for 1 (unless they're within burn range.)
In addition, any opponent who puts cards in your graveyard may automatically be making the wrong decision with Sin Prodder. Sometimes it's best to let you draw the card because you simply don't have the mana to empty your hand of the burn you need to finish the job, making you pay for it is actually easier depending on the situation. I had an opponent put a Thunderbreak Regent into my graveyard unknowingly that I had lethal burn spells in hand. So he put himself into burn range. Its all a matter of their life total, what you can possibly cast assuming you have "everything" and how many unknown cards are in your hand. Sin Prodder is fantastic for this reason.
I played two out of four rounds in FNM so I'll give a short report.
I swapped out the Avaricious Dragon for the 4th Insolent Neonate pre FNM for consistency in terms of drawing cards, hopefully it'll help with possible flooding, which it seemed it did.
I went 2-0 and barely scratched versus my two opponents, I had to leave early to entertain a friend from out of town tonight.
I played against Naya Walkers and G/B Dark Past. Almost all four games I drew turn 1 lightning berserker and dealt at minimum 5-7 damage with him.
My 'zerker was such a threat that both lost instant speed removal to remove him and audibly felt the presence of Thunderbreak Regents in those games following the removal of my lowbie minions.
Post change Draconic Roar seemed like an easier card to sideboard due to the lower chance I had a dragon in hand upon cast.
My dark past opponent gained 14 life but still died to tapping out to cast, buyback, and recast his Seasons Past.
I haven't found a bad matchup yet if I draw the curve.
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The red mage lives by the variance and dies by the variance. May the variance be with you, always.
I played two out of four rounds in FNM so I'll give a short report.
I swapped out the Avaricious Dragon for the 4th Insolent Neonate pre FNM for consistency in terms of drawing cards, hopefully it'll help with possible flooding, which it seemed it did.
I went 2-0 and barely scratched versus my two opponents, I had to leave early to entertain a friend from out of town tonight.
I played against Naya Walkers and G/B Dark Past. Almost all four games I drew turn 1 lightning berserker and dealt at minimum 5-7 damage with him.
My 'zerker was such a threat that both lost instant speed removal to remove him and audibly felt the presence of Thunderbreak Regents in those games following the removal of my lowbie minions.
Post change Draconic Roar seemed like an easier card to sideboard due to the lower chance I had a dragon in hand upon cast.
My dark past opponent gained 14 life but still died to tapping out to cast, buyback, and recast his Seasons Past.
I haven't found a bad matchup yet if I draw the curve.
My original list ran 3 Neonates and 4 zerkers. A turn 1 zerker often forces a big sigh out of my opponents while they take 8-12 damage from just him before I play my other cards so I kept him in. I had 3 neonates simply because I wanted that 5th dragon, but now I go the full set of each 1 drop for consistency in the early game (and card cycling in case of mana flooding.)
My board is still the same, geared towards w/x aggro. Its 12 burn spells and 3 Act of Treason, I barely ever sideboard and I need more diverse options.
I'm thinking of creating a "Go bigger" sideboard, that maybe a better strategy than what I've been doing, something like a 6 drop (Chandra) and extra lands, to gear the deck upwards a bit.
I really can't figure out how to improve matchups with the sideboard, its really difficult. Neonate needs to stay for cycling, dragons need to stay for draconic roar, GDD needs to stay for the endgame, virtually all of the spells do except maybe draconic roar.
Its a tight maindeck, hard to pick what is weakest.
Ran your list against Esper Control on Xmage. It felt like I really wanted Castigator instead of Dark-Dwellers against them. Maybe 2/2 split out of the board against Control.
P.S. How many of you guys are playing MTGO? How have your testing been going? I know digi7al has been having a bad run since I saw his last few LE (we also had the misfortune of playing each other again). I highly recommend MTGO if your not already running it since if your just sightly above average (about 1750-1800 rating) you can end up playing for free and profit - look at my videos, I'm horrible but I'm inf.
Ran your list against Esper Control on Xmage. It felt like I really wanted Castigator instead of Dark-Dwellers against them. Maybe 2/2 split out of the board against Control.
Dwellers usually represents 3 or 4 damage to the dome with a recast of a spell in the gy at the end of the game. Castigator represents 4 damage to the dome assuming no blockers, I personally prefer Dwellers because it doesn't rely on removing blockers at that point, if you want you should try it and give results, but me personally, its not the plan I would use, I'd hate to see it in the mirror.
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The red mage lives by the variance and dies by the variance. May the variance be with you, always.
Goldnight Castigator have flying and the decks which you bring them in against usually have little to no blockers in the skies (it also represents repeated damage and has haste) - while I don't think it should be replacing GDD in the main its def. worth its slots in the SB to sure up your bad MUs.
EDIT: I forgot to mention but it also dodges a surprisingly large amount of removals.
@Apperz:
MTGO is usually cheaper then paper but yes it can be a money sink if you keep losing (it can also be profit if you keep winning). Someone else said this before and I agree "MTGO is better if you just want to play magic, paper is better if you want to socialize". In regards to my favorite Rx build right now... I would say:
Only because it provides answers for someplays which we can't normally win like: Cryptolith Rite > Collected Company > Westvale Abbey GG or Secure the Wastes > Westvale Abbey GG and it helps us stay in the RED against Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet.deck
Kahmos, how well are you liking Dragon Whisperer? It seems more like a filler than an actual useful card. Especially in the early turns where we cast a Neonate t1 and then dash Zerker t2 for 2. Any thoughts on Titan's Strength instead? T2 dash Zerker + Titan's Strength. Looks good on Thunderbreak too. And can be flashed back with Dark-Dwellers.
P.S. How many of you guys are playing MTGO? How have your testing been going? I know digi7al has been having a bad run since I saw his last few LE (we also had the misfortune of playing each other again). I highly recommend MTGO if your not already running it since if your just sightly above average (about 1750-1800 rating) you can end up playing for free and profit - look at my videos, I'm horrible but I'm inf.
Really want to play, but a little nervous that it will be a money sink. I'm new to MTGO and I've no cards or anything, so I'm kind of imagining signing up spending lots on cards and then having to spend lots on entering tournaments too =/
Which is your favourite deck to date MDU? You've played so many!
I don't particularly like MTGO but its serviceable. If you are not trying to run the flavour of the month deck, or a tier 1 deck loaded with chase mythics, it's not too hard on the wallet. Expect to pay around $100 for a tier 2 deck. RDW should be fairly cheap if you don't splash any colors. I can't think of much in the deck other than maybe Abbot and Firecraft that would cost much of anything.
Kahmos, how well are you liking Dragon Whisperer? It seems more like a filler than an actual useful card. Especially in the early turns where we cast a Neonate t1 and then dash Zerker t2 for 2. Any thoughts on Titan's Strength instead? T2 dash Zerker + Titan's Strength. Looks good on Thunderbreak too. And can be flashed back with Dark-Dwellers.
The ability to give him flying is relevant to almost necessary, the first reason being he doesn't get stopped easily when he wants to lower the opponents health, the second is that he can trade up with enough mana. I often find him to be a good supplemental creature to the one drops, my whole team almost has evasion, so Titan's Strength might be good in it for that reason. I have yet to have an opponent who locked up the board and wasn't already dead for me to use the Dragon Whisperer's formidable ability. The people who have watched me play at the shop want to find a better 2 drop but can't.
I could imagine Castigator being a good sub option for thunderbreak when you want to pull out Draconic Roar from the sideboard for Rending Volley, deserves some testing because the card is pretty good, and I don't know what to do with my sideboard, the deck is consistent enough in my games that I am uncertain what would be better half of the time. Most of the time I'm casting 4 Draconic Roars thanks to GDD.
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The red mage lives by the variance and dies by the variance. May the variance be with you, always.
I don't particularly like MTGO but its serviceable. If you are not trying to run the flavour of the month deck, or a tier 1 deck loaded with chase mythics, it's not too hard on the wallet. Expect to pay around $100 for a tier 2 deck. RDW should be fairly cheap if you don't splash any colors. I can't think of much in the deck other than maybe Abbot and Firecraft that would cost much of anything.
Yeah - all the other card are worth less then ticket. That said I can't really recommend RDW for MTGO grinding this season, we do have some ok MUs but most of the tier 1 decks have solid answers for us which really forces you to work for your wins (heck even BW Control one-shot us via massive life-swing after dealing with our board and hand).
(If you do get MTGO anyways I would suggest Pauper for starting out since its a mostly cheap and fun eternal common format)
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Kahmos, how well are you liking Dragon Whisperer? It seems more like a filler than an actual useful card. Especially in the early turns where we cast a Neonate t1 and then dash Zerker t2 for 2. Any thoughts on Titan's Strength instead? T2 dash Zerker + Titan's Strength. Looks good on Thunderbreak too. And can be flashed back with Dark-Dwellers.
The ability to give him flying is relevant to almost necessary, the first reason being he doesn't get stopped easily when he wants to lower the opponents health, the second is that he can trade up with enough mana. I often find him to be a good supplemental creature to the one drops, my whole team almost has evasion, so Titan's Strength might be good in it for that reason. I have yet to have an opponent who locked up the board and wasn't already dead for me to use the Dragon Whisperer's formidable ability. The people who have watched me play at the shop want to find a better 2 drop but can't.
I could imagine Castigator being a good sub option for thunderbreak when you want to pull out Draconic Roar from the sideboard for Rending Volley, deserves some testing because the card is pretty good, and I don't know what to do with my sideboard, the deck is consistent enough in my games that I am uncertain what would be better half of the time. Most of the time I'm casting 4 Draconic Roars thanks to GDD.
Westvale is often not even played until they're ready to activate, the card is generally a 1 of and unless they're trying to hit curve they'll often not play it until the turn they need it.
Thopters and Hangarback are fairly uncommon these days, I wouldn't have sideboard options for them.
Roast is a slam dunk for any red deck.
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The red mage lives by the variance and dies by the variance. May the variance be with you, always.
This deck held up well against Bant Collected Company. Even on mulligan to 5 and on the play. Stuck on three mountains, I was able to pull a win with just these cards, Draconic Roar, Lightning Berserker, Inoslent Neonate, and Sin Prodder. It must be bit surprising to them to have a top tier tri-color deck and lose to unknown mono-red deck!
The main deck feels optimized. And I rarely feel I need to grab something from the sideboard. Roast is the only exception. Dark-dwellers has never been cast more than once in any game. And that is because, so far, games usually end shortly after. But each time Dark-dwellers has flashed back burn. Draconic roar with the dragon trigger is extremely useful. Still a t4 Thunderbreak followed by a t5 Castigator is strong.
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Sin Prodder
2 Zurgo Bellstriker
3 Reckless Bushwhacker
1 Looming Spires
2 Dragon Fodder
3 Falkenrath Gorger
4 Village Messenger
1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
20 Mountain
1 Thunderbreak Regent
3 Goldnight Castigator
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Scab-Clan Berserker
3 Rending Volley
4 Roast
3 Thunderbreak Regent
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
Sorry for never chiming in with my last 4-1 League result but here is my latest, still cant hit a 5-0 but the deck has game.
Round 1: Vs UW Flash - Not sure if this is a deck or a brew, the latter I suspect. Game 1: Once I knew his plan Flash/Counter It was easy to flood the board and bait Counters then hit him with surged Bushwacker and Firecrafts. Game 2: Sideboard In 3 Volley, 3 Scab Clan - Out 3 Falkenrath Gorger 2 Dragon Fodder 1 Thunderbreak. Haste was the Key in game 2 and expecting Sweepers I sided out my fodders and 3 1 drops and having already seen counter magic Scab Clan was an easy include, Rending Volley for flash Blockers both turned up both performed, easy 2-0 Win.
Round 2: Vs UR Eldrazi - Game 1: This was a close affair with my flyers eventually taking over the skies after some dubious chump block's made by him. Sideboard In 3 Thunderbreak Regent 4 Roast - Out 2 Goldnight castigator 3 Falkenrath Gorger 2 Dragon Fodder. Game 2: I mulled to 5 Kept two 3 drops never really got going when Double Vile Aggrigate and tokens overran me. Game 3: Kept my sideboard plan the same, early pressure from a sweet curve and I killed vile aggrigate x 2 with roast before he stabilised the ground again with Tokens and a couple of Thoughtknot seer's which stole my 2 Thunderbreaks before again my flying creatures stole the game along with Double Sin Prodder, Dragon Whisperer doing lots of work as the Flyer. 2-1 Win
Round 3: Vs WB Control Game 1 My opponent 1 for 1 removed all of my threats early before landing Gideon and Sorin easy gg. Sideboard Out: 3 Castigator 2 Dragon Fodder 3 Bushwacker In: 3 Thundermaw 3 Scabclan 4 Roast Game 2: Plan was to hit him early for as much Damage as possible early on with a view to him removing irrelevant threats that had already dealt damage, I was basically treating my early creatures almost like burn spells that would see my "punishers" ( Sin Prodder, Scab Clan and Thundermaw) hopefully survive and do there job in the late game. Game 2 and 3 Both played out just like that, Dash/Haste Creatures were very very good before I commited things like Abbot and Whisperer to the board to bait Languish out then I followed up punishing the 4 drop tap out with a Renowned Scab clan and Thunderbreak hitting him hard for lethal, 2 Kalitas came saw and died to Roast and Firecraft respectively as did a couple of Tireless Tracker and Sylvan Advocate along the Way 2-1 Win
Round 4: Sultai / GB Control Same Gameplan as vs WB Control Same result only much much easier as he durdled a lot. 2-0 Win
Round 5: Vs Mono White Humans, My 1 drops all feel awful, Castigator is the literal worst, this matchup is so difficult. 0-2 Loss.
21 Mountain
Creatures 23
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Ire Shaman
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
4 Fiery Temper
2 Tormenting Voice
1 Roast
1 Avacyn's Judgment
1 Avacyn's Judgment
1 Lightning Axe
1 Act of Treason
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
3 Rending Volley
3 Goldnight Castigator
4 Fiery Impulse
G1 Goblins vs Red Tricks Standard LE 12
G2 Bant Company vs Red Tricks Standard LE 12
G3 Wr Humans vs Red Tricks Standard LE 12
G4 Sultai Control vs Red Tricks Standard LE 12 <-- 7 dmg Avacyn's Judgment
G5 Bant Humans vs Red Tricks Standard LE 12
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EDIT 5/27/2016
21 Mountain
Creatures 23
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Ire Shaman
4 Dragon Whisperer
2 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
2 Goldnight Castigator
4 Titan's Strength
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Temper
2 Fiery Impulse
1 Tormenting Voice
1 Roast
3 Rending Volley
3 Twin Bolt
2 Abbot of Keral Keep
2 Goldnight Castigator
2 Fiery Impulse
1 Looming Spires
1 Roast
1 Act of Treason
G1 BGu Seasons Past vs Exiled Red Standard LE 13
G2 RU Goggles vs Exiled Red Standard LE 13
G3 BW Control vs Exiled Red Standard LE 13
G4 BG Aristocrats vs Exiled Red Standard LE 13
G5 Esper Control vs Exiled Red Standard LE 13
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EDIT (5/30/2016)
20 Mountain
1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
1 Looming Spires
Spells 14
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
3 Titan's Strength
3 Fiery Impulse
4 Village Messenger
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
2 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Sin Prodder
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent
1 Avaricious Dragon
1 Magmatic Chasm
3 Rending Volley
3 Twin Bolt
3 Roast
3 Scab-Clan Berserker
2 Goldnight Castigator
G2 Mardu Control vs Larkblue's R Aggro Standard LE 14
G3 W Humans vs Larkblue's R Aggro Standard LE 14
G4 Jund Delirium vs Larkblue's R Aggro Standard LE 14
G5 GW Humans vs Larkblue's R Aggro Standard LE 14
Vs Humans - I like boarding out 1-drop creatures and try to kill everything (it work ok Vs W, Wg, Bant Humans but not so much vs Wu Humans).
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Atm I am taking out 2 Zurgo 3 Falkenrath gorger, 3 Goldknight Castigator, in come 3 volley, 3 Thunderbreak and 2 Roast or 2 Chandra - I have tried Seismic rupture in the sb i have tried fiery impulse main, 4 rending volley. They just curve really fast and if any of the anthems hit you are in trouble fast. I have taken down the matchup a few times but id say im 30/70 on Mono White and 40-60 vs the U/G/W variants
I was reading your last report and noticed that your bringing them in against control + midrange and I know your bring them in against aggro since you used them against me. It would kinda make sense if you left them in the SB to avoid clogging your hand vs control or midrange but if your also bringing them in for those MU they should just be main (unlike Goldnight Castigator they won't just ruin you against certain MUs or situations).
In regards with Humans - I still believe Wu to be the hardest due to SB options and Alway Watching + Dragon being brutal vs MonoR (so I'm glad its falling out of favor), against MonoW the MU is really "fair" so anything which give you CA can really help you get ahead assuming you have enough removals.
P.S. I would suggest boarding out Reckless Bushwhacker in this MU since your not racing here, Falkenrath Gorger would be slightly better since it can at least threaten blocks for T1-2 which can buy you much needed breathing room.
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C Long Live Eldrazi C
Depends on the matchup.
I 90% do play Sin Prodder if my opponent used spot removal on my 1 and 2 drops and especially if I have another drop on curve right after that, the idea is you lay them down to empty their hand for your higher cmc cards to stick.
If you play t1 Berserker and they don't remove just attack as many turns as you can unblocked, many many games I've been able to attack and fully pump three times to a total of 12 damage, and then I just cast threeto four burn spells or GDDs to finish the game. You have to also consider how much damage is lost if you use a burn spell. Let's say you can cast a fiery temper for 3 to attack with a berserker unblocked, assuming no blocker,that mana goes equally spent on damage but you both trade a card (their blocker for your fiery temper) rather than keep it in your hand. You will find that in a deck with menace creatures and versus CoCo most of thr time, you will be holding removal on attack just in case to get damage through or save your guys from double blocks for your menace creatures. I always hold instant removal for CoCo so they can lose the smaller blocker while I remove the bigger one for a good 2 for 1 (unless they're within burn range.)
In addition, any opponent who puts cards in your graveyard may automatically be making the wrong decision with Sin Prodder. Sometimes it's best to let you draw the card because you simply don't have the mana to empty your hand of the burn you need to finish the job, making you pay for it is actually easier depending on the situation. I had an opponent put a Thunderbreak Regent into my graveyard unknowingly that I had lethal burn spells in hand. So he put himself into burn range. Its all a matter of their life total, what you can possibly cast assuming you have "everything" and how many unknown cards are in your hand. Sin Prodder is fantastic for this reason.
C Long Live Eldrazi C
Side is:
My board is still the same, geared towards w/x aggro. Its 12 burn spells and 3 Act of Treason, I barely ever sideboard and I need more diverse options.
I'm thinking of creating a "Go bigger" sideboard, that maybe a better strategy than what I've been doing, something like a 6 drop (Chandra) and extra lands, to gear the deck upwards a bit.
I really can't figure out how to improve matchups with the sideboard, its really difficult. Neonate needs to stay for cycling, dragons need to stay for draconic roar, GDD needs to stay for the endgame, virtually all of the spells do except maybe draconic roar.
Its a tight maindeck, hard to pick what is weakest.
20 Mountain
2 Looming Spires
Creatures 26
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Draconic Roar
4 Exquisite Firecraft
2 Titan's Strength
2 Roast
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
1 Devour in Flames
2 Goldnight Castigator
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Scab-Clan Berserker
G1 W Humans vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G2 4C Company vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G3 Abzan vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G4 GW Tokens vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
G5 Grixis Control vs R Chandra Aggro Standard LE 15
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Just remember to Mulligan correctly, you want some action turn 1&2.
Ran your list against Esper Control on Xmage. It felt like I really wanted Castigator instead of Dark-Dwellers against them. Maybe 2/2 split out of the board against Control.
C Long Live Eldrazi C
P.S. How many of you guys are playing MTGO? How have your testing been going? I know digi7al has been having a bad run since I saw his last few LE (we also had the misfortune of playing each other again). I highly recommend MTGO if your not already running it since if your just sightly above average (about 1750-1800 rating) you can end up playing for free and profit - look at my videos, I'm horrible but I'm inf.
Enjoy Standard, Modern and Music (also some Pauper, Momir, Gaming, Animations and Legacy)? Then visit my channel:Here
Dwellers usually represents 3 or 4 damage to the dome with a recast of a spell in the gy at the end of the game. Castigator represents 4 damage to the dome assuming no blockers, I personally prefer Dwellers because it doesn't rely on removing blockers at that point, if you want you should try it and give results, but me personally, its not the plan I would use, I'd hate to see it in the mirror.
Goldnight Castigator have flying and the decks which you bring them in against usually have little to no blockers in the skies (it also represents repeated damage and has haste) - while I don't think it should be replacing GDD in the main its def. worth its slots in the SB to sure up your bad MUs.
EDIT: I forgot to mention but it also dodges a surprisingly large amount of removals.
@Apperz:
MTGO is usually cheaper then paper but yes it can be a money sink if you keep losing (it can also be profit if you keep winning). Someone else said this before and I agree "MTGO is better if you just want to play magic, paper is better if you want to socialize". In regards to my favorite Rx build right now... I would say:
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge
Creatures 25
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Abbot of Keral Keep
3 Dragon Whisperer
2 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Draconic Roar
3 Atarka's Command
2 Roast
4 Fiery Impulse
4 Goldnight Castigator
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
1 Clip Wings
1 Atarka's Command
Enjoy Standard, Modern and Music (also some Pauper, Momir, Gaming, Animations and Legacy)? Then visit my channel:Here
C Long Live Eldrazi C
I don't particularly like MTGO but its serviceable. If you are not trying to run the flavour of the month deck, or a tier 1 deck loaded with chase mythics, it's not too hard on the wallet. Expect to pay around $100 for a tier 2 deck. RDW should be fairly cheap if you don't splash any colors. I can't think of much in the deck other than maybe Abbot and Firecraft that would cost much of anything.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
The ability to give him flying is relevant to almost necessary, the first reason being he doesn't get stopped easily when he wants to lower the opponents health, the second is that he can trade up with enough mana. I often find him to be a good supplemental creature to the one drops, my whole team almost has evasion, so Titan's Strength might be good in it for that reason. I have yet to have an opponent who locked up the board and wasn't already dead for me to use the Dragon Whisperer's formidable ability. The people who have watched me play at the shop want to find a better 2 drop but can't.
I could imagine Castigator being a good sub option for thunderbreak when you want to pull out Draconic Roar from the sideboard for Rending Volley, deserves some testing because the card is pretty good, and I don't know what to do with my sideboard, the deck is consistent enough in my games that I am uncertain what would be better half of the time. Most of the time I'm casting 4 Draconic Roars thanks to GDD.
Yeah - all the other card are worth less then ticket. That said I can't really recommend RDW for MTGO grinding this season, we do have some ok MUs but most of the tier 1 decks have solid answers for us which really forces you to work for your wins (heck even BW Control one-shot us via massive life-swing after dealing with our board and hand).
(If you do get MTGO anyways I would suggest Pauper for starting out since its a mostly cheap and fun eternal common format)
Enjoy Standard, Modern and Music (also some Pauper, Momir, Gaming, Animations and Legacy)? Then visit my channel:Here
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/415511#paper
I'm looking forward to trying the Mono with Dragon Whisperer when I get it together!
sideboard options
Structural distortion vs westvale abbey and other attack lands
Smash to Smithereens vs thopters and hangarback
Roast vs most mid range eldrazi and Kalitas
C Long Live Eldrazi C
I really like that list. Might try it out.
- - -
Anyhow here is my first Rg attempt (which wasn't tokens):
13 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Game Trail
1 Timber Gorge
Creatures 23
4 Village Messenger
4 Insolent Neonate
3 Lightning Berserker
1 Zurgo Bellstriker
4 Dragon Whisperer
3 Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Draconic Roar
1 Tormenting Voice
1 Roast
3 Atarka's Command
2 Fiery Temper
4 Exquisite Firecraft
4 Fiery Impulse
3 Twin Bolt
2 Rending Volley
2 Clip Wings
2 Goldnight Castigator
1 Atarka's Command
1 Roast
G1 Eldrazi vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G2 Bant vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G3 Bant Humans vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G4 Bant Humans vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
G5 4C Company vs Rg Chandra Aggro Standard LE 16
Enjoy Standard, Modern and Music (also some Pauper, Momir, Gaming, Animations and Legacy)? Then visit my channel:Here
Westvale is often not even played until they're ready to activate, the card is generally a 1 of and unless they're trying to hit curve they'll often not play it until the turn they need it.
Thopters and Hangarback are fairly uncommon these days, I wouldn't have sideboard options for them.
Roast is a slam dunk for any red deck.
4 Insolent Neonate
4 Lightning Berserker
4 Dragon Whisperer
4 Sin Prodder
4 Thunderbreak Regent
4 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
4 Draconic Roar
4 Fiery Temper
4 Exquisite Firecraft
24 Mountain
C Long Live Eldrazi C