Am I the only one around here, who has been demolished by a minotaur deck on MTGO?
Black/Red, so much removal, including the amazing Dreadbore which is much better than I think people give it credit for. Sure it's not instant speed, but it will only ever cost you 2 to kill any critter or walker outright.
Mutavaults = Minotaurs
Whip of Erebos
Reckoner, Kragma Warcaller....
Maybe if you're a control deck these are not problems.
As you can see there's a huge Glut of 3 and 4 drops. Even having the Ragemonger in play makes most of these just cost 1 less. I honestly think Centaurs are better off than minotaurs at the moment but it's not to say we couldn't make a sweet deck out of them.
It'd be good but it would be much slower and clunkier than just running straight up Rakdos aggro with Mogis in it. You get Cacklers, Shred Freaks, Thrill Kill Assassins etc...
"If fetch lands are reprinted I really believe they will be in allied colors (aka Onslaught fetches). If the fetch lands are reprinted you better believe that we'll all be fetching up basics. This would lead me to believe that the set after THS may have a reprint as the temples can't be fetched but it's pure speculation." - posted 03/22/2014 proved correct during Khans spoiler season.
"The set releases for fall 2015 (Blood, Sweat and Tears) and fall 2016 (Lock, Stock and Barrel). One or both of those 2 blocks (I'm betting) are going to contain either Fetch reprints or (more likely) Filter reprints. Filter lands still need a reprint. They are getting pretty high up there and it's been longer than ZEN so it makes a little more sense that Filter lands would see print earlier that fetches." - posted 03/22/2014 proved incorrect about filters coming earlier than fetches, still pending on filters in Origins block.
The reason why no one really talked about minotaurs aside Boros Reckoner was because the curve was irreparably bad. Prior to BNG, there's a 2 drop, a massive clog at cmc 3, a good 4 drops that's only able to be utilized partway, and a great 5 drop which is the only compelling reason to bother. Getting another cmc 2 minotaur and ragemonger make it much more realistic to play. It is also hardly irrelevant that ragemonger makes kragma warcaller cost 3. Minotaurs are a type of tribe that currently feels sort of like a slow aggro deck with the punch of a midrange deck. It is hardly a competitive deck but can certainly be fun. It is just more feasible than it was prior. Probably, the best configuration for it right now would be a deck that plays like r/b control and slowly sneaks out some minotaurs, then aims to dump out an army bolstered by kragma warcaller. Rakdos return fits well here and interestingly enough duress too since minotaurs are so vulnerable, resulting in a clumping of removal forming in the opponent's hand.
I was running a Minotaur devotion with burning tree , madcaps and a lot of red removal. The black splash slowly left the main for the sb but the lord, reckoner and fanatic all were phenomenal.
Dethbellow Raider with a madcaps late game was surprisingly good. Sometimes it would just win out of nowhere. I also didn't have access to nyxthos due to budgetary constraints but that probably would have helped immensely. Warcaller ended up as too big a liability in my meta, a lot of red and lightning strikes that limited the effectiveness of it so I ended up dropping it.
The mistake is to make it tribal exclusive. Don't leave out cards that can make the deck run better (burning tree emissary comes to mind) just to make room for subpar minotaurs. Here's a deck that won a starcitygames open a few months back, a good example of not sticking to tribal themes to strengthen a deck. I'm assuming we could make it even stronger now..
I'd probably also stick to an 8 set of burn or 4x dreadbore/4x thoughtsieze for control.. and rely on early mid-game minotaur synergies to drive the deck. It's an aggro tribal deck, so focusing on aggro is probably best. Maybe that's just my style
Although BNG hasn't arrived yet, I played an RB splashed W last Sunday (played with Maze's on Saturday). We only got three games because we are just few but went 2-1 with me only losing to mono blue devotion, which is also my first game. I ran with this list:
Game 1: vs Mono Blue Devotion Round 1: Manage play some Minotaurs but my opponent went to fast and I got swept away with Master of Waves quickly. Round 2: I manage to get a good hand, but then my opponent packs in lots of counter spells with Essence Scatter and removals like Rapid Hybridization. I was able to cast Anger of the Gods and planned to Doom Blade the Master of Waves, but he has Negate. Results: 0-1
---
Game 2: vs Selesnya Aggro Round 1: My opponent had a very bad draw but didn't mull and decided to keep his play. He only has 2 Plains while stuck in hand full of green spells. Deathbellow Raider with a Madcap Skills on made the quick work. Round 2: This time around, I was the one who get mana screwed with only two Mountains in play and with no Deathbellow Raider in sight. I lost with 2 Voice of Resurgence, pumped big by his Adjani. Round 3: I rushed with unleashed Rakdos Cackler and a DeathBellow Raider with Madcap Skills. With him tapped out and down to 12 lives, I swing with these 2 on the field. Thinking he'll live the next turn, he was surprised when I cast Boros Charm on Deathbellow Raider for Double Strike. He even comments, "Wow, even your spells has a Minotaur on it." Results: 1-1
---
Game 3: vs White Winnie Devotion Round 1: My opponent plays very quickly with plenty of one drops and an irritating Soldier of Pantheon, Banisher Priest and Imposing Sovereign. I cast Anger of the Gods but he responded with Brave the Elements. Round 2: My opponent got mana screwed with two plains on the early turns but managed to play decent one drops. I took them off with my own removals and continued swinging with a 4/4 Trampling Boros Reckoner and Rageblood Shaman. He managed to survive upon landing his 3rd Plains and then cast Banisher Priest, taking out my Reckoner and Imposing Sovereign. Then on my turn, I cast Anger of the Gods and in response, he used Brave the Elements. Too bad for him, I cast Skullcrack in response. Getting my Reckoner back and with him down to 3 life, he scooped. Round 3: The final round was epic. We have several exchange of creatures on the early turns until I land Purphoros, which he didn't bother to take care off. He took a total of 6 damage from the god and with Reckoner, 2 Cacklers and a Rageblood ShamanFanatic of Mogis finished him off. Results: 2-1
I know that going purely tribal is not the best choice if we want to be competitive, but I'm testing this just for fun; it's been doin all right so far
Huey, Dewey and Louie are always dressed in RUG. it is CLEARLY going to be the wedges block Pioneer: WURFaerie fires BRGDragons ModernBGElves WRBurn UR Fires Turns URGift Storm UG Twiddle Storm
Although BNG hasn't arrived yet, I played an RB splashed W last Sunday (played with Maze's on Saturday). We only got three games because we are just few but went 2-1 with me only losing to mono blue devotion, which is also my first game. I ran with this list:
Game 1: vs Mono Blue Devotion Round 1: Manage play some Minotaurs but my opponent went to fast and I got swept away with Master of Waves quickly. Round 2: I manage to get a good hand, but then my opponent packs in lots of counter spells with Essence Scatter and removals like Rapid Hybridization. I was able to cast Anger of the Gods and planned to Doom Blade the Master of Waves, but he has Negate. Results: 0-1
---
Game 2: vs Selesnya Aggro Round 1: My opponent had a very bad draw but didn't mull and decided to keep his play. He only has 2 Plains while stuck in hand full of green spells. Deathbellow Raider with a Madcap Skills on made the quick work. Round 2: This time around, I was the one who get mana screwed with only two Mountains in play and with no Deathbellow Raider in sight. I lost with 2 Voice of Resurgence, pumped big by his Adjani. Round 3:: I rushed with unleashed Rakdos Cackler and a DeathBellow Raider with Madcap Skills. With him tapped out and down to 12 lives, I swing with these 2 on the field. Thinking he'll live the next turn, he was surprised when I cast Boros Charm on Deathbellow Raider for Double Strike. He even comments, "Wow, even your spells has a Minotaur on it." Results: 1-1
---
Game 3: vs White Winnie Devotion Round 1: My opponent plays very quickly with plenty of one drops and an irritating Soldier of Pantheon, Banisher Priest and Imposing Sovereign. I cast Anger of the Gods but he responded with Brave the Elements. Round 2: My opponent got mana screwed with two plains on the early turns but managed to play decent one drops. I took them off with my own removals and continued swinging with a 4/4 Trampling Boros Reckoner and Rageblood Shaman. He managed to survive upon landing his 3rd Plains and then cast Banisher Priest, taking out my Reckoner and Imposing Sovereign. Then on my turn, I cast Anger of the Gods and in response, he used Brave the Elements. Too bad for him, I cast Skullcrack in response. Getting my Reckoner back and with him down to 3 life, he scooped. Round 3: The final round was epic. We have several exchange of creatures on the early turns until I land Purphoros, which he didn't bother to take care off. He took a total of 6 damage from the god and with Reckoner, 2 Cacklers and a Rageblood ShamanFanatic of Mogis finished him off. Results: 2-1
---
I just lost it at the 3 anger of the gods... It kills all of your creatures. LOL
While I haven't built the deck, on Cockatrice I have played against quite a few times (evidently lots of people are testing it), and while it is excellent against most midranged decks and reasonable against mono U and Rx aggro, it just absolutely dies to UW and mono B without magic christmas land.
Splashing white for boros charm could help those bad MU a lot.
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I just lost it at the 3 anger of the gods... It kills all of your creatures. LOL
I only play Anger of the Gods mostly if Rageblood Shaman is on the board since it pumps all Minotaurs (except for him, but that's fine). With 2 Reckoners on the board, it doesn't matter if I use it since it's a 6 damage on the face anyway (so long it's a finishing damage, but even if not, it's still good).
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You'd need 2 rageblood shamans. If you have a rageblood shaman and a bunch of 3 toughness things, AOG will apply 3 damage to each and when rageblood dies, all the others will lose the boost and die too from lethal damage.
You'd need 2 rageblood shamans. If you have a rageblood shaman and a bunch of 3 toughness things, AOG will apply 3 damage to each and when rageblood dies, all the others will lose the boost and die too from lethal damage.
For most of the time, I only do it when I have Reckoners. Won't be casting AoG if I'm at disadvantage and also I forgot to mention, I usually back-up AoG with Boros Charm for indestructible. I did it once and my opponent made a similar deck the next day.
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That's fine if you're using it with reckoner. My point is that a single rageblood shaman doesn't change anything. And you can coddle AOG if you want but that doesn't mean its the most effective way to do it. you're approaching the level of difficulty to play it that you might as well be playing mortars for overload. But hey, if its fun and you're okay with it, be my guest.
So, with Minotaurs now getting a one drop in black, who thinks they can become viable in standard? While the Gnarled Scarhide can't stop other early aggro, a 2/1 on turn one is still decent, and with tribal support, he can get up to a 5/2 trample, haste for 0. Not too bad for an interesting R/B take on suicide black the Minotuar tribe is giving us. Curving out at 3 mana leaves us plenty of mana to Lightning Strike, Thoughtseize, or Dreadbore/Hero's Downfalls to make sure our hitting when they need to be. I personally wouldn't run Mogis, God of Slaughter, if I really wanted a 4 drop creature, I would go with Rakdos, Lord of Riots, though I think Rakdos's Return would better suit this decks needs.
I'm not sure that the Boros Reckoner would be a good fit, and while Boros Charm is fantastic, I wouldn't splash white for it. The Reckoner would demand three red mana in a two color deck, and crowd an already crowded, 3 mana slot. A slot that pumps our one and two drops, making them more effective (I.E. Ragemonger/Rageblood Shaman. In a format that's slowing down, three color mana bases don't sit well with me. While not a Minotaur, I feel both Legion Loyalist and Rakdos Cackler would easily find a comfortable home in this all out offensive deck, along with the obvious Mutavault. More one drops = more fun.
I've been running my R/B Minotaurs at FNM for the last couple of months but I transitioned it to a more midrange style deck. The spoiled 1-drop could make me try out a more aggressive build, but it really won't be enough for Minotaur tribal. Could be a solid addition in B(x) aggro builds though.
I think Minotaurs really needed a red one-drop rather than a black one. The main minotaurs already worth playing are Boros Reckoner, Rageblood Shaman, and Fanatic of Mogis (also Mutavault, of course). The deck needs to be R/b rather than B/r, and that doesn't really work with a black one-drop, even though the black one-drop is a good card.
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Tatyova | Anje
Alela | Marchesa
Wanderer
I agree. Sometimes it seems like the only minotaur ever talked about is Boros Reckoner
Tatyova | Anje
Alela | Marchesa
Wanderer
Am I the only one around here, who has been demolished by a minotaur deck on MTGO?
Maybe if you're a control deck these are not problems.
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
1cmc:
None This is the primary reason I think Minotaurs won't take off until JOU. They'll throw us a nice bone in the last set to have our hayday with.
2cmc:
Deathbellow Raider
Fellhide Brawler
3cmc:
Ragemonger
Boros Reckoner
Rageblood Shaman
Kragma Butcher
Minotaur Skullcleaver
Undead Minotaur
Fellhide Minotaur
4cmc:
Oracle of Bones
Fellhide Spiritbinder
Fanatic of Mogis
Kragma Butcher
Ordruun Veteran
Canyon Minotaur
Borderland Minotaur
5+cmc:
Kragma Warcaller
Minotaur Assassin
Boros Battleshaper
Minotaur Abomination
Blaze Commando
Warchanter of Mogis
As you can see there's a huge Glut of 3 and 4 drops. Even having the Ragemonger in play makes most of these just cost 1 less. I honestly think Centaurs are better off than minotaurs at the moment but it's not to say we couldn't make a sweet deck out of them.
4x Temple of Malice
4x Blood Crypt
7x Mountain
5x Swamp
Creatures: 25
3x Deathbellow Raider
2x Fellhide Brawler
4x Boros Reckoner
4x Rageblood Shaman
4x Ragemonger
3x Fellhide Spiritbinder
2x Kragma Warcaller
3x Mogis, God of Slaughter
4x Thoughtseize
3x Bile Blight
2x Doom Blade
2x Magma Jet
4x Dreadbore
It'd be good but it would be much slower and clunkier than just running straight up Rakdos aggro with Mogis in it. You get Cacklers, Shred Freaks, Thrill Kill Assassins etc...
"The set releases for fall 2015 (Blood, Sweat and Tears) and fall 2016 (Lock, Stock and Barrel). One or both of those 2 blocks (I'm betting) are going to contain either Fetch reprints or (more likely) Filter reprints. Filter lands still need a reprint. They are getting pretty high up there and it's been longer than ZEN so it makes a little more sense that Filter lands would see print earlier that fetches." - posted 03/22/2014 proved incorrect about filters coming earlier than fetches, still pending on filters in Origins block.
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
Dethbellow Raider with a madcaps late game was surprisingly good. Sometimes it would just win out of nowhere. I also didn't have access to nyxthos due to budgetary constraints but that probably would have helped immensely. Warcaller ended up as too big a liability in my meta, a lot of red and lightning strikes that limited the effectiveness of it so I ended up dropping it.
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Deathbellow Raider
4 Fanatic of Mogis
4 Rageblood Shaman
4 Rakdos Cackler
1 Coordinated Assault
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
1 Hammer of Purphoros
Lands (22)
16 Mountain
4 Blood Crypt
2 Mutavault
4 Frostburn Weird
3 Burning Earth
3 Skullcrack
2 Act of Treason
3 Mizzium Mortars
I'd probably also stick to an 8 set of burn or 4x dreadbore/4x thoughtsieze for control.. and rely on early mid-game minotaur synergies to drive the deck. It's an aggro tribal deck, so focusing on aggro is probably best. Maybe that's just my style
3 Temple of Triumph
3 Temple of Malice
4 Blood Crypt
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
2 Temple of Silence
5 Mountain (2)
2 Swamp (1)
1 Plains (1)
4 Mutavault
// Creatures
4 Rageblood Shaman
3 Minotaur Skullcleaver
2 Deathbellow Raider
4 Boros Reckoner
2 Fanatic of Mogis
2 Kragma Warcaller
2 Oracle of Bones
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
3 Lightning Strike
4 Underworld Connections
4 Magma Jet
1 Mizzium Mortars
3 Doom Blade
3 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Elixir of Immortality
2 Pithing Needle
3 Devour Flesh
4 Skullcrack
2 Hero's Downfall
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Deathbellow Raider
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Rageblood Shaman
3 Fanatic of Mogis
2 Kragma Warcaller
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
Enchantments (5)
2 Madcap Skills
3 Dragon Mantle
4 Boros Charm
3 Lightning Strike
3 Doom Blade
Sorceries (3)
3 Anger of the Gods
Lands (22)
4 Blood Crypt
3 Rakdos Guildgate
4 Temple of Triumph
3 Boros Guildgate
8 Mountain
3 Dark Betrayal
4 Skullcrack
4 Duress
2 Slaughter Games
2 Mizzium Mortars
Game 1: vs Mono Blue Devotion
Round 1: Manage play some Minotaurs but my opponent went to fast and I got swept away with Master of Waves quickly.
Round 2: I manage to get a good hand, but then my opponent packs in lots of counter spells with Essence Scatter and removals like Rapid Hybridization. I was able to cast Anger of the Gods and planned to Doom Blade the Master of Waves, but he has Negate.
Results: 0-1
---
Game 2: vs Selesnya Aggro
Round 1: My opponent had a very bad draw but didn't mull and decided to keep his play. He only has 2 Plains while stuck in hand full of green spells. Deathbellow Raider with a Madcap Skills on made the quick work.
Round 2: This time around, I was the one who get mana screwed with only two Mountains in play and with no Deathbellow Raider in sight. I lost with 2 Voice of Resurgence, pumped big by his Adjani.
Round 3: I rushed with unleashed Rakdos Cackler and a DeathBellow Raider with Madcap Skills. With him tapped out and down to 12 lives, I swing with these 2 on the field. Thinking he'll live the next turn, he was surprised when I cast Boros Charm on Deathbellow Raider for Double Strike. He even comments, "Wow, even your spells has a Minotaur on it."
Results: 1-1
---
Game 3: vs White Winnie Devotion
Round 1: My opponent plays very quickly with plenty of one drops and an irritating Soldier of Pantheon, Banisher Priest and Imposing Sovereign. I cast Anger of the Gods but he responded with Brave the Elements.
Round 2: My opponent got mana screwed with two plains on the early turns but managed to play decent one drops. I took them off with my own removals and continued swinging with a 4/4 Trampling Boros Reckoner and Rageblood Shaman. He managed to survive upon landing his 3rd Plains and then cast Banisher Priest, taking out my Reckoner and Imposing Sovereign. Then on my turn, I cast Anger of the Gods and in response, he used Brave the Elements. Too bad for him, I cast Skullcrack in response. Getting my Reckoner back and with him down to 3 life, he scooped.
Round 3: The final round was epic. We have several exchange of creatures on the early turns until I land Purphoros, which he didn't bother to take care off. He took a total of 6 damage from the god and with Reckoner, 2 Cacklers and a Rageblood Shaman Fanatic of Mogis finished him off.
Results: 2-1
---
4 Felhide Brawler
4 kragma Butcher
4 Kragma warcaller
2 Oracle of Bones
4 Rageblood shaman
4 magma Jet
4 deadbore
2 mutavault
4 temple of malice
4 blood cript
6 mountain
6 swamp
Pioneer: WURFaerie fires BRGDragons
ModernBGElves WRBurn UR Fires Turns URGift Storm UG Twiddle Storm
I just lost it at the 3 anger of the gods... It kills all of your creatures. LOL
Dega midrange 1-0
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I only play Anger of the Gods mostly if Rageblood Shaman is on the board since it pumps all Minotaurs (except for him, but that's fine). With 2 Reckoners on the board, it doesn't matter if I use it since it's a 6 damage on the face anyway (so long it's a finishing damage, but even if not, it's still good).
For most of the time, I only do it when I have Reckoners. Won't be casting AoG if I'm at disadvantage and also I forgot to mention, I usually back-up AoG with Boros Charm for indestructible. I did it once and my opponent made a similar deck the next day.
2 Ash Zealot
2 Fanatic of Mogis
2 Felhide Spiritbinder
2 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
2 Kragma Warcaller
1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
2 Mogis's Marauder
2 Pack Rat
2 Rageblood Shaman
2 Ragemonger
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Rakdos Shred-Freak
3 Boros Reckoner
3 Sacred Foundry
7 Mountain
3 Godless Shrine
7 Swamp
Instant (9)
4 Boros Charm
2 Hero's Downfall
3 Magma Jet
Sorcery (3)
3x Dreadbore
3x Anger of the Gods
2x Dark Betrayal
2x Doom Blade
3x Pithing Needle
2x Rakdos Charm
3x Slaughter Games
Tatyova | Anje
Alela | Marchesa
Wanderer
I'm not sure that the Boros Reckoner would be a good fit, and while Boros Charm is fantastic, I wouldn't splash white for it. The Reckoner would demand three red mana in a two color deck, and crowd an already crowded, 3 mana slot. A slot that pumps our one and two drops, making them more effective (I.E. Ragemonger/Rageblood Shaman. In a format that's slowing down, three color mana bases don't sit well with me. While not a Minotaur, I feel both Legion Loyalist and Rakdos Cackler would easily find a comfortable home in this all out offensive deck, along with the obvious Mutavault. More one drops = more fun.
Cheeri0sXWU
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