Blistercoil is bad because it requires you to spend resources to make it bigger. Stonewright is much, much better, and is a great mana-sink. Stonewright + Ash Zealot can win you the game.
Frostburn is good sideboard tech vs. other aggro decks since it's a big blocker that can also "go big" to either kill something or swing in for quite a bit of damage.
Red can be a controlling color if used correctly. Don't just puke your hand out and expect to win. Be more tactical about it.
Thanks for the great answer!
Yea, as I mentioned, it can be a potential blocker or go big.
BUT, would Frostburn be mainboardable? For example if you don't have the top cards, like a playset of Zealot, Hellrider etc?
(In advance: I don't want to see replies like "Stromkirk Noble > All", because I don't have any Stromkirk Nobles. And I'm asking your opinion of the 2 Weirds being in an aggro deck.)
Hey! So I was wondering if Blistercoil Weird and Frostburn Weird would be any good for a mono red aggro deck? (RDW)
I like Frostburn's flavour, as it can be a potential early game (1/4) blocker, or an aggressive 3/2 or even 4/1.
(Blistercoil can get quite big if I have many burn spells to cast...)
(Almost) All lands from Lorwyn. Plains and Forest arts are so amazing in that set.
The reason I like the artworks for the Lorwyn set is because they resemble paintings/etc = they don't look so "realistic" = art.
(imo the coolest arts: Plains > Forest > Mountain > Island > SWAMP)
Effective bump. Onslaught. You had to be there to know it. Goblins and Fetchlands and Storm. One of the first sets not eventually dominated by blue.
the preceding block, Odyssey, was also freaking amazing in it's own way. The set was basically, 'get the precon with the Wild Mongrels, enjoy'. I didn't like Mirrodin block on the other hand for all it's broken-ness.
(Ah, I forgot that there's an official word for aggro/control...MIDRANGE)
Hi! So my question is about my WIP Esper deck, that's mostly focused on white and black spells. (for example, 37% white, 37% black and 26% blue)
So here's the question: what cards would be/are essential for a (BUDGET) Esper deck?
[Clarification of the title: my deck is mostly aggro-ish control/fast paced control (=Midrange)]
Volcanic Strength won't be dead if you're not against a deck with Mountains, but it won't be as good. It's often a sideboard card.
Regarding Mugging, remember that we want most (if not all) of our burn to be able to hit either creatures of opponents, whatever the situation calls for. We want to build in a way that reduces the number of "dead card" draws. A good test is to keep a pad of paper and pen with you when you play and if you ever say "I wish this was a different card" when you draw it, take note.
Regarding additional spells, it really depends on what you're trying to do. If you're trying to be fast aggro, you probably want to go light on enchantments (other than a few auras). If you're a midrange or control deck, they can start helping a bit - like Blind Obedience.
For a pure Boros colored Aggro deck, you're probably going to want to stick to creatures, land, burn and a few auras that help give your creatures buffs and/or evasion.
But play around with it and see what works for you - who knows, you may stumble upon a home brew that is very different but works well.
I've been thinking to make my Boros Aggro into Boros Aggro/Midrange, so it has some control of what my oppnenet is allowed to do and so on. (75% aggro, 20% control & 5% combo/25% control.)
Or if that doesn't work, 100% aggro. (aggro/tempo)
My opinion is that those are cards for specific situations. If you're building around those situations then they're ok to good. Aggro decks don't usually build for niche situations, but more to outrun and overrun your opponent.
To me, Smite seems like a decent choice in a "budget" tokens deck. If you're able to chump block all day long, why not get a little extra value and destroy what you chump blocked. But if you're playing an aggro deck that's trying to go faster or trying to get more "value" creatures on the board than your opponent, then it probably won't be very helpful.
Mugging is sort of similar, but it sort of falls in a category that red decks like. Making things unable to block so they get through. Red decks use things like Pyreheart Wolf, Madcap Skills, and, against other red decks, Volcanic Strength to accomplish this. If you can get your hands on those they're probably more powerful than Mugging.
Well, I have 3-5 Mugging, but 2 Mc Skills and 1 Volcanic Str. So...2 mug, 2 skills?
What would be good spells/enchantments, other than burn spells, for my deck?
Nah, it wasn't much. Someone who's been playing for a long time would look at that and realize it was just stream of consciousness off the top of the head. Some of it may actually be a little incorrect, but hopefully they're decent starting points.
I think the first thing to focus on would be to get more consistent. A good way to do that is to get more 4-ofs in the deck. You have 2 Rakdos Cacklers - get 2 more. That's a fairly cheap card, I believe.
I'm not a fan of Arrest in your deck. It requires your opponent to be playing with creatures that you can target, which isn't always the case. And it won't be a good card if you're either far ahead in board advantage or far behind. I'd suggest replacing them with more burn - maybe some copies of Pillar of Flame, and/or additional Boros Charms.
I see you've recognized the need for Sacred Foundry. It's not a "budget" card but it, along with Clifftop Retreat, will greatly help the deck. Guildgates are generally not a good option for a deck that relies on being fast - you can't use the mana the turn you play the land.
Thanks (again)! But yeah, my decks aren't supposed to be "budget", I just call them budget, because I don't have that much money. (-> not that many good cards)
Of course some shock lands would be nice.
One of the bigger decisions before you start buying cards is choosing which color to use as base for your deck. You need to decide because keeping both Precinct Captain and Ash Zealot in the same deck means limiting what you play T1 or T2 and those turns are very important to you.
Basically it's a choice between a RDW base with white splash or White Humans with red:
Red = Cackler, Noble, Ash, Lightning Mauler
White = Champion of the Parish, Boros Elite/Dryad Militant, Precinct Captain/Elite Inquisitor
Red base is a bit cheaper if we only look at the 1 and 2-drops.
Of course mixing them up isn't that big of an issue either. You will lose some of the consistency and/or speed but not so much. Just not both Ash and Precinct Captain.
Probably gonna drop Precinct into my MonoWhite token deck.
Thanks for the great answer!
Yea, as I mentioned, it can be a potential blocker or go big.
BUT, would Frostburn be mainboardable? For example if you don't have the top cards, like a playset of Zealot, Hellrider etc?
Well, it seems to be quite clear now: too slow/expensive for the "super fast" RDW aggro.
How about few Dragon Hatchlings?
(it also needs to have that one red mana or more to be efficient...)
Hey! So I was wondering if Blistercoil Weird and Frostburn Weird would be any good for a mono red aggro deck? (RDW)
I like Frostburn's flavour, as it can be a potential early game (1/4) blocker, or an aggressive 3/2 or even 4/1.
(Blistercoil can get quite big if I have many burn spells to cast...)
Thoughts? Opinions?
The reason I like the artworks for the Lorwyn set is because they resemble paintings/etc = they don't look so "realistic" = art.
(imo the coolest arts: Plains > Forest > Mountain > Island > SWAMP)
Bump.
Deck list is now done! You can see the cards in my 1st post in this topic, or you can use the link in my sig to see some stats etc.
Sure, I'm on it at the moment. (In advance: I have a lot of 2's in my deck, meaning that I don't have playsets, but pairs.)
Hi! So my question is about my WIP Esper deck, that's mostly focused on white and black spells. (for example, 37% white, 37% black and 26% blue)
So here's the question: what cards would be/are essential for a (BUDGET) Esper deck?
[Clarification of the title: my deck is mostly aggro-ish control/fast paced control (=Midrange)]
3x Dimir Guildgate
3x Evolving Wilds
3x Island
4x Orzhov Guildgate
5x Plains
5x Swamp
1x Watery Grave
Creature (18)
1x Crypt Ghast
2x Deathcult Rogue
1x Deathpact Angel
2x Desecration Demon
2x Duskmantle Guildmage
2x Hussar Patrol
2x Kingpin's Pet
2x Syndic of Tithes
2x Thrull Parasite
1x Treasury Thrull
1x Vizkopa Guildmage
2x Arrest
2x Pacifism
Instant (8)
2x Blustersquall
2x Murder
2x Psychic Strike
2x Smite
Sorcery (6)
2x Duress
2x Hands of Binding
2x Paranoid Delusions
I've been thinking to make my Boros Aggro into Boros Aggro/Midrange, so it has some control of what my oppnenet is allowed to do and so on. (75% aggro, 20% control & 5% combo/25% control.)
Or if that doesn't work, 100% aggro.
Well, I have 3-5 Mugging, but 2 Mc Skills and 1 Volcanic Str. So...2 mug, 2 skills?
What would be good spells/enchantments, other than burn spells, for my deck?
Thanks (again)! But yeah, my decks aren't supposed to be "budget", I just call them budget, because I don't have that much money. (-> not that many good cards)
Of course some shock lands would be nice.
Your opinion on Smite and Mugging?
Probably gonna drop Precinct into my MonoWhite token deck.