I know there is already a thread about a Kari Zev, Skyship Raider deck, but I consider my deck and building philosophy different enough to warrant a separate thread. I wanted to compete in French Duel Commander, but I only had $150 to spend on a deck. I contemplated my options, and looked a lot of tournament decks, and I determined that white weenie and something like Sligh or Red Deck Wins were my best options for my budget. After talking to a couple people about the local meta I determined that fast aggro was very viable, and that Kari Zev was a decent substitute for Zurgo Bellstriker. I may still build Kytheon, Hero of Akros white weenie at some point when I get together more money, but I really like playing burn (My first deck ever and my first tournament deck were both mono-red burn), and I couldn't generate a decklist for Kytheon that came in at under $200 that I was confident could compete with very well-tuned multi-thousand dollar decks. I looked at many Kari Zev and Zurgo tournament decks for inspiration, and after about a week put together my own decklist using the tournament decks I found as inspiration, and adjusting slightly for my meta, avoiding pricey cards that weren't strictly necessary, like Wasteland and Gemstone Caverns. So far my deck has done fairly well in the small tournaments at my local game store, which are 3 rounds with anywhere from 4 to 10 people, putting up 2-1 pretty consistently, and once 2-0-1. I find that the only matchups that are unfavorable for me are Will Kenrith/Rowan Kenrith superfriends and Grand Warlord Radha land destruction. A first turn Black Vise with a third turn Arcane Laboratory and then fourth turn Stasis lock combo wrecked me pretty bad when I was playing against Teferi, Temporal Archmage, but I usually win that matchup. Next game, I mulliganed down to four and only came up with one land.. I lost that match too. An early True-Name Nemesis with an Umezawa's Jitte is also really bad for me. Any advice on how to shore up those weaknesses is appreciated (I know there was nothing I could do in that round against Teferi, luck was just totally for him and against me). I've given enough background, so now the deck:
I really think the deck has the potential to go 3-0, so that will be my next goal to meet. So far it puts a smile on my face to do so well against very competitive and very expensive decks. Anyhow, tell me what you think. I'm considering adding a Sunscorched Desert for more free uncounterable damage, and a Wasteland and possibly a Blood Moon when I can afford it.
1 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
Lands (37)
1 Buried Ruin
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Great Furnace
1 Mirrorpool
31 Mountain
1 Ramunap Ruins
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
Artifacts (5)
1 Ankh of Mishra
1 Pyrite Spellbomb
1 Ruby Medallion
1 Smuggler's Copter
1 Winter Orb
Enchantments (2)
1 Pyrostatic Pillar
1 Seal of Fire
Instants (14)
1 Abrade
1 Burst Lightning
1 Char
1 Guerrilla Tactics
1 Incinerate
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Pulse of the Forge
1 Rhystic Lightning
1 Searing Blood
1 Shard Volley
1 Shock
1 Skullcrack
1 Sonic Burst
1 Thunderbolt
1 Incendiary Flow
1 Cave-In
1 Chain Lightning
1 Fiery Confluence
1 Firebolt
1 Flame Jab
1 Forked Bolt
1 Landslide
1 Lava Spike
1 Raze
1 Reckless Abandon
1 Rift Bolt
1 Slagstorm
1 Spitting Earth
Planeswalkers (2)
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Jaya Ballard
Creatures (25)
1 Abbot of Keral Keep
1 Ash Zealot
1 Bedlam Reveler
1 Bomat Courier
1 Captain Lannery Storm
1 Chandra's Phoenix
1 Firebrand Archer
1 Goblin Guide
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Guttersnipe
1 Hellspark Elemental
1 Longhorn Firebeast
1 Magus of the Moon
1 Monastery Swiftspear
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Scab-Clan Berserker
1 Slith Firewalker
1 Soul-Scar Mage
1 Spark Elemental
1 Territorial Hellkite
1 Thermo-Alchemist
1 Young Pyromancer
1 Zo-Zu the Punisher
1 Zurgo Bellstriker
I really think the deck has the potential to go 3-0, so that will be my next goal to meet. So far it puts a smile on my face to do so well against very competitive and very expensive decks. Anyhow, tell me what you think. I'm considering adding a Sunscorched Desert for more free uncounterable damage, and a Wasteland and possibly a Blood Moon when I can afford it.
RWArchangel Avacyn, GWNazahn, Revered Bladesmith, RKari Zev, Skyship Raider (French Duel)