The Primer is very outdated so I'm not sure how good those lists are anymore.
Regarding Boom // Bust, it can be used with Fetches as well and crack them in response which you can't do with Smallpox which would require to contruct the deck accordingly.
I haven't but this card seems better in a more-creature heavy kind of deck.
This deck needs a PW that can provide CA and win the game if left unchecked that's why Chandra, Torch of Defiance and Nissa, Vital Force seem like the best options.
I don't think it is worth the number of slots it requires (5-7). Platinum Emperion doesn't auto-win the game against most decks and can be removed or chumped rather easily most of the time.
zbraithwaite,
Do you run the full 4x Beast Within before resorting to fringe options like Bramblecrush ?
it seems not really efficient at all (even as a SB option).
The extra ramp is usually good to cast the fatties (Inferno Titan, Stormbreath Dragon) or to use the "monstrosity" on Stormbreath so it is usually relevant.
I've no idea how this deck did so well in the GP because it seemed really bad in these videos.
The "Madcap package" just dillutes the little threats this decks has even more and seems really bad, as well as Bonfire which is literally useless.
Btw, "RG Ponza" finished 25th in GP Dallas with the "Madcap Emperion" package (which I'm still not convinced of it's usefullness to the deck).
Here - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/506255
This definetly should promote the deck to "Developing Competitive".
I've played this kind of deck a lot and would advise against both those changes Dennis. You need to bolt at 1 (some people play Oust too), Boom/Wall/Helix at 2, Blood Moon/Molten Rain/Anger at 3 and Nahiri at 4. What do you name with Chalice and what do you bring it in against? As for the fastland...you need RR on T3 and sometimes WW on T4 so the filter land is important for...filtering. You'd also be surprised at the number of times you need to hit a land that doesn't come into play tapped on T4 (Nahiri/Wrath) or T5 (GDD).
The idea is to board out most if not all bolts when siding in Chalice and usually casting it x=1, otherwise it is less relevant.
Setting it on 2 might also be good (the version I'm looking at plays helix,boom and no walls).
The filter lands seem unnecessary as in the version I'm looking at there is no need for WW at all so the extra (usually) untapped red/white source is good and drawing multiples of filter lands in the opening hand is terrible.
Coming to play tapped on turn 4 can be easily played around or just ignored with the SSG to accelerate the mana.
Regarding Boom // Bust, it can be used with Fetches as well and crack them in response which you can't do with Smallpox which would require to contruct the deck accordingly.
Right now the most competitive version is the "RG Ramp-LD" variation of the deck.
Here are some videos showcasing a recent succesful build - http://www.channelfireball.com/videos/channel-cheon-modern-rg-ponza/
This deck needs a PW that can provide CA and win the game if left unchecked that's why Chandra, Torch of Defiance and Nissa, Vital Force seem like the best options.
"Living End" have Beast Within and post board can bring in Ingot Chewer and Krosan Grip.
"Skred Red" can remove with a big Skred or a combination of removal spells, post board Shattering Spree (or Smash to Smithereens) deals with it easily.
"Burn" can also bring Smash to Smithereens/Destructive Revelry post board.
"Merfolk" also have Harbinger of the Tides to bounce it back if it attacks and Hurkyl's Recall in the SB.
"Dredge" - can kill it with a big Conflagrate.
"Amulet Titan" have Seal of Primordium post board.
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=111993
Platinum Emperion doesn't auto-win the game against most decks and can be removed or chumped rather easily most of the time.
I would rather run more threats (Inferno Titan, Stormbreath Dragon) or more value creatures or PW's like: Thragtusk, Goblin Dark-Dwellers, Chandra ToD, Nissa VF etc.
About Become Immense, I don't think it is relevant for this deck at all (same with Faithless Looting and Hooting Mandrills).
Outpost Siege might be more difficult to remove but it does much less than Chandra, Torch of Defiance or even Chandra, Pyromaster for this mattter.
The R/W LD deck (with Nahiri and Goblin Dark-Dwellers) makes good use of Boom // Bust by targeting "Fetches" or Flagstones of Trokair.
Snapcaster Mage seems worse than GDD here and isn't worse splashing Blue for imho.
Do you run the full 4x Beast Within before resorting to fringe options like Bramblecrush ?
it seems not really efficient at all (even as a SB option).
The extra ramp is usually good to cast the fatties (Inferno Titan, Stormbreath Dragon) or to use the "monstrosity" on Stormbreath so it is usually relevant.
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/34044_Video-GR-Land-Destruction-In-Modern.html
I've no idea how this deck did so well in the GP because it seemed really bad in these videos.
The "Madcap package" just dillutes the little threats this decks has even more and seems really bad, as well as Bonfire which is literally useless.
Here - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/506255
This definetly should promote the deck to "Developing Competitive".
Anger of the Gods is especially good now with the recent uptick in the popularity of "Dredge".
Setting it on 2 might also be good (the version I'm looking at plays helix,boom and no walls).
The filter lands seem unnecessary as in the version I'm looking at there is no need for WW at all so the extra (usually) untapped red/white source is good and drawing multiples of filter lands in the opening hand is terrible.
Coming to play tapped on turn 4 can be easily played around or just ignored with the SSG to accelerate the mana.
And add 4x Chalice of the Void to the SB and switch Rugged Prairie with Inspiring Vantage.
Maybe Tireless Tracker can also be a card-draw option.