MTG Salvation

Peacekeeper of the Sunhome Legion
Boros Guildmage

Introduction
This deck marks the halfway point of my 'Ravnica Block Guildmage Series' and what better guild than one of the original four! The Boros Legion was characterised by their righteousness and their function as the army or police of the city plain. Cards like Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran and Razia, Boros Archangel demonstrate these themes well. However, Boros Guildmage is far from a mini version of these and is meant to facilitate speed in games with haste and turn combat math to your side with first strike. This means no other deck, but an aggressive one can really be made that takes full advantage of these abilities, much the same way they were used in the Kamigawa-Ravnica Standard period.

It is with this historical period of standard in mind that I assembled this deck and tried to extract every piece of value I could. Even if not everyone plays Pestilence or Crypt Rats (two cards I identified as must haves for black pauper Commanders) I built in ways to survive these and even come out on top, as well as running a couple of protection creatures. Possessing both a late game and the capacity for an early game, Boros Guildmage should be able to create a threat early on and close out with the ever-present Ulamog's Crusher or Nearheath Stalker or apply continual pressure throughout with efficient answer creatures, like Kami of Ancient Law.

This deck was fun to make and I hope those who try it can either add or it reminds them somewhat of standard past.


What is Pauper Commander?
1. Same rules as Commander.
2. Commander is an uncommon. It can be any uncommon, not just a legend.
3. Rest of deck must be common in a non-Magic Online (Masters Editions come to mind) printing!


(*) Represents a card being shown in multiple categories.


Change Log

New Inclusions
Dark Ascension
Haunted Fengraf - An excellent new utility land that is an auto-include for most pauper Commander decks.
Nearheath Stalker - Undying is a fantastic new mechanic that this deck aims to take advantage of or nullify when possible and this vampire is a real threat to most decks, which also soaks up potentially two removal spells and/or creatures.

Avacyn Restored
Seraph of Dawn - A common lifelink angel is great value in any white pauper deck, let alone Commander.

Return to Ravnica
Electrickery - A partial sweeper in red, very rare at common and also useful.
Transguild Promenade - Rupture Spire number two.

Dragon's Maze
Boros Cluestone - A good piece of mana ramp that can off itself when we need a card.
Boros Guildgate - Easy non-basic mana with little downside.

Modern Masters
None


Cards I Need Or am Thinking About:



Formerly used cards that are still good

Of all the guildmages, this one is the most aggressively orientated and potentially the most flawed so far. Time will tell what is needed to improve it, but if anyone has any ideas for the deck or cards to add to shortlist of maybe-adds please feel free to post.

I see the pauper bug really wore off on you I need to make a new deck myself but I have enjoyed the lists I built so far.

I am seeing sort of a lot of like 1/1 and 2/2 size creatures in the list that don't seem to do much... I would probably pull Defender of Chaos and Defender of Law out. The whole surprise I have a blocker thing is sort of meh. I guess if you had tons of mana up you could flash them in, give them and another creature first strike and hope to bring something big down but I just don't think that is really going to happen very regularly.

Skirk Marauder feels like it might be a little better than Ghitu Slinger due to the fact that you can instant speed the damage but I might be wrong.

I could see a larger equipment setup really benefiting a deck like this as well.

Quote from ISBPathfinder

I see the pauper bug really wore off on you I need to make a new deck myself but I have enjoyed the lists I built so far.

I am seeing sort of a lot of like 1/1 and 2/2 size creatures in the list that don't seem to do much... I would probably pull Defender of Chaos and Defender of Law out. The whole surprise I have a blocker thing is sort of meh. I guess if you had tons of mana up you could flash them in, give them and another creature first strike and hope to bring something big down but I just don't think that is really going to happen very regularly.

Skirk Marauder feels like it might be a little better than Ghitu Slinger due to the fact that you can instant speed the damage but I might be wrong.

I could see a larger equipment setup really benefiting a deck like this as well.

I view red as a prime colour for removal in pauper, so that's one reason I like Defender of Order. Prot white could go though since Guardian of the Guildpact is more or less immune to white auras (which are my concern).

Do you think I have too many things aiming for value rather than just power? The general in this case is weak enough I need to have threats outside her.

Crested Craghorn oooooo this needs to be added to this list. Think of giving him first strike!!!

Quote from ISBPathfinder

Crested Craghorn oooooo this needs to be added to this list. Think of giving him first strike!!!

That should be okay, just need to protect the guy! Defender of Chaos is out for Crested Craghorn.

Only equipment I may consider is Leonin Scimiter, I need to work out worst card remaining, although maybe two equipment is enough.

Flayer Husk is mostly better than the Scimitar due to the free body you get from it.

I personally think that Blight Sickle would be great. First Strike + Wither is really brutal.

Opaline Bracers is still a +2/+2 buff which is actually quite good.

Quote from ISBPathfinder

Flayer Husk is mostly better than the Scimitar due to the free body you get from it.

I personally think that Blight Sickle would be great. First Strike + Wither is really brutal.

I suppose those are options, equip costs for Flayer husk is just a pain though. I'm not sure what to remove, I may be able to try out deck tomorrow.

EDIT: Reason I'm not all in on equipment is white can return and search out enchantments, which should be really powerful in pauper.

EDIT2: Blight Sickle is in over Thundersong Trumpeter.

I've added Seraph of Dawn, which will be going in all my white pauper decks, it's a great card and is really above common power level.

I've made a few small changes to here too, I've added Sparksmith and Electrickery. I'll be updating each list and posting final group, so I can do new ones.

Okay, as with rest, small upgrade of cluestone and guildgate, I'll be trying to work out best way to work on theme of general/first strike focus, while keeping up utility, so advise is always helpful, for this list more than most.