I went to a PPTQ in Elmira NY this past weekend. I lost in the quarters. Normally, I'd have another Den Protector in my SB but my friend was borrowing Abzan control and lost his Den Protectors so loaning him my extras was a salvage attempt. Worth it since he lost in the semis, I guess.
r1: Abzan Constellation
g1 Ran him over with Rabbles, Xenagos tokens and such while he durdled with 4 mana 2/2s that drew him a card.
g2 He resolved two Brain Maggot this game but he didn't take my removal thus he just timewalked me twice for a card. I just killed him with the Thunderbreak Regents he took.
2-0
r2: Abzan Control
g1: I flood after he resolves a thoughtseize and lose to Siege Rhinos.
g2: I resolve a t3 Xenagos after he takes my SBD with his thoughtseize... and kill him with it after he misses his 4th land drop.
g3: I resolve a t3 Outpost Siege and bury him in multiple dragons.
2-1
r3: Abbot Red
g1: I kill him with Deathmist Raptors and other nonsense but kill him since he misses land drops 2-4 and dies with three lands in play, with multiple abbots flipping 3 mana spells.
g2: I kill him with Dragons.
2-0
r4: Jacekai
g1: He misses blue mana and I kill him with Dragons and a nice curve.
g2: He misses his second land drop and I kill him with more Dragons that I draw off of Outpost Siege.
2-0
4-0 on the day, I can double draw into 1st seed (due to my apparently sick breakers?), which felt pretty good.
Quarters: Abbot Red with mono-Searing Blood
g1: He resolve 3 Searing Bloods on my mana dorks and I get time walked and bolted from each.
g2: He resolves 2 Searing Bloods on my mana dorks and I die to 3 Eidolons while he's at 18 and I'm at 4-8.
Despite being on the play, this MU is pretty bad. Mono-Searing Blood is pretty hard. Here's how I sideboarded.
-1x Xenagos, the Reveler
-4x Stormbreath Dragon
+2x Arc Lightning
+1 Magma Spray
+1 Feed the Clan
+1 Roast
Love to hear thoughts on this SB plan. It's a bit weak IMO as I think maybe I keep in SBD but and take out Den Protectors and -2 SBD.
How is this matchup against Abzan Robots and Mono Red?
Depends on the Mono-Red build.
Abzan Robots is fine but you've got to understand what the deck is about and what they're trying to do. There are some nuances to the MU but it's something you have to practice since there are few hard and fast rules.
Seems like you sided fine. Could more heavily allocate spots in sideboard for them, but sometimes they just get a really good draw and we die. This is one of the costs of not running Courser I guess.
Concerning Den Protector, I like keeping in vs Aggro to rebuy removal and stuff like Feed the Clan. If you needed more spots, other than cutting Stormbreath, I tend to cut Rabble too. Not sure if that's right, but he always seemed quite awkward with the force attack of tokens and tended to trade down. If I were running your list, I'd probably consider just bringing in Outpost to play control early and then overpower their board with Deathmist and Thunderbreak.
Not being able to apply pressure with your mana dorks is pretty terrible in this deck. So, nah, it's not worth hedging up the RDW MU.
I went 2-3 yesterday, mainly to not having good mana dumps. I lost each one in game 3 after drawing more lands than spells and waay more lands than my opponent. It's sort of a cop-out excuse and there were some lines I think I could've taken that might have won me the game but it's hard to say. Worth noting is that you can easily get too reactive with this deck. I think I sided out my different three drops too often and brought in too many removal spells.
Moving forward, I think dropping a Roast and adding a Magma Spray is reasonable. I'm probably going to play Temur next weekend, so I'll be posting lists over there. I think having access to just bigger beaters is undeniably good. Surrak Dragonclaw, as I've mentioned over in Temur, is good right now since it's basically immune to Dromoka's Command and Ultimate Price.
I'm not sure if leaving out Dragonlord Atarka is right. Without Courser, Caryatid, and Xenagos to make casting him reliable, cutting the curve down seems like the go. Avaricious Dragon feels suspect, but discarding Raptors and such doesn't seem half bad. Ashcloud is a decent stand in for Stormbreath that enables our Raptors. Roar might not be playable without the decent dragon count. My initial sketch just had Wild Slash and Claws.
Kolaghan might be worth it. The manabase is trickier than it seems though. Maybe after the dust settles, but consistency is probably more important to me week 1. Though, using Bloodstained Mires might be good anyway. Hooded Hydra is definitely one I forgot about.
Sarkhan was always billed as a Stormbreath replacement, so let's find out. His main issue is that he's the most expensive part of the deck, but isn't a creature so Beastcaller Savant doesn't cast him. :/ Maybe I'll just play Leaf Gilder. The mana fixing isn't that important, and haste on T2 doesn't do anything (since 'cast Wildslash' isn't an option), but 2 power is nice.
Wild Slash is probably better than it was with Jace likely to still be out in force. Too bad we lost Magma Spray for the Hangarbacks.
This is more of a value midrange deck with some ramp elements instead of just a ramp deck. I'm not to sure of Beastcaller Savant, he seems to work, but I wish he could add mana for non creatures, but oh well. I would like to hear people's feedback on the deck.
Private Mod Note
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I'm a wizard from the great white north!
Standard Decks:
Dinosaurs
Aggro Retired
Aggro Retired
Tokens Retired
Temur White Retired
Dragons Retired
Monsters Retired
Aggro Retired
Midrange Retired
Zombies Retired
Pretty interesting take to splash blue for Knuckles, Kiora and Temur Sarkhan. Mana seems like it would be even rougher than the black splash though, given you need it as early as turn 3, and with only blue 10 sources in your lands, might be cutting it a bit short. You do have the dorks, by they are not as reliable obviously.
I've brewed a few decks so far, and the biggest thing I've noticed is that the manabases are very tricky once you get to 3 colors. There's a natural disonnance between doublelands and the other duals which I think complicates things a bit. I'd be interested in looking at Evolving Wilds as a way to fix this a bit.
Don't know if it's worth it. Your relying on things going smoothly enough that you overpower people with your threats, as there is a fair bit less early removal.
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
4x Deathmist Raptor
2x Den Protector
4x Thunderbreak Regent
4x Stormbreath Dragon
Planeswalkers: (1)
1x Xenagos, the Reveler
Instants and Sorceries: (9)
4x Draconic Roar
2x Roast
2x Crater's Claws
1x Magma Spray
4x Temple of Abandon
4x Wooded Foothills
1x Rugged Highlands
1x Mana Confluence
1x Haven of the Spirit Dragon
8x Forest
5x Mountain
1x Magma Spray
2x Arc Lightning
1x Feed the Clan
2x Xenagos, the Reveler
2x Outpost Siege
1x Roast
1x Rending Volley
1x Harness by Force
2x Destructive Revelry
1x Unravel the Aether
1x Plummet
I went to a PPTQ in Elmira NY this past weekend. I lost in the quarters. Normally, I'd have another Den Protector in my SB but my friend was borrowing Abzan control and lost his Den Protectors so loaning him my extras was a salvage attempt. Worth it since he lost in the semis, I guess.
r1: Abzan Constellation
g1 Ran him over with Rabbles, Xenagos tokens and such while he durdled with 4 mana 2/2s that drew him a card.
g2 He resolved two Brain Maggot this game but he didn't take my removal thus he just timewalked me twice for a card. I just killed him with the Thunderbreak Regents he took.
2-0
r2: Abzan Control
g1: I flood after he resolves a thoughtseize and lose to Siege Rhinos.
g2: I resolve a t3 Xenagos after he takes my SBD with his thoughtseize... and kill him with it after he misses his 4th land drop.
g3: I resolve a t3 Outpost Siege and bury him in multiple dragons.
2-1
r3: Abbot Red
g1: I kill him with Deathmist Raptors and other nonsense but kill him since he misses land drops 2-4 and dies with three lands in play, with multiple abbots flipping 3 mana spells.
g2: I kill him with Dragons.
2-0
r4: Jacekai
g1: He misses blue mana and I kill him with Dragons and a nice curve.
g2: He misses his second land drop and I kill him with more Dragons that I draw off of Outpost Siege.
2-0
4-0 on the day, I can double draw into 1st seed (due to my apparently sick breakers?), which felt pretty good.
Quarters: Abbot Red with mono-Searing Blood
g1: He resolve 3 Searing Bloods on my mana dorks and I get time walked and bolted from each.
g2: He resolves 2 Searing Bloods on my mana dorks and I die to 3 Eidolons while he's at 18 and I'm at 4-8.
Despite being on the play, this MU is pretty bad. Mono-Searing Blood is pretty hard. Here's how I sideboarded.
-1x Xenagos, the Reveler
-4x Stormbreath Dragon
+2x Arc Lightning
+1 Magma Spray
+1 Feed the Clan
+1 Roast
Love to hear thoughts on this SB plan. It's a bit weak IMO as I think maybe I keep in SBD but and take out Den Protectors and -2 SBD.
Depends on the Mono-Red build.
Abzan Robots is fine but you've got to understand what the deck is about and what they're trying to do. There are some nuances to the MU but it's something you have to practice since there are few hard and fast rules.
Concerning Den Protector, I like keeping in vs Aggro to rebuy removal and stuff like Feed the Clan. If you needed more spots, other than cutting Stormbreath, I tend to cut Rabble too. Not sure if that's right, but he always seemed quite awkward with the force attack of tokens and tended to trade down. If I were running your list, I'd probably consider just bringing in Outpost to play control early and then overpower their board with Deathmist and Thunderbreak.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
2x Xenagos, the Reveler
1x Plummet
1x Rending Volley
1x Roast
1x Harness by Force
1x Destructive Revelry
1x Den Protector
1x Magma Spray
1x Arbor Colossus
1x Polukranos, World Eater
2x Arc Lightning
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
4x Deathmist Raptor
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
2x Den Protector
4x Thunderbreak Regent
4x Stormbreath Dragon
Planeswalkers: (1)
1x Xenagos, the Reveler
Instants and Sorceries: (9)
1x Magma Spray
4x Draconic Roar
2x Roast
2x Crater's Claws
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Temple of Abandon
1x Rugged Highlands
1x Mana Confluence
1x Haven of the Spirit Dragon
8x Forest
5x Mountain
2x Xenagos, the Reveler
1x Magma Spray
1x Arc Lightning
2x Feed the Clan
1x Plummet
2x Outpost Siege
1x Rending Volley
1x Den Protector
2x Destructive Revelry
1x Roast
1x Harness by Force
This is the 75 for tomorrow.
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG
Not being able to apply pressure with your mana dorks is pretty terrible in this deck. So, nah, it's not worth hedging up the RDW MU.
I went 2-3 yesterday, mainly to not having good mana dumps. I lost each one in game 3 after drawing more lands than spells and waay more lands than my opponent. It's sort of a cop-out excuse and there were some lines I think I could've taken that might have won me the game but it's hard to say. Worth noting is that you can easily get too reactive with this deck. I think I sided out my different three drops too often and brought in too many removal spells.
Moving forward, I think dropping a Roast and adding a Magma Spray is reasonable. I'm probably going to play Temur next weekend, so I'll be posting lists over there. I think having access to just bigger beaters is undeniably good. Surrak Dragonclaw, as I've mentioned over in Temur, is good right now since it's basically immune to Dromoka's Command and Ultimate Price.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
4 Den Protector
4 Beastcaller Savant
4 Rattleclaw Mystic
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4 Deathmist Raptor
2 Avaricious Dragon
4 Ashcloud Phoenix
4 Thunderbreak Regent
Spells (9)
2 Crater's Claws
2 Wild Slash
1 Roast
4 Draconic Roar
2 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
3 Mountain
4 Cinder Glade
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Wooded Foothills
6 Forest
3 Rending Volley
2 Ainok Survivalist
2 Feed the Clan
3 Roast
2 Seismic Rupture
3 Gaea's Revenge
I'm not sure if leaving out Dragonlord Atarka is right. Without Courser, Caryatid, and Xenagos to make casting him reliable, cutting the curve down seems like the go. Avaricious Dragon feels suspect, but discarding Raptors and such doesn't seem half bad. Ashcloud is a decent stand in for Stormbreath that enables our Raptors. Roar might not be playable without the decent dragon count. My initial sketch just had Wild Slash and Claws.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
4x Deathmist Raptor
4x Den Protector
2x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4x Ashcloud Phoenix
4x Thunderbreak Regent
2x Hooded Hydra
2x Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
3x Wild Slash
2x Arc Lightning
1x Roast
2x Crater's Claws
4x Cinder Glade
1x Haven of the Spirit Dragon
1x Rugged Highlands
8x Forest
6x Mountain
Also worth noting is that it just became way easier to splash black for Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury in this deck, since:
gets you to something like 12 black sources not counting any extra dorks you have.
This also allows for Draconic Roar to be much better.
Edit: Elvish Mystic will be really missed, but for Jund Dragons he isn't crucial since the optimal lines are t3 Thunderbreak, t4 Kolaghan.
Here's another brew:
4 Den Protector
4 Leaf Gilder
4 Rattleclaw Mystic
2 Shaman of the Great Hunt
4 Deathmist Raptor
4 Thunderbreak Regent
Spells (14)
2 Crater's Claws
4 Wild Slash
4 Draconic Roar
4 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
2 Mountain
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Cinder Glade
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Forest
4 Wooded Foothills
3 Rending Volley
2 Ainok Survivalist
2 Feed the Clan
4 Roast
2 Seismic Rupture
2 Gaea's Revenge
Sarkhan was always billed as a Stormbreath replacement, so let's find out. His main issue is that he's the most expensive part of the deck, but isn't a creature so Beastcaller Savant doesn't cast him. :/ Maybe I'll just play Leaf Gilder. The mana fixing isn't that important, and haste on T2 doesn't do anything (since 'cast Wildslash' isn't an option), but 2 power is nice.
Wild Slash is probably better than it was with Jace likely to still be out in force. Too bad we lost Magma Spray for the Hangarbacks.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
4x Beastcaller Savant
4x Rattleclaw Mystic
4x Deathmist Raptor
4x Forerunner of Slaughter
2x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2x Den Protector
4x Thunderbreak Regent
3x Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury
4x Draconic Roar
2x Wild Slash
1x Murderous Cut
2x Crater's Claws
Lands: (24)
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Bloodstained Mire
3x Cinder Glade
2x Smoldering Marsh
4x Forest
3x Mountain
1x Swamp
1x Haven of the Spirit Dragon
2x Llanowar Wastes
Hangarback Walker is still a huge issue for this deck.
Edit:Mardu Strike Leader is probably usually just better than Forerunner of Slaughter, unless mixing up threats to mess with opponent's removal is relevant.
4 Beastcaller Savant
4 Deathmist Raptor
4 Savage Knuckleblade
4 Thunderbreak Regent
2 Den Protector
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 Dragonlord Atarka
2 Crater's Claws
2 Kiora, Master of the Depths
2 Sarkhan Unbroken
4 Forest
2 Mountain
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Cinder Glade
4 Frontier Bivouac
2 Yavimaya Coast
2 Shivan Reef
2 Lumbering Falls
This is more of a value midrange deck with some ramp elements instead of just a ramp deck. I'm not to sure of Beastcaller Savant, he seems to work, but I wish he could add mana for non creatures, but oh well. I would like to hear people's feedback on the deck.
Standard Decks:
Dinosaurs
Aggro Retired
Aggro Retired
Tokens Retired
Temur White Retired
Dragons Retired
Monsters Retired
Aggro Retired
Midrange Retired
Zombies Retired
I've brewed a few decks so far, and the biggest thing I've noticed is that the manabases are very tricky once you get to 3 colors. There's a natural disonnance between doublelands and the other duals which I think complicates things a bit. I'd be interested in looking at Evolving Wilds as a way to fix this a bit.
Don't know if it's worth it. Your relying on things going smoothly enough that you overpower people with your threats, as there is a fair bit less early removal.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)