I haven't actually faced any Tron decks yet, so the Wildfire hasn't paid off in that regard. The ramp has really helped and it has worked well against decks running the Ravnica/Karoo lands.
Tuskeri Firewalker gives us an ability that we haven't had in the format (as far as I recall). It's good stats, and it can give red some much needed CA.
It's been a while, but some recent sets may have graced this archetypes with new cards to help cover some of it's weaknesses. My new decklist is a major facelift from my last iteration, so here it is:
Commander Legends gave us Fiery Cannonade which is now one of the best sweepers in the format. The instant speed is wonderful and can even counter Spellstutter Sprites. This was a no-brainer addition.
One weakness of the deck was the severe lack of card advantage, but we have two new Monarch cards available in Staunch Throneguard and Crimson Fleet Commodore. We previously only had Crown-Hunter Hireling but it left something to be desired. The new cards can survive a Cannonade, and I prefer Throneguard since it can attack and still block some midrange creatures favorably. Commodore has some good power, but bears can stop it from attacking.
Another new combo that helps the deck is the Cleansing Wildfire+Darksteel Citadel trick. It helps us ramp and replaces a card in hand. This feels very powerful and it gives the deck something to do early in the game. Wildfire also improves our Tron matchup by being in the maindeck to give us an edge post board.
Other considerations:
Boarding Party looks good, but I feel the Cascade has a chance to whiff depending on the opponent's board and if we've been doing a good job clearing the board. I will be testing it to see how it works out. It's already proved to proved to be a strong card in the format.
Bonder's Ornament can replace the Wildfire+Citadel combo for something that might be more consistent, but currently I can only try the deck on MTGO and the tix for it are too high for my wallet. I will definitely test it when I get the chance.
Another option I considered is incorporating some Madness cards like Fiery Temper and Reckless Wurm and use the newly downshifted Jalum Tome to gain some advantage. I might test that out sometime as well, but I'll have to make some considerable changes to fit that package in.
So far I've played a few games and this list has performed well! I anticipate it will still have issues against Burn and Tron (although I'm optimistic it'll fare better than before). What are your thought? Comments and criticism is always welcome and appreciated!
Foundry Inspector looks like this could make the Battered Golem/Retraction Helix more consistent. Multiples of Inspector/Etherium Sculptor can make plenty of artifacts free to combo off. Plus the extra power on the table gives the back uo plan of beating down your opponent.
Haven't really updated my decks yet, but I think this can work, with the redundancy and all. Is mono blue still the way to go? Or izzet better adding red?
With Red there's access to Galvanic Blast and Faithless Looting , but is that enough to warrant a splash? What else would be good? Since this is a bit off topic for spoiler discussions perhaps you can start a new thread with your decklist.
Foundry Inspector looks like this could make the Battered Golem/Retraction Helix more consistent. Multiples of Inspector/Etherium Sculptor can make plenty of artifacts free to combo off. Plus the extra power on the table gives the back uo plan of beating down your opponent.
Filigree FAmiliar gets a downshift and that looks decent. The ETB and Death trigger cards are always interesting.
Staunch Throneguard will definitely see play. We've already seen how strong Monarch is in the format, so a colorless creature that can block well and also attack sounds great! This will give fringe control decks like my Hunt for Red Controlber deck some much needed card advantage.
Maelstrom Colossus is probably on of the most interesting cards to come out so far. This is finally good competition with Ulamog's Crusher for "best fatty". This one feels especially relevant now since Ghostly Flicker effects are commonplace in Tron decks, giving this colossus an easy home as both a finisher and a value engine.
Cascade work only if cast, not as an ETB effect. Flicker won't create an engine, but bounce effects can create some value. I'm imagining some Withdraw or Curfew shenanigans.
Fall from Favor looks strong and also annoying. Lol!
Fleshbag Marauder has been something I've been wanting for a long time in Pauper, so this pleases me very much!
I'm getting real tired of seeing Tormenting Voice reprinted ad nauseam. I know it's just one common slot in the whole set, but I just want to see something different for red.
Looks like some good changes! I watched your most recent Youtube video with the new list and it worked out perfectly in that matchup! Weather the Storm is brutal against some decks.
Pretty solid LD list. Entourage of Trest looks like a good choice to alleviate the main problem of LD which is running out of gas. If double Red in cost isn't too much of a problem I would suggest looking at Molten Rain or Roiling Terrain over Stone Rain to help close out games faster.
If you're using Gut Shot for faeries then you might want to use Sandstorm of Aerial Volley instead. Gut shot is a nice free spell, but the other options give more value.
There was a thread that had some great discussions and contributions to this archetype a few years ago. It can be found here! While it is dated it features almost all the cards you have and even includes cards that were, at the time, only legal online (thanks to the merging of online and paper you can use any of the cards discussed).
Overall, your deck could use more discard outlets than just Wild Mongrel. Mongrel is the best one there is, but it can't carry the deck alone. Aquamoeba is another option. It's not great, but it's probably the second best creature with an instant speed discard ability.
Deep Analysis is okay, but overall it can hurt Threshold and even help opposing Anglers in the race against you with the life loss. Careful Study might be worth testing in its place.
Circular Logic and/or Foil can give you some protection and fight against control decks, although Foil might require more Islands to be effective.
I also suggest a Moldervine Cloak or two to swap with some Rancors. Cloak can get you to Threshold fast and allows your most your creatures to trade or even swallow an Angler.
Aerial Volley can still handle Skyfishers and Glint Hawks. If you're looking for something that can handle Arcum's Astrolabe as well then maybe try Crushing Vines. Take Down is also pretty flexible since it can deal with faeries as well as bigger flying threats. Against decks that run the Skyfisher plan I'd probably go with Hidden Spider over Penumbra Spider since the 3 power is more relevant against 3 toughness.
I really like this list! When I get a chance (and some extra cash) I might look into picking up the cards I'm missing to make a slight variant. It would be great if there was a way to fit Whip of Erebos in there to bring back threats, but too little will inevitably get pitched and too many will take up too much space. Maybe Genesis is worth testing but it would increase the budget a bit.
My favorite Magic card would have to be Bloodgift Demon! It's a demon (which those are always pretty cool), it supplies card advantage since it's a Phyrexian Arena on a stick and it can fly over other creatures to beat face! What more do you want from a black creature?
4x Darksteel Citadel
2x Radiant Fountain
18x Snow-Covered Mountain
Sorcery
2x Flame Slash
4x Cleansing Wildfire
Instant
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Skred
3x Magma Jet
3x Fiery Cannonade
2x Staggershock
2x Thunderous Wrath
2x Crimson Fleet Commodore
4x Staunch Throneguard
Artifact/Enchantment
4x Curse of the Pierced Heart
2x Pristine Talisman
2x Electrickery
3x Echoing Ruin
4x Pillage
2x Swirling Sandstorm
3x Relic of Progenitus
1x Pristine Talisman
Commander Legends gave us Fiery Cannonade which is now one of the best sweepers in the format. The instant speed is wonderful and can even counter Spellstutter Sprites. This was a no-brainer addition.
One weakness of the deck was the severe lack of card advantage, but we have two new Monarch cards available in Staunch Throneguard and Crimson Fleet Commodore. We previously only had Crown-Hunter Hireling but it left something to be desired. The new cards can survive a Cannonade, and I prefer Throneguard since it can attack and still block some midrange creatures favorably. Commodore has some good power, but bears can stop it from attacking.
Another new combo that helps the deck is the Cleansing Wildfire+Darksteel Citadel trick. It helps us ramp and replaces a card in hand. This feels very powerful and it gives the deck something to do early in the game. Wildfire also improves our Tron matchup by being in the maindeck to give us an edge post board.
Other considerations:
Boarding Party looks good, but I feel the Cascade has a chance to whiff depending on the opponent's board and if we've been doing a good job clearing the board. I will be testing it to see how it works out. It's already proved to proved to be a strong card in the format.
Bonder's Ornament can replace the Wildfire+Citadel combo for something that might be more consistent, but currently I can only try the deck on MTGO and the tix for it are too high for my wallet. I will definitely test it when I get the chance.
Another option I considered is incorporating some Madness cards like Fiery Temper and Reckless Wurm and use the newly downshifted Jalum Tome to gain some advantage. I might test that out sometime as well, but I'll have to make some considerable changes to fit that package in.
So far I've played a few games and this list has performed well! I anticipate it will still have issues against Burn and Tron (although I'm optimistic it'll fare better than before). What are your thought? Comments and criticism is always welcome and appreciated!
With Red there's access to Galvanic Blast and Faithless Looting , but is that enough to warrant a splash? What else would be good? Since this is a bit off topic for spoiler discussions perhaps you can start a new thread with your decklist.
Staunch Throneguard will definitely see play. We've already seen how strong Monarch is in the format, so a colorless creature that can block well and also attack sounds great! This will give fringe control decks like my Hunt for Red Controlber deck some much needed card advantage.
Cascade work only if cast, not as an ETB effect. Flicker won't create an engine, but bounce effects can create some value. I'm imagining some Withdraw or Curfew shenanigans.
Fall from Favor looks strong and also annoying. Lol!
Fleshbag Marauder has been something I've been wanting for a long time in Pauper, so this pleases me very much!
If you're using Gut Shot for faeries then you might want to use Sandstorm of Aerial Volley instead. Gut shot is a nice free spell, but the other options give more value.
Overall, your deck could use more discard outlets than just Wild Mongrel. Mongrel is the best one there is, but it can't carry the deck alone. Aquamoeba is another option. It's not great, but it's probably the second best creature with an instant speed discard ability.
Deep Analysis is okay, but overall it can hurt Threshold and even help opposing Anglers in the race against you with the life loss. Careful Study might be worth testing in its place.
Circular Logic and/or Foil can give you some protection and fight against control decks, although Foil might require more Islands to be effective.
I also suggest a Moldervine Cloak or two to swap with some Rancors. Cloak can get you to Threshold fast and allows your most your creatures to trade or even swallow an Angler.
Aerial Volley can still handle Skyfishers and Glint Hawks. If you're looking for something that can handle Arcum's Astrolabe as well then maybe try Crushing Vines. Take Down is also pretty flexible since it can deal with faeries as well as bigger flying threats. Against decks that run the Skyfisher plan I'd probably go with Hidden Spider over Penumbra Spider since the 3 power is more relevant against 3 toughness.