I'm looking for a very consistent deck to play in legacy tourneys. I don't really mind what playstyle or whatever, and budget isn't an issue.
What are the most competitive decks in the format? I know next to nothing about the meta, just that my LGS is starting to support it and I want to get into it.
Went 3-2 to top 8 followed by a mirror loss piloting Patrick Chapin's Opal Goblins list.
Overall I was impressed with the deck. It has the explosiveness that it needs to win, but its not as consistent as the slightly longer game dragonlord and masticore builds. If you can have good luck (Another person piloting the list took 6-1, with his only loss being to the finals of top 8 where he was clearly hosed post board (ratchet bombs and pyroclasms).
Overall if your meta is not running pyroclasms and ratchet bombs in the board this deck is probably going to be better than the other RDW's. If they are, it's a gamble.
@Slotster: Its also T3 win if you play two burnspells and Assault Strobe on T3 with Kiln Fiend on the board and you only need 3 Mountains. ^^ BUT: I tried this version out and...it sucks. Yes, it can be explosive, but the feeling when you topdeck Kiln Fiend or Assault Strobe... You can test it if you want, but it is just bad, because its too inconsistent and that is what this deck wants the least. The most important rule when you build your deck is to ask the Question: Is this good on itself? And Kiln Fiend and Assault Strobe aren´t good on their own.
I think your misunderstanding me in my talk about kiln fiend; The basis of the decklist isn't fiend as your only win nor is the entire cardbase built around winning with him. I swapped out some of the higher CMC burn spells for 1 CMC burn (See: Galvanic Blast) for some more synergy with the fiend since it's so powerful, but I consistently hit my mark on t4-t5 even if I draw no strobes or fiends. And drawing into a fiend isn't horrible but I do agree that if you are already holding an assault strobe drawing another is pretty dead unless you have a fiend to pump with it.
It feels more consistent than old rdw (At least in the testing I've done) and it completely wrecks ramp because it is so fast. SB is yet to be determined, and I could imagine this deck running into some problems with a choice condemn on a buffed kiln fiend, but I wouldn't over-devote if they had mana open for that anyways. In most of my matches they see a kiln fiend and a goblin guide on the board and don't think they're in a lot of trouble until I drop two 1 cmc burn spells and an assault strobe on turn 3, and by then it is far too late.
The other darling win conditions in here are an assault strobe'd kargan and a turn 4 koth into 4/4 mountain untap beat. If you can manage to keep your koth on the table for more than three turns it seems, the game is pretty much over at that point.
Most underwhelming card award goes to ember hauler who wants to fit in so badly but always seems too slow in the deck. I am considering testing Gepoedes with fetchlands in their place, as they seem to be a stronger pick.
If you didn't misinterpret me and just think kiln fiend and assault strobe are janky and inconsistent, I encourage you to try playing this deck, because so far it's been doing very well for me.
Kiln fiend with assault strobe is absolutely ridiculous. If you open a hand like mountain/mountain/smoldering spire/kiln fiend/Various 1 CMC burn/assault strobe then you are going to be swinging for 14 on turn 3 plus 3 to the face or to a blocker. T2 and T3 draws would give you the setup for the kill most likely, and even drawing a teetering peaks on T2 or T3 means 4 more to the dome with kiln fiend and assault strobe. It's a turn 3 win if you open with a Goblin guide and draw into any other pieces, as well.
Strobe itself is a MVP as well, assuring me games with a flying double strike level 4 kargan on t4, and in all my testing I never seem to really cast koth because I've had a more decisive win available around t4 or 5. I could see him being a good parachute though if things go horribly wrong.
@Slotster: Elves is a very good deck, and if you don`t play a version that involves Fauna Shaman + Vengevine, it is really cheap to build. RDW is another choice you could consider. Without Koth, you build a deck for $200, including Kargan and Fetchlands. And sometimes you could be able to get a Koth or two, slowly making the deck not only good, but awesome. Without the Koths I would recommend you to play Kiln Fiend and Assault Strobe. It is very fun to play and is very explosive. But if you can get your hands on some Hammers, you should dismiss the Assault Strobe stuff and play a better deck.
I actually just built a RDW recently, but it's pretty inconsistent. I can win most of my games that I actually sit on three-4 lands and draw into burn or critters, but I get flooded so much (I'm at 24 lands) and theres really nothing for me to do when I'm flooded like that. I run a Ball lightning/ Hell's thunder/ Goblin Guide/ Hellspark Elemental (Or whatever the 3/1 is) list, and it just doesn't seem to be cutting it.
Do you have any suggestions as per a good pre rotation list and a good post? I could save a good amount of money by building off that RDW I already have, but I just don't feel its consistent/it's easily countered in the current metagame.
I'm looking to start playing a lot of MTGO Drafts, so optimally I want to buy a cheap yet competitive t2 deck. I'm in a bit of a pickle with the rotation just about to occur on MTGO and the metagame still really not settled, but I want to pick up a strong deck ASAP.
It would be from the ground up, and would be on a 200$ budget.
Regarding playstyle: I can play anything, but the deck needs to be consistent.
November 4th, 2008: An African American is elected into office. The racial barrier is broken in the white house.
Let us rewind the clocks, Back to January 15th, 1929. Martin Luther King Jr. is born. He grows up to be a Baptist Minister like his father, Martin Luther King Sr. He will also grow up to be one of the most important activists for black rights.
Lets skip ahead 28 years to October 4th, 1957. A man named Russell Simmons is born in Queens New York. Russell Simmons will grow up to be just as important for advocating black rights as even Martin Luther King Jr. was.
1970: Russell Simmons advocates a new form of music known as Hip-Hop. This form of media will prove to be one of the most influential forms of expression that will overflow into the white youth.
Back to 2008. Hip-Hop has flown into the youth, portraying a man by the name of Barack Obama as a hip and new way to change the country. Barack Obama is elected and Hip-Hop has done its job, to influence the youth so that one day a brotha could be president.
What are the most competitive decks in the format? I know next to nothing about the meta, just that my LGS is starting to support it and I want to get into it.
land spellbomb or any equipment memnite mox opal goblin guide happens too
mox opal is good
Overall I was impressed with the deck. It has the explosiveness that it needs to win, but its not as consistent as the slightly longer game dragonlord and masticore builds. If you can have good luck (Another person piloting the list took 6-1, with his only loss being to the finals of top 8 where he was clearly hosed post board (ratchet bombs and pyroclasms).
Overall if your meta is not running pyroclasms and ratchet bombs in the board this deck is probably going to be better than the other RDW's. If they are, it's a gamble.
mark the frost titan when it resolves and target frost titan with its ability
then swing again your next turn and hope that ends it
Took me like a year but it was totally worth it cause Leo got so raged.
I think your misunderstanding me in my talk about kiln fiend; The basis of the decklist isn't fiend as your only win nor is the entire cardbase built around winning with him. I swapped out some of the higher CMC burn spells for 1 CMC burn (See: Galvanic Blast) for some more synergy with the fiend since it's so powerful, but I consistently hit my mark on t4-t5 even if I draw no strobes or fiends. And drawing into a fiend isn't horrible but I do agree that if you are already holding an assault strobe drawing another is pretty dead unless you have a fiend to pump with it.
This is the decklist I've been testing:
19 Mountain
4 Teetering Peaks
CREATURES
3 Kargan Dragonlord
4 Tunnel Ignus
4 Ember Hauler
4 Goblin Guide
4 Kiln Fiend
3 Koth of the Hammer
4 Assault Strobe
4 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Galvanic Blast
It feels more consistent than old rdw (At least in the testing I've done) and it completely wrecks ramp because it is so fast. SB is yet to be determined, and I could imagine this deck running into some problems with a choice condemn on a buffed kiln fiend, but I wouldn't over-devote if they had mana open for that anyways. In most of my matches they see a kiln fiend and a goblin guide on the board and don't think they're in a lot of trouble until I drop two 1 cmc burn spells and an assault strobe on turn 3, and by then it is far too late.
The other darling win conditions in here are an assault strobe'd kargan and a turn 4 koth into 4/4 mountain untap beat. If you can manage to keep your koth on the table for more than three turns it seems, the game is pretty much over at that point.
Most underwhelming card award goes to ember hauler who wants to fit in so badly but always seems too slow in the deck. I am considering testing Gepoedes with fetchlands in their place, as they seem to be a stronger pick.
If you didn't misinterpret me and just think kiln fiend and assault strobe are janky and inconsistent, I encourage you to try playing this deck, because so far it's been doing very well for me.
Strobe itself is a MVP as well, assuring me games with a flying double strike level 4 kargan on t4, and in all my testing I never seem to really cast koth because I've had a more decisive win available around t4 or 5. I could see him being a good parachute though if things go horribly wrong.
I actually just built a RDW recently, but it's pretty inconsistent. I can win most of my games that I actually sit on three-4 lands and draw into burn or critters, but I get flooded so much (I'm at 24 lands) and theres really nothing for me to do when I'm flooded like that. I run a Ball lightning/ Hell's thunder/ Goblin Guide/ Hellspark Elemental (Or whatever the 3/1 is) list, and it just doesn't seem to be cutting it.
Do you have any suggestions as per a good pre rotation list and a good post? I could save a good amount of money by building off that RDW I already have, but I just don't feel its consistent/it's easily countered in the current metagame.
Thanks again.
It would be from the ground up, and would be on a 200$ budget.
Regarding playstyle: I can play anything, but the deck needs to be consistent.
Any helps appreciated. Thanks.
Let us rewind the clocks, Back to January 15th, 1929. Martin Luther King Jr. is born. He grows up to be a Baptist Minister like his father, Martin Luther King Sr. He will also grow up to be one of the most important activists for black rights.
Lets skip ahead 28 years to October 4th, 1957. A man named Russell Simmons is born in Queens New York. Russell Simmons will grow up to be just as important for advocating black rights as even Martin Luther King Jr. was.
1970: Russell Simmons advocates a new form of music known as Hip-Hop. This form of media will prove to be one of the most influential forms of expression that will overflow into the white youth.
Back to 2008. Hip-Hop has flown into the youth, portraying a man by the name of Barack Obama as a hip and new way to change the country. Barack Obama is elected and Hip-Hop has done its job, to influence the youth so that one day a brotha could be president.