Personally, adding the Red splash the the MD doesn't seem like the greatest idea ever. Maybe some Terminates or Bituminous Blasts in the SB to shore up the weaknesses that Doom Blade and Disfigure carry are in order, but throwing them in the MD as a preemptive preventative measure just seems to dilute the MD's purpose from the get-go. Not to sound too arrogant, but that's why we even have a SB in the first place.
Josh Silvestri posted an article on ChannelFireball.com with his comments/suggestions, but to sum it up, here's one of the two lists he posted in regards to a MBA deck:
My only issue with all of the previous decks is that, like most aggressive decks, drawing lands when you need to be drawing spells is the most surefire way to lose. I vote more fetchlands!
And in response to the inevitable "Does the loss of life outweigh the benefits?" argument, I offer you this: Aggressive decks truly only want to get their opponent to zero life before they (the aggressive deck themselves) are reduced to zero. That was the outlook of the classic SuiBlack deck from back in the day (see: Hatred) and it's still relevant today.
I think The Ma4rio is on to something. This deck should be all about the tempo and efficiency. Maybe the Snake theme needs to be put on the back burner for now, but it's a great base.
Here's my suggestion. Mind you, this isn't tested at all, so it could be totally lame.
I've decided to help you out with tagging the deck. It makes life a LOT easier when lazy folks, such as myself, can just click links to figure out the cards.
Hey there. I know that Nicol Bolas had posted a Jaya Ballard list (which can be seen here), but now that NB is banned, who will take over?! I suppose I'll step up to the plate.
So here's my updated list. I used Bolas' list as a base and just made some more efficient changes. A couple card choices seemed kind of silly (I'm looking at you, Chartooth Cougar) and in the end, the deck morphed into a weird Mono Red Control-ish deck.
Obviously, questions and comments are appreciated and encouraged.
In the end, the deck really really likes Braid of Fire + Random Activated Abilities and Stuffy Doll/Pyrohemia tech. The rather large amount of enchantments works really well for my local EDH group, even though other groups have enchantment/artifact hate up the wazoo. Hopefully, the variety of effects that benefit everyone will keep them from attacking me until I can alpha-strike with something random.
My sideboard looks a little strange, but it's been tuned to my meta. I think the main is pretty spot on, though. This deck simple out card advantages every other deck in the format.
Esper Charm at the end of their draw step is pretty nifty just to mess with their hands. The possibility (in the second and/or third game) for a first turn Thoughtseize, second turn Sculler, third turn Esper Charm and you pretty much win, right?
Also, I tested Knight-Captain of Eos as a one-of for the main and it's pretty cool, but very situational. Is Kitchen Finks absolutely necessary for our match-ups? I understand it's a good card, but with all the counterspells I'm casting, don't I need that mana open?
Also tried Firespout over Cloudthresher - really missed the instant speed there and doing 3 dmg over 2 dmg didnt really feel relevant in my matchups against Faeries.
I'm not including any BFT because I kinda like accelerating into T2 Finks/Wilt Leaf Cavaliers with Llanowar Elves.
Right now the only slot I'm thinking over is 3 Oblivion Ring because I want to fit in Snakeform into the deck somewhere.
So thoughts?
Hooray first posts!
But seriously, I really like this deck, so I started testing it on MWS. Poor guy's MTGO for the win, right?
I know that this deck is chock full of critters, but has anyone tested the Elvish Visionary? The biggest issue I had with this deck is that it ran out of steam about mid-game. Now I realize that 99% of aggro decks run out of steam at some point, so let's not bash the new guy for stating the obvious. I was just wondering.
Also, I like the Wickerbough Elder better than the Hexhunter. It's pseudo-beefier so it evades that blasted 'Spout and when activated, you don't lose your critter. Isn't that the idea of the deck? To maintain pressure on the opponent?
And finally, I think Teeg should stay in the SB. He won't last three seconds against any burn spell, most of the Charms and that stupid Executioner's Capsule. He was made the 'board IMHO.
Josh Silvestri posted an article on ChannelFireball.com with his comments/suggestions, but to sum it up, here's one of the two lists he posted in regards to a MBA deck:
3 Malakir Bloodwitch
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
4 Bloodghast
4 Vampire Hexmage
4 Vampire Lacerator
4 Quest for the Gravelord
Spells (10)
4 Sign in Blood
3 Tendrils of Corruption
3 Doom Blade
Lands (23)
1 Marsh Flats
4 Verdant Catacombs
18 Swamp
4 Mind Sludge
4 Deathmark
3 Bloodchief Ascension
3 Pithing Needle
1 Malakir Bloodwitch
My only issue with all of the previous decks is that, like most aggressive decks, drawing lands when you need to be drawing spells is the most surefire way to lose. I vote more fetchlands!
And in response to the inevitable "Does the loss of life outweigh the benefits?" argument, I offer you this: Aggressive decks truly only want to get their opponent to zero life before they (the aggressive deck themselves) are reduced to zero. That was the outlook of the classic SuiBlack deck from back in the day (see: Hatred) and it's still relevant today.
Here's my suggestion. Mind you, this isn't tested at all, so it could be totally lame.
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Lorescale Coatl
3 Mystic Snake
3 Ohran Viper
2 Meloku the Clouded Mirror
Spells
4 Remand
4 Mana Leak
3 Cryptic Command
3 Ancestral Visions
3 Ponder
3 Spell Snare
2 Spell Pierce
4 Misty Rainforest
4 Breeding Pool
4 Flooded Grove
3 Simic Growth Chamber
4 Island
4 Forest
Boseiju, Who Shelters All is pretty excellent anti-counter tech for your sweepers.
Scrying Sheets is always awesome. You'll have to invest in snow-covered lands, but all-in-all, it's not that much of an investment.
Mouth of Ronom is also pretty nifty. Again, you'll have to switch to snow-covered lands.
Miren, the Moaning Well is a great sac outlet for your Threaten'd guys.
Molten Slagheap can help with the awkward color combinations tri-color decks can develop.
Bloodstained Mire, Wooded Foothills, Windswept Heath, Polluted Delta and Flooded Strand all help thin your deck while putting lands into play.
Blood Crypt, Godless Shrine and Sacred Foundry are sexy lands to fetch. Color fixing is always great!
1 Celestial Kirin
Creatures
1 Belfry Spirit
1 Angelic Page
1 Emissary of Hope
1 Eternal Dragon
1 Ghost Warden
1 Ghost Tactician
1 Ghost-lit Redeemer
1 Ghosts of the innocent
1 Hikari, Twilight Guardian
1 Horizon Seed
1 Innocence Kami
1 Hundred-Talon Kami
1 Kami of Ancient Law
1 Kabuto Moth
1 Kami of False Hope
1 Kami of Tattered Shoji
1 Kami of the Honored Dead
1 Kami of the Painted Road
1 Lantern Kami
1 Myojin of Cleansing Fire
1 Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens
1 Revered Dead
1 Twilight Drover
1 Waxmane Baku
1 Yomiji, Who Bars the Way
1 Yosei, the Morning Star
1 Angel of Salvation
1 Divebomber Griffin
1 Reveillark
1 Stormfront Riders
1 Twilight Shepherd
1 Zealot il-vec
1 Valor
1 Blessed Breath
1 Candles' Glow
1 Ethereal Haze
1 Otherworldy Journey
1 Pure Intentions
1 Shining Shoal
1 Spiritual Visit
1 Terashi's Verdict
1 Terashi's Grasp
1 Hundred-Talon Strike
1 Plow Through Reito
1 Aether Shockwave
1 Angel's Grace
1 Devouring Light
1 Retaliate
1 Swell of Courage
Sorceries
1 Restore Balance
1 Resurrect
1 Breath of Life
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Mind's Eye
Enchantments
1 Reverence
Lands
39 Plains
There we go! Much better!
So here's my updated list. I used Bolas' list as a base and just made some more efficient changes. A couple card choices seemed kind of silly (I'm looking at you, Chartooth Cougar) and in the end, the deck morphed into a weird Mono Red Control-ish deck.
Obviously, questions and comments are appreciated and encouraged.
1 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Creatures (13)
1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
1 Greater Gargadon
1 Avatar of Fury
1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
1 Painter's Servant
1 Stuffy Doll
1 Bogardan Hellkite
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Bloodfire Colossus
1 Scourge of Kher Ridges
1 War Elemental
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Bosh, Iron Golem
Planeswalkers (1)
1 Chandra Nalaar
Artifacts (20)
1 Ruby Medallion
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Mind Stone
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Extraplanar Lens
1 Foriysian Totem
1 Mind's Eye
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Nevinyrral's Disk
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Sun Droplet
1 Sculpting Steel
1 Staff of Domination
1 Well of Knowledge
1 Urza's Armor
1 Tower of Eons
1 Darksteel Forge
1 Darksteel Reactor
1 Wild Ricochet
1 Reiterate
1 Pulse of the Forge
1 Beacon of Destruction
1 Word of Seizing
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Grab the Reins
Sorceries (9)
1 Banefire
1 Demonfire
1 Insurrection
1 Obliterate
1 Jokulhaups
1 Hammer of Bogardan
1 Rolling Thunder
1 Molten Disaster
1 Hand to Hand
Enchantments (11)
1 Furnace of Rath
1 Pyrohemia
1 Braid of Fire
1 Honden of Infinite Rage
1 Burning Sands
1 Goblin Bomb
1 Oath of Mages
1 Dragon Roost
1 Sulfuric Vortex
1 Words of War
1 Price of Glory
1 Shivan Gorge
1 Terrain Generator
1 Scrying Sheets
1 Springjack Pasture
1 Kher Keep
1 Urza's Factory
1 Thawing Glaciers
1 Maze of Ith
30 Snow-Covered Mountain
In the end, the deck really really likes Braid of Fire + Random Activated Abilities and Stuffy Doll/Pyrohemia tech. The rather large amount of enchantments works really well for my local EDH group, even though other groups have enchantment/artifact hate up the wazoo. Hopefully, the variety of effects that benefit everyone will keep them from attacking me until I can alpha-strike with something random.
Thread moved to MP and warned.
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
4 Mulldrifter
3 Reveillark
3 Sower of Temptation
4 Tidehollow Sculler
Spells
4 Cryptic Command
3 Esper Charm
3 Makeshift Mannequin
2 Negate
3 Remove Soul
3 Wrath of God
3 Mind Stone
2 Adarkar Wastes
4 Arcane Sanctum
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Fetid Heath [aka Fetus Heap]
2 Mystic Gate
4 Reflecting Pool
2 Sunken Ruins
3 Underground River
2 Vivid Creek
1 Vivid Meadow
1 Vivid Marsh
1 Glen Elendra Archmage
1 Austere Command
3 Condemn
3 Infest
1 Negate
4 Thoughtseize
1 Wrath of God
1 Loxodon Warhammer
Esper Charm at the end of their draw step is pretty nifty just to mess with their hands. The possibility (in the second and/or third game) for a first turn Thoughtseize, second turn Sculler, third turn Esper Charm and you pretty much win, right?
Also, I tested Knight-Captain of Eos as a one-of for the main and it's pretty cool, but very situational. Is Kitchen Finks absolutely necessary for our match-ups? I understand it's a good card, but with all the counterspells I'm casting, don't I need that mana open?
Hooray first posts!
But seriously, I really like this deck, so I started testing it on MWS. Poor guy's MTGO for the win, right?
I know that this deck is chock full of critters, but has anyone tested the Elvish Visionary? The biggest issue I had with this deck is that it ran out of steam about mid-game. Now I realize that 99% of aggro decks run out of steam at some point, so let's not bash the new guy for stating the obvious. I was just wondering.
Also, I like the Wickerbough Elder better than the Hexhunter. It's pseudo-beefier so it evades that blasted 'Spout and when activated, you don't lose your critter. Isn't that the idea of the deck? To maintain pressure on the opponent?
And finally, I think Teeg should stay in the SB. He won't last three seconds against any burn spell, most of the Charms and that stupid Executioner's Capsule. He was made the 'board IMHO.