[Variant] All-In Mono Red

[Alex]

Replacing Firefist Striker with Goblin Shortcutter seems like an absolutely fine idea, and I'll probably end up doing the same thing. You don't need the Battalion more than once generally.

[zemanjaski]

Yup I like Shortcutter as well; increases consistency which is critical in this archetype.

Curse of Pierced Heart out of the board for control is clever.

[warwizard87]

this is what im playtesting atm

[deck]
// Lands
18 [10E] Mountain (1)

// Creatures
4 [AVR] Lightning Mauler
4 [RTR] Rakdos Cackler
4 [GTC] Foundry Street Denizen
2 [GTC] Firefist Striker
4 [ISD] Stromkirk Noble
4 [GTC] Burning-Tree Emissary
4 [GTC] Legion Loyalist
3 [DKA] Pyreheart Wolf
3 [RTR] Ash Zealot
2 [M14] Goblin Shortcutter

// Spells
4 [RTR] Dynacharge
4 [M13] Krenko's Command

// Sideboard
4 Skullcrack
2 Volcanic Strength
4 Pillar of Flame
3 Burning Earth
1 Goblin Shortcutter
1 Mountain
[/deck]

i took out the curses to test burning earth, i am still torn on shortcutter vs firefist, so i am running a 2/2 split for now with a 3rd shortcutter in the side. i took out the rubblebelts i loved em just it was rare when they were handy beyond a lighting bolt. i cnat believe i went so long with out playing the wolf in here, he is absurd.
this is the tenitive plan for richmonds scg this weekend ( if i can get burning earths if i cant get them they will become curses)

[zemanjaski]

I don't think Burning Earth is castable on 18 land.

[Pyreheart Bezerra]

I may be wrong, but I would like to have at least 1-2 Mutavault in that list, should help it be even more consistant? 4-drop on 18 land is sad panda for sure. That is if you want it out on T4 or T5 at the latest, right?

[Platypus]

Any thoughts on adding a tiny amount of black for Spike Jester, instead of Ash Zealots (put them in the SB instead)?

[deck]Lands
4 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
10 Mountain

Creatures
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Spike Jester
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Goblin Shortcutter
3 Lightning Mauler
3 Pyreheart Wolf

Spells
4 Dynacharge
4 Krenko's Command
[/deck]

[Valdarith]

Any thoughts on adding a tiny amount of black for Spike Jester, instead of Ash Zealots (put them in the SB instead)?

[deck]Lands
4 Blood Crypt
4 Dragonskull Summit
10 Mountain

Creatures
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Spike Jester
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Goblin Shortcutter
3 Lightning Mauler
3 Pyreheart Wolf

Spells
4 Dynacharge
4 Krenko's Command
[/deck]

Can't imagine why you'd cut Ash Zealot for Spike Jester.

[Platypus]

One power more (although no FS is bad) and immune to both Ultimate Price and Doom Blade. Not sure it's worth it myself, so I'm just posting it so you can convince me it's a bad idea...

[Valdarith]

It's a bad idea because:

1) It strains the mana base.
2) It's a less powerful card in combat.
3) It gets blown out by Electrickery and Flames of the Firebrand.

[Platypus]

It's a bad idea because:

1) It strains the mana base.
2) It's a less powerful card in combat.
3) It gets blown out by Electrickery and Flames of the Firebrand.

Well, yeah, true on all accounts. I'm just looking at the Dos Rakis thread and the Jesters in those decks and started thinking. Cutting BTE instead? Nah, that's probably doing too much damage to the speed of the deck.

[Self Medicated]

So I'm testing this out on MODO:

[deck]
Land (17)
17 Mountain

Creatures (35)
4 Ash Zealot
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Lightning Mauler
2 Pyreheart Wolf
2 Rakdos Cackler
3 Skinbrand Goblin
4 Stromkirk Noble

Spells (8)
4 Dynacharge
4 Krenko's Command

Sideboard (15)
2 Mugging
2 Pillar of Flame
4 Traitorous Blood
4 Volcanic Strength
3 Wild Guess
[/deck]

Tonight I get blown out by a B/W deck with [card]Curse of Death's Hold[/card], Blind Obedience, Heartless Summoning, and Desecration Demon in the maindeck. I'm guessing Traitorous Blood would be the main thing to bring in for game 2? I ask because this was just a single match. I'm also wondering how often this kind of deck pops up on MODO?

[zemanjaski]

www.mtgo-stats.com

It isn't a real deck, so there isn't any value in concerning yourself with it.

[Self Medicated]

Ok cool. I really like how the deck plays. It can be very explosive, yet grind out the late game. I had a turn 16 win last night.

[Self Medicated]

Jesus, the balls of some people. Just beat someone on MODO using the list above and they call me a shit player and tell me my deck is shit. I'm still trying to figure out, if that's true, why did he lose to a shit deck and a shit player?

[Lightning_Dolt]

I am going to test this tomorrow at MNM to see if I like Z's new pet deck

[deck]Creatures (30)
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Burning Tree Emmissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Lightning Mauler
2 Goblin Shortcutter
4 Hellrider

Spells (8)
4 Krenko's Command
4 Dynacharge

Lands (22)
18 Mountain
4 Mutavault

Sideboard (15)
4 Pillar of Flame
2 Mark of Mutiny
2 Electrickery
3 Volcanic Strength
1 Mountain
3 Burning earth[/deck]

Thoughts?

[Valdarith]

Looks good. I'd try to find room for one more Shortcutter.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Looks good. I'd try to find room for one more Shortcutter.

-1 dynacharge?

[zemanjaski]

No.

[zemanjaski]

It's really easy to suggest additions, but there needs to be an explanation of why, of what to cut, why that, how these changes affect the operation of the deck and resultant my how that impacts matchups. It's not helpful to just say things.

[Platypus]

What's your suggestions for Mutavault replacements in the above deck? I have access to only two atm. Just add mountains? Or Hellion Crucibles? Or just keep the lower land count and add more creatures (Shortcutters or Ash Zealots). I'm leaning towards Crucibles myself, for some added late game boost, but I'm not sure it's the right thing to do.

[Valdarith]

Dynacharge is basically Hellrider 5-8 so you definitely want the full playset. I like 3-4 Shortcutters because I want as many "can't block" effects as possible and unlike Striker, Shortcutter grants an immediate effect. It also compliments Striker very well in the late game. I'd cut one Loyalist for him as I don't like seeing multiple Loyalists in my opening hand nd I generally want as many "can't block" effects as I can get my hands on.

Sorry for not elaborating earlier. I tend to be short when posting from my phone, especially when I'm babysitting.

[Lightning_Dolt]

What's your suggestions for Mutavault replacements in the above deck? I have access to only two atm. Just add mountains? Or Hellion Crucibles? Or just keep the lower land count and add more creatures (Shortcutters or Ash Zealots). I'm leaning towards Crucibles myself, for some added late game boost, but I'm not sure it's the right thing to do.

Seems ok to run Hellion Crucible for now, but do get Mutavault when you can. It is 1000x better.

[Platypus]

Yeah, I'm getting some when possible. I'm just not dropping 15€ for a card with the current amount of playing I do. The two I have access to are copies I'm borrowing from a friend.

[Lightning_Dolt]

Back from MNM.

Went 2-1.

Matches were vs:

G/W Aggro (2-1)

Game 1 T2 Witchstalker helped him stabilize. He killed me one one life.

Game 2 was a 3x BTE into FFS start.

Game 3 was textbook. T3 dynacharge for more than enough.

mono green aggro (2-0)

Not much to say here really.

Game1 he got me to 8 but I hit him for exact with trample.

Game 2 double FFS makes him unable to really block.

R/G Aggro (0-2)

This guy was running main deck fog and played it in response to my dynacharges.

Both games he was on one life.



Here are my thoughts:

Krenko's Command was bad. At no point in the game was I really happy to draw it. I sided it out in most games. I'd prefer main deck pillars or
maybe even mugging.

Goblin Shortcutter wasn't great. FFS is much better because you almost always have battalion. FFS is nice in multiples too. I think I'd like to see Goblin Short Cutter be Brimstone Volley. It would give a little extra reach and kind of act as Dynacharge 5+6.

Would consider updating to:

[deck]Creatures (28)
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Burning Tree Emmissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Lightning Mauler
4 Hellrider

Spells (10)
4 Mugging
4 Dynacharge
2 Brimstone Volley

Lands (22)
18 Mountain
4 Mutavault

Sideboard (15)
4 Pillar of Flame
2 Mark of Mutiny
2 Electrickery
3 Volcanic Strength
1 Mountain
3 Burning earth[/deck]

[Christen]

I'd play Pillar of Flame maindeck with that list.

[Self Medicated]

Johnny, considering you weren't running Foundry Street Denizen in your original list, I think taking out [card]Krenko's Command[/card] is fine. Hellrider doesn't need Command to be good. You might consider 2 Pyreheart Wolf instead of the Volleys.

[Valdarith]

When I played AIR in Standard I felt the same way about Krenko's. It's really only good with a Dynacharge or Hellrider in play, and occassionaly getting value from Denizen.

I would run Shortcutter before I ever ran Mugging mainboard. Mugging is a sideboard card at best. If you're wanting a "can't block" effect you may as well be running one on a dude. Yes, Mugging is good for mirror matches but you shouldn't be playing Mugging maindeck simply to hedge against that matchup.

[Link]

there's no reason to not play pillar of flame over mugging with voice and blood artists and strangleroot geist (mono greens) around... IMO anyway. I know mugging a thragtusk feels good

[Link]

http://www.mtgo-stats.com

It isn't a real deck, so there isn't any value in concerning yourself with it.

I know the list is completely different, but the colors are the same, so looking back at this is pretty funny

[Lightning_Dolt]

Krenko's Command is a brutal top deck when you need to push for that last bit of damage.

This deck is not for the faint of heart. Every game seemed close and came down to top decks. It is nerve racking to play.

[dpaine88]

I'm testing this out and so far, so good.

[DECK]
Creatures
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
3 Legion Loyalist
4 Firefist Striker
4 Lightning Mauler
4 Goblin Shortcutter
4 Burning-Tree Emmisary
3 Chandra's Pheonix
4 Hellrider

Spells
4 Dynacharge

Lands
4 Mutavault
18 Mountain
[/DECK]

4 Loyalist seemed a bit much, he is pretty crappy in multiples but I think his value will be good as token decks are getting more and more popular between Aristocrats and W/B humans lists popping up. I could see having the 4th in the sideboard if tokens are a big thing or even 4 in main but atm, I don't think 4 is needed.

In general, just not a big fan of Krenko's Command, I think I'd rather play Ash Zealot or Pheonix in that slot. I'm testing out the Pheonix right now and while there is no way to get it back to your hand, I think the body itself is just fine. I wanted more cards with an immediate impact on the
game. Ash Zealot is good too though, I don't think casting him is that hard and you have plenty of options for BTE with LM, FFS, and GS.

Even like cutting 1 Shortcutter for a 4th Pheonix maybe.

[Valdarith]

I personally do not like Phoenix without a way to recur him. I'd run Ash Zealot instead since she comes down a turn sooner and is a hatebear.

[dpaine88]

Yea you might be right, an extra turn of attack is probably better than Flying anyways since usually you have more attackers than they have blockers and they are both Double-Red mana.

Plus, I didnt even think of the Dynacharge/Ash Zealot synergy

[Self Medicated]

What is the general consensus on Foundry Street Denizen? I'm starting to think he's not needed. I mean, sure, there's that once in a while moment when you drop 3 red creatures on turn 2 and attack for 4 with Denizen, but the 1 toughness really sucks. As I am not playing Rakdos Cackler in my current built, I'm thinking about replacing Denizen with Cackler. Now that I think about it, 2 toughness isn't that great either. I guess what I'm asking is if you had to pick one, which would it be?

[Alex]

What is the general consensus on Foundry Street Denizen? I'm starting to think he's not needed. I mean, sure, there's that once in a while moment when you drop 3 red creatures on turn 2 and attack for 4 with Denizen, but the 1 toughness really sucks. As I am not playing Rakdos Cackler in my current built, I'm thinking about replacing Denizen with Cackler. Now that I think about it, 2 toughness isn't that great either. I guess what I'm asking is if you had to pick one, which would it be?

Play Shock instead? Sounds like you don't want a 1drop that sucks.

[LP, of the Fires]

I like playing 16 one drops myself. THis deck reminds me of modern goblins in that the games with a one-drop are much easier then the games without one.

[Self Medicated]

Play Shock instead? Sounds like you don't want a 1drop that sucks.

Pretty much.

[dpaine88]

I think Cackler is pretty solid, always been there for me, the cute little guy

16 1-drops seems a little much... I think 10+ puts you in a good place though.

[zemanjaski]

I don't like Phoenix at all, it's a bad Ash Zealot.

I really like Loyalist.

I think Foundry Street might just be better than Noble, in a deck built with specific interactions in mind. Its a better top deck because he still averages out as a 2.5/1, whereas a Noble is still just a 1/1 late. The batallion guys, Foundry Street, Dynacharge and Hellrider all want you getting multiple guys out and attacking. BTE, Krenko's and haste guys all help.

This leads me to Young Pyromancer:
- can be chained off BTE
- only need to cast 1 spell for him to be better than Krenko's (he's 3 power and 2 bodies, relevant for all the above).

So with that in mind, maybe we can look at shifting the core to:

4 Foundry Street Denizen
4 Legion Loyalist (you need at least 2)
4 Rakdos Cackler

4 Burning Tree Emissary
4 Firefist Striker
4 Lightning Mauler
4 Young Pyromancer

4 Krenko's Command
4 Dynacharge

18 Mountain

nThat's 54 cards. I could see something like:
- 2 Mutavault
- 2 Hellrider
- 2 of any of: Pillar of Flame / Searing Spear / Goblin Shortcutter / Weapon Surge / Mark of Mutiny

Or some other small changes; you probably start getting really good value out of Pyromancer at around 10-12 spells (averaging 2 spells a game or 4 power).

[zemanjaski]

Or -2 Loyalist, +4 Stromkirk Noble or Ash Zealot