Dies to Removal

So my friend and I have been working on some lists, and here is a very simple, unexciting but solid list that has been testing well.

[deck]

4x Rakdos Cackler
4x Firedrinker Satyr
1x Firefist Striker
4x Gore-House Chainwalker
4x Burning-Tree Emissary
4x Boros Reckoner
3x Fanatic of Mogis
4x Ghor-Clan Rampager

4x Domri Rade
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

3x Mizzium Mortars

12x Mountain
4x Temple of Abandon
4x Stomping Ground
1x Temple Garden
2x Mutavault

Sideboard

3x Burning Earth
2x Scavenging Ooze
3x Skullcrack
2x Flames of the Firebrand
3x Destructive Revelry
2x Stormbreath Dragon[/deck]

I think your deck wants Firefist Striker.

[deck]
Creatures (31)
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Firefist Striker
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Fanatic of Mogis
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager

Burn (8)
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike

Land (21)
4 Temple
4 Stomping Ground
2 Temple Garden
11 Mountain
[/deck]

My main qualm with that list is that domri's fight ability is so underwhelming the majority of the time.

I like the list K8. I'd probably cut Purphorous and Madcap for some Firefist Strikers, but I like the Domri and everything else. Nice one.

Elaboration on sideboarding decisions/strategy wouldbe nice to read

It's a list, not a primer. Everything's still in testing, bro.

Domri can fight reckoners and blood rushed things which is nice, it does seem a bit odd in the deck though. I also am not sold on the 4 temple of abandon in aggro but I suppose its a necessary evil to hit Domri and Rampager.

Agree with the firefist inclusion because you have mutas to help turn them on and also Domri to hit them

List seems like it would really want some Xenagos.

Xenagos does seem really good. I have this nagging urge to run 1x Mistcutter Hydra as a late game fireball

I like Madcap as it gives something to do with Firedrinker when the board isn't favorable. It could easily be cut but I think that slot is rotatable with several options.

Xenagos seems better suited for a slower deck. Although I do like the card and desperately want to play him.

The Temples are great, you want them here, there, and everywhere. This one is especially nice because it combos with Domri.

Agree RE: Temple and Xenagos.

I think that Madcap isn't great with so much black and red removal running around, but I appreciate the application.

you start adding Xenagos and you may as well go full midrange and add ramp imo...

Madcap is respectably ballsy and fine when done safely

Xenagos is a good card to have because it's fine across the board and gives your deck game against control when shit isn't going right. Free shred freaks every turn is pretty good

I mean huntmaster was a good 4 drop too but you didnt just jam that into every R/g deck because it was value?

/somewhat bad analogy

Anyone else think Mistcutter Hydra might actually be worth sideboarding in these kind of decks? How much Celestial Flare will the UW decks be packing?

Xenagos is more like Garruk R than Huntmaster, but the point stands that all 3 cards are either sideboard material, misers 1 of's in aggro, or better in midrange.

And trust me, I love me some Garruk R. I won my midnight prerelease splashing red just for Xenagos, and that only cemented my love for him. I'm just not sure he does much here. Chandra in the board is likely going to do more work versus control.

I think U/W will be pretty heavy on the celestial flare due to fear of Stormbreath Dragon. Its a pretty sweet follow up play late when they drop their aetherling though

SO I fixed this deck up and it's been testing great against Esper and the other big baddies of the new format. Main post edited with new list.

I cut the Madcaps for Chandra, who is playing totally amazing. Mogis Fanatic has been good, but it's no Hellrider -- duh. I am thinking of trying 2x Fanatic and moving a Stormbreath to main.

BTW, Destructive Revelry is brutally good.

how has testing gone against the boros midrangey decks

I haven't tested too much against Boros yet. I tested offline all today with Maverick, mostly against the control decks and some GW stuff. I wasn't expecting Boros to play much of a role but if this weekend is any harbinger then it's a deck to keep an eye on. Will test further with this vs red decks.