Dies to Removal

Also, I didn't resolve Chandra once all day. I brought her in against the midrange and control decks. The only time I tried to cast her was against Esper, and she was countered. In our list, I think that becomes Burning Earth honestly.

I'd swap out for a Mogis for a couple of reasons:

(1) You're just not going to have a board presence against Esper to land a big Fanatic. May as well bleed them with a Burning Earth.

(2) Chandra can do a few things that Burning Earth can't - namely recur your best weapon, the Phoenix. She also draws you cards.

(3) You have just as much of a chance Chandra getting countered as you would a Burning Earth. Esper hates both cards.

If you've got Chandra and BE in hand against Esper, try and put out the BE first as Detention Sphere/counter bait and hopefully clear the way for Chandra.

@Khaos, in your list what would you replace Shocks with?

@Khaos, in your list what would you replace Shocks with?

Right now? Flames of the Firebrand probably. With as much attention as that Mono Blue Devotion deck is getting, I'd start expecting to see it everywhere. I think keeping them off of their early 1-drops, killing a Nightveil Spector, and even 2-for-1'ing their Tindbinder Mage + x/1 guy can be pretty good.

I just got to watch how many 3-drops I cram into this deck. If the Hammer stays, then that would make 11x3-drops.

Where did Dpaine end up at states?

@Khaos, in your list what would you replace Shocks with?

Right now? Flames of the Firebrand probably. With as much attention as that Mono Blue Devotion deck is getting, I'd start expecting to see it everywhere. I think keeping them off of their early 1-drops, killing a Nightveil Spector, and even 2-for-1'ing their Tindbinder Mage + x/1 guy can be pretty good.

I just got to watch how many 3-drops I cram into this deck. If the Hammer stays, then that would make 11x3-drops.

Awesome. I figures it was between Flames or Annihilating Fire. Going to sleeve
up your list with the change and grind some games for Game Day. Trying to decide between DevoRed or Nuwen's Blakdos Aggro. Found myself barely losing both Esper decks in my area. Trying to see which I feel more comfortable with.

[deck]Creatures:
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Planeswalkers:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Other Spells:
4 Shock
4 Lightning Strike
4 Annihilating Fire

Lands:
2 Mutavault
20 Mountain

Sideboard:
15 Vexing Devil[/deck]

I am thinking about
- dropping Firedrinker Satyr for Frostburn Weird. Control is not that relevant at the moment (and Shred-Freak is still here to hurt) and it gives me a huge advantage against Aggro builds.
- Dropping Magma Jet for Annihilating Fire. More relevant burn card that hurts much more and hits much more.

In terms of SB
- I want Skullcrack to fuck with UWx Control and random Maze End's decks.
- I want Electrickery as it hurts both Gx and Ux decks. It even deals with Elspeth tokens.
- I want Traitorous Instincts as my haymaker against Gx Midranges and the way to deal with anything disgusting (
huge Desecration Demon, Blood Baron, Reckoner)
- I want Burning Earth to deal with Esper and Dega. Or Peak Eruption as it returns Phoenix and screws Dega really, really hard.


[deck]Sideboard:
4 Skullcrack
4 Traitorous Instincts
4 Peak Eruption
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle[/deck]

Pithing Needle is for variety of stuff. Planeswalkers. Scavenging Ooze. Polukranos. Aetherling. Maze's End. I still believe a little bit in this card.

[deck]Creatures:
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Rakdos Shred-Freak
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Planeswalkers:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Other Spells:
4 Shock
4 Lightning Strike
4 Annihilating Fire

Lands:
2 Mutavault
20 Mountain

Sideboard:
15 Vexing Devil[/deck]

I am thinking about
- dropping Firedrinker Satyr for Frostburn Weird. Control is not that relevant at the moment (and Shred-Freak is still here to hurt) and it gives me a huge advantage against Aggro builds.
- Dropping Magma Jet for Annihilating Fire. More relevant burn card that hurts much more and hits much more.

In terms of SB
- I want Skullcrack to fuck with UWx Control and random Maze End's decks.
- I want Electrickery as it hurts both Gx
and Ux decks. It even deals with Elspeth tokens.
- I want Traitorous Instincts as my haymaker against Gx Midranges and the way to deal with anything disgusting (huge Desecration Demon, Blood Baron, Reckoner)
- I want Burning Earth to deal with Esper and Dega. Or Peak Eruption as it returns Phoenix and screws Dega really, really hard.


[deck]Sideboard:
4 Skullcrack
4 Traitorous Instincts
4 Peak Eruption
2 Electrickery
1 Pithing Needle[/deck]

Pithing Needle is for variety of stuff. Planeswalkers. Scavenging Ooze. Polukranos. Aetherling. Maze's End. I still believe a little bit in this card.

I'm liking a lot of this! I've personally been using Frostburn instead of Satyr, because Frostburn has just done so much work for me.
I'd say that I like using reckoner instead of shred-freak, or at least sideboarding reckoner, because he is such a boss against the mirror or g/x. I also really like magma jet. It might not have the power of annihilating, but the scry just helps so
much. If anything, I'd sorta do what Khaos is doing and dropping shocks for FotF...

Nice reports rc and Khaos.

rc- I'm 99% sure that keeping 1 land, no 1-drop hands is wrong, especially in that situation. Even if you get the land and chain them together, your opponent is playing Naya, and has probably brought in all his removal. As much as it sucks to mull to 5, it's better to play magic than lose to your own draws.

(aside- I frequently keep 1 land hands, and get reamed by them on the regular)

I'm seeing divergent strategies both being called "Devotion" now. I'd classify them as "Monstrous Devotion" with Nyx and Ember Swallowers + Stormbreath Dragons, and our favorite, the "Mogis Devotion" that plans to swarm then drop the hurt.

Both very different strategies, both mono red - I like it.

I'm seeing divergent strategies both being called "Devotion" now. I'd classify them as "Monstrous Devotion" with Nyx and Ember Swallowers + Stormbreath Dragons, and our favorite, the "Mogis Devotion" that plans to swarm then drop the hurt.

Both very different strategies, both mono red - I like it.

Big Red, Monster RedD, Mogis D, AIR, and PyroRed. Good time to sling fire & lightning.

Nice reports rc and Khaos.

rc- I'm 99% sure that keeping 1 land, no 1-drop hands is wrong, especially in that situation. Even if you get the land and chain them together, your opponent is playing Naya, and has probably brought in all his removal. As much as it sucks to mull to 5, it's better to play magic than lose to your own draws.

(aside- I frequently keep 1 land hands, and get reamed by them on the regular)

I agree on the 1-land part, definitely. But I had sided out my Firedrinkers so only had 4x one-drops in Rakdos Cackler. I can't plan to mull into 1-drops when there are only 4 in the deck. Firedrinker Satyr is just bad against G/W aggro.

It's a very nice time to play red. As far as R monster D goes, what are the current builds looking like? It feels like we want BTE for nutty T3/T4 dragon or swallower + monstrosity, but then it feels more swarmy than midrange... I just want to go: 1-drop, BTE+2-drop, Ember Swallower, monstrosity; or, 1-drop, BTE+BTE, Stormbreath Dragon, monstrosity. Seems like the nuts.

[deck]
Creatures:
4 Ash Zealot
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Boros Reckoner
3 Ember Swallower
2 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells:
3 Lighting Strike
3 Magma Jet

PLaneswalkers:
3 Chandra, Pyromaster

Enchantments:
2 Hammer of Purphoros

Land 25:
21 Mountain
3 Mutavault
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

Sideboard:
1 Boros Reckoner
3 Burning Earth
3 Anger of the Gods
4 Flames of the Firebrand
3 Mizzium Mortars
1 Traitorous Instinct
[/deck]

what do you think about this deck? for me it runs pretty nice currently. the sideboard is not tested and somehow random to be honest.

mb i would like to play a second nykthos, but i think i wont get a second one untill the next tournament i play, so i am testing it without it^^.
not tested vs control now, mb its too slow vs it, but to be honest i got 2 hammers, 3 chandras main, which are both awesome vs control. phoenixes and
dragons are good too, so i dont see many problems with it.

any oppinions?

I agree on the 1-land part, definitely. But I had sided out my Firedrinkers so only had 4x one-drops in Rakdos Cackler. I can't plan to mull into 1-drops when there are only 4 in the deck. Firedrinker Satyr is just bad against G/W aggro.

I meant that a hand with a 1-drop or two is more keepable on 1 land, because at least you have some early game.

I agree on the 1-land part, definitely. But I had sided out my Firedrinkers so only had 4x one-drops in Rakdos Cackler. I can't plan to mull into 1-drops when there are only 4 in the deck. Firedrinker Satyr is just bad against G/W aggro.

I meant that a hand with a 1-drop or two is more keepable on 1 land, because at least you have some early game.

ah, gotcha. Makes sense. I agree with that.

An update to my build that I'd like some thoughts on. Do try to keep in mind I've got limited resources, so a full playset of Dragons or what have you is way out of my budget.

[deck]
Creatures:
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Frostburn Weird
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Spells:
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike
3 Flames of the Firebrand (Still not 100% here. See note 1 .)

Finishers:
1 Chandra, the Best Card in Standard
2 Hammer of Purphoros

Land:
22 Mountain (Would like 1 mutavault for a 21/1 split, but we can't always get what we want.)

Sideboard:
4 Peak Eruption
3 Mizzium Mortars
2 Burning Earth
3 Act of Treason (Maybe instinct for the extra 2 power)
3 Skullcrack
[/deck]

A bit worried cause of my huge spike of 13 3-costers, but the only thing I can really wiggle is FotF (which
i already made a note on) or MAYBE one hammer, though I like having the 3 threats. Feels like a good number.

As far as sideboarding;
Against aggro: -4 Cacklers, -1 Weird, -1 FotF, +3 Mortars, +3 AoT
Against g/w: -4 Cacklers, -2 Hammer, +3 AoT, +3 Mortars
Against esper: -2 Fanatic, -3 FotF, +2 BE, +3 Skullcrack
Against dega/any big stompies build with red(ESPECIALLY if it likes ramp/land): -2 Magma Jet, -2 Lighting Strike, -3 FotF, +4 Peak Eruption, +3 AoT
Against big stompies not running red: -3 FotF, +3 AoT
Against u devo/mow: -3 Something(not sure what e.e), +3 Mortars, +1 Prayer


Note 1 :
Debating between it and shock because of 'dat 1cmc, or electrickery because fuck you Elspeth and fuck you MoW, even though it's less flexible/good then FotF. Now that I think about it, maybe annihilating fire, cause exile.

Still piddling around with my sideboard (and my slightly divergent main deck).
[Deck]
4 cackler
4 firecrotch satyr
4 ashly
4 shredder
4 stinkfist striker
4 burnbird
3 fanboy of mogis

2 golem hammer

4 lightning strike
4 magma jet

2 mutavault
21 mountain

Sideboard
1 mountain
4 boros reckoner
3 mizzium mortars
2 peak eruption
3 flames of the firebrand
2 mindsparker
[/deck]

Big Boros primer is up if anyone else from this thread is interested.

What would your current list look like Khaos? Going to TNM tonight and feel like taking a break from Mazes End

[deck]RDevoW based on Khaos List
Creatures 24
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Planeswalkers 2
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Artifact 1
1 Hammer of Purphoros

Instants & Sorceries 10
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Flames of the Firebrand

Lands 23
22 Mountain
1 Mutavault[/deck]

Played a few games testing against the Protour Black Devo deck. Devo Black has some serious game. Grey Merchant is a beast. Got a feel for the RDevoW list and liking it a lot. Did manage to grind out and win some games against it. Just overall a solid red deck that has some reach. Chandra managed to take over a game killing off Lifebane Zombies and faltering Desecration Demon. Chandra's Phoenix laughs at D-Demon also.

[deck]RDevoW based on Khaos List
Creatures 24
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Fanatic of Mogis

Planeswalkers 2
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Artifact 1
1 Hammer of Purphoros

Instants & Sorceries 10
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
2 Flames of the Firebrand

Lands 23
22 Mountain
1 Mutavault[/deck]

I would cut a fanatic for another hammer. Fanatic is great, but he's 4 mana. Hammer does everything you need.

Was thinking that actually the more I played some games. One fanatic is great and 2 can be back breaking but is all board dependent.

Purp,

My list is actually going in a Dragon direction :

[Deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Stormbreath Dragon

2 Chandra, Pyromaster

2 Mizzium Mortars
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike

3 Mutavault
22 Mountain
[/deck]

@ Khaospawn - I like that list

Purp,

My list is actually going in a Dragon direction :

[Deck]
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Stormbreath Dragon

2 Chandra, Pyromaster

2 Mizzium Mortars
4 Magma Jet
4 Lightning Strike

3 Mutavault
22 Mountain
[/deck]

Holy fuck. Minus the mutavaults I was thinking of going in this direction LOL. Psychic redbro.

I may drop a Magma Jet for more dragon goodness.

This list pushes you into Big Red territory. Why the shift away from FanMog? I see the lack of a hammer and going to assume it conflicts with the monstrocity for Sausage Dragon so it is not included?

Is there any merit to a deck abusing BTE+devotion to get turn 3/4 Ember Swallowers and Stormbreath Dragons and turn 4/5 monstrosities? The only way to get 4-5 devotion on turn three for a shrine is with Burning-Tree Emissarys, but having a reliable BTE package plus these haymakers really shrinks the wiggle-room in the deck. I.e.,

[deck]Creatures
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Gore-House Chainwalker
4 Firefist Striker
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Ember Swallower
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Lands
20 Mountain
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nix[/deck]

Leaves us with like 3-5 spots to fill and Fanatic of Mogis and Mizzium Mortars are the natural contenders, IMO. What kinda' monstrosity abuse red devotion lists have ya'll seen?

the problem i had often with mogis, that sometimes it can be gamebreaking and just awesome.. but then there are times when it just shoots 1 damage and is a vanilla 4/2 for 4... i really didnt like that.
i want my 4-drops to ALWAYS matter.

thats why i personaly went away from the fanatic strategy, and am currently playing the big red devotion. with gods, 4 dragons and so on... im currently liking it

The dragon is petty much good all the time, where Mogis is good some of the time.

Also, at States, I never once "lived the dream" and curved out. All of my games were long and I liked it. I want more things that are strong enough to be useful during anytime of the game, under any boardstate.

The dragon is petty much good all the time, where Mogis is good some of the time.

Also, at States, I never once "lived the dream" and curved out. All of my games were long and I liked it. I want more things that are strong enough to be useful during anytime of the game, under any boardstate.

i agree. i mean okay.. im playing the god as a 2-of and he is dependend on your boardstate too, but he at least does anything the turns after he came in, with shooting 2 damage everytime you play a creature and pumping all your stuff in lategame. even if he cant become a creature.

to be honest im not even sure if he is the best choice for those spots in my deck, but i like him, and i think its important that you like the deck you play, at
least if you are no pro, who has to show results to earn his living^^

In the last year, I've learned that I win so much more when I'm playing a deck I know very well, even when playing "outdated" tech or cards that have lost some power due to power creep. Good example is from last season when I stuck it out playing a Pyreheart Wolf deck when BTE decks were all the rage. Sure, things like Hound of Griselbrand lost some of its edge as the season progressed, but I was happy with what I was playing. And comfortable. And it showed ; I considered myself successful with the goals I set out for myself when the season started. I was winning.

Also, dragon soars overhead to kick Elspeth in her cuntflaps, so I like that when compared to the Verdict -> Jace -> Elspeth scenario and all I have is. Mogis.

Also, dragon soars overhead to kick Elspeth in her cuntflaps, so I like that when compared to the Verdict -> Jace -> Elspeth scenario and all I have is. Mogis.

More and more I am leaning on Big Boros to deal with Esper. I have a hate for Jace and now that Elspeth is in bed with him I hate her too.

Also, dragon soars overhead to kick Elspeth in her cuntflaps, so I like that when compared to the Verdict -> Jace -> Elspeth scenario and all I have is. Mogis.

perfect

It's been a while since i've heard the term "cuntflaps", too long. I kek'd. In all honesty my plan against elspeth is kill the opponent before they can play her. If the opponent isn't within burn range by that point i've probably already lost, elspeth or no.

Stabber, that's as good of a plan as any.

Stabber, that's as good of a plan as any.

Yeah, I wish plans like that could work in commander. People get to durdle entirely too long in that format. My inability to accept durdling might be why most of commander decks are better in normal 1 on 1 casual matches than their intended format. And honestly once somebody plays a sensei's diving top I stop caring about winning and start caring about eliminating that person as soon as possible, but hey true victory lies in achieving your goals.

But yeah, if elspeth is your wincon or you plan on using her to stabilize, you are probably durdling too much. I really think when all is
said and done she's not going to be as good as people seem to think. She looks really good, but she costs 6. Heliod makes dudes as an instant instead of as a sorcery, is indestructible, is sometimes a big scary creature, and vigilance is better than people give credit for. I really think that if you would be playing elspeth you could play heliod and do better (and it gives your detention spheres and chained to the rocks more value). But eh, I haven't played control in a while so my instincts could be off (last time I played control in constructed draw-go was still a thing).

Stabber, that's as good of a plan as any.

Yeah, I wish plans like that could work in commander.

Kaalia of the Vast. All day, erryday.