R/b Aggro aka "Dos Rakis"

[LP, of the Fires]

I'd like to throw out there that I won my last match at FNM(going 3-1) in game 3 against Bg devotion on a blind mull to four on the draw. First three hand where garbage, drew 4 facedown and snap kept.

Won on turn like 12 with exava, whip and dragon on board while at thirty something life. Opponent missed third land drop but was still reasonably ahead till I played turn 4 exava, then a couple turns later, he fucked up by not knowing exava had first strike so when he double blocked her with 2 rats and blocked flamespeaker with 1, I gained 6 life, lost a flamespeaker and wrathed his board.

#skillgame

[Pedros]

Why did you lost flamespeaker? Did he have 4 rats? If he had 3 then exava kills 1 and deal 1 to the 2nd, while flamespeaker deals with 2nd one without dying.

[Tyrael]

Swap Ultimate Price for Doom Blade so you can hit random Frostburns and Recks (your not boarding in 6 terrors vs B Devo) so Doom Blade is better then Price.

Is that all you'd change? I'm curious as to how this would perform vs other aggro decks...

[magicdownunder]

Swap Ultimate Price for Doom Blade so you can hit random Frostburns and Recks (your not boarding in 6 terrors vs B Devo) so Doom Blade is better then Price.

Is that all you'd change? I'm curious as to how this would perform vs other aggro decks...

Yeah, that is all I'll change - I think the deck will have a field day against Green midrange, Black Devotion and Control but I can't see you beating other aggro or burn (unless you resolve Whip of Erebos) if your concerned about aggro you could toss in 4x
Shock over TS but that would weaken your MUs.

[Tyrael]

MDU, Naya aggro is the most popular aggro deck at my LGS, would you still recommend boarding in shock vs them?

[magicdownunder]

Is it Brave Naya or Naya Aggro?

Either way Shock isn't great in that MU so no, I think Naya vs Br can go either way since they run a fair number of midrange cards (+ they're green and white) making Lifebane Zombie brutal.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Was at an anime convention this weekend instead of my lgs for gameday or at GP Atlanta, (I've apparently become a filthy casual e.e), but they were actually running a gameday at the con, which I won.

Decklist:
[deck]Creatures 21
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Spike Jester
3 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood-Witch
3 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells 15
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
4 Dreadbore
3 Hero's Downfall

Land 24
4 Blood Crypt
4 Temple of Malice
2 Rakdos Guildgate
8 Mountain
4 Swamp
2 Mutavault

Sideboard 15
3 Dark Betrayal
3 Doom Blade
2 Whip of Erebos
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Skullcrack
2 Rakdos's Return
[/deck]

Went:
2-0 vs a 5-color pillowfort deck
2-0 vs a U/G ramp deck
And 2-1 vs an American Control deck

Really the only legitimate deck I beat was the american control. Game 1 I had a slow start and he was able to set up the removal and get ahead. Game 2 I had a slow
start as well, but slitly faster then game 1, and a rakdos's return for 4 to wipe his hand while I have an exava out was gg. Game 3 the inherent variance from a 3-color deck hit, and he had to mull to 4. I had double spike jester into exava into dragon with RR backup.

I also managed to play 1 maindeck test game vs a junk enchantress deck, which was interesting. I won in the lategame with a dragon hitting for 4 each turn, but the lessons I learned vs him were that you have to keep an aggressive opening hand and get him mostly dead before turn 4/5 when a sphere of safety lands. Also, kill the eidolon of blossoms on sight. I usually did, but once I let it stay for 1 turn so I could advance my board, and the thing did work. So killing it would have been correct.


Enjoyed the sideboard changes of going for rakdos's return over duress. Decided crypt incursion was too cute. 7 mainboard kill spells might be too many, but I can't really think of much I'd put in instead of the extra 2 kill spells I added.
MAYBE 2x of a 1-drop, but I dunno if the mana is good enough in either direction to reliably cast a non-cackler 1-drop on turn 1. Gnarled's bestow makes him an option, but with having removed the lifebanes from both main and side, the extra kill spells help vs green/white based midrange.


All in all, still loving my heavy topend. It gives me the power to push the last damage through which is so important. A lot of the time, I win by pressuring early, achieving a blank board-state or close to it, and then drop a turn 4/5 exava or dragon and just removing everything in their way.

I like the 3x yp because it allows for value draws, and gives me a valid backup plan like pack rat did back in Dos Packis. I like YP now because I have a good number of spells, and everyone's prepared for pack rat, so he doesn't give as many free wins anymore.

Base black dos rakis aggro might be better or more up most peoples alley, but having phoenix and s few young pyros add what Z talks about a lot, value and the
chance to leverage skill vs your opponent. They can be weaker nominally, but if played right get stronger.

That and yp gives a good out to aggro, and phoenix is fun vs 1-for-1 removal.

[Tyrael]

Is it Brave Naya or Naya Aggro?

Either way Shock isn't great in that MU so no, I think Naya vs Br can go either way since they run a fair number of midrange cards (+ they're green and white) making Lifebane Zombie brutal.

My LGS is pretty much this: 20% Brave Naya, 10% Naya Aggro/Big Naya, 20 % Jund Monsters, 15 % Red Deck Wins, 10 % Mono Black Aggro, 20% Control (U/W and UWr mainly), 5% Others (mono B, Mono U, ...)

Note that UWr decks are playing Anger of the Gods main which is not a good time

Naya has taken over red as the big aggro deck at my LGS (aggro is always popular here, independent of the actual meta in tournaments etc)

@ Raida, haha man very nice!

[RaidaTheBlade]

Alright, so I'm mostly set on the majority of the deck remaining the same.
I really like the power level of the deck in general, and it feels really strong in most situations.

That said, I'm still not 100% happy on the last few slots in the mainboard.

[deck]Creatures 21
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Spike Jester
3 Young Pyromancer
4 Chandra's Phoenix
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood-Witch
3 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells 13
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Dreadbore
2 Hero's Downfall

Flex Slots 2

Land 24
4 Blood Crypt
4 Temple of Malice
2 Rakdos Guildgate
8 Mountain
4 Swamp
2 Mutavault

Sideboard 15
3 Dark Betrayal
3 Doom Blade
2 Whip of Erebos
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Skullcrack
2 Rakdos's Return
[/deck]


My lgs's meta is still focused on creatures, with lots of green big creatures, quick aggro, and devotion.
That's why I've gone with the list you saw earlier, with 2 extra kill spells mainboard, and
2 anti-control/anti-burn cards sideboard

But the mainboard slots change pretty easily based on the meta, really.

Vs a control-heavy meta I think putting in 2 copies of gnarled scarhide and changing the guildgates into mana confluences could be a good idea.
Vs an aggro-heavy meta, 2 whips main could be good, and then you can free up some sideboard slots for other fun things.

Another fun option would be to drop a dragon and a land for +1 young pyro and +1 flex.
The 3 flexes could then be spells based on your needs. Either shock vs an aggro meta, or maybe even skullcrack in a control-heavy one.


Those are all very natural transitions for the deck, and running either 2 or 3 dragons is still good.
I'm still on the 3/24 land version, since I like hitting my lands, and running rakdos's return out the side makes running 24 a better idea too. I also like getting dragon more, since he's good vs u/w based control and burn




Also, as I like to do, I will now finish the post with my inner
johnny being a dick.
Would be quite fun to have the 2 flex slots as rakdos's return mainboard... And then have the two from the side become a third return and the fourth skullcrack.
Oh hai, I heard you like burn/control? Well I don't.
(Tempted to do this, but I just feel it wouldn't really work enough of the time. Though I would love to have 3x rr and 4x sc vs control and burn )

[Purp]

I think youll see more Caratids than you will Searing Bloods, thus i'd play FDS over cackler.

[RaidaTheBlade]

That is true, but there are several reasons I haven't gone with him.

First off is the mana. This deck historically has mana issues. Having the 4 temples and 2 gates helps mitigate this pretty well, but I digress. I have 8 mountains and 4 swamps. Which is only 12 untapped red sources, and 8 black ones. I can get those to 14 and 10 if I swap gates for confluences.
Neither of those numbers make me comfortable with a mono-colored one drop. With cackler I have 16(18 with confluence) untapped sources I can cast him off.

Next is something you did note, burn. Burn and the monsters decks are about even on popularity in paper I'd say. There's also that junk midrange deck and that dredge deck, but they're not hugely popular at,. This deck is already pretty good vs monsters, but burn is a rough matchup. I don't want to give burn any extra advantage I can. Firedrinker satyr is good vs carytid, but has a rough time vs elvish
mystic, which they run both of. It also just sucks vs burn, flat out.
I've tried to improve the burn matchup as much as possible, to keep the deck competitive, and satyr works against that.

So yeah, between the mana and burn being a big thing, I'll keep a hold on my cacklers. Heck, I've even considered dropping the 1 drops entirely, but with both black devo and u/w based control holding strong, 1 drops are handy to have.

[LP, of the Fires]

In case anyone cares, long overdue update. About the only things off are some sideboard slots and possibly adding another dreadbore over a lightning strike maybe:

[deck]4 Gnarled Scarhide
2 Rakdos Cakler
4 Mogis Warhound
4 Spike Jester
4 Prophetic Flamespeaker
4 Herald of Torment
4 Exava, Blood Witch
4 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells:
4 Lightning Strike
2 Dreadbore

Land:
4 Mutavault(Greed at it's finest)
4 Blood Crypt
4 Temple of Malice
4 Mountain
4 Swamp
4 Mana Confluence

Sideboard:
2 Rakdos' Return
3 Duress
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Dark Betrayel
1 Doom Blade
1 Ultimate Price
1 Chandra Pyromaster
1 Whip of Erebos
4 Lifebane Zombie[/deck]

[Tyrael]

How have the Flamespeakers been working out for you, LP?

[LP, of the Fires]

Dope.

[RaidaTheBlade]

Switched it up to a more traditional aggro curve. I had slowed down a tad too much, and my control/b matchup had gone a bit too far south, whereas its now back to stupidly favorable again.

[deck]
Creatures 24
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Firedrinker Satyr
4 Spike Jester
4 Ash Zealot
4 Chandra's Phoenix
2 Exava, Rakdos Blood-Witch
2 Stormbreath Dragon

Spells 13
4 Lightning Strike
4 Magma Jet
3 Dreadbore
2 Hero's Downfall

Land 23
4 Blood Crypt
4 Temple of Malice
10 Mountain
3 Swamp
2 Mutavault

Sideboard 15
2 Dark Betrayal
2 Doom Blade
2 Whip of Erebos
2 Mizzium Mortars
3 Skullcrack
3 Rakdos's Return
[/deck]

[mutantcrock]

Anyone messed around with adding Stoke the Flames to these lists? Seems like it would give the late reach we need to close out the game. Also, Ulcerate would be good tempo inclusion.

[mutantcrock]

Something like this maybe--haven't tested and decided against Ulcerate.

[deck]
Creatures (25)
4 Rakdos Cackler
2 Gnarled Scarhide
4 Spike Jester
3 Thrill-Kill Assassin
3 Spiteful Returned
2 Mogis's Warhound
3 Herald of Torment
1 Lifebane Zombie
3 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch

Spells (12)
3 Thoughtseize
3 Ultimate Price
2 Dreadbore
4 Stoke the Flames

Lands (23)
7 Swamp
4 Blood Crypt
4 Temple of Malice
3 Mountain
2 Mutavault
2 Mana Confluence
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Sideboard
3 Skullcrack
2 Rakdos's Return
2 Magma Spray
2 Doom Blade
2 Dark Betrayal
3 Lifebane Zombie
1 Dreadbore[/deck]

[Toddington]

Source: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles ... like-tech/

[deck=Caleb Durwood's BR Rabble, Dos Rabbles?]
Land (25)
4x Blood Crypt
1x Mana Confluence
4x Mountain
4x Mutavault
5x Swamp
4x Temple of Malice
2x Temple of Silence
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Creature (17)
4x Desecration Demon
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
4x Lifebane Zombie
4x Pack Rat
1x Stormbreath Dragon

Planeswalker (2)
2x Chandra, Pyromaster

Instant (7)
3x Hero's Downfall
2x Stoke the Flames
2x Ultimate Price

Sorcery (9)
3x Dreadbore
2x Rakdos's Return
4x Thoughtseize

Sideboard (15)
3x Dark Betrayal
3x Doom Blade
3x Duress
3x Magma Spray
1x Read the Bones
2x Stormbreath Dragon[/deck]

[Jedi_Knight]

Time for a comeback. Wanna get in shape before rotation.

Don't wanna change decks though - I have Burn and RB on MTGO and RB is still my favorite one (mainly because destroying things with Dreadbore never gets old), so the question is, how viable is it. I am guessing it still faces the same problems against Burn (meaning short of god hand it's nearly an autolose) and hyper aggro (too many things to destroy!). Given what MTGgoldfish shows, there is a prominence of MonoU, BW and Goblin Red. MonoU is (or was) an even MU, BW depends on Lifebane Zombie and RDW is always about how many removals do we get.

Will try to get something together next week. No DD though, don't heve him.

Also: Prophetic Flamespúeaker not good? Any cards other than Stoke the Flames or Flames in the Oven or whatever it is called I should look for? I haven't even read M15 spoiler yet.

I do know though they haven't reprinted our Phoenix. HOW COULD
THEY! HOW DARE THEY! I HATE THEM! I WANT MY PHOENIX BACK! I NEED MY PHOENIX BACK!

[Jedi_Knight]

Ok, so after few matches in practice room, I've cut Exava and replaced her with Rabbleguy. Also 4 pyros and some number of Shocks. 3 Dragons max is still the right number. Cut Whip, deck still folds to Burn, no reason to play it MD. Since I am writing from phone I am not gonna post decklist, it's basically the same as in march.

LBZ is ok in SB, Monsters are still as close to bye as you can get.

Enter Stoke the Flames, currently 2 copies, basically Helix without life gain.

Want to have at least 2 Mortars in SB as a sweeper. Also not playing one drops, just Shock people to death.

SB need work, currently 2x Blade, 1x Price, 2x Betrayal, 3x Duress (not sure there), 2x Skullcrack (haven't met MBC yet, but still useful against them I guess), 2x Mortars and 3x LBZ.

This is basically what I will play until rotation on MTGO. Also not sure if Confluences are needed, without LBZ main deck plays well. Still need Urborg but
one copy will do just fine.

Input welcome, decklist tomorrow.

[PresidentsMustache]

[deck]
4 Blood Crypt
2 Mana Confluence
4 Mutavault
4 Temple of Malice
5 Mountain
3 Swamp
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Pack Rat
2 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Young Pyromancer

2 Dreadbore
2 Duress
3 Shock
4 Stoke the Flames
4 Thoughtseize
2 Ultimate Price
4 Lightning Strike
1 Chandra, Pyromaster

Sideboard
2 Duress
1 Bile Blight
1 Dark Betrayal
2 Magma Spray
2 Doom Blade
3 Lifebane Zombie
1 Dreadbore
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Rakdos's Return
[/deck]

This list in my opinion was the most fun and maybe even simply the best deck in now rotating standard. It's unfortunately not my idea and i really regret that i didn't have chance to play it more, but maybe any of you guys will read it today and have an opportunity to try it in any tournament before next friday.

[Midnight_v]

[deck]
4 Blood Crypt
2 Mana Confluence
4 Mutavault
4 Temple of Malice
5 Mountain
3 Swamp
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Pack Rat
2 Stormbreath Dragon
4 Young Pyromancer

2 Dreadbore
2 Duress
3 Shock
4 Stoke the Flames
4 Thoughtseize
2 Ultimate Price
4 Lightning Strike
1 Chandra, Pyromaster

Sideboard
2 Duress
1 Bile Blight
1 Dark Betrayal
2 Magma Spray
2 Doom Blade
3 Lifebane Zombie
1 Dreadbore
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Rakdos's Return
[/deck]

This list in my opinion was the most fun and maybe even simply the best deck in now rotating standard. It's unfortunately not my idea and i really regret that i didn't have chance to play it more, but maybe any of you guys will read it today and have an
opportunity to try it in any tournament before next friday.

Mardu could be right there on the horizon as the future of dos rakis.