The SM North Magic community has always been a hotbed of creativity when it comes to deck design. Only a few Northern players netdeck and scarce resources lead them to make interesting card choices you won't see anywhere else. This makes it hard to predict the Standard metagame there but it's also a lot of fun because it is never stagnant.
Let's take a look at several people who did well at yesterday's Sparta Cup Qualifier.
First up is Michael Rodriguez's Esper Control.
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
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| Freddy Kruger is now a card. |
2 Doom Blade
2 Syncopate
2 Dissolve
1 Negate
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Aetherling
3 Supreme Verdict
2 Divination
2 Far//Away
2 Detention Sphere
2 Hero's Downfall
3 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Godless Shrine
4 Watery Grave
3 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Deceit
1 Azorius Guildgate
4 Island
3 Plains
Sideboard
2 Duress
2 Pithing Needle
2 Jace, Memory Adept
2 Yoked Ox
2 Last Breath
1 Thoughtseize
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Negate
1 Aetherling
One of the aims of the deck is to not miss land drops so twenty-six is the right number. In case of mana-flood, Sphinx's Revelation is there to draw cards and gain life. With enough mana, the deck can then deploy its arsenal of planeswalkers, a couple of Blood Barons, and Aetherling to win the game.
The main weakness of this strategy is the loss of two cards namely Think Twice and Augur of Bolas from the sets that rotated when Theros came in. Augur in particular helps absorb weenie rushes and nets a card. This is the reason why we see Yoked Ox and Last Breath in the sideboard as 1-2 mana answers to weenies. And while Yoked Ox doesn't kill anything, its lack of power is actually a good thing when facing Boros Reckoner.
Going forward Divination and Last Breath can probably be replaced and perhaps Omenspeaker deserves a try.
The second deck we'll examine is Kristian Sy's BWR homebrew.
4 Boros Reckoner
3 Desecration Demon
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
1 Obzedat
1 Stormbreath Dragon
2 Sin Collector
1 Aurelia Warleader
1 Whip of Erebos
2 Rakdos Keyrune
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Anger of the Gods
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| The Anti-Voice |
2 Rakdos's Return
3 Dreadbore
3 Thoughseize
1 Hero's Downfall
2 Read the Bones
1 Doom Blade
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Chandra Pyromancer
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Blood Crypt
3 Godless Shrine
3 Temple of Silence
2 Rakdos Guildgate
2 Temple of Triumph
2 Mutavault
2 SWamp
1 Plains
2 Mountain
Sideboard
1 Wear/Tear
2 Shock
2 Anger of the Gods
1 Underworld Connections
1 Hammer of Purphoros
2 Duress
2 Slaughter Games
3 Lifebane Zombie
1 Pithing Needle
This is hell to face. Filled with good stuff, the deck aims to win a war of attrition starting with hand disruption. Thoughtseize, Sin Collector, and Rakdos's Return both do a good job of keeping an opponent off-balance. If anything manages to arrive on the battlefield, it will be killed or outclassed by bigger, more powerful creatures.
While fast decks might give this hiccups, Anger of the Gods is easier to cast than Supreme Verdict and thus gives its pilot a decent chance to survive. Dreadbore is a concession to the proliferation of 3-4 mana planeswalkers but maybe a 2-2 split between Doom Blade and Hero's Downfall is better since Thoughtseize can just nab a walker anyway. Besides being instants, those two black removal spells also don't stress the manabase too much.
Definitely a solid choice going forward, we can expect the deck to continue doing well with minor adjustments here and there.
The third and last thing we'll examine is Benson Albayalde's Ian Monsters.
4 Mystic Elf
4 Satyr Hedonist
2 Scavenging Ooze
3 Polukranos, World Eater
4 Ghor-Clan Rampager
2 Ember Swallower
4 Stormbreath Dragon
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| Daenerys IS my mama |
4 Domri Rade
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
3 Gruul Keyrune
4 Mizzium Mortars
4 Stomping Grounds
4 Temple of Abandon
9 Forest
7 Mountain
Sideboard
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Pithing Needle
3 Destructive Revelry
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Mistcutter Hydra
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
1 Bow of Nylea
Capable of explosive starts, the deck pressures opponents with planeswalkers, dragons, and hydras. Domri Rade can help clear the board of pesky blockers so that huge monsters can stomp people's faces. He can also draw cards if there's abundant mana available and a depleted hand. Stormbreath Dragon has haste and monstrous in addition to protection from white. It's literally unstoppable and quite the clock. Polukranos is aptly named as the World Eater because it is ridiculously powerful once you pay its monstrosity cost. Add in the four Ghor-Clan Rampagers for a power boost and trample and it's an absolute beatdown.
While Gruul Keyrune is a nice touch the possibility for an upgrade is there. Mutavault comes to mind. Boon Satyr might also come in handy as a fifth or sixth Ghor-Clan Rampager.
The deck has numerous merits, thus, classifying it as another weapon worth bringing to Theros Game Day next Sunday.
We hope you like this series on deck technologies. We'll bring you more ideas during the week. Send in your own as well.
Thank you and watch out for Part 2.
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