Introduction
This deck marks my first attempts at both creating a standard deck and entering the Tappedout community.
Being more of a EDH player myself a lot of effort was made recognising the current meta and state of the game that currently exists in the standard format and finding a niche that suited the way I wanted to play.
As can probably be guessed this deck is not an expensive one but it isn't really aimed to be "budget" so don't necessarily avoid suggestions based on this. If I consider a card good enough and essential to the deck I will get it, but I won't be buying anything I don't feel is perfect for my deck if it is expensive. That being said I picked up all the pieces for my main board at my local store for around $75 so it's pretty inexpensive.
The aim of this deck is to be as fast as it possibly can with all of the being low in cost and most featuring haste. The exception to both of these rules is the Fanatic of Mogis which do have their place regardless.
I am slowly, constantly and inconsistently updating this description which I am considering currently in it's "beta" stage because while it is not complete so I will not be promoting it publicly I would like feedback on the list itself. Regardless when I feel both the deck list and description are "complete" and hit version 1.0 I will not it and then start adding updates in a more proper fashion. Until then nothing is certain and everything is changeable. (I'm not 100% on if there is some kind of formatting or process for this but I do want it to be known)
Deck Rundown.
The Guys:
-Rakdos Cackler
This is the bread and butter staple card for this deck and probably the card which drew me towards this play style. The go to first turn move for a swing of AT LEAST 2 on turn 2. Hopefully he will be accompanied by some friends or a buff for that little bit of extra damage.
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Firedrinker Satyr
The deck originally accompanied for 4 of this bad boy who originally was considered simply for the amazing art. However is was the utility that really made him stick around. 2 mana for 1 power is a little steep and so he was cut back to a 2-of but it can definitely be useful for sneaking over those sneaky damage points, and I can't really run 8 Rakdos cacklers now can I?
-Legion Loyalist
Failing the old Rakdos Cackler this is the next best first turn pick. I am never disappointed to see this guy because first strike is amazing enough but the trample is amazing. Though tokens don't feature heavily in the current meta game (at least in my locals) and those decks that do run them should be slow enough for the deck to ravage in it's malicious glee before they really make any token presence. Regardless it could be useful occasionally and the other buffs provided more than make up for it. And as if it weren't amazing enough a little haste is thrown in for good measure. For 1 mana it doesn't get muh better.
-Ash Zealot
2 red makes excellent devotion not to mention the amazing 2/2 first strike, haste attached. Seriously amazing card and best bang for your buck you could hope for really. My go to turn 2 which I will never be unhappy to see.
-Chandra's Phoenix
This card represents the deck in an uncanny fashion. Desent damage with great utility for amazingly low cost, but with a weakness to blue and black decks. Seriously the amount of flying available in the current meta is negligible at best and with the speed of this deck the only real threats to your firey chickens of hasty doom is removal and other flyers, so just be wary against black and blue or that's what they'll make you. but otherwise its 3 mana for guarantee 2 damage a turn from the moment it hits the field.
-Fanatic of Mogis
The idea we have here is that after turn 5 or 6 this deck very quickly slows right down to a crawl and a loss will be almost assured. In comes the Fanatic to deal a little bit of quick damage with his effect and swing as a big (by his decks standards) threat hopefully bringing the game to a glorious and victorious end.
The Others:
-Titan's Strength
I cannot stress how good this card is anymore than that it is really really amazing. 1 mana for an instant speed + 3/+1 perfect for sneaking past those last few points of damage or turn the tide in a blocking situation, just to be topped off with what should read "fix your next draw." Got enough mana? send that mountain to the bottom. Need more guys? Leave that Rakdos Cackler right there ready for you to draw. I think you get the idea.
-Magma Jet
Though I was at first skeptical about this card in this deck it has proven in practice to be an exceedingly valuable asset. Though its damage is lower that Lightning Strike and only on par with the 1 mana less Shock the scry which this card gives can secure a victory or turn a game. Scry 2 is just a massive advantage and with no draw mechanics in the deck the beat downs can come to a halt all too early. Being able to essentially secure the next 2 draws is simply brilliant and the damage is still reasonable at 2 for 2 mana.
-Lightning Strike
I think this one is pretty straight forward. Instant speed 3 damage for 2 mana. This deck will often leave you with a lot of possible options on turns 3 and 4 and so the ability to have 3 damage come through at the end of your opponents turn is brilliant.
Quick scenario. Field set, guys ready to fight 2 mana open. In hand is a Lightning Strike and a Titan's Strength. Your options here are so broad. Swing no blockers Titan's Strength +3 damage scry. Alternatively: Swing no blockers pass the turn, scary guy drops on opponents field zap him for 3 with Lightning Strike for some light removal. And lastly and probably my favourite out come: swing, hit, Opponents turn roves unfruitful, zap in end step for 3 damage all land untap for our next turn and Titan's Strength is still in your hand.This can also be applied with Magma Jet and Shock for different combo's. (Abusing the scry on the Magma Jet and the Low cost on the Shock)
-Shock
It's like a Lightning Strike but for 1 less and 1 less damage.
-Madcap Skills
Failing an Ash Zealot this is my favourite turn two play. If your opponent managed to drop a blocker last turn it suddenly becomes less than useful and they'll take a little bit of extra damage all for the low, low price of just 2 mana. Do not under value the usefulness of this card, especially against decks that like to litter there field with potential speed bumps or if a green guy comes down as a Massive/Massive and will block your damage, eat your guy and leave room for dessert.
-Thunderous Might
I really really like this card a lot and I think its fantastic. However, full use of it won't really come out until turn 3 or 4 and because of that it's really hard to justify as a 4 of in such a speedy deck. Though it's cost isn't massive it's definitely not an ideal second turn play and you are very likely to find better things still for turn three.
The Maybe Board:
-Mutavault
This card is pretty much just about the best and in standard and is at the very least my favourite. I'm not running it and probably never will simply because of it's massive price. But if you do happen to have a set lying around and did want to run them I personally would swap them in for 2 mountains and 2 shocks. Mountains are the obvious choice and shock because its still a 1 drop sort of deal.
- Side board to come soon. -
Possible Swaps and Changes (As I See it)
These swaps/changes will be very much subject to personal preference and how the user prefers to play. I will be play testing all of the changes and please feel more than free to comment on these changes, my current deck and any other changes you see as being viable and/or better.
So I see the main cards that can be taken out of the deck as being the Shocks, Thunderous Mights and Fanatic of Mogis'. Personally at the moment I don't feel this list is quite perfect just yet. However I hope that with testing and improvement it could be close to it. I like the Fanatic of Mogis in this deck for the reasons in the related rundown. However I can see him being a big switch in side boarding to either side be it more or less and I foresee him being possibly not as viable as I want him to be. Shock I'm not 100% sure on being a 3 of , same goes for the Thunderous Might. However I have so far found the Thunderous Might to be really really strong so I would like to keep it at 3, though as I have said I can't really justify it as a 4-of simply because of the devotion. The Swaps I would suggest for these 2 cards would be either: More land, or bumping the Lightning Strikes and Magma Jets up to 4-ofs depending mostly on match up or personal meta as well as preference. So I will be testing these things and hopefully keeping this updated on my findings. If I decide anything to be deck change worthy then I will make the appropriate changes here and in the deck list itself and hopefully add an update notice.
Updates/Changes
This section will be used to note changes to the already existing content more so than additions to the description etc. because I know that being me I will add lots and don't want to clutter this up with: Spelling/Grammar, addition and format changes too much though large or note able ones will be listed and the more minor may be mentioned alongside "More Important" updates.
