Mardu Midrange

Standard* evncrbch

SCORE: 18 | 26 COMMENTS | 4878 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER


pr0minence says... #1

Hi dude! I really like the way this deck works so here is my upvote! At the moment I'm working on a very similar deck! it's not yet finished but i can share the link once I'm done if you want.Anyway, as you have nothing to play on turn 1, I would suggest to take in some good one-drops. For example:

Please let me know what you think about this. :)

October 2, 2014 6:28 a.m.

Nixin72 says... #2

Mardu Ascendancy instead of your hordeling outburst. It just generates way more token for the same mana cost. It can also be sacked it your opponent decides to pump a creature. With mardu ascendancy there's also no need for Brimaz. I know he's badass, but you have your rabblemaster for token generation, plus rabblemaster gets a lot bigger. With goblin tokens you can also play Stoke the Flames for free since red creatures can tap for red mana off convoke. Also, if you do decide to go a little more goblin heavy, Obelisk of Urd instead of dictate of Heliod. Almost the same thing, it's just got convoke, which is really nice. I'd also back out on 2 or 3 of your land. 25 is too much for the drops you have. Replace them with some Foundry Street Denizen . Off Mardu Ascendancy and rabblemaster, it can get huge. Plus they're pumped by Obelisk of Urd . Also, of your 25 land, 10 come in tapped which is way too much if you're playing anything other than control. You should swap most of them out for more basics and a few Mana Confluence to increase the speed, while main ring the consistency of your deck. Those are my suggestions, definitely a nice deck, but it could use a fair bit of work. Hope you appreciate it.

October 2, 2014 10:50 a.m.

evncrbch says... #3

Mardu Ascendancy only works for non-token creatures, so it doesn't have a whole lot of value here. So far land has been pretty solid, if anything I would only take out 1. Also, 10 ETB tapped lands is not that bad, it is less than half of the mana base. A midrange deck doesn't need to be balls-to-the-walls aggressive, so taking one or two turns purely to set up the mana base is not a huge worry. I would play Mana Confluence as a two- or three-of but budget constraints make that a little tricky. I will consider Obelisk of Urd , but I think that without running a nearly tribal strategy that I will get more value off of Dictate of Heliod . Also, the flash on the dictate can make it a huge combat trick turn 5 that most opponents will either not think to play around or cannot afford to play around. Bloodsoaked Champion is also a thought I have been toying with, but am trying to decide where exactly to fit him in. Cutting too many lands is not a real option, as without a solid land base every game this deck can suffer.

October 2, 2014 2:21 p.m.

Nixin72 says... #4

You mentioned Ajani's Presence as a sideboard possibility, but most of the creatures in the deck are expendable. I may go with Gods Willing instead, the only way it's worse is against boardwipes and I don't think control will be very prominent in the rotation, though there definitely will be some abzan and mardu control. Gods willing can also make creatures unblockable and defend against things like Utter End . Plus, scrying is nice in any deck, long as it can fit in without pushing other things out.

October 4, 2014 4:46 p.m.

evncrbch says... #5

Thank you @Nixin72, I think you have a good point. I had been thinking about Jeskai decks bringing in Anger of the Gods and had wanted Ajani's Presence for that. But it may be better just to run Gods Willing . I will have to wait for more of the metagame to be developed I suppose. I will keep Gods Willing in mind.

October 4, 2014 8:24 p.m.

shmevin says... #6

I would consider taking out 1 or 2 lands and maybe a Lightning Strike in exchange for a few Bloodsoaked Champion really nice card and you could use a few 1 drop creatures. Also I am not sure about all of the nonbasic lands that come in tapped. The temples seem fine for the scry but I would consider getting rid of Nomad Outpost

October 5, 2014 9:13 a.m.

Nixin72 says... #7

Yea, I'd have to agree actually. You should try two more fetches and some Mana Confluence .

October 5, 2014 10:49 a.m.

evncrbch says... #8

@shmevin - I think it is possible that I may want to take out a land and two other things, probably a Lightning Strike and something else for 3 Bloodsoaked Champion . As to the Nomad Outpost , I see your point in that they provide no bonus for coming in tapped, but in testing, the three-color availability has been invaluable. Perhaps I could cut one, and at the very most two, but I think at least two may be necessary since I could potentially need BB, RR, or WW turn 3.

October 7, 2014 4:37 p.m.

shmevin says... #9

Yeah I could see the reason for keeping Nomad Outpost but I would cut down on the temples. The scry is really nice but I would take out a couple for Mana Confluence

October 8, 2014 8:10 a.m.

shmevin says... #10

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/06-10-14-mardu-aggrotokens/

this is my mardu tokens deck. It is slightly different than yours and I figured you might find it useful to see someone else's deck.

October 8, 2014 8:14 a.m.

evncrbch says... #11

@shmevin as posted previously, the lack of Mana Confluence is due to budget. Ultimately the extra two tapped lands don't have too much of an effect. There are occasional issues with tapped land, but usually I don't have too much of a problem since less than half the mana base is ETB tapped. If I had the money, I would probably cut 2 Outpost for the Confluence.

October 9, 2014 1:51 p.m.

shmevin says... #12

Well the deck should still play just fine without them but it would improve the deck so you can maybe do that in the upcoming weeks/months

October 9, 2014 9 p.m.

jbexperience says... #13

I see that most of your white cost spells are higher costs (with 3 Dictate of Heliod ). Why not consider subbing out a Temple of Silence or 2 for 1 or 2 Temple of Malice . Also, have you thought about playing Elspeth, Sun's Champion or Launch the Fleet . Both seem good in combo with the whole token theme and would definitely pair well with Purphoros, God of the Forge .

October 13, 2014 11:04 a.m.

Deflecting Palm and Ride Down are in your colors bro

October 22, 2014 6:28 p.m.

evncrbch says... #15

I don't like Deflecting Palm in the mainboard because I feel like there are better cards in most match-ups other than the Jeskai Tempo match-up, so I put it in sideboard already. I'm not sold on Ride Down yet either. It is very good with Rabblemaster, but I'm not sure it is better than anything I'd be replacing it with. Mardu Charm has more flexibility, which I feel makes it better, Mardu Ascendancy provide protection and threats, and I need Hero's Downfall . I am still considering it though.

October 22, 2014 6:58 p.m.

GooseNotts says... #16

how are you finding ascendancy in this deck? I run it in my hyper aggro (http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/roar-for-the-horde/) but have been underwhelmed with it in my midrange decks? I also think crackling doom is a snap 4 of in the main and is probably 1 of if not the best removal in the format right now...

October 23, 2014 8:25 a.m.

evncrbch says... #17

The ascendancy has performed really well for me. With even a couple of creatures, the goblins overwhelm the board and get around blockers, and the second ability is great against black decks with drown in sorrow. I like crackling doom a lot, but I lime being able to kill the walkers with downfalls. Perhaps I will find room in the main for the crackling doom though, as they always seem to perform well. I might try them over the sign in bloods and maybe one other card as a 3 of and see if it performs enough to warrant the change.

October 23, 2014 3:42 p.m.

BGLENN68 says... #18

Beautiful mana curve for a midrange deck. +1.

November 14, 2014 8:03 p.m.

evncrbch says... #19

Thanks BGLENN68!

November 14, 2014 8:17 p.m.

Obake says... #20

Looks a lot like my deck Mardu Fighting!, so +1 from me!

Yours looks a little clustered around 3 mana spells, but I'm having a hard time thinking of suggestions without just turning it into my deck. Maybe you can get some ideas from there anyway.

December 5, 2014 6:43 a.m.

evncrbch says... #21

Thanks Obake. The deck is a little heavy on three drops, but most of that is removal so it doesnt end up being overly awkward. I would tune the curve down a bit but I don't really see any good options for 2 drops. I saw the Tymaret, the Murder King in your list, but he seems pretty weak. Also I don't feel like I profit enough from Chief of the Edge so he's a no-go as well. I +1'd your deck as well because it looks pretty solid. Thanks for the input!

December 5, 2014 7:28 a.m.
December 31, 2014 11:42 a.m.

evncrbch says... #23

While Brimaz, King of Oreskos is a fantastic creature, my problems with running him in this iteration of the deck are that first of all I can't afford him right now, (when I bought the deck sorin was at 25, downfall at 12, and bloodstained mire at 14) but also the three-drop slot is already crowded. Adding more three-drops would likely cause some mana problems.

December 31, 2014 2:19 p.m.

ok i will give you +1

December 31, 2014 4:01 p.m.

Here are my suggestions. I saw your woes with Deflecting Palm in the mainboard, but I feel it's almost a must having at least 2 in the SB. Not only is it good against Jeskai but it's great against monogreen and abzan midrange and anything else playing larger creatures. Plus, since not a lot of people play it, people aren't expecting it. It has single-handedly won me games.

Stormbreath Dragon- I hope the only reason you don't have at least 2 of him in here is because you can't afford him, not because you don't want him. Still the best flier in Standard with evasion and haste and the ability to become a 7/7. Dude is nuts and a pain to get rid of.

Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker should be considered in this deck, even if only a one of.

Seeker of the Way- I understand people absolutely love this card but I feel in this build it's not utilized as well as it could be.

Bloodsoaked Champion- He was in my Mardu build when I first played it but found I never needed him and he was more filler than anything else. I know there aren't many 1 drops to choose from but you honestly don't even need a 1 drop.

Granted my version of Mardu is a bit more control, I actually run 3x Nyx-Fleece Ram in my mainboard alongside 2 Mardu Ascendancy. That deck has gone through so many transformations and I still haven't completely figured it out. Currently I am running an Abzan Midrange deck that is far different than your average boring as hell Abzan deck and it has done well so the Mardu deck is on the back burner but with the new set coming out I may venture back to it.

If you wanted to look at my Mardu deck, here it is------> Mardu My Mommy?

January 13, 2015 10:09 a.m.

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