100$ Burn/Lifegain Modern Deck
This deck builds around both lifegain and burst damage and it's not thought as a competitive deck, but as a for fun deck to play for players, especially new ones, without paying very much money.
The main scope of this deck is to clean the battlefield from the opponent with burns and Oblivion Rings, then strike the opponent and gain life with creatures. Soulfire Grand Master is the key to survive to quick decks by both slowing them down with istants and gain life to tank the incoming damages.
Price at TGC@05/03/15: 99.89
Key Cards
Soulfire Grand Master - This is probably the very first card in MTG that gives to instant and sorceries the "Lifelink" ability. It was just too cool to not build a deck around it, so here it is. This creature, an already good one for it's cost, , 2/2 Lifelink, has 2 very interesting abilites, a passive Lifelink to instant and sorceries, and an active one which is not very cheap, but damn useful when running low on spells. Its cost in $ (or as you want) isn't the most accessible one, and so I decided to insert only 2 of them, but they are just great. The only positive thing in having only 2 of them in the deck is that you just need one on the battlefield, because more than one would be redundant.
Searing Blood
- Basically 5 damage for . And 5 life with Soulfire Grand Master. They can both kill a 3< Toughness creature or finish a bigger one. And the Lava Spike at the face on the opponent is granted!
Lightning Helix - Lightning Bolt is already an awesome card that really needs few comments. A Lightning Bolt with a built in Lifelink is even better, especially when it can give you 6 life with a Soulfire Grand Master.
Gut Shot - Triggers Prowess and Young Pyromancer by paying no mana but 2 life (1 if Soulfire Grand Master is on the battlefield (unless you have 2 life, but that means you have bigger problems)). A good trump card for some... mind-games situations.
Sun Titan - Brings back to life any another creature that dies except for Inferno Titan, and its a solid rock both in attack and defense. Cheap in $.
Inferno Titan - Free
Flames of the Firebrand
on cast and on each attack, can quickly demolish weak defenses. Also its active ability is not to underestimate when you have spare to burn and you can pump Inferno Titan till it becomes a Red Hulk. Cheap in $.
Mentor of the Meek - Works great with all creatures but Titans to gain card advantage, and even with Young Pyromancer tokens.
Banefire - I'm not sure what is better between this and
Aurelia's Fury
. The 'uncounterability' of Banefire sure looks good against control/blue decks, but
Aurelia's Fury
can split the damage onto many targets, and it's also instant. But I just love this flamethrower. It's like "BWAAAA-Burn, witch"
Browbeat - One word. Strong. Both White and Red lack card draw, and this thing is the solution. Drawing 3 cards for 3 mana is something that not even Blue can do. of course, the opponent can take 5 slaps to the face and you draw no cards, but what about 5 slaps with Lifelink thanks to Soulfire Grand Master? It's like a
Warleader's Helix
, but stronger and cheaper. But always hope for card draw. It triggers Prowess, Young Pyromancer and more cards for you to throw in the fight.
Oblivion Ring - What you can't burn, you can froze. Oblivion Rings can take out Artifacts, Enchantments, Planeswalkers and any creatures you can't burn and they can be brought back to the battlefield thanks to Sun Titan.
Wear - Simple yet very useful removal. It's hard not to find a deck without a single artifact or enchantment. Worst case scenario: destroy your own Oblivion Rings and use Sun Titan to bring them back for a new use.
Sacred Foundry and Clifftop Retreat - This deck wants to be a cheap version of something that could be way more dangerous and competitive, and I've included these cards only because I already had them. You can just add the Refuges or Guildgates instead that won't cost you almost anything.
Maybe Yes, Maybe No
Pyroclasm - It can't kill both Monastery Swiftspear and Seeker of the Way because of their Prowess +1/+1, but it will kill Soulfire Grand Master and Young Pyromancer and tokens. It can really be useless in some situations, but keep in mind that sacrificing a Soulfire Grand Master to cast a Pyroclasm with Lifelink can really pump your health by dozens.
Devouring Light
- Way cheaper than the notorious counterparts Path to Exile and Swords to Plowshares, the main problem is that it costs and not . It that way, it was way easier to cast it by convoking it with tokens. Also, does no damage, so no Lifelink with Grand Master.
Return to the Ranks
- Do you mind if I return all my creatures from the graveyard to play? Convoke and Young Pyromancer also are really good friends.
Sunlance
- Deals damage only to creatures, and non-white ones. It's cheap and rather useful unless you are obviously playing against a mono-white deck. It's one of the few white spells that deal damage, and works well with Grand Master.
Aurelia's Fury
- A lategame great cleaner/finisher. Lifelink and this card are a great couple!
Boros Fury-Shield - Just great against Exalted decks.
Brightflame
- Costly mass removal with built in Lifelink. Even better with Grand Master's Lifelink too!
Burn at the Stake
- Tap tokens for the win!
Deflecting Palm - The alternative to Boros Fury-Shield for yourself only. Good against burst damage and single big creatures.
Firemane Avenger - For its cost, , it's a good doorkicker and a Lightning Helix on wings.
Satyr Firedancer - A great, cheap creature that allows you to basically double the damage you deal.
Howl of the Horde
- Works in a similar way to Twincast but only on yourself, it is great in the deck because you can just attack with an Elemental Token then copy 2 times a Lightning Helix or a Browbeat.
Isochron Scepter - An artifact that isn't usually very useful in fast burn deck because of its cost, with all the lifelink you have you can permit 2 of them in the deck. Especially when all your istants cost 2 or less. Imprinting Lightning Helix on it is just great, but yeah, Magma Jet and
Searing Blood
aren't bad too. Also, Prowess without spells problems!
Warleader's Helix
- Lightning Helix just got bigger. And heavier.
Spark Trooper - He's good, but doesn't trigger prowess and can not be used with Sun Titan.
Pillar of Flame
- Perfect solution for bad guys like Kitchen Finks or Bloodghasts alike.
Boros Reckoner - Very strong, but expensive in $. A good alternative to the Titans.
Suggestions
Ideas and suggestions are very welcome. Just be sure to check the price!
Going for the Pricey
If you like this deck and have money to spend on, I suggest the following changes:
