This is my RTR/Theros Standard
Bearer of the Heavens
Dredge Combo rogue deck brew (as compared to my Theros Block limited version called Bearer of the Underworld). This is mostly a casual fun deck, but maybe it can potentially reach tier 2.
The main combo is to cheat
Bearer of the Heavens
(BotH) with the first
Rescue from the Underworld
(RFtU) on beginning of opponent's end step (must be cast on opponent's 2nd main phase), and then cast a second RFtU sacrificing BotH during your upkeep. This will destroy everyone's permanents including all lands, even all of yours. However, BotH & target creature from RFtU will enter play at the end of your end step under a clear board. At this point, it should usually just take 2 swings to kill your helpless opponent.
On rare occassions, if I have a board of creatures & BotH, then it is possible to cast Hero's Downfall on BotH & regenerate the rest of your board with Golgari Charm for 5 mana. If Golgari Charm is in your graveyard & you have Nyx Weaver in play, you can run this alternate combo for 8 mana. Perhaps I should accentuate this alternate method further.
I added two red sources in the form of Temple of Abandon as a possible way to hard cast BotH, but of course, you are hoping not having to resort to this. I wasn't sure if two was the right number, but I didn't want to get stuck with too many come-into-play-tapped lands. I chose the temples for scrying, but I suppose I could see using Stomping grounds if someone preferred. I have hard cast him before, so maybe I should consider this possibility more. If someone picked Stomping grounds, then maybe more copies could be used.
The main engine to this combo is self mill (AKA dredge), where you intentionally send cards from the top of your library to your graveyard with cards like Grisly Salvage and Nyx Weaver. The cards you are trying to send to the graveyard are BotH, RFtU, and to lesser extent Archetype of Endurance. This self milling is essentially being used as extra card draw as the graveyard becomes a resource.
The secondary engine is some extra card drawing through Eidolon of Blossoms constellation triggers, Courser of Kruphix's land play off the top of your library, and some scrying through Temples.
Brain Maggots & Archetype of Endurance are there to help protect the combo, along with the Thoughtseize in the sideboard if the opponents are running lots of board sweepers such as Supreme Verdict. I feel Brain Maggots are better vs aggro/burn.
The Lotleth Troll and Pack Rat are there to help discard BotH if he finds himself in your hand, and you are unable to hard cast him (which you aren't expected to do, but there is a remote possibility of it happening). In addition, they can essentially become threats if unanswered. I couldn't decide which discard outlet the deck should use, but I think Lotleth Troll seemed better. So I hedged my bets by putting in 1 Lotleth Troll and just 1 Pack Rat, with another Troll in the sideboard.
I added 1 Elvish Mystic to potentially hit the combo one turn sooner. The fastest the deck can have the combo go off is by the end of your 5th turn, when you cheat in BotH at the the 2nd main phase of your opponent's 4th turn. Even if this doesn't happen (which chances are highly improbable), that one Elvish Mystic can help you cast Courser of Kruphix or Nyx Weaver on Turn two is pretty big. However, I don't want to be drawing into multiples of these cards, and I didn't really want to go all in on trying to hit the combo on turn 4/5.
I am playing several one-of removal spells. One benefit of Nyx Weaver is that he can act as a pseudo Snapcaster Mage, by resupplying you with any of your cards including removal cards from your graveyard. Although unlikely, this means, you could potentially cast any one-of removal like Silence the Believers up to 5 times. I could potentially change the sideboard with additional copies of these removal spells. But sometimes, you'll want to get your Brain Maggot or Thoughtseize just prior to combo-ing off (if you already have the other main pieces).
The one copy of
Boon Satyr
is probably interchangeable with many other cards, but I added it so I could surprise opponents with a high power blocker to interrupt the combat bouncing effect of mirror Courser of Kruphix on each side of the board. In addition, it provides an eidolon of blossom trigger.
Boon Satyr
can also be useful to block annoying mutavaults. He might not be as useful against decks that can peek into your hand with Thoughtseize or Brain Maggot. I could see replacing this card with a 3rd copy of Courser of Kruphix, or a 3rd copy of Eidolon of Blossoms, or another removal/disruption spell.
As most dredge decks, this combo can be trumped by graveyard hate cards. The evil cards that can do this are: Agent of Erebos, Pharika, God of Affliction, Fated Return, Rest in Peace, Deathrite Shaman, Syncopate, [Crypt Incursion]], Scavenging Ooze, Beckon Apparition, and Grim Return. There might be 1 or 2 others I have forgotten. Unravel the Aether from the sideboard can help combat against 3 of these graveyard hate cards.
Counterspells from control decks can also be quite annoying as they can delay the combo quite effectively, but RFtU can potentially be cast up to 8 times if needed, by retrieving them with Nyx Weaver.
Another weaknesses include cards that give indestructible/regen (e.g. Ajani's Presence & Boros Charm & Golgari Charm), so these need to be disrupted by discard effects like Brain Maggot & Thoughtseize.
Lastly, Athreos is a pretty big thorn in the side of this deck & will need to board in Unravel the Aether to deal with him.
Oh, by the way, I believe this deck can qualify as a budget deck by replacing the shock lands and a few other pricey cards, maybe like Abrupt Decay.
Anyway, if you try it, I hope you enjoy & have fun with it.
