I find the Pauper format to be very blocker dependent. That is to say there isn't a whole lot of creature removal (few decks are going to have 12+ creature removal spells), and when there is, it is typically slow and infrequent. This deck is designed to take advantage of this.
This originally started as a deck built around messing with blockers, specifically Intimidator Initiate and Madcap Skills. But thank you Amonkhet, now there is Pathmaker Initiate! I've settled on this variant as it not only can win quickly, but I've been able to top deck wins and overcome 20 points of life gain as well, which is typically tough for an Aggro deck to do. The deck is very explosive and works by doubling early damage and following up with a steady stream of difficult to block creatures.
MULLIGAN: My mulligan rules for this deck are to mulligan any hand that doesn't have two Mountains and a creature, but do not go down below five cards. At that point, take your chances.
PLAY: The combos are pretty obvious and can kill on the first turn with an ideal hand, turn two with a great hand, turn three with a good hand and turns four or five with average hands. Use the Intimidator Initiate, Madcap Skills and Apostle's Blessing to push creatures through opponents blockers. Use the abilities of Kiln Fiend and Immolating Souleater combined with double strike effects to deliver massive attacks. But don't underestimate a first turn Satyr Hoplite with a second turn Madcap Skills (5/2 creature with menace), playing the Simian Spirit Guide straight up as a creature to create another mid-game threat or using the and not just life-consuming 'Firebreathing' ability of the Immolating Souleater. You'll find that the Intimidator Initiate and the Madcap Skills actually help keep your opponents from attacking as they need all the blockers they can get. And their hesitation generally leads to their demise.
META-GAME & SIDEBOARD: Goblins, Soul Sisters or any deck that can produce a lot of blockers quickly can be a problem. Electrickery and Bloodfire Dwarf are my sideboard responses. Against decks that put out large creatures quickly, I like to bring in Traitorous Blood which will rid them of a blocker while also helping with the beat down. Circle of Protection: Red and Fog based decks can be overcome with Flaring Pain. But your best chance of victory against any deck comes from beating them before they can do anything. Mulligan aggressively, get a good hand and then beat them.
CHEAPER VERSION: Obviously the Simian Spirit Guides are the most expensive card here, but the deck can still be very effective without it. I suggest taking out the Simian Spirit Guides and putting in two Mountains and two Furor of the Bitten. The Mountains make up for the loss of mana producers and the Furor of the Bitten gives you better mid-game and late game options, while still being inexpensive.
MAYBE-BOARD: I am not a fan of the spells that require a sacrifice as part of the casting cost. A well timed Counterspell with these types of spells will likely ruin you. But that said, Fling, Fireblast and Reckless Abandon have their uses. It is possible that there is a place for them in the deck, I just don't personally prefer it. They are good cards and can help you win, but I feel like playing them hurts more times than it helps. I would swap out Dust Corona for Furor of the Bitten if the meta-game went flyer heavy, but right now I prefer the +2 toughness. Valley Dasher and Borderland Marauder are decent and I've used them in previous versions of the deck. If the meta-game turned in such a way that I needed more threats in the deck, these would be my top choices.
I'd like to know your thoughts. Please comment below.
