Faithless Reanimator ( ˘ ³˘)♥

Legacy BR (Rakdos) Combo Competitive Reanimator

Yuri200X

Mana Base (13)

• 3x Badlands
• 4x Bloodstained Mire
• 1x Mountain
• 3x Polluted Delta
• 2x Swamp

Discard (8)

• 4x Thoughtseize
• 4x Unmask

Combo Pieces (16)

• 4x Animate Dead
• 4x Entomb
• 4x Exhume
• 4x Reanimate

Ramp (8)

• 4x Dark Ritual
• 4x Lotus Petal

Fatties (11)

• 4x Chancellor of the Annex
• 4x Griselbrand
• 2x Sire Of Insanity
• 1x Tidespout Tyrant

Draw (4)

• 4x Faithless Looting

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Sideboard

Other (15)

• 3x Collective Brutality
• 1x Demon of Dark Schemes
• 1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
• 1x Iona, Shield of Emeria
• 2x Magma Spray
• 1x Massacre
• 2x Pithing Needle
• 4x Stronghold Gambit

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Maybeboard

Other (24)

• 3x Abrupt Decay
• 1x Back to Nature
• 1x Badlands
• 2x Bayou
• 3x Blood Moon
• 1x Buried Alive
• 2x Burning Wish
• 3x Gitaxian Probe
• 1x Grave Titan
• 2x Reverent Silence
• 2x Sire Of Insanity
• 3x Sneak Attack

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ETERNAL WEEKEND, 1st at MTGTOP8

Recently, BR Reanimator was placed 1st at the Eternal Weekend 2016 in Europe, one of the biggest legacy events today, and top8-ed both Eternal Weekend N.A. 2016 and SCG Classic Milwaukee. Ever since, the Reanimator archetype in MtgTop8 has jumped from the 4th~5th place in combo decks to the 1st place in most used combo decks that are well-placed in tournments.

This proves once again that BR Reanimator is a build to behold, and that the deck is solid. Recent additions to the deck since the Eternal Weekend are Collective Brutality, Sneak Attack and Blood Moon.

I personally don't like replacing 3 discard slots to simian spirit guide and I am actually a fan of the more speedy version, but those who are interested in trying the new build, it is quite interesting too.

Recent builds don't even splash green for decay. They rely all out on discard spells or the Sneak Attack/Stronghold Gambit plan as means of dodging the hate.

I would rather still play Unmask in the mainboard and use Collective Brutality in the sideboard. But this is actually meta-dependent, since one of the advantages of using brutality is the possibility of taking down a Deathrite Shaman in game 1.

But I have also been experiencing in my own meta that Abrupt Decay is good.... It is an awesome card... but it's not 100% needed. With Chancellor of the Annex and Sneak/Gambit, it is very possible to delay/dodge the hate enough to push through.

What I've been trying though is also Magma Spray in the sideboard as a way to deal with shaman/containment priest without letting it come back with Exhume.

Anyways, it's a cool deck. I've been playing the BR Reanimator build since mid 2014, and I am proud to see it has grown in popularity. Mostly because back then the deck suffered a bit of prejudice for not using blue. Well... hope you all enjoy the deck and have a nice topdecking :)

TIER DECK?

Along this first semester of 2016, I have seen this version of reanimator () go from a 20% total of decks in MtgTop8 to a peak of 50% of total Reanimator decks in the MtgTop8 database. Which means this version is being recognized for it's strength.

Main reasons for the usage of this version includes:

• consistency (it is a consistent deck and it has a consistent rate of turn 1-3 combos);

• price (this version is about half the price of other Legacy decks and also half the price of the UB Reanimator deck);

• strength (reanimation has always been a powerful strategy, even more if it is a gas pedal like this);

• strength post-sideboarding and matchups (this version takes a huge advantage of "FoW-less" decks due to the consistency of early turn combos, plus, Chancellor of the Annex, access to Abrupt Decay and Show and Tell effects Stronghold Gambit make it a strong deck even after sideboarding; and also, this deck does not suffer from Karakas as much as the other Reanimator).

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Alright, fellas, LISTEN UP!

This is another archetype of reanimator that's been around awhile. But it's never really been solidified and accepted as a viable competitive Reanimator when compared to it's oldest brothers (UB Reanimator and Mono-Black Reanimator).

But with my latest testings and plays with this deck, i can guarantee it is a viable, competitive Reanimator.

+1 to BR Faithless Reanimator! :D

Faithless Reanimator Show

This Reanimator leaves the Blue part and embraces more black and a little bit of red. TO HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND F*CKING ACCELERATE LIKE HELL!

What are the differences?

Well, the core (the reanimating combo) itself is still the same: Entomb + Reanimate or Exhume or Animate Dead.

But, this version has more ways to drop the fatty to the grave from your hand because you adopt more discard to the maindeck and that's of some relevance to the gameplan.

Disruption Show

What i really like about the disruption used in this version, is you discard a lot of your opponent's hand.

But what about Force of Will? What ABOUT FoW?

This deck's disruption is discard-based. So you can't do a thing in response to the opponent's action like you would with Force of Wills. BUT what FoW doesn't give you is INFO about the opponent's hand.

This deck mainboards:

1. Gitaxian Probe

2. Unmask

3. Thoughtseize

And that totals 11 means of acquiring knowledge on the opponent's hand.

Plus, if you are THAT worried about cost-zero disruption, Unmask is there to do the job.

Also, you CAN sideboard:

• Inquisition of Kozilek

• Duress

• Hymn to Tourach

Cantrips/Draw? Show

Alright, I concede the main flaw on this deck is it's lack of ways to dig for the combo and get card advantage.

But you are not too far behind.

Since this deck runs 3 Probes and 4 Faithless Lootings in the maindeck, this makes 11 draw-engines to solidify the deck. After all, the Flashback cost is viable.

But do keep in mind that mastering how to successfully play Faithless Looting takes time. Because you are going to TRADE two in your hand for two in your deck every time you play it. So, there are times which it is better not to use it at all.

Playing the Deck Show

This version takes a while for you to get used to it, since you aren't going to rely on Brainstorm, Ponder and nor Dig Through Time...

But what you should know for you to play it decently is:

1. You run short on lands... This deck doesn't run many lands... But you can still pull the plan anyway. This deck runs Lotus Petal and Dark Ritual.

2. You are fast. This deck is VERY fast to combo.

3. Take advantage of the knowledge acquired of your opponent's hand. This deck gives you plenty knowledge of your opponent's hand. And some people underestimate this. But this lets you know when you can slow down a bit before hitting the Gas Pedal again.

4. Know how to sideboard.

Sideboarding Show

This is very crucial. You GOTTA know how to sideboard.

What i like to do, and i recommend you folks to do, is consider what creatures are effective against your opponent. Plus, ditch Sire Of Insanity on most games.

Sire of Insanity is an awesome card. It wins games if you pull it on Turn-1, 2 and sometimes 3... But on the other games, it is VERY likely that you won't be able to pull it that fast, after all.. Grave-Hate is a bitch...

Also, If they are using any sort of combination that might cast Abrupt Decay, then it is better to drop Animate Dead.

If they are on a very aggro build, like Burn... you can throw away Reanimate in order not to give yourself a faster clock.

If, by any means, you are facing something like another Reanimator, Dredge... or an opponent which you don't want his creatures coming back to life, then it's better to leave a few Exhumes behind.

Usually i do a more control-ish build on the second and third games. I ditch a bit of the reanimation based on the opponent's deck, I ditch some of the creatures that won't have any impact on the game, and i also ditch Gitaxian Probes, maybe one Dark Ritual.

Then, I bring in as much disruption as I can find. So i can break their hands, together with Abrupt Decay and Stronghold Gambit.

Usually Pyroclasm goes against Death and Taxes, Goblins... And I put 1 copy against Grixis Pyromancer, UW Mentor and Delvers just in case.

Pithing Needles are good against Karakas, Deathrite Shaman, Grindstone, Liliana of the Veil, Sneak Attack and THE LOCK (Counterbalance + Sensei's Divining Top ).

Against Enchantress i like to go Back to Nature because their Leyline of Sanctity totally busts our discard spells... And they run Rest in Peace in the maindeck. Also, you may run Reverent Silence which is basicly the same.

Against Dredge and other Reanimators, I also like Tormod's Crypt or Extirpate (the later one because we don't run counterspells to guarantee Surgical Extraction will resolve).

Defense Grid is good-ish... I like it because it protects your combo... I dislike it because it may backfire... A LOT... sometimes you have to Decay your opponent at instant speed in the end of their turns, but you can't.

Ratchet Bomb or Powder Keg are useful against BUG Delver and other decks with a lot of 1/2 drops... Because most of their Grave-Hate is also a 1/2 drop.

Dealing with Grave-Hate Show

First of all... Abrupt Decay. Hands down.

But besides that, what can you do?

I would say:

1. Back to Nature is great against decks that don't run counterspells, but use Leyline of the Void. And even if they run counterspells, due to your quantity of discard, you can still pull through. Reverent Silence is something to use as well. Good side: No mana. Bad side: not instant speed.

2. Shattering Spree is nice to deal with the HUGE amount of artifacts that might screw you up.

3. Krosan Grip is an option... I don't like it, but this can do some benefit.

4. Stronghold Gambit!!!!!! This one... This right here... I love this... This has the same objective as Show and Tell... But some people dislike it because... well... there's a chance of your opponent putting a creature on the field. BUT this goes awesomely well with the deck due to all the discard we run.

Stronghold Gambit Show

When sideboarding, I usually add a TON of discard (depending on the match). And when I do, I also board in this card: Stronghold Gambit.

There are ways of making this card work, and it is already in the gameplan of the deck.

Since you are always checking what you are dealing with (by looking at the opponent's hand and acquiring info), you are usually on advantage of playing this card. Because all the discards (maindeck and sideboard) are contributing for this plan to work.

Other Versions of BR Reanimator Show

So far I have tried 2 other Versions of this deck...

One of them is focused on Sire Of Insanity and it differs from this one in this way:

CUT:

• 3 Gitaxian Probes

• 1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind

• 1 Tidespout Tyrant

• Either Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, Grave Titan or either Iona, Shield of Emeria (and move it to SB)

ADD:

• 2 Animate Deads

• 4 Sire Of Insanity

This version is even more explosive because it increases BLACK count for Unmask yourself and ditching creatures more easily, as well as making you run 12 Reanimating spells MainDeck

In this version, people usually run 4 Chancellor of the Annex in SB to replace Sire of Insanity on G2 and G3.

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The other one is LESS explosive, but more CONSISTENT. Which is reasonably difficult for RED to do, but we managed anyways.

CUT:

• 3 Gitaxian Probes

• 1 Exhume

ADD:

• 2 Burning Wishes

• 1 Duress

• 1 Polluted Delta (since the average CMC of the deck goes up)

With this one, you can TUTOR pieces of the combo (with Buried Alive in the sideboard or Exhume/Reanimate in the SB as well) or pieces of the SB like Pyroclasm, Reverent Silence or Stronghold Gambit.

Date added	10 years
Last updated	4 years
Splash colors	RG
Key combos	Entomb + Reanimate Counterbalance + Sensei's Divining Top
Legality	This deck is Legacy legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 3 Mythic Rares 29 - 9 Rares 8 - 1 Uncommons 16 - 2 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.81
Tokens	Energy Reserve
Folders	Reanimators, Decks, Legacy, legacy, Reanimator legacy, Favorites, Legacy: Competitive, Tournament Someday, Legacy, X Cool Decks by Other People