Greet death with sword in hand. [Pioneer Humans]

Pioneer* Aggro Death and Taxes RBW (Mardu)

abby315

Creature (27)

• 2x Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
• 4x Dauntless Bodyguard
• 2x General Kudro of Drannith
• 4x Kitesail Freebooter
• 2x Kytheon, Hero of Akros  ^Flip
• 4x Thalia's Lieutenant
• 4x Thraben Inspector
• 3x Tithe Taker
• 2x Tomik, Distinguished Advokist

Land (22)

• 4x Blood Crypt
• 1x Castle Ardenvale
• 4x Concealed Courtyard
• 4x Inspiring Vantage
• 3x Plains
• 4x Sacred Foundry
• 2x Swamp

Instant (5)

• 3x Boros Charm
• 2x Dire Tactics

Planeswalker (2)

• 2x Gideon of the Trials

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Thoughtseize

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Sideboard

Creature (11)

• 2x Arashin Cleric
• 1x Dire Fleet Daredevil
• 1x Drannith Magistrate
• 2x Robber of the Rich
• 2x Stormfist Crusader
• 3x Tocatli Honor Guard

Instant (4)

• 2x Fry
• 2x Rending Volley

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Alesha, Who Smiles at Death has been one of my favorite cards since she came out, but she didn't have a home in standard and her power level isn't high enough for eternal formats. Now with Pioneer, I feel like the power level is just right to try her out!

Enter Mardu Humans n Taxes! As the "top end" along with Kudro and Gideon, Alesha helps keep the pressure on by reanimating our key pieces: Lieutenant, taxes creatures, Bodyguards and Freebooters.

Card choices below. Another choice of note is 22 lands. 23 felt too flood-y. 22 errs on the side of mana screw, but we're leaning on the London Mulligan to find a fast and furious hand even if we have to go to 5. Possibly wrong but that's what this site is for :)

The IRS

- Dauntless Bodyguard: Want to kill off my Lieutenant? Or need your card exiled with Freebooter? Relying on a Deafening Clarion? NOPE!
- Tomik, Distinguished Advokist: If you face a lot of Inverter combo, you can swap with the sideboard Tocatli Honor Guards. But this guy is aggressive and stops Lotus Field combos cold!
- Tithe Taker: Makes your opponents play at sorcery speed. Makes a flier when he dies, which keeps up aggro against planeswalkers.
- Kitesail Freebooter: Along with Thoughtseize, takes out boardwipes, draw spells, and removal. Can ruin an opponent's keep, and it flies.
- Thoughtseize: I mean, it's a format staple, and we need it to not get wrecked by early interaction or combos.

The Feds

Enforce the tax. Get it? :)
- Thalia's Lieutenant: The classic beater of Standard-era humans. Gets big, makes your other dudes big.
- Gideon of the Trials: Gets buffed by anthems, is a huge clock, and importantly stops the Inverter combo. Other 3-mana Gideons might be better if that deck gets banned or hated out, but at the moment it's a keeper.
- General Kudro of Drannith: It's an anthem, it's well costed, and the two abilities are gravy. Just want to draw him after establishing a good board presence, like Alesha, so only a two-of.
- Kytheon, Hero of Akros  : Wanted 6 2/1s for 1. He turns into another 4/4 Human Gideon. It's all good.
- Thraben Inspector: Everyone knows this silver slugger, no explanation needed. Stronger than a 1-mana 6/6.
- Alesha, Who Smiles at Death: Just when your opponent thought they'd gotten rid of your Lieutenant or your Freebooter, you can bring her back and rebuff the board. Reanimates everything outside of Kudro.
- Boros Charm: Reach + boardwipe protection? Two good reasons it's the best charm.
- Dire Tactics: It's just a good rate.

With inspiration from Mardu Human Lock V2! Thank you!

Date added	4 years
Last updated	4 years
Legality	This deck is Pioneer legal.
Rarity (main - side)	10 - 2 Mythic Rares 28 - 7 Rares 13 - 4 Uncommons 4 - 2 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	1.79
Tokens	Clue, Emblem Gideon of the Trials, Human 1/1 W, Spirit 1/1 WB