Hello all
I got my access to my account back, thanks.
Here is my current Mardu "Kroxabringer" deck. It will likely be my reference standard deck until rotation. It has been updated with Strict Proctor x2 which "works" too with Kroxa, and one Agadeem, the Undercrypt
. I'm testing Vanishing Verse too and Lurrus in sideboard (Vs Reidane Mainboard)
And yes I went to 63 cards. But that's fine. The deck is meant to be fun.
Game Plan
VS Rogue
Rogue is a good matchup for this deck, because of the presence of Kroxas and oppenent filling your graveyard. Game 1 should not be a problem, unless you get Kroxa controlled and find yourself without removals (which is unlikely in my build..)
Rogue will destroy the Husbringer-like creatures because is annoys their game plan, but it's ok this way, you'll play Kroxa regularly anyway.
Once opponent's ressources are empty you can send the angels.
Post side: Rogue will board against graveyard cards to get rid of Kroxa. Do do that they probably will cut a little removals. You have two ways to try and win anyway.
-
Keep the Hushbringers: If you do, the anti graveyard will be far less effective as you have a pretty good chance to put Kroxa from your hand directly on the battlefield. Get Kroxa back with Order of Midnight, or Lurrus, that you add from sideboard.
-
Cut 2 or 3 Hushbringers:
Rely on Kroxa's ability to come back.
In general, you'll want also Eliminate, Witch's Vengeance and Extinction Event.
Cut Vanishing Verse (bad here), Reidane, and some Soul Shatters. Do keep order of midnight, getting whatever creature you need back is very powerful.
VS Monored Burn
RDW is also a good matchup for Kroxabringer. You have plenty of removals and plenty of lifegains, and 4 Shatter the Soul for giants. Hushbringer will also cut the annoying dying triggers of mono red. Strict proctor cuts Embercleave's ETB too, some missplay to happen here!
The strategy is to first kill everything (you have the cards for that) then control the board on Turn 4 earliest with a Kroxa combo OR T5 with Baneslayer Angel. You can play Husbringer T2 if you have a spare or an order of midnight or don't because it will get stomped.
Don't be afraid to put the Murderous Riders directly into play if HP situation is tense.
Post side:
You don't really need sideboarding, but...
Vanishing verse is cool because of monocolored opponent. Eliminate is good too. You may also want Lurrus on board (lifelink ...).
+2 Vanishing Verse +1 Eliminate +1 Lurrus -2 Order of Midnight -1 Hushbringer -1 Strict Proctor . Optional -1 Reidane / +1 Extinction Event depending on their build.
VS Monogreen / Gruul
Remove everything until you can play an Angel, or try early Koxa combo. Kill their draw engines.
Hushbringer will lock the Great henge so keep it post side. Strict Proctor is good vs landfall too. Not that good otherwise.
Post Side:
Vanishing Verse is better than Heartless Act, so adjust. You may want Extinction Event too. Lurrus is better than Reidane so make the switch there too.
You can consider Drannith Magistrate if the number of adventure card is heavy. Otherwise don't bother.
Vs Naya
This used to be a horrible Matchup but now that I have 4 Drannith Magistrate in sideboard it's rather good!
Unless you make a tremendous start (this may happen) you will pretty soon loose game 1, overwhelmed by creatures.
Post side:
Now the fun begins. Unless you don't draw Drannith Magistrate, the advantage is yours because the killing capacity of Naya is poor. Adjust the removal according to the build and who is playing first, but it should go like this.
+4 Drannith Magistrate; +2 Extinction Event ; +1 Lurrus of the Dream Den; +1 Eliminate; +1 Vanishing Verse / -2 Hushbringer ; -4 Soul Shatter ; -1 Heartless Act ; -2 Order of Midnight.
Witch Vengeance is pretty good here too and can be an option.
Drannith Magistrate locks adventure and Showdown of the Scalds. This buy you plenty of time to kill every now useless creature they may have and crush opponent with Kroxa / Angel.
Vs Yorion Ultimatum
This is a bad matchup. Too many removals will probably make you give up round 1 unless you have a pretty good draw and lay Reidane. If you do you may have a chance. Hushbringer is pretty good vs Yorion but will likely get killed. Black wrathes also kind of destroy Kroxabringer (Shadow Verdict) ...
Post side:
Take some cheap removal back but do keep the Shatter the soul (for hexproof tokens...). Put in 4 Necromentia, 4 Drannith Magistrate and a Lurrus. You may play Extinction Event too for the tokens, but they are even, so it will kill Kroxa too. You can target Ultimatum with Necromentia, or according to your draw, target the black removals and rely on Drannith Magistrate to lock Ultimatum.
Feasible, but tough.
Vs Recycle / Zenith Flare
It's an ok matchup that can get tricky if you draw poorly. Boros was easy, but Jeskai is not.
Destroy what they play and play angel/kroxa asap. The main threat is the Improbable Alliance enchantment, which in my later version you cannot deal with anymore. I used to play Banishing Light but Vanishing Verse turned out to be better overall. But not in that case...
The goal is to make them loose their key cards and win as many hp as possible with lifelink creatures.
Post side:
4 Necromentia! and hope to draw 2 of them. If you do, remove the Improbable Alliance first and then the Zenith Flare. Zenith Flare first if it's already late in the game. Board in Lurrus, Keep Reidane because the artefact is very good against that deck. You can remove order of midnight, because they have poor removal, 2 proctors or Hushbringers, and adjust other removals accordingly (usually remove soul shatter for cheaper cards. Heartless Act is not so good as their creatures may have counters. Vanishing Verse is better, as Eliminate.)
Vs Tokens/Sacrifice
There are currently 2 versions of that deck. With, or without red, so with or without claim the firstborn. This card is the main problem. Otherwise all your cards are very good against sacrifice.
I think the best strategy is to play Kroxa very cautiously. As Hushbringer is very annoying vs sacrifice, it will be targeted and killed if you play her first. Then you'll be able to bring back kroxa and hopefully not get a Claim the Firstborn / Village Rite "combo".
Baneslayer Angel is the best card here because they have poor response against it and lifegain makes you out of reach.
Post Side:
Adjust your removal cards according to their build. Against Rakdos, Vanishing Verse is strong. Against Golgari, not so much. Board at least 2 Necromentia if they play red creature control cards. Lurrus is pretty good for Kroxa loops.
Vs Izzet control(ish)
This matchup is rather good but not that much. The funny thing is that you have Angels to kill dragons, and it can really make the difference. The less funny thing is their carddraw power which can cost you the game even if your cards are better overall.
Postside: 4 Necromentia again, mainly on dragons but it can depend on the situation. You can cut Vanishing Verse (unless you fear sharknado enchantments) and 2 to 4 Bloodchief Thirst. Lurrus is good against control so take him in too.
Vs Boros/Weenie White
Dogs are pests here. The matchup is pretty good but you can be put off tempo by dogs and undestructible creatures. That's where Soul Shatter can be very strong, as well as Vanishing Verse.
Proctor shuts off equipment drop, Hushbringer and proctor shuts Apparition.
Post Side:
Eliminate, Extinction Event, Lurrus, Vanishing Verse and Witch's Vengeance are pretty good. You can cut Order of Midnight, Reidane, some or all Heartless Acts if too many counters.
It will be tense, but you'll make them live hell too.
total results of paper tournaments: 19W 3D 3L
- 22/05/2021 : 2W 1L 1D
- 29/05/2021 : 4W 0L (Victory)
- 05/06/2021 : 3W 1L
- 19/06/2021 : 3W 1D (Victory) - slight update in sideboard (Necromentia over Agonizing Remorse)
- 03/07/2021 : 2W 1L (2nd out of 6 - we were few this time)
- 24/07/2021 : 2W 1D (Victory - few again)
- 04/09/2021 : 3W (Victory - "top8" configuration)
