Put the most efficient cards (excluding Rhino) into a deck and watch as value steamrolls your opponent.
The real strength of this deck comes from being better on the battlefield with huge threats,
Woodland Wanderer
, and lots of fliers Thunderbreak Regent. This coupled with the most efficient removal in the format Draconic Roar and the extra reach from
Jeskai Charm
and Jace will push you over the top quite easily with enough answers to not die in the process.
Draconic Roar with a suite of dragons provides answers to all the early questions most decks will throw at you from opposing Mantis Rider to Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
to Drana, Liberator of Malakir and getting three on the face in a deck with so many fliers can really have your opponent on the back foot. Being able to use Jace to cast then flash back Draconic Roar can also function as removal for bigger guys. And don't forget you can reassign the extra three damage to planeswalkers.
Every playable in the deck (Bar Rattleclaw) is threatening and do a fantastic job at winning on the board. Dropping a
Woodland Wanderer
on turn 3 as a 6/6 trample demands an answer straight away or you can just run away with the game. Thunderbreak Regent is not only an activator for roar but will always get some value hitting for at least three on the face. Getting multiple down can be backbreaking.
Reflector Mage is one of the only changes coming from oath with the huge tempo gain/pseudo removal it offers working very well to give you time to land your threats and force through fliers.
Mantis Rider is an engine, always make sure that you are careful with fetchlands that you get the right combination of mana to be able to cast it. Being one of many haste minions in the deck it can be excellent for putting on pressure early or as a finisher.
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is a recent addittion to the deck and has been a very useful addition against the hordes of aristocrats and atarka red at my local meta. His 0 is so useful for building a board and works very well with Jeskai charm. His +1 is also great for putting huge pressure on your opponent.
Jeskai Charm
is a new favorite for me in the deck replacing Crater's Claws. It has extra versatility and the potential for game winning life swings with the giant board the deck can produce. Also it can deal with Hangarback Walker without making thopters to help your dragon's Bash face. Make sure you look out for the opportunity to tuck an opponent's creature when they crack a fetch as they have to shuffle it into their deck if you put it on top in response. Also very good against the combo in Atarka red.
Sarkhan Unbroken is card advantage every time he isn't countered. And if he sticks around can net you enough card advantage you should be very far ahead.
Temur Ascendancy is a great option to side in against slower decks.
So far at FNM I have been able to take down variations on JeskaiX, multiple control variants from sultai to UR. Also the variety of rally decks from abzan variations to blue for Jace, BW processors, the many flavours of Rhino and the colourful bring to light, also ramp and UR prowess.
This deck has solid match ups across the board being an absolute nightmare for control and strong against rally and atarka red. It's got a good match up against abzan and can tear apart any tier 3 deck. The Jeskai black match up is a lot about curving out. If you can manage that you should be favored, but if you get behind its an uphill battle.
I'm currently 38-8-6 with it at FNM, so I think something is working right.The deck placed sixth at Good Games premium standard tournament and took home a foil Iona and Chandra among many other cards prizedrafted from a foil set of Zendikar.
Thanks for taking the time to read this any comments or upvote appreciated, and best of luck if you take any ideas from this.
