This deck was theorised when I first saw the Devotion mechanic in Theros on the Spoiler. Basically the idea was strong red triple hybrid devotion cards and quick efficient ways of using the large mana from Nykthos to grow a lot of strong efficient bodies with things like hammer, and also skarrg guildmage was an instant yes for this deck due to the trample making a Rubblebelt raiders swing straight through the enemy creatures for each of the land and tokens I have attacking. I kinda stole some of the mana engine ideas when I later saw the theros pro tour and that really helped me bring the deck together on much earlier turns.
The sideboard is mostly an answer to mono black and control decks, my base deck tends to go well against most aggro decks because a combination of very early board filling and stronger creatures makes me able to make myself a threat to aggro much quicker than midrange or control, but the spark troopers go in against aggro.
And the finished final draft for this deck is going here, tell me what you think and if it's viable for me to try and win some games at FNM. Also if you have some questions about the synergies of this deck just ask, and I'll probably respond fairly quickly.
Key combos include
Burning-Tree Emissary or Boros Reckoner or Rubblebelt Raiders + Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
This makes the huge manabase without having to tap a voyaging satyr to accelerate it, because larger numbers of mana sybols can be played quicker.
Rubblebelt Raiders or Savageborn Hydra + Hammer of Purphoros & Skarrg Guildmage
This means I can pump those large mana values into a blowout around turns 4-6, Hammer, and if I'm lucky Skarrg Guildmage down, plus one of those two cards is an instant blowout. I'm consideirng additional guildmages and hammers considering how key pumping mana into those is to many of the victories I've had so far.
Xenagos, the Reveler or Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx + Garruk, Caller of Beasts
Garruk brings a lot of new threats into my hand, and a Xenagos +1 can be enough to put down more creatures, then after that activate nyx when Xenagos has gotten me more devotion symbols on the field which lets me just throw down everything I hit with Garruk.
And a lot more ways that the cards can interact, but those tend to be the key combos that keep this deck running. In a way you could call this tempo just by being able to flood the board time and time again with effective beats.
