This is my most consistently powerful deck I've put together so far, modeled after Andrew Kerrigan's R/G Aggro deck (which was broken down in a video with SCG).
I realize all of the improvements I would need could easily be made by creating a copy of Kerrigan's deck. However, most of my differences lie in budgetary restrictions (I tend to enjoy the improvement process that comes from slowly working in cards you acquire, as opposed to just buying all of the singles I'm missing) so I work with what I draw in boosters primarily, or can be bought for relatively cheap.
The most important components I hope some day to fix (if it were just a little more financially possible) include 2 more Thunderbreak Regent and
Deathmist Raptor
, which are both just spectacularly effective cards. Perhaps 2 more Rattleclaw Mystic as well, but the 2 I already have seem a bit too clunky beyond the morph synergy and flipping for Crater's Claws. For now, 2 seems to pop up enough for what it's needed for, and the extra slots have a lot of contenders.
Instead of the
Ashcloud Phoenix
, I'm using 3 Flamewake Phoenix in it's place. Though a bit weak and lacking that extra morph element that this deck loves so much, it works very smoothly in early flying swings and is comfortably disposable (in other words, I'm not too invested in keeping it around). I'm even considering using both phoenixes (1 ashcloud and 2 flamewake; maybe 2 and 2 if I can find the space)
I am missing Stormbreath Dragon entirely, so I've filled those 4 positions with various dragons I had, Dragonlord's Servant to make it a little easier to get dragons on the field, and a Dragon Tempest (though, I am debating if dragon tempest is going to stay as I don't quite have a large enough dragon presence to see much out of the X damage effect, plus flamewakes already have haste so it's pointless with them as my primary group of flyers).
I've come to enjoy Surrak, the Hunt Caller and will actually be trying to add one more to the deck. 8 power to trigger his formidable is almost a given by the time he sees the battlefield. Even early on, it only takes a small combination of flamewakes and elvish mystics on the field to get those 3 points beyond his solid 5 starting, and from there, sending in thunderbreaks with haste picks up the intensity quickly.
That's pretty much all my commentary. This is a really fun deck that revived R/G for me. It offers plenty of action without waiting on mana ramp to start delivering some damage, it has creative morph strategies to keep bouncing in
Deathmist Raptor
in, and finishes off with devastating burns using leftover mana with Crater's Claw.
I just wanted to hear feedback on what others think I should sub in/out, figure out if there are better substitutes for cards from Andrew Kerrigan's original version (in other words, cards that won't break my bank like Courser of Kruphix or additional planeswalkers), and get some pointers on how (and what sideboard cards) I should try to play against some of the other popuar standard decks
