Sideboard


Hey, everybody, thanks for reading. This my idea for mono-red Sneak Attack. It's pretty different than all of the other ones out there right now, so let's get right into it.

I don't use any mana acceleration spells like Rite of Flame, Desperate Ritual or Seething Song because they are only temporary solutions to getting mana out, they don't last. I instead like to see my mana acceleration in uncounterable form, in the form of lands (Sandstone Needle, Ancient Tomb and City of Traitors) or with cheeky discard (Simian Spirit Guide). I find those are just a lot less clunky overall, and I almost always get 4 or 5 mana on turn 2.

Faithless Looting is the first turn spell. It's great to draw two cards for one mana, and often discarding isn't much of a problem due to the effects of discarding Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth and Progenitus guilt-free because they go back to your library, if not messed with first. And of course, it's always great to discard another Faithless Looting or Fiery Temper with their abilities.

Gamble is the next turn one spell, and is the funnest part of the deck. Everything is able to be discarded in the deck, so even the discard not going your way usually isn't too much of a problem to come back from.

Sneak Attack and Through the Breach are the meat and potatoes of this deck. The idea is with Simian and the lands I can get them out early, if uninterrupted. And being able to drop multiple legendary creatures for one mana, or swinging even just one through as an instant can and is devastating.

Now the creatures

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is an obvious creature choice because it's so huge, and has protection, so can typically swing and kill once out. It also can't be discarded from my hand by an opponent, or discarded by my Faithless Looting, without going back into the library. This is also true for Kozilek, Butcher of Truth and Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre.

Progenitus was my third choice for creatures here, for many reasons. First, it's a 10/10, with protection from everything. Actually literally everything. This also means, it's unblockable! Unlike Emrakul which has only protection from colored spells, not abilities or creatures, Progenitus swings through untouched.

The other two powerhouse creatures in the deck are Maelstrom Archangel and Rafiq of the Many. Maelstrom Archangel allows me to do 5 initial damage, and then actually get to cast something, instead of cheating it into play. Works super well to get the cast abilities off the eldrazis, but also quite important, if there's a lot of permanent destruction, for getting Avacyn, Angel of Hope to stick around after having entered the battlefield. Rafiq of the Many gives everyone that attacks alone exalted and double strike, so Progenitus hits for 22, and Emrakul, the Aeons Torn hits for 32, if you can get Rafiq of the Many out one of them in combo.

Blood Moon is another prominent part of the mainboard. It offers control against most decks, because most decks aren't mono red, and most decks don't run that many basics. Just a good enchantment to keep around the house for sure.

The last important feature of the mainboard is Sundial of the Infinite. This also helps creatures into play permanently, like Maelstrom Archangel, although I won't get to have cast them. Sundial of the Infinite ends the turn whenever I want. So I can Breach or Sneak a creature into play, and then use Sundial of the Infinite to end my turn before the actual end of my turn, so that the end effects of both cards don't occur and the creature is left in play.

Now onto the sideboard: This deck's biggest weakness is probably counters. So right out of the gate I have 3 of each of Vexing Shusherfoil, Defense Grid, and Trinisphere, depending on what type of countering I'm up against. Defense Grid also helps against permanent destruction, which is why Avacyn, Angel of Hope is there to party as well. Trinisphere also helps against weenie decks like Zoo, Merfolk, and Affinity, with the aide of Cave-In. And of course, no red sideboard would be complete without so artifact destruction in there, so enter Shatterstorm.

Lastly in the sideboard, Chaos Warp is just hilarious. It just does so many things. First and foremost, it's permanent "removal" in mono-red. It can shuffle an opponent's Tarmogoyf back into their deck and get them back a useless instant on top. Or I can use it to protect my own things in a pinch, if I felt so inclined, shuffling something I own back into the library in response to it getting targeted. Or, I can use it to try and cheat things in, if I have too many Sneak Attacks in my hand or something.

Alright, thanks for reading everybody. Comments and critiques always more than welcome! :)

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Revision 186 See all

(4 weeks ago)

-1 Blood Sun main
+3 Overlord of the Boilerbilges main
-2 Stingerback Terror main
Date added 8 years
Last updated 4 weeks
Exclude colors G
Legality

This deck is Legacy legal.

Rarity (main - side)

37 - 6 Mythic Rares

16 - 8 Rares

4 - 1 Uncommons

Cards 60
Avg. CMC 3.73
Tokens Copy Clone, Goblin Shaman, Spirit 1/1 C, Treasure, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Deathtouch, Wurm 3/3 C w/ Lifelink, Wurm 5/5 G w/ Trample
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