swap Glint for Shape the Sands , basically the same thing, just cheaper and better

crater elemental seems better than vile aggregate to me. It blocks better, can pop to kill problem creatures, and the fail case of aggregate as something like a 1/5 is not very good. I think the synergy with tide drifter isn't enough to push it further than the elemental.

Mizzium Meddler and Updraft Elemental are other interesting options.

I'm going to stand against the last few comments by stating the following opinion:

• Mantle of Webs is a no-go. You already have 7 blockers against potential flying creatures, and 3 Flames to kill them. As for the +1/+3 bonus, it is not worth a card slot either.

• Crater Elemental, although a potentially good creature in this deck, must in no way replace Radiant Flames mainboard. The Flames will be crucial in the strong aggro meta that is currently taking place, and that will continue to take place for some time. (But of course, when you play against heavy control decks, then Crater Elemental may be a suitable option to side out the Flames for.)

• Glint is not there only for the +0/+3 bonus; the "hexproof" part plays a priceless role here. Even if the bonus was only +0/+2, I would still play it over Shape the Sands, because thwarting spot removal is of major importance in this kind of deck.

• (Not talking against captainloafers's comment here) I like the idea of Mizzium Meddler; have you considered it? It makes a good "pseudo-haste" creature. Double it up with its other ability, AND the fact that it can make a surprise blocker as a 4/4, and, well, wow. Just wow.

lightcarrier: spot on with the explanations.

Glint was Shape the Sands, switched for the hexproof bonus. Altered Ego would throw off the curve of the deck; it's not really a late-game deck. Crater Elemental will probably join the sideboard , there's random crap in there anyway. Vile Aggregates compound off each other, and 1 ingest damage is better than 0 from Crater Elemental (never gonna hit that formidable anyway)

My friend, a certain Sgt, and myself, were testing this deck out. We found that the Aggregates were underperforming, and in our small amounts of testing Hangarback Walker instead, the change seemed favorable. It held the fort while the deck was down, hit hard with or without Assault Formation, and made the enchantment's second activated ability powerful on its own. We reasoned that it could veritably take a 3 drop slot because a turn two play would result in the effective consumption of 3 mana to play a 2 drop on turn 3. It absorbs exile removal, and damage based removal cannot be used against the rest of the creatures, leaving opponents with something of a conundrum.

Instead of Mizzium Meddler, Void Grafter would probably work. It is slightly larger, and will usually survive the protection of another creature, if either one is to be put in.

NotSquishedYet: Valid points for Hangarback Walker, but would the deck still fall under "budget" with their inclusion over Vile Aggregate? Sylvan Advocate currently stands as the most expensive card in the deck, but it does become a 4/5 later and makes Wandering Fumarole a 3/6. Though I suppose it still could be budget considering Hangarback isn't Jace-level in price. If Vile Aggregate goes, should Tide Drifter remain? Benthic Infiltrator is fine since it is unblockable.

I am not sure it would... Their price has dropped a lot, though. I think Tide Drifter might just not make it; I'll come up with its replacement, if they are switched out. If it does not meet budget, by the official terms or by your own, the changes could be labeled in the description or made a separate deck. I agree on Benthic Infiltrator's lasting value.

This is the best Assault formation deck I have seen to date.

ok deck +1

So, this deck is pretty bonkers, and I like that it also does something without assault formation, which other decks don't.Most choices seem logical, but I don't really get the Stormchaser Mage. I get that it's a good hitter, but the number of noncreature spells you play to abuse his prowess is not really there.I've got this feeling that this deck is okay without formation, but then it feels like a bad aggro deck. Maybe Anticipate is a card worth looking into, for digging purposes.I've also seen decks with formation that are playing Tormenting Voice or Magmatic Insight, to dig for the formation.What's the opinion of people on this?Great deck furthermore, so a big +1 from me!

Snipperman - Stormchaser Mage is great as he is a 2 drop and flying so he can block basically all 2 drops in the game early if you are searching for answers, and later on he can attack with evasion for 3 which most other creatures can't.

brokendwarf,
I love Assault Formation and your build looks extremely solid. Have you had a chance to play it on a real table yet, and if so how did it do? Also, I've gone back and forth on the speed of a pure Gruul Deck vs. the increased capabilities of a Temur deck. I'd love your thoughts on "Why Temur?"

Thanks much and draw well!

I don't play Standard; don't like having to keep up with things, so no, I haven't tested in IRL.

Why Temur? Mainly I didn't want to do Abzan cause that seemed obvious. I suppose the Blue came in because of the eldrazi (Benthic Infiltrator, Tide Drifter), and Jace, Vryn's Prodigy  ^Flip was in the original build but was cut to make it more budget friendly. Blue also gave access to some of the multicolored stuff, namely Stormchaser Mage and Wandering Fumarole. And I suppose you could in G/R you could splash the Wandering Fumaroles in to make Radiant Flames better, which is great for this deck since most things have the booty to avoid it.

Nice deck, have you consider Cryptolith Fragment  ^Flip? A cheap card that deals up to 7 damage on each attack when transformed.

How has this gone in tournaments?