This deck is built on the principle of "Burn fast and smart". Get the right creatures out that enhance your field presence or give your spells an extra punch. There are plenty of ways that you can deal damage directly to an enemy and you can easily use blue to make sure you have exactly what you want, when you want it.
Card Strategies
Gitaxian Probe - Wonderful spell to have. Helps you decide how to play your cards over the next couple of turns since you get to look at an opponents hand, draw power, and even better, it can be paid for with life to deal equal damage even after you're out of mana if Guttersnipe is on the field.
Guttersnipe - This guy is awesome. You should do everything in your power to keep this guy safe. As a convenient plus, almost every way to protect this guy available to you in this deck will cause his Triggered Ability to go off!
Incinerate - Obvious direct damage spell. Also useful if you absolutely have to clear something off the field before you get Guttersnipe onto the field.
Lightning Bolt - The legendary and most popular card of all time. Pop an easy 3+ damage to a player, or kill that troublesome 3/3 with the possibility of dealing some additional damage to players too.
Mana Leak - Keep your foes at bay early in the game or slow them down. Even if they pay to not counter the spell, the spell still resolves and Guttersnipe still deals damage.
Manamorphose - One of the most under-rated and over-powered cards in the game when you're building a deck that needs to stay small and focused. This becomes even more-so apparent when playing this at the right time can mean "free" damage with Guttersnipe. Add the ability to play almost any spell immediately following this one for even more damage and you can easily see this cards true potential.
Noxious Revival - A seemingly odd card to include in this deck considering the off-color mana cost, but with a Guttersnipe on the field, the Pain Mana Cost is almost meaningless since you are dealing 2 damage to your opponents. It is usually WORTH it since it allows you to reclaim lost creatures or spells that can be vital to your survival and victory. Vexing Devil can also deal stupid amounts of damage very quickly if you opt to bring him back. Also, a Manamorphose will allow you to cast this without paying life for it while reclaiming your favorite card back out of your Graveyard.
Preordain - Being able to chose what you draw is a must when a deck hinges so much on getting a select few cards onto the battlefield. Use it to get to your creatures or to deal damage after you already have a presence on the field.
Skullcrack - Choice #1 for ending a game. Short of being countered, they can't stop that last bit of damage you are dealing.
Snapcaster Mage - Brilliant card. Reuse any spell you need that you've already cast and get a nice 2/1 blocker as a residual effect!
Vapor Snag - Usually reserved to aggressively bounce their creatures, if you absolutely need to snap your own creature back into your hand for 1 damage, that option still exists. Great bounce to keep the big green meanies away. Guttersnipe makes this spell deal an unfair amount of damage. If you really want to mix things up, use this Spell on a Snapcaster Mage to keep bringing your favorite cards back.
Vexing Devil - With a powerful field presence or direct damage, this card is essential in keeping your damage potential up either directly or as a powerful field presence
Vapors Rise
