Pour me a double, here comes trouble on the Rocs!
Introduction & Deck Idea
Battle with speed! That is what I am aiming for in this midrange, but very aggressive deck. I have managed to make it very versatile, able to perform well, both early - against other aggressive decks, and late - taking on control and other midrange decks with ease.
Individual Elements:
I. Creature Spells
Bloodsoaked Champion - a true champion of a card, helps us dish out damage early on, before we develop a stronger presence on the board with the rest of the creatures. His Raid ability discourages targeting by burn and removal spells, and even if he gets killed, it's still a profitable situation, because the opponent was forced to use a spell on something that can potentially be brought back. A renewable fuel source for the Butcher later on.
Butcher of the Horde - the key heavy-hitting killing machine. The synergy with all the tokens and Bloodsoaked Champion makes him an amazing 4-mana drop - a 5/4 flier with haste or lifelink, after sac'ing a cheap creature, can end the game very fast.
Goblin Rabblemaster - to get the token army started. A must-answer threat that can inflicti lethal attacks very soon. Combos really well both with Butcher of the Horde and Hordeling Outburst to create the midgame mayhem on the battlefield. Also, the Rabblemaster helps attract burn and removal spells away from the rest of my creatures.
Stormbreath Dragon - one in the main deck, one in the sideboard. A monstrous current-meta crusher. A 4/4 flying powerhouse that will make other midrange decks cry. White is its bitch and it does not care about some of the best removal in the format, as well as the popular Mantis Rider and Wingmate Roc.
Wingmate Roc - dropping 2 bombs from a single package is boss. This card can force unfavourable trades for the opponent with ease, and triggering Raid in this deck isn't hard with so many tokens messing about. The lifegain is also useful if we need to remain strong, the tokens are making it ridiculously powerful.
II. Instant Spells
Crackling Doom - one of the best removal spells in the format, definitely the best card in Mardu. It can deal with any threat a midrange deck can offer. We don't need to care about hexproof or the ramped threat of devotion decks.
Lightning Strike - some cheap burn to extend the reach of the deck - to finish the opponent or destroy a creature.
Stoke the Flames - to deal with beefy creatures or burn the opponent for some serious damage. It combos amazingly with the abundance of tokens, making it usually close to free to cast.
III. Sorceries
Hordeling Outburst - for the horde feel. Creates cheap blockers, fuel for the Butcher and more rabble for the Rabblemaster.
IV. Enchantments
Chained to the Rocks - a very mana-efficient creature removal. It goes very well with the colour focus of the deck - there is a Mountain available early on almost always.
V. Planeswalkers
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker - a very versatile planeswalker that can become a very formidable threat as an indestructible dragon, and remove annoying creatures. The ultimate is very good in long, grindy games, providing the fuel to beat control decks.
Sorin, Solemn Visitor - a vampire with a good utility role, offsetting the damage this deck forces us to take early on and works great against aggressive decks that run out of fuel pretty soon. He can create vampires, a risky move, only used in dire situations, that usually gets him killed. His ultimate ability is a challenge that is very difficult to deal with and usually makes the opponent tap out..
Sideboard
The sideboard attempts to answer the needs of the deck when it faces the main types of threats in the current meta.
Anger of the Gods - against token-intensive and aggro decks. Very useful in killing the mana dorks in Green Devotion and Abzan decks.
Banishing Light - against control decks, replaces Chained to the Rocks.
End Hostilities - against midrange decks. A game-changer versus the Abzan, because they rely on only a few strong threats.
Erase - to deal with Whip of Erebos and Courser of Krupix.
Glare of Heresy - if my other removal finds it difficult to answer a particular threat. The most popular deck archetypes currently have a good portion of white spells in them, making this instant spell very viable. It can easily deal with Elspeth, Sun's Champion or Banishing Light.
Murderous Cut - if I feel like adding some more creature removal.
Stormbreath Dragon - for more midgame presence, if needed.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my deck. Please leave a comment to help me make it better and +1 if you like it!