How is Burn doing so well?
Modern forum
Posted on May 20, 2015, 7:45 p.m. by iVampire
The deck has 30/70 match ups vs most of the field of Collected Company combo, Abzhan, Twin, UW control, Affinity, Infect, and Amulet. It also struggles against tier 2 decks like Soul Sisters, Ad Naseum, Boggles, and Gifts.
Its only good matchups are Zoo, Jund, and Tron
ThisIsBullshit says... #4
Burn struggles Ad Nas and SS? I must not be running actual burn then.
May 20, 2015 7:50 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #5
It's still 8% of the meta, the fifth most played deck. Though I agree with Fluffy, I think it's on decline. It had good times and is getting hated out, just like any other deck that does well for a period of time.
May 20, 2015 7:50 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #6
To be fair, I've never lost to burn when playing AdNaus.
May 20, 2015 7:56 p.m.
yeah Naseum has Unlike which is like gain 10 life then has Leyline in board
May 20, 2015 8:17 p.m.
RoarMaster says... #8
Burn is cheap to build, which leads me to assume that more players will be playing it, and the more players playing a deck, the more likely it is to make a ranked spot.
May 20, 2015 8:19 p.m.
FreddyFlash311 says... #9
You've never wanted to be holding a hand full of bolts, spikes and guides when you opponent goes T1 Verdant Catacombs into Overgrown Tomb into Thoughtseize?
I detest burn but I can see the appeal.
May 20, 2015 8:34 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #10
I love the part where Abzan just starts at 15. Makes my day.
May 20, 2015 8:35 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #12
Infect is your best matchup, and every tier 1 deck is no worse than 45 percent with most being better.
May 20, 2015 10:20 p.m.
deathtouch_roadrunner says... #13
RE the cheap to build comment, I don't even think that's true anymore. Now you need fetchlands and shocks for G and W so you can play Lightning Helix and Atarka's Command, etc. I'm only guessing, but I figure on average it's probably a $300 deck without the sideboard. Though I guess cheap is relative, with plenty of modern decks running way way more $$$.
May 20, 2015 10:50 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #15
80 Goblin Guide
10 each Lightning Bolt Lava Spike & Rift Bolt
15 each Boros Charm & Lightning Helix
190 so far...
8-13 fetches at at least 10-15$ per card.
40 for shocks
So yea 300-400 & dirt cheap for modern and depends how efficient mana base you want...
May 21, 2015 12:15 a.m.
As stated, compared to the $1000~ price tag of a twin deck or the $1500+ pricetag of abzan midrange, burn is cheap. Not to mention the point of the deck is "my openning hand is good, lets do this".
And as ThisIsBullshit stated, most decks start at 15-17 life, so the appeal to play it is definately there.
May 21, 2015 2:08 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #17
If you don't splash white and green (my deck didn't for a while) it's much much cheaper to play, and at around $200 is one of the cheapest Modern decks I've seen. Also, my burn deck, with white, green and Blood Moon in the sideboard, is still only $400, which is less than a playset of Goyf.
So yes, it is cheap.
May 21, 2015 7:37 a.m.
deathtouch_roadrunner says... #18
Still, it's close in cost to things like Merfolk, Elves, or BW Tokens at this point. I think truly budget modern decks are mostly green stompy/aggro type decks at this point (example: cheap deck under $100, 2nd place in a daily).
May 21, 2015 11:25 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit, FreddyFlash311 - The part where Abzan starts at 15 but then goes T2 Scavenging Ooze into T3 Timely Reinforcements or Kitchen Finks into T4 Leyline of Sanctity or Siege Rhino.
I'm just messing.
Burn is popular because whilst it has bad matchups it has the potential to beat just about any deck in the meta if they draw poorly - which happens to everyone from time to time. It's very punishing to play against - which can be scary.
May 22, 2015 11:34 a.m.
FalkensteinAZ says... #20
Also, people look at Burn as an easy, straigtforward deck to play. With all of the complicated T1-4 choices present in some strategies, the linear play of bolt-you can be appealing. While the deck is not at all easy to play optimally, the learning curve is shorter, and fewer games are lost to poor decision making. The Burn player can make less than optimal decisions, and with a bit of luck the opponent will get a poor draw or opening, giving up the game. Frequently, the burden is not on the Burn player to win, but on the opponent to avoid a loss, and that pressure may be a factor in longer tournaments.
May 22, 2015 2:45 p.m.
It certainly is harder to tilt when you're playing burn than it is when you have to make many more complicated decisions on a deeper level.
May 22, 2015 2:52 p.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #22
Burn punishes decks for stumbling at all or making any mistakes. It can have very quick draws and can win the game off topdecks. Many decks also run punishing mana bases. Like others have said, it is a (relatively) cheap, easy to play deck.
fluffybunnypants says... #2
Last I checked, Burn was on the decline in terms of percentage played....?
May 20, 2015 7:47 p.m.