Oh crap, not MORE red decks!
Standard Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 4, 2015, 1:31 p.m. by ComradeJim270
So, RDW just took the pro tour. That's kind of cool, it's very different from what we've seen recently. I expect to see a lot more red now.
Trouble is, RDW is the single worst matchup for my standard deck. I never, ever win game one. I rarely win games at all. The combination of cheap burn with speed at least as good as my own just doesn't let me do anything.
I'm not quite sure what to do here without compromising the deck's ability to handle other matchups. The mana base is also worrying; running four painlands and four confluences is not much fun against burn-heavy decks, but taplands slow down the deck significantly which is a problem in most other matchups.
I'd be very grateful for any ideas on how to make this matchup better. At the very least I'd like to make it so I don't lose automatically.
Off to War! Playtest
Standard
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ComradeJim270 says... #3
To answer your first question, pretty badly. I need to hit white on turn one, and usually black on turn two. Adding in that fixing vastly increased the deck's performance compared to when it was only basics and painlands.
Usually what happens with RDW is all my creatures get burned and I get smacked in the face with creatures until I die or a burn spell can finish me off. The creatures in question can be stuff like Monastery Swiftspear, or just a bunch of goblins. I have Virulent Plague for the latter, at least.
Hallowed Moonlight is something I'd definitely considered. It's good in the mirror, it's good against other token strategies and it's good against the Rally decks I've been seeing a few of lately. I'm just not sure what I'd take out.
August 4, 2015 2:05 p.m. Edited.
Languish or Drown in Sorrow or Anger of the Gods clears their board. Languish has the advantage of not triggering eidolon, but it's slower.
Keep mana and a protection spell up before casting a creature to avoid searing blood damage and burn on your creatures so you can block.
Maybe get early lifegain with something like Mortal's Ardor.
During early game you shouldn't be attacking too much, because you will lose the race against mono red decks if you go there. After you survive their initial burst you can maintain a stable board with 1-2 creatures hitting them down with lifegain from sorin.
August 4, 2015 3:50 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #5
Good points, Kroto. Those will all kill my board as well, but I have recursion. They won't. Drown in Sorrow is the most appealing of those three since it can hit on turn three and is also useful against elves.
I'm not sure how I'd change the SB to put it in.
The tactical advice is especially good. Trying to race these decks never, ever works. I know, I've tried.
August 4, 2015 3:55 p.m. Edited.
For early colour fixing PLUS a small amount of life gain you could try Scoured Barrens. Although, as you said, it will slow you down.
I use Hopeful Eidolon for early life gain. It also gives advantage late game due to its Bestow.
I've also found that early, huge, cheap blockers slow fast decks way down. Stuff like Lagonna-Band Trailblazer and Yoked Ox.
August 4, 2015 10:25 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #7
The lifegain is definitely relevant, I'll look into it. More often though I notice opponents burning my creatures and winning with creature damage. I'm hoping making Ajani's Presence a four-of will help.
August 5, 2015 1:08 a.m.
Ajani's Presence is GREAT in B/W decks.
A similar, and IMO opinion more versatile card, is Valorous Stance.
August 5, 2015 1:16 a.m.
Oh and Devouring Light is also good in the Sideboard for match ups that have Creatures with Indestructible or Regeneration, or for Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen to attack into.
August 5, 2015 1:28 a.m. Edited.
ComradeJim270 says... #10
Yeah, I ran Valorous Stance but the fact it's two CMC does become relevant against other aggro decks, especially since it can't destroy most of their creatures. It will be sorely missed.
August 5, 2015 1:36 a.m.
It's still a decent Sideboard card that can be swapped for Ajani's Presence, as needed.
Banishing Light is also another decent Sideboard option.
ducttapedeckbox says... #2
How badly do you need the fixing from Mana Confluence? How much bad would it be to run a combination of Radiant Fountain and basics in its place?
I also have a terrible burn matchup, but sometimes you have to accept that it's bad regardless of what you do. I would suggest Orbs of Warding, but 5 mana seems like it can be difficult with only 21 lands.
Are you having trouble against the token-based RDW or the version that just took the pro tour? Well, assuming it's both, which is more prevalent in your meta? Hallowed Moonlight would be janky but sometimes effective against the token version.
August 4, 2015 1:55 p.m.