Burn Decks, Post-BFZ-Rotation
Standard forum
Posted on July 21, 2015, 8:14 p.m. by Rayze_Darr
So I'm relatively new to the game, and especially new to Standard, but while looking over Origins when it first got spoiled, I realized something; after Theros and M15 rotate out, burn decks seem like they're going to take a huge hit. To myself, being quuite partial to burn, this is concerning.
Lightning Bolt has been out of Standard for ages. Its replacement, Lightning Strike, comes in only two sets, both of which will be rotated out in 2.5 months. Tarkir had a few things, like Arc Lightning and, while not burn herself being very useful in a burn deck, Monastery Swiftspear, but the more Standard burn decks I see, the more I realize just how much they rely on Theros and M15. Heck, even my Thopter Burn deck relies heavily on Shrapnel Blast, and I'm not even sure my deck will work at all once that rotates out.
So how do you guys think Burn will fair after Battle for Zendikar launches? Do you think that BFZ will bring enough stuff to the table to keep it steady, or do you think that there's enough stuff in Tarkir and Origins alone to keep it afloat?
mathimus55 says... #3
Yea, every year it's the same thing once the core set comes out: is x deck viable post rotation.
We just had a new set come into standard. Enjoy it!! If you want to play burn now is as ever with the most burn cards around. Pyromancer's Goggles is fun to brew with, you still have Satyr Firedancer for a bit. Play the cards that are around. When spoilers start for BFZ or you play your last FNM this standard THEN you can worry about rotation.
July 21, 2015 8:51 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #4
Clearly Pyromancer's Goggles suggests that a bread and butter burn spell will replace Lightning Strike upon rotation. At least that's my take.
July 21, 2015 9:03 p.m.
Rayze_Darr says... #5
Maybe I am being a bit early on the rotation standard. I mean, yeah, Origins did just come out. The only reason I've been thinking on the rotation so much, though, is because of how soon BFZ is coming out. Origins cards come in, and we can use them in conjuncture with Theros and M15, but for less than 3 months only. It's more of my own inquisition into whether or not certain Standard decks are even worth making right now, with how soon the cycle's changing.
That, and the fact that Origins really seems to be giving zero love for Burn. Pyromancer's Goggles is a good point, though.
July 21, 2015 9:15 p.m.
mathimus55 says... #6
0 love for burn? Exquisite Firecraft is a sweet finisher. Hoses control decks with the uncounted able clause you had better be triggering. Abbot of Keral Keep and Scab-Clan Berserker are both $20 bucks for a set of both right now, add in firecraft and you've got a great base for a RDW going forward with all the other sweet red cards. I have added all of them to my Atarka red deck and crushed at standard with the new cards without adding piledriver.
July 21, 2015 10:03 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #7
I hope we get Searing Spear back. it's actually just strictly better than Lightning Strike because it's got a dude getting impaled on it.
July 21, 2015 10:07 p.m.
ThatJunkMage - I'm gonna have to call a Flavor Judge on that.
July 21, 2015 10:10 p.m.
Rayze_Darr says... #9
I'd more like to see stuff like Skullcrack and Incinerate, stuff that very few people would run over Lightning Bolt given the choice, but that also aren't strictly worse than Lightning Bolt. I guess that's my deal; I'm fine with "worse, but at least somewhat different," but I've always hated cards that are outright "strictly worse."
July 21, 2015 10:12 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #10
Yeah, yeah, flames are sorcery speed, lightning is instant, but someone obviously threw a spear really quickly. It just happens to be on fire.
July 21, 2015 10:25 p.m.
I think the fact that they threw it so quickly CAUSED it to catch on fire. It was a Moonsilver Spear before Avacyn threw it at that poor fellow.
July 21, 2015 10:55 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #13
I honestly can't see a deck that doesn't involve some sort of green ramp to get Pyromancer's Goggles into play, being viable in the standard format. If this was 4 drop, I could see it, but turn 5? In a burn deck? A) you won't have anymore resources by turn 5 because you'll have to use them to stay alive, burning Fleecemane Lions and what not, B) tapping out turn 5 for this doesn't see like it adds any value, yes you get 1 mana you can add, but is that really going to do anything. I can see this working in some sort of shell that works similar to G/R Dragons with more added burn. But for now, I don't see this card making too much of an impact in the standard format. As far as Red Burn goes, Red will always be a great color for the standard meta. It has always been. It will get more burn spells. Just think about it, what did red decks use before Lightning Strike from Theros? Lightning Helix...which is a ton better than Lightning Strike...so my point is, burn will always be around, just calm yourselves and work on this standard meta at the moment, and worry about the future when the future comes.
JWiley129 says... #2
It's too damn early to talk about rotation. There will likely be a replacement
burn spell to replace Lightning Strike, but it's too early to worry about it.
July 21, 2015 8:45 p.m.