Fast or Slow deck? you decide
Standard forum
Posted on March 31, 2013, 8:52 p.m. by paololol
Title is self explanatory - in aggro wise,
would you rather play a quick aggro, but only dominating early game.
or play aggro medium paced, good early and very good late game.
just wondering how everyones opinion is to this.
I would personally rather play all-in lightning fast aggro. Otherwise it isn't really aggro. My third real deck ever was a Human-tribal sorta thing. It ran 14 1-drops including Champion of the Parish among others, 10 2-drops with Mayor of Avabruck Flip , and some number of 3-drops that was small. The only 4-drops were Hero of Bladehold and sometimes Odric, Master Tactician who weren't necessary, but could push through ugly board states.
March 31, 2013 9:20 p.m.
cartwheelnurd says... #5
I think midrange is the better choice. While aggro can be ridiculously fast, a well-constructed midrange deck can combat the aggro in their metagame. For insance, Thragtusk can be a good weapon against aggro. Also, slower aggro decks are genearally more resistant, and less likely to be blown out of the water by Wrath of God effects. Since if dealing as much damage as possible as quickly as possible won;t be your goal, you can take more versatile creatures and have the removal to back it up. This deck is able to beat aggro by stabilizing early and having better creatures overall, and beats control by making it deal with each of their threats individually or risk losing to it.
March 31, 2013 9:22 p.m.
Ah, but fast aggro beats combo and midrange dies to combo - typically speaking anyway. I think it's less a question of what beats what, because midrange should usually beat aggro (if the deck is built right), and rather which archetype a person likes to play more.
March 31, 2013 9:27 p.m.
I prefer fast aggro because at the end of the day forcing your opponent to have the out is better than playing a more fair game. It's not a great plan all the time, but better to be focused on plan A than to 1/2 prepared for plan A and B.
Also I'd argue that you won't ever find a "aggro medium paced, good early and very good late game". If a quick aggro deck is like 9 early and 1 late out of 10 then the medium aggro decks are around 5 and 5. A very good late game suggest you're winning greater than 50% of the time if the game goes beyond turn 5, and those just are not around.
Every now and then you'll see Naya Humans or Aristocrats in top 8s or a slower Zoo build in modern, but looking across all the lists you're going to see a lot more of the hyper-aggressive Naya Blitz, Frog in a Blender and Affinity style decks ranking in their formats.
Better off playing mid-range if you want to have live draws after turn 5.
March 31, 2013 10:05 p.m.
I find quick aggro to often be a tad too quick, but I often switch between asking questions and giving answers (though asking questions has become less fun without Mirran Crusader ...)
March 31, 2013 10:58 p.m.
In the current Standard Envirionment, I'd have to say playing an all early Aggro deck is a terrible idea, unless you mix in some creature removal such as a Jund Aggro or Boros Red composition. In most cases, a Midrange fares better if you have the right balance between defense and offense, unlike an all offensive assault.
April 1, 2013 1 a.m.
After seeing what you guys have to say i do agree, Fast and a bit slower midrange are good. and yes Naya humans right now in standard is all what is played and is dominantly played in FNM's everywhere i'm sure.
But the difference lies between the roll of the die. depending on who goes first is the changer between fast and slow. -- though, a much faster deck when staggered, can take some time gaining its momentum again. say turn 1 tragic slip, turn 2 somehow tragic slipped again.
or searing spear, mizzium, whatever.
Overall in the end, i think that anything fast is "good" and have sideboard to become midrange.. though it'll take the 4 of 15 spot already depending on what you want in, it is taking out some cards you may need for certain fights.
but imo, my Red Boros midrange deck consisting of hellriders and thundermaw are very lethal, and my sideboard of Pithing Needle is somewhat hilarious.. - " I call out Thragtusk" -- "i call out Restoration angel" etc.
April 1, 2013 1:51 a.m.
detentionsphere says... #11
I think it depends on the meta... if we're talking current standard, well, slower aggro just dies horribly to Jund, Esper, and Humanimator, so fast aggro is the way to go (eg Naya Blitz).
April 1, 2013 2:16 a.m.
Pithing Needle doesn't stop Thragtusk or Restoration Angel . Both have triggered abilities, not activated abilities.
alpinefroggy says... #2
aggro medium paced with good early and lategame is essentially midrange.
March 31, 2013 9:02 p.m.