On Beating 'Izzet Prowess' in Standard Pauper
Standard forum
Posted on Feb. 13, 2016, 6:57 p.m. by ComixWriter
By now, new cards from 'Oath of the Gatewatch' has found welcomed inclusion in the most-unbalanced archetype in the Standard Pauper metagame. Slip Through Space and Expedite cantrip into more prowess-triggers, with Brute Strength almost replacing Temur Battle Rage due to better efficiency by itself (as opposed to needing a combination for 'ferocious' mechanics to trigger).
Starting this season at 5-0 at weekly MTGO Pauper Deck Challenges, I fear this deck may trump our newest season.
Am respectfully looking for nullifying strategies against Izzet Prowess. Your insights may help form a new archetype, based on colors, creatures, and other spells needed to compliment efficiency.
Again, this is a request for help in the Standard Pauper Format. Sure, Become Immense looks great, but is worthless to me in the Standard Pauper environment where only common-rarity cards are allowed.
I can offer one important statistic- Duress is widely considered one of the best spells against Izzet Prowess, because it nullifies a spell before it's cast (which still triggers those frustrating prowess effects).
Thanks in advance!
I play a 
Prowess deck.
Mine is a little different as I use Creature removal rather than the buff plays.
I can tell you, though, if you stack your deck with 1 or 2 CMC spells you can wreck it.
The strategy you use will depend on the colour(s) you are playing.
wants to deal damage to the Prowess Creature before it is buffed. I would play the damage spell on your turn so that if they play a buff spell to protect it, that wastes a spell for them, and you don't get thwarted by them playing a buff spell in response on their turn.
Fiery Impulse
Fiery Conclusion
Collateral Damage
Reality Hemorrhage
Twin Bolt
For some of these spells to work you will need to have cast another 1 drop Creature. There are plenty of those in this colour.
wants to tap a buffed Creature just after it has been buffed, but before combat. This wastes the buff spells.
Returning to hand just before combat will achieve the same effect.
Clutch of Currents
Disperse
Force Away
Rush of Ice
Send to Sleep
is the most difficult colour to play. There is only one spell that could be used against Stormchaser Mage. I would either avoid it, or make sure you have paired it with something more viable.
wants to destroy the Creature after it is buffed. This wastes the buff spell. The destruction can happen once attackers are declared by the Opponent.
Unfortunately most of the spells rely on you having at least one other Creature, so you'll have to pair then with something like Typhoid Rats.
Bone Splinters
Coat with Venom
You can also use Grasp of Darkness, as often the buffed Creature still has quite low power.
Or you can use Reave Soul in your second Main Phase.
has a number of different strategies it can use.
Have the Opponent sacrifice the Creature with Celestial Flare.
Tap the Creature once combat has been declared, but before attackers are declared with Pressure Point.
Or prevent the Creature from doing any damage, once attackers have been declared with Dazzling Reflection.
You could also try Gideon's Reproach because, as pointed out earlier, the toughness of the buffed Creature is often quite low.
Hope you find something useful there.
February 14, 2016 8:27 a.m. Edited.
I didn't realise that a couple of the spells I suggested are Uncommon. Sorry about that.
I also realised that you could also get lands working for you by using Skyline Cascade to tap a Creature.
DrFunk27 says... #2
I love UR Prowess. I've been dominating FNM with it since Oaths dropped. Brute Strength definitely does not compete against Temur Battlerage. I've gone down to 2 Battlerage though, cuz you usually end up drawing at least 1, which is all you need to ensure the win. I can say this, Stormchaser Mage is so nasty.
Now to stop bragging, Duress is definitely one of the best cards to use against me. Fiery Impulse is good too. Basically anything that can stall me past turn 6, and I'll lose.
February 13, 2016 7:30 p.m. Edited.