Hello all! I just recently posted my Mono-Red Deck to the board for tips on improving its now failing win rate, and due to good reasoning I've decided to shelve the deck until it gets a major bomb or I get enough shocklands to add something else in there.
However, in that case, I would appreciate some feedback on the deck I want to replace it with.
http://deckbox.org/sets/605752
Tapped Out is down at the time of writing, so the list may be slightly off but I'm 99% that's correct.
Anyways, I had notes to the deck with some choices made, as some may well be odd, so let me recite them here. I'm 99% sure the base white creatures and spears are standard, so let me talk about why I added red.
What's The Red Splashed For?
I find that right now, regardless of which way you look at it, standard is dominated by two deck types specifically that account for a lot of wins; whether or not its due to popularity (domino effect) or its actual effectiveness I'm unsure, but regardless, you have to watch out for Mono-Black Devotion and UW Control.
The three mountains and Chained to the Rocks are probably the choices that I will be given the most criticism for, however I find that the removal from Banisher Priest just often isn't enough with all the removal in the format. Occasionally my curve might be slightly skewed because I drew a mountain or the Shrine instead of a plains, but often times these decks run Mutavault anyways so in theory I should be fine. I suppose in that sense this is a more "Midranged Leaning" White Weenie deck.
With the annoyance that comes with Pack Rat, Nightveil Spector and Desecration Demon, I find removal to be more necessary than before. Along with that, despite the abundance of enchantments in the block, it seems that Disenchant clones are rarely sideboarded, at least at my LGS.
As for the other cards, Boros Charm should be self explanatory; easily one of, if not the, most useful of the charms due to its utitlity, it by itself might be worth splashing the red in. Mostly it's there for the control matchup (invincibility is very nice against board wipes, and even against my Spears or CTTR's if they actually have the removal), but four damage to the face or a double striking Precinct Captain is nothing to laugh at.
Aurelia's Fury is probably the oddball, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a great one-of utility tool for disrupting control decks or stopping aggro. Baiting out counterspells for three mana to stop a Verdict or tapping an aggro deck down is great, no matter what deck you're playing. Straight damage isn't the worst thing in the world either. This is also partly the reason why there's a Shrine in here, as I can generate an extra mana or two to get more damage in, of course the Shrine itself is useful in a mostly white deck anyways.
As for the Sideboard
Chained to the Rocks and Boros Charm - Fairly obvious. If I need removal, I bring in the Rocks. If they have lots of board wipes, more Charms come in.
Glare of Heresey - This is just great against control matchups, no way around it. Exiling Elspeth and Detention Spheres can only mean board advantage on my side. Against mirror match ups it's not bad either.
Renounce the Guilds - This card is normally looked down upon for being generally garbage, but the utility of it in standard right now is amazing. Detention Sphere's? Not anymore. Nightveil Spector? Nope. Boros Reckoner? Voice? Domri? Xenagos? Blood Baron? There are so many good things for this and very few decks that don't run multi-colored cards that are threats. The best part is that I will rarely have to sack anything to it (that poor Dryad Militant) meaning I lose practically nothing to it and they could lose their big winning card.
Revoke Existence - I've been kicking around this and Wear//Tear for enchantment and artifact removal. Mostly I chose this because there seems to be zero good artifacts in standard right now, so the shatter effect on Wear//Tear is useful. Along with that, you can't get rid of gods with Tear, but you can with this card. Sorcery speed hurts it, though.
Spirit of the Labyrinth - Not an automatic GG to Control Decks, but damn is it a fine card! Ruining Sphinx's Rev's is just great, and if they have to use their removal on her instead of my Captain or someone else, well, who am I to complain? Less mana for them is just good for me.
Fiendslayer Paladin - I'm not sure if this is really a three of in the SB, but it's a good card anyways for Mono-Black and RDW or R/G aggro. While certainly not a complete halt, the lifelink and pro-removal (for the most part) can certainly slow them down. I might take one out for a Pithing Needle or something. Also decent against Esper control.
What I took out (from the sideboard):
Frontline Medic - Unfortunately these guys may never see play. I originally thought that their Control Hosing Sacrifice and Invincibility would be a good bane to control decks, the release of Spirit of the Labyrinth, Bile Blight and Drown in Sorrow just prove to much for them. Poor guys, I hope my playset will see play again at one point.
Assemble the Legion - I originally had this in for a timer against control decks but took it out due to room. Spirit of the Labyrinth and the aggro I have should prove enough, correct?
What didn't make it in/unsure decisions
Boros Reckoner - I've been told many times by my friends to put him in but I don't see the point. Why have what would essentially be a three damage attacker when I can instead remove their big creatures? I know he's good but in a Weenie deck I just don't see it.
Brimaz - I assume I will get the most hate for not having this guy in. To be quite frank I'm not sure if he's worth it in any deck that splashes color outside of white. Maybe remove a Priest and a CTTR for two of him? He just doesn't seem like a four of in anything other than Mono-White at the very least.
Ajani, Caller of the Pride - I'm kicking around replacing the Spears with him, but I'm afraid of Hero's Downfall and the fact that the buff only applies to one creature at a time. He's good, but once again I think he's best for mono-white weenies.
I guess that's all. Feedback would most certainly be appreciated!
