Topic: My Deck (standard)(opinions)

I'm trying to make a aggro/control deck using my red spells in combination with things such as dual cast/chandra to control/aggro but still maintain battlefield with creatures. Any advice appreciated.

http://deckbox.org/sets/374022

Re: My Deck (standard)(opinions)

I can see you're a newer player.  You don't aggro and control in the same deck.  Especially with red.  Ditch the control idea all together.  Trust me. Work towards a deck like the one below.  I know some people shy away from "net-decking" and really want to build their own deck, but consider if you build the best deck you can, it will probably only be a card or two different from what the best deck builders out there have already thought of.

There are some cheaper substitutes you can make, for the more expensive cards.  They aren't as good but they still work. The important thing to keep in mind is that if you do a substitute the card needs to have the same cost or cheaper, have about the same power/toughness, and have a similar effect. I made note of a couple below.

In general for an aggro deck anything that cost above 4 is unreasonable.  You won't have the mana to cast i if you only run 20-22 lands.  You want to make sure you hit your 1 drop through 4 drop on your first 4 turns. 

Also, vexing devil isn't that great of a card.  It has it's uses, but has generally fallen of the radar because it doesn't provide a consistent board presence.  Chandra and plainswalkers in general don't belong in an aggro deck with the exception of maybe Domri Rade.

Creatures (27)

    4 Ash Zealot - Burning Tree emissary
    4 Boros Reckoner - splatter thug
    4 Hellrider
    3 Lightning Mauler
    4 Rakdos Cackler
    4 Rakdos Shred-Freak - Chain walker (works well with emissary)
    4 Stromkirk Noble - Legion Loyalists

Lands (21)

    21 Mountain

Spells (12)

    2 Volcanic Strength
    2 Brimstone Volley
    4 Searing Spear
    2 Skullcrack
    2 Pillar of Flame

    Sideboard
    2 Grafdigger's Cage
    2 Pyreheart Wolf
    4 Reckless Waif
    1 Volcanic Strength
    1 Skullcrack
    2 Blasphemous Act
    2 Mizzium Mortars
    1 Pillar of Flame

Re: My Deck (standard)(opinions)

To be honest, there isn't much control in this deck.  But to echo what Mr. Pablo said above, you should focus more on the aggro side of things.  I have a few recommendations:

Replace Magmaquake and Flames of the Firebrand with Mizzium Mortars.  They are more cost-effective, and can potentially wipe your opponents creatures, leaving you with a wide open attack.

Take out the high cost creatures.  Aggro needs to be fast.  Looking at something that costs 6, when you really need something that costs two is terrible.

On that note, more one drops!  You only have 4 one drop creatures, and it's not even a sure thing that he hits the field.  You want creatures early, and often.  Don't get stuck with spells when you need critters.

Re: My Deck (standard)(opinions)

mizzium mortars is an okay solution to clearing their board.  I've seen some of the more recent aggro decks running bonfire, but it's still pretty expensive at 20ish.  Both of these spells are still (imo) more midrange type spells, most aggro decks don't have the mana to get up to 6 to overload mizzium or hardcast bonfire for more than 2 damage.

Most aggro decks would prefer to have burn to go to the dome or work as removal, searing spear, pillar of flame.  That way if it gets down to it you can just finish them off with direct damage.

Could not agree more your mana curve needs to be pretty low, and include multiple copies/varieties of those kinds of cards to ensure you pull them when you need them.  Think of an aggro deck as a pyramid, with one drops making up the base, and topping out at the peak around 4 mana cost creatures (maybe 5,hellkite anyone?). 

stone something shaman is good too for a one drop?  someone help me with the name.

Re: My Deck (standard)(opinions)

It's just Stonewright, and it is a great, inexpensive one drop. smile