Topic: My first attempt at Boros, could use help.

Hello all. As per the title, I could use some help on my standard deck. It can function really well, however it seems that it's almost always one turn away from winning the game at my local game stores tournaments (which does not consist of the most tier 1 decks but they're pretty good). Here's a link to the deck if you're interested. I'm currently trying to change it a bit, I don't have all the good lands and I'm trying to get three more Reckoner's to stick in it. Thinking about putting some Mortar's in there too.

Last edited by TheWaddleDeeKing (2013-06-10 20:58:24)

Re: My first attempt at Boros, could use help.

Creature (26)

    2x Ash Zealot
    2x Aurelia, the Warleader
    1x Boros Reckoner
    3x Firemane Avenger
    3x Frontline Medic
    3x Legion Loyalist
    3x Lightning Mauler
    3x Odric, Master Tactician
    2x Skyknight Legionnaire
    2x War Falcon
    2x Wojek Halberdiers

Land (23)

    2x Boros Guildgate
    10x Mountain
    10x Plains
    1x Sacred Foundry

Enchantment (7)

    2x Hold the Gates
    2x Legion's Initiative
    3x Oblivion Ring

Instant (4)

    4x Boros Charm

Sideboard (15)

    1x Ash Zealot
    2x Divine Reckoning
    1x Elixir of Immortality
    1x Oblivion Ring
    2x Riot Control
    4x Skullcrack
    2x Wear / Tear
    2x Witchbane Orb

Maybeboard (10)

    3x Boros Reckoner
    4x Clifftop Retreat
    3x Sacred Foundry


Some things right of the top here.  You do need to get the lands and other reckoners for sure.  That will increase your consistency and board presence. Alternately, you could just run RDW until you get the lands and such, and cut white all together. I'll make a bunch of general comments and you can see what works in your area.

Notes on cards.

Aurelia - she's too expensive at 6 for an aggro deck like this.  A good 5 drop like thundermaw hellkite should be the most expensive card, but even that's pushing it. 
War Falcon - inconsistent, if they kill your soldier they just removed two creatures instead of one.
Hold the gates - you don't want to be running gates anyway.
Firemane is good - You'd have to really play her with an unbounded lightning mauler to get the full effect. I think hellrider is better, but keep these handy they could be good in your area.

Cards to consider adding maindeck

Burn - searing spear is really good here the 3 damage kills a lot of stuff on the board.
Burning Tree Emmissary, she's double red in the deck and you can chain cast a lightning mauler off her
1 drops - boros elite, and rakdos cackler are good, stromkirk noble is a great red one drop too.
Hellriders - the premier aggro 4 drop.  3/3 haste with built in burn.  If you have at least a couple guys on board he can easily finish a game.
Thundermaws - not 100% necessary, but a big heavy hitting creature to finish the game.
Silver blade paladin - another possible 3 drop with or instead of reckoners... double strike is super good here. 
Pyre heart wolf - undying and makes blocking difficult

Sidebaord

Ashzealot?  Why in the side, she's good enough to be maindeck.  She can even been maindeck after you make changes, she just doesn't combo off burning tree emmissary very well.
Volcanic strength x4 - must be in your side, comes in against anyone running mountains
Skull cracks - great choice, lifegain can stop your deck cold.

Possible side board cards
o-ring x 2, you shouldn't need many of these.
Rest in peace - for reanimator
Zealous Conscripts - kind of like thundermaw, but steals their dudes
These are both okay -  2x Wear / Tear,    2x Witchbane Orb

Aggro decks are like Pyramids with the base being one drops and the top being a few high cost cards.  Below is a typical layout of some aggro decks. Yours can be different.  if you want more 2 drops or 1 drops you can cut the top level.  You never want to cut the bottom level in an aggro deck.

You usually want about 30 creatures and 22 lands giving you 8 spells to cast. 

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Cards to consider removing when you get others.

Gates
Halberdiers
Odric, Master Tactician
Legions initiative is good in these colors , but you really want to make a turn 2 creature drop.  It could be a good, play with it and see how you feel about it.

Re: My first attempt at Boros, could use help.

Wow, thanks for all the help! Quite a few of those ideas I've been thinking of myself, but there's plenty more that you gave me that I have to consider. RDW seems like a good idea for now; I'll look into that a bit more.

Thanks quite a bit.