Topic: [Standard] [Opinions] Gruul Combo/Aggro - Based on M14 Event Deck

I'm new to standard and organized events at LGS. I've only been to two FNM.

This is the version I've been playing with:

http://deckbox.org/sets/464211

I've won 1 of 4 matches and 1.5 of 4 matches (tied one) at FNM with it. I want to do better.

Here are the changes I'm thinking of making:

http://deckbox.org/sets/465643

The win condition is optimally a few fast, mana efficient creatures + Wild Beastmaster + Bloodrush. I'd like to keep any changes under $50 and ~$30 of that is probably going toward three more Stomping Grounds.

What do you guys think?

Re: [Standard] [Opinions] Gruul Combo/Aggro - Based on M14 Event Deck

This Red green aggro list is something to compare too.  It's done well at tournaments. 

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdat … ckID=58336

Obviously budget concerns being a factor there are other things you can probably try to do to improve your situation. 

Land - Def get the stomping grounds even.  Muta vault or 2 would probably be okay too.  Vault has advantages of being resilient to sorcery speed sweepers and can provide cheep effective aggro. Kessig is great mana sink and can put you over the top.

Creatures - Lots of things you can improve here. The beast master plan, imo, isn't the best one.  By itself it doesn't do enough and it takes a lot to set up.  A more effective strategy is just ramping into big heavy hitters backed up by tricks like ghor-clan. See if you can find some ogre battle drivers at the least.  Obviously thundermaw hellkites and hellriders would be much preferred.  Use elvish mystics instead of arbor elves, they can help ramp more consistently. You're playing a decent amount of red too and you might flood out on mountains. Go up to a 4 of flint hoof and chain walker.  Lose the maaka and slaughterhorn.  A budget beater can be rubblebelt raiders.  If allowed to get out of hand they can be mean pretty quick.  Scavenging ooze would be fantastic instead of chainwalkers imo.  But they are $$$.

Spells - obviously more domri would be awesome.  He does a lot for you in this deck.  Seismic stom can be replaced by Gruul charm and you get a couple more modes if needed, but to me nothing beats a good searing spear.  Flames of the fire brand isn't good imo, sorcery speed for 3 damage for 3 cost.  Searing spear out classes it a lot.  Mizzium mortars would be great here too.  4 damage for 2 is a bargain even at sorcery speed and with the ability to overload you can clear an opposing board.  I would pick these up if possible.  Ranger's guile is an okay trick.  If you can't get a hold of other spells, then you can keep these.

Sideboard -  some of your sideboard should be main board and you should side things like Zealous Conscripts, (had a guy steel my garruk last FNM, i cried a little), more Burning Earth, def Volcanic Strength, Fog can be considered for the aggro match-up.

Last edited by elpablo (2013-08-30 20:25:21)