Topic: Thoughts on R/W Heroic deck (Standard)

http://deckbox.org/sets/484409

Focus and reasoning's of the deck:

In general, I want to get creatures out quickly.  Then use the likes of Gods Willing, Spark Jolt, and Titan's Strength on the Heroic creatures to make them larger.   I am using the Favored Hoplite, and Boros Reckoner as a good blocking component.  Soldier of the Pantheon is in the deck for the purpose of being aggressive, and his passive abilities are also a nice addition.

Nivmagus Elemental adds a special synergy to this deck, in that I can cast Spark Jolt targeting Fabled Hero or Anax and Cymede, gain the +1/+1 counters from Heroic ability, and then exile the spell before it resolves giving Nivmagus Elemental two +1/+1 counters.   
Though if I don't have the Elemental on the battlefield, the one damage from Spark Jolt on a Fabled Hero will be recovered before Spark Jolt even resolves, since Heroic ability triggers from the casting of the spell, not when the spell resolves.

I am also taking advantage of the Scry from each of the instants (except Boros Charm) and the Temple of Triumph to hopefully increase the probability of drawing the cards I need.  Scry is a large part why I chose these particular instants, over say, Coordinated Assault

Questions:

I wanted to keep the deck fast, and fairly aggressive.  Does the Soldier of the Pantheon and Boros Reckoner fit in this deck?    Would there be a better creature selection to increase the speed, but keep the synergy and focus?

It's possible I could side board the Boros Charm, and put Coordinated Assault in it's place.   My main use for the Boros Charm is making my Permanents Indestructible, but the versatility of Boros Charm is hard for me to put it on the sideboard.   Suggestions or thoughts on this?

Re: Thoughts on R/W Heroic deck (Standard)

Nivmagus is just bad.  If you want to cast a spell that buffs your creatures just play enchants instead.  I completely don't get how this is supposed to be better than other options.  you've got 12 1 drops, I really think you only need 8 and get some more 2 drops in there, and cut this guy.

Spark jolt is pretty bad value for what it does.  Lightning strike is much better and more relevant and if you are really worried about scrying to fix your draws then magma jet is just a better solution.

I get you probably want to keep heroic as a theme for the deck which is fine it's not a terrible mechanic, but i don't know if you can build a deck around it by itself.  I think it needs to be more white than red if you really want to build around the mechanic.  with the phalaxan 2 drop guy (puts +1/+1 counters on every bod) and precinct captain for some tokens and with the amount of devotion you'll have a couple heliod's isn't out of question and the spear.  The problem is you really need to make the heroic triggers count because you really won't get that many.  You'll run out of gas pretty fast.   a set mutavaults would be great too.  Turn them into creatures then trigger the phalaxan guy and put counters on them.  3/3 mutavaults seem good.

Last edited by elpablo (2013-12-12 21:31:26)

Re: Thoughts on R/W Heroic deck (Standard)

I like the idea of playing the Nivmagus Elemental over enchantments, because of enchantments are being played at sorcery speed.  I could play instants that give more power and toughness buffs, but they lack scry.    Perhaps he is best left to the side board, since I am imagining he will be most useful against control decks responding to the instants that I am attempting to cast, and I respond by exiling it and buffing the Elemental.   I do like Phalaxan 2 drop, and may consider putting him in for the Nivmagus, but side board the Nivmagus in for the control match ups.

You may think I am crazy in regard to Spark Jolt, but I didn't plan to use it for removal.  I would be using it to target Fabled Hero, Anax, or Favored Hoplite to trigger Heroic, plus scry 1.  Magma Jet hits too hard and costs too much to be able to cast a bunch of instants by turn 4, where I would preferably have the Fabled Hero on the battlefield.

Re: Thoughts on R/W Heroic deck (Standard)

I think Nivmagus Elemental is certainly an under-appreciated card in standard, but it really belongs in a totally different deck - ideally one that would use Young Pyromancer, Spellheart Chimera, and cipher stuff to abuse those interactions.  As for R/W heroic, I would suggest looking through the other threads regarding heroic decks (I think there are at least 3-5 of them in the top 20 threads in here) as we've discussed the strategy to a rather lengthy extent (I know I've gone through the pieces to one at least 3-4 times in the past week or two) AND there are already a few proposed lists out there.