Main Deck - 60 cards, 13 distinct
Name | Edition | $ | Type | Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rarity | Color | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Creature (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Guttersnipe | $0.17 | Creature - Goblin Shaman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instant (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Burst Lightning | $0.18 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Lightning Bolt | $1.21 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Needle Drop | $2.53 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Shard Volley | $0.24 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Skullcrack | $0.26 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Thunderous Wrath | $0.14 | Instant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sorcery (11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Browbeat | $0.41 | Sorcery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Lava Spike | $1.36 | Sorcery - Arcane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Pillar of Flame | $0.04 | Sorcery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enchantment (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Quest for Pure Flame | $0.40 | Enchantment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Land (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Kher Keep | $0.73 | Legendary Land | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Mountain | $0.09 | Basic Land - Mountain |
Sideboard - 12 cards, 3 distinct
Name | Edition | $ | Type | Cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rarity | Color | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sorcery (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Faithless Looting | $0.22 | Sorcery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Shattering Spree | $1.05 | Sorcery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enchantment (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Pyromancer Ascension | $0.44 | Enchantment |
Comments
Specifically: Volt Charge!
So I came up with this.
"Dual Quest"
Which throws in Keldon Marauders. It guarantees 2 triggers (or more) on Quest for Pure Flame for only 2 mana.
One Volt Charge can add a counter to both enchanments and the marauders to keep it around longer (something opponents would probably never see coming :D ).
Unfortunately, these two Quests are at odds with eachother. This version doesn't even have room for the Guttersnipe staple!
Focusing on Pyromancer Ascension, I came up with "Pyromancer Battery".
It utilizes Faithless Looting to outstanding effect. Using it to bury a Volt Charge in the graveyard, casting 1 Volt Charge alone will activate Pyromancer Ascension. It's also great for getting rid of unnecessary cards (duplicate enchantments, excess land), or getting more land if you don't have enough, and effectively drawing extra cards with Flashback and Madness.
Both decks seem like they're very fun, but still a little clunky (getting that balance with red is pretty hard). So, focusing on easier-to-activate Quest for Pure Flame, I made
"Like Finding a Needle in a Bonfire" [cheesey name based on Quest for Pure Flame and Needle Drop]
This deck has less staying power than the other 2, but makes up for it in speed. It can win on turn 4 - via multiple ways. Did it once even after taking a mulligan down to 5 cards. It also has the luxury of not being shoe-horned into playsets of every card by Pyromancer Ascension.
Out of 13 self-plays, it had this many wins on each respective turn:
Turn 4: 3 (23%)
Turn 5: 4 (31%)
Turn 6: 6 (46%)
[For the playtests, I assumed the following. Handicaps: Keldon Marauders does not hit opponent. Did not draw card on first turn. Pros: Opponent did not heal. No spells countered. Other: Guttersnipe dies after 2 turns.]
So that's what I've got! Feel free to take 'em or edit them as you please. Cutting it down wasn't that easy, as all these cards are good, but each cut has its reason. I'll happily answer any questions.
[/For the playtests, I assumed the following. Handicaps: Keldon Marauders does not hit opponent. Did not draw card on first turn. Pros: Opponent did not heal. No spells countered. Other: Guttersnipe dies after 2 turns.][/cheesey name based on Quest for Pure Flame and Needle Drop]
I'd ditch the Spark Elementals. At best they're a 3 mana burn spell that doesn't work with your Guttersnipe, Pyromancer Ascension, Past in Flames, or Increasing Vengeave. At worst it's worthless.
Take a look at these one drop spells instead:
Dead // Gone (shock // unsummon)
Burst Lightning (good early or late)
Firebolt (good early and late)
Needledrop (But this one you won't cast turn 1. You must already do damage to cast it, but it nets you a card. With Pyromancer Ascension ready you get 2 damage and 2 cards for 1 mana!)
And one more card I'll point out: Staggershock
This card + guttersnipe will put 4 quest counters on Quest for Pure Flame all by itself. You cast it once for 3 mana, and it does a measely 2 damage (instant speed though). Guttersnipe will net your 2 more. Then it's cast again for free the next turn! 4 more damage! Heck, it still even goes into your graveyard after it's all done.
And none of them cost more than a quarter!
The copies from Increasing Vengeance are not "cast", so they don't put counters on Pyromancer Ascension.
Would casting a spell as a Flashback trigger Pyromancer Ascension?
Also, need to trim this down to size..
If you have only one specific flashback card in the graveyard, and you flash it back, it is no longer in the graveyard to trigger Pryomancer Ascension.
If you have 2 of the flashback spells in the graveyard, and you cast one by paying the flashback cost, it is "cast", and will trigger thanks to the other one.
So, you can trigger it with just 2 flashback cards.
Cast Firebolt from hand.
Cast 2nd Firebolt from hand. Add counter.
Flashback one of the Firebolts. Add 2nd counter.
I really want to keep destruction damage-centric. I hate having a hand full of monster hate with no monster to hate.. If need be, my super Putrefy (Rakdos Charm) can be sub'd in. What do you think?
I did notice, even with just 2 of the Grim Lavamancer, I was having trouble powering the ability with my graveyard. I was often pulling these in the first hand or early game, and especially with flashback/unearth, I was very reluctant to activate it even during the short times I had the option to. Exiling my own cards may just not be my style (at least not the deck's), even though it is an awful nice trade.
To be honest, Grim Lavamancer would do great in my Goblin deck.
I will be closely studying the feasibility of reusing the graveyard and punishing the opponent for it versus eating the graveyard ad punishing the opponent for it :P
Also added 1 more Browbeat, because it really is a beautiful soft burn.
Card total is at 62, can't decide on the trim.
Suggestions:
-4 Gutter Snipe (Too slow)
+2 Grim Lavamancer
+1 Browbeat
Swap Incinerates and skullcracks (this would be a meta call)
+1 Anathemancer
(finding more space for anathemancer might be awesome, if you face people using non-basics alot. which you will)
Sideboard stuff... I don't see the point in anything you've got on there (assuming my suggestion of swapping incenerate/skullcrack). Your sideboard will be to deal with other decks you face that use a difficult mechanic. Without knowing your meta, that's hard to predict. Slaughter Games is probably a good choice. Its expensive, but un-counterable and can shut something down in a heartbeat. Make sure you don't give free info on it. You don't have to name the card until it *resolves*, meaning its too late for them to cast the named card. Lots of people don't know that :)
You need some way to deal with artifacts, I'd recommend rakdos charm. That'll blow up a cranial plating, which is a real threat.
Life's finale too slow, you shouldn't need to board wipe, and if you do it's too late on turn 6 in modern.
Combusts might be a good idea in your sideboard for blue decks. Plus, don't forget to use triggers right. If someone flashes something in to block, you can respond to their enter-battlefield trigger and burn it *before* they can declare blocks. They still get the ETB effect, but they dont block your generic dude.
I kind of chose a route, exploit graveyard with Gutter Snipe and Past in Flames, or with a playset of the Grim Lavamancer..
I don't have much experience, so I really don't know which would do better, I just foresee higher damage spikes with the former. Now that you seem so sure of the superiority of the latter, I'll be playtesting on this change..
I like Anathemancer!
I've been playing red since tempest block. Literally.
I also see you're trying to keep this in budget, which is why I don't suggest some things. Bloodmoon's in the sideboard for example. COMPLETE BLOWOUT in modern.
I'm messing with a jund deck right now, which might be AWESOME if it works. Plus I only need ~8 cards for it. http://deckbox.org/sets/332849
and yeah lol I may just try to perfect this one, then slowly build it as I do more with cards I already own.
Sideboard I see will take a lot more experience/time to be able to perfect..
and is monetarily cheaper.
Incinerate is better than annihilating fire, period.
Is a competative level B/R burn.