Building the Red Deck
October 19, 2008Thanks to everybody who has been following Five With Flores here and on YouTube so far.
One of your own had a question:
Hey Mike,
I am a little new to the game, so can you explain to me why someone would want to play the Red Deck that you showed in the first two videos? Isn’t a deck like that under-powered compared to a deck with Wrath of God, Empyrial Archangel, and those kinds of cards?
Thanks in advance,
Joe
Well Joe, there is a long tradition of players underestimating the Red Deck dating all the way back to its first PTQ win in the hands of one Paul Sligh. I am going to try to show you the Red Deck built from the ground up (this format was suggested by my friend Brian David-Marshall of The Week That Was and the Magic Podcasts). I hope it is helpful to you.
LOVE
MIKE
PS Demigod Deck Wins
4 Ashenmoor Gouger
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Demigod of Revenge
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Tattermunge Maniac
4 Vexing Shusher
4 Flame Javelin
4 Incinerate
4 Shock
24 Mountain
Just curious if you considered Magma Spary or Puncture Blast
zsievers | October 19, 2008Just curious if you considered Magma Spary or Puncture Blast in the Skred spot. Puncture Blast shrinks those big dudes and can go to the dome, or is the mana cost not worth it?
I had not considered Magma Spray; I actually played Puncture
admin | October 19, 2008I had not considered Magma Spray; I actually played Puncture Blast in Block and considered it for this deck, albeit not very long (that card is very good certainly). The strange burn spell I like is Resounding Thunder, although that would require a fair amount of work on the mana base. Probably that slot will end up being Lash Out because I generally dislike Shock.
Now Resounding Thunder is an interesting idea. The real question
zsievers | October 20, 2008Now Resounding Thunder is an interesting idea. The real question is if you would even need help in the matchups its good against(5c and Faeries). The mana wouldn’t be too difficult, maybe something like this:
4 Karplusan Forest
4 Demigod of Revenge
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Ashenmoor Gouger
4 Vexing Shusher
4 Tattermunge Maniac
4 Resounding Thunder
3 Fire-Lit Thicket
9 Mountain
4 Auntie’s Hovel
4 Graven Cairns
4 Flame Javelin
4 Incinerate
My other thought was should Hell’s Thunder be in over Ram-Gang.
I from RIW Hobbies in Michigan and I played the
Still Fly | October 26, 2008I from RIW Hobbies in Michigan and I played the Red Deck this summer. The week after nationals I had a lot of questions for Mike who was in a surprisingly good mood. He explain how vital Magus of the Scroll and Megaliths were in the late game and I soon realized this in the following weeks. My main question is if you think the red deck can hang with 5-Color Control (What I’m Currently Playing) or some of the other popular decks. Have you considered splashing black for Thoughtseize, Deathraiders, or even Bitterblossom? My Other main question is what do you lose by splashing White, Green, or Black? I really want to play red at states but not if it won’t be competitive. I’m looking forward to your finalized decklist. Sorry for the novel.
Thanks Michael
Hi Still Fly, Red is my backup deck. I actually think
admin | October 26, 2008Hi Still Fly,
Red is my backup deck. I actually think it’s a great choice if you think that comes into play tapped control decks will be the order of the day. I have been testing Resounding Thunder but it usually gets played for three (not bad… it’s not like we included it as only a million drop). This is a roundabout way of saying I have Soul Snuffers in the sideboard of that version.
I think that if I go straight Red I’d play Lash Out over Shock at this point. I haven’t had any problems beating Blue without Magus of the Moon, especially Faeries.
Sideboard My last question is that of the sideboard, in the
Still Fly | October 27, 2008Sideboard
My last question is that of the sideboard, in the build i have right now I have splashed black and my sideboard looks like this.
4x Fulminator Mage
3x Spitebellows (Doran/Colossus)
4 x Pyroclasm
4 x Thoughtseize
Finally I understand my biggest challenges will be the “Less-played” decks in the opening rounds as that’s where my weaker matchups lie, (Kithkin, Doran, Elves) However, If this deck can manage through those it should be smooth sailing against Faeries and Cruel Control.
So I guess, what does your board look like? And are you going to splash black or another color?