[Deck] Red Death

[Dr. No Face]

anyone wanting to discuss the newer version of this can talk here:
http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/s...Red-Death-Wins

[KærvekTheMerciless]

Yes, I think its time to bring this back.

I have been absent from Legacy for a long time, but I held onto Red Death. Even put some money into my build. I have tested this build against everything except Death and Taxes, only because nobody has it around me. From what I have seen so far, this deck just smashes face, with only a small handful of true fights.

I have also been experimenting with going over 60 in the main, I must say, it wakes this deck right up. Presently I'm still maintaining 2:1ish ratio of nonland to land cards, so it is still quite robust, and doesnt feel like I'm using a massive amount of cards.

What I've found is that the control approach is the best method, as going heavy on creatures turns this back into the Gate, and too heavy on burn spells turns it into RDW. I am also experimenting with a toolbox, and that, is amazing. It takes those harder matchups and gives the deck the ability to draw the light down on an opponent.

Main (70)
Creatures (10)
3 Abyssal Persecutor
3 Tombstalker
4 Vampire Nighthawk

Artifacts (6)
2 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Cursed Scroll
1 Crucible of Worlds

Planeswalkers (2)
2 Liliana of the Veil

Instant (17)
3 Terminate
3 Lightning Bolt
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Rakdos Charm
3 Shadow of Doubt
3 Red Elemental Blast

Sorcery (13)
3 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Hymn to Tourach
3 Burning Wish
2 Dreadbore

Land (22)
4 Badlands
4 Marsh Flats
4 Bloodstained Mire
3 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Wasteland
1 Volrath's Stronghold

Sideboard (15)
1 Cabal Therapy
1 Rite of Consumption
1 Pyroclasm
1 Virtue's Ruin
1 Perish
1 Sadistic Sacrament
1 Infinite Obliteration
1 Massacre
1 Anarchy
1 Boiling Seas
2 Slaughter Games
1 Shatterstorm
1 Thought Hemorrhage
1 Damnation

Personally, I dont want to hear any of the "You cant do that, go down to 60" comments, but realistically not much is gonna change my mind at this juncture.

Feuer frei.

[Hopo]

You can do that but you should definitely go to 60 cards main. Now you are in the kitchen table side of this game.

[KærvekTheMerciless]

You can do that but you should definitely go to 60 cards main. Now you are in the kitchen table side of this game.

Couldn't help it huh?

[bakofried]

Couldn't help it huh?

In fairness, he's right.

[Drizzy]

What's the reason to go beyond 60? Especially when running situational cards in main deck, looks like that it's just lottery at this point. I can definitely see what's going on in the main deck, but I can't agree that going for 60+ cards is the right way to build this deck.

[movingtonewao]

what would you cut to help him get down to 60?

[Hopo]

what would you cut to help him get down to 60?

realistically not much is gonna change my mind at this juncture

[kingtk3]

What's the use of 3 surgical extraction and 3 shadow of doubt maindeck? More specifically, what's the use of the latter in general?

[Echelon]

What's the use of 3 surgical extraction and 3 shadow of doubt maindeck? More specifically, what's the use of the latter in general?

It fucks with GSZ/fetch/tutors. Now stop feeding dat troll.

[KærvekTheMerciless]

Cannot freakin believe this. Get over the number guys. Let's actually discuss the content of the deck, not focus on whether or not it is overweight.

[tescrin]

I'm pretty sure the non-blue approach to this deck should be something along the lines of:

-14-15
3 Gurmag Angler
4 Goblin Guide?
4 Deathrite Shaman
3-4 Eidolon of the Great Revel

-15
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Chain Lightning
4 Thoughtseize
3 Cabal Therapy (Goblin Guide is pretty sweet here)

-5+
2-3 Liliana of the Veil or Sulfuric Vortex
3 Bitterblossom (I've been greatly enjoying this card)

4+ other cards (price of progress?)


This gives you Discard + Hatebears + Liliana for combo; which is pretty good.
It's got ~15 cards for removal before lands,

I'd probably go for Prices over having wastelands. You're expecting to go over the top of fair decks via burn's game plan or Sligh, depending on your draw compared to theirs. Most fair decks that can do a lot to you will have 6+ coming from Price though

[beebles]

I don't think you should attempt to bring this deck back but if you had to.....

4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Dark Confidant
4 Geralf's Messenger
2 Ashenmoor Gouger
3 Phyrexian Obliterator

4 Lightning Bolt
3 Chain Lightning
4 Thoughtseize
4 Hymn to Torach
4 Liliana of the Veil
1 Inqusition of Kozilek

4 Badlands
4 Blood Stained Mire
4 Polluted Delta
4 Black Cleave Cliffs
1 Bayou
5 Swamp

[maharis]

Here's one I tested the other day, pretty fun, split about 6 games with RUG delver.

4 Death's Shadow
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Street Wraith
2 Gurmag Angler

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Thoughtseize
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Cabal Therapy
2 Murderous Cut
2 Reanimate
2 Fire Covenant
2 Chain Lightning
2 Hymn to Tourach

4 Mishra's Bauble

4 Badlands
4 Blackcleave Cliffs
4 Bloodstained Mire
2 Marsh Flats
1 Swamp
1 Barren Moor

4 Dark Confidant
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Pyroblast
2 Blood Moon
2 Gloom
2 Smash to Smithereens

[Captain Hammer]

Both Kroxa and Scourge of the Skyclaves feel as if they were created just to be paired with Bolt, Bob, Reanimate, Thoughtseize, Snuff Out/Dismember and Ritual in a neo Red Death list.

Basically this list but splashing red and cutting Regi, Revokers, Eliminates and some lands for temurs battlerage, kroxa, reanimate and bolt....

https://youtu.be/z9Aq3-I1bkU

[Fox]

Both Kroxa and Scourge of the Skyclaves feel as if they hand picked to be paired with Bolt, Bob, Reanimate and Ritual in a neo Red Death list.

Problem is that Uro costs 1 less to escape (b/c it draws cards), and completely reverses the Kroxa trigger.

[Captain Hammer]

Problem is that Uro costs 1 less to escape (b/c it draws cards), and completely reverses the Kroxa trigger.

Kroxa is a turn 2 disruptive spell though, plays a very different role than Uro.

Uro works well in slow controllish decks. Kroxa shines in fast aggressive decks like Death’s Shadow and Red Death.

Scourge of the Skyclaves and Temur’s Battlerage are sweet additions as well.

Even Valki seems solid though Bob is generally better.

[Fox]

Ah, so what I'm saying is not that you should run Uro. It is that you know Uro is legal and you will be playing from behind - it not only reverses everything Kroxa trigger does, they will out-escape you based on mechanics. You're playing an escape 5 vs what is effectively escape 4.

[FTW]

The solution to that is to just run Cling to Dust, rather than trying to out-escape Uro.

[CRich3]

I'm disappointed that I have never heard of this deck until now, now I must play it. Anyone have a recent decklist?