Budget RG Kiln Fiend Aggro

[toasterferret]

Hey guys, I just got my gf into magic, and she has been trying out different kinds of decks. She finally decided she liked aggro, and we have been working on a budget deck for her to play with, and this is what we ended up with:

RG Kiln Fiend

// Lands
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
2 Forest
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag

// Creatures
4 Kiln Fiend
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Kird Ape
4 Quirion Dryad

// Spells
2 Fling
4 Punishing Fire
4 Colossal Might
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Assault Strobe


My question for you guys, is there any good replacements for the cards here that still fit into a budget deck? Also, are there any simple improvements we could make?

She really likes the Grove of the Burnwillows/Punishing Fire synergy, and the obvious Kiln Fiend/pump spell synergy, yet I cant help but think there could be a better card for the fling slot...

[TheArchitect]

Looks like a fun deck!

I realize its a budget deck but Berserk would be so perfect.

Maybe consider Elvish/simian spirit guide and/or lotus petal would help make the deck even more explosive.

Also, Manamorphose, its essentailly a "free spell" that will add to kiln fiend without losing card advantage.

Silhana Ledgewalker is a really solid creature for decks like this, it's hard to block and destroy so you wont potentially waste 3 pump spells just to have it swords'd or blocked.

Also, Kavu Predator and Invigorate. Invigorate even without the kavu predator is just amazing. And the Kavu also has synergy with the Grove.

I'd cut the Quirion Dryad and Keldon Marauders. They are good, but for this deck, they seem almost too slow. Kird ape maybe even cut as well.

[toasterferret]

Hmm. I originally had Manamorphose in there, but ended up replacing it with Assault Strobe. I do like the Idea of Kavu Predator and Invigorate however, I will have to keep those in mind. (plus the group she plays with are fairly new players and have a severe case of "life gain deck" fever...)

I definitely think Quirion Dryad could be cut, as well as Fling and Keldon Marauders, most likely for Kavu, Invigorate, and Ledgewalker (which I love the idea of, just in case she doesn't draw Vines of Vastwood).

Not sure what to cut for the spirit guides, though I do agree that they would be pretty explosive additions.

[muscleb]

Kird Ape does not get pumped up by Grove or Crag, so mostly he will just be 1/1 :p
¨
I like fling in the list. Perhaps 2 sylvan library to be able to keep drawing gas. or that pump spell with rebound(forgot the name)

[MGC_player]

Slippery Boggle might be an option as a 1 drop. I've used it in stuff like this before and it's been amazing. Nettle Sentinel is also an option.

[cubemaster]

skarrgan pit skulk is really good in these types of decks, as giving the bloodthirst effect isnt too hard. Double cleave could also replace the flings if you want

[toasterferret]

Skarrgan Pit-Skulk is a great idea! And thanks for pointing out the Kird Ape and lack of forests, I suppose in the three or four times we tested the deck in MWS, we just got really, really lucky on the forest draws!

Here is an updated version of the list:


RG Kiln Fiend

// Lands
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
2 Forest
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag

// Creatures
4 Kiln Fiend
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
4 Kavu Predator

// Spells
2 Fling
4 Punishing Fire
4 Colossal Might
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Assault Strobe

Now I really want to fit in Invigorate, but I'm not sure what to cut, nor how to run enough forests for its alternate cost... Also, do you think Silhana Ledgewalker would be better in the slot than Keldon Marauders?

[Mr. Safety]

Skarrgan Pit-Skulk is a great idea! And thanks for pointing out the Kird Ape and lack of forests, I suppose in the three or four times we tested the deck in MWS, we just got really, really lucky on the forest draws!

Here is an updated version of the list:


RG Kiln Fiend

// Lands
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
2 Forest
8 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag

// Creatures
4 Kiln Fiend
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Flamekin Harbinger
4 Skarrgan Pit-Skulk
4 Kavu Predator

// Spells
2 Fling
4 Punishing Fire
4 Colossal Might
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Assault Strobe

Now I really want to fit in Invigorate, but I'm not sure what to cut, nor how to run enough forests for its alternate cost... Also, do you think Silhana Ledgewalker would be better in the slot than Keldon Marauders?


Short answer, yes. Long answer: Invigorate with a slightly higher forest count would be better than Colossal Might. I think Rancor is better than Colossal Might, too...it makes sure your Kiln Fiends attack for 3 regardless of playing spells, and gives him a cheap source of trample. Not to mention you can always re-use Rancor if Kiln Fiend gets hosed. Might of Old Krosa is definately better than Assault Strobe, too.

You may not be able to afford Berserk, but Fatal Frenzy would work just as good if you worked in 2 more lands (played 20.) I'd rather have Fatal Frenzy than Assault Strobe, along with a higher land count.

To sum up, this is what I'd do:

-2 Fling
-4 Colossal Might
-4 Assault Strobe
-4 Keldon Marauders
-1 Flamekin Harbinger
-1 Punishing Fire


4 Might of Old Krosa
3 Fatal Frenzy
4 Silhana Ledgewalker
4 Invigorate

+1 land (and even out your forests/mountains a little bit)


That would take your deck and make it much more consistent, and would essentially be playing budget r/g Berserk Stompy. Realize this: Might of Old Krosa makes Kiln Fiend 8/2, Assault Strobe makes Kilnd Fiend 4/2 with double strike. There isn't a real big difference, other than the fact that Might of Old Krosa is better with your other creatures, making Silhana Ledgewalker 5/5 or Skarrgan Pit-Skulk 5/5 or 6/6. Fatal Frenzy is a better version of Assault Strobe, simply because it provides trample and doubles up the power, same as Berserk. The only issue is mana acceleration to play Fatal Frenzy. Luckily, Invigorate should most likely be free...allowing you to double up and make your creature HUGE. Simian Spirit Guide/Elvish Spirit Guide are both worthwhile options, as well as something as simply as Seething Song or Birds of Paradise.

[Qweerios]

I have a competitive R/G Fiend/Dryad deck and here are a few cheap and very effective cards that I have tested:

Lava Dart - Extremely potent with fiend
Fireblast - Dart's big brother
Hellspark Elemental - Resilient to discard, pumps dryad twice, reasonable pressure
Boggart Ram-Gang - Strong cascade target and decent threat
Bloodbraid Elf - Potential game winner and card advantage, powerful casual card
Rift Bolt - Budget chain lightning
Magma Jet - subpar burn but useful with bloodbraid or in top deck mode

Burn > Pump. Burn will make your 2 main critters stronger and will either finish your opponent or clear a path as opposed to pump where the benefits are marginal compared to burn and the risk of being 2 for 1 is higher.

Heres a sample decklist:


Creatures (20)
4 Quirion Dryad
4 Kiln Fiend
4 Keldon Marauders
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Bloodbraid Elf

Spells (20)
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Rift Bolt
4 Lava Dart
4 Punishing Fire
4 Colossal Might

Lands (20)
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Copperline Gorge
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
8 Mountains


If running any good 1 drops is out of your budget (Goblin Guides, Grim Lavamancer, Kird Ape/Taiga) then don't run any and have a higher curve. It's better to have a slower but powerful aggro deck than a faster but weak one.

[Mr. Safety]

That's a great list, too. Nice deck Qweerios! I especially like the Quirion Dryads getting bigger with every red spell you cast.