WR Stoneblade

[ghostfire86]

This aggro deck is a version of WR Stoneblade that I am running. This deck is flexible exploiting the first/double strike mech with equips, low mana cost, life gain, burn, and progressive evolution.

Lands(22)
2 Marsh Flats
2 Scalding Tarn
4 Arid Mesa
3 Wasteland
1 Maze of ith
2 karakas
4 Plateau
2 Plains
2 Mountain

Creatures(22)
3 Figure of Destiny
4 Student of Warfare
4 Vexing Devil
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Ranger of Eos
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Mirran Crusader

Equips(4)
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow

Spells (12)
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
4 Magma Jet
1 Proclamation of Rebirth

Sideboard
3 Smast to Smithereens
3 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Manriki-Gusari
4 Thorn of Amethyst
4 Surgical Extraction


While Figure of Destiny and Student of warfare make this deck mana intensive. This really is not as much of an issue as you would think. If you really have worries about this then you could sub sword of fire and ice for sword of feast and famine.

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben has so far been working out stalling out my opponents disruption, and control. Due to the nature that she effects me as well I am running a full set of Vexing Devils at the moment due to it being a better Bolt not effected by her early game. Mid Late Game they tend to let him drop instead of taking the damage which still works out.

Stoneforge Mystic is great at obtaining and droping equips. UW Stoneblade is a great example of this. I have now opted not to use Batterskull and am using SoFI, SoLS, UJ instead. These both function as perfect adjuncts to the current feel and mech of the deck where batterskull never did. Manriki-Gusari, while useful against all equips, keeps opponents Batterskull in check. 3 mana untaped at all times is a lot early to mid game just to protect the one equip and god forbid your mystic being killed. No more cheap drop.

Mirran Crusader in this state of current meta is essential with protection to green. Vampire Nighthawk, Tarmogoyf, and Knight of the Reliquary are commonly found in use with a great deal of decks these days. If a day comes when the meta shifts to a need for protection from white there is always Stillmoon Cavalier waiting on the sidelines.

vexing devil I believe is an official staple of this deck. I have come to the point to consider this a sorcery burn spell and not even a creature. So many opponents tend to take the damage its amazing. Proclamation of Rebirth, Ranger of Eos, and Sword of Light and Shadow function perfectly keeping the constant use of this guy. Even if they dont take the damage I still get a descent sized creature for cheap.

Boros Burn consists of vexing devil, lightning bolt, lightning helix, sword of fire and ice, and magma jet. When in doubt punch the opponent in the face.....with BURN.

Results per Magic Workstation
Average Casting Cost: 1.81
Color Breakdown:
Colorless- 46.67%
Multicolor- 3.33%
White- 26.67%
Red- 20.00%

[Bignasty197]

This looks very fun to play and it seems like you put alot of thought into it but I would make a few personal changes.

-1 Basilisk Collar, +1 Jitte
-1 FoD, -1 Student of Warfare, -1 Mirran Crusader, +3 Magus of the Moon

I realize with Magus the mana base would need to be reworked, but that is probably for the better because you can shut off so many decks by dropping him into play. I understand this changes the curve of the deck by removing two 1-drops for two 3-drops. I dislike the level up guys in here because you want to be as aggressive as possible and the majority of the time they are going to eat removal in response to the level up. Wasted mana/turn. Also, EE for 1 looks very rough. If you are running 4 SFM, I see no reason not to MD a Jitte. Yes, they can legend rule your Jitte but at least you kill their Jitte also because you never want to see an opposing one get active.

[ghostfire86]

True with the Jitte. It has been a continues to be an issue for me on keeping it MB or SB. It also functions well with Student of Warfare and Mirran Crusader for combat tricks.

On the note of Magus of the Moon. I was running him mainboard with an older build of this deck, however, I never saw much of an additional edge given to me at my local area's meta. Also, he creats an issue with the ability to thin my deck ASAP to decrease chance of mana flood. I might consider using him again once I get out of the hell hole know as Louisiana.

In the case of wasted mana for lvl up creatures I do understand what you are refering to, but do understand that you will 90% of the time experience this with Student of Warfare. Figure of Destiny honestly should only be lvl'ed prior to your opponents end of turn. SoW does however give me a 3/3 first strike turn 2 ready and able to swing. This is great when considering most people either:
A. Don't have a creature on field (consideration should heavily be taken that removal is in hand)
B. Have low powered ramp/stall (Noble Heirarch, Mother of Runes, Cursecatcher, Mog Fanatic, Goblin Weilder, ect ect)

In order to get a similar effect and function for the deck I would have to resort to Pocelain Legionaire. A great card and highly underused card, but I give up the ability for early assault which goes to turn 3 instead of turn 2.

I have considered -1 FoD +1 Grim Lavamancer seeing that I do usually dump fast into grave.

Please understand that the point of having the selected lvl up creatures is that they are cheap to play and have the ability to stay threats on the field even if the game progresses into a long game. They will never stay at the lvl of chump blockers that get casted away. The potential of a constant threat stays there and your opponent will come realize this (if experienced they will notice it immediately, if not experienced they better by game 2). Even if they do remove FoD or SoW from early game the usual kill comes from Mirran Crusader with equip, burn spells, or Batterskull. They waste all their efforts protecting theirselves from the potential threats leaving the actual threats in the clear for open advantage.

I would love to incorporate black into this deck, just as Team Italia does, but would like to keep the feel of it more Boros. I gain the use of Dark Confidant/Sensei's Divining Top combo for card draw/manipulation (with the low converted mana cost of the deck I have little to worry about life loss) and also I have more options to better control/disruption (Hide-Seek, Vindicate, Thoughtseize, Bitterblossom, ect). I would change the feel of the deck I know, but I do think it is an avenue worth considering This project will wait however till after the next Ravnica Block is completed to better my options of careful selection.

[gkraigher]

I'm running a very similar deck in modern, obviously minus the jitte and the stoneblades. With flagstones and the fetch lands in your deck, why are you not running steppe lynx, and to a lesser degree, plated geopede? the geopede might be tough to fit in, but the lynx seems like an auto inclusion.

i also like ranger of eos a lot. the deck runs into a lot of problems with mid-range decks. and its hard to regain the board once you lose control to it. you're only real way is to get a figure of destiny in play and upgrade it all the way. ranger of eos buys you enough time to do that.

[gkraigher]

wait a second, you aren't even running Thalia. 3-4 of those is the core of the deck. The absolute core.

[ghostfire86]

Steppe Lynx is a great starter card for the game and when you have lots of fetch lands, but as you mention it does nothing for mide to late game. Plated Geopede is a 50/50 toss on it in modern decks and is even less effective for legacy. I've run both in the prior build of this deck.

With the current build you stand less of a chance to lose control of that mid to late game effectiveness.

I actually started this deck as a fun standard deck with Ravnica and progressed it into extended, then modern, and now finally Legacy. Seems appropriate for one of my fav decks to go to my fav format.

Thalia has been a consideration of mine but more towards sideboard than main board. It seems that it will be handy against combo, disruption, and control decks. Ill have to try some play testing for inclusion of her. At the moment I have none lol. Keep in mind that I am running a Boros Build and fast burn for finisher or creature kill is needed. My low mana curve helps me but most games I draw as much as 3-4 lands before I obtain kill and must choose wisely on what to make payment towards. By siding her in I can drop some of my burn (most likely lightning helix) for inclusion on g2 and g3.

In addition I was talking to one of my friends today about this build and he mentioned that switching Vexing Devil for Goblin Guide would be appropriate. I am thinking strongly on making the change. Since the direction I am taking this has a Stoneblade core with Stoneforge Mystic--->SoFI/BS/BC/UJ wraped in an almost Boros build it would seem appropriate. He would either burn the opponent early turn and feed my Grim Lavamancer or I will gain a 4/3 creature mide range which is not horrible for a beat stick.

Ranger of Eos seems like an awesome fetch for this deck and could grab 2 Vexing Devil, SoW, FoD, or GL with the new build. 1-2 would seem appropriate for this. Ill start by including 1 and take out 1 Mirran Crusader.

So, as of right now these are the changes that I am going to start testing soon:
-4 Goblin Guide
-1 Mirran Crusader
-1 Grim Lavamancer (sideboard)
-2 Oblivion Ring (sideboard)

+4 Vexing Devil
+1 Ranger of Eos
+3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben (sideboard)

Since this will drop my sideboard down to 1 Oblivion Ring do you think that it would be best to keep it or drop it for a Sword of...... equipment, or bring back my third Grim Lavamancer.

Also, does anyone think that cutting my lightning helix to 2 for inclusion of 2 chain lightning. Purely for the effect of lowering my converted mana cost a bit more. I think that there is a strong enough inclusion of life gain in the deck to support cutting back on the lightning helix's, if not switching them completely out. The real down side would be that I now loss an instant by switching to a sorcery.

I am loving the suggestions by the way. You feedback feels like I will have a much more functional and aggressive buile than prior.

[gkraigher]

vexing devil is an interesting proposal. i does most of the stuff goblin guide does, but no drawbacks. Ranger into 2 of them is pretty bonkers.

I have silverblade paladin and goblin guide in my modern build, but mirrian crusader and vexing devils are an interesting replacement. worth testing.

You might be hesitant about Thalia, but I am completely sold on her worth. When you test, try it main deck. I think she is a format pillar in both legacy and modern for the foreseeable future.

[Burnt-toast]

With the two basalisk collars in there I don't see why you don't try to run goblin sharpshooter as a possible 1-2 of. Get him on board with a collar hooked up and your opponent better hope they have some sort or removal before you just smash their face in with an open field for your guys.

I also agree on Thalia and at least 1 one jitte because it's just a house once it gets active.

I would suggest something like this:
-1 lightning helix
-4 student of warfar
-1 Miriam crusader

+1 jitte
+3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
+2 Goblin Sharpshooter

[ghostfire86]

With the two basalisk collars in there I don't see why you don't try to run goblin sharpshooter as a possible 1-2 of. Get him on board with a collar hooked up and your opponent better hope they have some sort or removal before you just smash their face in with an open field for your guys.

I also agree on Thalia and at least 1 one jitte because it's just a house once it gets active.

I would suggest something like this:
-1 lightning helix
-4 student of warfar
-1 Miriam crusader

+1 jitte
+3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
+2 Goblin Sharpshooter

Goblin Sharpshooter's time has come and gone with the passing of the wind. First of all as a third turn drop he must survive till my next turn before i can even get use out of him. Yes I understand that IF he survives then I gain board control. Honestly this is why im using Grim Lavamancer instead of him who in the long run of a game is by far more effective at being a last minute kill switch, is cheaper, and also can take out a 3 defense creature on the block if need be.

I forgot to put in the previous post that I am going to
-1 basilisk collar
+1 Umezawa's Jitte
This is because that yes the combat tricks are amazing when i do drop it onto the field.

Thalia will be tested once I get the opportunity to do so.

[rxavage]

I'd replace Figure of Destiny with Vexing Devil before I took out Goblin Guide.

[ghostfire86]

I'd replace Figure of Destiny with Vexing Devil before I took out Goblin Guide.

I will repost this from what i have already stated above:

Please understand that the point of having the selected lvl up creatures is that they are cheap to play and have the ability to stay threats on the field even if the game progresses into a long game. They will never stay at the lvl of chump blockers that get casted away. The potential of a constant threat stays there and your opponent will come realize this (if experienced they will notice it immediately, if not experienced they better by game Even if they do remove FoD or SoW from early game the usual kill comes from Mirran Crusader with equip, burn spells, or Batterskull. They waste all their efforts protecting theirselves from the potential threats leaving the actual threats in the clear for open advantage.


Also, if you are wasting your time lvling up each creature to max as fast as you can, your stupid. SoW only needs to have 2 counters to be effective, and FoD's ability is an instant so you can use him and open mana as viable threats to their defense and life total. The THREAT is far worse than the REALITY OF THE SITUATION in the case of FoD.

Goblin Guide is a fast hitting card that allows you intell about your opponents next draw unless its a land in which case you have just helped them with mana flood, and now they have higher card potential. Also, he is a mid-late game chump blocker that can't break the defensive line. I can't always rely on the use of equipments to make him more effective. Vexing Devil early game is a threat to the board and late game is a threat to their life total. I think Vexing Devil makes the cut over the goblin or is my logic failing me.

[gkraigher]

I used to have 3 figure of destiny, 1 grim lavamancer, 4 goblin guide, 4 Thalia, and 2 ranger of eos. My new build is 2 figure of destiny, 4 goblin guide, 3 Thalia, 2 vexing devil, and 3 ranger.

2 vexing devil seems like enough. Its good, and great with ranger, but I don't know if its the direction you want to go. You need to put pressure on the board too. Vexing Devil is a lot of the time just 4 damage. But with ranger, it becomes awesome.

[gkraigher]

ghostfire, what is your logic behind playing flagstones of trokair if you are not playing steppe lynx and geopede?

[ghostfire86]

ghostfire, what is your logic behind playing flagstones of trokair if you are not playing steppe lynx and geopede?

Other than the fact it does feed my grim lavamancer it will fetch without life lose. Also due to the fact it is also used in white wennie builds I don't have to pull two in order to legend rule it.

Contrary to what ive read posted on this site fetch lands, while the main use is mana correction, also do thin the deck. I have yet to see the so called math that proves otherwise and yet so many preach this as fact. By carrying 10 Fetch, 8 Land, and 4 Flagestone I stand a chance to keep a lower draw on land and a higher draw on spells. Simple math states that for each fetch i have acts as two cards slots. Im running a total of 22 lands, however considering that the fetch are two slots (themself and one of the lands being fetched), Im running around 14 lands, 6 of which will not fetch anything is the game progressed towards decking, and only 9 lands being useable (8 lands and 1 Flagstone on the field, and 1-3 Flagstone(s) in hand).

If anyone know of the link of the study that was supposedly done to contradict what i have just stated please let me know the link.

To the note of steppe lynx and plated geopede I have already discussed the issue with them. Boros Wins builds are very similar to Burn-They burn out if kill not made fast. This build is a Boros stability build with a stoneblade core. If Vexing Devil proves more of an annoyance than useful then Goblin Guide will keep a secured spot because I know that it is currently one of Reds best first turn drops for creatures.

[trivial_matters]

Contrary to what ive read posted on this site fetch lands, while the main use is mana correction, also do thin the deck. I have yet to see the so called math that proves otherwise and yet so many preach this as fact. By carrying 10 Fetch, 8 Land, and 4 Flagestone I stand a chance to keep a lower draw on land and a higher draw on spells. Simple math states that for each fetch i have acts as two cards slots. Im running a total of 22 lands, however considering that the fetch are two slots (themself and one of the lands being fetched), Im running around 14 lands, 6 of which will not fetch anything is the game progressed towards decking, and only 9 lands being useable (8 lands and 1 Flagstone on the field, and 1-3 Flagstone(s) in hand).

If anyone know of the link of the study that was supposedly done to contradict what i have just stated please let me know the link.

Read this: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/print.asp?ID=3096

[ghostfire86]

Read this: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/print.asp?ID=3096

Thanks Trivial-Matters

I do see and understand the data proposed upon the completion of his simulations. The data does show that thinning does take place however the rate at which the thinning takes place for the desired effect takes to long to have a positive effect on the game and is only minimal over the given period. Secondly he brings up the issue that the amount of life paid for the additional spell drawn is high at a cost of 4 life. Personally I would argue that any person placing a fetch land in the deck has already accepted the burden of life loss for the gain of mana correction and thinning (as minimal as it is).

With this being as it is I would then say droping Flagstones completely seems viable. I still think keeping at least a total of 8 fetch lands is preferable due to feeding Grim. Now we can replace these 6 slots with lands preferably benificial to use.
-4 Flagstone of Trokair
-1 Marsh Flats
-1 Scalding Tarn

+2 Karakas
+1 Maze of Ith or Kor Haven
+1 Mountain
+3 Wasteland

This would be my base idea for a variable disruption land set for the replacement. In the case of maze of ith and kor haven im much more partial to the maze.

Ideas?

[gkraigher]

the study specifically used grim lavamancer as a counter-argument. which was one of your points.

[ghostfire86]

Updated build that I'm testing currently.

FYI, Chalice of the Void will shut this deck down fast. Decided to add in 3 copies of Disenchant for artifact/enchantment control. Considered Revoke Existence, but would rather take an instant over a sorcery.

[MD.Ghost]

Some Help from my Mono White Lifegain Corner:

If you want 1 Mana Beaters: Student, Figure, Vexing and so on (i think Mother of Runes should also be included for protection)

Proclamation of Rebirth is your Card Maindeck or Sideboard.

Bring back Dudes after Counter/Combat Killing/Non White Removal/ is very strong, think about Vexing Devil :wink:

Dont fear Chalice of the Void, play the one Drops and "reanimate" them later, even uncounterable with Forecast-Ability in long Games with enough Mana.

[ghostfire86]

Some Help from my Mono White Lifegain Corner:

If you want 1 Mana Beaters: Student, Figure, Vexing and so on (i think Mother of Runes should also be included for protection)

Proclamation of Rebirth is your Card Maindeck or Sideboard.

Bring back Dudes after Counter/Combat Killing/Non White Removal/ is very strong, think about Vexing Devil :wink:

Dont fear Chalice of the Void, play the one Drops and "reanimate" them later, even uncounterable with Forecast-Ability in long Games with enough Mana.

I really want to keep this to a Boros feel, so if it does not seem to be an aggression card i have really tried to stay away from it. mother of runes is a powerhouse Utility Creature, but i am already using stoneforge mystic as my Utility Creature to gain edge of my equipment selection.
Proclamation of rebirth does seem like it would offer a different demension to the game. I really don't like the cost of the Forecast ability however. I wonder if there is anything else that works similar to it.

[sillyandrew]

i did this exact same thing a few months ago. see: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?23554-R-W-Renegade-%28Boros-Midrange%29

your deck needs mother of runes, and better instants. ultimately, i stopped playing the list, and moved on to straight boros deck wins. good luck though.

[ghostfire86]

i did this exact same thing a few months ago. see: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?23554-R-W-Renegade-%28Boros-Midrange%29

your deck needs mother of runes, and better instants. ultimately, i stopped playing the list, and moved on to straight boros deck wins. good luck though.


I really like the idea of running sword of light with vexing devil. This would create a whole new level to the deck just as Ranger of Eos and Proclamation of Rebirth. I honestly have come to the opinion that Vexing Devil is not a creature at all. So many opponents would rather take the 4 damage than let it hit the field thinking that they are denying me a creature on the field. They are sadly mistaken because he is the best "Bolt" to come out in a long time.

I do not like the sorcery aspect of Chain Lightning so i am switching the 3 slots to lightning helix.

Chalice of the Void is an issue with this deck. As long as its not droped on turn 1 I can quick shot my plays, but if it hits the field fast this deck becomes a gimp. Im switching cards in the default sideboard to address the issues im finding. Smash to Smithereens will give me everything that I need-an artifact kill response and burn to back it. This in junction with Kataki, War's Wage and Manriki-Gusari im well set i think to deal with equips and stax plays.

My default sideboard has nothing that addresses any grave function. I am going to use surgical extractions for this.

Thorns of Amethyst with Thalia, Gaurdian of Thraben seems to be descent when coming across control, disruption, and combo. While it does not stop them from performing the acts it does slow them down giving me time to drop plays as fast as I can.