I had a suprising amount of success at the AVR pre-release with Boros humans. I noticed that a great deal of these cards were common and started to wonder if there was a viable mono-R pauper deck.
AVR essentially gives us the following cards to build around:
* Kruin Striker: An core part of the human strategy, Kruin Striker will usually be attacking as a 3/1 trampler on Turn 3. The lady is positively nutso with Thatcher Revolt.
* Riot Ringleader: The second core part of the human strategy, this guy essentially has Battle Cry for humans, including himself.
* Thatcher Revolt: The final core part of the human strategy, this card can push out crazy amounts of damage when planned well.
* Fervent Cathar: Not as exciting, it does help push Kruin Striker damage through or possibly save a Riot Ringleader. Would be nicer if it made something unblockable.
* Hanweir Lancer: I’m not sure if soulbound is the way to go with this deck, which wants to vomit out as many critters as possible as quickly as possible. It’s an option though.
That sequence of plays – T2 Striker into T3 Ringleader into T4 Revolt – if unmolested is an easy 17 damage by the end of Turn 4, nicely within Lightning Bolt range.
There are also a stack other humans out there to support the deck.
* Keldon Marauders: A core part of very aggressive pauper red decks, this is a no-brainer 2-drop. You especially don’t mind going T2 Striker, T3 Ringleader, T4 two of these. That damage really piles up.
* Vulshok Sorcerer & Vithian Stinger: Two options if the deck needs a little reach. The haste on Vulshok is nice, though the unearth on the Stinger could also be useful.
* Akoum Battlesinger & Highland Berserker: I’m inclined not to run these as the other humans aren’t allies, so there’s very little synergy in running these 2/1s.
* Gathan Raiders: I’m not sure about these guys. Does the morph trigger the Kruin Striker?
* Hinterland Hermit: I’m pretty sure you’re never flipping this guy when you want to.
* Keldon Halberdier: A cute kind of storm combo for your Riot Ringleader and Kruin Striker, but probably a little slow.
* Sparkmage Apprentice: Probably doesn’t do enough fast enough.
* Vulshok Heartstoker: Is a real posibility, as it effectively gives Striker +4/0 and leaves behind a 2/2 body.
And there are also a couple of non-humans that may support this type of aggro strategy.
* Goblin Bushwhacker: Regardless of not being a human, I think it makes it into the deck. Having to leave Thatcher Revolt to turn 5 isn’t great, but if you’re using T4 to clear out blockers so you can push through 11 damage using Revolt, Ringleader and Bushwacker, it is probably worth it.
* Furnace Scamp: Likely our only 1-drop creature in the deck. If it does 4 damage, it’s done its job.
And there’s a spell I’d like to try to give the deck some reach
* Dangerous Wager: I think running 2 of these is probably worth it. You’ll want to vomit out your hand ASAP, and even losing a land isn’t the worst thing.
There’s also a some white spells that could help immensely:
* Gather the Townsfolk: This seems pretty dirty with Ringleader and Striker and forms a core part of a Boros build.
* Unruly Mob: I’m not sure if the deck wants it, but going Unruly Mob into Thatcher Revolt seems fine. It can certainly make blocks awkward for your opponent.
* Youthful Knight: With all the other two drops, I’m not sure whether it’s good enough.
* Icatian Javelineers: A possible 1-drop for the Boros deck, though more likely a sideboard card.
Due to card availability it leaves the deck in the uncomfortable position of having no solid 1-drop creatures. That means the 1CMC slot will be largely be taken up by burn baby burn.
* Chain Lightning: Instantly in, either for clearing the path for our dudes or finishing off opponents.
* Lightning Bolt: Another instant in (no pun intended), the single best 1-mana red instant in the game.
* Shard Volley: Would probably make it into a mono-Red strategy, but not a Boros one.
* Reckless Abandon: Not available on MtGO yet, once it’s available, as a follow up on Turn 4 after Thatcher’s Revolt it seems fine.
* Searing Blaze: A great sideboard option, though probably not maindeck.
The other thing I would consider trying is a U/R control list based around ninjas, abusing Ninja of the Deep Hours and Mistblade Shinobi.
Here’s a mono-red list.
Mono-Red Pauper Hu-Mans
| Creatures (20) 4 Furnace Scamp 4 Goblin Bushwhacker 4 Kruin Striker 4 Keldon Maruaders 4 Riot Ringleader Instants (10) 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Shard Volley 2 Dangerous Wager Sorceries (8) 4 Chain Lightning 4 Thatcher Revolt Lands (22) 16 Mountain 4 Teetering Peeks 2 Smouldering Spires |
And a Boros list that goes all-in on the Human strategy
Boros Pauper Hu-Mans
| Creatures (16) 4 Unruly Mob 4 Kruin Striker 4 Keldon Maruaders 4 Riot Ringleader Instants (10) 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Shard Volley 2 Dangerous Wager Sorceries (12) 4 Chain Lightning 4 Thatcher Revolt 4 Gather the Townsfolk Lands (22) 10 Mountain 6 Plains 4 Teetering Peeks 2 Evolving Wilds |
Once the cards are on MtGO I’ll give them a run and see how I go.