[Standard] R/G Skred

[Dozer]

So, in accordance with the recent Flores theories (now saying that Skred is the best in Standard), I've cooked up a version of his "Karstenbot Babykiller" idea. Basically, it is the idea of the 8-Stone-Rain.dec from JP Nationals but condensed into an R/G Snow build. Skreds serve as main removal, while Demonfire is additional burn and finisher. Flores recently advanced the idea that "if you win with Demonfire" (as so many decks do), the game plan changes. Just clog the game up, stay alive and fry 'em out of nowhere -- you'll find the mana somehow.

I believe that both Skred and Ohran Viper plus the 8 Stone Rains are well suited to the task, only I like having an extra fat body to help out. I haven't seen a list that combines Skred and Rumbling Slum, but it seems pretty obvious to me. Here's my list which I am going to take for an outing as soon as I get the chance:

4 Birds of Paradise
4 Boreal Druid (Llanowar Elves?)
4 Ohran Viper
2 Stalking Yeti (not sure yet how good these are. Flores says two is the right number...)
4 Rumbling Slum

4 Skred
4 Demonfire
4 Stone Rain
4 Cryoclasm
4 Into the North

1 Mouth of the Ronom
4 Scrying Sheets
4 Highland Weald
4 Stomping Ground
4 SNC Mountain
5 SNC Forest

No SB as yet. (Oh yeah, and I'm going post-Kamigawa T2 with this, so no Jitte!)

Boreal Druids complement the snow count, as do Highland Wealds. Like I said, this is basically a Flores rip-off, and it has yet to go through the testing routine. Still, I feel comfortable taking the deck to an FNM. I'm not sure if the Wealds actually work because of the CIP-tap, but they add to the snow count (28), which is necessary to operate the Sheets properly. I think you could argue for 3 Sheets and less Wealds, but that is a matter of testing.

It's slower than Gruul or Boros, but has much more consistent mana than Zoo and a draw engine that can easily match the control decks, with the acceleration that makes it possible. Ohran Viper is a beating, and the deck has a lot of reach, owing to the Demonfires and Skreds (the one-mana-kill-all). I omitted the Kird Apes because the deck doesn't want to get the beats on in the first three turns, but rather accelerate into Viper and/ or Stone Rain to follow that up with Slum or additional LD. Sheets shouldn't become active in the first three turns, but ensure a steady stream of threats after that.

I can, by the way, see this kind of deck profiting from Lotus Bloom, giving it a gigantic fourth turn.

Initial comments?

[Roxas]

At first glance, it seems like you might want to focus the mana base just a little more on green.  I'm not sure how good the Wealds would be, since it seems like the idea is for a second-turn Stone Rain or Viper via a first-turn Elf/Bird.  Perhaps consider more basics over the Wealds?  Otherwise, it seems like a pretty decent midrange deck that can give both aggro and control a run for their money. 

[Anusien]

Kird Apes seem like sort of a necessity in order to give the deck an actual aggro plan and not lose before something like an opposing Demonfire or Keiga/Niv-Mizzet/SSS seals the deal.

[UR]

Right now you are playing no less than 30 mana sources in an aggro deck. That is even more than I'm playing in my control deck... I think you can lose the Birds of Paradise.

I'd also replace Skred with Char. The ability to burn the player is very valuable in a deck like this.

[Roxas]

Fires played like 32 mana sources, and I'd cut the Druids before Birds just because Birds can tap for red.  Also, it's not really an aggro deck; think of it the same way you would think of, say, "aggro" Rock  in Extended- the idea isn't to kill the opponent as quickly as possible, but to win with solid threats, disruption, and card advantage.  In aggro rock, disruption and card advantage come in the form of Hypnotic Specter and Sword of Fire and Ice.  Here, it's land destruction, Ohran Viper, and Scrying Sheets.

[UR]

Fires played like 32 mana sources, and I'd cut the Druids before Birds just because Birds can tap for red.

Birds aren't snow, don't tap for snow and can't attack (well... they can, but you know...) the ability to tap for red doesn't weigh up against all this in a deck like this methinks. You're only playing two colors with a full complement of duals.

Also, it's not really an aggro deck; think of it the same way you would think of, say, "aggro" Rock  in Extended- the idea isn't to kill the opponent as quickly as possible, but to win with solid threats, disruption, and card advantage.  In aggro rock, disruption and card advantage come in the form of Hypnotic Specter and Sword of Fire and Ice.  Here, it's land destruction, Ohran Viper, and Scrying Sheets.

I believe they are calling it 'tempo' these days.

[kirdape3]

Isn't there a deck like this that's made top 8 in somebody's Nationals?  It's G/B/r, splashing for Demonfire.

[LordHomerCat]

"Vipies" made top8 at Japanese Nats, it is the GB/r deck that splashed for demonfire.  It is pretty big on MTGO at the moment.  I have yet to see a Skred cast in a constructed tourney though (maybe Flores was a little overexcited?  As though that has ever happened before).

The deck seems like it could have some good draws, but I don't know if the Scrying Sheets engine with no Top and no real backup engine is powerful enough to let you fight into the mid and late game.

[UR]

The deck seems like it could have some good draws, but I don't know if the Scrying Sheets engine with no Top and no real backup engine is powerful enough to let you fight into the mid and late game.

Scrying Sheets is merely there to ensure you have a better late-game. Early game (and probably mid-game too) it does very little because you want to use the mana to cast relevant spells.