So yesterday prior to our weekly FNM draft, I played against a buddy of mine who was running again a home-brew U/B Control and W/U Approach decks. I won each match 2-1; however, I found that Ferocidon does do some serious work. It forces out him to utilize a whole turn of removal against Ferocidon setting him a turn behind against any other board state. I also found that in Approach we really need to be careful against how we play around settle the wreckage. It is quite obvious when a player is holding one up, but we need to find the balance between what to hold back and how much pressure is a good amount to put on
Overall, I did like the way RR is functioning with the stock list, but I am really feeling the negative position it is facing in the current format. As PVDDR stated before, it does not look like a great slot right now, and I am tending to agree with him. Sure it will remain tier 1 given it's automatic chance of winning staying around 45% against any deck and not a single awful match-up but with the way the format is shifting, it doesn't appear as defining as it was at the HOU PT.
I am just curious about the inclusion/exclusion of these specific cards in Ramunap Red decks and some of the newer Mardu lists.
Specifically with Hazoret and Chandra, why do some lists choose to main only Hazoret, only Chandra, or a mix of both? What are the decisions that these selections say about their expected matchups or deck needs?
With Glorybringer, I am curious as to why some lists have them in the board and some do not. What is the idea that decides whether or not your 75 should or should not include Glorybringer?
I just want to hear opinions on these cards to better understand the decisions in the current Standard Meta. Per Standard Main Forum- What Belongs Here the main forum is not for deck-specific discussion. This seems closer to a deck-specific than a general meta question, so I will merge it with the Rx Aggro thread. - hoser2
Chandra is for the mid-range and control match up, so if you run into a lot of those kinds of decks you want Chandra, Torch of Defiance in the sideboard usually. Glorybringer is just good, as it's a 4/4 haste that can basically kill a dangerous threat and turn the game around. In general, Ramunap red tends to be either built to dump the hand real fast in the tradition of most aggro decks, or built to have a tad more reach in the mid-game using things like Glorybringer and Chandra, Torch of Defiance to give extra reach red normally doesn't have.
I've actually started using Captain Lannery Storm and Wily Goblin out of the sideboard for some matchups to just ramp into my money cards early, like Combustible Gearhulk and Glorybringer. Nothing quite like playing a game of chance with my opponent where the odds are stacked in favor of the house.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
For game one a lot of what Ramunap Red is looking to do is to put people on the back foot with cheap and efficient threats and removal. Hazoret, Ramunap Ruins, and eternalized Earthshaker Khenra are then used to apply the knockout blow. For that plan to work you don't want more than four or five spells that cost four or more mana (four Hazorets and maybe one Chandra are typical).
The Big Red strategy doesn't get out of the gate as quickly. There you are mostly looking to control the board with removal in the early game and then win on the back of your four and five mana bombs. They will often have 8-10 expensive bombs in the deck.
Big Red works best when the bombs are truly devastating to the opponent's deck. An issue with going that way with the current card choices available is that Hazoret gets a lot worse when she's paired with a bunch of expensive cards. Also, it doesn't seem great to me for mono red to plan on winning the long game when The Scarab God is freaking everywhere. OTOH, red doesn't have a ton of great sideboard cards anyways, so it's nice to have the plan available for decks that are soft to Glorybringer.
Also, Wily Goblin is a heck of a card. Mono red has never had its own ramp available like that. It might be a while before people really figure out how to optimize around the goblin petal, but I've been on the wrong end of my opponent dropping a turn three Chandra on the play and it felt pretty unbeatable.
meanwhile, i see B/R lists making appearances once in a while in MTGO 5-0 lists. i made such a deck a few weeks ago but wasn't really much of a success, as it lacked the punch of Heart of Kiran current B/R decks have.
meanwhile, i see B/R lists making appearances once in a while in MTGO 5-0 lists. i made such a deck a few weeks ago but wasn't really much of a success, as it lacked the punch of Heart of Kiran current B/R decks have.
I love the mentors. I never realized how many activated abilities there are. It hurts temur, Pummeler decks, vehicles, the new pirate deck. Some games I wish I had more. My new strategy has been attack for the first three turns and try to get 10-12 damage. Play Chandra. Block and keep her alive til ultimate or burn opponent out. I was thinking about splashing white for solemnity and cast out. Don’t know if it’s worth it but it ends the temur deck quick.
Current list has 3 Hazoret and one Chandra main (only own 3 of each). I'm also trying 3 Harsh Mentor, as my local store is heavily Temur and Control. Repeating Barrage hasn't been too bad, as it's nice to play around all the creature removal/counters by throwing out a bit more burn... Puncturing Blow is a concession to Scarab God. I'm toying with going up to two of them, and dropping Vance to one. HoD is my one out to opposing Hazorets, as a panic button.
I think it's necessary to play 2-3 Mentors MB or 2-4 Ferocidon in your lists depending on meta. It's quite clear what you'll expect with the amount of activated abilities and the life gain/token deck rise. I noticed one of the lists that went 7-1 in the recent MOCS ran 3 Ferocidon and Davis list ran 2 Mentors. Knowing my local meta several are playing femur so I'll probably be tossing in 2 Harsh Mentors for 1 of my Kari Zevs and an Abrade. I might also cut down to 2 Abrade and play the 1 Glorybringer as top end MB.
Has anyone had much success maining Ferocidon? I know the leader in trophies in the standard league runs RR and he is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors MB.
None of the RR list that have done well recently in Magic Online seem to have Sweltering Suns in their sideboards, despite token decks being pretty popular. Are sweepers actually not the right answer to those decks? I'm playing 4 Rampaging Ferocidon in the 75 too, of course, but is that really enough?
I really believe it comes down to your meta and the limited space to work around the field. If you look at it most lists staple wise run 2 Chandra board, 2 glorybringer board, 1-2 defeats in board, 1-3 pia, 0-2 Mentor and 1-4 Ferocidons. Suns just might not have the room to fit in the board, but suns can be an option with the ability to cycle absolutely.
Current list has 3 Hazoret and one Chandra main (only own 3 of each). I'm also trying 3 Harsh Mentor, as my local store is heavily Temur and Control. Repeating Barrage hasn't been too bad, as it's nice to play around all the creature removal/counters by throwing out a bit more burn... Puncturing Blow is a concession to Scarab God. I'm toying with going up to two of them, and dropping Vance to one. HoD is my one out to opposing Hazorets, as a panic button.
ah Puncturing Blow. neat tech you have there vs Scarab God.
isn't Repeating Barrage already a bit too much? the deck already has Ramunap Ruins as mana sink.
Has anyone had much success maining Ferocidon? I know the leader in trophies in the standard league runs RR and he is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors MB.
Current list has 3 Hazoret and one Chandra main (only own 3 of each). I'm also trying 3 Harsh Mentor, as my local store is heavily Temur and Control. Repeating Barrage hasn't been too bad, as it's nice to play around all the creature removal/counters by throwing out a bit more burn... Puncturing Blow is a concession to Scarab God. I'm toying with going up to two of them, and dropping Vance to one. HoD is my one out to opposing Hazorets, as a panic button.
ah Puncturing Blow. neat tech you have there vs Scarab God.
isn't Repeating Barrage already a bit too much? the deck already has Ramunap Ruins as mana sink.
Has anyone had much success maining Ferocidon? I know the leader in trophies in the standard league runs RR and he is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors MB.
list of that please? thanks.
So from what I see in his list it looked like he took out Ahn-Crop Crashers entirely. Playing a 4-4-2 spells line with 2 Abrade. Running 2 KZ's and is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors. He also is running 2 Chandra's MB and 4 Hazoret's. I know in MOC's he didn't have much success but at one point he was I believe 4-1?
Wanted to drop my updated list that I currently am running in the thread. I tested 4 games against Abzan Tokens and went 4-2 against it. Ferocidon is the key here and it comes down to whether we can explode early to drop them down as much as we can and finish them off with triggers.
I've noticed that a few of the more recent lists are cutting Chandra almost entirely from the 75. Brian DeMars on CFB yesterday had a list with only a single copy in the sideboard for Temur matches. What are opinions on this line now?
And Thor, I know it's been a while since your post, but Repeating Barrage has actually been really good in control matches. Yes, it usually comes out in other match-ups post board. While Ruins is a good mana sink, it's nice to have another source (or two) of inevitability around. After all, you may be in the situation that you only have one copy of Ruins out, or not at all, and this still gives you things to bring back. It may just be working for me because my local store is so heavily control based.
What i miss:
Sideboard guide for Sultai (in my opinion its rly good mu, and i do same like on temur, but if u have ur infos just write to me :P), Mardu vehicles sb guide. BR aggro sb plan (will play like vs mirror)
What i will change:
I preparing myself now for Warsaw GP. Of course i will not change my deck because i love Rampampam Red :D. But i will cut Cannon from sideboard (ub and uw sun its good matchup, dont need more cards for that). I will turn on my deck against Temur because its really hard matchup and propably i will play alot matches against it. So i will put 2 Harsh Mentor to main, i will cut one Abrade and Chandra. I will test on that weekend version where i will play Mentors and Ferocidons in main, and i will cut Crushers. After that weekend i will put my Sideboard guide, where i will update my main and side for gp (pro tour soon :D).
Srsly for my bad english. Waiting for comments guys, i love to discuss about side plans. Tell me ur experience! If u have question just ask ;).
How do you side vs Sultai Energy. I run two ferocidon and 2 mentors main. I cut two abrade one Chandra and one crasher. I always seem to bring in the raptor so mainboarding it has been working well. It’s the one card beside hazoret I always want. Sometimes more
It might look a little crazy at first, but having maindeck hate for the worst matchup in the format has freed up some sideboard slots for decks like tokens, and the other aggro decks that are popping up in my area (Mardu, BR, BB).
I know it's a small sample size, but I've won 16/20 games at my last 5 weeklies at two different stores, including 3-1 vs Temur Energy, and going 4-0 twice. I've also tested favorably against energy decks (BUG and RUG against a few different players/builds of the decks).
Harsh Mentor and Rampaging Ferocidon have swung more than their fair share of games. Harsh Mentor makes Aethersphere Harvester a sad card, as well as all of the activated abilities in Energy decks, and hits utilities lands in control decks, the mirror. Ferocidon turning off lifegain has swung UW approach games several times, and seeing Ferocidon get hit by Essence Extraction against UB feels really good too.
I'm missing out on two key cards with this build, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, and Pia Nalaar. I know this may seem like heresy, but I don't like Kari Zev with maindeck Ferocidon, and it has actually created a weird dynamic in the mirror when an opponent has a Kari Zev pre-board. They stop attacking with her more often than not. Ferocidon is good against the Pia Nalaar and Aethersphere Harvester board plan (perhaps not quite as good as that sideboard plan), and I've been able to devote more sideboard cards towards other matchups that are more swingable (like tokens and other aggro decks).
I've never been lower on Chandra, Torch of Defiance in the maindeck. There are too many matchups where it's hard to block up for her (Mardu, BB, Tokens, and the Mirror). I also find myself only bringing her in against Energy and Control decks for reach/lategame value.
Sideboarding isn't quite set in stone, but I've been doing the following:
It might look a little crazy at first, but having maindeck hate for the worst matchup in the format has freed up some sideboard slots for decks like tokens, and the other aggro decks that are popping up in my area (Mardu, BR, BB).
I know it's a small sample size, but I've won 16/20 games at my last 5 weeklies at two different stores, including 3-1 vs Temur Energy, and going 4-0 twice. I've also tested favorably against energy decks (BUG and RUG against a few different players/builds of the decks).
Harsh Mentor and Rampaging Ferocidon have swung more than their fair share of games. Harsh Mentor makes Aethersphere Harvester a sad card, as well as all of the activated abilities in Energy decks, and hits utilities lands in control decks, the mirror. Ferocidon turning off lifegain has swung UW approach games several times, and seeing Ferocidon get hit by Essence Extraction against UB feels really good too.
I'm missing out on two key cards with this build, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, and Pia Nalaar. I know this may seem like heresy, but I don't like Kari Zev with maindeck Ferocidon, and it has actually created a weird dynamic in the mirror when an opponent has a Kari Zev pre-board. They stop attacking with her more often than not. Ferocidon is good against the Pia Nalaar and Aethersphere Harvester board plan (perhaps not quite as good as that sideboard plan), and I've been able to devote more sideboard cards towards other matchups that are more swingable (like tokens and other aggro decks).
I've never been lower on Chandra, Torch of Defiance in the maindeck. There are too many matchups where it's hard to block up for her (Mardu, BB, Tokens, and the Mirror). I also find myself only bringing her in against Energy and Control decks for reach/lategame value.
Sideboarding isn't quite set in stone, but I've been doing the following:
Every single sideboard plan is bringing in the extra two ferocidon for red players. Might as well mainboard 4. I’ve tried it. It works. I love the menace. I dont care too much for Kari zev either with ferocidon mainboard now
It's not quite that simple. If you look at the post again, you'll notice that while the extra two Ferocidon come in for most matchups, it's not always the same things coming out.
It's not quite that simple. If you look at the post again, you'll notice that while the extra two Ferocidon come in for most matchups, it's not always the same things coming out.
Agreed. I’ve thought about 4 main Ferocidon, and I just don’t see anything worth taking out against the field. I want 7 2 mana/3 damage removal spells and 7 2 mana creatures. I want 4 Shock. I definitely want 4 Hazoret and 4 Earthshaker Khenra. I want 8 1 mana creatures and 24 lands. That leaves Ahn-Crop Crasher vs Rampaging Ferocidon. I want Ahn-Crop Crasher more, because it’s a more proactive card for game 1. More Ferocidon post board makes sense to me, because more life gain frequently comes in against RDW post board, and sometimes Ferocidon is a liability, especially in multiples (Mardu/BB Aggro).
It's not quite that simple. If you look at the post again, you'll notice that while the extra two Ferocidon come in for most matchups, it's not always the same things coming out.
Absolutely, it is very deceptive to think "Oh, because I side in Ferocidon every match-up I should run a 4 of in the MB." The deck itself sides very differently according to the different match-ups. Sometimes you find yourself pulling out the removal package against decks like U/W Approach or sometimes you are siding out Crasher when on the Draw against Aggressive builds. The Ferocidon plays a key role against every match-up but what you are removing is entirely different.
I'd like to congratulate John Rolf for the PT Top 8 with Ramunap Red! Deck looks identical to the recent 8-1 list that topped the MTGO PTQ. Sideboard also looks very standard! Even with the evident Energy decks running the format, Ramunap Red still has a home as one of the top decks.
Additionally Kentaro placed 9th who was also running Ramunap Red!
I think that if you’re looking to really beat the mirror, then you play Harvester. Its abilities to crew after stun effects and gain life are very good. However, I do think it is getting worse with Harsh Mentor and Ferocidon being in a large number of RR lists now. I’m currently off Harvester because of that. It’s not quite as good as it used to be, and I feel like I have more matchups to have board cards for now (Tokens, Vampires etc) that require some of the sideboard slots that used to be devoted to the mirror.
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Overall, I did like the way RR is functioning with the stock list, but I am really feeling the negative position it is facing in the current format. As PVDDR stated before, it does not look like a great slot right now, and I am tending to agree with him. Sure it will remain tier 1 given it's automatic chance of winning staying around 45% against any deck and not a single awful match-up but with the way the format is shifting, it doesn't appear as defining as it was at the HOU PT.
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
Hazoret the Fervent
Glorybringer
I am just curious about the inclusion/exclusion of these specific cards in Ramunap Red decks and some of the newer Mardu lists.
Specifically with Hazoret and Chandra, why do some lists choose to main only Hazoret, only Chandra, or a mix of both? What are the decisions that these selections say about their expected matchups or deck needs?
With Glorybringer, I am curious as to why some lists have them in the board and some do not. What is the idea that decides whether or not your 75 should or should not include Glorybringer?
I just want to hear opinions on these cards to better understand the decisions in the current Standard Meta.
Per Standard Main Forum- What Belongs Here the main forum is not for deck-specific discussion. This seems closer to a deck-specific than a general meta question, so I will merge it with the Rx Aggro thread. - hoser2
I've actually started using Captain Lannery Storm and Wily Goblin out of the sideboard for some matchups to just ramp into my money cards early, like Combustible Gearhulk and Glorybringer. Nothing quite like playing a game of chance with my opponent where the odds are stacked in favor of the house.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
The Big Red strategy doesn't get out of the gate as quickly. There you are mostly looking to control the board with removal in the early game and then win on the back of your four and five mana bombs. They will often have 8-10 expensive bombs in the deck.
Big Red works best when the bombs are truly devastating to the opponent's deck. An issue with going that way with the current card choices available is that Hazoret gets a lot worse when she's paired with a bunch of expensive cards. Also, it doesn't seem great to me for mono red to plan on winning the long game when The Scarab God is freaking everywhere. OTOH, red doesn't have a ton of great sideboard cards anyways, so it's nice to have the plan available for decks that are soft to Glorybringer.
Also, Wily Goblin is a heck of a card. Mono red has never had its own ramp available like that. It might be a while before people really figure out how to optimize around the goblin petal, but I've been on the wrong end of my opponent dropping a turn three Chandra on the play and it felt pretty unbeatable.
4 Bomat Courier
4 Ahn-Crop Crasher
1 Combat Celebrant
4 Earthshaker Khenra
2 Harsh Mentor
4 Soul-Scar Mage
4 Hazoret the Fervent
2 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
2 Abrade
4 Lightning Strike
4 Shock
Lands 24
15 Mountain
1 Hostile Desert
4 Ramunap Ruins
4 Sunscorched Desert
2 Aethersphere Harvester
2 Glorybringer
3 Rampaging Ferocidon
2 Abrade
1 Chandra's Defeat
3 Pia Nalaar
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
an interesting take on RR.
meanwhile, i see B/R lists making appearances once in a while in MTGO 5-0 lists. i made such a deck a few weeks ago but wasn't really much of a success, as it lacked the punch of Heart of Kiran current B/R decks have.
I love the mentors. I never realized how many activated abilities there are. It hurts temur, Pummeler decks, vehicles, the new pirate deck. Some games I wish I had more. My new strategy has been attack for the first three turns and try to get 10-12 damage. Play Chandra. Block and keep her alive til ultimate or burn opponent out. I was thinking about splashing white for solemnity and cast out. Don’t know if it’s worth it but it ends the temur deck quick.
4 Bomat Courier
4 Soul-Scar Mage
4 Earthshaker Khenra
3 Harsh Mentor
4 Ahn-Crop Crasher
3 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Glorybringer
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Spells (13)
4 Shock
3 Abrade
4 Lightning Strike
2 Repeating Barrage
Lands (23)
15 Mountain
4 Ramunap Ruins
4 Sunscorched Desert
1 Chandra's Defeat
1 Aethersphere Harvester
3 Rampaging Ferocidon
2 Sweltering Suns
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Puncturing Blow
2 Vance's Blasting Cannons
2 Glorybringer
1 Hour of Devastation
Has anyone had much success maining Ferocidon? I know the leader in trophies in the standard league runs RR and he is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors MB.
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
I really believe it comes down to your meta and the limited space to work around the field. If you look at it most lists staple wise run 2 Chandra board, 2 glorybringer board, 1-2 defeats in board, 1-3 pia, 0-2 Mentor and 1-4 Ferocidons. Suns just might not have the room to fit in the board, but suns can be an option with the ability to cycle absolutely.
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
ah Puncturing Blow. neat tech you have there vs Scarab God.
isn't Repeating Barrage already a bit too much? the deck already has Ramunap Ruins as mana sink.
list of that please? thanks.
So from what I see in his list it looked like he took out Ahn-Crop Crashers entirely. Playing a 4-4-2 spells line with 2 Abrade. Running 2 KZ's and is playing 4 Ferocidon and 2 Mentors. He also is running 2 Chandra's MB and 4 Hazoret's. I know in MOC's he didn't have much success but at one point he was I believe 4-1?
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
4 Bomat Courier
4 Soul-Scar Mage
4 Earthshaker Khenra
2 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
4 Ahn-Crop Crasher
2 Rampaging Ferocidon
4 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Glorybringer
4 Shock
2 Abrade
4 Lightning Strike
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Lands:24
15 Mountain
4 Ramunap Ruins
1 Scavenger Grounds
4 Sunscorched Desert
1 Glorybringer
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Chandra’s Defeat
1 Aethersphere Harvester
2 Rampaging Ferocidon
3 Harsh Mentor
2 Pia Nalaar
2 Abrade
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
And Thor, I know it's been a while since your post, but Repeating Barrage has actually been really good in control matches. Yes, it usually comes out in other match-ups post board. While Ruins is a good mana sink, it's nice to have another source (or two) of inevitability around. After all, you may be in the situation that you only have one copy of Ruins out, or not at all, and this still gives you things to bring back. It may just be working for me because my local store is so heavily control based.
Currently running this as my 75. Made some changes once again this weekend!
3x Ahn-Crop Crasher
4x Bomat Courier
4x Earthshaker Khenra
2x Harsh Mentor
4x Hazoret the Fervent
3x Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
2x Rampaging Ferocidon
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Ramunap Ruins
1x Scavenger Grounds
4x Sunscorched Desert
2x Abrade
4x Lightning Strike
4x Shock
2x Aethersphere Harvester
2x Chandra's Defeat
3x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2x Glorybringer
1x Harsh Mentor
2x Pia Nalaar
2x Rampaging Ferocidon
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
UUDelverlUU
For reference, here's the list I was testing the Invigs in:
4 Ahn-Crop Crasher
4 Bomat Courier
4 Earthshaker Khenra
4 Hazoret the Fervent
4 Soul-Scar Mage
3 Kari Zev, Skyship Raider
3 Harsh Mentor
3 Rampaging Ferocidon
2 Abrade
4 Lightning Strike
1 Invigorated Rampage
Land (24)
14 Mountain
4 Ramunap Ruins
2 Scavenger Grounds
4 Sunscorched Desert
2 Aethersphere Harvester
1 Glorybringer
2 Pia Nalaar
1 Rampaging Ferocidon
1 Vance's Blasting Cannons
2 Chandra's Defeat
1 Abrade
2 Invigorated Rampage
2 Shock
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
4 Bomat Courier
4 Soul-Scar Mage
4 Earthshaker Khenra
3 Harsh Mentor
4 Ahn-Crop Crasher
2 Rampaging Ferocidon
4 Hazoret the Fervent
4 Shock
3 Abrade
4 Lightning Strike
Lands:
4 Ramunap Ruins
1 Scavenger Grounds
4 Sunscorched Desert
15 Mountain
2 Chandra's Defeat
2 Magma Spray
1 Abrade
1 Harsh Mentor
1 Key to the City
2 Rampaging Ferocidon
2 Sweltering Suns
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
2 Glorybringer
It might look a little crazy at first, but having maindeck hate for the worst matchup in the format has freed up some sideboard slots for decks like tokens, and the other aggro decks that are popping up in my area (Mardu, BR, BB).
I know it's a small sample size, but I've won 16/20 games at my last 5 weeklies at two different stores, including 3-1 vs Temur Energy, and going 4-0 twice. I've also tested favorably against energy decks (BUG and RUG against a few different players/builds of the decks).
Harsh Mentor and Rampaging Ferocidon have swung more than their fair share of games. Harsh Mentor makes Aethersphere Harvester a sad card, as well as all of the activated abilities in Energy decks, and hits utilities lands in control decks, the mirror. Ferocidon turning off lifegain has swung UW approach games several times, and seeing Ferocidon get hit by Essence Extraction against UB feels really good too.
I'm missing out on two key cards with this build, Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, and Pia Nalaar. I know this may seem like heresy, but I don't like Kari Zev with maindeck Ferocidon, and it has actually created a weird dynamic in the mirror when an opponent has a Kari Zev pre-board. They stop attacking with her more often than not. Ferocidon is good against the Pia Nalaar and Aethersphere Harvester board plan (perhaps not quite as good as that sideboard plan), and I've been able to devote more sideboard cards towards other matchups that are more swingable (like tokens and other aggro decks).
I've never been lower on Chandra, Torch of Defiance in the maindeck. There are too many matchups where it's hard to block up for her (Mardu, BB, Tokens, and the Mirror). I also find myself only bringing her in against Energy and Control decks for reach/lategame value.
Sideboarding isn't quite set in stone, but I've been doing the following:
RDW:
Chandra's Defeat +2
Magma Spray +2
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Lightning Strike -4
Ahn-Crop Crasher -4
Temur Energy:
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Chandra, Torch of Defiance +2
Ahn-Crop Crasher -2
Shock -4
Sultai Energy:
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Chandra, Torch of Defiance +2
Glorybringer +2
Ahn-Crop Crasher -4
Shock -4
Dimir/Grixis Control
Harsh Mentor +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Chandra, Torch of Defiance +2
Glorybringer +2
Shock -4
Abrade -3
UW Approach
Harsh Mentor +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Chandra, Torch of Defiance +2
Shock -4
Abrade -1
Esper Gift
Magma Spray +2
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Ahn-Crop Crasher -4
Tokens
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Key to the City +1
Rampaging Ferocidon +2
Glorybringer +2
Ahn-Crop Crasher -3
Shock -4
Mardu/BB Aggro
Magma Spray +2
Abrade +1
Harsh Mentor +1
Ahn-Crop Crasher -4
Every single sideboard plan is bringing in the extra two ferocidon for red players. Might as well mainboard 4. I’ve tried it. It works. I love the menace. I dont care too much for Kari zev either with ferocidon mainboard now
Agreed. I’ve thought about 4 main Ferocidon, and I just don’t see anything worth taking out against the field. I want 7 2 mana/3 damage removal spells and 7 2 mana creatures. I want 4 Shock. I definitely want 4 Hazoret and 4 Earthshaker Khenra. I want 8 1 mana creatures and 24 lands. That leaves Ahn-Crop Crasher vs Rampaging Ferocidon. I want Ahn-Crop Crasher more, because it’s a more proactive card for game 1. More Ferocidon post board makes sense to me, because more life gain frequently comes in against RDW post board, and sometimes Ferocidon is a liability, especially in multiples (Mardu/BB Aggro).
Absolutely, it is very deceptive to think "Oh, because I side in Ferocidon every match-up I should run a 4 of in the MB." The deck itself sides very differently according to the different match-ups. Sometimes you find yourself pulling out the removal package against decks like U/W Approach or sometimes you are siding out Crasher when on the Draw against Aggressive builds. The Ferocidon plays a key role against every match-up but what you are removing is entirely different.
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Pauper:
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Additionally Kentaro placed 9th who was also running Ramunap Red!
BB8-RackBB
Pauper:
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