Also a newer deck of mine, but this one has been doing really good. Red white is one of my favorite color combos from childhood, back when I was in 7th grade learning to play magic lol. Good agro with crazy life gain and a little board control. I cant say exactly what I want to do with the deck, at times it feels like more burn would be nice to have around, sometimes it feels like the life gain has little to no point in the deck...I really need to find a great way to abuse the amount of life I see on a regular basis.
Couple of things that I see right off the bat:
- Cut the Galvanoth. You have a total of maybe 15 cards that it could play for you, some of which you don't want to cast at the beginning of your upkeep (Condemn, Wild Ricochet, etc). A card like Galvanoth needs to have a lot of targets, and that just isn't very likely.
- Cut all of your Auras. EDH is a format where Auras are generally not very good unless you are playing someone like Uril or Zur. Faith's Fetters is decent as a versatile removal spell, except it doesn't actually remove the threat...it just temporarily shuts it off. Pariah is really just a creature removal spell, and white has many other cards that are just better.
- In my Brion deck, I've found that it is much better to cut all of the dumb vanilla fatties that don't have any other abilities besides "being big". For example, Mordant Dragon is nice and big, but he's also pretty easy to kill, and he's kinda slow. For the amount of time and mana you invest in making him work, you could put out a Taurean Mauler AND a equip it with a Sword of Vengeance. Then, when someone tries to kill the Mauler, something else could pick up the Sword and be just as fearsome.
So maybe drop the auras for nice equipment and that by itself would warrant a little creature base change up. I actually haven't had a large problem with the auras, but I do have to admit I worry about being two for oned. Think Galvanoth was more a card I liked/wanted to work than a good call...but he could go well in my izzy deck. Thanks for the input.
So maybe drop the auras for nice equipment and that by itself would warrant a little creature base change up. I actually haven't had a large problem with the auras, but I do have to admit I worry about being two for oned.
...and that's a perfect reason to cut them. You should never have to worry about that.
If you can afford them, the first place to start with equipment are the five Swords (original two from Mirrodin, two from the new Scars block, and Sword of Vengeance). All of them are good enough to play, although Sword of Body and Mind is definitely the weakest of the bunch.
I can afford the swords, I just have to ask myself if I want to afford them lol. Fire/Ice and Light/Shadow have been things I've wanted, but I wouldn't want just one copy of each.
I have been reading this thread for a while, and got some ideas. I have also been using Brion Stoutarm as my general for a few months, and would like to give some suggestions.
After testing many times, I dropped most of my high end casting creatures. Such as Razia, Boros Archangel, Reya Dawnbringer, and Deathless Angel. I found that using smaller drops is the way to go, since you can drop equip and swing, instead of waiting another turn.
Some suggestions for creatures that haven't been discussed in order of relevance.
1) Godo, Bandit Warlord
Can search for equipment and has two attack phases, great in the deck
2) Kuldotha Phoenix
Since you are running so many artifacts, you can bring him back and throw him every turn.
3) Hoard-smelter Dragon
One of the best red EDH cards ever printed
4) Hamletback Goliath
Biggest mana cost creature in my deck. But has the ability to throw him for huge amounts of damage quickly.
5) Paladin of Prahv
Dont really need to cast. But allows for double life gain, since isn't lifelink. Good way to use excess mana.
Random other cards to consider
1) Ajani Goldmane
Final ability with Stoutarm in play is usually lethal.
2) Mimic Vat
Great card for EDH already. Many uses especially with stoutarm
3) Book of Rass
I am on the fence with this vs Well of Lost Dreams. I actually think this is better, but not 100% sure.
4) Noble Purpose
Again on the fence vs True Conviction. This is different then lifelink, so ability stacks with Stoutarm.
5-7) Mark of Mutiny, Traitorous Instinct, Word of Seizing
Great for removal with Stoutarm. Swing then sac. Also combos well with High Market, if stoutarm isn't in.
I keep forgetting about Godo, Bandit Warlord but also don't own one...but I can't deny that he's awesome. The phoenix is a card I haven't seen, I dropped out of constructed tournies shortly after worldwake. The Hoard-smelter Dragon seems to always make it in my red decks, and almost always gets cut...he sounds so great and never pans out for me.
I actually own a playset of Book of Rass and always mean to use it in a deck, and normally don't have life gain to support it...I think I've found the deck for this card, and thanks for reminding me of it's existence.
The threaten cards were in, then out...might go back in again.
Mimic Vat has been in and out of so many decks, only own one, but if I have one I should throw it in here, maybe drop one of the many ways of giving all my creatures lifelink.
I like the suggestions, I need to play this one a few more times before anything big happens change wise, but I'll post them when I make them.
Another card I have been considering for a while is Cyclops Gladiator. He is 3x red, which can be an issue, but could be awesome in this deck.
With lifelink abilities that the deck can have.. He can 1) desotroy a creature, 2) gain life, 3) deal combat damage, 4) gain more life from combat phase.
Thats pretty effecient for a 4 drop. He could be a great answer for creature removal and is even more effective equipped.
After testing him just once, I realized he is really good at killing the other general.
He's sick with just about any of the stuff you run, and really nutty with the card the one dude suggested Grafted Exoskeleton. I've almost poisoned a few players a few times with that combo, and just him on his own with no equipment helps to get rid of pesky creatures. He's a must-kill threat almost anytime he hits the board and his mana investment is so minimal that you don't lose any tempo if someone shoots him down.
Also, I play in the same group with OC Punisher, and one card I've been noticing that has been becoming more powerful for him in Brion is Leonin Abunas. If you end up running a heavy amount of equipment he's certainly worthwhile. One game he had 2-3 equipment on him and the other 3 players at the table literally could not find a way to kill him. He ended the game all on his own.
I do have a Leonin Abunas just sitting in my build box doing nothing, he does warrant a spot in here, due to my dropping out of T2 when the eldrazi made their debut I've missed much, and had never heard of Spikeshot Elder might get myself a copy and check him out. Thank you.
Pulling Serra Ascendant for being just wrong too many times turn 1 or 2.
Tithe is pretty good. You can get it with sunforger to get misveil plains. Then you can orims chant one person out.
I run a small giant pacakage as you do so I run giant harbinger to search for sun titan, Stonehewer giant, desolation giant, hamerback goliath, or jotan grunt (another functional mistveil plains)
Serra avatar is a one shot dude that makes your life relevant, as is phyrexian processor.
Lastly focus on litte dudes to carry swords that can disrupt your opponents like dwarven blastminer.
I also play everything that gives my guys haste so i can play Brion and fling somebody on a spots notice. (Lightning greaves, in the web of war, anger)
Hope this helps
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1 Brion Stoutarm
Creatures 22
1 Academy Rector
1 Balefire Liege
1 Cyclops Gladiator
1 Hateflayer
1 Heartless Hidetsugu
1 Homura, Human Ascendant
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Karmic Guide
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Kumano, Master Yamabushi
1 LeoninAbunas
1 Mirror Entity
1 Patron of the Akki
1 Reveillark
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Stonehewer Giant
1 Sun Titan
1 Twilight Shepherd
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Victory's Herald
1 Weathered Wayfarer
Sorceries 7
1 Austere Command
1 Insurrection
1 Rout
1 Steelshaper's Gift
1 Waves of Aggression
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 World at War
1 Allay
1 Condemn
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Ghostway
1 Path to Exile
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Wild Ricochet
Enchantments 3
1 Gratuitous Violence
1 Land Tax
1 True Conviction
Artifacts 21
1 Argentum Armor
1 Book of Rass
1 Helm of Kaldra
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Rings of Brightearth
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Shield of Kaldra
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Sunforger
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Kaldra
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Well of Lost Dreams
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Ancient Amphitheater
1 Ancient tomb
1 Arid Mesa
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Boros Garrison
1 Forbidding Watchtower
1 Ghitu Encampment
1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
1 Mistveil Plains
14 Mountain
13 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Vesuva
As with most people posting on here, I'm open for suggestions in all areas. Help is much appreciated.
2/28/2011
3/3/2011
4/11/2011
4/13/2011
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
- Cut the Galvanoth. You have a total of maybe 15 cards that it could play for you, some of which you don't want to cast at the beginning of your upkeep (Condemn, Wild Ricochet, etc). A card like Galvanoth needs to have a lot of targets, and that just isn't very likely.
- Cut all of your Auras. EDH is a format where Auras are generally not very good unless you are playing someone like Uril or Zur. Faith's Fetters is decent as a versatile removal spell, except it doesn't actually remove the threat...it just temporarily shuts it off. Pariah is really just a creature removal spell, and white has many other cards that are just better.
- In my Brion deck, I've found that it is much better to cut all of the dumb vanilla fatties that don't have any other abilities besides "being big". For example, Mordant Dragon is nice and big, but he's also pretty easy to kill, and he's kinda slow. For the amount of time and mana you invest in making him work, you could put out a Taurean Mauler AND a equip it with a Sword of Vengeance. Then, when someone tries to kill the Mauler, something else could pick up the Sword and be just as fearsome.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
...and that's a perfect reason to cut them. You should never have to worry about that.
If you can afford them, the first place to start with equipment are the five Swords (original two from Mirrodin, two from the new Scars block, and Sword of Vengeance). All of them are good enough to play, although Sword of Body and Mind is definitely the weakest of the bunch.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
And not to leave it out, Lightning Greaves is the most important, usually. If you run only one equip, it tends to be that.
Edit: Well of Lost Dreams is the number-one best lifegain abuser that isn't functionally Necropotence. Beacon of Tomorrows and Storm Herd for more lifegain abuse shenanigans.
:symu::symr: Melek WheelStorm
:symw::symg: Trostani Enchantress (updated 6/5)
:symg::symr::symu: Unexpected Results.dec
Thada Adel Stax WIP
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
Adding
Still need to test this, but the changes feel solid.
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
After testing many times, I dropped most of my high end casting creatures. Such as Razia, Boros Archangel, Reya Dawnbringer, and Deathless Angel. I found that using smaller drops is the way to go, since you can drop equip and swing, instead of waiting another turn.
Some suggestions for creatures that haven't been discussed in order of relevance.
1) Godo, Bandit Warlord
Can search for equipment and has two attack phases, great in the deck
2) Kuldotha Phoenix
Since you are running so many artifacts, you can bring him back and throw him every turn.
3) Hoard-smelter Dragon
One of the best red EDH cards ever printed
4) Hamletback Goliath
Biggest mana cost creature in my deck. But has the ability to throw him for huge amounts of damage quickly.
5) Paladin of Prahv
Dont really need to cast. But allows for double life gain, since isn't lifelink. Good way to use excess mana.
Random other cards to consider
1) Ajani Goldmane
Final ability with Stoutarm in play is usually lethal.
2) Mimic Vat
Great card for EDH already. Many uses especially with stoutarm
3) Book of Rass
I am on the fence with this vs Well of Lost Dreams. I actually think this is better, but not 100% sure.
4) Noble Purpose
Again on the fence vs True Conviction. This is different then lifelink, so ability stacks with Stoutarm.
5-7) Mark of Mutiny, Traitorous Instinct, Word of Seizing
Great for removal with Stoutarm. Swing then sac. Also combos well with High Market, if stoutarm isn't in.
just some ideas.
I actually own a playset of Book of Rass and always mean to use it in a deck, and normally don't have life gain to support it...I think I've found the deck for this card, and thanks for reminding me of it's existence.
The threaten cards were in, then out...might go back in again.
Mimic Vat has been in and out of so many decks, only own one, but if I have one I should throw it in here, maybe drop one of the many ways of giving all my creatures lifelink.
I like the suggestions, I need to play this one a few more times before anything big happens change wise, but I'll post them when I make them.
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
Remove
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
With lifelink abilities that the deck can have.. He can 1) desotroy a creature, 2) gain life, 3) deal combat damage, 4) gain more life from combat phase.
Thats pretty effecient for a 4 drop. He could be a great answer for creature removal and is even more effective equipped.
After testing him just once, I realized he is really good at killing the other general.
also serra ascendent
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
Removed
Purity is the only one of the two I might miss, but the cut does ease the mana curve.
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
Removed
Added
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
Spikeshot Elder
He's sick with just about any of the stuff you run, and really nutty with the card the one dude suggested Grafted Exoskeleton. I've almost poisoned a few players a few times with that combo, and just him on his own with no equipment helps to get rid of pesky creatures. He's a must-kill threat almost anytime he hits the board and his mana investment is so minimal that you don't lose any tempo if someone shoots him down.
Also, I play in the same group with OC Punisher, and one card I've been noticing that has been becoming more powerful for him in Brion is Leonin Abunas. If you end up running a heavy amount of equipment he's certainly worthwhile. One game he had 2-3 equipment on him and the other 3 players at the table literally could not find a way to kill him. He ended the game all on his own.
RWU
Zedruu, the Greathearted
RGW Uril, the Miststalker
Pulling Serra Ascendant for being just wrong too many times turn 1 or 2.
Adding Leonin Abunas
UWGrand Arbiter Augustin IV-Last edit 12/02/11
RStarke of Rath - Last edit 11/30/11
GAzusa, Lost but Seeking - Last Edit 11/29/11
BPatron of the Nezumi - Last edit 11/29/11
I run a small giant pacakage as you do so I run giant harbinger to search for sun titan, Stonehewer giant, desolation giant, hamerback goliath, or jotan grunt (another functional mistveil plains)
Serra avatar is a one shot dude that makes your life relevant, as is phyrexian processor.
Lastly focus on litte dudes to carry swords that can disrupt your opponents like dwarven blastminer.
I also play everything that gives my guys haste so i can play Brion and fling somebody on a spots notice. (Lightning greaves, in the web of war, anger)
Hope this helps