Spell Snare
- Completely changes games when on the draw, allows you to stop a t2 threat that could get past your t2 countermagic and red removal. This card is so strong I advocate it for use in the mainboard if it isn't already. However this isn't always true, if there aren't that many targets to snare in your meta it's not staple.
Flame Slash
- Efficient, sometimes kills goyf, deals with those pesky x/4's and can't be dispelled. The main downsides is that it's a red spell with no reach against players and can't hit manlands.
Burst Lightning
-5th/6th red spell like tarfire, but instead provides some game against x/4 creatures and great reach late game.
Vedalken Shackles
- Requires an island centric manabase similar to Reid Dukes in his article. Also keep in mind while deckbuilding that Vedalken shackles sometimes operates as a 5 drop.
Roast
- Kills x/5 creatures that flame slash otherwise couldn't, like
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
and
Gurmag Angler
[Big 5 Drop]-
Goblin Dark-Dwellers
,
Keranos, God of Storms
,
Thragtusk
,
Stormbreath Dragon
,
Thundermaw Hellkite
,
Sarkhan Unbroken
,
Surrak Dragonclaw
,
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
,
Batterskull
.
Delver of Secrets
- Delver is a solid option for RUG but is built much more aggressively with a higher density of spells.
Remand
- Staple for tempo shells like Delver/iGrow
Hooting Mandrills
-5th/6th Tarmogoyf, great in tempo shells that cast more spells faster. (iGrow,delver, etc)
Slagstorm
- Works with manabases that can support red well, a really nice niche to this card opposed to other red sweepers is its ability to hit planeswalkers and provide reach making it very viable in the mainboard. For example
Anger of the Gods
and
Volcanic Fallout
seem more attractive in the sideboard. If Abzan company is popular in your meta however run Anger main.
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
- I have yet to test with this card but he's a turn 2 permanent that RUG has access to but I feel he's much better suited in grixis builds where your sorcery cast spells are much better, like
Kolaghan's Command
,
Terminate
, and
Inquisition of Kozilek
.
Some other favorites:
Seal of Fire
- I think between this, tarfire and burst lightning, seal is the the worst for RUG mostly because it can't be snapped.
Tarfire
- 5th/6th red spell + tarmo-fuel. Helps with Delerium if you're playing
Traverse the Ulvenwald
Vapor Snag
- Great in aggressive strategies like Delver or Monkey-Grow.
Simic Charm
- Very good in a BG/x metagame and matchups where the unsummon can be OK. I think this card is suited for aggressive RUG decks where the pump or bounce can be a big advantage.
Izzet Charm
- Highly recommended for academy ruins play, but I think its also a very powerful spell especially in a meta where the 2 damage to creature is frequently KO'ing creatures.