Playing this deck feels like cheating...really.
The deck is built around packages of B/R control designed to handle today's tournament meta-game. The most important card is Inquisition of Kozilek. Is it the best removal card in standard? As long as people keep beating you with Squadron Hawk, Sword of Feast and Famine, Stoneforge Mystic, and Lotus Cobra, the answer is 'yes'.
The rest of the hand disruption package is Duress and Sadistic Sacrament. Memoricide comes off the bench in most matchups to help remove threats before they even hit the table.
For spot removal, I play Lightning Bolt, Doom Blade and
Arc Trail
. The latter is very efficient at removing hawks and cobras. Lightning Bolt is the best removal spell in the game, and doubles as a finisher.
Mass removal centers around Pyroclasm and Black Sun's Zenith. A lone
Consume the Meek
can come in off the bench if you really feel you need some extra board sweep. I actually like Pyroclasm better than Slagstorm. That extra turn means a lot against Kuldotha Red decks.
Sign in Blood gives us card draw and refills our hand (at a price). It can also end games, by targeting your opponent.
Mark of Mutiny is incredible and should be in every deck that plays red, along with Lightning Bolt. It is also a win-con card and protects you against RUG decks that play Inferno Titan turn four.
The creature package involves four of one of my all-time favorites, Bloodghast. I feel he works really well in control decks and adds some early pressure to the opponent. Two Grave Titans and two Inferno Titans close the game. Conquering Manticore is an interesting utility creature as well as
Magma Phoenix
. The latter provides an additional board sweep, if needed.
The sideboard is pretty straightforward, adding utility where needed. The Massacre Wurm would come in against creature decks. Malakir Bloodwitch comes in against CawGo, Boros, and other white decks. He is rough to deal with.
There is no mana-ramp in this deck, so the control element has to hold out until turn six, then let the horses out of the barn.
+1 if you like, and please comment!
