This is a very effective RG Aggro deck. It has a pretty straightforward strategy: Play creatures, pump them and attack, using removal as needed.
The Creatures
This is an aggro deck and attacking is our win-con. This is quick run down on this deck hitters:
Kird Ape
: IMO, one of the best one drops in pauper and one of my favorites cards. It quickly grows as a 2/3 so it can block and be blocked by most of the early threats and remain unscarred. NOTE: MTGO user won't have access to Apes (since it still in't common there), if so, Wild Nacatl fits the spot as a 2/2 (don't bother trying to add Plains or Nylea's Presence to make it a 3/3). If you do add Nacatls, I'd advice to change the forest to mountains ratio to guarantee your one drops come turn one.
Young Wolf: Another reliable 1 drop. It starts pretty weak, but removal resistance comes pretty handy. I'm still not sure if it's the best option, though. Wild Nacatl would be usually stronger, even if just a 2/2, but it lacks the resilience, while
Chatter of the Squirrel
would give me 2 potential creatures. So far, the Wolves have done their job, so they have stayed.
Keldon Marauders
: A pauper staple, this card hits quickly and even if it doesn't, it always delivers some damage. Add some source of haste and it can hit for at least 8,plus 2 or 3 from the Inner-Flame Acolyte or
Reckless Charge
.
Quirion Sentinel
: One of the surprises I found while testing this deck. Sentinels have a nice body and give enough ramp to play another 1 drop.
Quirion Sentinel
+
Reckless Charge
is 5 damage turn 2 (plus whatever you played T1). Or you can rancor your T1 drop. Or LB your opponent's drop. Nothing to scoff at.
Scab-Clan Mauler
: A somehow conditional card and a pretty bad topdeck, but Maulers have the biggest (potential) body in the deck. Once they are down you put your opponent in a very tight clock. Also, the intrinsic trample is fantastic.
Inner-Flame Acolyte: I'm surprised I don't see this card being played more. It is fantastic. It is flexible enough to be a
Reckless Charge
or a decent body that hits for 4 if needed.
The Spells
I don't think there's much to be said about the other spells:
Rancor: One of the best green cards ever printed: pumps, gives trample and comes back to the hand. Just perfect.
Lightning Bolt: Best burn spell. You will mostly use it top clear the path to your hitters.
Flame Slash: It's a shame it is a sorcery, but Slash is so good it doesn't really matter. It kills some of the biggest creatures in the format, like
Carapace Forger
, Myr Enforcer and Spire Golem.
Reckless Charge
: You can't spell Aggro without
Reckless Charge
. It gives haste and a pump big enough to make even a Young Wolf a deadly threat. Oh, and it has flashback at a very cheap cost too! I simply love it.
PD: Lastly, I'd like to mention some cards that didn't make it:
Rogue Elephant
/
Scythe Tiger
: two very aggro cards that I tested a lot. The problem is that the moment where this deck really shines is the early game, and losing a land when we are playing so tight can be devastating enough to lose the advantage that such big creatures would otherwise provide. Also, sometimes you are faced with the need to sac a forest and make your apes 1/1s. Maybe if I run Harvest Wurms, but then this deck would be a completely different one.
Blastoderm
: When I tested at cockatrice a guy asked me why I didn't run any blastoderms. The answer is that they cost just too much for us. When I tested them I found out that I never had 2GG until it was too late and blastoderm was a dead draw most of the time. Also, shroud blocks
Reckless Charge
/Rancor/Inner-Flame Acolyte, so it isn't actually that powerful in this deck.
Horned Kavu
: In early versions of this deck I run Horned Kavu. But there just aren't good targets for it. At least not in this deck. Maybe if it had flash it could be used to save creatures, but as it is, it is too slow for us.
