INTRODUCTION
A Budget mono-red Sligh deck inspired by 2014 Tom Ross list. This deck is also called Boss Sligh because of Tom.
Boss Sligh is an all-in hyper agressive red strategy that uses a very low curve of 1 and 2 drop creatures and pump/reach spells. It is great for players who want to enter in the Pioneer format with little budget but also with a very competitive archetype.
I intend to update this deck and write more comments here once I get more experience.
In general, Boss Sligh is a strategy that wants to win by turns 4 or 5. You play cards that are very cheap in mana and provide you with power on the battlefield and also evasion (in the form of
Hammerhand
and
Blinding Flare
). Do not confuse this budget deck as a pile of cards. Although seems very easy to pilot Boss Sligh, it takes experience to master it. Most notably a lot of knowledge on combat damage and tempo advantage.
HOW TO PLAY WITH THE DECK
This section is still under development as my experience with the deck also increases. But in general, you should play the Beatdown player most of the time (99% of the time). Make sure to deliver as much damage as possible with your creatures, but be aware for possible problematic permanents and take notes on how to fight against them. For example, you might want to use your pump spells to trade some of your creatures with other ones that are biggest.
Finally, some general tips:
- Make sure you use all your mana available. Aggro decks rely on tempo, and sometimes tempo may be translated into mana efficiency (Patrick Chapin words, not mine!).
- Pay attention to your opponent's life total, and try to make calculations on whether or it's worth attacking with everybody. Sometimes leaving a blocker behind may give you enough Tempo to deliver more attacks, leaving into way more extra damage, specially with your evasion tricks.
COMMENTS ON SOME CARD CHOICES
-
Akroan Crusader
is your card advantage engine (yeah, hyper aggressive decks also generate card advt!). I cannot say more about this card, but he's great. It generates tokens while he may hit for 4 or 5 damage just by himself. Make sure to target him as much as possible. Synergizes really well with
Foundry Street Denizen
also.
-
Hammerhand
is the evasion trick for the deck. A cheap, fast and efficient aura that let's you pass big guys.
-
Legion Loyalist
is your "sweeper". Sometimes when his attacks will delivery a considerable amount of damage. Two triggered battalion attacks hopefully will get you into a position that forces your opponents to chumb block. Also really goes really well with Crusader.
-
No
Monastery Swiftspear
. This might by a wrong choice on my side, but I've been seeing that this decks does not need Taylor Swift to win the game. Sometimes most of your mana will be spent on creatures, generating tempo, which does not trigger Prowess. However, I definetelly see a list just with one drops +
Consuming Fervor
on the main deck.
Comments on sideboard
I'll not comment on all the cards in the sideoard, but in general I chose it to fight mostly against control and midrange. Against aggro decks is much more of a battle of who can get more tempo, so cards like the 4th
Shock
or
Goblin Heelcutter
may give you some tricks to help you have more reach.
Against control and midrange, you should go even more aggressive, trying to win the game before your opponent can hit things like
Supreme Verdict
, for instance, or big guys. That's why 4x
Consuming Fervor
are at the sideboard. I usually swap all my 2 drops + 1 land in order to play against control. Remember, make sure to have reach once they stabilize.
