Mono-red aggro deck similar to the ones seen at the beginning of Theros Standard, but has undergone some tweaks since M15. Can win as soon as turn 3-4 with proper devotion.
Key cards/interactions:
Burning-Tree Emissary: Ideally chains together into Hammer of Purphoros or Fanatic of Mogis. Can also chain into Ash Zealot or Boros Reckoner if Nykthos is in play.
Legion Loyalist + Madcap Skills: Good post-board wipe recovery. Great for punching through blockers as well.
Matchups/Sideboard Plan:
vs. Rabble Red
(No Sideboarding)
This matchup should go pretty well. Save the burn for the Rabblemasters and things can't get out of hand.
vs. Boss Sligh
-Stoke the Flames(3); +Electrickery
No problem. The sheer amount of x/1 creatures in the deck make casting Electrickery hilarious.
vs. UW/Esper Control
-Lightning Strike, Boros Reckoner; +Skullcrack, Stormbreath Dragon
We have the speed advantage here, but a well-timed boardwipe or Sphinx's Revelation could spell our doom. Post-board, Stormbreath Dragon is a far more useful creature than Boros Reckoner, as it's immune to most of their removal. Skullcrack is good burn here as well, since it stifles lifegain from Sphinx's Rev and the Fiendslayer Paladin they're likely to board in. Save something to play post-boardwipe.
vs. Mono-Blue Devotion
-Stoke the Flames; +Skullcrack(1), Electrickery
The biggest threat to us is Master of Waves himself. Electrickery is a good way to nuke the Elemental tokens if he lands (and remember, Legion Loyalist can attack through them anyway), and Skullcrack is a neat round-about way to kill him by forcing him to block and then playing it to turn off the damage negation from his protection.
vs. Mono-Black Devotion
(No sideboarding)
This can be kind of a bad matchup, since we're dependent on a good opening hand, and they have Thoughtseize. Nonetheless, the key to winning is knowing where to aim your burn. Don't let Pack Rats stay around, and don't let Nightveil Specters stay around. It can be intimidating to not care much about Gray Merchant, but if you can keep their devotion controlled it won't be a super big deal.
vs. GW/Junk Midrange
-Lightning Strike, Boros Reckoner(vs. GW); +Mizzium Mortars, Stormbreath Dragon(vs. GW)
Tough matchup with all the x/4 creatures (Courser, Brimaz) and sometimes Nyx-Fleece Ram. No boardwipes are commonly run, but plenty of spot removal, so be careful. Brimaz is priority one, but other than that the goal is to clear blockers as best as possible and push through.
vs. GR/Jund Monsters
-Boros Reckoner, Fanatic of Mogis; +Stormbreath Dragon, Mizzium Mortars
Easily this deck's worst matchup. Early on, Coursers and Caryatids make effective blockers, Anger can drop as soon as turn 2, and Polukranos and Stormbreath Dragon can drop before we can close the game. We pretty much need a miracle to win Game 1. Game 2, we drop the devotion strategy for straight burn. Coursers and Dragons are priority targets, and hopefully having our own creature in the air helps get over everything else.
vs. Jund Planeswalkers
(No sideboarding)
Honestly, I'm less scared of this matchup than Monsters, because most don't run Anger of the Gods. Tempted to use Mortars for Courser, but we need more to-the-face burn in this case. Nissa, Vraska, and Garruk can put down threats and should probably be dealt with.
