Sideboard


Maybeboard


Top Rank: #1 on T/O - thanks for reading!

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The goal of this hybrid Suicide Burn build is to simultaneously reduce both players’ life totals as quickly as possible, then seal the deal with a massive Death's Shadow or Scourge of the Skyclaves. Scourges function as both early wincons or late-game blockers, giving this deck long-term firepower. This build is a contrast to traditional Mono-Red or Boros burn decks, which fizzle quickly after turn 4.

CARD CHOICES

Creatures

Vexing Devil is an underrated card which almost always results in 4 damage to the opponent on turn 1. Most players would rather take the damage now then deal with multiple attacks later. This helps enable a 4/4 Scourge on turn 2.

Death's Shadow and Scourge of the Skyclaves are both beaters and defenders which strengthen as the game goes on. Shadow functions as a back-up Scourge, but is only effective in later turns, whereas I can consistently play a 3/3 or 4/4 Scourge on turn 2.

Burn

Lightning Bolt, Lava Spike, and Bump in the Night are the most efficient 1-mana burn spells in Modern and make up the fiery core of the deck. Searing Blaze is essential for killing mana dorks. Boros Charm is very versatile and is useful in a variety of situations, although I primarily use it to deal damage.

Draw

Street Wraith is an efficient way of drawing cards and I prefer it to Mishra's Bauble because of the immediate draw and life-loss. Plus it’s possible to play it as a chump blocker if a game goes long (although very unlikely).

Play with Fire is the latest addition to the arsenal. It deals damage while allowing me to scry, synergizing with Street Wraith and helping the flow of the deck tremendously.

Utility

Apostle's Blessing is highly versatile. It is both aggro and defensive, because it essentially makes my Scourge or Shadow unblockable, or protects them from removal. Plus it can be played for only 1 colorless mana while simultaneously buffing my demonic critters with life-loss.

Lands

I run two sets of fetchlands to ensure I have access to the colors I need, and the incidental life-loss is great for beefing up Scourge and Shadow during early turns. Sunbaked Canyon pings me over time and helps me dig a card deeper when I need to seal the game. I’m running a lone Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth so I can choose to forgoe life loss with fetchlands or Canyon when I need to conserve life.

SIDEBOARD

Coming soon…

WHY MARDU?

It makes sense to keep this build as Mardu as opposed to Rakdos, because Sunbaked Canyon is a fantastic card drawing source. I find myself using it to draw a card almost every time I play it. Since there is no Rakdos equivalent to the Canyons, I will take advantage of the available white mana for Boros Charm, Apostle's Blessing, and cards on the sideboard.

NOTABLE EXCLUSIONS

This deck is primarily burn-focused, so I have excluded cards like Thoughtseize (for now). I basically took my Boros burn shell and swapped a few cards out to make room for Bump in the Night and Scourges.

Eidolon of the Great Revel is widely recommended for burn decks and I used to run it in my Boros burn deck. However, the damage it deals becomes hard to control, and I find myself regretting the decision to play it every time. This kind of deck requires total control over your life total, and I want to be able to judge how much life loss I suffer over time. I avoided Dark Confidant for this reason as well.

I’ve tested Dragon's Rage Channeler for additional draw power and early game blockers along with Seal of Fire to make it more likely to trigger Delirium. But I found Channeler to be too slow for my taste.

This is a work in progress. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

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Revision 14 See all

(2 years ago)

+2 Claim / Fame maybe
Top Ranked
  • Achieved #1 position overall 3 years ago
Date added 3 years
Last updated 2 years
Legality

This deck is Modern legal.

Rarity (main - side)

5 - 0 Mythic Rares

22 - 6 Rares

20 - 9 Uncommons

10 - 0 Commons

Cards 60
Avg. CMC 1.73
Folders Modern Decks I Did Not Make, Other people's decks, Stuff I like, Inspiration, 1, Cool Ideas
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