THE ROCK Deck returns in a Pauper's edition.
I like the "historical" version of this deck in Standard with Spiritmonger and Pernicious Deed; his endurance, his strenght and his versatility to different opponent and situation. So, I decide to make a Pauper's version reinterpreting his characteristical.
This deck cross three phases during the game divided by the number of lands on your control:
1) 0-3 lands: in the early turns you must never miss a land-drop, in order to do that the decks provides some "land-tutor" and same "deck-drawer" cards. You are able, also, to cast some removals to murder the dangerous opponent's creatures.
2) 4-6 lands: during this phase your are able to cast multiple spells in one turn (or one in your turn and the other at instant speed in the turn on your opponent) and some "big-creatures" to defend yourself or attack the opponent.
3) 7+ lands: during this last phase (I hope you reach this point!) you are in control of the entire situation thanks to some removal that affect multiple creatures and some cards to cast with buyback or flashback. The entire deck's aim is to make "card advantage" not only drawing, but also re-casting spell and creatures !!
DECK ANALYSIS
CREATURES
Sakura-Tribe Elder : one of the most usefull card of this deck! Gives you an additional land after blocking (and sacrifing) in opponent's turn. With this card on turn 2 and other land in your hand you may able to cast Blastoderm on turn 3 (very powerfull !!).
Putrid Leech : good 2 drops creature, he can double his strenght with 2 life. Be carefull to do that beacause many other cards "eat" our life points and the opponent (obviously) do the same.
Phyrexian Rager : 2/2 that allow us to draw a card for 1 life, good enought !
Brindle Boar
: I add this card after seeing some "life problem" of this deck in aggro matchup and decks that use many burn cards. 2/2 that, after sacrifing, gives us 4 lifes. Usefull in combo with Pulse of Murasa if you are in trouble.
Penumbra Spider : only card that we have to block flyer. Also resist to the first death, don't underrate it !
Blastoderm
: ...words are meaningless. HUGE CARD !!
Crypt Rats : good removal against aggro deck and, in general, against deck with many small creatures.
Krosan Tusker : a strong creature that could be cycled during the early turns for picking a land and draw a card
Twisted Abomination
: good creature with regeneration ability, could be usefull in many occasion. He also have the swampcycling ability that's nice in early turns
REMOVALS
Tragic Slip : thanks to many creatures (like Sakura, Brindle Boar, Blastoderm) that could be sacrified or put on the graveyard, we can trigger the morbid ability of this card. He could potentially removes everything in the format.
Chainer's Edict
: removal for creatures with protection, flashback ability allow us to re-play it in late-game
Pestilence : like Crypt Rats removes tons of creatures simultaneously; if we have a bigger creature on play the enchantment remain and we can use it again !
OTHER SPELLS
Pulse of Murasa
: most important card againts aggro deck for surving in early turns. We have many options for use it in this deck: we can return a big creature such as Blastoderm or Krosan Tusker, or a removal creature such as Crypt Rats. We can also, rarely, return a land if we need it or Evolving Wild for more mana.
Night's Whisper : draw 2 cards for 2 mana and 2 life. Sounds good.
Moldervine Cloak
: transforms our 2/2 creature in dangerous 5/5. If we lost it, we can dredge it back in our hand and recast
NOTE: if you see some mistakes or have an advice, please write below in the comment section. Thank you!!
