The Sunfist Brigade

Standard Jimhawk

SCORE: 161 | 260 COMMENTS | 53234 VIEWS | IN 127 FOLDERS Top 8: 04/12


5-4 at TCGPlayer 5K Orlando (72nd of 331 players) —March 20, 2013

I took the Legion for a spin at the Orlando 5K, here's how it went!

Match 1: UWR Flash, W 2-0

Both games were very close. Game two was especially close, as I won at 2 life when he was at 3. I'm surprised that I keep managing to win this matchup despite how bad it seems for me.

Match 2: Esper Spirits, W 2-1

I win game one too quickly to know what he's playing, so I sideboard in for Esper Control. Instead, my Skullcracks are rendered useless as he bashes me over the head with an army of spirits. Game three is much better for me once I put my Nearheath Pilgrims back in.

Match 3: Jund Aggro, L 0-2

I played against Nicholas Werner, the person who ended up making the finals of the event. Burning-Tree Emissary into Mogg Flunkies is actually an awesome play, one that completely blows me out before I can ever get going. No Nearheath Pilgrims really hurt me here.

Match 4: Naya Humans, W 2-1

If I got a Nearheath Pilgrim out, I won, and if I didn't I lost. Thankfully, I got one out in two games.

Match 5: Naya Humans, W 2-1

Same story. Nearheath Pilgrim + Silverblade Paladin + Rally the Peasants puts aggro to sleep fast.

Match 6: Prime Speaker Bant, L 1-2

I won game one with a moderately fast hand. He managed to stabilize a little but I was able to end it before he could come back. I got crushed by massive creatures in the next two games, Angel of Serenity being the worst of them.

Match 7: Esper Control, W 2-1

I lost game one after getting mana screwed. I got him to 1 life quickly in game two, where he stayed for a long time until I drew the Skullcrack after throwing creature after creature at him to empty his hand. Game three was very fast for me.

Match 8: Jund Aggro, L 1-2

I lost game one, got out a Nearheath Pilgrim in game two (so I won), and made an atrocious misplay in game three that cost me the game and the match.

Match 9: Lucky Charms, L 0-2

This is the UWR Flash deck centered around Boros Reckoner, using him with Azorius Charm/Moment of Heroism and Boros Charm to gain infinite life and Blasphemous Act to finish any opponent at 13 or less life. This deck absolutely stomps aggro, which it did to me.

Overall, The Sunfist Brigade performed well, although I still lament my poor draws and my round 8 misplay that kept me from having a shot at top 32 or higher. The deck is still quite potent, though perhaps not as much so as Naya or Jund Aggro. I still think that this Boros and Mono-green Aggro are perhaps the next best aggressive decks after those two, and would highly advocate this list for any local tournaments, especially FNMs.

Slycne says... #1

I would consider dropping the card:Slayers' Stronghold for more Mountain s or Cavern of Souls . The utility lands are nice, but 9 sources or 40% of your mana base inhibit the ability to drop Ash Zealot T2, which considering it's your strongest T2 play you probably want to have as often as possible. The way I've been figuring it as well is that if Boros Aggro hasn't won by the time it's considering using card:Slayers' Stronghold, it's probably too far gone.

And the extra red sources wouldn't hurt for Spark Trooper and Hellrider . Though the Cavern of Souls can be nice as a final resort. Instead of playing it first naming humans you save it until you absolutely need to play it for the turn.

January 21, 2013 2:29 p.m.

Aturos says... #2

I really like your deck! I built a boros-human deck too: we are Boros, we are legion!

I'll play Legion Loyalist over Boros Elite but I think it's just a matter of opinion ;)

+1!

January 21, 2013 2:29 p.m.

4649matt says... #3

This set is going to be insane primarily because of the speed and power Gatecrash brings to Aggro. This is a solid line-up and we shall see how other slower playstyles answer to Boros onslaught (if at all). +1

January 21, 2013 2:39 p.m.

cartwheelnurd says... #4

I really like the boros aggro deck, here is mine:Boros Asskicking.

With 7 plains, how to do plan onconsistently casting ash zealot? I would say Precinct Captain is good as well, especially with the synergies between it and champion of the parish and silverblade paladin.

I agree with Aturos in that Legion Loyalist is a must for your deck. I would remove the elite.

Almost 100% of your creatures are human. Why not add 4x cavern of souls? It will smooth out your mana and allow you to play a multitude of things much more easily, while resisting counterspells.

January 21, 2013 2:54 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #5

Slycne, I would also probably drop 2 Mountains and 1 Plains for 3 Cavern of Souls but I'm pretty much working on a budget. Fixing mana and shoring up the control matchup at the same time is huge, but I'm sticking mainly to cards I have and those that I want to add from Gatecrash.

And honestly, I really do prefer playing Lightning Mauler on turn 2 and pairing with Frontline Medic on turn 3. That has been the best line of play this deck has had so far. Getting enough red also hasn't been a problem for Hellrider and Spark Trooper . In fact, I often find myself missing out on white a little more often.

January 21, 2013 3 p.m.

57messier says... #6

I would recommend Reckless Waif  Flip over Boros Elite , a potential 3/2 on turn 2 can help alot, and can keep you from having a vanilla 1/1 when you cant get the battalion online.

You also might want to consider some spot removal in the form of Mizzium Mortars , and Oblivion Ring . I agree Boros Charm is an automatic 4 of but it cant hit creatures and that can get you in a jam sometimes. Having something to take care of pesky enchantments and blockers that would otherwise mess up your tempo helps out alot.

Check my list as I am running Boros Humans also. Fear the Battalion!

January 21, 2013 3:03 p.m.

57messier says... #7

Also, running T1 Champion of the Parish /Boros Elite alongside T2 Ash Zealot without Cavern of Souls is risky, would definitely recommend it to smooth out your curve.

January 21, 2013 3:05 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #8

Everyone is making wonderful suggestions!

But I'm not going to use Cavern of Souls . ;D It's not in my budget and, well, I like it about as much as I like Snapcaster Mage , which is not at all.

57messier, I would much rather have Searing Spear over Mizzium Mortars , but even then I would much rather have card:Aurelia's Fury over either. Out of the side we bring in Oblivion Ring and I may replace Nevermore with Searing Spear when we absolutely must have removal.

More than anything else so far I would rather not run Ash Zealot than fix with Cavern of Souls . Perhaps Legion Loyalist or Truefire Paladin ?

January 21, 2013 3:15 p.m.

57messier says... #9

Searing Spear would also work perfectly, I wasnt recommending replacing card:Aurelia's Fury I was simply saying that card:Aurelia's Fury is more of a lategame finisher and that you might need some spot removal during the midgame. I love card:Aurelia's Fury too haha

Legion Loyalist seems like he would fit better outside of the tribal theme you have going here. I think Truefire Paladin would shine well in this deck, especially since you can soulbond him with Silverblade Paladin

January 21, 2013 3:26 p.m.

Brighten says... #10

Boros Reckoner? Yes/no? >.>

I want to run him alongside the medic and sliverblade-- but would that be too many 3-drops?

January 23, 2013 1:02 a.m.

Jimhawk says... #11

That definitely would be too many 3-drops. Besides, a card like Boros Reckoner is so much better when there's a reliable way to make him indestructible, much in the same way Spitemare was.

January 23, 2013 1:14 a.m.

Brighten says... #12

But wouldn't Boros Charm + Frontline help with that cause? >.>

Or...or...

Well, I don't know. I want to stick with the human theme, but put a few angels and the reckoner in it. >.< Ack!

January 23, 2013 3:25 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #13

Idea...

Stuffy Doll + Boros Reckoner + Blasphemous Act = win?

For realsies, though, you could definitely squeeze the Minotaur Wizard in if you find a way. He's definitely powerful, and you could lean more toward a midrange plan with him and Restoration Angel .

January 23, 2013 5:08 p.m.

FaizalWhut says... #14

I would say drop one more Spark Trooper, Just because Boros Elite and Champion seem like best buddies 4 lyfe

January 23, 2013 10:10 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #15

I would normally agree but my meta is shaping up to be very aggro-heavy. Spark Trooper is my trump because of his lifelink, allowing them one less turn to live and myself one more turn to attack. Still, he's the first guy on the chopping block when push comes to shove.

January 23, 2013 10:25 p.m.

I would actually run Skullcrack over Searing Spear mainboard. It's some major card:Sphinx's Revelation and card:Trostani, Selesnya's Voice hate, and both are big right now, at least where I play. Plus when people sphinx, they tend to be a) about to die, and b) tapping out, and thus unable to counter.

January 24, 2013 7:20 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #17

Skullcrack is a sideboard card for me because I want the removal aspect of Searing Spear in the main. If Boros Charm wasn't so badass then it would be in the main but I can only afford to have so many noncreature spells.

Blind Obedience is a card I had considered a long time ago but forgot about. Reminding me of it made me realize that it would be much better than Riders of Gavony in the sideboard. Thanks RedZebraTape!

January 24, 2013 7:51 p.m.

Cameronsplaze says... #18

REALLY!!! NO GATHER THE TOWNSFOLKS BUT 4 CHAMPIONS!!! YOUR CRAZY!!But i do like it... so +1! :)

January 28, 2013 9:43 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #19

I dislike Gather the Townsfolk without any cheap crusade effects. The only one in RW is Intangible Virtue and that lends itself to a token strategy. GW has a good one in Mayor of Avabruck  Flip so I would definitely play it there. Otherwise I'm stuck with some wonky 1/1s that don't do anything that relevant for me. Better to play a two-drop that has more raw power or has synergy with multiple cards, like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben or Lightning Mauler , respectively.

No tournament-level aggro decks have used Gather the Townsfolk either outside of the occasional Selesnya Humans (using the aforementioned Mayor), so my exclusion is supported by results. :)

January 28, 2013 10:01 p.m.

BenTim says... #20

I'm too lazy to read all the comments, but did anyone recommend kessig malcontents? if you are dropping out humans, you might as well run one or two malcontents for extra damage.

January 28, 2013 11:21 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #21

That's not a bad idea. I may try a few games with them in place of Spark Trooper to see which is better.

January 28, 2013 11:23 p.m.

FaizalWhut says... #22

What are your thoughts on Nearheath Pilgrim? His soulbound lifelink Procs with Hellrider's ping ability, giving some reliable lifegain :p

January 29, 2013 12:12 a.m.

Jimhawk says... #23

Yup, that's why he's in the sideboard. He's kind of bad against control, but great with Hellrider against midrange and aggro. Not being versatile is keeping him out of the main.

January 29, 2013 12:13 a.m.

Jimhawk says... #24

@BenTim So Kessig Malcontents didn't work out too well because turn 4 Hellrider or Spark Trooper tended to net more damage. It was also really dependent on me dropping a human on each of the first three turns to be good; otherwise it was average and didn't do much to impact the board state. Thanks for the idea though!

January 29, 2013 10:16 a.m.

AnOldEskimo says... #25

I might suggest altering your Plains to Mountain ratio to match your curve better since all of the one CMC cards are white. Maybe try something like 9 Plains and 4 Mountain or 8 and 5, just to make sure you can always get your one drops out first turn. In play testing I had to mulligan really good, fast hands, like ones with 3 Champion of the Parish and a Lightning Mauler , because all of the one drops require white, but I drew Clifftop Retreat and Mountain . That's the only problem I see in an otherwise really powerful deck. It might make things reliably faster.

January 29, 2013 12:21 p.m.