I have been playtesting a more aggressive Mardu Aristocrats version that is meant to finish games quickly. All feedback is very appreciated!
I need help with the sideboard:
- What cards to include, as I am not very confident with its current state.
- Strategy - which cards to take out and which ones to include in the different match-ups.
Main board
Creatures
Gutterbones
- early presence and repeatable sac fodder. I have found it to be very useful in control matches and it often draws removal like
Lava Coil
just to keep it off the board. Works really well with
Judith, the Scourge Diva
that makes it both a good attacker and a good blocker.
Footlight Fiend
- a very good blocker early, able to get rid of multiple x/1 creatures. It synergises well both with
Judith, the Scourge Diva
and
Heartfire
.
Cruel Celebrant
- it can generate significant amounts of damage, especially when multiples are on the board at the same time, and works with tokens. It is also very useful against mono-red by complementing the lifesteal from
Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord
.
Fireblade Artist
- works well early, as well as in the later stages of the game to finish off the opponent.
Dreadhorde Butcher
- a huge threat early that, if not dealt with fast, could deal very large amounts of damage and works well against both control and aggro decks. If you are on the draw, however, you face the risk of it being a second
Footlight Fiend
if the opponent has already set up tougher blockers.
Hero of Precinct One
- I feel that this card is a must with a deck composed almost completely of mutlicolored cards. The Hero synergises very well with
Cruel Celebrant
and has game-ending potential, if it survives by turn four for
Heroic Reinforcements
.
Judith, the Scourge Diva
- a versatile card that generates a lot of extra value. It makes our creatures bigger and allows us to divide extra damage between opposing creatures/planeswalkers to create favourable trades, or go face directly. It also gives us a good way to handle the small creatures of mono-white and green decks.
Midnight Reaper
- the card-draw engine of the deck. It works great in situations where the early aggression isn't enough and in match-ups against control decks.
Planeswalkers
Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord
- kills off other planeswalkers with its + ability and recurs our cheap creatures.
Instant and Sorcery Spells
Heartfire
- to kill threats on the board or deal extra damage to the opponent. The deck has enough cheap creatures/tokens to make the cost insignificant and boost the damage that could be dealt.
Heroic Reinforcements
- can help us deal a lot of damage early, synergises with Hero of Presinct One and provides extra tokens for
Fireblade Artist
and
Heartfire
. Previously, I included 3 copies of the card, but think that having 3
Midnight Reaper
s brings more value.
Sideboard
Duress
- I have it explicitly to side against decks with
Cry of the Carnarium
.
Despark
- useful in multiple situations - against expensive planeswalkers, Izzet Drake and Reclamation decks.
Priest of Forgotten Gods
- against creature-heavy decks, especially those relying on a few big threats. Works surprisingly well against mono-white as well. Also, I always consider it for the main board, if I play against a deck light on removal.
Ritual of Soot
- to handle Azorius and mono-white decks.
Judith, the Scourge Diva
and
Cruel Celebrant
ensure that we get value, even if we destroy all of our creatures in the process.
Shock
- against creature decks and mono-red.
Special thanks to MurderForBrunch. His Judith, Ravnican Blood Artist! Mardu Aristocrats gave me the initial inspiration to pursue the Aristocrats archetype for my first Standard deck in several years, back in RNA Standard.
