Ok, so this is the second FNM I've taken the deck too, and I went 4-1. The field was pretty strong, with two out of my four matches being Thragtusk, I also had a bye. Thragtusk is barely a problem, Pyreheart Wolf and Zealous Conscripts deal with it handily. I found Huntmaster of the Fells
Flip to be more of an issue.
Round 1 / Grixis Control / 2-0
He had some Pillar of Flames, Izzet Charms, and Vampire Nighthawks, but it didn't really matter. People tend to use all the removal before Hellrider hits play. There's a lack of good instant speed removal in the format, or so it seems. Haste is a good place to be right now. He resolved Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker one game, but Hellrider and Devil's Play are sooooo good against planeswalkers. One thing I did notice, that Hound of Griselbrand is very unexciting as long as Pillar is popular. This may warrant some changes.
Round 2 / UG... / 0-2
I don't have a clue what this deck was. Augur of Bolas, Master of the Pearl Trident Thragtusk, all the counterspells, and Search the City. I had a window to win game 1, but incorrectly played around countermagic on a Devil's Play, and he resolved a Tusk. Second game I got fished completely, merfolk beatdown with counter support. Not even close. A sweet brew.
Round 3 / Bye
Round 4 / Jund sans Tusk / 2-0
All the spot removal, but my threat density was too high. This is another place where all the removal was sorcery. Archwing Dragon did some work. Devil's Play was good too.
Round 5 / Junk Tokens / 2-1
I thought this was it after game 1, but in the later games he failed to have more than one threat. I curved Wolf, into Hellrider, into Conscripts both games. That's the best curve ever by the way. Intangible Virtue can really do work.
So, what am I thinking? Games I lost were games I flooded out. Drawing more than 8 lands is pretty much it, and that is the upper limit. Hellion Crucible helps. I don't think I'm running too much land, it was just bad beats. Hound isn't as good when everyone is playing Pillar. I think the deck is pretty solid, but I'm a sloppy player, especially when it comes to sideboarding. I find myself boarding out Rakdos Cacklers a lot. They can be useless, but it sacrifices a lot of early game. As you can see in my card and sideboard choices, I'm trying to go over the top and be the control. One of the reasons why red is so good right now, is that it goes under so well. I need to acknowledge this more often. HELLRIDER STEALS GAMES.
Oh yeah, I played against Naya casually. The Tusk, Huntmaster, Bonfire of the Damned, Restoration Angel, Loxodon Smiter version. Guess who won every single game?
