Win Hard: Or Die Trying (Akroan Style)

Modern Sagarys

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Decklist update —April 20, 2015

I've updated the deck to include Favored Hoplite and Ordeal of Purphoros. After a lot of testing, the former is by far the best 1 drop for the deck's playstyle, and the later allows for some insane combos and deadly interactions (i.e. Favored Hoplite + Ordeal of Purphoros + Titan's Strength + Boros Charm for a turn 3 kill). The deck breakdown and how to play sections have been updated accordingly!

Sagarys says... #1

Just added a section on how to effectively play the deck. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or concerns - or if you see an opportunity for improvement!

April 13, 2015 1:49 p.m.

Zyxix says... #2

You thoroughly covered the deck. I don't generally run modern, but I understood how this deck would work. Good deal man, would you mind checking my recent list I added some information about my Reaper King edh build. If you do want to check it out here's the link It's harvest time

In your list, would you think a Daybreak Coronet would work with Madcap Skills?

April 13, 2015 4:38 p.m.

Sagarys says... #3

Thanks Zyxix. I appreciate the feedback. I do think Daybreak Coronet would work with Madcap Skills very well. The issue I have with that though is that it will only work with Madcap Skills. And if it isn't out, it's a dead draw. Thanks again though!

I'll take a look at your deck in a bit to see if I can help out!

April 13, 2015 4:42 p.m.

Zyxix says... #4

That was the problem I saw too, I just really like the coronet. Do you ever get to enough mana to drop Aurelia, the Warleader? That would be fun as hell also.

April 13, 2015 4:51 p.m.

Sagarys says... #5

She would be awesome, but you'd need to tweak the deck to be a bit slower and more controlled. 6 mana is tough in this deck. By the time she'd make it out, you've probably already won or lost.

April 13, 2015 4:58 p.m.

Zyxix says... #6

I don't mean to keep thinking of things, but Sunforger could give ready access to your Lightning Bolts.

April 13, 2015 5:05 p.m.

Sagarys says... #7

Another great card, but a bit too slow for this deck. Turns 3 and 4 are too critical to be dropping equipment and digging for spells.

April 13, 2015 5:08 p.m.

wolfhead says... #8

sick looking deck! im having fun playtesting it
id definitely switch out Coordinated Assault for Weapon Surge, though. makes topdecking a little stronger

April 14, 2015 1:52 p.m.

Sagarys says... #9

I do like Weapon Surge and actually considered it for a while. The problem I have with it is that when you overload it, it no longer triggers Heroic, which means no Anax and Cymede pump. So if I'm not going to overload it so I can get the trigger, I'd rather have Coordinated Assault so I can get 2 triggers for . Thanks for the suggestion though!

April 14, 2015 1:59 p.m.

SG_Matt says... #10

What about Hero of Iroas or Galvanic Arc? Hero of Iroas would help you cast more Madcap Skills and Galvanic Arc lets you add extra burn to eliminate creatures, trigger heroic, and add first strike.

April 14, 2015 2:38 p.m.

SG_Matt says... #11

Also Gods Willing might be a good card to consider to replace Emerge Unscathed. Emerge does grant protection, and rebound gives a second heroic trigger, but you probably want to save those cards as protection from removal, so you may not need the protection on the rebound. Gods Willing would instead allow you to scry, which I feel is important in a super aggro deck, the better your early draws are, the more likely you are to finish the game.

April 14, 2015 2:42 p.m.

wolfhead says... #12

shit i didnt realize overload doesnt trigger heroic
that makes sense lol
anyway sick boros deck dude
have you tried competing with it?

April 14, 2015 3:18 p.m.

Sagarys says... #13

SG_Matt - Gods Willing is a decent alternative. I think it's a matter of preference really. Scry will help with consistency. But rebound will equate to more heroic triggers. Both are good in their own right. Hero of Iroas could be subbed in for the Akroan Crusaders if you wanted to. Since there's only 1 aura, his ability isn't super useful, but he's a great heroic target either way. If you wanted to run him, go for it. I personally don't own a playset of him. Galvanic Arc might be ok if you ran him. If not, it's not the best spell for the cost.

wolfhead - I haven't had the opportunity to play against any tier 1/2 competitive decks yet. But it fairs very well in casual modern play. If your opponent's deck doesn't have answers to your heroics in the first couple turns, Fabled Hero makes for quick wins.

April 14, 2015 4:09 p.m.

Sagarys says... #14

I decided to swap Akroan Crusader and 1 copy of Favored Hoplite out for Spark Elemental. Akroan Crusader was always sort of a placeholder. He's never going to win you the game. Spark Elemental might. He greatly increases the deck's speed and aggressiveness early game. And with some combat tricks, he can hit pretty hard if he comes down later in the game.

(and I can justify him flavor-wise through Iroas' divine intervention, like Lightning Bolt) :P

April 14, 2015 5:45 p.m.

loozar33 says... #15

+1 for URL

April 14, 2015 8:37 p.m.

Felixlives says... #16

Great deck i love boros heroic i tried it in standard but it just wasnt working for me against the midrange lifegain at the time. Skullcrack could help against that. Just remember martial glory only triggers heroic once if you only have one creature for it to target.

April 14, 2015 10:45 p.m.

Sagarys says... #17

Thanks! Yup, I know it's the casting not the targeting. I should probably mention that in the breakdown.

April 14, 2015 10:56 p.m.

Sagarys says... #18

Thanks Gepetto. I've looked at Lightning Helix, but it really isn't necessary. Bolt is better for spot removal and direct damage. And Boros Charm does more direct damage for the mana plus adds a lot more utility. The lifegain is irrelevant in this deck because you want to win as fast as possible. Thanks though!

April 15, 2015 9:51 a.m.

Markbass says... #19

Holy shit its fast I love it. Just a little vulnerable for removal but thats all

April 15, 2015 1:48 p.m.

Sagarys says... #20

It is vulnerable to removal and hard control. Against removal you pretty much have to pray for Boros Charms. And against control, you want to try to make their life miserable with burn so they have less counters available for your creatures. Between Spark Elemental, Lightning Bolt, and Boros Charm, you could win full burn if you really had to. It's not ideal, but you can.

April 15, 2015 1:51 p.m.

Sagarys says... #21

Speaking of speed, I did a bunch of playtesting against some top tier decks on here and I've decided to trim Favored Hoplite back to 2 copies and bring Spark Elemental up to a full 4. The hoplite is ok if a game goes long, but he's a little slow for the kind of aggro this deck wants. Spark on the other hand is a menace.

April 15, 2015 1:53 p.m.

Sagarys says... #22

In fact, let's cut the hoplite all together and bring a couple Fencing Aces in at the 2 drop. Turn 1, I pretty much always wants to play Spark Elemental. Otherwise, I'd much rather have another double striker instead of a slow heroic.

April 15, 2015 2:10 p.m.

Sagarys says... #23

I like Hellspark. But on turn 2, I really want to drop a double striker. Turn 1 I can sacrifice a permanent creature for the damage. But turn 2 I want to be establishing my potential wincons. Thanks for the suggestion though!

April 15, 2015 2:26 p.m.

Shpigster says... #24

Dragon-Style Twins would go pretty well as a late game answer in this deck, as the prowess would go well with the buff spells.

April 15, 2015 5:53 p.m.

I know that your cards are pretty color-intensive, but maybe one copy of Slayers' Stronghold could be helpful? Also, Brute Force is always fun.

April 15, 2015 9:17 p.m.