Extended ripe for Sick-o-Tron?

Kytep · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 76

As a player primarily focused on T2, it's been a while since I've re-visited Sick-o-Tron*, perhaps my most successful original deck (I am only aware of it being played twice in major M-L events: I placed 2nd in a T2 Trial; a T1 master but T2 novice - Malhavoc - went 4-2 in a T2 Master). With the apparent absence (at least lately) of combo decks in 1.X, and with strong popularity of creature and Tron decks, it seems that it might be a good time for Sick-o-Tron to stage a comeback.

* See original article at http://www.magic-league.com/article/242/standard_sick-o-tron.html

Here is my latest version, updated for Extended:

4 Genju of the Spires
4 Hearth Kami
4 Phyrexian Ironfoot
4 Skred
4 Shock
4 Incinerate
4 Pyroclasm
4 Blood Moon
2 Shard Phoenix (may replace)
2 Demonfire
4 Ghost Quarter
4 Scrying Sheets
16 Snow-Covered Mountain

Sideboard
4 Pithing Needle
4 Fury Charm (was Shattering Spree, but want instant vs. Scepter - may use Ancient Grudge and put 1 Forest in main - fetchable by Ghost Quarters)
4 Flamekin Brawler (surprisingly good vs. counter-control; 2 toughness is also great vs Desert - may be good for T2 vs. Sonic Boom)
3 Pyrostatic Pillar

Believe it or not, Sick-o-Tron does very well against a wide variety of decks. It can struggle against combo decks, but on the other hand, the fact that it can kill on Turn 4 (with some luck) or, more commonly, Turn 5 or 6, helps it race combo. With 4 Blood Moons and 4 Ghost Quarters in the main, it can shock a lot of decks which rely on non-basics (e.g., Tron - actually, most decks out there). With all of the burn at its disposal, it does very well against most creature-based decks. In fact, I'm not sure which is the more favorable match-up: Tron (which this was originally designed to beat, which it does *quite* well) or Zoo.

In anticipation of some of the questions/comments I'm sure will be posted:

1) Ghost Quarter and Blood Moon: In a mono-red deck, these are NOT at odds with each other; in fact, they work perfectly together. Until I play a Blood Moon, I'm glad I have Ghost Quarters. After I play Blood Moon, I don't need Quarters any more, but would rather have Mountains. Hey! Whaddaya know! Thanks, Blood Moon!

2) Scrying Sheets: Yes, this is a bit more contentious with Blood Moon, but it's still not bad. If Blood Moon will wreck my opponent, I have no problem dropping it and losing my Sheets. If Moon won't wreck my opponent, I'll hold it and keep drawing from Sheets (and of course side out the Moons for G2/G3). Sheets are critical in this deck in the longer match-ups, if for no other reason than they keep feeding me Mountains for my Genju's and/or Brawlers (post-side). With 24 snow cards in the deck, the sheets work great - and all of this of course works great with Skred.

3) Genju: Do NOT underestimate this guy. Genju is AMAZING. A Turn 1 or Turn 2 Genju can often mean GG vs. control decks, and can often lead to a Turn 5 or 6 (or even 4, with Kami and Shock) kill. He's also great on defense, able to kill most Tarmogoyfs (and you have Skred/Shock/Incinerate to help, if needed) or other ground-pounders. They can't be Wrathed, Damned, 'clasmed, etc. And they keep coming back when killed, especially with the help of Sheets (see above).

As you can see in the original article (see link above), a LOT of people poo-poohed this deck when I originally posted it. But, as mentioned, the deck has been very successful. I don't know of many decks which have only had a single player using them in 2 major events and went so far in both of them. And that's not counting a pretty nice non-Trial league play win streak I enjoyed, as well as a very good record in my non-league games.

In other words: TRY it before you comment on it (and actually think hard and try to win with it, instead of trying to lose with it or even just playing sloppy to "prove" it's bad).

Plus, you can really piss some people off (as I have done many times) by beating them with such a rogue deck. Just be prepared to be called "noob" or "lucky noob" a lot when self-proclaimed "expert" players drag their tails and Tier 1 decks between their legs after you beat them to death with Genjus. Smile

Constructive and polite comments and questions welcome.

Kytep

thranarama · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 176

I already have my deck for extended, so I'm not planning on running this deck, but just a minor detail, firebolt is better than shock, just because it flashes back. Also, a synergy you forgot to mention, is that even w/ non-basics, if you have blood moon out, genju can attatch to all your lands. You also may consider using Magus of the Moon instead of/in addition to Blood Moon.

Spyx · Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 853

Looks kinda good, although I think pyroclasm isn't that good these days.

lennin · Guest

the deck isnt that good because tron isnt the the top best deck like it was in t2 at the time and i love how u ahve no way to untap ironfoots

Kytep · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 76

Thanks for the comments thus far.

thranarama: Thanks for the Firebolt suggestion. However, I think that the instant speed of Shock outweighs the flashback (at 4R, no less) of Firebolt. Sometimes I just need to deal 2 more damage vs. a control deck or want to respond to a Jitte/Scepter activation, etc. and the instant speed can be huge. And you're right about Blood Moon and Genju's; I use that all the time, I just didn't write about it. Smile

Spyx: Hmmm...you may be right about Pyroclasm. Pyroclasm has been in since the Type 2 version, and perhaps it doesn't fit Extended as well. On the other hand, there do seem to be quite a few Birds/Confidants/Witnesses/Lavamancers around. Do you have any suggestions for a Pyroclasm replacement?

lennin: Perhaps you missed the part of my post where I mention the deck does very well against a lot of decks (NOT just Tron, although the name makes it sound like a pure-Tron hoser, which it is not). Also, surely you can do better than point out that I forgot to type "Snow-Covered" before the word "Mountain" in my decklist (now corrected)? Or does the deck seem so good to you that the typo is the worst thing you can find about it? If so, thanks for the compliment!

Kytep

lennin · Guest

i was making a joke about the snow covered part, and this deck doesnt even look like it destroys tron all the time

Kytep · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 76

lennin · Guest

il give it a try, theres a gpt this weekend mayb ill play this, and this list definitly needs dredge hate sb

MilanG[GER] · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 58

horrible shit

did you ever play 1.x yet?

CloudRisen · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 109

it seems like your trying to do the same thing as R/g Deck wins except like 10x slower and no were near as efficient.

lennin · Guest

ya i tested this and i keep losing to randoms on mws, and when u lsoe to randoms on mws something is wrong with the deck

Kytep · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 76

MilanG[GER] · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 58

the weakness of this deck?

very first

the builder, beacause he got no clue on extended

2nd

the cards being played

3rd

the concept, which is totally useless in 1.x