B/R Greater Traitor

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 721

Hello all. I'm sure many of you have seen me in the league room. I'm also sure I've smashed many of you with my rogue deck. I've had enough people quit in disgust after losing, beg me for a decklist, or simply pat me on the back for a very original deck. So, I figured I would share it with everyone.

Greater Traitor

Creatures :
4 x Phyrexian Ironfoot
4 x Mogg War Marshall
4 x Greater Gargadon
4 x Pit Keeper
4 x Dark Confidant
4 x Plagued Rusalka
4 x Nether Traitor

Spells :
1 x Stupor
4 x Smallpox
3 x Loxodon Warhammer

Lands :
1 x Snow Covered Mountain
1 x Pendalhaven
2 x Tresserhorn Sinks
12 x Snow Covered Swamp
4 x Sulfurous Springs
4 x Blood Crypt

Sideboard :
3 x Withered Wretch
3 x Blood Moon
3 x Threaten
3 x Demon Fire
3 x Persecute

I will do a card by card analysis. Bare in mind this deck has been in continuous flux for about a month and a half now, winning about 4 mini's and 2 local FNM's.

Phyrexian Ironfoot : This card was originally added to stop Paladin En-vec. After its addition, I found it to be extremely versatile with the Loxodon Warhammer, keeping it as a 6/4 blocker with pseudo vigilance. CotH was another annoyance that he solves. Given he stops 2 big hassles for my deck, and he's a 3/4 "vigilance" for 3, Ironfoot is an easy include.

Mogg War Marshall : He stems an aggro decks quick start, works like a champ on 2nd turn with a first turn suspended Gargadon, gives additional ammo for Plagued Rusalka, and as a bonus gives me a 1/1 after a Wrath (although that's pretty lame)

Greater Gargadon : The backbone of the Greater Traitor deck. First turn suspension is a house against most all control variants. He counters the bonuses from Annul, Lightning Helix, Faith's Fetters, Demon-fire (the remove from game effect), Repeal (if appropriate), Condemn...
Double G dodges wraths, and creates situations where your opponent would WANT to Wrath. Though he can be countered when the last suspend counter is removed, the fact that I COULD sac 4-5 lands to throw it into play at anytime, forces blue mages into an awkward predicament. Tap out to counter the Hammer, or save it for the Gargadon? Tough call.
Double G also works well with Loxodon Warhammer

Pit Keeper : With 28 creatures in this deck, 8 sac outlets and 4 smallpox's, his comes into play ability is very efficient at 1B. And with 1 in hand and 1 in grave, he is recursive. Confidants don't always live long, so he can bring him back. I've only played it 2nd turn with a first turn Rusalka to supply extra activations. With such a cheap curve, there are many other plays up until turns 4 or 5, where I am usually winning, or I have 4 creatures in the grave.

Dark Confidant : I've tested with and without this guy, and he is irreplaceable. I'm sure no one would question Bob except for the 10 cc partner, so I will explain.
Control decks are dominating Standard, and believe it or not, the 10 damage usually isn't a factor. First of all, Bob is a major target for control players, so it's usually nuked right away, or countered. If it makes it to play, every upkeep I approximately have a 1/15 chance of hitting a Gargadon. If I do hit the Gargadon, I suspend it, and judging by the game state, decide whether I should sac it at EOT to remove a suspend counter. So, the ONLY problem with Bob is also the solution to him. The amount of power Bob brings to the control matchup makes it worth the risk.

Plagued Rusalka : With all but 2 lands producing black mana, Plagued Rusalka turns into a machine gun with 2 Nether Traitors, or 2 Pit Keepers (This is the nutz in the Glare matchup). Going first, he can take out opponents first turn BoP or Llanowar Elves. He simply fits the curve well.

Nether Traitor : In all my variations of this deck, 4 Greater Gargadon's and 4 Nether Traitor's have never changed. There symmetry is ridiculous, expecially when paired with ANY other creatures. He forces out Early Gargadons very efficiently, blocks Looters and Priests, and is a constant source of near unblockable damage (works well with Loxodon Warhammer).

Stupor : Very Random addition. 4 Hammers seemed too much. The 2nd Hammer always feels as though it costs 6 (Think about it). And with all other non-land cards supporting 4-ofs, I needed a one-of.

Smallpox : 2nd turn smallpox (going first) against a first turn BoP or Llanowar Elves is absolutely sick, as well as hurting a control players 2nd turn Karoo. There is no real symmetry with any other cards in the deck, but it doesn't hurt this deck very much. It also provides late game untargetable removal for Akroma or Simic Sky Swallower.

Loxodon Warhammer : Not all games go as planned, and sometimes aggro gets a leg up. Loxodon Warhammer balances that out. I've yet to see a non-control deck have maindeck artifact removal either. Most blue decks have trouble with it too. If the Hammer hits play with a Traitor, it creates a major issue for the control player.

Pendalhaven : I have 12 1/1's. The Traitors are recursive, and the combined Marshall's provide 8 more. That's 20 1/1's. Pendalhaven is very powerful in this deck.

Sideboard

Withered Wretch : Solar Flare variants, Firemane Angle Variants

Blood Moon : Tron and Solar Flare

Threaten : Additional hate for creature heavy decks. Remove a blocker, add an attacker, sac to Gargadon or Rusalka.

Demon Fire : Finisher for a control player in control. Good for BoP's and Elves as well.

Persecute : Dragon Storm, Solar Flare, Tron

This deck's worst matchup is Dragon Storm. I haven't played it with Small Pox yet, but I think that could potentially help the matchup.

Glare is usually a bye because it has no way to stop the Plagued Rusalka Nether traitor combo. Heirarch is a little annoying, but I'm the control player in this matchup, so the life gain isn't usually relevant.

U/R Tron is in my favour with the Gargadons looming threateningly. I've yet to see a U/R tron player cast Wildfire with a suspended Gargadon, which is good, because Wildfire would kill all my other creatures.

BDW is an easy matchup with the Ironfoot's and Rusalka's. Gargadon is pretty much invincible once he resolves against BDW.

Girls (Angels) is a weird matchup that I think is even. It's a big game of chicken, where the Girls player is forced to go aggressive with lots of angels, or try to be cautious to maximize Wrath. The Gargadon throws a monkey wrench into it all, because Wrath is the only answer to the Gargadon. If it resolves, it forces a Wrath. If is doesn't, it prevents a Wrath. It's a very fun, hard fought match.

And that's all I have to say about that. Now quit bugging me for a decklist when I whoop ya! Wink

kevinconvery · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 69

Well, this looks great. One question though. Why Pendelhaven?

Ronnan · Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 170

it looks nice
the pedelhaven is to pump the 1/1Â´s ofc

though conf+gargadon might hurt in aggro mu

magiclover · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 2

hMm really good deck.. I just play test with him...

I may have won with a boros but that is because i got lucky..

the dark confidant revealed a greater gorgardon, which allows me to win the game with burn..

he was at 18 life and i was down to 2

is a turn around match =x

Game 2
========

honorable passage his greater gargadon

coolcreep · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 560

ya that is my only real problem with the deck; dark confidant showing gargadon is gg vs. pretty much any aggro deck, especially BDW, unless you are very lucky.

Yavimaya73 · Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 27

I have a very similar deck, but instead of Bobs I use Lyzoldas. She is extremely sickening if left unchecked and gives you another great draw/direct damage tool. If you dont have your Gargadon ready, she is an excellent sac outlet for your Traitors to draw cards or the Warmarshals to do 6 damage to the dome or creatures in play. Your Pit Keepers can also keep bringing them back as well. Another shot in the dark, but he's been extremely useful in my games with this deck is try using Mindslicer instead of your 1 of Stupor. He can ensure an uncounterable Gargadon. I am using Grim Harvest instead of Pit Keepers though as they can keep being used over and over, and they dont require you to have 4 creatures in the grave. I also have The Pendlehaven along with Overgrown Tombs and 2 copies of Sek'Kuar. He's amazing with everything you have in the deck =) Just some ideas. Here's my deck list.

Lands
4 x Blood Crypt
4 x Sulferous Springs
3 x Overgrown Tomb
1 x Pendlehaven
2 x Snow Covered Mountain
2 x Tesserhorn Sinks
1 x Gemstone Mine
6 x Snow Covered Swamp
1 x Molten Slagheap

Creatures
4 x Greater Gargadon
4 x Mogg War Marshal
4 x Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
4 x Nether Traitor
3 x Plagued Ruskala
4 x Phyrexian Ironfoot
1 x Mindslicer
2 x Sek'kuar, Deathkeeper

Spells
4 x Grim Harvest
4 x Grave Pact
2 x Loxodon Warhammer

Sideboard
4 x Shadow of Doubt (Against Dragonstorm)
3 x Persecute
4 x Defense Grid
2 x Demonfire
2 x Blood Moon

This still is in testing though.

BattleofWits · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 213

Greater Gargadon is really good with Resore Balance.

Apos · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 754

wkdclwn89 · Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 96

I like the deck alot but i think there are 4 adds that should some how find a way into the deck.

1st - Nantuko Husk, he allows for faster kills and also has alsome synergy with the deck and traitors.

2nd - Gravepact, where it should go (MD, or SB) im not sure but anyway its a monster in ur deck vs aggro.

3rd - Kher Keep, adds tokens/blockers and provides more sac targets.

4th - Mindslicer, house vs control and can stop FUCKING REMANDS.

Craze · Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5675 Location: Indiana, U

ummm......

.....thats all I gotta say

Royalty · Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 76

Chaosweaver · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 1349 Location: Igloo town

wildfire, play grodon, atkk for 9 go

Craze · Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5675 Location: Indiana, U

Ironically, Jacois's new deck has hit alot of big inspirations, sui_slush discovered a deck made by Mike Long using RBWU but in the end, I think the best version is RBW

//NAME: RBW Greater Mind
// Land
4 Swamp
3 Plains
4 Flagstones of Trokair
4 Sacred Foundry
2 Rakdos Carnarium
4 Blood Crypt

// Creatures
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Greater Gargadon
3 Mindslicer

// Other Spells
3 Phyrexian Totem
3 Smallpox
3 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Signet
3 Wildfire
4 Faith's Fetters
4 Wrath of God
3 Phyrexian Arena
2 Persecute

// Sideboard
SB: 4 Disenchant
SB: 2 Persecute
SB: 3 Demonfire
SB: 3 Blood Moon
SB: 3 Ivory Mask

Just thought I'd throw the better version in....

ElvishGod · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 2931

why not arena instead of bob?

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 721

I'm still testing, that's why I haven't used Arena.

It's a good thing Ruleslawyer is here to netdeck for me, to point out what's better.