74% WINRATE GRUUL

TRADITIONAL (B03)

 UNTAPPED.GG LINK

 SYNOPSIS

I read that a similar list in a TCG article the other day was poised to take over standard and gave it a shot.  I've made a few changes throughout the run, but overall this was absurdly efficient.  I had been durdling around with some izzet lists, and decided I wanted to play something more aggressive now that the meta allows for some more midrange strategies.  I went on a 10-0 run on my way from diamond to platinum almost immediately.  I know folks are on the lookout for this deck so I assume there will be some hate on the way, but right now it seems like this list just has so many ways to get past what everyone else is doing.

The key is definitely to play best of 3.  I played a few Bo1 games, and the results were not terrible, but nothing as stunning as the winrate I took through platinum rank.  The deck doesn't seem to match up against mono-red very well, and it is generally very close vs Rogues or Winota in game 1.  The Bo1 lists seem to have the upper hand, but I think we have the better gameplan in Bo3 matchups.

Check the Untapped.GG link for the stats.  There are a ton of 2-0 matches in here.  Numbers don't lie - this deck is GAS!

CARD ANALYSIS

I've played around a bit with the sideboard and deck makeup.  I was trying out Valki, God of Lies in here after getting blown out with it in a Rakdos matchup, but I'm not sure the card works.  The creature side seems to just eat a removal spell immediately (which actually may not be a bad thing, as you can check out your opponen'ts hand first), and the planeswalker is so expensive, we probably should already be winning the game if we're able to protect him.  Obviously, though, I'm going to leave it in until I can cast someone's Emergent Ultimatum at them.  Might be better off with a 2nd Ranger class or maindeck Ox.  I've been kicking around the idea of a Prosperous Innkeeper for the guaranteed treasure and chance at some lifegain.

I have also not been loving the Akroan War but I think I might need to watch some streamers play with that card.  I feel like it's too slow to actually wipe an opponent's board.  If you're stable, it generally isn't great if the op attacks with everything.  Also when you steal the creature right after it was cast, it still has summoning sickness and can't attack.  The only way to get Akroan to kill the creature you stole is to pilot Esika's Chariot before the trigger.  Once again, this feels like a very 'win more' strategy.  

Overall, I'm wondering if there is anything else we could slot into the board in black.  I want all our black mana to be useful outside of Ray of Enfeeblement in the sideboard, but maybe that is just a mistake?

MATCHUP NOTES

There are a few a fairly comprehensive deck and sideboard guides on TCG Player, Channel Fireball, or MTGAzone.  I won't repeat the strategies, but I'd like to dump my insights from the ladder climb.  

Rogues 

If you can get an Embercleave down on the board, you should be in good shape.  You might be relying on your creature lands to get the last bits of damage in, but overall you just want to be pedal to the metal attacking.  Remember that the creatures they play are small, so even Magda, Brazen Outlaw or Rimrock Knight can get you over the top with an Embercleave or leveled up Ranger Class.  Esika's Chariot will be a great threat here if you can avoit the deathtouchers.  Don't walk into a Drown in the Loch counter - you should be able to force them to use this to kill a threat, which means you can continue to land more next turn.  

Game 2 and 3 should be a bit easier.  Ox of Agonas is killer in this matchup.   Use Klothys, God of Destiny to remove threats they could pull back iwth Lurrus or Agadeem's Awakening

Sultai Ultimatum

Game 1 is hard and fast.  If you see a Yorion, Sky Nomad in the companion slot, you're likely playing ultimatum.  Look for starts with lots of adventure package threats over the Jaspara/Magda ramp package.  They will have enough removal to dump a few of your creatures before you start getting in for damage.  Hold onto your Edgewall Inkeeper until you can cast the creature side of a Rimrock Knight, Bonecrusher Giant, or Lovestruck Beast to get the card draw value and force the opponent to decide between eliminating an immediate threat or a card draw engine.  Some of these decks seem to run Shadow's Verdict in the main, so if it seems like things are going too well, save a couple threats in your hand in case of a 5-drop sweeper.

Game 2 - I bring in two or three copies of Burning Hands to deal with Elder Gargaroth or Polukranos, Unchained.  I end up leaving the Akroan Wars in the sidebaord, and pulling out a few Magda and Jaspera in favor of the card draw of the adventure package.  Just want to get on the board early and go for the throat here.  It's tough to overcome a resolved ultimatum, but not impossible.  Your board can go super wide with Den of the Bugbear and Esika's Chariot to get around a Kraken for the last few bits of damage.  You'll probably be on a 2 or 3 turn clock, though.

Winota

Game 1 is a toss-up.  Just go aggro and hope they don't hit winota.  If you can Stomp the Prosperous Inkeeper, or Selfless Savior, do it.  Then just get in for damage.   Offer up trades with any non-humans.  You want their board to be clear of non humans so Winota is useless.

Game 2 and 3 - bring in all the removal!  Redcap Melee, Ray of Enfeeblement will win you the game as instant speed Winota killers.  I didn't see a ton of this deck, so I left out the 3rd copy of Ray, but it might be correct to bring another copy in if everyone starts slamming Winota's.  Akroan War can get you over the top here, and you may want to liberally Shatterskull Smashing any Elite Spellbinders as they can just get a lot of damage in over your ground creatures.

Mono-U Mill

I saw quite a few mono-u mill decks - I'm not sure if it's just the one-player sample size issue or if that is gaining some traction, but I seemed to play quite a few lists.  I guess people just love mill even if it isn't good.  Anyway, our standard strategy should be great here.  They are looking to race you to decking in game 1 - we should be way faster to the kill.  Look for a cleave to get over the 0/4 Merfolk Secretkeeper or 0/3 Ruin Crab.  Always feels good to use the venture side of Rimrock Knight on a 1/1 Lovestruck Beast token to blow out the crab.  This goes for Rogues as well, but those players seem to fall for it less.  Also if they instant speed Power Word Kill your token, then you lose the knight.

Pull Ox of Agonas out of the yard over and over in games 2 or 3.  Sub in the Masked Vandals to get Teferi's Tutelage off the baord.  I also ran into a few Relic Golem, which the vandal can take care of as well.

Control (Izzet, Dimir, Abzan)

Our game 1 plan is killer against these decks.  Cards like Lovestruck Beast and Esika's Chariot have a huge advantage over spot removal.  We can play around sweepers with our creature lands, or by just swinging with one or two threats at a time.  If you've got 5+ power on the board, you might want to hold onto some threats if you think your opponents are running sweepers.  Just keep activating those creature lands.