[Theros Standard] BR Theory

Creatures:
4 Lifebane Zombie
4 Chandra's Phoenix
4 Desecration Demon

Planeswalkers:
2 Chandra, Pyromaster

Instants:
4 Magma Jet
3 Doom Blade

Sorceries:
4 Thoughtseize
2 Dreadbore
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Read the Bones
2 Rakdos's Return

Artifacts:
3 Rakdos Keyrune

Lands:
4 Blood Crypt
2 Mutavault
8 Swamp
6 Mountain
4 RB Theros Dual


Sideboard to include 4 Cerberus, some number of Duress/Slaughter Games/Underworld Connections then meta-dependant stuff.

This deck actually seems really solid only knowing what we know already.

Thoughts about Flames of the Firebrand? Enables Chandra's Phoenix.

Isn't good at killing things though.

Definitely considerable for the sideboard, but certainly not a consideration for the main.

Chandra's Phoenix can be brought back with Magma Jet and Chandra as it is, and Chandra is recurring. Will honestly have to see if 6 (8 counting Rakdos's Return) burn sources are enough for it though, might just have to cut it for something else.

A black boardwipe would guarantee the deck a top spot imho.

I was going to ask your opinion about potentially boarding Ultimate Price to get around your awkward matchup against black-blended builds, but that's meta-dependent.

I think Ultimate Price is definitely one of the best sideboard options.

My prediction for the mirror, were this deck to become meta, was Price in board to sub for Doom Blade as removal for 90-100% of the creature base (heavily dependent on them maindecking Cerberus), various BR things that were there to begin with, and perhaps a Ratchet Bomb + Pithing Needle.

Those last two being there as personal choices in response to hype around token generation and...certain planeswalkers.

Needle would be necessary for a resolved AEtherling anyway, imo.

Jeleva wrote:Needle would be necessary for a resolved AEtherling anyway, imo.

That too, considering it's one of the two finishers people discuss regarding UW Control.