Apologies for the delay in updating the list, but here's where we are at right now. Rumor has it that a Boros Bushwhacker list took 2nd at the Philly 5k. While we haven't seen the list, it's safe to say that the deck is most likely Tier 1 with proper tuning. This is a rough list that tries to utilize the drawback of Skyfisher to generate upside. You can bounce Ranger, Hellspark, Teetering Peaks and Bushwhacker to generate an advantage as well as ensuring that you have a land to trip Steppe Lynx. Apparently the Philly list was running 4x Lynx and 4x Skyfisher - the number of Landfall guys in the deck has been a subject of debate for a while, and it's likely that Plated Geopede will not make the cut but Lynx will.
4 Goblin Guide
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Elite Vanguard
3 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Hellspark Elemental
4 Steppe Lynx
3 Burst Lightning
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Path to Exile
4 Arid Mesa
4 Teetering Peaks
4 Marsh Flats
1 Scalding Tarn
4 Mountain
7 Plains
The mana base likely needs more tinkering, but 8-9 fetch lands should be sufficient to keep our TarmoKitty happy. If the deck wants more consistency, it can swap out the Flats and Tarn for appropriate basics. It's just nice to have the option to do 4 with the Lynx out of nowhere, and for very little downside. Kor Skyfisher is a superb replacement for Cerodon Yearling, which has felt too "fair" in the deck since the beginning.
SB options include Day of Judgment, the 2x Path, a 4th Burst Lightning, Harm's Way, etc. It's not really useful to build an SB until the metagame shapes up further. In general, the deck has such dominant matchups that shoring up the 1-2 bad matchups is what the side 15 will have to do.
If you decide to test this list or anything similar, leave a comment here or @kellyreid on Twitter. The deck is shaping up to be a top-tier contender in the new Standard format, and it's not especially expensive to build. It's slightly more skill-intensive than it appears, since some matchups require close analysis of role assignment. Remember, with the Skyfisher + Ranger engine, your late game might be better than most aggro decks. If this is the case, do not be afraid to play a control deck and just hold back one-drops for a massive alpha strike.
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18 comments
actually, replace the qusali pridemages with lotus cobra...NOW WE'RE talking!
The SCG5k list ran 4 each of Geopede and Lynx and a full 12 fetches. When you did your testing with the landfall critters, how many fetches were you running? You mentioned the variability being a problem, but it seems like the deck would be pretty consistent with all 12 fetches.
I'm disappointed the Harm's Ways got cut from the list. I haven't had the chance to test them out, and there's obviously some serious competition for the one-mana removal slot. I'd say they're a must for the SB, at least, since they're such a great answer to Fallout and Pyroclasm.
We used 10 fetches at first. The main issue was that they were fine no matter how many fetches we ran, but sometimes you just DIDNT have a land-drop. With the addition of Kor Skyfisher (which was not in the original list but really deserved to be), they get a lot more consistent. Harm's way was fun, but i don't know why he cut them for the 5k. I don't know if they're needed but they came up big a lot in testing though.
Yeah, the Skyfisher seems pretty absurd in this deck. Nice "drawback".
Neither this list nor the SCG5k list ran Harm's Way, though both run some number of Lightning Bolt, Path, and Burst Lightning. The burn spells have the advantage of going to the face when you want them to, and Path is the only maindeck answer to Baneslayer, which is probably otherwise an auto-loss if your opponent resolves it. As much as I love Harm's Way, and as powerful as it is, it may be that it doesn't merit inclusion in the maindeck unless control becomes more prevalent.
What are your thoughts on Runeflare Trap as a potential sideboard card? I've also been thinking about Quest for Pure Flame but I have not been able to test it. It seems like it's very easy to activate in this deck, and would be worthwhile even if all you get is 6dmg from a lightning bolt.
I am glad you liked my suggestion to include skyfisher.. I put together a BBW a couple days ago to test and decided he was an amazing 2 drop for the deck.
Congratulations on making the deck of the day, http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/deck/296, with your Boros Bushwhacker.
This is a financial advice website and I'd like it if you would care to write a financial advice article, something that I think you're actually better at than most other people. If I want a deck list I'll go over to starcity or channelfireball...
Do you post on starcity and tell them they are a strategy website and you don't want to see articles about card values?
@ Sam Thomas: Starcity is more than just a deck website it can have any article it wants, because it is a MAGIC website. Unlike this one, because this website should only be a financial website. I mean its pretty obvious that bushwhacker deck is trash so KBR please stick with financial news, you never mentioned dark depths would go up, and you should have.
I agree with bob. Dark depths would have been a great call and an opportunity to make a ton of money. I find it a shame that you were busy making a mediocre list instead of making an important call.
@bob: It's clearly an awful decklist. I guess that's why it took second at the 5k? It may or may not be tier 1 material -- we can't say after one tourney -- but all the evidence so far is against you.
@Kyle: Hexmage was spoiled on mtgsalvation (which isn't always reliable) in the early AM and all the major online sources were sold out by noon the next day. You're right, he probably should've mentioned Dark Depths so people could hit up the brick-and-mortar stores, but all the ones I was able to check in the nearby few cities were also sold out within a day of the posting. There wasn't much opportunity to make money, and even less to write an article on it in time for anyone else to make money.
I'll let the results of the Boros deck speak for itself. One top 8 is pretty good, but I'm sure the deck has more ability than that.
I understand that people want more financial news, but this deck is format-relevant and showcases one of the cards I was very hot on from day one - Goblin Guide, which has doubled since its pre-sale price. With the deck performing well so far, I see no reason it can't maintain that level.
As far as Dark Depths, the deck didn't seem real when it first came out. Not every call (or lack thereof) can be made, and I made a conscious decision to withhold judgment on the card. I didn't really believe in the deck, but now that it top 8'ed a Legacy tournament I'm forced to face the fact that I was wrong :)
That doesn't change the fact that the card tripled in price overnight before anyone could do anything about it. Stores actually cancelled orders for it to jack up their prices. There was no opportunity to make money, so there was no reason to suggest "buying" it. If you'd like me to re-hash what's being said on MTGS, StarCity and Twitter, I can certainly cater to that, but I try to generate original content and ideas that will help players get the most bang for their buck. I don't usually cover strategy but this was a rare case of a deck presenting itself that was so far beyond what a lot of others were testing, I would be remiss to withhold it.
And yes, it IS that good. Anyone who tells you otherwise simply hasn't sleeved it up. I have the backing of much more talented players than myself on this - don't write it off just because a pro didn't ship you the list. Or do, and feel foolish when it becomes a metagame staple.
I sleeved up this deck but had a very difficult time with it when I play tested it against vampires and Jund/blightning. I may have been playing it incorrectly but I found that things like marsh casualties, disfigure, and nighthawks were very difficult to deal with.
I guess I'm just sick of one-dimensional attitudes. Kelly is a player too, and it's his site so he can write about anything he wants to. I consider the strategy articles a bonus, and if you don't value them you are free to skip them. Humans are more than just 'the financial guy', 'the strategy guy', or even 'the guy who complains about strategy articles on QS.com'.
Bushwhacker didn't have a showing at Austin LCQ top 8.
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