MtG FNM Report - Mardu Dragons

Every since Dragons of Tarkir was released, I've been playing either 5 Colour Dragons or Temur agro and neither of those decks have a lot of space left for removal. So this week I decided to play Mardu Dragons, as the deck looked like fun and plays tons and tons of the a fore mentioned removal. Here's what I ran: 

Mainboard

Sideboard

3x Thoughtseize 2x Valorous Stance 2x Ultimate Price 2x Draconic Roar 1x Lightning Strike 3x Hero's Downfall 3x Crackling Doom 1x Kolaghan's Command 3x Seeker of the Way 4x Goblin Rabblemaster 2x Butcher of the Horde 4x Thunderbreak Regent 3x Stormbreath Dragon 1x Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury 2x Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker 2x Haven of the Spirit Dragon 3x Mana Confluence 4x Nomad Outpost 1x Bloodstained Mire 1x Temple of Silence 1x Temple of Malice 1x Temple of Triumph 2x Caves of Koilos 2x Battlefield Forge 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yorgmoth 4x Mountain 2x Swamp

1x Thoughtseize 1x Self-Inflicted Wound 1x Crackling Doom 2x Crux of Fate 2x Utter End 2x Mastery of the Unseen 2x Drown in Sorrow 2x Anger of the Gods 2x Lightning Strike

This list is based off of the popular Pro Tour build with some concessions made to what cards I have or could borrow, especially in the mana base. The plan is fairly simple: disrupt the opponent with discard and removal and then beat them to death with dragons (have I mentioned I love dragons?).

Round 1: 2-0 vs BW Warriors

After getting thumped by this deck last week, it was hugely satisfying to take it down so handily this week. Game one felt quite tense, but my spot removal lined up when I needed it to and the six sweepers out of the sideboard were great in game two. 

Round 2: 2-0 vs GB Heroic

I love seeing strange builds at FNM and this one was great. It was basically a combo deck that pointed a bunch of pump spells at green heroic creatures to attack for massive chunks of damage. Unfortunately for him I was able to thoughseize out his creatures in game one and had all the removal for them in game two. 

Round 3: 0-2 vs Mono-Red

This round saw me paired up against Aiden who was piloting a borrowed Mono-Red deck after a few months out of the game. He played it really well and I just couldn't stay alive long enough to stabilise. I felt like I had the removal in game 2 but still lost as he would get small value or damage out of every turn. I'm not really sure what I could have done differently and I think the match up is ok as long as I can land a lifelink creature... I will have to think hard about this one.

Round 4: 2-0 vs Grixis Minotaurs 

This was also a slightly strange deck, it seemed to be a normal BR minotaurs deck but splashing blue for Anticipate. Valorous Stance was handy to protect Rabblemaster in both games, through I should probably have 'boarded them out for game two. Once more the removal suite let me keep the creature deck under control long enough for my dragons to eat them.

So I went 3-1 this week, came in fourth and got myself two boosters and the promo Swords to Plowshares. I had lots of fun with all my games and felt the deck was good in all my match ups. It did feel quite tense in game ones, but it seemed like I could sideboard into the best suited removal for whatever the situation was. All in all it performed well and even the mana base was solid (I never had major issues). I think I'll just run it back again next week. 

-Odd

"Do not fear the lightning. Fear the one it obeys." 

  - Crackling Doom, flavour text