Peasant, Pauper, Noble, and now Aristocrat.
Here is the Challenge:
Make an Aristocrat deck.
Rules:
1) Decks must contain 60 cards.
2) Decks can have up to 2 rares. Of the two rares, each one must be unique. In other words, a deck can't have two copies of the same rare.
3) Mythic rares are not allowed. Ever! Yes, that means no planeswalkers.***EDIT: Has been pointed out to me, by s0rinmark0v, that there were 5 Planeswalkers that started out Rares, and were converted over to Mythical Rares:Aristocrat Planeswalkers (Only allowed Planeswalkers in Aristocrat Format)- Ajani Goldmane- Jace Beleren- Liliana Vess- Chandra Nalaar- Garruk Wildspeaker4
4) Decks can also have up to 12 uncommons. Like the rares, the number of copies you can include of any particular uncommon is restricted. In this case, no more than three copies of any one uncommon are allowed.
5) The rest of your deck is composed of commons, with the restriction that only 4 copies of up to three particular commons are allowed, with the rest of the deck's commons being limited to no more than 3 per unique common.
6) Basic lands are used as normal, with no particular limit on copies.
7) Sideboards are allowed and encouraged, and may include up to 1 rare and 3 uncommons, duplicating perfectly the rarity distribution of a typical booster pack. Additionally, none of the cards in the sideboard can be copies of the cards in the main deck.
8) Sideboards are allowed to have 4 copies of up to two particular commons in the sideboard.
Idea from Challenge came from:
http://www.cardshark.com/Articles/Magic-the-Gathering/Brock-Siems/Advent-of-An-Aristocrat-%E2%80%9COfficial%E2%80%9D-Rules-for-a-New-Magic-Format/View-Article/4435?ref=facebook
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I realized Radha and Ash Zealot deserve an aristocrat deck. This deck was originally supported by land destruction, but that support grew into a deck of it's own. So these fine ladies have been moved to this deck.
EDIT:
I just find that ... Radha is mediocre in this sort of deck. If the mana she generated did not have to be spent in the combat phase,she would be far better. For now ... Radha is mad she is not here.
Here is the link to the challenge page.
http://www.mtgvault.com/jessie/decks/aristocrat-format-challenge/
Rare:
(1) Boartusk Liege
(1) Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
Uncommon:
(3) Bloodmark Mentor
(3) Boggart Ram-Gang
(3) Fanatic of Xenagos
(3) Warrior's Lesson
Common:
(4) Rip-Clan Crasher
(3) Brute Force
(3) Colossal Might
(4) Psychotic Fury
(3) Runes of the Deus
(3) Scuzzback Marauders
(4) Wild Nacatl
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Are you joking? Run up to your opponent and punch them in the face. You've got a massive bag of crazy buffs to throw around: +1/+1 counters, trample, double strike, haste - hell, even persist, wither, and tribute find a home in this deck!
If that's not enough, check out the incredibly cruel battery of instants. Setessan Tactics + trample practically ensure you will draw at least one card. Double strike gives you the capability to draw 4, yes, FOUR cards for the price of a measly one CMC instant. Not bad at all.
Aside from, well, punching your opponent in the face, there are a few other tricks you should know. This one's knew to me: -1/-1 counters and +1/+1 counters can't exist on a creature (or ... other permanent ... yup, i'll get back to you on that). In other words, a +1/+1 counter + a -1/-1 counter = zero counters. For you skeptics, it's in the comprehensive rules around 121.
Now, I hear you saying, "This is all fine and dandy for simic decks or builds that focus on wither, but how could it possibly apply to this deck? Only one creature has wither." True. That creature called Boggart Ram-Gang is not part of the shenanigans.
You see, Scuzzback Marauders has persist. A nifty little ability. Now, it never actually occurred to me that persist might be downright better than undying in certain circumstances. You see, taking a counter off a permanent is normally quite difficult ... but that nifty little canceling trick I discovered simplifies things. Now all we need to do is put a +1/+1 counter on Mr. Marauder, and he will come back with no counters on him. And Bramblewood Paragon accomplishes that nicely, activating when he enters the battlefield ... triggering his persist ability indefinitely.
Yup, that's right folks. Not just auto-regen (Knight of the Holy Nimbus + Pithing Needle), but auto-returns-to-battlefield. Just when I'd thought I'd seen it all. Oh well, that's the beauty of magic.
Seriously though, I love the feel of this deck. I never feel bogged down ... there is always something to do with my creatures and cards. At the same time, I don't feel in danger of top decking, even with minimal card draw. It's just that you can sit pretty on your instants while your creatures do the heavy lifting, then - BAM! - I just cast colossal might and psychotic strike on my hasted fanatic of xenagos that you foolishly choose to not pay tribute on. Tsk, tsk ... but I guess I would have done it next turn anyway. The point is, you don't have to burn through your cards to respond to threats, unlike counter and burn decks.
Anyways, good luck, and happy deck building.