Full disclosure, this deck concept is heavily flawed. That is part of my goal. I want a handicap. I am prone to optimizing my decks as far as my budget will allow, which puts me in the upper tier of my local LGS. This can be problematic when I end up at a table with newer players. I want something that can impact the board when up against someone experienced but does not roflstomp newbies.
I have also been pursuing an aura based enchantress deck for a while. Previously I have posted concepts for and based builds linked below. I have also messed around with a Sythis, Harvest's Hand build based on a list made by @TheAmericanSpirit.
list with Wyleth, Soul of Steel: www.mtgnexus.com/viewtopic.php?p=141979
list with Mazzy, Truesword Paladin: www.mtgnexus.com/viewtopic.php?p=141979
list with Sythis, Harvest's Hand: www.mtgnexus.com/viewtopic.php?p=212431
In all of these cases, the decks have left me uninspired. They have been fun one or two games, then I lose interest. I think white is to blame. This is a major strategy the colour is known for, and is very good at it; that may be the problem. There isn't much space for original problem solving.
The challenge to making a deck around Rosnakht, Heir of Rohgahh is that can expect to run out of cards in hand quickly. If you want to build a sizable army using his heroic ability, you need to cast many cheap spells that target him. Most online lists solve the problem by using cantrips like Expedite and Crimson Wisps . That plan is efficient, but I don't want a spellslinger deck. I want an enchantress deck. Thankfully red offers several enchantments that are naturally reusable, Crown of Flames, Ghitu Firebreathing & Mark of Fury.
I also think I have found some other interesting work arounds to the card advantage problem:
- Scarab of the Unseen This is an old card. I don't even know how I found it. Once upon a time I think this was meant to save aura's when a creature was hit with removal. Here I can use it to recast auras for more tokens.
- Enchanter's Bane is a roundabout choice. In theory I can use this to target my own enchantments to gain some card advantage. Specifically cards like Fiery Mantle and Unquenchable Fury which return to hand when they hit the graveyard. Or I can just use it to punish folks with Smothering Tithe.
- Cloudstone Curio is an expensive classic that desperately needs a reprint. Although it is traditionally used in decks heavy on creature etb effects, such as Animar, Soul of Elements, but there is no reason I can't use it to return a few aura's to hand. If I can't draw new cards, I'll recycle what I got already.
Red does not offer any enchantment cast triggers. In fact it only offers 1 card with a constellation trigger, Forgeborn Oreads. It does however offer plenty of cast triggers from "noncreature spells" which is sort of the same thing. Nothing that will draw cards, but we can ping our opponents like crazy with Firebrand Archer and Kessig Flamebreather.
While I'm at it, this deck is making tokens from casting those enchantments. No reason not to include Impact Tremors and Purphoros, God of the Forge. Since Kobolds are so small, I can also make use of Cavalcade of Calamity and Raid Bombardment. Throw in some damage buffs like Mechanized Warfare and Torbran, Thane of Red Fell and I think I may have a strategy.
To round things out a bit more I have Shared Animosity to buff the team; this cards triggered ability can be stacked to resolve after an effect like Cavalcade of Calamity. I can also leverage Ensnaring Bridge. It isn't a very friendly card, but my creatures are puny and my hand size is small, making it very one sided.
A final note about Forgeborn Oreads. As the only red enchantress card, and the fact it is doing exactly what the deck wants to do, you would think that it would make the cut. Unfortunately Defiler of Instinct is a thing that exists. It triggers from all red permanents and in a deck filled with 1 cmc auras, the cost reduction is nothing to sneeze at either.
I have also omitted the 0 cmc kobolds the tribe is famous for such as Kobolds of Kher Keep, Crimson Kobolds, Crookshank Kobolds and Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh. The only reason for this is the presence of Cloudstone Curio in the deck. With Impact Tremors or Purphoros, God of the Forge on the board you have an infinite combo. This is not taboo at my LGS, but if it happens once, every game there after Cloudstone Curio will be treated as my primary win con. I see it as more of a tool to make up for a lack of card advantage and don't want to up it's threat factor.
The Deck
Iteration 2
Approximate Total Cost:
Zacama
