Deck 'MiniRampie_v2.2'

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Deck : 'MiniRampie_v2.2', by Eric Baes (created 2014-10-17)
Format : Standard THS BNG JOU M15 KTK
Archetype : (Abzan) Junk Aggro/Control
Colors : BGW
Plan A : mini-ramping towards (moderate amount of) overpowered creatures, with some protection
Plan B : lots of spot removal (plus some disruption)
Strengths : low mana curve (top = 6 spells in 4 CMC slot); versatile (spot + wipe) removal based non-intrusive sideboard (keeping offensive deck nature)
Weaknesses : crowded 3 CMC slot; more relaxed aggro component than previous deck versions (due to the absence of shock lands); moderate (primarily lands) self-damage; limited card draw capability
Comment : minor deck update; yet untested (except for slightly positive result against 'Temur Aggro/Ramp' deck and slightly negative result against mono-White 'Ajani's Pridemate' deck)

Deck

Number of cards : 60
Mana curve : 0:23 1:7 2:10 3:14 4:6
Mana cost symbols : B:29 U:0 G:17 R:0 W:19
Mana ability sources : X:8 B:20 U:4 G:19 R:4 W:17
 
Why this card ?    Why this amount ?    Comment ...

23 Lands
Lands mana ability sources : X:8 B:16 U:0 G:14 R:0 W:13
Lands untapped mana ability sources : X:8 B:9 U:0 G:8 R:0 W:7
Lands self-damage mana ability sources : X:0 B:8 U:0 G:6 R:0 W:6
 
4 E M Caves of Koilos  / tempo  / best (despite pain) land  /
4 E M Llanowar Wastes  / tempo  / best (despite pain) land  /
3 E M L Temple of Malady  / scry  / 2nd best land  /
3 E M L Temple of Silence  / scry  / 2nd best land  /
2 E M Forest  / also fetchable  / lands completion (some GG spells)  /
2 E M L Temple of Plenty  / scry  / 3nd best land (i.e. not supporting BB)  /
2 E M Windswept Heath  / tempo  / fetch (untapped) land  /
1 E M Plains  / also fetchable  / lands completion (no WW spells)  /
1 E M L Sandsteppe Citadel  / tricolor for more BB support  / missing scry  /
1 E M L Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth  / remove all B lands self-damage  / legendary  /

19 Creatures
Creatures mana curve : 0:0 1:1 2:8 3:6 4:4
Creatures mana cost symbols : B:14 U:0 G:15 R:0 W:8
Creatures mana ability sources : X:0 B:4 U:4 G:5 R:4 W:4
 
1 E M G Elvish Mystic  / mini-ramping tempo  / minimal turn-2 3-drop probability  /
4 E L GW Fleecemane Lion  / early pressure + late defense  / maximal 2 CMC slot aggression  /
4 E M 1G Sylvan Caryatid  / (safe) mini-ramping tempo  / maximal early ramp probability  /
4 E M L 1BB Master of the Feast  / ultimate beatdown monster  / always useful  /
1 E M L 1GG Courser of Kruphix  / acceleration (+ lifegain)  / minimal aggro creatures disruption  /
1 E M L 1BB Herald of Torment  / evasion + bestow  / already lands self-damage  /
4 M L 1BGW Siege Rhino  / direct damage/lifegain + trample  / always useful  /

12 Instants and Sorceries
Instants and Sorceries mana curve : 0:0 1:6 2:1 3:5
Instants and Sorceries mana cost symbols : B:13 U:0 G:2 R:0 W:5
Instants and Sorceries mana ability sources : X:0 B:0 U:0 G:0 R:0 W:0
 
3 M L W Gods Willing  / cheap protection (+ situational evasion)  / inferior to creatures and offensive removal  /
3 E M L B Thoughtseize  / proactive disruption, in addition to reactive removal  / balancing additional self-damage with overall 1-drop probability  /
1 E M L BB Bile Blight  / cheap instant speed removal  / too situational for 4 copies; minimal main deck uselessness risk  /
3 E M L 1BB Hero's Downfall  / versus primarily planeswalkers  / practically always useful  /
2 E M L BGW Abzan Charm  / versatile instant  / tricolor mana cost  /

6 Other Spells
Other Spells mana curve : 0:0 1:0 2:1 3:3 4:2
Other Spells mana cost symbols : B:2 U:0 G:0 R:0 W:6
Other Spells mana ability sources : X:0 B:0 U:0 G:0 R:0 W:0
 
1 E M L 1W Suspension Field  / barely any removal in 2 CMC slot  / situational (but likely) exile capability  /
3 E M L 2W Banishing Light  / generic exile capability  / practically always useful, but sorcery speed  /
2 M L 2BW Sorin, Solemn Visitor  / primarily lifegain boost  / very-nice-to-have  /

Sideboard

Number of cards : 15
 
Why this card ?    Why this amount ?    Comment ...

1 Creatures
1 E M L 2 Phyrexian Revoker  / primarily against activated mana abilities, planeswalkers, and monstrous creatures  / minimal aggro creatures disruption  /

12 Instants or Sorceries
1 E M L B Dark Betrayal  / cheap B creature removal  / situational removal optimization  /
2 E M L BB Bile Blight  / cheap instant speed removal  / too situational for 4 copies; minimal main deck uselessness risk  /
1 E M L 1W Glare of Heresy  / versus W permanents (including planeswalkers)  / situational removal optimization  /
1 E M L 1G Unravel the Ęther  / primarily hard enchantment removal  / additional exile-ish removal  /
4 E M L 1BB Drown in Sorrow  / versus small (99% opponent) creatures  / maximal board wipe probability  /
1 E M L 1BB Hero's Downfall  / versus primarily planeswalkers  / practically always useful  /
2 M L 3WW End Hostilities  / against swarming/midrange (in case of low opponent's hand volume)  / reasonable board wipe probability, considering scry lands  /

2 Other Spells
1 M L BGW Abzan Ascendancy  / against heavy/wipe removal  / minimal aggro disruption  /
1 M L 1GG Bow of Nylea  / versatile (primarily against direct damage)  / legendary  /

Note: Unused Cards

Why ?

Creatures
B Bloodsoaked Champion  / too weak/slow, even against control matchups
W Selfless Cathar  / too weak effect, because not many affected creatures
1W Aegis of the Gods  / too narrow
BW Chief of the Edge  / missing synergy
1W Master of Pearls  / too slow/vulnerable/costly as morph creature, compared to e.g. 'Inspired Charge'
BG Rakshasa Deathdealer  / potentially too much mana sink self-damage (no evasion)'
1W Seeker of the Way  / perhaps too situational
BGW Anafenza, the Foremost  / not powerful enough
1BW Athreos, God of Passage  / too situational (in case of either opponent at high life total, or either other creature removal ways
1GG Boon Satyr  / relatively weak toughness and presumably too high flash/reactive bestow cost
1WW Brimaz, King of Oreskos  / relatively underpowered attacker without evasion, despite excellent vigilance
2W Hushwing Gryff  / too narrow; also too weak
2G Reclamation Sage  / preference for minimal amount of creatures in sideboard
2GG Polukranos, World Eater  / no evasion
2BG Reaper of the Wilds  / no evasion
5G Hooting Mandrills  / too slow

Instants and Sorceries
B Despise  / inferior to 'Thoughtseize'
G Gather Courage  / too weak/defensive (negative 2-for-1 risk)
XW Glimpse the Sun God  / relatively hard to use in aggro/tempo setting
B Ulcerate  / too much self-damage
XG Windstorm  / too situational, and potentially too expensive; partly replaced by 'Bile Blight'
1G Back to Nature  / kills own monsters
1W Feat of Resistance  / 'Gods Willing' should suffice
BG Kin-Tree Invocation  / creates (statistically) average creature without abilities
1G Life's Legacy  / can't be used reactively, hence tempo loss
XWW Return to the Ranks  / slightly too situational
1G Savage Punch  / slightly too situational, hence preference for hard removal
1G Titanic Growth  / less versatile than e.g. 'Abzan Charm'
1GW Reap What Is Sown  / too weak per creature
2WW Inspired Charge  / not enough return on investment, due to low number of creatures
2BB Silence the Believers  / more expensive than 'Banishing Light'
2BW Utter End  / more expensive than 'Banishing Light'
4G Hunter's Prowess  / relatively expensive; disrupting the low-CMC reactive removal/control deck aspect
5G Become Immense  / too situational; in principle worse than 'Titanic Growth'

Other Spells
W Oppressive Rays  / only useful during early/mid game
1WW Spear of Heliod  / too weak/reactive/expensive
2BB Whip of Erebos  / too expensive; preference for 'Sorin, Solemn Visitor'
3GG Nissa, Worldwaker  / slower than 'Siege Rhino'
3WW Spectra Ward  / too expensive; no guarantee against mass or untargeted blowouts