Deck 'MiniRampie_v2.3'

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Deck : 'MiniRampie_v2.3', by Eric Baes (created 2015-01-03)
Format : Standard THS BNG JOU M15 KTK
Archetype : (Abzan) Junk Aggro/Control
Colors : BGW
Plan A : mini-ramping towards (a moderate amount of) overpowered creatures, with some protection
Plan B : lots of spot (and sideboard swarm) 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 major deck version (due to the absence of shock lands); moderate (primarily lands) self-damage; limited card draw capability
Comment : minor deck update; yet untested; if more creatures desirable, then also include 'Anafenza, the Foremost' ?

Deck

Number of cards : 60
Mana curve : 0:24 1:6 2:9 3:15 4:6
Mana cost symbols : B:27 U:0 G:17 R:0 W:20
Mana ability sources : X:8 B:20 U:4 G:19 R:4 W:17
 
Why this card ?    Why this amount ?    Comment ...

24 Lands
Lands mana ability sources : X:8 B:16 U:0 G:15 R:0 W:13
Lands untapped mana ability sources : X:8 B:9 U:0 G:9 R:0 W:8
Lands self-damage mana ability sources : X:0 B:8 U:0 G:7 R:0 W:7
 
4 E M Caves of Koilos  / tempo  / 1st best (despite pain) multi-land  /
4 E M Llanowar Wastes  / tempo  / 1st best (despite pain) multi-land  /
4 E M L Temple of Malady  / scry  / 2nd best multi-land, also supporting GG  /
3 E M L Temple of Silence  / scry  / 2nd best multi-land  /
3 E M Windswept Heath  / tempo  / 3rd best fetch (untapped) multi-land  / risking useless 3rd copy (unless 'Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth' on battlefield)
2 E M Forest  / also fetchable  / lands completion (some GG spells)  /
2 E M L Temple of Plenty  / scry  / 4th best multi-land (i.e. not supporting BB)  /
1 E M Plains  / also fetchable  / lands completion (no WW spells)  /
1 E M L Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth  / remove all B lands self-damage  / legendary  /

18 Creatures
Creatures mana curve : 0:0 1:0 2:9 3:5 4:4
Creatures mana cost symbols : B:12 U:0 G:14 R:0 W:9
Creatures mana ability sources : X:0 B:4 U:4 G:4 R:4 W:4
 
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  /
1 E M L 1W Seeker of the Way  / 10+ main deck lifegain triggers  / situational  /
4 E M L 1BB Master of the Feast  / ultimate evasive beatdown monster, despite opponent's card advantage  / always useful  /
1 E M L 1GG Courser of Kruphix  / acceleration (+ lifegain)  / sideboard copies for aggro disruption  /
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 2:0 3:6
Instants and Sorceries mana cost symbols : B:13 U:0 G:3 R:0 W:5
Instants and Sorceries mana ability sources : X:0 B:0 U:0 G:0 R:0 W:0
 
4 E M L B Thoughtseize  / proactive disruption, in addition to other reactive removal  / maximizing overall 1-drop probability, despite life loss  /
2 M L W Gods Willing  / cheap protection (+ situational evasion)  / inferior to creatures and offensive removal  /
3 E M L BGW Abzan Charm  / versatile instant, including card draw  / practically always useful  /
3 E M L 1BB Hero's Downfall  / versus primarily planeswalkers  / practically always useful  /

6 Other Spells
Other Spells mana curve : 0:0 1:0 2:0 3:4 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
 
4 E M L 2W Banishing Light  / generic exile capability  / always useful, despite 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 ...

4 Creatures
1 M L XG Mistcutter Hydra  / versus U(/x) control  / limited tempo efficiency  /
3 E M L 1GG Courser of Kruphix  / acceleration (+ lifegain)  / sideboard copies for aggro disruption  /

11 Instants or Sorceries
1 M L W Gods Willing  / cheap protection (+ situational evasion)  / inferior to creatures and offensive removal  /
3 E M L BB Bile Blight  / cheap x-for-1 instant speed removal  / more limited board wipe probability than 'Drown in Sorrow'  /
1 E M L 1G Unravel the Ęther  / primarily hard enchantment removal  / situational exile-ish removal  /
4 E M L 1BB Drown in Sorrow  / x-for-1 versus small (100% opponent's) creatures  / maximal board wipe probability  /
1 E M L BGW Abzan Charm  / versatile instant, including card draw  / practically always useful  /
1 E M L 1BB Hero's Downfall  / versus primarily planeswalkers  / practically always useful  /

Note: Unused Cards

Why ?

Lands
Sandsteppe Citadel  / missing scry

Creatures
B Bloodsoaked Champion  / too weak/slow, even against control matchups
G Elvish Mystic  / too low turn-2 3-drop probability
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'
2 Phyrexian Revoker  / preference for minimal amount of creatures in sideboard
BG Rakshasa Deathdealer  / potentially too much mana sink self-damage (no evasion)'
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
1BB Herald of Torment  / already lands self-damage, plus relatively high bestow cost compared to extra damage
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 Dark Betrayal  / too narrow
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
1W Glare of Heresy  / slightly inferior removal (for an already supplementary removal oriented sideboard)
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'
3WW End Hostilities  / self disadvantage
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
1W Suspension Field  / too situational exile capability
BGW Abzan Ascendancy  / too weak against against heavy/wipe removal
1GG Bow of Nylea  / relatively slow
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