Whispers of the Muse: ChouChou’s Knights (Duel Decks)
Time for another Whispers of the Muse, our occasional series where a reader asks you- the precon community- for help in modifying and improving their precon deck! Today’s request comes to us by way of ChouChou, who says the following:
I’m a big fan of the Knights vs Dragons duel decks and I’m hoping if a tune up of the Dragon deck can be done (making it more competitive!).
He does have a few ideas in mind for where he’d like the deck to go.
The deck can be legal for standard or extended. I would like the deck to stay mono-Red and tuned up so it can be more competitive.
Anything else?
Dragon Claw should be removed.
Got it! Alright folks, lets put our heads together and see what we can’t do to beef up the Dragons deck. Here’s the list out of the box:
So… who’s got some sage counsel for ChouChou?
14 Comments
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Ertai's Lament 
Could you give us a tad bit more direction? I have no clue what’s standard or extended at the moment. I only play casually so double check all to see if it fits your needs.
In general, I’d up the shamans to the max. Take out all the weaker/less efficent dragons and spells. I think I started from almost scratch with my dragon deck. I kept the solid cards and went from there.
4 lightning bolts. A pair of fireballs. Ancient Hellkites I’d throw in. I think I’m running 6 larger dragons and 2 whelps. More Dragon Fodder. I use Predator Dragon, so tokens and a few goblins come in handy.
Depending on how you want to handle the non-dragon creatures, I went more with Goblin something, the one that gives all red first strike. That and the sac = mana one for acceleration.
Not the best advice ever, but that’s a splatter of some of the stuff in my head. Not the biggest red player outside of boros, but I know others will correct me and give you advice too.
…with Goblin something, the one that gives all red first strike…
Bloodmark Mentor
… and the sac = mana one for acceleration …
Skirk Prospector
I think that the *ideal* dragons deck would be for Legacy, as that format lets you play your Dragonspeaker Shamans, which are critical for the deck. A dragons deck might not be doable for standard or extended, but modern might be interesting – you get to play with Dragonstorm combo, a devastating combo deck that saw widespread play.
I agree with Icehawk that we need a bit more direction. I think modern or legacy is the format you might be looking for if you want to play your dragons and eat them too.
Would it be easier if there are no restriction on the cards that can be used? Modern format sounds pretty cool, it means I can still get my hands on the cards as singles and the dragonstorm combo is something I thought about putting into the deck too.
Since I found out about Modern, I love it. I like only using cards in the new frame and black boarder. So yeah, I bet it’d be easier. Then you can adjust it for standard or extended as you wish.
Still, what would you like this deck to be? Speed to dragons or a goblin deck with dragons as finishers? There are quite a few options. Just asking so we can get some idea of where you’d like it to go. Or are you totally open as long as it makes it more competitive? That’s the sense I get from your submission, but don’t want to jump the gun too much.
I prefer speed to dragon with some support from goblins, but yea I’m happy with a different deck too as long as its competetive.
If you’re looking for a fun, casual, dragon deck, I’d recommend that you let yourself open for legacy and check the Dragon Primer out: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=189961
If you want to make this competitive I’d suggest you open yourself to modern, the new kid on the block, or legacy. http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=327528 might be helpful. Be aware that modern and legacy have some price walls to get into the format, so be prepared to spend quite some money on singles and whatnot.
That’s a pretty cool deck there, but I’m trying to keep the deck mono red like the duel deck =)
This deck is usually too slow (especially against the Knights). It definitely needs more Dragonspeaker Shamans and Seething Songs. I would say a full playset of each. Skirk Prospector is handy as well and later you can use them as a snack to your Voracious Dragon(s?).
I would get rid of the Fire-Belly Changeling, Henge Guardian, Bogardan Rager, Mudbutton Torchrunners and Dragon Claw.
For starters ..
I agree on taking those out and maybe even ghost fire(maybe not fire-belly changeling, they are kinda cute =) ), what would you replace those with tho?)
Keeping it more general but refining it over my initial reply.
I’d try to upgrade to superior removal spells. The Breath of D, I like and run 2 of in my deck. So forth. The removal in this deck is okay, but… Well, what can’t be improved upon?
See what dragons you can get a hold of and use the better of them. I have a preference to dragons with haste, but I do use a few without it.
With a playset of Dragon Fodder and the Skirk, consider Mogg War Marshal for additional ramp. Between then and maybe Bloodmark Mentor, that should wind up rounding out your creature line up save for the Shamans. With Seething Song, should have plenty of ramp.
The thing you’ll be lacking is draw power. If you can get your hands on a Browbeat or 2, it’d come in handy to refill your hand.
I think the lightning bolts from the initial reply makes good removal, I agree on the skirk and dragon fodder however I can only get 2 skirks(1 from a duel deck and I might buy another one for better mix). Seething song and shamans will be a 2 of’s as well, but I’m considering putting in 4 Pyretic Ritual and Geosurge(new card from mirrodin block, 4 mana for 7, another ramp card). That should be enough ramp in the deck I think.
Sounds good to me.