Mtg Deck Tech: Primal Hailfire in Ixalan Standard!

[@Treaxvour]

‘hey kid..wanna play some control?’ Oh I don’t know about that, I’m an aggro/combo player. ‘It’s rakdos and has a lethal life drain combos.’ Oh boy!

[@andrewsparkes6115]

Trever Wiebenga Also basically Storm! This deck pleases everyone!

[@DarkQuaz]

Hey Dev thanks for another great deck tech. I really wish you would go into more detail about what upgrades you would make for the “Spikiest” version of these budget decks.

[@SteelsammyFilms]

I think this is the first Rakdos deck I've seen with no creatures.

[@daievo073]

It's time to start seeing you in action, Dev! I really hope to see that at one point. It'll tie-in so much to how you make your decks!

[@ya64]

Yeah, I'd love to see some gameplay of his decks. Even if is just once in a while.

[@dr_jones9137]

I was literally brewing up this list the other day but with green to ramp into really big hailfires. Love the list, will definitely be sleeving it up soon! Keep it up my wizard!

[@gabrielqueiros3259]

i have a jund list like this!

[@tbaggins5349]

same actually im bringing it to fnm tomorrow 😂😂 im playing walking ballista and torment because im going for stuff like hour of promise

[@bradscott1988]

ive been playing around with U/R deck of this splashing black for cut and hailfire, love it, my type of deck for sure

[@isaiahwinfree8372]

Wow...you used a hard r

[@isaiahwinfree8372]

My wizad

[@TheNewOceanic]

Haircut looks great man!

[@dboeify]

I would definitely recommend considering some of the expertises. Getting the double free cast is great. This also isn't bad for some of the last stands, doubling a hazoret's undying fury or a rhonas's last stand, or stealing 2 creatures, artifacts or enchantments with kefnet's final word could be great. If you go green, another great option would be wildest dreams.

[@MagicStew]

With every set, there's a deck tech that you give us which I literally cannot wait to play. This is that deck!

[@FlatEarthTalk]

This looks cool Dev! It would be cool to maybe splash green for ramp such as Hour of Promise which would help get a TON of mana for Hailfire and also clog the board a little bit with the zombies, and could use ifnir deadland and maybe a hostile desert combo for some emergency backup blocking or even attacking to finish the game. Idk, just an idea maybe it wouldn't fit in.. But also wanted to add for your Mono Black Monument deck, which looks awesome, maybe include a copy or two of treasure map to help scry after attacking with ruin raider just to make sure you don't die to drawing a marionette master or herald of anguish. Plus when it flips you're already half way there to winning with 3 treasure tokens to marionette master, plus you can draw even more safely from sacking a treasure token instead of ruin raiders trigger. I think that treasure map fits perfect in that deck

[@kc1423]

Whoa.....I clicked on my subscription link for this video and it took me too the black monument deck....I thought I was having the most intense deja vu before I finally checked

[@rrrof711]

I love the idea! I just picked up a couple torment of hailfires for my blue black pirate sligh deck. I need to look into getting some of those primal amulets because they would fit well in my blue black pirate sligh. I think with this deck idea you could add a few more artifacts and run unlicensed disintegration to deal some more damage and create a good groundwork for the hailfire to deal more loss of life.

[@jebustchrist4054]

I'd mainboard 4 sword-points. Synergizes with the hailfire's very well and Baral sounds fun with the amulet. Does the costs one less effect add to X as long as X is 1 or greater?

[@davidesangiorgi955]

Jebust Christ yeah i think it does, i m with you with the sword point it needs more draw

[@ruemanshu]

from what i understand it does, you choose the cost of x when casting the spell and pay 1 less?

[@sammckay1307]

Yes, it does and so does Baral. I had a very common play with Baral in play of Pull from Tomorrow for all but one land to leave up negate and still drew the "normal" amount.

[@FlatEarthTalk]

Yea I think that's true because cards that make artifact spells cost 1 less make walking ballista cost 1, 3, or 5 for a 2x, 4x, or 6x ballista

[@turnemsideways191]

Has anyone come to a conclusion yet? I need to know what I'm buying!!!!

[@ya64]

Sweet deck Dev! Love Primal Amulet, it's so fun to play and gets insane when you flip it! I got it into a casual UR spells deck. Would love to see a deck around Sunbird's Invocation. Keep it up! 😉

[@ContextG]

I've been looking at jund for a primal amulet deck with a sequence that will let you flip the amulet turn 4. Turn 2 mana dork. Turn 3 amulet Turn 4 winding constrictor plus 2 spells, any 2 instant/sorcery, which becomes easier because the amulet reduces costs by 1. Testing it has proven to be brutal when you're doubling up on things as early as turn 4. Green would also allow you to play a turn 5 carnage tyrant if you had a similar start. Or a turn 4 carnage tyrant if you're playing more ramp style. Overall, the amulet has power, no doubt, and I just know it's going to be a staple in every instant/sorcery focused edh deck until the ends of time. Great deck tech, right after I out together your G/B explore deck, now I've got this to try as well lol

[@refreshdaemon]

I was brewing a Dimir variant of this deck, using blue card draw (Opt, Glimmer), and counters mixed with black removal to control the board and get to the win condition, with Baral as a means to further accelerate since he can come down on 2. Didn't really think of red, but that's an interesting alternative now that you've shared it.

[@darthbernstein9889]

played a similar list myself for few days now and Hostage Taker is everything but a dead card in this matchup, it can easily exile ur amulet before you get a chance to flip it making you collect the 4 counters again from beginning even if you remove it in time. post sideboard you mostly die to the huge amount of counterspells temur/sultai boards in while they beat you down with a hydra(all doomfall of the world needed, hour of devastation helping too (also against walkers). You need lost legacies against approach since killing them faster than they just win the game even through 4 duress is a very unlikely outcome. I myself ended up playing 2 approach in the sideboard against decks that just get way too much life or permanents to sac (cats/tokens) since your amulet makes any color of mana when flipped. Furthermore the 4 Sword point diplomacy main are the key to this deck since opponents will give you all the lands which you then transform to gas with help of tornmenting and karthatic.

[@ecoKady]

Darth Bernstein Waiting to draw the Approach of the Second Sun again with relatively little card draw seems like it could be tough to pull off. How do you survive long enough to draw it and cast it again?

[@BowmantheSlayer]

For the first time in my life I have to say I actually love your shirt dev!

[@FlatEarthTalk]

There was a couple things I was wondering. Say you have two amulets that are flipped, and you cast torment of hailfire using mana from both flipped amulets to cast the hailfire would the total number of hailfire spells cast be 3? Also what happens if they counter the original spell, do the copies still go through?

[@rockerman403]

Flat Earth Talk if the original doesn't resolve, then the copy does not have a legal target to copy from.

[@FlatEarthTalk]

It actually looks like it does if you read the ruling on the card from wizards gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Primal+Amulet

[@topperyost6200]

Blue White flyers!

[@jonstephenson6103]

I'm actually working on a jund build of this. Mostly for hour of promise. Doubled with the amulet fetched 4 lands and gets you 4 zombies. Making your turn 6 hailfire insane. Just a thought.

[@davidesangiorgi955]

Jon Stephenson yeah i agree with hour of promise but it s hard to include deserts in a 3 color decks

[@zx3focus43]

Do you currently have a list. I would like to see it.

[@guilhermesalome]

It would be great if you had some gameplay videos using this deck. Great video as always!

[@shotokantiger4982]

Great deck tech. I've been working on something similar and I love the build you put out. Keep it up~!

[@KingDeeeeerp]

@strictly better mtg I love this deck. I did a couple of upgrades to run a grixis version I'll be taking to the Portland standard Grand Prix. I can't seem to find very many people running it besides grixis control, and I think it'll do pretty good! Wish me luck!

[@panchosaurus0490]

Andrew J do you have that deck list?

[@Mannehrlich]

Haha i just found out that one of your intro's is the frog theme from chrono trigger. Just want to say i love you and keep doing what you're doing you're awesome!

[@planeswalkermtg5324]

Could I sub in Bontus Last Reckoning as an answer for Rexproof?

[@tbaggins5349]

Planeswalker MTG id say no because it taps down your lands because eventually youre just gonna hailfire so big they have to sac their guys and discard because amulet flips into a land id say no but it depends on your meta

[@Soladrin]

Try Yahenni's expertise, if copied it kills tyrant and you get two free spells. If you have to cast it earlier (for instance against a wide token deck) the free cast will help you get counters on the amulet faster.

[@magicfortrolls9853]

Planeswalker MTG yap

[@poker_dog]

bontu is only good if you have 7 land or so..... do not use early game

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

Soladrin I totally agree, seeing as though wellspring should be active by the time tyrant comes down, it just might feel bad to expertise into torment

[@Jonzin4BeatzNYC]

Not sure if this was mentioned but hostage taker can swipe artifacts such as primal amulet. Cast out can also target it. But that's basically their only target here. Great deck tech as always. Lubu dub dub! We need a deck named shwifty!

[@demetriusa.phofolos7184]

Can I just say that standard is fucking awesome right now

[@disafear3674]

Too right!

[@robertsimmons4240]

Very intriguing and really looks cool. Keep it coming.

[@m.morath1190]

I thought Sword-Point was weird, too. Thanks for confirming!

[@gavinli1368]

Hey Dev, I just found your Deck Tech Rap from a little while ago and it was Awesome! Are you ever going to do another one sometime?

[@kyletaylor1832]

First off love there list! But, in the video you asked other color possibilities. Mardu could do it. It has a few early game removal spells as well as fumigate and settle the wreckage. Just food for thought.

[@SwellyPetrelli]

Yo this looks bonkers! can imagine the fun combos happening here

[@barbaricpenguin]

Just looking at the decklist before watching the video, I already like it.

[@chandlercook8714]

hey Dev, may I ask why lost legacy wasn't in the board for approach decks an scarabs god.or hazoret?

[@jaapplespo4940]

Love the vids, love the shirt!/shirts and tunes too! Keep on being awesome dude! Thanks for the wicked mtg vids!

[@stephenklien]

Just checking: if you copy a Sweltering Suns with the Primal Wellspring, that's going to take out Carnage Tyrant, right? If the removal isn't targeted, then hexproof doesn't save it. Am I getting that right?

[@ecoKady]

Stephen Klien If tyrant isn't pumped in any way, it will kill tyrant.

[@claudioriquelme6528]

I use more burn focus deck, with injures and gontis machination. Without black removal, only red damage removal (shock, lightstrikes and cut) and black card focus in draw (sworn point diplomacy and live young). Injure, two gonti and shock are 16 damage

[@joelb9665]

Madcap experiment? It drops amulet onto the field 100% of the time unless you die.

[@gotbigp8408]

Love this interesting brew! Keep it up Dev!

[@silverfordston6ify]

I know we wouldn't really wanna do creatures in the deck but I think to copies of Neheb, The Eternal would be sweet. Play a torment with Neheb out and you'll almost get that much mana back. Plus it dodges most key removal pieces

[@coreyyoung6053]

I'm liking it. I usually play Commander and am just starting to get into standard so this helps.

[@henriqueoliveira3922]

What do you think about Neheb red in this deck? or that enchant that deals damage if discard a card ?

[@mealythenoob3940]

I really like Search for Az and Hour of Promise in this. copying HOP getting 4 dorks and 4 lands is insane. Searching up answers every turn also seems good. Unsure what I'd remove to add copies though

[@mint888]

I made a similar deck but included Treasure Map and Unlicensed disintegration for the mana/scry/removal and hurt

[@houseofshadow6380]

Oh man. I'm working on an Esper Approach deck with Primal Amulet, and I might have to throw in some Hailfire too. Oh man. Sweet tech, Dev!

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

House of Shadow may I join your house?

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

House of Shadow also approach has to be from hand

[@houseofshadow6380]

Louise Drake "Otherwise, put Approach of the Second Sun into its owner's library seventh from the top and you gain 7 life." With Primal Wellspring, you cast the spell and make a copy of Approach. The copy resolves first, fulfilling the "otherwise" clause of Approach, then the copy you cast from your hand resolves and you win the game on the spot. This works 😊

[@houseofshadow6380]

Nevermind, it doesn't work! I'm an idiot. But hey, you gain 14 life from that play, and still set up for the potential win from Approach.

[@Randomclipos]

I was actually building a deck myself similar to this one only difference is that I sacrifice removals for minotaurs like neheb cards

[@donovan4444]

I wish you put a link to the list posted on a mtgo card buying site also. I want this deck, but online.

[@tcb164]

Looking fresh af. Keep up the good work fellow ent.

[@Bleuchz]

So I dig the channel and love your decks but is there a particular reason you don't put the lists in the description?

[@ecoKady]

Bleuchz He gets credit in some way with tcgplayer for clicking through and moreso for buying.

[@MrBubblegumx]

Blue is also good for pull from tomorrow or entrancing melody

[@Sonatafade]

Another amazing and fun looking deck. Nice!

[@atti1120]

im considering starting magic again and mby standard, would it be dumb to buy a couple of packs of ixalan and go trade at fnm? for this deck

[@quintclobo4448]

i love this kind of deck and if I was to get back into standard I would play this

[@Lumpyspacejams]

I brewed this deck just yesterday but went U/B using Dowsing Dagger, Pyramid of the pantheon and discard outlets. Only creatures were Kitesail Freebooter, Champ of Wits and Dreamstealer. I kind of like this better but kind of just like done with RED for a while, sad face :(

[@L1vevvir3]

Habe you thought of essence extraction as well?

[@josecastro9062]

I like this deck Idea i would love to see your version of a grixis control of this deck.

[@DuncanEllis]

I really like Torment of Hailfire. I am trying to figure out how to fit it into a commander deck, but a Primal Wellspring copy might push it over the edge into a viable tool.

[@strangemaggot]

Duncan Ellis I run a mono black commander that I use torment of hailfire in. Other main cards I run it with are dictate if erebos, grave betrayal, and pestilence demon. Its kinda like a removal/sacrifice deck. Hope this helps or gives you an idea of one possibility.

[@johnsondoan294]

hey really big question about amulet and i know this is old but hopefully someone can answer this rulings question: if i have 4 counters on amulet, can i in response to abrade, choose to transform it?? doesn’t it go on the stack and resolve first causing abrade to fizzle??

[@Temzilla2]

No Mirage Mirror to have more copy lands? Or is it not efficient enough?

[@s-rkids3805]

Your so awesome! Your decks are great and content is spectacular! Keep up the great work

[@brooksington4696]

I think blue DEFINITELY belongs in this deck list, Chart a course, and Opt in particular.

[@xavisimon3095]

you can test Renegade's Getaway in the sideboard to protect the amulet against abrade. It will ad a counter, leave a chump blocker, and make the deck even more weirdo for 2 CMC ^_^

[@darkchiron]

I've been trying to build this deck as blue/red, but I think I like what you've got here better. Seems quite good to me. Maybe the Grixis version will be the way to go.

[@rockerman403]

darkchiron personally I think blue black red is the best idea.

[@rockerman403]

Then you just take advantage of counter spells to deal with their counters and a lost legacy or doomfall for Carnage tyrant.

[@jamesstaggs4160]

I've been trying to come up with an Amulet/Torment deck of my own. If you can copy that spell with a decent amount of mana pumped into it, damn.....

[@Theorak]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can you with one Amulett and 2 counters plus one already flipped, cast a spell once, copy it, flip the other Amulett and copy again?

[@DrahcirBishop]

Theorak primal amulet gets a counter when you cast. Copying isn't casting.

[@rockerman403]

However, if you have two wellsprings and use one mana from each to cast a spell, you then have two copies of that spell

[@Arghore]

I would probably go with 2 more doomfall and 2 less shock. This mainly to give more options against control, and to have more options against Tyrant (seeing we keep the board clean so well the tyrant should be the only creature 'sticking' and doomfall takes care of it at that point... Also, cool deck again !

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

Arghore tyrant is overrated

[@DanteInformal]

Why did you skip out on Bontu Last Reckoning? I figured you'd have that in your sideboard vs Carnage Tyrant.

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

Dante Buccieri yahenni expertise is better. Besides they will have to sac stuff to torment.

[@jeffbriem]

Might want lost legacy in side. U/W sun or Revel decks may be a problem otherwise.

[@darthbernstein9889]

revel is a rather easy matchup since they get no treasures from killing your stuff since you have none but ur right its needed against approach

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

Darth Bernstein riches makes creature that give treasure so I don't know what you mean

[@rrrof711]

lost legacy and gonti are great sideboard cards for any black deck!

[@jakedickson3096]

I've been running this on xmage for the last week. I ran 8 creatures tho. 4 copies of Dread Wanderer cuz pitching it to CR and TV is fine and Gifted Aetherborn cuz he's soooooo solid. I also ran 2x Bontu's Las Reckoning with 1 in the side. This deck has potential, it just needs some tlc

[@Kodywit-AK]

Is there replacements for vraskas contempt and fatal push? This deck is expensive

[@voidpunkprincess]

Smiley Face I would look at Essence extraction and never to return. Those are what I'm going to sub in possibly.

[@timothybow2185]

I subbed in Unlicensed Disintegration and Never // Return

[@voidpunkprincess]

Timothy that sounds great- I wonder how that'd work

[@panchosaurus0490]

Do you have the list for the grixs?

[@semeeson]

There is no link in the description?

[@KingDeeeeerp]

Hey Dev, can you do an upgraded grixis version of this deck?

[@russellanderson8844]

2 questions 1. Does the front side of amulet affect hailfires cost i.e pay 5 for x does it make it 6 and 2. Does my opponent have to counter both the cast and the copy to not have to deal with either one or does countering the cast get rid of the copy

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

russell anderson the mana reduction does apply and they can't counter the second one, I belive

[@Nachodaddy082806]

That's a great question. Technically I would think the first spell never gets cast since it gets countered. But, then again it was cast but got fizzled out. I'm honestly in a conundrum now lol.

[@LilywickRS]

So the way countering interactions work would be that the original spell gets countered, but that doesn't mean it isn't cast. Countering prevents resolution not casting, therefore the copy is still made because it's a trigger on cast, not resolution.

[@yeahsureuhhuhriiight]

I'm 0 and 3 at a tournament with this deck right now. How is it supposed to survive anything long enough to get going? Even basic energy builds are outoacing me or forcing me to take a crap turn to get amulet in play.

[@2kylesmith]

I think he had too many card drawing cards and not enough removal. What I did was drop the amulet and put in treasure map. Then I replaced the card draws with creatures and removal.

[@quixotedon4]

Yahennis expertise lets you cast, not play a spell. Wipe the board get two counters on the amulet and on the other side it wipes all threats off of the board -6/-6 and cast two spells for free.

[@obviouslylee]

I was suprised no Hour of Devastation. Sweepers are often needed.

[@sebastianmontes9882]

Lee Penrose vraska's contempt

[@lphilo12]

Abrade works fairly well too.

[@aysemhmixsets7736]

vraskas contempt, lightning strike

[@wumbo5560]

Nick how? It's extreme value

[@obviouslylee]

Nick Ya, sweepers in control/removal based decks are horrible.......uh

[@SaintRazo]

Sir can I ask what about tutor??? This comment might get washed out but still can you add that tutor was reprint in KLD? Someone please answer

[@amosonteo8679]

Bryan Razo tormenting voice and cathartic reunion are enough card draw to not need tutors.

[@TheAnanaki]

Sword Point Diplomacy is easily one of if nit the most underrated card in Ixalan.

[@drakeconsumerofsoulsandche5761]

Are there any options for cub?

[@flapcat4681]

Also Dev, how do you feel about dynavolt tower in this deck?

[@davidesangiorgi955]

flap cat i thought the same.. imminent doom is an other card that make the thermo alchemist work. I don t like that the tower can be taken down with abrade too and makes you even more likely to loose if they have artifact removal

[@flapcat4681]

Davide Sangiorgi primal amulet can be taken out with abrade too. If you run 4 of each and they have 4 Abrade I'd imagine it'd be hard to hit everything. I'd also imagine that the tower would be better in a Grixis version which has access to glimmer so we could sink its energy into tower

[@emoryc.padgett759]

I feel like Sword-point Diplomacy would be better in the mainboard, especially if you can copy it

[@Jonasz314]

not sure it's a tier 1 dekck. Seems to be fun on paper, but 2x duress is never going to be enough against control (which has more counterspells than it can count), or Ramunap red (way too slow). Adding blue to the mix is going to make the deck very weak mana-wise, I'd rather switch out red for blue in this list actually, and rather than burn spells, put bounce spells which will achieve roughly the same thing, albeit letting the opponent discard rather than losing 3 life.

[@tobiberx7495]

Maybe 2x Hour of Devastions in the side to make sure everything can be hit as long as Primal is out?

[@jontgimondo]

When will we see gameplay?!? Please dev :) give the people what they want! We will love you for it!

[@Flash-qz2kc]

Nice haircut dude!

[@deansprinkle7104]

do a blue red prowess deck tech with baral, kari zev's expertise, bloodwater elemental, and other shinanigans

[@stefangoerke2692]

I'm still brewing my grixis version, and this deck absolutely needs some kind of boardwipe mainboard

[@MegaDatboi]

This deck is awesome! Could you do a U/G Pummeler? That would be sweet =)

[@teamawp-gamesfunforsome259]

What happens if you double approach of the second Sun

[@andrewpani2834]

You're shirt is boss, as always, but especially today!

[@flapcat4681]

I've been brewing this exact deck recently

[@tuemorto897]

Would neheb the eternal fit into this deck? I almost think he might, but I am not 100% sold

[@ecoKady]

Charlie Como A single creature makes opponents' removal spells relevant so it wouldn't work. You could be cheeky and bring it in from the sideboard after they've boarded out their removal. There is a question of whether it's really necessary. It speeds up the win, but a deck like this doesn't really rely on speed. If you like the surprise creature idea there are probably better options like Hazoret or The Scorpion God.

[@germtheory9053]

Doesn't casting an approach of the second song off a flipped primal amulet just win you the game?

[@Damiancontursi]

Copying something isn't the same as casting so it doesn't work :(

[@TangooseCarmike8205]

No, Approach has to be cast from your hand to win. An Amulet copy isn't cast.

[@buraddo79]

It would be great to see you compete in a GP or something

[@andrewmarinkovich8657]

Been waiting for this!

[@HueyPLewis]

Decks like this is why I don't play standard. Not saying I don't like this deck plan or your channel. I love your channel. I just hate when people reduce Magic to two player solitaire. Commander is much more fun.

[@lawfullyblind8403]

why not combustible gearhulk?

[@angelfanphilly22]

Hey Dev what about a mardu menace brew!?

[@Feralhyena]

Perhaps go Jund, Golgari, or Sultai? Drop in Gift of Paradise on Wellspring and you've basically doubled your storm count.

[@Feralhyena]

Forget I mentioned Gift, as it adds a separate mana ability rather than adding mana per activation. Now, in Modern, the Urborg/Crypt Ghast combo would be the right answer, as would Caged Sun in Commander.