Magic Deck Vortex: Taking Charge: Boros Legion

[Editor's Note - I am posting this late and for that I apologize. Please also note that all comments in yellow are things I've added to the article.~Streetz~]

Alright, last time I discussed the Selesnya Conclave and its own personal mechanic, Convoke. This time around, we’ll slip away from the calm that white/green offers and into the heat of white/red. Of course, a guild featuring red and white may offer less to some and more to others depending on how you look at the Boros. The best thing about this guild is its ability to utterly beatdown your opponents as fast as possible. Ah, the joys of cheap, effective creatures. Let’s just learn what the Boros do.

The Boros are, basically, Ravnica’s army. They enforce the laws written by the Azorius, another guild to be featured in Dissension. Now, the Boros use Radiance, which is an effect, when played, targets that creature and each other creature that shares a color with it. I find radiance to be the best mechanic out of the four in the first set because of what it does. Of course, what would a mechanic be without some super powerful cards to use it on?

What else is there in the wonderful Magic: The Gathering world that is very useful with radiance?

Ah.. but first, let's that a look at the general notes about Radiance, as quoted from Aaron Forsythe @ www.wizards.com:

Radiance (red and white). Ironically, the first keyword is not technically a keyword at all, but rather an ability word (so named because it does not require reminder text or support in the comprehensive rules).

All radiance spells have a single target (usually a creature). The spell affects that creature and each other creature that shares a color with it.
If a radiance spell targets a black-green creature, it will affect black creatures, green creatures, black-green creatures, blue-black creatures, green-white creatures, and so on, as they each share at least one color with the target.
Oftentimes creatures on both sides of the table will be affected by a single radiance spell.
Only one creature is targeted. If that creature leaves play or otherwise becomes an illegal target, the entire spell is countered. No other creatures are affected.
Rare cases may come up where the best play is to target your opponent's creature so that you get a positive effect (or vice versa). For instance, if you control three white creatures and three red creatures and your opponent controls a creature that is both white and red, you can play Rally the Righteous on his creature so that each of yours will untap and get +2/+0 until end of turn. Choose wisely!

Since Ghurhgs focuses on the mechanic(s) of each guild, I figured the information Forsythe presented was a good thing to include with this article. Soooo... with that, I turn the attention back to Ghurhgs's! ~Streetz~

White is awesome for radiance because white has damage prevention. Damage prevention! Believe it or not, that can be very useful in a whole lot of situations. Here are the white cards that feature 'radiance':

Wojek Apothecary may be a bit overcosted but get two or three out and it may be hard for your opponents to destroy some of your creatures. I do have to say that this card costs about one mana too much but this is my opinion. If you want to get this out for what its worth go right ahead because it’s really awesome once you start using them to their potential. Throw Pemmin's Aura on the Apothecary and watch your army of white and red creatures survive even a Wildfire - assuming you have enough mana!

Bathe in Light is also extremely helpful. If your opponent is playing mono-color and you have a bunch of little guys to lay down the beatdown, play this! It’s cheap, really cheap, for its effect and useful in the direst situations. Also, compare this card to other cards of it's kin. Akroma's Blessing (uncommon), Dominaria's Judgment (rare), Glory (rare) and Samite Elder (uncommon). While all of these cards affect all creatures you control, they all cost more mana and or have other restrictions. Thus, Bathe in Light is good for it's cost - really good.

Of course, don’t forget Wojek Siren. This is another great card for what it does and is basically a huge Stand Firm for all those creatures. Playing this on a multicolor creature may be the smartest thing to do, because if a creature is 2 colors, it gets +2/+2, and gives every other color the bonus. This card can be huge if played correctly.

The red side of the Boros is the side that creates chaos. The best thing is, of course, dealing damage and nullifying creatures. Here are the red cards that feature 'radiance':

Need an optional way to get your creatures through when you don’t have a Bathe In Light in hand? Incite Hysteria is your friend for that. Besides protection, creatures that cannot block are mostly useless, making it easy for you to go through and deal your damage. Remember that card doesn't care if it affects creatures you control. During you turn (which is the only time you would be casting this spell - Vedalken Orrery aside), your creatures don't care if they can't block.

Opposite the Wojek Apothecary is the Wojek Embermage. This guy helps in the damage zone. Though it cannot prevent damage, it has an added toughness though it costs nearly the same (one colorless more, one colored less). This is one of those cards you do want to be careful with. If you are targeted a creature that an opponent controls that also shares a color with one of your creatures... most likely your creatures will be taking the damage too.

Then we have Cleansing Beam which is just a more expensive Wojek Embermage without the creature form and for another damage. I personally would not use this card but people who like to deal lots of damage to the same color creatures will enjoy this card. It really doesn't help that it costs five!! mana. Why can't red be as efficient as white's Bathe in Light and Wojek Apothecary?

Alas, there are only two multicolor cards with radiance. They both are very good and show what the Boros are made of: sheer power.

Rally The Righteous, wow. Cost is good, effect is good, even the flavor text is good. This card is something worth playing in any Boros deck because it fits so well with other cards. Now, if only you had some means of trample… (Stampede Driver?)

Finally there is Brightflame, the only rare card with radiance in the set. This is the Boros - dealing massive damage to all creatures and gaining you life back in the process. A grand interpretation of the Boros and what they’re capable of doing during battle. It is, however, extremely overcosted (for good reason's I'm sure). Had it only cost XWR... it would have been a lot more playable.

Yet again, even the lands help. What better way to finish off a Boros deck than with some lands that have such synergy with the cards of the guild that it’s just so great? These lands in fact.

You cannot forget the guildhome of the Boros which works just as well as Vitu-Ghazi does with the Selesnya. What better way to help out those creatures affected by Rally The Righteous?

Double strike of course! Even if your creatures only kill another creature, double strike makes it so that they 'attack again' by means of dealing twice the damage they would normally.

The dual land is also a staple because of its ability to aid your mana supply and the Boros, being white, can also gain back the life lost by playing it untapped. Plus the art is awesome.

So we went over white and its healing capabilities, red and its destructive properties, multicolor and its fusion of the two, and lands with their greatness. Anything I miss? Oh yeah, combos. Perhaps this article is finished...

I know that Streetz added some combos into my past Selesnya article so I decided to give him a break from this one and do it myself. First, let’s look at what works with radiance.

Trample – Boosting your own creatures really helps because with that extra power you can hurt your opponent even more. Cards such as Barreling Attack give your creatures a power/toughness boost while also granting it the ability to trample over your opponents puny minions.

Double Strike – Can’t get that first attack through with your massive Skyknight Legionnaire? Fret not players, double strike to the rescue. Cards such as Sunhome, Fortress Of The Legion help in that area by granting your creatures the ability to have a dual-attack. Nice huh?

Color Changing – Another, non-rules text changing way of helping radiance is changing the cards of some permanents. Cards such as Mycosynth Lattice make it so that radiance is nullified, but cards like Shifting Sky make everything the same and that is what keeps the game interesting. The only downside to Shifting Sky is that it is blue, something the Boros are not.

Wojek Siren - Radiate

How often do you see Radiate on a combo page? ... ... ... maybe once a year. So, this year, I bring you this combo thanks to Hivemaster. Scenario: Say you have 6 white creatures in play that are each 1/1. Now spend 3WRR (by casting Wojek Siren and Radiate... targeting the Siren). Now target one of your creatures with the Siren and each creature you control becomes 2/2. Since you Radiated the Siren, it then copies and targets each of the other white creatures you control... giving then each another +1/+1 until end of turn. End result: you now have a hoard of six 7/7 white creatures.

Searing Meditation - Firemane Angel or Angel's Feather

For any card that can gain you life on a consistent basis, and then add Searing Meditation. Firemane Angel and Angel's Feather are both cards that will be available in type two play. Then, when the 'whatever card you choose' gains you life, pay 2. Then scorch target 'target'. If you want more fun with Firemane Angel and don't mind dipping into the Extended card pool, add Thran Turbine if you're using Firemane Angel. At the beginning of your upkeep you can add 2 mana to your mana pool to pay for the Searing Meditation ability that your Firemane Angel activates (as long as she is in play or in your graveyard). A three life swing (up one for you and down two for your opponent) isn't bad.. especially when it's free thanks to the Thran Turbine. Submitted by Teradonus. Another source in Ravnica that can net you life gain each turn (potentially) is Dark Heart of the Wood.

Light of Sanction - Hammerfist Giant

I found this combo over on Derick's Magic Site and thus, many thanks to his combo listings there - I have incorporated some of the ideas there into combos already on this page.

Everyone thought that Light of Sanction was a waste of a card. Well, not really if you like the ability on Hammerfist Giant. It's a shame the giant's ability kills itself too. So, to keep your Hammerfist Loaf in play after his ability resolves, just have light of sanction in play. All damage it would have dealt to itself and creature you control ... is prevented. I'm liking Crater Hellion a little more.

Can you believe Light of Sanction even combos with Sorrow's Path??

Concerted Effort - Akroma, Angel of Wrath

Concerted effort can be tricky. I mean, finding creatures with a lot of abilities (like flying, fear, first strike, double strike, landwalk, protection, trample and vigilance) is difficult. Akroma, of all of the creatures, has the most. Getting her into play is another story, but at least this is a start, right?

Lightning Helix - Isochron Scepter

This combo was submitted by Hivemaster. With this combo, you can change the tides of any game by 6 life points between you and your opponent... every turn! Nothing too exciting.. but still more satisfying than imprinting Counterspell on your scepter. Yes, it's still not as hated as imprinting hoodwink on your scepter. Not yet, anyway!

Sunforger - Absorb

Who ever thought WR could counter a spell and gain you three life? I didn't.. until Sunforger came along. Since the Sunforger searches for an instant that's either red or white... you can search out Absorb and counter a spell and gain three life just for paying WR and unattaching Sunforger from a creature you control. Not bad at all.

Well, there you go. I’ve tried to touch base on the colors of the Boros and give you a little added support when building with them. Taking the time to structure a deck that is dual colored may be a bit tedious, but the Boros are all about that. Though it takes a while for them to conquer their enemies, once they get set up there’s no stopping them. I love the Boros in this fashion and that’s what makes the world of Ravnica so great, the synergy between each guild’s colors. Well, I hope I’ve helped you choose to play the Boros and explained a bit more than what you knew before.