WR Soldiers at Pro Tour Khans of Tarkir

By Shuhei Nakamura

Previously, we looked at Stanislav Cifka's WR heroic beatdown deck during Block Constructed theme week; Yoshihiko Ikawa has made an impressive Standard version of this deck.

The two obviously bear a lot of similarities to one another, but they act in completely different ways. Ikawa's deck is hoping to get a first-turn Akroan Crusader, followed up by a second-turn Raise the Alarm, and then drop Obelisk of Urd, naturally naming "Soldier." The next turn, playing Launch the Fleet leads to 18 points of damage (the Obelisk effect plus the heroic triggers plus the Raise the Alarm tokens plus the Fleet triggers). On the fourth turn, drop a land, target the Crusader to make yet another token and deal 21 damage. Ikawa's version is closer to being a combo deck than a beatdown deck.

If it can get the Obelisk down, even mass removal only slows this deck down. With heroic triggers, Akroan Crusader and Vanguard of Brimaz allow you to quickly beef up your forces and continue the fight.

Yoshihiko Ikawa's WR Soldiers

Decklist Stats Sample Hand

Creature (15)

4 Akroan Crusader 4 Favored Hoplite 4 Vanguard of Brimaz 3 Phalanx Leader

Sorcery (4)

4 Launch the Fleet

Instant (12)

4 Defiant Strike 4 Raise the Alarm 1 Ajani's Presence 3 Gods Willing

Artifact (4)

4 Obelisk of Urd

Enchantment (4)

4 Dragon Mantle

Land (21)

7 Plains 2 Mountain 4 Temple of Triumph 4 Battlefield Forge 4 Mana Confluence

60 Cards

Sideboard (15)

1 Ajani's Presence 1 Glare of Heresy 2 Suspension Field 4 Brimaz, King of Oreskos 3 Devouring Light 2 Dawnbringer Charioteers 2 Purphoros, God of the Forge