--- I. Overview ---
This deck is really fun to play and is probably my least competitive deck: I bring this guy out when I just want to have some fun and/or if I play with more casual players.
The commander of this deck is the mighty Brion Stoutarm.
NOTE: Dealing 21 damage to an opponent using his fling ability will not kill the opponent. The rule only works with 21 points of *combat* damage from a commander.
So, you basically have five mechanics you use to dominate and win the game:
1. Use Brion Stoutarm to fling biggies at your opponent's faces, especially creatures with leave play or play to graveyard triggered abilities.
2. Recur your creatures in order to fling them again, build your board, and/or take advantage of neat come into play triggered abilities.
3. Use cool equipments--especially Sunforger for tutoring and playing situational instants.
4. Gain control of your opponents creatures, use/abuse them, and then fling them with Brion.
5. Aggro, aggro, aggro (with or without Insurrection)!
--- II. Key Cards ---
Some of the most noteworthy cards that you should be trying your hardest to take advantage of:
1. Sunforger
This equipment is probably the second reason I decided on this general (the first was because Mr. Stoutarm's fling ability sounded so silly/fun). So, this hammer has two notable qualities:
a. It increases the power of the equipped critter by 4. This is very useful if we are on the aggro or fling plan .
b. It allows us to easily cast situational instants. For instance, tutor and cast a Boros Charm to save your team from a board wipe, or tutor and cast a Wild Ricochet to redirect a Tooth and Nail to yourself.
2. Well of Lost Dreams
This artifact is awesome--it functions similarly to Mind's Eye and combos excellently with our general and Archon of Redemption. Also, card draw is very important for this deck mid to late game since RED/WHITE is notorious for "running out of steam" once we empty our hands.
3. Brion Stoutarm
Obviously, our commander is worth noting. ;)
4. Emeria, the Sky Ruin
I think this card is one of the most powerful creature recursion cards in this deck. And, since we have a lot of ramp, getting the 7 Plains out to activate it is usually not difficult at all.
--- III. Ramping/Drawing/Tutoring ---
One reason many give that RED/WHITE is the "worst" color combination in EDH is its lack of mana ramp, card draw, and tutors compared to other colors. But, I have managed find and include some cards that help with that.
Mana Ramp:
1. Armillary Sphere
2. Darksteel Ingot
3. Journeyer's Kite
4. Eternal Dragon (Plainscycling)
5. Knight of the White Orchid
6. Kor Cartographer
7. Solemn Simulacrum
8. Weathered Wayfarer
9. Tithe
Card Draw:
1. Well of Lost Dreams
2. Solemn Simulacrum
Non-Land Tutors:
1. Sunforger (Instants)
2. Godo, Bandit Warlord (Equipment)
3. Stonehewer Giant (Equipment)
--- IV. Graveyard Shenanigans ---
Since we do a lot of recurring and flinging in this deck, we want to have some cool triggered abilities and recurrers. Having dudes that do things while they're in the graveyard is useful too.
In Graveyard Abilities:
1. Anger
2. Glory
3. Firemane Angel
Come Into Play Triggered Abilities:
1. Archon of Redemption
2. Artisan of Kozilek
3. Bogardan Hellkite
4. Conquering Manticore
5. Duergar Hedge-Mage
6. Flametongue Kavu
7. Flayer of the Hatebound (Into Play from Graveyard)
8. Godo, Bandit Warlord
9. Karmic Guide
10. Knight of the White Orchid
11. Kor Cartographer
12. Molten Primordial
13. Sanctum Gargoyle
14. Solemn Simulacrum
15. Sun Titan
16. Twilight Shepherd
17. Zealous Conscripts
From Play Into Graveyard Triggered Abilities:
1. Archon of Justice
2. Magma Phoenix
3. Reveillark
4. Solemn Simulacrum
Creature Recurrers:
1. Adarkar Valkyrie
2. Artisan of Kozilek
3. Firemane Angel
4. Karmic Guide
5. Magma Phoenix
6. Reveillark
7. Sanctum Gargoyle
8. Sun Titan
9. Twilight Shepherd
Non-Creature Recurrers:
1. Sword of Light and Shadow
2. Sigil of the New Dawn
3. Faith's Reward
4. Emeria, the Sky Ruin
--- V. Gain Control ---
Another fun mechanic of this deck is gaining control of your opponents creatures, either for your own use or as Brion Stoutarm fodder. Here are the cards for achieving this end:
1. Conquering Manticore
2. Molten Primordial
3. Zealous Conscripts
4. Debt of Loyalty
5. Grab the Reins
6. Word of Seizing
7. Insurrection
8. Unwilling Recruit
--- VI. Brion Stoutarm Helpers ---
Brion can't do it all himself. So, I have included some cards to help him out:
1. Elixir of Immortality
I'm cheap and don't own the more expensive Eldrazi--but this little artifact is great against mill decks. It also can save your graveyard since this decks prefers to have its creatures and artifacts in its library than exiled. Also, you can use its activated ability with Well of Lost Dreams for some card draw.
2. Grafted Exoskeleton
If you equip this onto Brion, although be warned that you will get a MAJOR target hat and many a dirty look if you do, the total damage you have to do to each of your opponents is drastically reduced (since infect applies to non-combat damage as well).
3. Anger/Fervor/Swiftfoot Boots
Haste is fun and helpful--it allows us to use Brion's ability as soon as he hits the field.
4. Flayer of the Hatebound
If we're on the fling-recur-fling-etc. plan (and when aren't we usually?), this guy is really helpful and fun!
5. Malignus
One of our most powerful fling targets. With recursion or even late game (if life totals are uneven), can kill an opponent pretty quickly.
6. Serra Avatar
Another one of our most powerful fling targets since she is a potential one turn kill. Although we can't recur her, she also helps protect against mill.
7. Gratuitous Violence
Doubles Brion's damage. Seems good.
8. Darksteel Plate/Swiftfoot Boots/Sword of Light and Shadow/Glory/Boros Charm/Wild Ricochet
General protection
--- VII. Cards I'm Considering and/or Need ---
1. Stoneforge Mystic
Don't have one. But this lady is definitely going in if I can find her.
2. Other Swords (Fire and Ice, etc.)
I don't own the other swords, but I am content with just Light and Shadow at the moment. The life gain + Well of Lost Dreams and the graveyard recursion really synergizes with this deck. The other swords don't synergize as much.
3. Ranger of Eos
I do have one, but the only 1-drop creatures I have are Serra Ascendant and Weathered Wayfarer. So, I'm not sure about this one as my deck is at the moment. If I get a hold of a Figure of Destiny and Dragonmaster Outcast, then this one will be more of a possibility.
4. Mind's Eye
I only have one, and it's being used in a different deck. I'm not sure if I would put it in this one though. Since Solemn (with all the recursion) and Well of Lost Dreams seem to be doing well with card draw.
5. Land Tax
Need! I would definitely replace the Armillary Sphere with this.
6. Group Huggy Card Draw (Font of Mythos, Howling Mine, Oath of Lieges, etc.)
I do have a few of these, but I'm trying it out without them currently. I may add them back in if I start to consistently have issues with land/card draw. So far I haven't.
7. Lightning Greaves
Don't have another, but would be interested in putting one in here.
Leave any comments below! Any kind suggestions appreciated.