by Steve DDT Giannopoulos

The deck name ‘Frog in a Blender’ comes from the imagery of something that would be Red and Green mixed together. Yeah, kinda gross but nonetheless it stuck as the nickname used for Red/Green Aggro decks in Magic: the Gathering. The deck is almost purely red with a green splash and is a great deck for anyone looking for something quick to play and not too expensive.

Here’ s the list:

Creatures (28)
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Hellrider
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Stromkirk Noble
Spells (12)
4 Searing Spear
4 Pillar of Flame
4 Rancor

Lands (20)
12 Mountain
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Stomping Ground

The sideboards are pretty varied but the main gameplan is always the same: get them from 20 to 0 ASAP. There exists builds with 18 lands instead of 20 as they run Lightning Mauler over Hellrider. I am not personally a fan as I think Hellrider is just too awesome not to play.

 VS  

                                                       Which do you prefer?

The deck does insane turn 2 plays thanks to Burning-Tree Emissary. Even if you only combo it into a rancored Rakdos Cackler, it’s fine. The Lightning Mauler version cna be attacking for 6 as of turn 2 if you go Burning-Tree Emissary into Lightning Mauler and pair them.

The Green mana is so minimal that there are no basic forests. Flinthoof Boar checks for Mountains, so we need Stomping Ground.

Here’s a decklist with the Lightning Mauler and 18 lands:

10 Mountain
4 Stomping Ground
4 Rootbound Crag
4 Stromkirk Noble
4 Rakdos Cackler
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Ash Zealot
4 Boros Reckoner
4 Flinthoof Boar
4 Lightning Mauler

4 Volcanic Strength
4 Rancor
2 Madcap Skills

4 Pillar of Flame

Sideboard

4 Reckless Waif
4 Mizzium Mortars
1 Madcap Skills
4 Skullcrack
2 Thunderbolt

I have also seen version running Ghor-Clan Rampager. This guy is a beating although he is almost always used exclusively as a Giant Growth. He’s much better than that if you are recovering post Supreme Verdict. Or if you pair him with Lightning Mauler and attack immediately. I am not a fan of Madcap Skills maindeck, so I would probably cut those for a pair or Searing Spears or Rampagers in the above deck list.

One of the better Gatecrash uncommons

The deck focuses on a steady stream of damage over small bursts as a ‘Burn’ deck would. Both are quick but the RG Aggro deck is more ‘consistent’ in that its sources of damage stay in play. Pillar of Flame will often clear the way for your attackers rather than burn your opponents. Same goes for Boros Reckoner damage. You will most often want to kill an extra creature in play than just dome your opponent for 3 or so damage (unless it’s lethal).

Sideboarding Tips

I think the only card in the side you cannot overlook and must play four of is: Skullcrack

The quote on this card is awesome

This card is just awesome versus the decks you will be siding it in against (ie: decks with Thragtusks and or Sphinx’s Revelation). Do it in response to their lifegain and you’ve effectively ‘counterspelled’ it. The big part of the cards mentioned against you is that they gain your opponent life. The 5/3 creature and the extra cards are a ‘bonus’ . I know that sounds odd, but you absolutely do not want them gaining life back. If you are in the position where they have gone back up to 20+ life, you are definitely not winning that matchup.

Draw as many as you can post sideboard

Basically a Flames of the Blood Hand at reduced cost, it also stops the infinite life gain combo of Exquisite Blood and Vizkopa Guildmage. It will cause the Sphinx’s Revelation players to keep 1-2 mana up in order to bluff a Negate or a Dispel.

If you like to go for cigarette breaks in between your matches or do not possess the biggest budget for a Magic deck, I highly recommend this deck for you. It will make for quick games either way and will give you extra time to trade/smoke in between rounds.