Mono Red Dragons is a new variant of Red Aggro that trades the efficient low-curve and race-to-win game plan for a more consistent mid-game strategy, with more impactful threats between turns three and five and more permanent power on the board with fewer cards.
This strategy is complemented by the synergy between several Dragon-type cards with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant and Hired Claw with Magda, the Hoardmaster to create treasures and ramp into larger creatures, allowing us to make more robust plays and preserve more resources without losing the ability to reduce our opponent's life from 20 to 0 in as few turns as possible.
Despite the popularity of other red deck variants, the Dragon variant has proven to be the most consistent in the current Metagame, both due to the synergy between its cards, which makes it more fluid compared to the current Mono Red Aggro, and the individual quality of some of the cards ran in the maindeck, which surpasses the advantages offered by the remaining mice package with Emberheart Challenger and Manifold Mouse.
The Decklist
This is the standard decklist used in Magic Online Challenges and follows most of the choices players have made in both the maindeck and the sideboard. Flexible slots include a copy of Lightning Strike as a one-of, and even Plasma Bolt can occasionally be replaced by another card if the Metagame demands it, although its synergy with Treasure tokens makes it an improved Chain Lightning.
The sideboard may also undergo changes. Magebane Lizard is excellent against Prowess and Control but loses ground if the Metagame is aggressive or too creature-based. Likewise, Suplex can become Abrade if needed, Obliterating Bolt can become a side-in, and cards like Pyroclasm are valuable if your Metagame has a lot of go-wide or Token Control decks.
Maindeck
The foundation of this archetype is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant. Its Behold ability makes it an efficient ramp, while playing dragons in subsequent turns gradually transforms it into a threat.
Nova Hellkite was the most important addition of Edge of Eternities
for Red Aggro. Besides the classic mold of Flying, Haste, and high power for five mana, its ETB deals with X/1 creatures, which are considerably present due to Dimir Midrange, while its Warp cost allows to play it aggressively early in the game and offers the possibility of a two-for-one since you can use it later to destroy another X/1 creature.
Taurean Mauler became more relevant due to its interactions with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, in addition to counting as a Lizard for Hired Claw and dodging Shoot the Sheriff. If ignored for too long, it also dodges most of the format's damage-based removal.
Another important interaction on the list with Nova Hellkite involves Magda, the Hoardmaster, as her ability triggers when the Dragon targets an opponent's creature. This same interaction is possible with Hired Claw, whose damage trigger also targets an opponent. The extra treasures created by her or Sarkhan can later be sacrificed to create Dragon tokens.
Hired Claw interacts with both Magda and Taurean Mauler while being the best aggressive red one-drop in Standard today. There are many situations where increasing its power after an attack is a great way to increase the pressure on the opponent without wasting resources.
Screaming Nemesis is still the best red creature in Standard. Its body is decent, its Haste provides immediate impact, and its ability punishes blockers in the worst possible way, locking away one of the most important resources against Aggro. It's common to use some damage spell on it to permanently lock down the opponent's life gain, especially against decks with Beza, the Bounding Spring.
Sunspine Lynx also locks life gain as long as it stays in play and punishes archetypes with a very greedy mana base. Although many decks are less punished by it these days because they're limited to two colors, it's a great game-ender and a core piece against Esper Bounce.
Twinmaw Stormbrood is unlikely to be cast due to its mana cost. Its main functions are to be a Dragon for Sarkhan's ability while being a Roast that we can use against the opponent's biggest threats, or in Screaming Nemesis to end games.
Plasma Bolt is theoretically a Shock at sorcery speed, but since we can easily create Treasure tokens to sacrifice, we can use it to deal three damage for just 
. It's worth noting that Void counts any nonland permanent that left play this turn, so it's common to use it after combat as well to punish an opponent's chump block.
Burst Lightning is the most effective one-mana removal in the format today if we want a card that can also damage the opponent. Like spells with higher mana values, the extra Treasures we create can help pay for the Kicker for four damage.
Lightning Strike provides another cheap way to deal damage to the opponent. It's a flexible slot that can be swapped for any other card your Metagame demands.
Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon functions as a late-game tutor to find Nova Hellkite to end the game, or Twinmaw Stormbrood to deal with a threat or close the combo with Screaming Nemesis.
Soulstone Sanctuary serves almost the same functions as Taurean Mauler in acting as a Dragon for Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant and a Lizard for Hired Claw while also providing more breath and threats in longer games.
Sideboard
Suplex is our answer to Agatha's Soul Cauldron that also serves as spot removal against many decks. There may be situations where Abrade is a better card, but I like having a tool that also handles Enduring Curiosity and Unstoppable Slasher in the same slot.
Fire Magic primarily handles X/1 and X/2 creatures from Izzet Prowess and Dimir Midrange, while also countering Mono White Tokens. Depending on the variant, it can also counter Simic Aggro if the opponent has many copies of cards like Pawpatch Recruit and Spyglass Siren, just remember to also have an answer against Ouroboroid.
Magebane Lizard is a spot-on hate against Azorius Control and Izzet Prowess. It also counters some archetypes that are less prevalent today, such as Temur Otters.
Chandra, Spark Hunter offers hand filtering and constant attrition tools that dodge sweepers with the vehicles she creates. If she stays on the board long enough to reach her ultimate, she also turns all Treasure tokens into Lightning Bolt at ETB.
Ghost Vacuum is our usual graveyard hate. We can swap it out for something like Leyline of the Void or Soul-Guide Lantern if we prefer more comprehensive cards, but Leyline takes up too many sideboard slots, while Soul-Guide is a one-shot effect that can be countered and/or played around more easily.
Vengeful Possession can turn games in our favor or end the game if we take control of a high-power creature or remove a key blocker, opening up space for lethal damage.
Sideboard Guide
Izzet Cauldron
IN
OUT
Dimir Midrange
IN
OUT
Izzet Prowess
IN
OUT
Exper Bounce
IN
OUT
Azorius Control
IN
OUT
Mono Red Aggro / Mono Red Dragons
IN
OUT
Boros Mice
IN
OUT
Simic Counters
IN
OUT
Orzhov Ketramose
IN
OUT
Wrapping Up
That's all for today!
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!
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