Standard: Boros Prowess - Deck Tech & Sideboard Guide

Slickshot Show-Off, one of OTJ's best cards, is the at the center of this new Standard deck. Boros Prowess features creatures that put an immense pressure on the board - they attack fast, and are very efficient at it too.

This deck's game plan is simple: put your Prowess creatures in play and cast your spells to deal a lot of damage to your opponent. This way, you'll win with just two or three strikes.

Monastery, Codebreaker, and Slickshot are obvious choices for this deck. Monastery Swiftspear is the perfect drop, and Fugitive Codebreaker is a versatile creature; you can use when you want to be aggressive or when you want to focus on a value game plan if you cast it to use its Disguise ability in particular. It will give you a considerable card advantage.

Slickshot Show-Off is insanely strong, as it is a Flying creature that may easily deal ten or more damage with a single blow. Dwarven Forge-Chanter is interesting because of its Ward and because it is a bit more resilient than other creatures.

Kumano Faces Kakkazan fits this list really well, considering it deals damage, boosts a creature's power, and, in the end, will also put a 2/2 body on the board, which might help you pressure your opponent even more.

Ancestral Anger and Monstrous Rage will help you break through your opponent's defenses, and Ancestral Anger will also help you with card advantage. Homestead Courage fits this list perfectly, particularly because it has Flashback and, when you play it with spells that give Trample to one of your creatures, can end games quite quickly.

Play With Fire also fits this list, as it lets you target anything, from players to creatures, and has Prowess. Loran’s Escape will protect your creatures.

Wrenn’s Resolve and Reckless Impulse will help you keep a steady, fast-paced game rhythm throughout. They'll make it possible for you to win even if you play them late game.

As this is an aggro deck, your plan will be to pressure your opponent and deal lethal damage as fast as possible. To do this, you'll need a hand that lets you develop your game plan without any hiccups. The hand below is a great starting hand:

Swiftspear is a great opener, and Slickshot is, by far, the best creature in this deck, considering it lets you close out games fast. However, keep in mind that, many times, if you just play this card with its Plot ability, it will already be enough to get you ahead.

Above, we have an interesting starting hand. This is what is popularly known as a "one land hand", which many times is a nightmare for any aggro deck. Keep in mind that you'll often be forced to choose between keeping a hand like this or sending it back to get another one. So, you need to know when you should keep it and when you should send it back.

In this case, we have a hand that can filter the top of our deck to get a second land, and can also put a lot of pressure on the board. But, if you don't know your opponent's deck, and if we consider Standard decks nowadays use a lot of removal, this choice is even more dangerous than it seems.

Above, we have a clear example of what a "bad hand" is. You can only play your one-drop, and will have to pray for a second land on your next draw. Otherwise, your game will be quite "locked" and you'll be forced to try to put pressure on the board with the 2/2 Kumano, which will certainly end badly.

Vs. Azorius Control

I consider this matchup slightly favorable for Boros. You only need to play around their removals and get a fast starting hand. Even their global removals are easy to deal with. You only need one creature on the board to potentially kill your opponent.

Your protections are critical in this match, and you can't forget about your counters, which will be a nuisance to your opponents most of the time.

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Vs. 4C Legends

This is the version of Legends that has been quite successful currently. Whoever plays the fastest wins this matchup - that's the main defining factor for this game. Legends is almost like a combo deck with a lot of synergy. It can also dominate the board very easily.

On the other side, it doesn't use many removals and may end up giving you a few opportunities to kill them. Take advantage of these opportunities to defeat your opponent, and prefer fast hands.

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Vs. Boros Convoke

Boros Convoke's popularity has dropped significantly, but it still demands respect, particularly against other aggro decks. This is a complicated match that favors Convoke because it can take advantage of the aggression Prowess displays to win games with a single blow.

So, keep in mind, you must calculate your attacks as precisely as you can. Otherwise, you might just lose the game on your opponent's turn if they're still alive or act defensively on your turn.

Case of the Gateway Express may be quite problematic, considering it can deal with Prowess creatures relatively easily.

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Vs. Domain Ramp

I consider this matchup quite favorable for Prowess. Domain is one of the best decks in the format, but its sequenced start gives Prowess the perfect opportunity to shine.

Archangel of Wrath and Sunfall are quite problematic, and Leyline Binding is a respectable removal. Even then, Boros can get ahead and guarantee a win, but only if the game doesn't last too long.

Once again, protection for your creatures will be critical in this matchup, and Invasion of Gobakhan is an excellent addition post-side.

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Vs. Temur Lands

This is one of the most popular decks in the format nowadays, and it is complex, besides challenging to play against.

Ill-Timed Explosion is one of the worst cards to face as an aggro deck, and the interaction between fetch lands and Aftermath Analyst is quite problematic, considering it gives Temur the time it needs to turn the game around.

Be careful with Nissa, Resurgent Animist; she creates a lot of value for Temur. Be fast and don't give your opponent any time. Rest in Peace may make a lot of difference in this match.

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Boros Prowess is simple and fun, but performs really well if you pilot it correctly. It is exceptional against slow decks and can stand its ground against faster strategies too.

I chose this version in particular after testing many other versions, and ended up getting good results with it at the Standard League.

Another article reaches its end. Leave your questions, suggestions, and feedback in our comment section below. I'll try to answer all comments!

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!