Instant Pauper Heroes! 2 Powerful $20 Decks For Magic: The Gathering (Patreon)
Content
Pauper Heroes are one of Pauper’s “go tall” decks. Each build wants to stack up a large creature that can end the game in short order. In that sense, it is similar to a few heavily played decks such as Izzet Blitz, Boggles Hexproof, and Tireless Tribe Combo, but while each of those are fine options, they all run multiple colors and focus more on digging for answers than smashing face with overwhelming value. In contrast, these Heroic decks are each mono-White, and as such they have the advantage of rock solid mana bases which never trickle out. Let’s take a look!
There are two style of Pauper Heroic decks, Instant and Enchantment based. Each list will only run you about $20 in paper or 5-10 tix online, and they each have distinct advantages and gameplay antics.
Heroic takes its name from creatures with the Heroic ability. Heroic benefits the creature when it is the target of a spell or ability, giving that creature advantage in the way of pump, counters or added abilities.
The goal is to enhance these creatures with spells until they cannot be stopped, and as I said, there are two distinct versions of this deck - one leaning more on Auras, the other on Instants.
Both have merits and play for slightly different metagames. While neither are as good at “one shotting” their adversary, their robust creatures once properly suited up can overwhelm your opponents over the course of just one to two combat steps.
Both also share a core of cards in common. Let’s begin by looking at the cards both versions of the deck run, then discuss the differences between going into Instants or Enchantment Auras.
—Mono White Heroic, Instant Build—
4 Akroan Skyguard
3 Deftblade Elite
1 Hopeful Eidolon
4 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
4 Seeker of the Way
2 Territorial Hammerskull
1 Wingsteed Rider
1 Artful Maneuver
3 Defiant Strike
4 Emerge Unscathed
4 Gods Willing
3 Mutagenic Growth
4 Cartouche of Solidarity
4 Hyena Umbra
18 Plains
—Sideboard—
3 Beckon Apparition
3 Blinding Souleater
2 Disenchant
3 Gut Shot
1 Lifelink
3 Sacred Cat
—Mono White Heroic, Enchantment/Aura Build—
4 Akroan Skyguard
2 Benevolent Bodyguard
4 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
2 Sacred Cat
4 Seeker of the Way
4 Defiant Strike
1 Double Cleave
2 Emerge Unscathed
4 Mutagenic Growth
4 Cartouche of Solidarity
4 Cho-Manno's Blessing
4 Ethereal Armor
4 Hyena Umbra
15 Plains
2 Secluded Steppe
—Sideboard—
1 Benevolent Bodyguard
2 Sacred Cat
2 Celestial Flare
2 Death Speakers
2 Deftblade Elite
2 Holy Light
2 Lifelink
2 Standard Bearer