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As the pandemic era continues to change character, Magic events are slowly returning to whatever version of normalcy they can manage for the time being. A recent Magic Arena 5K demanded a qualification, which was no problem for online grinder John Alexander. The Rakdos Sacrifice Standard deck he picked up managed an undefeated record through six rounds in the qualifier and another six wins on his way to a 6-3 record in the 5K itself.
With a lot of hours spent playing the Rakdos Sacrifice builds of the last few seasons, I caught up with the Ohio native to get up to speed on this newest iteration of the strategy.
Danny West: First off, introduce yourself and talk a little bit about your Magic background.
John Alexander: Certainly. I'm John Alexander, Level 2 judge from Cincinnati, Ohio. I first started playing Magic when I was a kid in Boy Scouts - the classic unsleeved, bound by rubber bands kind of Magic. I got back into it again later with Innistrad and that's when I began drafting for the first time. I became a Level 2 judge around Battle for Zendikar and have been playing a lot since.
DW: You're someone who had no trouble adapting to playing Magic during the pandemic. What's your Magic Arena regimen like during a typical week?
JA: Well, I try to get at least ten wins a day on Magic Arena - whatever mode, doesn't matter - just to keep on the grind comfortably. Sometimes it's more time than I would like to be on, but by the same token, it can also be nice and relaxing.
DW: What's the format break down usually like for you? Do you spend a lot of time playing Limited these days?
JA: It depends largely on how much of a given set I have completed for my collection and how much I inherently enjoy drafting it. Normally I get pretty burnt out on a set about the time that I have everything I need for Constructed, but for something like core sets I tend to drop off pretty quickly due to the relative lack of interesting gameplay. I'll try to get around 20-30 drafts in during the first month of a new set, with a smattering of Sealed for flavor. Oh! And I try to play in all the seasonal events that give away the free card styles.
Rakdos Sacrifice
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DW: Recently, you found yourself playing competitive Standard again. How did this come about?
JA: Being a judge for SCG, I was made aware of the event roughly 24 hours before it was set to begin - a kind gesture, if poorly timed - but I had all the cards and was able to make it happen without problems.
DW: Lots of great Magic stories are born of short notice. How did you decide what deck to play with so little time?
JA: Honestly, I decided based on looking at mtggoldfish's metagame page and testing out two decks that seemed interesting to me over the course of roughly two and a half hours. First, I tried some kind of Izzet Dragons list, but it just seemed really poorly positioned against Mono-Green. Then I switched to Rakdos because it both seemed to have game in that matchup and was fun to play. I was willfully allowing myself to just lose to Sultai Ultimatum, but mostly I just hoped I wouldn't face it due to the power of aggro decks in the format.
Rakdos Sacrifice | AFR Standard | John "JFamous" Alexander, 32nd Place SCG 5K 7/30/2021
- Companion (1)
- 1 Jegantha, the Wellspring
- Creatures (20)
- 2 Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
- 2 Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Imposter
- 4 Bonecrusher Giant
- 4 Immersturm Predator
- 4 Mire Triton
- 4 Woe Strider
- Instants (8)
- 4 Heartless Act
- 4 Village Rites
- Sorceries (4)
- 4 Claim the Firstborn
- Enchantments (3)
- 3 The Akroan War
DW: How much did your perception of the format change between the time when you first looked at the metagame and now? What are your impressions of the format overall?
JA: So, I'll start with the classic caveat that I did not see enough matches to get a big enough sample size for a ton of definitive statements; however, what I saw during both events followed my expectations. There were a lot of variants of aggro decks. I think Mono-White, Mono-Green, Naya Winota, and Gruul Adventures were most of the field; it seemed that Radkos Sacrifice had a good matchup against all of them except Gruul Adventures.
DW: You played identical decklists in both your 6-0 and your 6-3 runs. What was your rationale?
JA: With my lack of experience with the format, I felt it'd be utter hubris to change the list, especially after not losing a match in the first stretch. This is also one of my biggest weaknesses as a player: building for a specific metagame. I'm awful at it. It typically makes more sense for me to just pick up a proven list that I think suits me.
DW: What was the experience like of playing a Standard event like this on Magic Arena, rather than in the tournament halls we're all traditionally used to?
JA: It was significantly less stressful; with all the logistics of a physical event, it's just a different animal. Also, you can eat and drink whenever you like. I certainly ended the day with more energy than a physical event would have left me with. The big issue is that you one hundred percent miss out on the main thing I go to physical events for, which is the camaraderie, vendors, friends you haven't seen in a while - all that stuff. Online events can be so much smoother than a physical event could ever be, but they also lack the same kind of soul.
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DW: Interesting perspective. Would you change anything about the deck if you were playing an event this weekend?
JA: Oh certainly. I haven't done much research since I finished the events, but I would love to find a card that answers Esika's Chariot. That card fits so well against my answers. I'm still willing to be 20/80 against Sultai Ultimatum, though.
Is Magic in a Good Place?
DW: As far as balance, Standard has had a lot of rough years over the last while. Does this Standard feel like it's on its way to an oppressive "one deck only" solution, or is this a format that can stick around a while?
JA: My expectation is that enough players have dropped from the format that the progression has slowed down a touch. I'm sure given enough monkeys and typewriters it could be solved, but I don't believe this format will get to that point before it rotates.
DW: What would you most like to see from Magic in the next year or two?
JA: Now that's a toughie. I guess the answer is some kind of Grand Prix or MagicFest or whatever the branding is returning to prominence. I met a lot of awesome people judging and playing in bigger events that I haven't seen in a while because of the pandemic. Trolling dive bars and going to local restaurants with new and old Magic friends is something I've had to go way too long without. If I could see everyone and have those experiences again, I'd concede every Magic game I'd ever play from here out. It's all about the people.
Advice for Rakdos Sacrifice Noobs
DW: How do you feel about your finish? What's the experience of "running hot" like in the COVID Magic era?
JA: I suppose it mostly feels the same: pretty satisfying. At the end of the day, it's easy to see where the luck broke your way, though.
DW: If you could give a player who hasn't tried this deck a few quick tips to help them find their footing, what would they be?
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JA: Knowing the opposing deck significantly impacts your sequencing. The deck has less sacrifice outlets than you might think, so sometimes you have to hold onto a Village Rites to combo with Claim the Firstborn. This is a true midrange deck, where whether you are the beatdown or the control role is heavily dependent on your opponent and/or the battlefield position. Keep all this in mind, especially when considering your sideboard plans.
DW: The floor is yours. Any parting thoughts? On Magic, the deck, or anything else?
JA: As much as the majority of my Magic playing right now is on Magic Arena, I hope that paper Magic can remain the primary way to play, with the blessing of Wizards of the Coast and their support. I really do think that it's the human connections we make through the game that really matter the most in the end, and that's just not going to be viable through online play. This interview is a great example.
(~_^)
The Rascal
The Indestructible Danny West
