RDW, Sligh, burn,  Call it what you want it's one of my favorite decks and one that has persisted for over 10 years now. I'm exploring it's current relevance in today's Standard tournament environment. I will also go over my run though FNM.

Deck Summery:

The way I see this deck is a deck that deals damage with fast efficent creatures while clearing a path with burn spells. Once the opponent gets low enough on health the burn spells aim at the face to finish them off if needed. There is no key card to the deck. The key is in the formula in building it. "The curve" basicly states you want each increase in mana to have less cards that need that much mana to play. Example 20 1 mana cards, 12 2 mana, 8 3 mana. Due to the low end curve we can also play with fewer land then most decks. This allows us a few more threats. Keeping mono colored also prevents random "color screw".  

Card Options:

Figure of Destiny- basicly an auto include. This guy gives you some late game options for your mana and early game can be thought of as a 2 drop or a 1 drop creature. He is something that you opponent must answer or they will die. nothing more you can ask for in a 1 mana creature.

Tattermunge Maniac- Our best option of a turn 1 creature. Starts beating face the next turn while leaving mana open.

Bloodhall Ooze- Highly overlooked card for this deck. With all the pseudo green or possibly black creatures (like tattermunge or ram gang) this guy can get big with no extra investment. This is my favorite follow up to a turn 1 tattermunge.

Stigma Lasher- Solid creature with an ability that crushes the dreams of random decks. His no more life gain ability is what he is mainly run for, but dont overlook his wither. Many times he can go unblocked just due to your opponent not wanting their creature to be permanently weakened.

Vexing Shusher- Another solid card even when he isnt completely hosing your opponent. I find it fun to cast him when I can see my opponent holding back for a counter. Turning even counterspell in the game into a force spike isnt fun for your controlling opponent.

Boggart Ram-Gang- A solid beatstick that comes down fast and puts your opponent on an answer me or die clock. Again dont forget wither.

Ashenmoor Gouger- Almost as fast as ram gang, he does his 8th point of damage as ramg gang deals 9. But this guy is harder to remove and trades better with some blockers.Run this guy if you want to get around lightning bolt, fire spout, and agony warp.

Lightning Bolt- He's back. golden card run 4.

Tarfire- Just becouse we have lightning bolt doesnt mean we shouldn't run his little brother if we have room (and we do)

Lash out- Solid removal and a chance to blast face while doing so. kinda meta dependant.

Flame Javelin- 4 damage to kill an opposing threat or finish off an opponent.

Here is what I ran:

4 Figure of Destiny
4 Bloodhall Ooze
4 Tattermunge Maniac
4 Vexing Shusher
4 Stigma Lasher
4 Boggart Ram-Gang

4 Lightning Bolt
4 Tarfire
4 Lash Out
4 flame Javelin

20 mountain


The deck preformed very well for me. only things I want to change are I think I can go down to 18 land and I need to come up with a sideboard.


Round 1: Elfball
Game 1- I tarfired his opening llanowar, and lightning bolted his second one, he missed his land drop turn 2. (figuring the elves would give him needed mana). at this point I basicly overran him before he could respond.

Game 2- I started off quick dont remember exactly. he got a bunch of guys out but by that point he was in burn range.

1-0 (2-0 games)

Round 2:
MBC
Game 1: I stuck him with a stigma lasher he may as well have conceded at that point. I kept his creatures dead, he killed some of mine, some got though and burt for the win.

Game 2: only a couple creatures, he killed my lashers the second they came up. at one point I tarfired one of my own guys to keep him from gaining 7 life (tendrils of corruption). after that I played ram gang and 2 lightning bolts for the win

2-0 (4-0 games)

Round 3:
Cant remember what he was playing I won 1 first he won second I won 3rd

I remember in the 3rd game he stalled me out at 1 life (clearing the board) I was expecting a finks or a primal command to give him some life but I drew a ligtning bolt first.

3-0 (6-1 games)

Round 4
control.

He got control too quick the first game, game 2 I think I ended on turn 4

Game 3 again I get stalled out with him at 1 life. this time he drew some lifegain going back to 6. he had control at that point.

3-1 (7-3 games)

drew into top 8

3-1-1 (7-3)

Top 8 round 1:
RW control (this was a copy of one of the nat top 8 decks)

Game 1:
Ajani was annoying but didnt stay around too long. He tapped my ram gang at one point I about reached accross the table to slap him for the play mistake as I played another and attacked ajani to 1 and played an ooze for added effect. now with only 1 loyalty he kept my ram gang tapped again and next turn I killed it. with the ooze while ram gang hit for 3. I continued the assault for the win. Would have saved him alot to kill the ram gang and gain 3 and just let ajani die. Againt red he is too frail to build up to his loyalty counters.

Game 2: he topdecks hallowed burial as Im going in for the win next turn. too bad for him he only had 4 lands. may wrath rest in peace.

4-1-1 (9-3)

Round 2 top 8:
Lifegain. control
All removal was aimed at stigma lasher it seems.

Loved the deck: Game 1 I had to run though a 0/8 untargetable wall with my ram gang, while the rest of the team worked on his life.

Game 2 I saw what his deck could really do, it stabalized at 2 life, he played a wall that each turn gains life = to one of his creatures power. he took my ram gang with that damn faery, I tarfired it before his EoT so he wouldnt gain 3 and so I had my ram gang back. he responded by pathing it so he got another land. this was the play that killed me. I think if I would have tarfired in responce to the faeries trigger he wouldnt have been able to path on his side. a little later I was staring down 2 of the gain life walls and 2 revelark. he had ~40 life when he killed me. (I would have scooped after the second wall, but I wanted to see his deck play out)

game 3 was grueling deathmatch. vexing shusher came down and hosed his counterspells turning them into force spikes. I got him down to 10 and threw burn at his face. the 3 4/4 oozes helped alot in this game too.

5-1-1 (11-4)

Store owner wanted to go home so we called draw for the top 2. dont even know who with as I left before they played finished their game.

Now I need to come up with a sideboard. and 2 more maindeck cards...