Burning-Tree Naya in Pauper

Dan Gelinas has worked further on his Naya Burning-Tree Emissary deck and I have played it.





Deck list
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Kird Ape
3 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Squadron Hawk
3 Kor Skyfisher
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Manamorphose
4 Abundant Growth
4 Nylea's Presence
4 Tribal Flames
15 Forest
4 Ash Barrens
2 Mountain
1 Plains

3 Pyroblast
2 Hydroblast
2 Electrickery
3 Ancient Grudge
2 Standard Bearer
1 Circle of Protection: Green
2 Relic of Progenitus?


Sideboard plan
Murasa Tron: no changes
Kuldotha Boros: -3 Bushwhackers +2 Electrickery +1 Hydroblast
Angler Delver: -1 Bushwhacker +1 Relic
Burn: -3 Bushwhacker -1 Tribal Flames +2 Hydroblasts +2 Standard Bearers
Affinity: -3 Bushwhackers -1 Tribal Flames +1 Hydroblast +3 Ancient Grudge
Bogles: -3 Bushwhackers +2 Standard Bearers +1 COP: Green
Elves: -2 Bushwhackers +2 Electrickery
Mono Blue Delver: -3 Bushwhackers -2 Tribal Flames +2 Pyroblasts +2 Electrickery +1 Ancient Grudge
Stompy: -3 Bushwhackers +2 Standard Bearers +1 COP: Green
Dimir Control: -2 Bushwhackers +2 Relics
UR Delver: -3 Bushwhackers -2 Tribal Flames +2 Pyroblasts +2 Hydroblasts +1 Electrickery
UR Puzzle Control: -4 Tribal Flames +2 Pyroblasts +2 Hydroblasts
Izzet Blitz: -3 Bushwhackers -1 Tribal Flames +2 Standard Bearers +2 Hydroblasts
Mono Black Control: -2 Bushwhackers +2 Relics?

Some tips from Dan

Normal Domain Zoo typically plays islands, swamps, 5/5s, Bolts and sometimes Brainstorms whereas I run more forests, Manamorphose and Bushwhackers. In testing I have found the average consistency much higher without the normal Domain cards. The Naya build more reliably has the mana it needs to cast 2-3 good spells T2-3 than normal Domain. Normal Domain may perform better in the late game (turn ~7 on) so that's an easy advantage for the more conventional build. Personally I wanted to maximize explosive starts with BTE. Cutting the 5/5s is bad when you need to hold the ground against affinity or to trade with Anglers. They may still have a place in the deck but were cut for lands and for Manamorphose both of which give the deck much needed consistency in the early game when it is supposed to shine. The general plan against affinity is to get them low and burn them on turn 4-5 with a couple of Tribal Flames. We can use Ancient Grudge and Hydroblast to counter combo kills and slow them down enough to maybe accomplish this, however I can agree that it's not a great plan and maybe that the 5/5s are worth it. I would probably cut Bushwhackers for 5/5/s if further testing bears this out. Bushwhackers can be more effective at capitalizing on BTE than the 5/5/s in matchups against opponents like MBC or Teachings that can just kill your 5/5 with one spell but the cost/benefits in this case are not clear to me so I still like Bushwhacker for now.

Favourable Matchups: Murasa Tron, Kuldotha Boros, Angler Delver, Burn Bad Matchups: Affinity, Bogles, Elves So-so Matchups: Mono Blue Delver, Stompy, Dimir Control, UR Delver, UR Control, Izzet Blitz, Mono Black Control