Budget Mono Red Aggro

A fast mono-red aggro deck that uses cheap hasty creatures, prowess triggers, and efficient burn to kill the opponent before they can stabilize.

Slickshot Show-Off and Emberheart Challenger grow whenever you cast cheap spells, while Firebrand Archer and Guttersnipe turn every instant and sorcery into bonus damage. Shock, Burst Lightning, Lightning Strike, and Sure Strike can remove blockers, pump attackers, or finish the game from anywhere.

Keep any hand with two Mountains and at least two cheap creatures, especially a turn-two Slickshot Show-Off or Emberheart Challenger. Mulligan hands with zero or one land unless they have multiple cheap spells and a high chance of hitting a second land. Throw away hands that are full of expensive burn and no early pressure.

Early: play a two-drop or Firebrand Archer and start attacking immediately. Use Shock and Burst Lightning on blockers that would stop your damage, or point them at the face if the coast is clear. Mid: chain cheap instants to pump your prowess creatures and trigger Firebrand Archer and Guttersnipe. Use Sure Strike after blockers are declared to push lethal damage through. Late: send all burn to the opponent’s face, use Viashino Pyromancer to finish through blockers, and force the opponent to fade topdecked Lightning Strikes and Burst Lightnings.

The deck is fragile to early removal because it relies on a small number of creatures. It also struggles against decks with abundant lifegain, because burn becomes less efficient. Board wipes can reset your board, so against control try to hold back some burn and finish with direct damage rather than overcommitting.