28/10/2024
Blood Boils with Turbo Bloodboil Sorcerer!
There is no stopping when PDC players have a new toy and last week’s PDC S2 Episode 7 just proved that when a number of contenders played with different variations of the Turbo Initiative decks. Black, Blue and even Red all had their presence felt on the tables as each one vied to win the highly coveted title of Episode 7. With a prize money set on the Tri-Color Challenge, the PDC body were split three-ways with a third of the players vying for the pot with shard or wedge-based commanders, a third just banking on surety and went with dual colored commanders. And there are those who saw the potential of the mechanic initiative and went all out with mono-colored decks.
Since turbo initiative decks is fast catching on in the PDC Meta, this week we’ll try to dissect one of its many iterations – the mono-red Turbo Bloodboil Sorcerer.
If you want to know more about the initiative mechanic you can google it or try reading our previous article on Turbo Passageway Seer https://www.moxfield.com/decks/J04MknaJj06dtDVbDOg4AQ. Now TBS work similarly with that of Passageway Seer’s in that the main goal is to be able to cast your commander in the earliest turn possible be it turn one of the game and grab the initiative. Far easier said than done in a world where moxes and sol rings are non-existent and all you have are common cards to choose from. Then prevent your opponents from stealing it back with your host of we**ie blockers and low cost burn spells to remove unwanted oppositions. This is turbo initiative deck but in red folks!
Bloodboil Sorcerer is one of those uncommon creature cards that hail from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate. It is a 4 CMC creature with 3|3 for stats. Pretty decent for a commander. It has two abilities – first Whenever Bloodboil Sorcerer enters the battlefield, you take the initiative and second Crown of Madness – for 1R, Sacrifice an artifact or creature: Goad target creature. The second ability may not see much use in a 1V1 setting but it is his first ability which really shines here considering that red has access to a lot of mana ramp spells and creatures.
Again, Mana Enabler is Key
Yes. Of the three turbo initiative decks Black’s Passageway Seer costs 4 CMC but can ramp him up with his dark-ritual like spells and creatures that produce black mana when sac while Blue’s Feywild Caretaker costs 5 CMC and is the slowest of the three considering that U doesn’t have common mana ramp spells. But Red’s Bloodboil Sorcerer can be a lot faster and has a higher percentage chance of hitting that first turn commander out with Red’s available library of spells. Red combines its access to instant red mana like Simian Spirit Guide and Lotus Petal to be able to access an additional red man when needed. The it can use any of its spells like Rite of Flame, Infernal Plunge, Desperate Ritual and Pyretic Ritual to increase its mana pool. Additionally creatures like Goldhound, Impulsive Pilferer, Myr Moonvessel and Skirk Prospector can add mana when needed by sacrificing them or when dying. The ideal scenario will be one land (mountain of course) then any combination of Lotus Petal or Simian Spirit Guide and/or dropping an Impulsive Pilferer (which will produce a Treasure Token) or Myr Moonvessel (which will produce 1 Colorless mana) for example and sac it with your Infernal Plunge to produce a total of 4 mana to cast your Bloodboil Sorcerer. All on the first turn. Once you gain the initiative you are already guaranteed an additional basic land when venturing into the first room. When exploring Undercity, be sure to stay on the left since the second time you still have the initiative it will put 2 +1/+1 counters on one of your creature. And if it’s Bloodboil Sorcerer then you have a whopping 5|5 commander out to kick some butt! And what more, your third venture into the Undercity will hit your opponent hard with a loss of 5 life.
Turbo Bloodboil Sorcerer
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/wrM-bNkuiE6i0boc_42O5Q
Creatures
Turbo Bloodboil Sorcerer focuses on only one goal… and that is to gain the initiative in the first or second turn and to make sure it will not be snatched back from him. Our creatures are more on the 1 or 2 CMC costs and includes the key ones like Goldhound, Myr Moonvessel and Impulsive Pilferer. They all produced one mana and including Simian Spirit Guide enable you the gain access to an additional mana for your rituals. If not the first turn then you can opt for second or third turn with creatures like Generator Servant and Grinning Ignus. Other creatures are for offense and defense and include Akorn Hellhound, Akroan Crusader, Blisterspit Goblin, Fanatical Firebrand, Fireshrine Keeper. Frenzied Goblin, Ghitu Lavarunner, Gingerbrute and a horde of others.
Spells
Key spells include Lotus Petal, Infernal Plunge, Rite of Flame, Desperate Ritual and Pyretic Ritual which ramps up your mana all of a sudden when needed. The rest are for burning like Chain Lightning, Lightning Bolt, Unholy Heat, Searing Blaze; drawing like Faithless Looting, Thrill of Possibility, Sazacap’s Brew, etc.; for token generation like Kuldotha Rebirth, Forbidden Friendship, Ral’s Reinforcement etc. Some special cards are also designed to exile more cards from your library and get to be able to use them on or until your next end step.
Lands
TBS contains 32 Lands with 24 basic Mountains. Special lands include Opal Palace, Looming Spires and Teetering Peaks for that added firepower and Sandstone Needle for that extra mana ramp advantage.
Strategy
Turbo Bloodboil Sorcerer has the same strategy with that of Passageway Seer. Mulligan to your needed cards but not too much to be able to bring out your commander on Turn 1 and gain the initiative. Again stay on the left side rooms to be able to buff your commander, hit your opponent with a loss of 5 life, draw an extra card and reach the Throne of the Dead Three.
(Results after Saturday)
How about you? Did you find this article very useful? Were we able to miss out on any old or newer common cards to include the deck? Give us a heads up in the comment section. And don’t forget to hit that like button for more PDC articles in the future. Don’t forget to visit our official FB page: Pauper Duel Commander PH. Like and subscribe here at fb.com/pdc.news.ph. And that concludes this week’s issue folks. Until next time and don’t let that sorcerer make your blood boil as he goes about taking the initiative even before you can even make your first landfall.
