Naya Blitz: The Man, The Deck, The Legend

Naya Blitz:
Hey guys its Geoff again. This last week has been pretty busy wrapping up my summer Physics class, now that it's over I have time to write this primer! Last FNM went well, I played modern, piloting the Living End deck to a 3-0-1, splitting top 4, while my roommate took control of blitz going 3-1. His famous quote now about blitz "You have an 80% win rate, especially if you are on the play".


I'd like to talk about the deck that introduced me to competitive magic. Sam Black's devious three color human concoction took Standard by storm mid February and has been a torrential storm for aggro decks in the format. After watching Nico Christiansen pilot this monster to a 1st place finish, I knew I had to jump on this train.

The deck itself is pretty clean cut with 12 one drops, 19 two drops, and 4 three drops, with a Ghor-Clan Rampager and 4 searing spears, topping off with 20 land. Here is the deck list from the PTQ in Lubbock:

// NAME : Naya Human
// CREATOR : Geoff Hebertson
// FORMAT : Standard
    LAND
        1 [ISD] Clifftop Retreat
        1 [M13] Rootbound Crag
        3 [AVR] Cavern of Souls
        3 [M13] Sunpetal Grove
        4 [GTC] Sacred Foundry
        4 [GTC] Stomping Ground
        4 [RTR] Temple Garden
    CREATURES
    1 [GTC] Ghor-Clan Rampager
        3 [DKA] Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
        4 [GTC] Boros Elite
        4 [GTC] Burning-Tree Emissary
        4 [ISD] Champion of the Parish
        4 [GTC] Experiment One
        4 [M13] Flinthoof Boar
        4 [GTC] Frontline Medic
        4 [AVR] Lightning Mauler
        4 [ISD] Mayor of Avabruck
    SPELLS
        4 [M13] Searing Spear
SB:  2 [GTC] Boros Charm
SB:  2 [ISD] Fiend Hunter
SB:  3 [RTR] Giant Growth
SB:  3 [GTC] Gruul Charm
SB:  2 [AVR] Nearheath Pilgrim
SB:  3 [M13] Oblivion Ring

The point of the deck is to overwhelm your opponent in the first couple turns of the games, and brute forcing your way to a big W. The synergy with this deck is unparallel to anything I have ever seen before. With the theme being 'Humans' you are able to run powerful lands such as Cavern of Souls, and creatures such as Champion of the Parish and Mayor of Avabruck. While these cards really bring in the true power of the deck, what I think holds the deck together is Burning-Tree Emissary, the 2 CMC Hybrid that produces a Red and Green mana when it enters the battlefield. This allows Champion to gain a counter, and will chain into other BTE's or other cards such as Lightning Mauler. Lightning Mauler allows the pilot to have three attackers on turn 2, given you have put down a creature on turn 1.

Naya Blitz has given me so much more than I could have ever asked for. The deck and I just immediately clicked and it has been a wild ride since. Playing in a PTQ is a unique experience in itself, but getting into Top 8... that's a whole new blessing. I played many different decks that day. I will go through the major matchups and how I dealt with these later in the article.

After the PTQ I decided to change up the deck, giving the sideboard a little makeover, and the main board a small change. Here is what I changed and entered for the TCG 1K in Houston, see if you can find what I changed:

// NAME : Naya Human
// CREATOR : Geoff Hebertson
// FORMAT : Standard
    LAND
        1 [ISD] Clifftop Retreat
        1 [M13] Rootbound Crag
        3 [AVR] Cavern of Souls
        3 [M13] Sunpetal Grove
        4 [GTC] Sacred Foundry
        4 [GTC] Stomping Ground
        4 [RTR] Temple Garden
    CREATURES
        2 [GTC] Ghor-Clan Rampager
        3 [DKA] Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
        4 [GTC] Boros Elite
        4 [GTC] Burning-Tree Emissary
        4 [ISD] Champion of the Parish
        4 [GTC] Experiment One
        4 [M13] Flinthoof Boar
        4 [GTC] Frontline Medic
        4 [AVR] Lightning Mauler
        4 [ISD] Mayor of Avabruck
    SPELLS
        3 [M13] Searing Spear
SB:  3 [GTC] Boros Charm
SB:  2 [ISD] Purify the Grave
SB:  3 [RTR] Giant Growth
SB:  2 [GTC] Gruul Charm
SB:  3 [AVR] Nearheath Pilgrim
SB:  2 [M13] Pacifism

As you probably noticed the sideboard changes a lot!


Boros Charm: I decided to add more of these because it gave myself more reach with the 4 damage, indestructible to board wipes, and double strike.
Purify the Grave: This is direct hate to Reanimator, it is fortunately so cheap that I can add these and not screw up my curve.
Gruul Charm: I moved down to 2, mostly just used for Lingering Souls
Nearheath Pilgrim: This is grade A baller status in the aggro matchups. Such a powerhouse
Pacifism: Best used for Boros Reckoner

Also if you noticed I moved down a spear, and up a Rampager, those things are just amazing getting over multiple blockers or cards such as Loxodon Smiter.

Unlike other lists, I decided to main board Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, I think this card is stupid good, although it doesn't bounce off of BTE, it makes all non creature spells cost more, which can really slow down other decks, and the first strike is pretty nice!

Now that you have seen the full list. How do you use it in specific matchups? Don't worry its fairly easy!

You see how there are 3 Thalia's, 3 Giant Growths, and 3 Nearheath Pilgrims? Well rest your pretty little head because those are the 3 sets of cards that rotate around. Thalia for the spell heavy matchup (I.E. Esper, Reanimator, Jund), Giant Growth for a little aggro and midrange, and Nearheath for the mirror or the recently popular Gruul aggro. The other cards come and go as necessary. Obviously Purify for Reanimator and Boros charm for America and Esper Control. Pacifism if you see a Reckoner.

Now you ask what do I take out?! Well simply it's actually pretty difficult, I usually will take out a Frontline Medic or two, Experiment One, and Flinthoof Boar, usually trying to keep these as a 2 or 3 of at least.

Flinthoof Boar? That's not a human! Well... yeah you are right, but what is better ripping off the top, a potentially 3/3 haste pig or some dumb human you have to wait a turn to use? Really it's all preference, I have tried others such as Hamlet Captain, and I just feel Flinthoof Boar is better.

Most matchups are fairly easy, you really need to be conscious of over extending.
Esper or America Control: Be careful, these are usually the hardest matchups for Blitz, don't over extend, and save your creatures to do some beatings after the board wipe. Bring in those Boros Charms and Pacifisms.

Reanimator: Not usually a problem for blitz, just kill them quickly. A turn 4 Angel of Serenity is not fun. Bring in that Purify the Grave!

Jund: Hope they run out of removal before you run out of creatures, It's a fairly easy matchup, but be sure to save your spears for the most optimal target. Bring in that Giant Growth.

Aggro: This is a tough matchup, usually it's who goes first, but be sure to use those combat tricks! You need the creature advantage, so Boros charm and giant growth are very helpful here. If you are falling behind the creature race the Nearheath Pilgrim helps to gain you some extra turns.

I have started to make the move putting Pillar of Flame in the sideboard for Voice of Resurgence, most likely removing the Gruul charm, and possibly Ray of Revelation for Bant Hexproof.

While a lot of the deck is rolling out when rotation hits, I will always be sure to keep this on the shelf to remember what it has done for me as a competitive player. Thanks to my friends for helping my test and learn about the deck, there are some very pretty intricacies that I am sure I haven't even found out yet!

Take care everyone, I hope I have taught you as much as this deck has taught me!

Thanks for reading,
Geoff

Next Article: Balancing school and competitive magic!