What’s better than an aggro deck with a combo finish? Some players have experimented with decks focused on the Knight of the Reliquary + Retreat to Coralhelm combo, but it seems like the versions that merely have the combo splashed in are likely to perform better.
Once you have Knight and Retreat on the battlefield, you can get a lot of Knight activations. This typically ends with you floating a bunch of mana, activating Kessig Wolf Run, and attacking for lethal. Without a Knight of the Reliquary, Retreat to Coralhelm is a perfectly serviceable Magic card because it allows you to scry into what you need. Plus, it’s pretty awesome with mana creatures!
These decks have a little Splinter Twin vibe to them also. The deck combo kills with a creature, but it uses its other threats to draw out removal spells, which clears the way for Knight of the Reliquary. Because of that, the deck doesn’t need to play any protection spells.
The card I’m most surprised to not see in these lists is Izzet Staticaster. That card is great against aggressive decks, but is truly brutal if you’re keeping the Retreats in your deck after sideboarding.
Creatures (27)
- 3 Birds of Paradise
- 4 Tarmogoyf
- 4 Noble Hierarch
- 4 Knight of the Reliquary
- 2 Qasali Pridemage
- 2 Scavenging Ooze
- 3 Geist of Saint Traft
- 2 Loxodon Smiter
- 3 Voice of Resurgence
Lands (22)
Spells (11)
Creatures (26)
- 2 Birds of Paradise
- 4 Tarmogoyf
- 4 Wild Nacatl
- 4 Noble Hierarch
- 4 Knight of the Reliquary
- 3 Qasali Pridemage
- 1 Scavenging Ooze
- 4 Geist of Saint Traft
Planeswalkers (2)
Lands (22)
Spells (10)