How to Build a Mono-Red Aggro Deck: Completing and Solving in MTG Standard

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Mono-red aggro is a classic and popular deck in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a great choice for beginners or players who want to end games quickly rather than in long, slow battles for control. With more cards legal in the Standard format than ever before, there are many ways to build a solid mono-red deck. Few wins feel as satisfying as making your opponents surrender early, overwhelmed by your aggressive strategy.

Mono-Red Aggro Deck List

(Image of a MTG card: Razorkin Needlehead against a blurred mountain background)

Aggro decks are the most compact in MTG, usually running four copies of most cards instead of just one or two. This makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve drawn. The deck also restricts the use of enchantments, artifacts, vehicles, and other spell types that often require more time or mana to be effective. Aside from creatures and instant spells, there’s only one sorcery card in this deck.

This simple structure makes it beginner-friendly. However, playing aggro effectively requires more nuance. You can’t just play all your creatures and spells randomly and expect to win every game or climb to the top ranks in MTG Arena.

(Image of a MTG card: Slickshot Show-Off against a mountain background)

How This Mono-Red Aggro Deck Works

This deck is built around dealing damage from the very first turn. Many of its creatures have haste, meaning they can attack immediately after being played, without waiting a turn to clear “summoning sickness.” While haste is a key feature, other mechanics like raid, menace, and prowess are also used in different mono-red decks.

The spells are low-cost and pack a punch. They target either creatures or opponents, enabling quick damage or removal. Even the highest-cost card, Witchstalker Frenzy, can be cast for less if you’ve already attacked with your creatures that turn.

(Image of a MTG card: Slickshot Show-Off against a mountain background)

Ideal Starting Hands

Your opening hand should ideally contain at least three mana, three creatures, and an instant spell. Since most of the deck’s creatures cost two mana or less, it’s possible to start with just two mana and draw an extra in the early turns. If you do start with only two mana, include an instant to remove blockers or inflict additional damage on your opponent.

Avoid starting with only one mana, even if your hand has many one-mana cards. The goal is to overwhelm early, and casting only one spell per turn won’t do that.

Changes You Can Make

In the current meta, there aren’t many obvious upgrades, but here are some swaps to consider:

• Replace Shock with Abrade
• Replace Lightning Strike with Boulder Dash
• Swap Witchstalker Frenzy for Charming Scoundrel
• Alternatively, replace Witchstalker Frenzy with Hexing Squelcher

Unfortunately, the recent set didn’t bring many significant additions for mono-red aggro. The synergy isn’t quite there to include a random goblin card without haste, though Hexing Squelcher’s ward ability and uncounterable nature can be useful.

Overall, this mono-red aggro deck is well-balanced. Any changes should depend on your experience with the deck and how other popular strategies in the meta respond to your threats.

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