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The 12 Best Magic: The Gathering Cards That Could Help Beat Ramunap Red In Standard


Pro Tour Hour of Devastation is finally over and we already have every detail of what to expect in Standard though there are still unexplored grounds, but for now, we already know that Ramunap Red is the deck to beat until the next big event. Special honorable mention to Anointer Priest, an integral part of the Blue-White Monument deck that could help win them games over it. As you will see, every card in the list has the ability to gain a specific amount of life as it is the most efficient way of beating red-based decks. We have seen how fast and efficient the deck was on the screen and so I have prepared a list, in no particular order, of a few cards that have the potential to help you beat our Pro Tour Hour of Devastation Champion deck, Ramunap Red!

  1. Authority of the Consuls

    This is most efficient and cheapest among all others that could potentially delay or stop the deck. Compared to Thalia, Heretic Cathar that could stop their creatures, I highly prefer Authority of the Consuls over her as Ramunap Red don't have access to anti-enchantments and she can be easily killed by Abrade or Magma Spray. A turn-one Authority of the Consuls will definitely delay them until you establish your board presence and win the game.

  2. Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

    If it sticks, you win. Kalitas plays a big role against Ramunap Red decks as it doesn't only gain you enough life to survive a few turns but it also denies Earthshaker Khenra from Eternalizing when it dies while Khalitas is in the field. With enough zombies, it could gain you a huge amount of life and help you to win the game on its own.

  3. Gisela, the Broken Blade // Brisela, Voice of Nightmares

    This is a dual purpose card that could help you end games with Ramunap Red decks and potentially win you games with the other decks that could have a hard time dealing with her when she transforms. Her first strike ability doesn't matter that much as it won't be able to block most of the time but with Flying and Lifelink together, attacking with it is definitely the best move. It can be easily dealt with Abrade but when it sticks, it might also win you games like Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet could.

  4. Aethersphere Harvester

    There is always an answer to this and that, and yet when this card sticks on the board, you might win the game without worrying a lot. Aside from the ability to gain 3 life for each turn that it attacks, it also has Flying - A problem that is pretty much hard for Ramunap Red to deal with if they don't have Abrade to destroy it. Just try to brew your deck with enough creatures to crew it or else, you're screwed.

  5. Gifted Aetherborn

    This might see play once again to deal with the best deck in the current meta of Standard format. A turn 2 Gifted Aetherborn and followed by turn 3 Rishkar, Peema Renegade will definitely be an annoying presence for Ramunap Red. It can't be killed by Magma Spray due to having 3 toughness and once it gets counters from Rishkar, Abrade will no longer be able to kill it as well. I will definitely replace Grim Flayer at the moment if the meta is heavily crowded by Ramunap Red decks as Grim Flayer propose no threats to them.

  6. Glory-Bound Initiate

    Another good card that could help you survive against Ramunap Red yet like Thalia, Heretic Cathar, it's easy to get rid of. I could still find this card joining the Mardu Vehicles to outrace Red decks though. It's cheap and when it sticks to the board, Ramunap Red decks will definitely have a problem. Just don't forget to attack with it and exert as that is the only way to maximize life gain, don't try to block with it.

  7. Aerial Responder

    Gisela, the Broken Blades' super sidekick. A turn 2 Glory-Bound Initiate, turn 3 Aerial Responder and a turn 4 Gisela, the Broken Blade might spell out BIG PROBLEM for Ramunap Red decks. They will probably run out of answers to it as they only pack 6-8 spells, divided only by Abrade and Magma Spray. If you're running white, just don't forget to include Cast Out to deal with Chandra, Torch of Defiance as they might take that approach when Game 1 settles in.

  8. Sorin, Grim Nemesis

    It's a top-end curve if you survive until your 6th turn that could gain you a maximum of 6 life with the option of gaining card advantage via his first ability. The only downside of it is when you try to drain life from one of the opponent's creatures and then they kill it with Magma Spray or Abrade to deny you from gaining life. 

  9. Pulse of Murasa

    Almost the same with Life Goes On with the difference of being able to return a land or a creature you control from your graveyard to your hand, an ability that could be useful when the battle takes long enough for you to overcome the deadly speed of Ramunap Red decks.

  10. Life Goes On

    It could help, at least for a moment while you try to establish yourself. Though I highly prefer to use cards that could be a permanent problem for Ramunap Red decks than cards like this that could just be a one-hit wonder. I'm quite certain that you'll gain 4 life most of the time rather than 8 as your creatures won't be able to block more often than not. It is still useful, just not the kind of help you want to win you games against the Pro Tour Champion deck.

  11. Linvala, The Preserver

    Linvala, The Preserver already proved to be an effective card against fast aggro decks, and I think she's well-positioned against Ramunap Red, especially when you're not playing a lot of creatures. Her 5/5 body can block most of Ramunap Red's creatures but having the additional 3/3 Angel token would also be helpful in making sure your defenses are up. Gaining 5 life while providing a blocker can be devastating to your opponent's plans. This card will most likely see in play in Control builds but I don't see why it can't be included in Midrange decks. You can even reanimate her with the new LIliana card. 

  12. Sunscourge Champion

    Sunscourge Champion is definitely one of the best Eternalize cards from Hour of Devastation, and I'd probably rank it just below Earthshaker Khenra for its great value against aggressive decks. Having the ability to gain life while providing a body early in the game is efficient by itself but being able to Eternalize the creature to provide a bigger body and gain more life is great against Ramunap Red. You only need to discard and pay 4 to Eternalize. Sure, in some cases, the discard part may be a drawback but it doesn't have to be when you have more copies of Sunscourge Champion and other cards you want to put in your graveyard such as creatures you would want to reanimate with Liliana. With the overwhelming dominance of aggressive red decks in Standard, this will surely see more play. 

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