Welcome to the deck guide for Sultai Rona Combo, affectionately known as "Rona Repulsa," a powerful and versatile Magic: The Gathering deck that achieved victory in the SEA Championship Qualifiers. This unique deck combines control elements with a thrilling combo involving Rona, Herald of Invasion, Retraction Helix, and Mox Amber, offering a strategic and adaptable playstyle.
Deck Overview
Deck Name: Sultai Rona Combo - "Rona Repulsa"
Tournament Success: SEA Championship Qualifiers Winner
Strategy: Rona Repulsa is designed to adapt to different opponents and archetypes, making it a formidable choice for competitive play. Whether you're facing control or aggro decks, this deck offers a range of tools to control the game and assemble its signature combo.
Combo Components:
Rona, Herald of Invasion: Rona serves as the engine of the deck, featuring a looting ability that allows you to draw a card and discard a card. Her untap ability triggers when you play a legendary card, creating opportunities to dig deeper into your library and potentially find your combo pieces.
Key Cards:
Strategy and Gameplay
Early Game
The early game is centered around identifying your opponent's archetype, whether Control or Aggro, and adapting your approach accordingly.
Against Control: When facing a control deck, take an aggressive stance with your life total. Prioritize playing Thoughtseize and Jace, Vryn's Prodigy early on to disrupt your opponent's hand and card advantage.
Against Aggro: Against aggro decks, adopt a more conservative approach, focusing on buying time. Deploy Fae of Wishes to stall the game while utilizing Fatal Pushes and Jace to handle threats. Throughout this phase, your primary goal is to assemble your combo safely.
Mid Game
In the mid-game, your strategy adapts based on your opponent's deck type and the current board state.
Control Opponents: When facing control decks, continue to apply pressure with Thoughtseize and Jace, aiming to maintain control and disrupt their plans.
Aggro Opponents: Against aggro decks, transition to establishing a board presence with Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler, and Rona, Herald of Invasion. Employ removal spells to maintain control while seeking opportunities to set up your combo securely.
Late Game
As you enter the late game, your primary focus is to assemble the combo: Rona, Retraction Helix, and Mox Amber. Here's how the combo works:
Rona, Herald of Invasion: Rona's ability allows you to loot by drawing a card and then discarding a card. This looting effect is powerful, as it enables you to dig deeper into your library and potentially draw into your combo pieces.
Retraction Helix: Retraction Helix plays a pivotal role by giving Rona the ability to target Mox Amber and bounce it back to your hand. This interaction allows you to replay Mox Amber and generate mana repeatedly.
Mox Amber: Mox Amber is a key component of your combo. It can produce mana when Rona untaps (typically after playing a legendary card). By bouncing and replaying Mox Amber with Retraction Helix, you generate mana and exile more cards from your graveyard with Rona, gaining card advantage and control over the game.
Once the combo is established, you have the option to win with Aetherflux Reservoir, using the accumulated life and mana generated by your combo.
Your late-game strategy revolves around carefully sequencing your cards to maximize value and protect your key combo pieces. Whether facing control or aggro opponents, your adaptability is essential for achieving victory.
Sideboarding Guide
General Rule: The core of the deck remains consistent across most matchups. The primary focus of sideboarding is adjusting the balance between hand disruption and creature removal, as well as considering potential threats from the opponent.
Key Flex Slots for Sideboarding:
- 4 Thoughtseize
- 2 Fatal Push
- 2 Consider
Against Aggro Decks:
Out: Thoughtseize is usually the first to go, as it can be a costly life payment against aggressive opponents. Remove all four Thoughtseize cards.
In: Bring in Fatal Push and Ray of Enfeeblement (if the opponent plays white creatures). If not, consider adding 2 Duress for the Fatal Push slot.
Note: Do not board in one-off cards like Karn, the Great Creator or other tutor targets in the deck since they can be fetched when needed.
Against Decks with Enchantments or Graveyard Hate:
Out: Consider can be a candidate for removal if you anticipate specific threats like enchantments or graveyard hate.
In: adding Abrupt Decay or Tear Asunder to deal with enchantments or grave hate your opponent may bring in.
Final Considerations:
The core combo pieces and primary strategy should remain unchanged across most matchups.
Sideboard adjustments should be minimal, focusing on balancing your removal and disruption suite. Keep an eye on the opponent's sideboarding choices to adapt your strategy as needed.
Tips and Tricks
Mulligans:
Aggressive Mulligans: Depending on the matchup, consider mulliganing aggressively, especially when facing combo decks like Lotus or Mono Green that may be difficult to control effectively with your package.
Against "Controlish" Opponents: When facing opponents with a control-like strategy, aim for hands that provide disruption and filtering rather than focusing solely on the combo. These hands can help you maintain control of the game and disrupt your opponent's plans.
Rona Exile Protection: If you anticipate opponents trying to exile your Rona, Herald of Invasion, consider keeping one Rona in the sideboard as a safeguard to ensure you can access her when needed.
Aetherflux Reservoir Recovery: If your Aetherflux Reservoir is destroyed, don't panic. You have options for recovery. You can exile it via Dig Through Time's delve ability or use Tormod's Crypt to remove it from your graveyard. Once it's in exile, you can wish it back with Karn, the Great Creator.
These tips and mulligan considerations should help you make informed decisions and adapt your gameplay to various matchups, increasing your chances of success with the deck.
