From: Anthony700@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 9:17 PM

Subject: Anthony Anastasia: The New Dark Fires, Type II
       OK, everyone knows by now that Type II has been torn down and rebuilt again by the rotating out of Masques Block. Needless to say, I was very worried about this. My best deck was Fires (back when it was mostly green/red), and I loathed losing my precious Rishidan Ports, Blastoderms, and Saproling Bursts. But then came Invasion Block, and my deck idea was revolutionized.. I immediately knew what would be in my deck..and what wouldn't!

       After extensive play testing, I finally decided to give my deck, which was now Dark Fires, a more controlling aspect. Fires decks of any kind need to win fast, and they can't do it if there's a long line of blockers stalling you out. Fliers also gave Fires fits, but not any more! My strategy is to control the board with effecient removal, making a path for my huge creatures to destroy the opponent. Take a look at the deck list!

1 City of Brass
1 Sulfurous Springs
2 Darigaaz's Caldera
4 Karplusan Forest
6 Forest
5 Mountain
5 Swamp
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Horned Kavu
3 Thunderscape Battlemage
3 Flametongue Kavu
3 Spiritmonger
1 Shivan Wurm
1 Darigaaz, the Igniter
1 Ghitu Fire
2 Urza's Rage
2 Pernicious Deed
4 Fires of Yavimaya
4 Terminate

Sideboard
4 Fire/Ice
4 Kavu Chameleon
3 Hull Breach
2 Boil
1 Hurricane
1 Obliterate

Here's a card-by-card breakdown of the deck:
      
       Llanowar Elves One of green's best one-drops and a staple mana accelerator, it gets you a turn ahead on mana and can chip in a little damage here or there.
       Birds of Paradise As a 0/1 for G, it's not too good, but it makes up for it by being able to tap for any color of mana, a great fixer in a tri-color deck like this. The mana acceleration is invaluable, also.
       Horned Kavu A first-turn Birds or Elves followed by a second turn Horned Kavu can put a serious strain on your opponent. It's also an economical 3/4 for a mere GR, able to soak up most burn spells in the environment.
       Thunderscape Battlemage Strong enchantments run rampant in Type II now; Megrim, Pariah, and Delaying Shield can really mess up Fires if they don't answer it. This guy's a 2/2 for 2R that can destroy an enchantment and/or discard two cards.
       Flametongue Kavu With all of the bounce in this deck, this 4/2 for 3R can shoot down opposing creatures, clearing the way for your hasted creatures to apply some serious beatdown.
       Spiritmonger An effecient 6/6 for 3GB who can regenerate, change color to avoid most removal and color hosers, and grow bigger is too good to pass up!
       Shivan Wurm As a 7/7 for 3RG, he can come in fast and ignore regenerating creatures as he Tramples them underneath him. He can also gate one of the Thunderscapes or Flametongues for more removal.
       Darigaaz, the Igniter Another effecient 6/6 with flying and a good ability for 3RGB, Darigaaz is the air force of the deck, gaurding against Serra Angels and Thought Devourers and doling out damage when the ground is locked up.
       Ghitu Fire Put in to oust larger creatures and maybe even kill the opponent; it's instant-capability is a nice bonus, too.
       Urza's Rage Three damage for three mana as an instant is a good spell; add in its kicker and it's lethal, serving as a maindeck ace against control decks and acting as effecient removal.
       Pernicious Deed A nice thing to have to clear away annoying, cheap enchantments and creatures, the Deed can be "controlled", destroying most if not all opposing critters, a few of your weenies, and some permanents, while leaving your more expensive cards intact.
       Terminate The most effecient targeted removal ever, Terminate destroys any creature and stalemates regenerating creatures. Every deck that has red and black in it should have four; this deck's no different.

Anthony Anastasia, Anthony700@aol.com