RUG Threshold

RUG Threshold is actually quite similar to the RUG Delver (Canadian Threshold) decks of today, with a few tweaks - the main difference being that you lose its namesake 1-drop. Ancient doesn’t allow new frame-only cards, but Delver CAN be replaced by a different 1-drop that sees some play in the current UR Delver deck: Grim Lavamancer. RUG Threshold also uses 4 Werebear (or Quirion Dryad) instead of Tarmogoyf, which was actually a staple of the Threshold decks prior to the printing of Goyf. The last main omission in RUG Threshold is Ponder, which can be replaced by the original: Portent. There are 2 major differences between Ponder and Portent: the main being that Ponder lets you net a card right away whereas with Portent you have to wait for your opponent's upkeep to draw the card. Ponder is not strictly better however, as Portent allows you the option of re-arranging your opponent’s top cards instead! Deciding what your opponent is going to draw can help add tempo to your play and negate the wait time of the delayed draw (just make sure they don’t have an un-cracked fetch land out in play). And there you have it: with a few tweaks you essentially have an Ancient version of RUG Delver.

Because of the dis-synergy between Lavamancer and the 8 Threshold creatures, I chose to add 4 Mental Note to the deck but these are flex slots (as are Lavamancer of course). How you want to build Ancient Threshold is entirely up to you. Happy brewing!

RUG Threshold

Land:

4 Volcanic Island

4 Tropical Island

4 Wasteland

8 Fetch lands

Total: 20

Creatures:

4 Grim Lavamancer

4 Nimble Mongoose

4 Werebear

Total: 12

Spells:

4 Lightning Bolt

4 Force of Will

4 Daze

4 Stifle

4 Brainstorm

4 Fire // Ice

4 Mental Note

Total: 28

Sideboard:

4 Tormod’s Crypt

4 Chain Lightning

2 Misdirection

2 Pyroblast

1 Red Elemental Blast

2 Chain of Vapors