Dudecore's Deck Vault: "Affinity" Pauper Edition

Thank you for taking some time to read my newest article. This is another one of my personal decks for the pauper format. Pauper if you do not know is made up of only common cards - and cards once printed at common (Counterspell). This deck is also pretty capable in legacy too, it won't win any tournaments - but it works great at the kitchen table. All together the deck cost me about $20 to assemble, I paid more for sleeves and the deckbox.

Anyone who has never played Affinity before will be able to grasp this deck pretty easily. It basically just loads the battlefield with cheap artifacts to drive up the Affinity discount - and use those creatures to beat face. So lets get into it.
 

Pauper Affinity 75 cards, 15 sideboard 4 Vault of Whispers 3 Darksteel Citadel 2 Island 3 Great Furnace 1 Lonely Sandbar 4 Seat of the Synod 1 Ancient Den 18 lands 4 Frogmite 4 Myr Enforcer 4 Somber Hoverguard 4 Quicksilver Behemoth 16 creatures 1 Springleaf Drum 4 Thoughtcast 2 Serrated Arrows 2 Scale of Chiss-Goria 3 Chromatic Star 4 Chromatic Sphere 1 Æther Spellbomb 4 Lotus Petal 2 Reaping the Graves 3 Rush of Knowledge 26 other spells Sideboard 1 Reaping the Graves 2 Sunbeam Spellbomb 2 Diabolic Edict 2 Serrated Arrows 4 Hydroblast 4 Pyroblast 15 sideboard cards

4 Frogmite
The most basic Affinity creature. Frogmite is an artifact, that helps, he's often cast for free later on in the game. Not too much explanation needed here.

4 Myr Enforcer
This is one of the weaker cards, but also generally cast for free later in the game. The thing about having artifact lands, and cheap artifacts - Myr Enforcer quickly becomes an appropriately costed creature. He also bumps Rush of Knowledge.

4 Somber Hoverguard
The creature with evasion. The blue cost can sometimes be tricky, then you'll just need to pop a Lotus Petal or some similar artifact. He does a fair bit of heavy lifting in this style deck. Somber Hoverguard is not an artifact.

4 Quicksilver Behemoth
Another creature that does not have very much upside, it just fits the format and the deck. Quicksilver Behemoth is not an artifact, he has problem of being a perpetual blocker and rarely an attacker. You can get him out very early, which is a plus.

1 Springleaf Drum
Cheap artifact that ramps mana.

2 Serrated Arrows
Basically the only removal card I've got, and the only decent card from Homelands. It is difficult to find much artifact removal at common - Serrated Arrows fits the bill.

2 Scale of Chiss-Goria
Cheap artifact to drive up the Affinity rewards, you can play it as an instant, the +0/+1 buff isn't entirely worthless...but it is the next closest thing.

3 Chromatic Star
Cheap artifact to drive up Affinity, draws a card and filters mana for you. Not really a wasted card - to draw a card? I'll take it. Basically a Chromatic Sphere that benefits you if removal is used.

4 Chromatic Sphere
Functionally identical to Chromatic Star. Same things apply.

1 Æther Spellbomb
Cheap artifact that functions as either an unsummon or cantrips. I've considered adding more, but thus far I've been reluctant to change because I typically do well now that storm was weakened. 

4 Lotus Petal
The cheapest of artifacts. 0! It doesn't draw me a card, so I often hold into them to drive up the storm count for Reaping the Graves.

2 Reaping the Graves
Recursion. Not very expensive, brings back my weak Affinity creatures and I can often just recast them for free.

3 Rush of Knowledge
With all of the cheap spells in hand, you empty out pretty quickly. It's important to reload and this card hits the mark. With the high CMC affinity beaters - the refresh is huge. If you're not careful you may deck yourself!

4 Thoughtcast
The Affinity version of Ancestral Recall (maybe not THAT great). You get the point though, draw 2 cards for 1 blue? Card advantage wins games.

Why is it so good?
Speed. It gets the job done very quickly, by turn 3 you're basically ready to cast mostly everything in the deck, few other decks can do that and be this capable.

What are its weaknesses?
Burn. Creature combat is how this deck wins, and if you've got no real way to gain life - you will be burned out of contention. It does some things to remedy burn in the sideboard, but outside of that you won't last too long.

What about the sideboard?
This sideboard is set up mostly to deal with everything in the format. Without Storm being the dominant deck, the time is right for Affinity to step up and claim its rightful place as the King of the Pauper.

1 Reaping the Graves
Another one incase I'm facing a more control oriented deck. I need my soldiers back.

2 Sunbeam Spellbomb
Cheap artifact that gives me life, or draws a card. Sideboard in vs. more aggressive decks or burn.

2 Diabolic Edict
Control card. Tech vs. aggro.

2 Serrated Arrows
Additional supply of these to sideboard in vs. Aggro like White Weenies or Elves.

4 Hydroblast
For stopping burn decks. Burn is a pretty popular Pauper archtype, and one must always be on guard.

4 Pyroblast
This is sideboard against control decks. Counterspell is at common, but for it is often worse then this. I can ill-afford my spells being cancelled - so this is what I need to do to stay on top.

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That does it for another Deck Tech. If you've got any questions, comments and suggestions, feel free to post them here. If you like the Article and want more, hit the "Like" button at the bottom.