Bloodline Pretender

Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter

Changeling (This card is every creature type.)

As Bloodline Pretender enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.

Whenever another creature of the chosen type enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Bloodline Pretender.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Pre-release	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Standard	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (33)

HeavenlyAxe on

1 month ago

indieinside, without play testing my immediate thoughts are, not enough ramp/draw...

I'd take out a few creatures, 37 is a lot for some more utility.

In the maybe board specifically...

Adaptive Automaton is good but again you have a lot of creature

Bloodline Pretender only buffs himself not worth imo

Crypt Rats - again if you can give this infect its a great wincon

The other rats are all ok and on theme but if anything can replace a relentless rat...

Lightning Greaves is a great call but i see you have already added it.

Necrogen Communion seems strong and worth an include

Death Denied seems to inefficient. your paying to return them to hand then still have to recast...just use Yawgmoth's Will

My valuation could easily be off since this is 1v1 focused and I am used to building with multiplayer in mind, but that's my thoughts.

Profet93 on Lost Among the Stars in Search of the Moon

1 month ago

Fair points all around!

I wasn't going to suggest something per say, it was more of a question. I was originally thinking of High Tide but I realized you focused on a field of the dead package. Btw, for that package, you should swap out half of your snow-covered islands for normal islands for field of the dead.

Speaking of blasts from the past, how has Teferi's Response been playing for you? Do people really target your lands that often in this deck?

Why do run Walk the Aeons over another 5cmc extra turn spell, do you have a way to recur the islands? Or is it you just want a repeatable time talk effect given you have 10 islands to spare? I do wonder given since you run only 10, often how you do initiate buyback on it.

Do you run crucible for your lands that etb and make you sac another land + walk the eons? How is crucible working for you?

Do you feel you have enough card draw?

Not an entirely serious suggestion, but maybe Shapesharer? You run a lot of activated abilities and training grounds eases the cost. Makes copies of either your creatures or important opposing ones? Is likely too mana costly for what you're going for.

Another changeling, Bloodline Pretender?

I assume rhystic study and mystic remora are other staples you avoid? If you're going for something a little more interesting, Misdirection > Foil

Foil's pros....

A) Cheaper to hard cast B) Can directly counter spells rather than hope it's targeted C) If you get a FOIL Foil, then you can say "You've been foiled by a Foil foil" as the pod stares at your in disbelief.

Misdirection Pros....

A) "Same speech I give for Imp's mischief on every deck" - "Counter" counterspells while redirecting targeted removal, draw and extra turns. B) Costs 1 less card, sometimes it's a tough decision between countering their spell or keeping the other card in your hand given your 3 opponents

ASalesman on Unesh, Ultimate Guide (Tribal)

7 months ago

I wasn't able to get a whole lot of games in yesterday, but I had one particular game where I lost spectacularly for a few different reasons.

Here is the setup:

• Seat 1: Godo, Bandit Warlord
• Seat 2: Talion, the Kindly Lord
• Seat 3: Unesh (me) with opening hand Island, Mana Crypt, Arcane Signet, Dramatic Reversal, Spell Pierce, Island, Bloodline Pretender.
• Seat 4: Tymna/Thrasios

I'll hit only on the key points to this story. Turn 1 goes around and nothing crazy happens, Tymna/Thrasios plays a mana dork, I play out my artifacts holding up Spell Pierce. Talion turn 2 plays Mystic Remora, and I decide to counter it with Spell Pierce. This is the wrong decision on multiple fronts. (1) I am first priority, I should've let the rest of the table deal with it because (2) it doesn't actually affect Unesh that much when I want to cast creatures, & (3) letting Talion draw cards in this instance could allow them to combo before me, but that means Talion will consume the tables resources so I can combo off after. Talion passes to me. I play an Island and note that I can power out Unesh with Dramatic Reversal and my 2 artifacts in play. Because I countered Mystic Remora, I should have done this. Instead I pass and basically do nothing, because I didn't have protection for Unesh & I wanted to preserve the combo piece. I think even without protection, it is still a good play to get Unesh on the table. Using the combo piece here is okay because I can get it back using Mystic sanctuary later, and I already have a scalding tarn in hand to fetch it if I need to. Pass to Tymna/Thrasios, they play Neoform sacrificing their mana dork. Had I not countered Mystic remora, I could've countered neoform and paid the Mystic Remora Tax which is what I should've done. With no responses neoform resolves and he fetches Collector Ouphe. At this point I am out of the game for a few turns which was ultimately enough to make me lose to chip damage and mana crypt a turn or 2 before I can combo off. I did take third because I took out the Talion player by casting a spell while their library was empty (granted they misplayed).

There is always unknown in the fog of war and hind sight is 20/20, but there were definitely some things here I could've seen coming. I think the biggest take away I think is that Unesh naturally allies with another blue combo player if they are the only other one at the table.

DreadKhan on For the Birds

7 months ago

I'm not sure if it'd be crossing the line or not, but I feel like Falco Spara Bird typal probably likes Bloodline Pretender, maybe it could be an honourary Bird? Mirror Entity is another interesting way to improve the base power of your birds, and is itself a bird and soldier. You might be able to get some mileage out of an Aven Mimeomancer, this can make your small stuff bigger or let you cast stuff with Falco, maybe a x1? It can also heavily nerf your opponent's creatures, and it works with Bower Passage so a creature can't block your flyers if you use it aggressively to shrink a threat. Not sure if Soulcatcher is a good fit potentially, it offers you a way to get some counters on things while also synergizing with cards that care about bird soldiers.

Welp, I was searching Scryfall and came upon what must be a new card, and I don't think it's an Un-card? Anyways, she's The Goose Mother, and the funny part was that I wondered if I should suggest Hydroid Krasis, but this is even a Bird! I'm not saying you should run this card, but I would be remiss to say the least if I didn't at least bring it your attention. Forgive me if you already knew about it (I still can't believe it's not an Un card)!

If you ever want to look at a sideboard something like Judge's Familiar would probably work very well to hassle people running board wipes. Not sure if Birds would really care about Elephant Grass, but I think it might be another good sideboard card, you can use Falco to get rid of age counters if it's been out for a bit. I don't know if people play Freyalise's Radiance is another card that is backbreaking vs some decks, and Falco can strip counters as needed. Maybe Mind Harness, that's really situational, but when it's good it's really good.

If you wanted to upgrade your deck a bit, you could easily keep up a Mystic Remora if you have Falco out, I guess it depends if most people play creature heavy decks in your area. Many higher power decks use less creatures, and paying 4 is not realistic for most decks.

TheRoaringRegisaur on Werewolves

8 months ago

I'm honestly not sure which to remove. Maybe Bloodline Pretender? I'm really bad at removing cards llol

ASalesman on Unesh, Ultimate Guide (Tribal)

9 months ago

BIG REVISION HERE

Here is all the big changes I've made to this list, and an explanation for each. Guide edits will come in a little bit!

• Replaced Burnished Hart with Mistwalker. Burnished Hart feels too slow, Mistwalker is a cheap sphinx that makes the deck go fast. Mistwalker is a nice addition because it benefits from the full 2 cmc reduction from Unesh. 1/3 and flying on Mistwalker makes it the best changeling when it comes to combat.
• Replaced Guardian of Tazeem with Aetherflux Reservoir. Aetherflux Reservoir is a new win condition in this deck. With all of the added changelings and ability to bounce changelings to your hand, it is easier than ever to play a lot of spells on your turn. In addition to being a 50 lifepoint cannon at instant speed, it is the only lifegain in the deck. It can make up for all the health you lost from Mana Crypt and Ancient Tomb. Guardian of Tazeem's effect is underwhelming most of the time. Having the other cheaper sphinxes there is still 20% sphinx, and are easier to play.
• Replaced Leyline of Anticipation with Narset's Reversal. Leyline's effect is honestly underwhelming at 4 CMC. It's great if it starts in your opening hand, but it is Force of Will fodder otherwise. Debatably it is worth for synergy with Sphinx of the Second Sun, but adding emergence zone (description below) gives you a cheaper Leyline effect at the cost of it only being one turn. One turn with the effect is all you need to win the game though, or to get very far ahead with Sphinx of the Second Sun. Narset's Reversal is a great card because it can be great in a counterspell war, but it can also be used to augment your other cards such as Frantic Search or High Tide or Ghostly Flicker. I love Narset's Reversal because it is great on it's own, but also sees some great synergy.
• Replaced Myriad Landscape with Emergence Zone. Myriad landscape is noticably too slow, similar to burnished hart. The utility from Emergence Zone can be outstanding. Emergence Zone is a more easily accessible Leyline of Anticipation essentially. It is less mana to use at the price of using it for only a turn. Presumably the turn that you would use it you would also win the game, so you don't need it more than once anyway.
• Replaced Treachery with Cloudstone Curio. Treachery is a clunky card that rarely resolves. If the mana doesn't untap after this card is played, it feels very bad. Cloudstone Curio is an engine in this deck. It really keeps the BFOF's coming. Playing this card with Universal Automaton on the field means you get to double all of your BFOF's that you play. Additionally, it works particualrly well with the newly added Aetherflux Reservoir.
• Replaced Long-Term Plans with Chain of Vapor. If you are playing the deck right you are seeing enough of your deck to get your game winning cards without using long term plans. Long term plans also scuffs one of your BFOF's because your opponent knows which card it is. Chain of vapor has many uses. As well as being spot removal, it can be used to protect Unesh, and to return other cheap sphinxes to your hand to be played again which grants additional synergy with the Aetherflux Reservoir win condition.
• Replaced Sphinx of Uthuun with Sakashima of a Thousand Faces. Sphinx of Uthuun is expensive for what it does. It will normally be chaper to play Sakashima, and it becomes a second Unesh which doubles all of your BFOFs rather than getting you an extra regular FOF. Having a second Unesh on the field also grants you protection from spot removal targetting only one Unesh.
• Replaced Riddlemaster Sphinx with Bloodline Pretender. Riddlemaster Sphinx's ETB isn't as good as the others (Enigma Thief and Dream Eater). Bouncing one creature isn't super great because your sphinxes already have combat superiority most of the time. It feels expensive for what it does, which means it is too slow. Another cheap sphinx in this slot speeds up the deck, and provides extra synergy with the other added cards.
• Replaced Island with Lotus Field. I want to try this out. I am skeptical that it is actually better than an Island, but we will see! Let me know what you think here.
• Replaced Island with Sea Gate Restoration  ^Flip. Becasue why not really? Worst case scenario, you pay 3 life to have it enter as an untapped island. Having it your hand later game can get you a lot of cards in a pinch.
• Replaced Imprisoned in the Moon with Gilded Drake. Gilded drake is 1 mana cheaper. It not only takes your opponents creature away from them, it also gives it to you, at the cost of them having a 3/3 flyer. In cEDH this trade is insanely good for you. Imprisoned in the moon can be removed to return the creature back to their side. Nothing happens when Gilded Drake dies. He can also be easily blocked by one of your sphinxes, which means it might be chip damage to a different opponent. To me Gilded Drake is a no brainer here.

ASalesman on Unesh, Ultimate Guide (Tribal)

9 months ago

GHoag no worries, I appreciate the questions because it makes me revisit the deck with another perspective. I think You are probably right about Bloodline Pretender, generally. A niche situation where Amoeboid Changeling is better is if you know a deck that you are playing against has a specific type. But yeah that is very niche, and bloodline pretender will be better usually.

I have noticed that Burnished Hart/Myriad Landscape feels slow, I have enjoyed seeing either in my opener before. Perhaps I am hanging on to them too much and I should test branching out from them. Solemn Simulacrum feels a little bit better usually. Changleings are great for having cheap sphinxes for sure. I was pretty much out of MTG for all of Kaldheim so I didn't know about Mistwalker, but that one is definitely great to have. It's nice that it benefits from the full 2 mana cost reduction of Unesh, because usually the changelings only benefit from 1 mana cost reduction. The flying keyword and extra toughness on Mistwalker is just awesome.

Lotus Field could be a great sub for Myriad Landscape, as it benefits from all of the untap effects and isn't slow. HOWEVER if you are playing against single land destruction like Strip Mine (which is pretty common in cEDH), it will be a target. A little bit riskier, but it could really pay off.

Leyline of Anticipation, the effect is not particularly useful for creatures/artifacts. It can be great for playing Rite of Rep or thassa's oracle immediately after the other blue player taps out. But yeah these days I have noticed it mostly as a dead card and I want to play with that slot for sure. Something to be said about Vedalken Orrery here because it is easier to cast, and has synergy with Scholar of the Lost Trove. But it has its cons too, no pre-game effect and can't be pitched to force of will. I think the effect isn't worth how slow either card feels in your hand.

Jeweled Lotus is extremely powerful for Unesh. In your opening hand, it lets you play Unesh early. If you draw it later, it is still helpful for getting Unesh back on the board after removal. Unesh does card advantage really well. Using a card slot for Jeweled Lotus is has been extremely valuable every time, because getting Unesh on the board makes up for the card lost every time.

Well I definitely have some tinkering to do. Thank you for more of your perspective on the deck!

Azoth2099 on Atla Palani, Eldrazi Shepherd

10 months ago

SyrenDelphi

Hey, man! Have you considered Changelings for this deck? They count as every creature type ("Egg" is a creature type), and there are a few that I think could be good here.

Changeling Berserker, Changeling Titan, Changeling Hero & Mirror Entity could work. As could Universal Automaton, Bloodline Pretender, Birthing Boughs & Maskwood Nexus.

Cheers!