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Edgar Markov - An aggro tale of lords & tokens

Commander / EDH* Aggro Casual RBW (Mardu) Tokens Vampires

Benkov


Maybeboard

Creature (78)

Instant (21)

Land (61)

Artifact (32)

Enchantment (44)

Sorcery (44)

Planeswalker (5)


EXPLANATION IS OUT OF DATE. DECK HAS BEEN UPGRADED.

This EDH Edgar Markov's version (for now to use in casual group play against Saprolings, Dragons, Izzet, Graveyard based and Dinosaurs) aims to be as aggro, low CMC and as dynamic as possible while serving as a base to a fast, powerful and competitive version. I am looking for advice regarding alternative cards, what to take out and strategic inputs on how to pilot this deck top to reach EDH Olympus.

How the deck started: Edgar Markov Precon.

What the deck does right now: abuse Markov's Eminence (avoid playing him altogether) with:

1) a low mana curve of creatures that have/provide: 1.1) different kinds of evasion + "home" stat upgrades / "away" stat downgrades (ex: Stromkirk Captain, Legion Lieutenant, Captivating Vampire; Metallic Mimic; Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite); 1.2) different synergies to steal life points from the adversaries (ex: Blood Artist, Sangromancer, Falkenrath Noble; Malakir Bloodwitch); 1.3) spot removal (ex: Anowon, the Ruin Sage; Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief; Patron of the Vein; Butcher of Malakir);

2)Instants and sorceries: 2.1) for emergency spot removal (ex: Swords to Plowshares; Return to Dust; Mortify; Deafening Clarion); 2.2) board wipes (ex: Fell the Mighty; Merciless Evictions; 2.3) "tutoring" cards (ex: Demonic Tutor)

3) Enchantments: 3.1) Life stealing (ex: Exquisite Blood; Sanguine Bond); 3.2) Ramp/mana fixing (ex: Black Market; Land Tax); 3.3) "home" stat upgrades / "away" stat downgrades (Radiant Destiny; Ethereal Absolution);

4) Artifacts: 4.1) Ramp/mana fixing (ex: Sol Ring; Mox Diamond; Boros Signet; Orzhov Signet; Rakdos Signet) 4.2) "home" stat upgrades / "away" stat downgrades (ex: Vanquisher's Banner; Door of Destinies; Skullclamp; Sword of Light and Shadow).

5) "Political cards" (ex: Captivating Vampire; Dark Impostor; Mathas, Fiend Seeker; Teferi's Protection; Captive Audience; Blind Obedience; Disrupt Decorum; Blood Tribute).

What I think that may be missing but don't know what to do about it:

  • very few card draw engines (ex: Twilight Prophet; Underworld Connections; Skullclamp; Vanquisher's Banner);
  • cards to deal with Dragons and Saprolings and not mess with the deck's power level.

Deeper analysis on why I use some of the cards + some of the cards I am thinking about including:

MANA BASE - still needs some rework. I was thinking that somehow I should remove lands that come tapped and replace them with one or more cards like Exotic Orchard, City of Brass, Fetid Heath, Meteor Crator, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Reflecting Pool, High Market, Maze of Ith) - in order to make it even faster and a bit surprising.

PLANESWALKERS - out of the 4 I "discovered", only Sorin, Solemn Visitor and Sorin, Grim Nemesis seem like they would be a great match (to have Liliana Vess just for her "tutoring" skills and ultimate doesn't seem that useful; Sorin, Lord of Innistrad has a nice +1 and even -2 but the ultimate seems too hard to reach).

CREATURES - Licia, Sanguine Tribune is there not only because the card can get really big (while being evasive) but also because with my deck's life-gaining / life-stealing dynamic it's really easy to cast her as a 3 or 4 drop; Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, well, although she is not a vampire, she really helps me control the zombies and saprolings players in my playgroup; Butcher of Malakir, although I admit she is really expensive and should be taken out, I admire her repeatable "spot removal" ability for late game; Patron of the Vein...yes, it only destroys one creature but her lord effect seems really important in late game; Blood Baron of Vizkopa, Bloodlord of Vaasgoth and maybe Bloodline Necromancer are the ones I think I can replace.

ARTIFACTS - with the mana base I hope to build, I am thinking about removing the Boros, Orzhov and Rakdos Signets - I think there are better options than always having to pay 2 +1 for each time I use it. Nevinyrral's Disk will go out (I have already found sorceries that do a better job (ex: Austere Command or specially Hour of Revelation - really easy to cast for 3); Akroma's Memorial - way too expensive for my deck but damn, isn't it a game-ending card! I don't like Coat of Arms because it's expensive and also helps other players. I would like to include Whip of Erebos but it seems a bit expensive and I am not really sure about its activated ability in a sense that it helps but...then it exiles creatures I might need. Eldrazi Monument is not present yet but will definitely be included.

INSTANTS - I like Bedevil as a card but...I admit it doesn't make much sense here.

SORCERIES - Deafening Clarion, not a super card but one I think that makes sense because it works in the early game (small board wipe) and late game (giving my creatures lifelink until end of turn. Disrupt Decorum, most people would throw it out, I need it due to the political side of EDH. Fell the Mighty, I like it because it's a selective board wipe. Revival / Revenge, well, also not "the best card ever" but one that works beautifully with Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Bond (that's how I got to 125).

ENCHANTMENTS - Captive Audience, just for politics. If I can find one better for that effect, I will change it; Ethereal Absolution, trying to help my creatures and hurt everyone else's; Stensia Masquerade, I just have it because it gives first strike, I don't really like it so...I can change it; Underworld Connections, don't really like and would like to replace it but it's one of the few draw engines I have.

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66% Casual

34% Competitive

Date added 4 years
Last updated 3 years
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

12 - 0 Mythic Rares

58 - 0 Rares

14 - 0 Uncommons

3 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.39
Tokens City's Blessing, Vampire 1/1 B, Vampire 1/1 W
Folders Commander, vamps
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