If you stare into the Maelstrom...

Commander / EDH Tiddilywinkus

SCORE: 13 | 8 COMMENTS | 4096 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS


First Playtest results —Nov. 5, 2016

Had the chance to try out the deck yesterday at my local FNM. It ended up winning the game I tested in on turn 9. I played against a Marath deck found here , a Saskia the Unyielding found here , and an Anafenza deck that i don't have a link to.

I was able to play Panharmonicon turn 8, into a Palinchron turn 9 for infinite mana and Comet Storm for the win.

Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder was out since turn 4 and was fully capable of cascading every turn without any buff to him. First impression stand that Yidris will be a fairly powerful commander.

Shpalm says... #1

Here is what I think.

Your ramp is probably ok, but at the same time it has room for improvement. Since you want to cast big spells to have a chance to cascade into something else big, as well as double strike enablers, you do need a ton of mana fast, which I dont think you can produce yet. And I agree with everyone above me, 42 lands is too many. A few should be swapped for ramp and fixing, such as Birds of Paradise, Deathrite Shaman, and Farseek.

I do not like to play Tempt with Discovery in a deck without really good targets, because it allows opponents to grab their utility lands while you have to settle for a Cavern of Souls or Boseiju, Who Shelters All at best. I am guessing this depends on your playgroup, but I believe it would be better to either remove Tempt with Discovery in favour of some other form of ramp, even as simple as Explosive Vegetation, or add more targets for it, which brings me smoothly into my next point.

Double strike is cool and all, but commander games come to a time when it is not enough. I would suggest adding some unblockability to the list. Whispersilk Cloak is the first thing that comes to mind, since it gives evasion as well as protection, which by the way could also use some improvement. Rogue's Passage, Thassa, God of the Sea, and Cover of Darkness could also be viable. Some more options, which can be tutored for with Tempt with Discovery, could be Shizo, Death's Storehouse and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth + Filth , which makes all your creatures unbockable!

If however you want to stick to the double strike theme only, then I feel Savage Beating is a must. You may also want to find a spot for Scourge of the Throne, a cute dragon than gives you free additional combats, as long as you are not the player at most life.

I am trying a completely different route for my Yidris, but I will be happy to kep discussing this list, should anyone want to.

November 4, 2016 6:09 a.m.

Tiddilywinkus says... #2

Shpalm: I can definitely see why Tempt with Discovery could be removed, but until i test it out tonight I'm hesitant to take it out because it allows me to grab my non-basics as well. If it proves to be too much a problem ill probably replace it with a Skyshroud Claim or something.

I ended up taking a bit of lands out and putting in Farseek and Thassa, God of the Sea, along with Shizo, Death's Storehouse. The unblockability is definitely good suggestion, but Whispersilk Cloak might be a bit much on the equipment side and I'm going to hold off on it for now.

Double strike isn't meant to be the main route for the deck anymore but the cards that are in there are able to stick around a bit longer, and just give Yidris a couple more triggers if i really want them. Who knows they might still come out to make the deck more consistent.

Thank you for suggestions!

November 4, 2016 3:17 p.m.