Legitimacy: The Treasure of Politics

Commander / EDH Enral

SCORE: 116 | 50 COMMENTS | 23644 VIEWS | IN 48 FOLDERS


The oxymoron of Luminarch Ascension —April 9, 2017

I've long considered adding Luminarch Ascension to the deck with the reasons of it being a removal magnet and a game breaker if not dealt with. It usually runs better in a pillowfort/stax build as it prevents attacks from going through successfully. In this build however, I would have to be able to have enough blockers to fend off aggression for a couple of rounds before being useful. This however, has great synergy when I lose the monarch and can produce more death touch tokens to deter attacks. Will be testing it out.

Faytl says... #1

Wow, this seems like a very well thought-out and powerful deck. Definitely getting an upvote from me! If I had to pick one card that maybe seems out of place, it's Kambal; He doesn't seem to have much place here, I'd replace him with another Sunforger tutor or a way to recur it if it's removed. Something like Trading Post.

January 28, 2017 6:27 p.m.

Hey, I like your deck. When I just read the description, I thought that it would be very similar to my Queen Marchesa: Politics, Aikido, and Control, but it is actually significantly different, even with the overlap, and I am sure that they play out quite differently.

Given that this is a Primer, I thought offer some editing advice, but only if you are into it. Let me know, otherwise I will just keep my neuroses in check.

As for actual deck advice, I think I will have to digest your deck some to discover how it will play out. To help with that, I would suggest that you add add a section with an optimal draw/opening hand, as well as the usual game play and typical board state when the deck is fully in control and poised to win. Supplement this with typical match-ups and board states that are difficult to deal with for the deck.

As an initial scan of the cards, I think my first reaction is to find out how Lapse of Certainty is playing in this deck. I removed it from my Queen Marchesa: Politics, Aikido, and Control because I found myself holding it when I could have played it. My deck wants to take advantage of my opponents' strengths, and I avoid stopping their plays if I can, and just redirect or avoid instead. People have a visceral reaction to a counterspell or a removal spell that is not there if I can instead just get them to use those spells on other people.

Also, not sure what you feel about your Pillow Fort, but I feel like mine is a very optimized but very subtle Pillow Fort. People almost don't realize it is there, until I get to the end game with all my life. You could potentially steal some ideas from my deck.

Anyway, great deck, I will be watching it.

January 30, 2017 8 a.m.

Enral says... #4

precociousapprentice: Thanks for your feedback. I do like your idea of what a typical board state and opening hand look like and will probably plan to include those in. Lapse of Certainty is a catch-all for any spells Sunforger can't answer which includes Merciless Eviction and any mass exile spells which this deck is very weak against. It also has great synergy with Grenzo, Havoc Raiser (to steal/exile their countered spell) and Sword of Body and Mind to mill their countered spell. Overall, it is very political and you can use it to pit the entire pod against the user.

January 30, 2017 5:38 p.m.

Hadn't thought about turning a table against the person whose spell you counter. That is interesting. I was not using it with that in mind. Will have to think about it.

January 30, 2017 7:24 p.m.

hamiam says... #6

Awesome+1

February 1, 2017 1:42 a.m.

RUST-O says... #7

This is completely awesome!! Expensive but totally awesome. This deck has everything you could ask for in an EDH deck. +1

I would really appreciate some suggestions on my Obzedat, Ghost Council EDH deck "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss".

February 2, 2017 11:04 a.m.

Sigarda's Aid. Flash equipment. Equip for free. Most surprising Sunforger (and exciting) play possible. With the flash free equip you can get more out of your elemental arsenal, the indestructibility/hexproof, etc. Worst case scenario you can set up the equipment on endsteps.

February 2, 2017 5:40 p.m.

Enral says... #9

the_earl_0f_grey: Thanks for the suggestion but I already had it in my list (under "Warcraft" section). Sigarda's Aid is the bomb :)

February 2, 2017 5:43 p.m. Edited.

Sorry. The bottom right is kinda my blindspot. I expected it to be put in the support section. In that case you may want to consider either a Ghostway for the Sunforger package, or a Legion's Initiative for more relevant re-entry timing and the static anthem if you're in an every turn is two boardwipes meta like me. Unfortunately there isn't much that beats the ever present Cyclonic Rift.

If you're a fortunate soul who actually gets to play with creatures in their meta then you can probably make space for a Bastion Protector for the Queen or a Selfless Squire to protect yourself (and let fools think they can take the crown) when Comeuppance is unavailable. If you're deck isn't in need of defenses you can go harder with a Legion Loyalist for easy/cheap first strike/trample/no-chumpblock-mode for all your deathtouch/haste. In super low curves you can actually take a Prophetic Flamespeaker as a sword wielder if you want more cards than Armory Automaton can offer. If theres a lot of artifacts in your meta Into the Core can fit in the forger as well as a Master Warcraft if you're into more flexible combat trickery.

Hopefully something there makes up for my mistake.

February 2, 2017 6:13 p.m.

Enral says... #11

the_earl_0f_grey: Those are great suggestions! I agree that Cyclonic Rift will always be our bane of existence..that's why I included Pyroblast and Lapse of Certainty to counter degenerate blue cards like that. Will definitely consider your suggestions!

February 2, 2017 6:18 p.m.

Eerie Interlude is better than Ghostway for certain situations, mainly triggers that won't kill your loyal Assassins. But is tragic when paired with Lightning Greaves. Honestly with the abundance of Cyclonic Rift its safer to just run both.

February 2, 2017 6:27 p.m.

griffstick says... #13

February 3, 2017 5 p.m. Edited.

Have you considered adding a few more planeswalkers? In a control shell, they can be potent finishers, since protecting them is usually doable. I'd consider things like Ajani Vengeant, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Sorin, Grim Nemesis, and perhaps Nahiri, the Harbinger.

February 6, 2017 10:12 a.m.

Enral says... #15

PhotogenicParasympathetic: Hey thanks for your suggestions. I've long debated about the inclusion of more planeswalkers and no doubt they are powerful. In a multiplayer context they are, in my experience, often taken care of before I had the chance to do anything meaningful with them. The inclusion of Kaya is justified by being harder to remove due to her first ability (which also removes the biggest threat on the table for an entire turn) and also being a draw engine when the table is relatively safe for me to activate her.

February 6, 2017 10:44 a.m.

Schuesseled says... #16

Just wanted to say nice primer.

February 6, 2017 10:48 a.m.

Enral says... #17

Schuesseled: Thanks!

February 6, 2017 12:06 p.m.

WalkerWhippet says... #18

I really, really like your build. Definitely steering my own build towards this direction. I've never played with Suncrusher that much, but WOW, it can be brutal.

February 6, 2017 12:22 p.m.

Enral says... #19

WalkerWhippet: Thanks, sunforger is so good and brutal!

February 6, 2017 2:37 p.m.

Truly great primer, Ive wanted to build marchesa for quite some time and looking at your setup im gonna sleeve all that up and try it out! Amazing work, please keep this updated!!!

April 8, 2017 3:33 p.m.