Marchesa's 'Constitutional' Monarchy

Commander / EDH Lifegain Pillow Fort

Arcturus24

Instant (10)

• 1x Comeuppance
• 1x Crackling Doom
• 1x Hero's Downfall
• 1x Lightning Helix
• 1x Mortify
• 1x Riot Control
• 1x Scour from Existence
• 1x Sudden Spoiling
• 1x Utter End
• 1x Wear / Tear

Sorcery (7)

• 1x Capital Punishment
• 1x Council's Judgment
• 1x Debt to the Deathless
• 1x Exsanguinate
• 1x Fumigate
• 1x Phyrexian Rebirth
• 1x Tyrant's Choice

Enchantment (5)

• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Marchesa's Decree
• 1x Pariah
• 1x Phyrexian Arena
• 1x Sanguine Bond

Artifact (13)

• 1x Aetherflux Reservoir
• 1x Boros Keyrune
• 1x Boros Signet
• 1x Crawlspace
• 1x Kolaghan Monument
• 1x Lightning Greaves
• 1x Mardu Banner
• 1x Norn's Annex
• 1x Orzhov Keyrune
• 1x Orzhov Signet
• 1x Rakdos Signet
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath

Creature (25)

• 1x Agent of Masks
• 1x Archetype of Finality
• 1x Ballot Broker
• 1x Blood Artist
• 1x Brago's Representative
• 1x Bruna, the Fading Light  ^Meld
• 1x Cliffhaven Vampire
• 1x Custodi Lich
• 1x Divinity of Pride
• 1x Gisela, the Broken Blade  ^Meld
• 1x Grudge Keeper
• 1x Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
• 1x Knights of the Black Rose
• 1x Lieutenants of the Guard
• 1x Lone Rider  ^Flip
• 1x Palace Jailer
• 1x Protector of the Crown
• 1x Selfless Squire
• 1x Serene Master
• 1x Skyline Despot
• 1x Soul Warden
• 1x Soul's Attendant
• 1x Thalia's Lancers
• 1x Treasury Thrull
• 1x Vizkopa Guildmage

Land (38)

• 1x Battlefield Forge
• 1x Boros Garrison
• 1x Caves of Koilos
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Encroaching Wastes
• 1x Evolving Wilds
• 1x Isolated Chapel
• 1x Lavaclaw Reaches
• 1x Mirrodin's Core
• 1x Mountain
• 1x Mystifying Maze
• 1x Needle Spires
• 1x Nomad Outpost
• 1x Orzhov Basilica
• 4x Plains
• 1x Rakdos Carnarium
• 1x Reliquary Tower
• 1x Rocky Tar Pit
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Shambling Vent
• 1x Smoldering Marsh
• 1x Sulfurous Springs
• 4x Swamp
• 1x Temple of Malice
• 1x Temple of Silence
• 1x Temple of Triumph
• 1x Terramorphic Expanse
• 1x Throne of the High City
• 1x Vault of the Archangel
• 1x Vivid Crag
• 1x Vivid Marsh
• 1x Vivid Meadow

Commander (1)

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The idea behind this deck is to turn the game into a 'constitutional' monarchy, where of course you always hold the real power. To do this, it uses three strategies: lifegain, pillowfort and conspiracy cards. Pillowfort allows you to stay out of harm's way while you manipulate the game. Lifegain also protects you, and gives a more dignified way of winning than mindless bashing. Finally, conspiracy cards give every player a voice in the game's political arena, although the true power will remain with you.

The monarchy plays a central role in this deck. You will of course be a target, but a variety of pillowfort cards and excellent blockers will protect you. If you do lose your title, there are a fair number of flyers as well as some cards to make your creatures unblockable. And finally, there is Queen Marchesa herself. You might not always want to play her as quickly as possible as with some commanders. For one, you'll likely be the one introducing monarchy, and you want to be set up before you place a huge target above your head. Also, Marchesa is a sure way to become the monarch, so a valid strategy would be to first become monarch through a card from your deck, leaving Marchesa safe in the command zone and waiting to come out on a moment's notice.

Aetherflux Reservoir is a fine example of this deck's philosophy. While it can be used to take out everyone in one big hit, it's more interesting as a deterrent. Play it after attaining 50 life, and then just sit back. If anyone tries to destroy it, shoot them. Anyone tries to combo out, shoot them. Anyone threatens to bring you under 50, shoot them. Anyone does something you don't like, shoot them.

With this deck, you should be the Monarch of your table, and the others will dance to your whims like puppets.

Still, this deck hasn't seen play yet and I don't even own most of the cards. Can any experienced Marchesa player tell me whether it'll work as I want it? Are there cards I have overlooked, or cards I should cut? Do note that I am on a bit of a budget.

For cards I'd like to add, Cruel Entertainment certainly tops the list. However, it's quite expensive mana-wise and I don't know what to cut.

Cards I'm having doubts about include Phyrexian Arena, which is certainly a powerful card but might be a bit over the top alongside monarchy's card draw. Combined with Bruna, the Fading Light and Treasury Thrull being the only recursion and Reliquary Tower being the only handsize delimiter, I am a bit scared of overflowing hands.

Date added	7 years
Last updated	7 years
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	2 - 0 Mythic Rares 37 - 0 Rares 33 - 0 Uncommons 19 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.66
Tokens	Assassin 1/1 B w/ Haste, Demon 5/5 B, Dragon 5/5 R, Emblem Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath, Ogre 3/3 R, Phyrexian Horror X/X C, Soldier 1/1 W, The Monarch
Folders	Concepts, Interesante EDH decks, Unique EDH