Hi! Been following this list for a while. I'll admit I'm in love and am considering testing/buying it.

I love love love LOVE everything about this deck. The Commander, the Colors, the Aikido theme and strategy, the card choices, and the political nature of the deck. Everything. My most enthusiastic +1

Some questions for you friend.

I have a fairly small meta, 7-9 people. I and one other person win 75% of games. I'm probably the best player and get the most wins, even with my just for fun decks. My meta is pretty younga and Timmy-ish, so things like Mardu colors being weak in commander don't register as much as "Eek! haste and deathtouch? That's scary!" if that makes sense. I'm also already know as the best politician in the group as well. This deck looks like the perfect deck for me, but I'm not sure if it'll be the right fit due to my position in my meta. Curious on your thoughts about that.

Why are Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves not included? I feel like our Queen would be spot removed a lot in my meta so I'd add them personally, wanted to know why you don't.

My meta is fairly budget, and run a lot of basic lands even in 3-5 color decks. Are Price of Progress, which I haven't found useful yet in my Neheb, the Eternal deck, and Anathemancer still worth it you think? Are they so important to the deck you'd still run them when their effectiveness is cut in half? And if so, with what would you replace them with?

Have you considered Arcane Lighthouse to help the Threaten effect get through Boots/Greaves and such?

Have you considered Scavenger Grounds as a copy or replacement of Bojuka Bog?

Pacification Array seems weaker than the rest of the list... are there no better options?

Trust me when I say your excellent Primer has already answered loads of questions. Respect all the work you put into it.

I want to thank you in advance for any time you give to answering my questions. I can't wait to discus it further!

Suns_Champion, thanks for the upvote and the very kind words. I appreciate it. Here are my initial answers to your questions. I may have other answers as I think more about your questions, but these are my answers based on what I have seen so far.

First, the deck is fun, and if you already win most games, this deck will probably not change that, unless you are seriously cutthroat already. It basically just evens the power of most decks until the last round or two, and plays as a 75% deck at every table I have found it. I probably wins more than that, but this is because I am the most experienced and obsessed player in my normal meta (it has seen 2 different metas so far, due to a move) and when I show up at random tables, no one really expects it. It has become more popular to play Queen Marchesa, but not enough to be that big of a deal. I would love people to build it and give me feed back on how it does at more tables than I can reach. Even with the concerns about inexperience in your meta, it can withstand more hate than it seems, and while the intention is to ride below the radar, even if it doesn't, it can still often hang. If they waste resources on your death touchers, even the Queen, something else will get them. The Queen and her deathtouch army definitely add to the strategy, but the deck runs fine if they are taken out. Something gets them in the end.

Second, as for Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves, I didn't include them for two reasons. First, I needed the slots. It is a really tight list. Second, removing the Queen is less of a problem than you think. Bring her back out and you are the Monarch again. This provides some disincentive to take her out, at least for the guy who is currently or soon will be the Monarch. She is fairly inexpensive with a CMC of , so this can happen a few times before it gets truly out of hand. For a minor third reason, you only get half of the benefit of those cards when playing with Queen Marchesa, since she already has haste. I found better uses for those slots.

Third, Price of Progress, Anathemancer, and Acidic Soil are all just cards with a low CMC and a high potential damage for the average meta. Commander is notorious for non-basics. If this is not worth it in your meta, think about a resource, situation, or game characteristic that is very common in your meta, and hit them for that. If a bajillion creatures are often on the board, try mainboarding Insurrection, Incite Rebellion, and Stronghold Discipline. If people draw a ton of cards, try Underworld Dreams and Sudden Impact. Go after common game states and the usual overreach for your meta. Take advantage of the way that players build their decks to work. Use their strategy to take them down. Become one with their deck, let their power become yours. There are many ways to do this, I have just seen that excessive lands, especially nonbasic lands, can be a source of power for my offense, and Price of Progress and Anathemancer are usually just really efficient bombs.

Fourth, there have been a few times I have really wanted Arcane Lighthouse. It is pretty amazing. This has been especially true against really aggressive decks, especially voltron decks, since Greaves/Boots are standard issue for voltron. That is definitely a consideration, and probably could be fit in if shroud/hexproof are a problem.

Fifth, Scavenger Grounds is a great card, and if graveyard is a serious threat in your meta, it is a good include. I find that with Bojuka Bog, Shred Memory, and Rakdos Charm, I am often covered well enough. If it got further out of hand with the graveyard shenanigans, I would possibly include Scavenger Grounds, or maybe Rest in Peace.

Sixth, Pacification Array is pretty weak. It occasionally allows for something surprising, since it is often forgotten about, and is otherwise pretty cheap. It probably gets played from my hand as a sorcery speed tap one creature or artifact card for immediate advantage more than any other way, but it does act as a decent Kor Haven replacement with some frequency. Think of it like surprise tempo, defense, and politics all wrapped up in a relatively cheap package. I like how flexible it is, being used for both offensive and defensive uses, as well as politically by defending other players (rare) or opening a line of attack against a common opponent (more frequent) so that I can encourage that attack to point away from me. It is honestly still in there because I have just not taken it out again, since it has come out before, but you may be overlooking it's subtle power. It will get replaced with Forcefield when I can get one. With a deck as pimped as I have made this, Forcefield kind of needs to be in there. It will be some day. For someone else's deck, it could be just about anything.

Thanks again for the kind words. I look forward to seeing your version when you make it. It really is a ton of fun to play, and never disappoints, even when it loses.

Actually, you just made up my mind. I got tired of waiting to find one to trade, knowing that was likely impossible. I ordered a Forcefield. About time.

I got my alter from

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LapineStudios1?ref=l2-shopheader-name

She was about $7 Divine Decree I dunno a good way to link the image but it is on my deck. Also the artist doesn't have individual listings anymore but you should be able to get the same or get something more to your liking. The work is high quality.

Thanks DrukenReaps, I'll check it out.

precociousapprentice thanks for the quick and detailed response! I think you've dispelled my fears about how it'll work in my meta. My play group is planning a 100% proxy deck game-night and I think I'll be running a version of yours! I can't wait to test it out and tell you how it goes!

I see your points on the card inclusions/exclusions. Thanks for the answers!

I'm sure I'll be back for more, but for now, thank you!

For whatever reason the alternate art broke on my deck it doesn't display currently so this should lead to the art

http://tappedout.net/alter/9412/

bigger picture here anyways.