I was pretty stoked about seeing Baron Von Count, as it brings a very strange and interesting deckbuilding restriction as well as a unique Rakdos commander to casual players. Yeah, yeah, it's banned. I don't care, this is a fun deck.
With that in mind, I've been scouring through Gatherer, Scryfall, and other rakdos-colored staples I tend to use for the most obscure deck restriction possible. After seeing some of the options available, I've tried to construct this with a midrange, creature-based control deck that can use the general as an alternate win condition, but function fine if the Baron is sniped down relentlessly.
Here's a quick cheat-sheet of cards that can trigger the Baron on any particular numeral:
Zulaport Enforcer
Nirkana Cutthroat
Archfiend of Ifnir
Goblin Tutor
Strategy, Schmategy
Staff of Domination
Chandra, Torch of Defiance
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Ember Swallower
Arc-Slogger
The Scorpion God
Noxious Gearhulk
Massacre Wurm
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Elixir of Immortality
Chainer's Edict
Arguel's Blood Fast
Shattered Perception
Oblivion Stone
Liliana Vess
Ob Nixilis, Reignited
Promise of Power
Dusk Urchins
Brimstone Mage
Wild-Field Scarecrow
Kalitas, Traitor to Ghet
Firewing Pheonix
Ember Swallower
Shriekmaw
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Arc-Slogger
Neheb, the Eternal
Noxious Gearhulk
Vandalblast
Shadows of the Past
Oblivion Stone
Hedron Archive
Promise of Power
Slice and Dice
Subterranean Tremors
Dusk Urchins
Merciless Executioner
Fleshbag Marauder
Magus of the Will
Brimstone Mage
Magus of the Wheel
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Vial Smasher the Fierce
Burnished Hart
Wild-Field Scarecrow
Disciple of Bolas
Kalitas, Traitor to Ghet
Firewing Pheonix
Ember Swallower
Olivia Voldaren
Shriekmaw
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Siege-Gang Commander
Arc-Slogger
Neheb, the Eternal
The Scorpion God
Massacre Wurm
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Journeyer's Kite
Grim Tutor
Sword of Fire and Ice
Oblivion Stone
Darksteel Plate
Champion's Helm
Outpost Siege
Liliana Vess
Ob Nixilis, Reignited
Dusk Urchins
Merciless Executioner
Fleshbag Marauder
Magus of the Will
Brimstone Mage
Squee, Goblin Nabob
Magus of the Wheel
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Vial Smasher the Fierce
Burnished Hart
Wild-Field Scarecrow
Disciple of Bolas
Kalitas, Traitor to Ghet
Firewing Pheonix
Olivia Voldaren
Shriekmaw
Siege-Gang Commander
Arc-Slogger
Massacre Wurm
Phyrexian Reclamation
Faithless Looting
Expedition Map
Elixir of Immortality
Wayfarer's Bauble
Shadows of the Past
Night's Whisper
Arguel's Blood Fast
Journeyer's Kite
Talisman of Indulgence
Rakdos Signet
Shattered Perception
Chaos Warp
Sword of Fire and Ice
Darksteel Plate
Champion's Helm
Hedron Archive
Liliana Vess
Ob Nixilis, Reignited
Promise of Power
Slice and Dice
Dusk Urchins
Merciless Executioner
Fleshbag Marauder
Brimstone Mage
Squee, Goblin Nabob
Magus of the Wheel
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Vial Smasher the Fierce
Wild-Field Scarecrow
Disciple of Bolas
Kalitas, Traitor to Ghet
Firewing Pheonix
Ember Swallower (if you count reminder text)
Olivia Voldaren
Shriekmaw
Siege-Gang Commander
Neheb, the Eternal
The Scorpion God
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Phyrexian Reclamation
Sol Ring
Elixir of Immortality
Expedition Map
Wayfarer's Bauble
Demonic Tutor
Shadows of the Past
Chainer's Edict
Night's Whisper
Arguel's Blood Fast
Talisman of Indulgence
Rakdos Signet
Grim Tutor
Fire Covenant
Champion's Helm
Outpost Siege
Liliana Vess
Ob Nixilis, Reignited
Slice and Dice
One thing I've really tried to emphasize is a low curve: without green or tons of broken ramp (or many good Rakdos staples), I wanted to focus on offering many ways of triggering the Baron without having to have the mana for 5+ CMC cards every turn. Things like Wild-Field Scarecrow and Elixir of Immortality are able to hit multiple numerals, Shriekmaw and Chainer's Edict can be cast for cheap but trigger high-numerals, and some cards can be cast just as simple value like Arguel's Blood Fast.
Speaking of Arguel's Blood Fast, this is probably the biggest sleeper I've found testing this deck. For 1B, you can trigger the 5-numeral, it can proc 2 or 1, and at worst it can just draw some cards. Don't worry about flipping it, and it's one of very few enchantments for Goblin Tutor to get on the odd roll.
This also emphasizes another major component of a lot of the deck: there are a lot of mana sinks in here. Originally many of the level-up creatures were competing for slots, as they interact well with the Baron. However, during testing I found I liked having many cards that scaled into threat ranges to let me hold back cards while I was setting up for the Baron.
With this in mind, there's a LOT of small interactions one can generate value from. Some of the weird but useful notes I've found thus far:
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Thespian's Stage & Rakdos Carnarium: some rather ghetto ramp, but it works.
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The Scorpion God & Dusk Urchins: draw an extra card.
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Faithless Looting & Archfiend of Ifnir: Yes, I would like a 1-sided board wipe.
As for budget options, some of the cards like the planeswalkers are almost required. Volrath's Stronghold is highly recommended if you're playing against competitive players to help your deck's threat potential. If you're cutting lands that aren't Cabal Coffers, try to keep the swamp count high. For Grim Tutor, this is fairly optional (it is strangely a better Demonic Tutor here) but can easily be slotted out for card advantage. Some considerations to slot in:
BUDGET/ALTERNATE OPTIONS: Show
Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
Wildfire Cerberus
Grixis Slavedriver
Kokusho, the Evening Star
Mizzium Mortars
Phyrexian Arena
Succumb to Temptation
Blast from the Past
Ambition's Cost
Ancient Craving
Nevinyrral's Disk
Contagion
Grave Upheaval
Until next time, DDDDOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!
Flip
