Bant Spellslinger?

Commander Deck Help forum

Posted on Aug. 16, 2016, 1:12 a.m. by Aggro-Blaster

So my favorite playstyle of EDH is spellslinger. My main deck is an Omnath, Locus of Rage spellslinger deck. (Shameless plug: Omnath, Locus of Spellslingin')

However, I want to build a blue spellslinger deck. And not one that is played on my turns. I want a deck that when it rolled around to my turn, I pass. I want it to play very last minute.

I know blue red is the best spellslinger, however I have always wanted to make a Bant deck and the commander calling my name is Angus Mackenzie. He sits on the board. Waiting. With open mana. Someone attacks me, I fog, or use some combat trickery spells. Or if I'm left alone I do something that furthers my game plan.

Pretty much I want this deck to be able to play only instants or flash cards. There will be exception like ramp and creatures, but outside of that I don't really want to be playing on my turn.

So three things, first, I've never played blue... It is a color I don't understand how to play very well. Any cards that would lead to this kind of deck that are must haves?

Second, is this even possible?

Third, how do I win?

Any help or suggestions is appreciated!

DeathChant17 says... #2

Well for flash enablers, you have Vedalken Orrery and Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, creature flash and Grand Abolisher in one card!

If you want to fling spells. You'll need a way to get Omniscience out super fast.

Something like:(Turn whatever) Cast Flash , put out Academy Rector, sacrifice it , Omniscience is on the battlefield, fetch Enter the Infinite with Enlightened Tutor or another means. Start drawing your library and playing it all for free, when you get Vedalken Orrery you can play whatever, whenever you want!

Anyone know any other ways to cheat Omniscience out?

Plus you'll need a decent counterspell package to keep it out there.

August 16, 2016 6:16 a.m.

Shane.Allen says... #3

Well with Angus Mackenzie as long as you have mana you don't need to worry about creatures attacking you, You can go a heavy counter / control package, so you counter when they try to play something that isn't a creature and make use of board wipes to keep them in control. I would say for a win con add something like Beacon of Immortality and Test of Endurance. Let me know how that sounds :)

August 16, 2016 6:20 a.m.

DeathChant17 says... #4

Also will need Seedborn Muse so Angus untaps every turn. Otherwise multiplayer player games will be hard for ya.

Also, life total win cons (like dude above mentioned) are great when flashed in right before your turn. Once the deck is known though, prepare for infect effects and shit like Rain of Gore.

August 16, 2016 7:43 a.m.

Shane.Allen says... #5

I like the Seedborn Muse too and make sure to have Leyline of Anticipation and Vedalken Orrery.

August 16, 2016 8 a.m.

RicketyEng says... #6

Having card draw will be important. Also, when holding up mana, having mana sinks will be important. Having something that can generate clues can give a good way to use up your mana before your next turn begins. Soothsaying also works as a way to use up that extra mana and manipulate the top of your deck.

August 16, 2016 10:45 a.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #7

I like the clue idea...

If I am running a lot of spells would it be viable to run cards like Talrand, Sky Summoner?

I agree with Seedborn Muse being a must. However the way I see it, some people may not attack me so I won't have to fog every single time. Also I can get cards like Glacial Chasm to protect myself.

If I went with Test of Endurance I feel like the deck would want to have a life gain subtheme. Would that be viable? Or is it wasted space.

The finisher I'm thinking of right now is like a kicked Rite of Replication on some value creature. Some creature that would end the game. Like if I hit an opponents Omnath, Locus of Rage that is 42 damage just from the legendary rule. However, I don't want to be reliant on my opponents so having like Avenger of Zendikar and the likes will help with that.

I plan on having a list together later today, I'll be sure to post it once it's complete

August 16, 2016 10:59 a.m.

Shane.Allen says... #8

Aggro-BlasterI like the Talrand, Sky Summoner card for your deck I even thought about it while looking through your list, both Seedborn Muse and Glacial Chasm are must haves for this deck. your right that test only works if you have a lifegain theme. So I'm thinking you make the others do the work and then kill every one with one big spell ie. Debt to the Deathless, or just wait until there's only one player and just kill that one.

August 16, 2016 11:25 a.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #9

Are there other token makers like that in those colors?

Also I would love to runDebt to the Deathless, only one problem, it's black. Thanks for the suggestion though!

August 16, 2016 1:10 p.m.

DeathChant17 says... #10

Green and white are the token colors. Look at a couple Trostani, Selesnya's Voice decks and you'll find plenty to choose from.

If you are asking if there are other token generators like Talrand, where you cast spells and get tokens off triggered abilities, I don't know.

August 16, 2016 2:06 p.m.

Shane.Allen says... #11

Aggro-Blaster so sorry BANT was thinking ESPER, Awakening Zone is a good card for many reasons :)

August 16, 2016 2:07 p.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #12

Awakening Zone... Ramp and tokens... I'm in.

My friend has a Trostani, Selesnya's Voice deck. I'll have to pick it apart.

For a control deck, what is a good amount of counters to run? I was thinking six. Also what are some good counter spells (please no Mana Drain)?

August 16, 2016 3:45 p.m.

Shane.Allen says... #14

August 16, 2016 4:02 p.m.

Docent of Perfection  Flip for more token generation tied to spell-casting

August 16, 2016 11:33 p.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #16

Thanks for the counter spell choices. Definitely like the exile counter spells. Nothing sitting in a graveyard is good news.

RicketyEng I almost completely missed your comment about Soothsaying. I showed my friend that card a while ago and then completely forgot it existed (Like I said, I don't play blue).

I bought a pack of EM and pulled a Docent of Perfection  Flip today so it's funny you mention that.

Does anyone know a way I can abuse Turnabout?

Also sorry for the delay on a decklist, should be ready by tomorrow.

August 17, 2016 3:32 a.m.

Shane.Allen says... #17

You're welcome for the counter spells. Turnabout only really combos with a few red cards, so I just don't think you should waste a space for it.

August 17, 2016 7:12 a.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #18

Turnabout has one very mana intensive combo that I found... It involves kicking Rite of Replication on something that can recur cards, like Eternal Witness.

But even outside of combo potential, you don't think Turnabout is a strong enough card? It has utility. I can tell someone they have no mana for a turn, stop someone from swinging at me (but angus also stops that), or I can use it to just ramp.

August 17, 2016 9 a.m.

DeathChant17 says... #19

Turnabout seems cool to me, just not as cool as Wash Out or Cyclonic Rift. If you wanna run it, do so. If you don't like it later, take it out.

If you are worried about cards in graveyards, Rest in Peace fixes that. Paired with Energy Field you take no damage from anything.

You're wanting to play bant, but we haven't really touched on the green much. Cards that help make more tokens in green are Doubling Season and Primal Vigor. Primal Vigor helps the whole table though. Then if you get tokens for slinging spells, put those tokens to work with Triumph of the Hordes and Overrun.

Also in line with your commander's ability, you could always put Fog on Isochron Scepter.

Is populate gonna be a main mechanic? Or are these tokens you are getting simply byproduct of casting spells that you can use for swinging or blocking?

August 17, 2016 11:34 a.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #20

The way I see it, green is there to do what green does best, Ramp. Cards like Skyshroud Claim, Harrow, Cultivate, etc.

Green also has the combo breaker of breakers, Krosan Grip.

And like you said it has fog effects. One of which produces some tokens, the spider one from C15, I forgot it's name.

I am worried about cards in graveyards; however, I don't want to dedicate a whole slot to stopping it. I want to be able to respond, make my opponents think twice before they do anything. Rest in Peace will cause any graveyard deck to want me dead. I do like that two card interaction though...

Lastly, if the token production is showing to actually work, green has Overrun type effects, like you said. Plus with Second Harvest from SoI, token spellslinger may be viable.

Overall, I want the deck to finish through spell interaction. I want as little permanents as possible. So card draw is a must. Besides Blue Sun's Zenith and Sphinx's Revelation, does anyone know any good card draw spells?

August 17, 2016 12:15 p.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #21

Also what do you guys think of Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper? He gets my creatures for playing spells.

August 17, 2016 12:22 p.m.

Shane.Allen says... #22

Aggro-Blaster I like Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper because its in the theme and because that land trigger I think could help you late game.

August 17, 2016 12:49 p.m.

DeathChant17 says... #23

I like Noyan for the same reasons Shane.Allen said. But I dislike him for the lands becoming creatures.

I looked at making a deck with him when he was first spoiled. I came up with lots of ideas though I figured if I was to protect my land creatures, I'd have to go with a stax package. Brago, King Eternal does that way better, and I didn't want to go stax.

The reasoning that led me down that road is that board wipes are overly present in my meta. Along with 'take this guy's creatures for a turn, swing, then if they don't die or I don't have a sac outlet for them, then he gets them back.'

Which is all fine and dandy, just not with my lands. I wasn't looking at running green though, which has Asceticism and Archetype of Endurance. Which will keep your stuff protected aside from board wipes and any spells that says 'all'. Also, Avacyn, Angel of Hope is in your colors which helps.

Noyan could be a huge help,and if you only put counters on one land, you won't lose more than that to anything.

All I'm saying here is look at your meta first.

August 17, 2016 4:45 p.m.

Shane.Allen says... #24

DeathChant17 I could not agree with you more, while the advantages of a late game creature would be helpful, my meta is very similar to yours in that the board wipes and the land destruction is very prevalent, so yes, I think it's a good card, only if your meta can handle it.

August 17, 2016 7:26 p.m.

Aggro-Blaster says... #25

It's actually fun because the guy in my mega that is the most removal heavy made a Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper deck. He has had mild success. But the way I see it, this is the color combination that Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper should have been printed in. So hopefully green can make up for my lands being murdered.

August 17, 2016 9:14 p.m.

Monastery Mentor for even MORE tokens and Ward of Bones if you are trying to avoid permanents

August 17, 2016 9:35 p.m.

This discussion has been closed