Best Types of Creatures for Athreos, God of Passage Deck?
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on June 21, 2017, 3:39 p.m. by theindigoeffect
What types of creatures do you guys think would be most effective? Blink, infect, creatures with sac effects or am I missing a whole other category altogether?
Also, would graveyard recursion be better than card draw spells, or should I have a mixture of both?
tntturtle5 says... #3
I think of the 3 that you mention, only sac works. Blink dones't actually synergize with Athreos, and infect is not good in without a dedicated infect deck (like Saskia, G/U Ezuri, or Skittles). You want creatures that have effects when they die, or when they enter the battlefield. I would look at aristocrats-style decks in any format for inspiration. These styles of decks usually feature some free sacrifice outlets like Viscera Seer or Cartel Aristocrat alongside creatures that care about itself or other things dying, like Blood Artist or Doomed Traveler.
Athreos can also be super political; you can work with others to have them make the choice you want them to on the Athreos trigger, or really tax someone else to force the choice you want to have. IE: Convince someone else to let you have a War Priest of Thune back so you can blow up someone else's enchantment/artifact. Or IE: let the guy at 9 life make the choice of paying 3 or giving your creature back, since they're more likely to just let you have your creature.
Hope that helped.
June 21, 2017 6:20 p.m.
Oloro_Magic says... #4
Maybe a lot of cheap efficient creatures with the potential to get bigger complimented with sac outlets like Ashnod's Altar to make the most of the commander effect. Less powerful creatures also gives access to Mentor of the Meek which can be a very powerful draw engine.
June 21, 2017 6:42 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #5
Sorry, I get blink confused with ETB stuff sometimes.
I've been looking at a lot of ETB triggers in black, and I came to a similar conclusion, though I'd really like to take advantage of the devour mechanic to help ensure that sac effects, card draw and the like are mostly creature-based abilities.
I'm think of using a discard ETB effect, but I don't know if that will be powerful enough, but I guess I'll just use the discard mechanic as a placeholder for my sub-theme for now. What other sub-themes would you guys suggest?
Just in terms of percentages, how would you divide the deck in terms of card draw/tutors, ramp, removal, recursion, fodder, lands, sac outlets, etc.?
Hope I'm not asking too many questions, but the numbers help me balance the deck, without overloading any specific category.
Great suggestions so far: I appreciate the advice.
June 21, 2017 7:42 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #6
Nevermind, there aren't nearly enough cards with the devour mechanic. lol
June 21, 2017 7:49 p.m.
shaftdiggity says... #7
I use low cmc creatures (mostly clerics) with etb effects and extort. There isn't a lot of draw or ramp in black/white, Black Market is a stand-out ramp, but Athreos' recursion will fill your hand like card draws as your opponents let you get your innocuous threats back to your hand. Bontu's Monument is great representation of what my deck wants to do. I do run 9-10 board wipes.
June 21, 2017 9:35 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #8
Do you prefer board wipes to single-target removal?
June 21, 2017 10:02 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #9
I just up-voted your deck: very cool design, and I like the price range, too.
June 21, 2017 10:58 p.m.
shaftdiggity says... #10
Thanks. It's very fun. You tax everyone else, gain life, board wipe. It's weak to flying, and there isn't much ramp or card draw, but it's very resilient to everything else. Ayli is really the only answer to get rid of things, but you're almost always ahead on life. I'm actively trying to get a Black Market and a Ravos, Soultender in there. Have fun making yours.
June 21, 2017 11:38 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #11
What are some interesting creature-based death effects to build around this deck? Life gain is pretty effective but not really my style, and while discard is way more appealing, I would have to rely on an abundance of discard taxers and/or ways to reanimate my opponents' creatures against them, and the required cards just aren't synergistic enough.
June 21, 2017 11:38 p.m.
shaftdiggity says... #12
Sin Collector, Entomber Exarch, Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Shepherd of Rot if you go the zombie direction. While expensive, Grave Betrayal is great if you go the whole stacks directions with Dictate of Erebos, Grave Pact, Fleshbag Marauder, Slum Reaper, Butcher of Malakir and those guys, which I have in my Meren deck, and I don't want decks too similar.
June 21, 2017 11:52 p.m.
This is my Athreos deck. I play in 4 to 6 person pods normally. I works quite well, and is lots of fun to play. I use ETB creatures almost exclusively.
June 22, 2017 2:18 p.m.
Personally, I run a lot of lower cost clerics with ETB effects as well. Combined with Edgewalker, if your opponent chooses to let you get your cleric back, you can play them for free or a greatly reduced price.
If you want to see my deck list, it is Athreos - My Clerical Romance
June 23, 2017 2:41 p.m.
I personally think a sac/reanimator deck filled with EtB creatures to recur, as mentioned above. I have seen Shadowborn Apostle variants before.
Personally I'd go for a more drain and pain approach on the deck since I like those forms of decks. :p
June 28, 2017 10:14 p.m.
theindigoeffect says... #16
I don't really want to build a life gain/loss deck type, and that's pretty much all that's possible with that color combination. I'll probably go with Tymaret, the Murder King, since that color combo allows for more varied effects.
June 29, 2017 5:19 p.m.
tntturtle5 says... #17
Life loss and life gain are just one aspect of the B/W color combo. Athreos's ability makes you want to care about the opponent's life totals, since the more they have, the less likely it is they pay the life. More importantly, Athreos cares about creatures dying, specifically yours, and that's something you can really build around.
I think the greatest power Athreos gives you is an edge in table politics, since the ability is inherently a punisher mechanic. So if politics isn't really your playstyle, then I agree, Athreos might not be the best commander.
Tymaret's an interesting choice, what do you have planned for him?
Timehiros says... #2
You could try making a Shadowborn Apostle deck
June 21, 2017 3:47 p.m.