Help dealing with Iona in green!
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 13, 2015, 2:22 a.m. by FinchFalcon
My B/G Savra, Queen of the Golgari sacrifice deck has been hosed twice consecutively by an Iona, Shield of Emeria naming black. Short of combat damage, there's no way to get Iona off the field, unless I already have a Grave Pact or similar effect out, or get lucky enough to land one with a Genesis Wave. Are there any good EDH mono-green removal spells for creatures? What other options do I have for dealing with Herself?
CharonSquared says... #3
August 13, 2015 2:27 a.m.
If you have an instant kill spell in your hand that is black, you can kill the Iona before the ETB effect resolves. Green fight effects could be useful, like Prey Upon, Savage Punch, or Setessan Tactics, works very nicely with deathtouch creatures.
August 13, 2015 2:33 a.m.
FancyTuesday says... #5
Karn Liberated, All Is Dust and Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre are all the crazy powerful, crazy expensive EDH staples that offer all colors an answer to everything.
In this case I'd run Predator, Flagship. Nobody's gonna see that coming.
And you can't respond to Iona with removal like that, it's not an ETB trigger but rather a static ability that's determined as it enters the battlefield, not when.
August 13, 2015 2:36 a.m. Edited.
GoldenDiggle says... #6
Deathtouchers dealing damage (fights, pings, reach, etc), (Epic Confrontation, Savage Punch, Viridian Longbow, Heart-Piercer Bow).
There are green destroys that give opponents creatures (Eaten by Spiders, Beast Within, Plummet),
There is also a fair amount of artifact removal forms (Argentum Armor, Predator, Flagship, Nevinyrral's Disk).
These give you options, though not all of them good.
August 13, 2015 2:57 a.m.
DiggleMcGee says... #7
I run a savra deck feel free to check it out but its not fully updated. There are green sac engines you can run but if your problem is you dont have your commander by the time Iona comes out your doing something wrong. Things like Starved Rasalka, birthing pod, high market, phrexian tower. Get sac engines in multiple colors and also some sac lands.
August 13, 2015 3:26 a.m.
Malsorn the color iona hoses is chosen as she's entering the battlefield not when so there is no time to kill her off before a color is chosen because there isn't anything to kill off yet.
August 13, 2015 3:48 a.m.
Lignify and Song of the Dryads do a great job here too, I would say with Beast Within and probably a few colourless cards you will easily find an answer and never find the cards to be dead even when Iona isn't around
August 13, 2015 4:48 a.m.
FinchFalcon says... #10
Thanks all! I think Beast Within is exactly what I'm looking for. Instant speed, deals with Iona, can be used on other troublesome things, with something that's only a VERY minor setback in a deck like Savra.
August 13, 2015 5 a.m.
never forget in black you can rip the cards right out of the deck too, stuff like Praetor's Grasp and Sadistic Sacrament
August 13, 2015 5:08 a.m.
Perilous Vault, maybe you could use the fight mechanic, too. Etb terastodon fights iona... Aaand she's gone
August 13, 2015 5:08 a.m.
@Demarge: Woops, thanks, misread as a 'When cardname enters the battlefield' instead of 'As cardname...'
August 13, 2015 5:22 a.m.
Silklash Spider and Arashi, the Sky Asunder to name a few more
August 13, 2015 6:46 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #15
Plenty of options, but I'll add one more: Brittle Effigy :)
These two lists should also help:
August 13, 2015 11:20 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #16
There is also Torpor Orb so she just comes in and nothing happens.
August 14, 2015 1:11 p.m.
@ComradeJim270, Torpor Orb doesn't stop the ability, because it's done AS she enters, not WHEN.
As discussed already, though, Beast Within is great, and there are a ton of cards in Green that stuff fliers. Black has better removal, though, so adding a few more cards that could deal with her if she's played after them like Attrition, Grave Pact, Dictate of Erebos, Avatar of Woe might not be a bad idea.
August 14, 2015 1:22 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #18
Ah, you're right. That one little word is important! Still, my first thought was indeed Beast Within.
kengiczar says... #2
Beast Within, Plummet, Windstorm. Note that they are all instant. WotC knew that
needed a little love. : )
August 13, 2015 2:27 a.m.