Help finding a Pseudo-Competitive List on a Budget
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 27, 2017, 7:20 p.m. by RazortoothMtg
Usually at my FNM we have more casual lists, but every once in a while a few of them have more competitive lists, namely Narset, Enlightened Master and Grenzo, Dungeon Warden. I realize I probably can't build a super-competitive or tier 1 or anything deck without shelling out for Mana Crypts and manabases that are way too expensive. I just want suggestions on a Pseudo-competitive, tier 1.5 to 3 -ish deck and some cards that are specifically good against those 2 decks. I already have things like Rest in Peace and Nevermore, I've heard people suggest Rule of Law but if they only cast 1 extra turn spell a turn it's kind of underwhelming but I'd like your thoughts on that one.
I'd prefer to use one of the 3 new legends from the wizards precon, because I have them and they are all super cool commanders. The Kess, Dissident Mage storm decks are a bit too expensive, but I have a sort of competitive build for it in the form of self-mill Living Death thing that I'd love to have some suggestions on. I've seen a few competitive Mairsil, the Pretender lists that seem cool, but I'm not sure which is the most competitive, especially after I tone down the ramp/manabase a bit. Finally, I saw a cool Inalla, Archmage Ritualist by the Laboratory Maniacs from a Tolarian Community College video that wins with reanimator and Wanderwine Prophets... which one is probably the most competitive after toning down manabase/ramp and cutting the super expensive cards?
Kess Living Death
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 2 | 121 VIEWS
Let's Rage Cage Bro! - Mairsil Artifact Combo
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 7 | 33 COMMENTS | 2227 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS
Mairsil, Pretend to be Competitive
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 1 | 2 COMMENTS | 137 VIEWS
$500 Inalla Reanimator
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 34 | 5 COMMENTS | 5912 VIEWS | IN 28 FOLDERS
RazortoothMtg says... #3
I personally think the Kess deck is by far the most fun, however I've tested it a lot more than the others. Any suggestions for making it more competitive/cards good against the grenzo/narset lists? I could add Leyline of the Void for grenzo, and it sorta helps stop the Living Death from being "fair". Plus I'm sure I can switch out a handful of cards between games to switch from Pseudo-competitive to more casual if I need to....
My budget is somewhat flexible, but I just don't want to pay more than ~$30 for a card that isn't gamebreaking, and no more than ~$50 period. I know that's kind of tight but I'm hoping that with enough disruption I can make it through. Some cards, like ally-fetches, random shocks, sheoldred, etc, that I already have and are sorta high-end so don't really count towards that budget at all, but for the most part that's the rule.
August 27, 2017 7:44 p.m.
VraskaTheCursed says... #4
I'd say dedicated self-mill cards are kinda counter-productive. I'd say running Reanimate, Shallow Grave, Victimize, Exhume, Stitch Together, Dark Ritual, Simian Spirit Guide and Mulldrifter would increase the power level. Unfortunately, running super efficient graveyard hate like Grafdigger's Cage isn't an option in this deck, so Leyline of the Void and Nihil Spellbomb are your best options.
From what I can tell, you could use more interaction, as well. Damnation, Counterspell, Disallow, Toxic Deluge, Blasphemous Act, and Hero's Downfall are good adds. Phyrexian Arena, Dark Petition, Gray Merchant of Asphodel, and Sidisi, Undead Vizier are also musts in a black deck.
As for cuts, Traumatize, Perpetual Timepiece, Whispering Madness, Darkblast, Hour of Eternity, and Morality Shift are what come to mind. Cutting 1 or 2 lands wouldn't hurt either.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
August 27, 2017 8:42 p.m.
PlattBonnay says... #5
Im building Kess Twin for exactly this purpose. Its a grixis tempo deck that closes games with some version of the Splinter Twin combo. Kess is just a great source of card advantage that you can put in the command zone, letting you rebuy all your interaction and deck manipulation, buying the time you need before comboing off. The upside of this deck is that you dont necessarily have to do a combo build, you could replace the combo pieces with a couple efficient beaters and win through traditional means.
VraskaTheCursed says... #2
What's your budget?
I think the new wizard commanders are all super cool. I personally like Mairsil or Kess for combo/control which is what I think you're looking for. I like the idea of Kess reanimator/self mill cuz we can cast reanimator spells from the grave, which is super cool. Not sure how competitive that is, though.
Other than that, the Lab Maniacs' Inalia Reanimator list seems to fit your needs the best. The mana base isn't too expensive, either.
August 27, 2017 7:25 p.m.