Hogwarts/Harry potter theme deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on June 30, 2016, 3 p.m. by lazarusdraigon
Hey guys hope you can assist me with something a little unusual. My wife is a big Harry potter fan and when I asked her what she wanted to theme her EDH deck around she said she wanted to build a deck themed around the Harry Potter universe with a strong focus on Hogwarts itself. I'm thinking $100-$150 total budget but honestly I've no idea even where to start with this one.What do you guys think would be a good start.
As far as colors go, we aren't sure what commander would fit so please even a suggestion of what would be a good fit would be greatly appreciated.
This sounds like a sweet concept. Id definitely say wizard tribal. Maybe jace vrynn's prodigy as the commander? I think the easiest way would be to start out with castle themed lands, then fill out with a few creatures and spells to represent characters and events. I mean it's a theme deck so it doesnt have to be optimal it just has to work right?
June 30, 2016 3:33 p.m.
lazarusdraigon says... #4
Pretty much the operative word is fun to play. I like the wizard theme idea though. Would Jace be harry? Who would be a good candidate for Dumbledore?
June 30, 2016 4:14 p.m.
Unfortunately, the best "Hogwarts" card to depict the castle itself would be The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, which blows apart the budget lol.
I'd say have the general be Arcum Dagsson to represent Dumbledore. He's an old wizard, and Dumbledore's office was filled with nifty little gadgets, and that could be part of the theme. Stuff the deck full of mtg artifacts to represent... magical artifacts. And as Dumbledore was headmaster, it makes sense he's the general imo.
And while half the deck are artifacts, half the deck can be other wizards.
Basically look at Arcum Dagsson decks and Azami, Lady of Scrolls decks, and smoosh em together. The budget is up to you.
June 30, 2016 4:32 p.m. Edited.
PistonGolem says... #6
You could fix the Tabernacle problem by Proxying it over a de-inked foil. That way she has a foil Hogwarts, and I doubt your playgroup would mind. You could just say that you didn't want to drop $1000 on 1 card.
But Wizard tribal is the way to go.
June 30, 2016 5:32 p.m.
GoldenDiggle says... #7
First off ask her which kind of spells she wants to cast. (Expelliarmus = bounces, Protego = protection, Obliviate = Mill/Discard, Incendio = burn, Engorgio = Pump spells, Finite Incantatum = Counters, Unforgivable cuses = Black, etc.)
If she is a Harry Potter fan, she must have a few spells she likes. Odds are one of the spells will be blue, and like many have said, wizard tribal is probably what she may want. Arcanis the Omnipotent and Nameless One are both good in said tribal.
Choose a commander best fitting the archetype and colors she chose. Arcum Dagsson best fits an "Accio" type deck, where he is constantly summoning artifacts. Visara the Dreadful is a deck that personifies "Avada Kedavra." Like I said, get creative, and run ideas past her.
June 30, 2016 5:40 p.m.
If you really want to get flavorful, base the deck around her favorite book. For example, if it's GoF, you would need cards to represent the three trials. Dragons for the first task, merfolk for the second, and Maze of Ith for the third.
June 30, 2016 9:11 p.m.
I always thought Isochron Scepter reminded me of a wand.
I think there are other wandlike cards out there.
We could also have owls like Augury Owl, Sage Owl, and/or Ringwarden Owl.
June 30, 2016 9:22 p.m.
lazarusdraigon says... #10
Cant have a Harry Potter deck without owls for sure! Great ideas guys keep 'em coming!
June 30, 2016 9:26 p.m.
What about Blind Seer? He could be like a transfiguration deck. Changing one thing to another. Maybe use Jalira, Master Polymorphist in the 99 to represent Professor McGonagall?
June 30, 2016 9:58 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #12
Don't forget Crown of Empires Scepter of Empires and Throne of Empires to represent the Deathly Hallows. Maybe Lich's Mirror for a horcrux?
Also, Phoenix cards for days.
June 30, 2016 10:09 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #13
Barrin, Master Wizard, the headmaster of Tolarian Academy, for Dumbledore?
June 30, 2016 10:12 p.m.
June 30, 2016 11:11 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #16
Wizard Mentor needs little explanation. Professor Flitwick perhaps!
You could include some spiders from the Forbidden Forest.
Courser of Kruphix probably does a good Firenze.
Also can include a sphinx since one appeared in the third task of the Tri-wizard Tournament.
Mindslaver = Imperious Curse
Can't actually be used, but Stone-Cold Basilisk fits the flavour amazingly well. Sylvan Basilisk might fit the bill.
There might be one or two werewolves that would fit Lupin's character.
Dazzling Reflection looks a little bit like a patronus.
Razor Hippogriff = Buckbeak!
Young Pyromancer has wonderful red hair which may remind you of any member of a certain family.
Prodigal Sorcerer would probably fit nicely as a character. The new version could be Harry maybe, or the old version could be ... I'm not sure.
Dragon Egg = Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback!
Cabal Interrogator could be someone like Snape or Voldemort who can use Legilimancy.
Fiend of the Shadows looks like it might fit for Voldemort. Or something with undying.
Include a phoenix to represent Fawkes?
Mirror Gallery would fit for the final room in Philosopher's Stone.
I'm sure someone can come up with a good card to represent Dobby.
July 5, 2016 10:39 p.m. Edited.
Indigoindigo says... #17
I summed up a lot of my ideas for a Harry Potter-deck here: MTGS-link
Other players also shared their Harry Potter-decklists in the thread.
Good luck! :)
RazortoothMtg says... #2
I'd say wizard tribal, but thats all ive got.
June 30, 2016 3:16 p.m.