How Much Equipment is Enough?
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Dec. 11, 2015, 1:28 p.m. by Phaetion
The thought of removing equipment crept into my head. Not all, but a good number of them (Greaves, Boots, and Sunforger are 3 that would stay). One of the main things I'm trying to do is add both of the Akromas.
In testing, I found them to be rather slow. Paying 5-6 mana to cast and equip is a lot to ask for, especially when I'm in colors not known for ramping, and wanting to drop big stuff to net experience counters for Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas.
Right now, I have ~9-10 equipment, with 3 ways to tutor for them. Do I need to cut a couple cards? Is it fine where it is? If so, what is your advice for speeding up the equipment process? Any way to equip without using up so much mana?
I had the cloak in there, but I removed it (but I also said it was likely to return).
I'm not a fan of voltron, really. I don't mind it as a subtheme, but I don't like it if it's part of the main theme.
December 11, 2015 3:14 p.m.
RedUndead40 says... #4
Hate to say it but if you're not too big into Voltron then you'd probably be better off running Gisela, Blade of Goldnight at the helm and focusing more on what you enjoy. Kalemne just seems so underwhelming, especially if you're not focusing on commander damage wins.
December 11, 2015 3:16 p.m.
Gisela comes down so late in the game though. Being able to play the general turn 4 as opposed to turn 7 makes quite the difference.
December 11, 2015 3:19 p.m.
Deckologist says... #6
I would say the swords (sword of X and y), boots, and maybe Batterskull. That's 5-7 equips which seems right. It's a shame you don't want to run her full voltron. She has great colors for it and her only flaw is she wants you to play big creatures to make her big.
December 11, 2015 10:42 p.m.
Deckologist: A couple things:
I'm not a fan of Batterskull in the deck. Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas already has vigilance, and lifelink doesn't do too much.
Boros is great colors for it, yes, but how could you conserve mana to cast something else later in the turn?
I don't know if this thread is me having a legitimate concern, or me going slightly mad.
December 11, 2015 11:01 p.m.
Deckologist says... #8
Well I mean red white loves mana rocks. When I built her I went all in on mana rocks. My inclusion of batterskull was potential sac should someone resolve a sheoldred or a stax effect. +4+4 on your general makes it swing for 14 without experience counters.
December 11, 2015 11:04 p.m.
PookandPie says... #9
I think it's the added 8 damage that someone should take into account when considering Batterskull for Kalemne, Gisela, or anything with effective double strike, not exactly the vigilance or lifelink.
I can understand where you're coming from, though: I actually removed Batterskull from my Kemba deck because I was never happy to see if (expensive to play or equip without Stoneforge Mystic/Stonehewer Giant/Puresteel Paladin). 10 mana is a lot, though, so it's normally a 4/4 with 2 abilities for 5 mana, until you hit the absolute end stages of the game and it can produce a win or KO.
The question is: Can the OP afford a 5 mana spell that does not give experience counters, that may make Kalemne pretty powerful later, if given the chance (in your meta, of course)? For Gisela, I kind of think of Batterskull is a great include for Gisela Voltron since 18 damage is a thing (and she already costs, like, 7 mana so you're up there in mana to even play her), but I don't exactly think it is a certainty for Kalemne so the OP's trepidation is reasonable.
RedUndead40 says... #2
Something like Whispersilk Cloak should definitely have a spot as well.
Otherwise it's all dependent on how much you want to Voltron Kelemne. If you do, I feel like you can't really have enough equipment. Even cheaper equipment like a Golem-Skin Gauntlets technically helps Kalemne just as much as a CMC 5+ creature, so why not use the cheaper option?
December 11, 2015 3:10 p.m.