I'm not used to building EDH decks like this.
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 30, 2016, 8 a.m. by Sim_Will_CMcantfindmehopefully
Normally I like to build EDH decks around a certain idea like dragon tribal, or the commander, but this time I just want to make a card in the 99 the quintessential card. Duneblast is so fucking cool, not just mechanically, the feel f it, the wording, the flavour text, this is the reason I like Abzan (as in the clan, not colour combo).
I don't want a voltron deck, which this is most suited for. So maybe a political deck? Where I play an arbiter just randomly deciding that the board state looked at me funny?Then I'd use anefenza, the foremost as my commander I guess, but then it'd feel like an oppressive deck. I guess I could do a vorthos style deck focused around the group Abzan. Any ideas? I'm reaching here.
aeonstoremyliver says... #3
I second Doran for goodstuff! Abzan has sooooo many good cards at it's disposal, as greyninja kindly pointed out. If you like boardwipes, I also second making your critters Indestructible; see also Eldrazi Monument with tokens to sac each upkeep, Soul of New Phyrexia, and Dauntless Escort.
I play Anafenza, but it's definitely more of a combo deck, so it seems like Doran would be best for what you're trying to do.
September 30, 2016 8:52 a.m.
Fleetwood-Mat says... #5
I really like Daghatar the Adamant for Abzan for a few particular reasons; he has vigilance which makes him an eternal blocker, he comes into play with 4 +1/+1 counters (and this is a very important point since he's actually a 0/0), you can abuse this to the maximum with Doubling Season, then once you have your 8/8 Daghatar, drop Humility and he becomes a 9/9, while all other creatures are janky ol' 1/1s. And now, because you're running Doubling Season, and you're in the three best colours to make tokens, add some token producing planeswalkers like Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Garruk, Apex Predator and the like (the planeswalkers will also get double loyalty from doubling season). Then there are a few really good enchantments you can use to help you ramp, but also produce tokens like Awakening Zone and From Beyond, and I even put Bitterblossom in the deck too. Then you can also put in mass creature voltron like Mirari's Wake (also helps ramp mana), Spear of Heliod, Intangible Virtue (since your deck is mostly token generation) and Nylea, God of the Hunt. The great thing is that if you're going to do your Duneblast, you can use Ashnod's Altar to sac all your tokens for mana before you do it as well, so nothing goes to waste, EVER!
September 30, 2016 4:03 p.m.
PookandPie says... #6
Ghave, Guru of Spores or Karador, Ghost Chieftan are probably the best Commander to use in Abzan colors, and also with Duneblast. You can prolong the game pretty severely depending upon how you build it, with a fair number of enchantments and artifacts (though, you may want to avoid Earthcraft with Ghave, among other things, if you don't want to go infinite with him), and you can basically set yourself up so that after you Duneblast, you're the only one with any creatures at all.
Karador seems perfect for this type of play since you can always bring your creatures back even in a sweeper heavy deck, and Ghave seems solid because you can begin to flood the board with tokens after Duneblasting. Karador doesn't really need any explaining, I feel.
Ghave can use things like Cathars' Crusade to create powerful tokens equal to the amount of mana you have. Doubling Season and Parallel Lives are obviously silly, Bloodspore Thrinax is pretty ridiculous too. Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Ghave are BFFs (remove the counters from Ghave and then sacrifice him to another effect or using his own ability, he comes back with 6 +1/+1 counters for you to do it again). Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest is another one who likes to go out drinking with Ghave late into the night, too. Reveillark and Karmic Guide make a saucy combination that can make your board state nigh impregnable to most forms of removal (targeted exile, destroy- doesn't matter, sac to Ghave and then bring it back with Lark/Guide, etc.). Spike Weaver keeps you protected for days and you'll never run out of counters, Grave Pact, Blasting Station, creatures with Undying like Geralf's Messenger and creatures with Persist like Kitchen Finks or Woodfall Primus also go with Ghave extremely well (-1/-1 and +1/+1 counters cancel out, so you can sacrifice Persist creatures to effects, and put a +1/+1 counter on them using Ghave to keep them healthy. With Undying creatures, you sac them and remove the counter for more tokens).
I'd definitely look into either Karador or Ghave for a sweeper-heavy deck. Karador can bring back powerful creatures post-wipe (especially if you use Mikaeus, Karmic Guide, Reveillark, etc.), and Ghave can flood the board post-wipe using nothing but himself and enchantments. Both seem good.
October 1, 2016 1:03 p.m.
Sim_Will_CMcantfindmehopefully says... #7
PookandPie Karador, Ghost Chieftain seems like my best option. I already have a $40 spirits/arcane deck focused around reanimation, I haven't looked at it in a while so I should revamp it a bit anyway, thanks!
greyninja says... #2
I built a Doran, the Siege Tower deck for my fiance and it's pretty damn fun. There are a lot of boardwipes in those colors, and a lot of ways to give your creatures indestructible. (DECK LINK)
Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Deathless Angel, Timber Protector, Shield of the Oversoul, Darksteel Plate, and there are a bunch of instants that grant indestructibility
Day of Judgment, Damnation, Decree of Pain, Duneblast, Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Fell the Mighty, Fumigate, Martial Coup, Wrath of God, and others like Toxic Deluge
There are also a bazillion more control options. Aura Shards, Abrupt Decay, Mortify, Putrefy, Maelstrom Pulse, Vindicate, Anguished Unmaking, Unmake, Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, etc
Also also, many goodstuff creatures with sick abilities are neutered by having a low power, but then are evened out with a high toughness. Doran can capitalize on this
You don't have to go the control route if you think it will annoy your playgroup. I just think it's fun seeing the fiance beat the crap out of us lol. Please check out the deck and tell me what you think!
September 30, 2016 8:33 a.m.