Need a Deck for Tomorrow
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 17, 2016, 5:45 p.m. by Phaetion
So, tomorrow is my first actual game in a month. As evidenced by my previous posts, I was deciding over a lands deck. Both the Temur and Gruul versions went down the drain, and I'm back to square one. People say that there's a optimal legendary creature for everyone, and I feel like I'm an exception.
I say that because I've got a lot of conflicting interests going on: Trying to find a general I like (Not as easy as it sounds; more on that in a bit), trying to rake in a win or two (though that would not be my purpose), adapting to a group dominated by cutthroat players (those few steal all the games), and a couple more I can't think of, or that was everything. I've considered leaving this group but there's no one else around, so I'm forced to stay (even tried to create a group but that failed).
I can make mono- very easily, but I'm open to more options. Any advice on where to go from here?
- I should mention that I enjoy/don't enjoy the following:
-Ramp (searching for basics. This firmly places me in green)
-Politics. Yeah, I have a dislike for a essential part of the format. I'm not one for much interaction.
-Attacking. I noticed that I don't attack as often as I think as I do, really only doing so if I can inflict massive damage or eliminate someone. Even better if I can take everyone out.
-Stax/Control: I despise the idea of dragging games on for hours. I especially don't like it if MLD or lockdowns are present, and I certainly want to avoid those.
-I also don't like drawing attention to myself during games. The same can be said about legendary creatures that build around themselves, though I'm more compromising here.
There's more, but those are the main three. Thanks in advance.
P.S. I feel like I'm spamming the forum with posts. I feel bad about it, but I'm at a loss on what to do. :(
Raging_Squiggle says... #3
Damia, Sage of Stone? Has green for the ramp, black for creature control, and blue for general control against opponents winning and card draw. Plus it has some of the best color combinations out there. Green/Blue, Black/Green, and Black/Blue all have powerful cards and combos.
September 17, 2016 6:21 p.m.
Chainer, Dementia Master is a fun general. Balthor the Defiled works in a similar way as well. You could also do a flicker deck with Brago, King Eternal or Roon of the Hidden Realm.
September 17, 2016 6:48 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic: Savra seems good...but then I realized that she runs a very similar build to Meren of Clan Nel Toth, which I don't fancy.
Raging_Squiggle: I'm not a fan of Damia. She goes against what I'm looking for. I have a love/hate relationship with blue which mostly leans on the latter.
chirz2792: None of those ramp into basics, save Roon, who doesn't strike my fancy. That and someone already uses him regularly.
September 17, 2016 7:19 p.m.
Lightpulsar9 says... #6
You could run Selvala, Explorer Returned. My build is all about G/W goodstuff. She's great because she ramps pretty hard with her parley in multiplayer, and is green so you can run all the land fetching ramp you want.
September 17, 2016 7:43 p.m.
Thoughts on this deck? It's my own, but I'm tempted to build it.
Lightpulsar9: I should've mentioned this in the OP, but I'm not fond of goodstuff.
September 17, 2016 9:31 p.m.
@Phaetion: Actually mono-black has a couple of ways to search for basics such as Liliana of the Dark Realms and Liliana's Shade. Not to mention it has the mana doublers Crypt Ghast and Nirkana Revenant. Plus with brago and chainer you could really abuse Solemn Simulacrum and Pilgrim's Eye.
September 17, 2016 10:13 p.m.
chirz2792: I knew that as I typed the response. Black does have ways to search for basics, but not on green's level. Mana doubling is something that attracts attention.
September 17, 2016 10:20 p.m.
Lightpulsar9 says... #10
Ah, well that's fair. So, was your attempt at a gruul lands matter deck Omnath, Locus of Rage? Cuz he's all about fetching basics and such. Wort, the Raidmother is also pretty good if you like ramp. Just double all of your ramp spells.
September 17, 2016 10:54 p.m.
Lightpulsar9: It was about Borborygmos Enraged and Mina and Denn, Wildborn as well.
The issue I have with Wort is the token color. It's a bit of a hassle if you want to cast a red spell and only have green tokens. There are a few RG tokens (including Wort's) but they're few. :/ I'd see Rosheen Meanderer instead and she's not that much better.
September 17, 2016 11:11 p.m.
As far as what seems to be the most playable under those guidelines are Yisan and gitrog. Though they are NOTORIOUSLY targeted.
September 18, 2016 midnight
DeathChant17 says... #13
You seem geared towards . From what I gather, you want to go straight for the face big and wide.
Mina and Denn, Wildborn seems like a good fit, they let you ramp like you want and the deck can be built however you want. Lots of creatures, big creatures, big burn spells...the only thing missing is card draw.
For that you need to add or . If you add blue but despise being all controlly with it, simply put in blue cards that accelerate your hand.
You may not have a legendary creature that totally fits you, so you need to find one that will help accelerate you deck but your deck doesn't revolve around.
September 18, 2016 12:03 a.m.
DeathChant17: I actually attempted Mina and Denn (though Omnath and Borborygmos fit in the command zone as well). Unfortunately, it didn't perform very well against a Titania deck I built.
I picked the R/G Wolf/Werewolf deck I linked earlier in the thread, but there is still a chance for me to change my mind.
mentor6: I used to have a Yisan deck, but I've begun to frown upon generals that build themselves again. Gitrog will get me, say, rekt.
September 18, 2016 12:16 a.m. Edited.
DeathChant17 says... #15
I knew you had tried them before, I was simply trying to point out a general that helped the deck opposed to being the main focus.
Xira Arien, let's you build with extra card draw and provides it. Another plus is tutors.
Surrak Dragonclaw protects your creature spells, allows you to build with card draw, and helps you get through by giving all your creatures trample.
Any other general I found seemed better to build around.
September 18, 2016 1:09 a.m. Edited.
DeathChant17: Ah, I see.
Right now, I'm leaning towards Xenagos, God of Revels, but I'm concerned that he'll paint a target on my back. Or the aforementioned deck, which will run afoul of the deck rules and the group (forcing me to randomly choose my 99 in secret).
Surrak is ok...I'd sooner go with Intet, the Dreamer and stick Mr. Dragonclaw in the 99. Of course, I wouldn't plan to use heavy top deck manipulation.
Xira is an interesting case. I think of her, and I think of Adun Oakenshield. They're both open-ended, so I would need to gear them towards some direction.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #2
Try a GB Graveyard Combo deck?
You'll have access to green to ramp, although it tends not to be an integral part of the strategy. You can end the game very quickly if left unchecked (or instantly, should you choose to go the infinite combo route). You only need to attack once you've spat a whole ton of creatures out.
S'far as the commander, Meren of Clan Nel Toth and Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord are both recognized threats, but Savra, Queen of the Golgari tends to fly under the radar a bit, and she can help you clear enemy threats and stabilize your life as you sacrifice things to combo.
Downsides: Sometimes it plays like control. Sometimes you get Savra, Queen of the Golgari out, and Grave Pact out, and Dictate of Erebos out, and Butcher of Malakir out, and your opponents get locked out. On the other hand, the game is usually over very quickly after that.
Anyway, I've got a million different thoughts on building this deck, so if you're interested, let me know.
September 17, 2016 6:09 p.m.