Yennet & odd top-of-deck cards
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Aug. 11, 2018, 1:52 p.m. by Coward_Token
So I'm making a Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign deck where I'm trying to make sure that all cards revealed by the commander is always something I would like to be cast/drawn depending on its CMC parity. Currently, the deck has some 1 CMC spell cards that manipulate the topdeck like Brainstorm & Vampiric Tutor, but I'm worried those are going to be nullified by unplanned shuffling before my next combat step. For this purpose, thinking of replacing at least some of them with 2 CMC versions like Augury Owl, Omen & Lim-Dul's Vault so that I can draw those with Yennett and then cast them on my next turn to set up a better reveal. Is this an overreaction? Is Preordain good enough when Yennet casts them?
I would strictly run odd numbered cmcs on every card in the deck so you never whiff. If you have enough enablers like the aforementioned cantrips, and maybe Sensei's Divining Top, Soothsaying, Spy Network, Portent, etc.. you should have no problem cheating out Void Winnower and whatever else you want. If you get hated on in your group too much for this strategy to work or just can't help cracking fetch lands as soon as you draw them, those are other issues. I personally wouldn't run any even cmc cards to "fix" that situation.
August 13, 2018 1:33 a.m.
ShishkyBob says... #4
I've built a Yennett deck. In addition to the suggestions above, some interesting cards I've found to help out are Haunted Crossroads, Aven Fateshaper, and my new favorite Penance. All of them are odd cmc, and all let you repeatedly manipulate the top of your library.
August 13, 2018 5:19 p.m.
omg I just built my Yennett deck for Odd-Tribal and I did not even know Penance was a thing! I love it! I don't forget about Scry. I put a Darksteel Pendant in my deck as well as Crystal Ball but anything that lets you Scry at least gives you the option of bottoming before attack.
August 15, 2018 11:23 a.m.
Coward_Token says... #6
Yeah I think I'll skip on the options I mentioned
Rzepkanut: Just to be clear, lands are at even CMC so some whiffing is inevitable (unless there's some landless build in EDH involving Moxes or something that I'm completely unaware off). It might be what you meant by when you mentioned being "hated on" but what I'm concerned about milling; part of my worries originates from Imperial Seal seemingly having a way worse reputation than Vamp. Tut, but that might be a misunderstanding on my part.
Also, I'm currently not quite ready to go the distance with pure nonland oddity; I've currently got ten 2-drops mostly consisting of reactive control cards (e.g. Mana Drain & Darksteel Mutation), since stuff like that might not be useful whenever Yennet reveals them, plus some things that are sufficiently powerful to warrant hardcasting them, e.g. Strionic Resonator & Lightning Greaves. However, for the controlly parts I am considering going with 3 CMC permanent alternatives(e.g. Disruptive Pitmage), but I'm concerned that the deck's ability to respond will be more fragile since permanent removal is IMO typically more common than discarding.
August 15, 2018 12:07 p.m.
RedUndead40 says... #7
I think you definitely want a good number of even costed spells that you won't want to cast on attack. The majority of the deck and your big splashy spells should be odd but some things you won't want to cast during combat like Supreme Verdict, Counterspell, etc.
Homelessguy says... #2
There's always a chance that sure, but I think it's worth it if you can make sure emrakul is on the top of your library when you get in an attack.
so would say not to switch them out.
August 12, 2018 3:54 a.m.