Warteye Witch or Phyrexian Vivisector?

Commander Deck Help forum

Posted on April 12, 2023, 9:19 p.m. by DemonDragonJ

I just put a copy of Warteye Witch into my Meren of Clan Nel Toth EDH deck, but another user informed me of Phyrexian Vivisector, so I now am not certain if I should replace the former card with the latter card, or not. The vivisector has lower power and does not trigger from its own death, but it also is less expensive to cast, which can make a major difference in certain situations.

What does everyone else say about this? Should I replace Warteye Witch with Phyrexian Vivisector?

EDIT: I just re-read Phyrexian Vivisector, and it does not specify another creature, so it seems that it does trigger from its own death; will anyone please clarify that matter, for me?

TheoryCrafter says... #2

When I do edh decks I try to be as redundant as reasonably possible, so I vote putting them both in.

April 13, 2023 3:25 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #3

TheoryCrafter, both of those creatures would be nice, but the deck does not have room for both of them, and I assure you that this deck does contain plenty of redundant cards.

April 13, 2023 9:04 p.m.

bushido_man96 says... #4

I'd rather run a sac outlet like Viscera Seer that does what you want. I'd focus more on draw than scary effects.

April 14, 2023 7:56 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #5

bushido_man96, I do, indeed, have Viscera Seer in that deck.

Also, no one has yet answered my next question: does Phyrexian Vivisector's ability trigger from its own death? Its ability does not say "another creature."

April 14, 2023 11:08 p.m.

bushido_man96 says... #6

It should trigger itself.

But I'm not sure I'd run either. I want most of the creatures in Meren deck to either sac themselves, or be a sac outlet, or have an ETB/LTB. These do neither, and I think I'd rather have straight draw effects as opposed to the scry.

Just my thoughts, though.

April 14, 2023 11:21 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #7

bushido_man96, I have cards that serve all of those functions in that deck, so there should not be any problem, there.

April 14, 2023 11:24 p.m.

Hijjak says... #8

Is there a reason not to consider Catacomb Sifter? The tradeoff of 3 mana value for a scion on etb seems more than worth it. More bodies to sacrifice plus ramp.

November 10, 2023 4:16 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #9

Hijjak, that creature does not receive any benefit from Creakwood Liege due to be colorless, and my Meren deck already has plenty of ways to generate tokens.

November 12, 2023 2:08 p.m.

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