MilesHiles on Breya's Artificial World

2 days ago

Looks fun! Reminds me of what my Breya deck used to look like, too. If you wanted to trim some fat off of it, you could probably do without Blinkmoth Urn in favor of a card like Padeem, Consul of Innovation. Protects your board, draws you cards and doesn't give your opponents any potential advantage.

Zigen on EDH NecroPotentence

2 days ago

DreadKhan I like those suggestions a lot thank you! I am not apposed to Esper at all. I do however like other ideas that I have not thought of. like using Elixir of Immortality over Feldon's Cane I know I have one, have to find it in one of my other decks to drop in this one. As well as the others that you mentioned are amazing and I will have to find/get those. I kinda have a small budget for cards so the others that are above $10 ill have to proxy (shh I know) until I can sneak them into an order :-D
Gift of Doom is going to be a fist buy for this... btw all the cards in the current deck is what I have in my boxes.

So again DreadKhan thank you very much for the suggestions!

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

capwner Not of this World it is!

DreadKhan on Misery in Weasel Form

2 days ago

I find Rite of the Raging Storm does a lot of work in a Chaos type deck, it also makes sure opponents have some defenses up (or they're going to get swamped by 5/1 Trample tokens), extra good with some kind of Goad effect.

My all time favorite Chaos effect is probably Thieves' Auction, this is extra good if you run cards that don't care about who controls them, they'll go last and odds are someone else will get stuck with it, and the effects continue! You get to pick first, so you'll always get the best thing.

Static Orb is one of the crazier Stax pieces, and it's got huge synergy with your Commander IMHO because you don't need mana to cheat out your next crazy effect, just to swing! You could also try Winter Orb, but Static Orb changes the game FAR more (fwiw both out is also great for obvious reasons). Not many people remember Smoke at this point, but it's a reasonably strong effect. Silent Arbiter would be pretty funny with your Commander, you're much harder to swarm AND nobody can block your Commander!

I'm not sure if you enjoying sharing your fun, but I've had a blast using Allure of the Unknown, usually I give the player who's behind a free spell, this is especially useful if you're using spells/effects that are symmetrical.

Oh, since this list should mulligan INCREDIBLY well, how about Winds of Change? If you play this turn one before everyone else goes then you will have DRAMATICALLY changed the game without having risked much yourself, since you simply need 2 more mana to cast your Commander, one of them Black.

capwner on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

@Andra I like the flute overall it's a versatile defensive card, I like maindeck needle as well in a saga deck since a lot of times you can cheese people with that and turn off their fetches :) I'd say try to fit the 4th saga? More Kozi commands? Those are both strong cards that power Westvale especially if you add an Expedition map to find Westvale off of saga. Finally, I think you need some Not of this World action in the board to protect your big scary from Solitude :)

Profet93 on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

2 days ago

Understood, thank you for taking the time to explain your thought process and swaps. Get this updated deck into some games and see how it runs, what you need, what you're lacking, etc.... Looking forward to seeing how the deck progresses

NV_1980 on I'm Zirilan, And These Are …

2 days ago

Thank you for the upvote SufferFromEDHD, and your suggestions of course. I like Fault Line the most, but currently don't own one and it's difficult to come by where I come from. The lands you're suggesting seem fun too, though I'm trying to limit lands that enter tapped in this deck. Fury of the Horde would make more sense in a deck that focuses on additional attacks/phases per turn; not really this deck's thing. Grid and Glory I will remain sideboard options, which will be added in certain counter-heavy pods.

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

capwner hit it nail on the head. One of he greatest resources of this site is players sharing knowledge not only for specific formats but why it might/might not work in another format. With that in mind, how about something like Disruptor Flute or another similar card? Is there an archetype I'm blatantly in need of a slot for? capwner, what would your recommendation be?

Beespair on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

2 days ago

Profet93

Isochron Scepter is great, can make an instant occur way more times than I normally could and the instant imprinted can change depending on the playgroup.

I agree with what you said about Cabal Ritual, never really had the chance to play it in the games I played with the deck, but the graveyard does not often stay with 7 cards in it. Switched it for Sign in Blood, as you've mentioned, more draw could help and at the same time I like cards that can do more than one thing in EDH.

Vampiric TutorGC is not really a budget issue, as I'm proxying the deck, but I have friends in my playgroup that don't and I try to keep it to cards they would normally have. I'm already justifying Imperial SealGC because of its name and Word of Command because it's a fun card to use and it's mostly the lack of printing that justify it's high price.

I removed these cards from the deck:

Agatha's Soul Cauldron: Although fun and a cheap crime, I rarely get useful activated abilities, the +1 to toughness was it's biggest use IMO.

Cabal Ritual: As you've mentioned, the threshold wouldn't really happen often.

Languish: Yahenni's Expertise is just more fun, same CMC and the 4 to 3 difference doesn't change much of the purpose behind the card.

Ulcerate: Cheap removal, but I already have a lot and this one was the weakest IMO.

Cabal Stronghold: As you've mentioned, 17 basics is too little.

Swamp: Removed one swamp to fit an additional non-basic land. Cabal Stronghold is gone, no need to keep that many basics.

I then added these cards:

Isochron Scepter: So many cool options, just neglected it when deck-building because I've been too tainted by the Dramatic Reversal combo and I only think about it in this situation.

Sign in Blood: One more card draw, can also burn enemies and with this deck's recursion can be re-used.

Yahenni's Expertise: Just a cooler Languish.

Buried Ruin: Nice recursion on stuff I can't normally recur because it's colorless.

Deserted Temple: As you've mentioned, crime, politics, ramp with Cabal Coffers.

Sudden Spoiling: Cool tech against control and protected creatures.

I did not add Helm of Obedience, felt like the 4 CMC is a bit too high. I will try it in the deck to see if I want to change something for it.

I did not add both flash cards because I can cast stuff from the graveyard at instant speed if needed with a crime. There's also not much I'm thinking of that I would really want to get that is not an instant. I might be missing some situations though.

legendofa on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

capwner Good breakdown. Thank you!

capwner on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

legendofa -- So Chalice of the Void is basically only good when you can build your deck without 1 or 2 drops and that's why you never see it in modern--because the format's time to kill has lowered due to super pushed low curve threats while fast mana options remain very slim so chalice players A. can't ramp out their chalice to get under opposing 1-2 drops, and B. can't ramp out their own 3-4 drop threats, that's why Moon Stompy is a legacy deck and not a modern deck even tho the central cards Moon and Chalice are legal both places. Even in the Eldrazi deck where you can cast it turn 1, Chalice still isn't very effective vs. basically all the current meta cards like Phelia, Consign, Quantum, so even Eldrazi decks usually don't run it and instead just try to stomp or play an ugin asap.

legendofa on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

I have to admit, I've never really gotten the hang of the chalice, so I'm gonna hold back on talking too much about it. One of those cards that seems to work great when other people use it and a total waste when I use it. But if you have one or two on hand, give them a shot and see how it works. My gut says X = 3 would solve a lot of problems, as long as you work around Glaring Fleshraker.

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

I appreciate that bit of feedback, truly legendofa. It's for thoughts like that, that I have considered something like Chalice of the Void. If I do, I wonder it's applicability here and inclusion number. Also, thank you for your kind words and don't discredit your recommendation. Myr Battlesphere also serves as fodder for Ugin's Labyrinth, henceforth referred to as "Eugene's Maze".

legendofa on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

My first thought is whether this deck could support Myr Battlesphere, probably in the sideboard. It's a high-cost card that kind of messes with the deck's mana curve, but it provides immediate Abbey fodder, as well as a secondary attacker in case of Blood Moon and friends. There's a lot of incremental growth here, but unless I'm missing something, Affinity's Engineered Explosives or Energy's Wrath of the Skies could undo several turns of growth, and it doesn't feel especially quick to recover.

But that's just a minor point, and if I'm overlooking something, please let me know. This is a very clean deck based on an underappreciated card, and it's clear you put a lot of good work into it.

capwner on Deep Trax: Sirius 308

2 days ago

308 is a cool number

Makin.Bacon.Pancakes on Shrines (Hondens and Sanctums)

2 days ago

• Cheaper than greater auramancy Sterling Grove
• Jukai Naturalist
• If you wanna spend some big $$$ Hei Bai, Forest Guardian, Smothering TitheGC, Rhystic StudyGC, Teferi's ProtectionGC
• For more card draw Enchantress's Presence, Eidolon of Blossoms, Setessan Champion, Sythis, Harvest's Hand, Satyr Enchanter
• cheap tutor Shrine Steward
• board wipe Extinguish All Hope
• color fixing Leyline of the Guildpact
• good enchantment planeswalker Calix, Destiny's Hand

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

legendofa glad to see you here, and thank you for the upvote. Any thoughts you'd wanna share?

Profet93 on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

2 days ago

Beespair

I'm glad you found my suggestions useful, I am genuinely curious about your thoughts for isochron scepter. Do you feel it's too much of a 2 for 1 risk or is there another reason to not warrant it's inclusion despite it's high ceiling?

Also, do you have enough draw? I only see about 5-6 cards that draw. With such a low avg cmc, I can imagine you run out of gas pretty quickly. While some are better than others, here are some potential considerations: Night's Whisper/Sign in Blood (Can target opponents in a pinch + politics), Read the Bones (scry is useful) or a Syphon Mind (expensive cmc but is usually draw 3, each opponent discards one).

How has cabal ritual been playing for you? I understand your deck is low to the ground and you can fill up your GY quickly, but with all the self-exile, do you find yourself often meeting the threshold requirement?

Vampiric TutorGC - I presume budget restrictions preclude it, although I see no mention of budget in the description.

Mind Twist - Triggers commands, anti blue (cast for 2-3, force them to use counterspell prior to using your wincon), or just ramp and make them cry.

Would love to pick your brain about your cool deck :)

Thatguyy48 on Rafiq

2 days ago

I like Silent Arbiter for this deck. It doesn't really hurt you since you'll most likely only attack with one creature anyway, and it limits the offensive and defensive abilities of the opponents. Personal Preference, I really like vigilance. One of the worst feelings is having lethal on board for one opponent but can't attack for fear of the next player attacking you.

kryophyre on Riku Of Two

2 days ago

What's the main game plan of the deck, if you had to summarize it in 3 sentences or less? Cause I'm seeing a handful of half-ideas that are likely to result in some games where everything comes together, and other games where you end up with the halves of 3 different win conditions without closing any of them out.

One example of this being Aetheric Amplifier and Doubling Season. Only about 6 other cards in the deck seem to interact with counters. And while Doubling Season also doubles the tokens you get from Riku, you could run Parallel Lives which has the potential to curve better into Riku.

A general rule I follow, is that any synergy piece (Or card that doesn't do anything without something else to activate/trigger/synergize-with it) MUST work with AT LEAST ~25 other cards in the deck. Otherwise, in about 2/3 of games, it's just going to be a dead card. If it works with the commander I can let that number be a little lower if it's really strong. But an important part of any deck is to think about how it works if the commander gets permanently/repeated removed, stolen, or Frogify'd.

Another important thing about Riku is, they take a lot of mana to function. In order to use their ability, every spell you want to copy essentially costs 2 more. So look at which targets you're planning to copy and consider how much mana you're really gonna need to pull off your plan.

An average deck template suggests about 10 pieces of ramp. Your deck currently has about 7, and a lot of them cost more than 2-3 mana. So you're already running less ramp, that ramp is fairly costly, and you have a very mana-hungry commander.

Your mana curve is really heavy in 4-5 cost spells, and that's a tough place to be if you ever want to cast more than 1 spell a turn. Even more so if you want to copy anything with Riku.

And just in case you don't know, I don't think you can copy Apocalypse Hydra with Riku. Or, you can, but the token will enter with 0 counters on it and die immediately. If that wasn't you plan, then ignore this, but either way, I'd suggest removing Apocalypse Hydra and Atarka, World Render. With no other dragons in the deck, Atarka is just a big trampler and you're better off using a cheaper one that you can actually make copies of.

I hope this was helpful!

clayperce on So I heard you like …

2 days ago

All -
I should have an update ready tonight or (more likely) tomorrow. Thank you again for all the great comments!
Cheers!

clayperce on So I heard you like …

2 days ago

Deck_Building_Dude - Definitely agree on the bloat, I just didn't really have a good feel for how much of the top end I could get away with cutting. Great suggestions too; thanks much! Also: Good luck (and good skill) on your finals!!!

DarkKiridon - Yeah, Selfless Spirit is all about boardwipe protection. But I may have too many of those (i.e., the slots might be better spent on "rebuilding" effects rather than "protecting" effects) ... And I've actually got a Bitterblossom on hand ... that could be a great add; thanks! And I'll take a look at Elenda.

Crow_Umbra - Great suggestions; thank you!

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

2 days ago

Cloudy2024 thank you for that correspondence. I feel like I had each individual aspect of the card explained really well. The modality of the spell makes it very desirable, and you've reawoken within me the knowledge of Modern "answers". I enjoy how the deck functions as is, but I think the end result is reinforced by your recommendation of Kozilek's Command. I disagree about having a full playset because it's distracts from my main win condition, but it's inclusion and efficacy can't be questioned. After I did 8 rounds of playtesting against decks you mentioned (Reanimate, Spellslinger, aggro, etc.) I found that having 2 of the Command was helpful in 6 out of 8 matches, and unhelpful in only 2 where I overdressed the spell (these players tests were made with a 4 of the command). I shall digress- the command will stay in a non-zero capacity because it's use is almost vital to protecting our gameplan. Thank you so much for your input, you've made the Abbey that much better!

Beespair on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

2 days ago

Profet93

Thanks for all the suggestions! Never seen Yahenni's Expertise before, it is really good, will definitely remove Languish for it.

Might change Ulcerate for Sudden Spoiling, not just for the effect but split second is really good at fighting other control decks, as you said, super useful tech.

Good point about Cabal Stronghold, definitely changing it for Buried Ruin.

Never thought about Helm of Obedience with Dauthi Voidwalker, super cool combo, I'll definitely include it in the deck.

I'll take a look at what to remove for the other suggestions, they are all definitely top choices and I completely agree should be in the deck.

jaxsonbateman on 40 elves

2 days ago

Hey mate, are you Jyten on Arena? The one who was playing Minion of the Mighty in Bo1 historic?

I've been trying to find a Minion player to ask this for a while now - I just need to know: why? Why do you play it? I'm just genuinely curious. The only reason I can think of is that it's fun - which is fine, if that's the case, of course, I'm just curious if that's it or if I'm missing something else.

Cheers!

Belfore on Black Spellslinger

2 days ago

Wonder i you considered bothKaervek, the Punisher and Professor Onyx.

asdf1231 on Grixis Wizards

3 days ago

maybe you could do more actual spells and less copying? I like the deck but it only has like 1 spell of substance and that is clone legion.

Cloudy2024 on Westvale Atlas

3 days ago

Ok, so the command will win you games against reanimator and other decks to do with graveyards, and it can exile low mana creatures like slickshot Show-Off and other things in prowess, and can save your skin against burn and energy. Then we have the fleshraker, which can deal a lot of damage is you creat spawns and scry into another kozilek's. Then if you have 2 fleshrakers, then you are dealing so much damage and making so much mana, you will pretty much win on that turn every single time. I could not run an eldrazi deck without it, and is BROKEN with eldrazi temple.

Profet93 on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

3 days ago

Sorry for the double comment

Helm of Obedience = Combo with voidwalker, is a crime and messes up top decks.

Buried Ruin - Recur aetherflux or bolas citadel

Deserted Temple - Not needed but useful for coffers + political cool.

Winding Canyons/Emergence Zone - Flash is helpful to protect combos and force opponents into bad actions

Balaam__ on EDH (Elvish Demon Highlander)

3 days ago

Thanks for posting, everyone! Glad to be the purveyor of nostalgia. artcwolf22, I think those are all solid suggestions.

Andramalech and I have been discussing building Westvale Abbey  ^Flip elves in the background and his thoughts echo your own. There’s a consensus that a ‘best version’ of this deck exists, but I deliberately trod a different path. I’m going down with the ship and sticking to my ‘there can be only one [green pip]’ motif, so someone else will have to take up the crusade and perfect what I started here. For what it’s worth, I would very much like to see the ultimate version of this deck. I trend toward creativity not technical proficiency when I design decks—finely tuned competitive design is mostly outside my wheelhouse, barring a few specific archetypes.

Profet93 on Rule the Galaxy [Kaervek, the …

3 days ago

Beespair

Isochron Scepter - Reuse about 1/4th of your deck.

You don't have enough basics to justify cabal stronghold

Do you feel you have enough draw?

Sudden Spoiling - Split second, super useful tech.

Yahenni's Expertise > Languish?

Crow_Umbra on So I heard you like …

3 days ago

All of the suggestions here are pretty spot on. I've had an Isshin tokens deck in my lineup since 2022, and experienced similar deck-building conundrums in its earliest days. I have a few general suggestions, as well as a couple for more specific cut considerations:

• For decks like these, it's ideal to keep the average Mana value on the lower end. This helps set up quicker starts and makes it a bit easier to rebuild your board after eating some removal. I'd generally recommend looking at your 5-8 MV range as the first place to focus for cuts, as others suggested through more specific cuts.

• I think you can cut Crowded Crypt as something on the cheaper end. To build off my last bullet, cards at the 3 MV slot should be impactful enough to warrant them competing to be cast on curve instead of your commander. This will come from getting more reps with a deck. I make this suggestion for a few reasons: Crowded Crypt is a bit slow at 3 MV, it taps for 1 color of mana in a tri-color deck, & its activated ability is okay. I'd recommend swapping in another 2 MV rock like Talisman of Hierarchy or one of the others in Mardu Colors, or Rakdos Signet and others in Mardu colors.

• Since Zurgo cares about your token creatures dying, here are a few sacrifice enablers that help your game plan & are within budget: Plumb the Forbidden is an awesome instant to draw from, and Fanatical Devotion is a pretty cheap free sac outlet that also helps protect your more important creatures. Scapegoat is also solid as budget board protection and sac enabling.

• Neyali, Suns' Vanguard could be a potential swap with Mentor of the Meek. For an additional , she gives your token creatures a decent key word and also provides some card advantage from the impulse draw effect.

• Starry-Eyed Skyrider could also be a solid swap for a suggested cut.

ActionReplay on Toph Lands Alive

3 days ago

You should add Fabled Passage, Wooded Foothills you should consider running cards like Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn, Bloodstained Mire, Windswept Heath, Verdant Catacombs, and Misty Rainforest Instead of cards like Evolving Wilds and Terramorphic Expanse Then also run Stomping Ground, Commercial District, Cinder Glade, and Taiga so that you don't get color screwed early.

Honorable mentions Sheltered Thicket, Highland Forest, and Wooded Ridgeline

kinglord1723 on human snowball

3 days ago

Fun fact about this deck I got Adeline and Kyler in the same pack which inspired me to start this deck!

Andramalech on EDH (Elvish Demon Highlander)

3 days ago

^this. This this this. So glad you spoke up about green/blue elf love, because Stubborn Denial doesn't get enough attention as well. What happened to the Ezuri love? If anything, infect is RIGHT there as well. All of these ideas hinge on Balaam__ going outside of one mana plipped spells. Will say that Guttural Response probably wouldn't hurt since it needs to be Green. Good time as any to mention that Boseiju, Who Endures is a stapled utility land of the format in your colors, and arguably Castle Garenbrig would be as well.

artcwolf22 on EDH (Elvish Demon Highlander)

3 days ago

Thank you for the nostalgia hit. I played a modern elves for years before leaving my deck in abandonment for years. I played modern elves probably 2016 -2022 even pushing it past its prime after modern horizons 2 powercreep.

Ormendahl was a neat 2 of and a backup for ezuri elfball around 2018 when elves were mostly 1-2 colors.

You'd probably want Dwynen's Elite to get critical mass. Imperious Perfect is also good in at least 1.

I'm curious if you can thin the enchantment and lands down in favor of Sylvan Scrying to guarantee the right land to hit.

A few Spellskite wouldn't hurt in the side or even mainboard to stall removal and pesky burn decks.

Good luck, happy deck buibuilding.

Andramalech on Westvale Atlas

3 days ago

kamarupa I'd love to hear your feedback about this build. Lemme know!

christydude on ignore this please

3 days ago

Will do! Ignoring!

kinglord1723 on Tyranid Hive

3 days ago

you should add Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger and Mana Reflection

Ender666666 on Moonage Daydream ~100$

3 days ago

Hey, sorry for my slow response. I haven't been very engaged or active on here lately. Thanks for considering my suggestion. Based on your reasoning, I can understand why it's a no for you.

DarkKiridon on So I heard you like …

3 days ago

Besides what's already said, the only thing I see what else to cut is probably Selfless Spirit. In a deck like this it's not a bad thing for creatures/tokens to come and go unless its solely to protect Zurgo and other key creatures.

I'd make room for Bitterblossom even if you have to proxy or whenever it's affordable. Having it in your opening hand is awesome.

I'm also a fan of Elenda, the Dusk Rose.

Deck_Building_Dude on So I heard you like …

3 days ago

Good deck, but suffers from a bit of bloat. The first issue is Zurgo by himself is hyper aggressive and draws eyes. He deals heavy damage fast if you have a good board state. I see bits of midrange, which isn't bad for Zurgo, but the midrange pieces don't seem to be the best pieces.

This is only the top 7 I see. I am in the middle of finals and so I need to put some focus on that, but I will return with more cuts in the next week or so. I just wanted to quickly reply so as to not keep you waiting. Keep building!

Minesworth on Condemned to Perdition

3 days ago

Wow so illegal; this would never fly in my playgroup! D:

jonjonhholt on The Rock legacy

3 days ago

Spore Frog might be interesting to mix in alongside Children of Korlis. While Children of Korlis are obviously way better versus burn, creature decks will be able to build a critical mass of creatures where they can take you out in a single attack which doesn't allow for Children of Korlis to heal you before you die, Spore Frog does however allow you to repeatedly fog out your opponent with Tortured Existence. Cool list!

Andramalech on EDH (Elvish Demon Highlander)

3 days ago

The hardest part about your creation here from a building standpoint is the mana restriction, but I'll see your nay votes and raise you a Inscribed Tablet. Depending on your playstyle, I think some use of fetchlands for deck-thinning, some non-zero presence of Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth, potentially Audacity because relevance AND draw power. Scale Up, etc. You won't have a better friend on the site for Mono-Green unless Kamerot steps in. I sincerely wish that you find success here with this list, and a shout out to Asder on the same endeavor!

Balaam__ on EDH (Elvish Demon Highlander)

3 days ago

Thanks Andramalech, I was hoping you’d appreciate this. I hadn’t seen the card Shifting Woodland before and I’ll be adding that once I get a chance. A couple of the others were great suggestions strictly speaking, but I won’t be running them because they break the ‘one per spell’ self imposed rule.

As for running just one Westvale Abbey  ^Flip, it’s probably more logical to build it out that way, but it would require a few ‘search&retrieve’ spells that would once again break the ‘one only’ restriction. This was the most reliable method I found to ensure it gets played, since it’s really the only wincon here.

jamkid23 on ($1.67 Scryfall) Syr Alin, Knight …

3 days ago

If anybody wins with this deck that costs 20x more to ship than to buy, they deserve an award.