Shamblin' Up to Speed

Vulnoth, 5 days ago

This will be a very belated progress report on performance, observing Mort's performance three weeks ago and last night. Life has a way of holding you up from stuff, doesn't it?

May 17, 2025

The game I played Mort was strange, as it ever was. The deck felt sluggish, but also I'm noticing a bit more leeway than anticipated with my ability to play politics. I don't tend to drop boardwipes unless necessary, but I scored a great deal of favor by knocking down the a GW Human deck (don't remember the commander name) down with The Meathook Massacre. I reset the board state a bit, effectively crippling the Rakdos, Lord of Riots who is the primary threat to me anyway also. Then by just churning out ugly bois and walling up a bit, I became the "mostly harmless" guy whilst the GW Humans pushed to regain their momentum and in turn draw aggro, doing well to hide the threat of my draining cards like Creeping Bloodsucker. Mort himself got a few bonks in, which were harmless compared to the Humans' less tactful overtures. Game ended when a boardwipe was dropped in panic, then proc'ing Meathook and Zulaport Cutthroat 11 times each. I switched decks for the following games.

June 6, 2025

The only game I played was a "fast game" involving Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis with such lovely moves like everyone pooling mana to resolve Collective Voyage for 15. I'd say "hilarity ensued" but the player going after K and M was Rakdos, Lord of Riots so naturally it was the Rakdos player defacating all over the table. Then the Tovolar, Dire Overlord  ^Flip deck went sideways and ended the game. My only takeaway here is that I ought to increase my pool of disruptive cards. Decks that cause large amounts of damage or life loss in bursts increase the natural risk of my deck. In the past we sort of had an unspoken agreement to not go heavy on removal, but between the GW Human and Rakdos (both being go-to decks for those friends) I have great need. I don't anticipate leaning into more target creature removal, however, black's access to variable removal in the manner of Withering Torment is low. Additionally, I mean to scale back Mort over time as I build more naturally competitive commanders, but that's a concern for down the road.

Still finding shortcomings that I can solve. The decklist is evolving as I tinker and continue to sift through new cards, but I like the overall feel of where Mort's at. Work will likely slow on him as I develop my new focus: Alela, Cunning Conqueror to take the helm as my top deck.

None

Rats, 6 days ago

The idea of the deck is that Karumonix provides instant value when it hits the field. I hate spending mana and then having my commander removed right away, someone always has removal. But in this deck, everytime Karumonix returns he fills up your hand with rats. Dark prophesy and Black market connections are both phyrexian arena on steroids. Bontu's monument, Heralds horn and Jet medalion are important to get Rat colony's mana cost to 1. So you get the idea, just vomit your rats out on the field and have a good time. (You can consider cards like thrumming stone and patriarch's bidding but I find them a bit slow for this deck. In my experience people will have a boardwhipe ready most of the time before you get another turn. So better substitute them for cards that provide more tempo/value.)

Final Fantasy Updates

B4sic411y, 1 week ago

With all the cards in the new Final Fantasy Universes Beyond being fully spoiled, I went ahead and made some changes to the deck. Lots of strong knights to go through with this set: Aryel, Knight of Windgrace -> Dion, Bahamut's Dominant Suppressor Skyguard --> Summon: Primal Odin Hero of Bladehold --> Squall, SEED Mercenary Midnight Reaper --> Summon: Knights of the Round Basic Plains --> Myriad Landscape

Power Update

emlit, 1 week ago

Removed plinkers in favor of more powerful blue cards

It's been a minute since I posted an update...

gildan_bladeborn, 1 week ago

... and by "a minute" I of course mean "literally half a decade now, egad".

Now that's not to say that I haven't been updating this deck over the past half-decade - I absolutely have been - or that the deck list/description doesn't accurately reflect its current composition - it definitely does (unless I overlooked something, in which case it will whenever I happen to notice my gaff) - but that I just haven't posted "an update" on why particular revisions to the deck since the last ones I commented on were made, half of a decade ago.

It's been half a decade so I don't actually remember my reasoning anymore (or for that matter what used to be around that I even cut), ha ha!

So what I'll do instead is note down which cards obviously haven't been around (or in their current forms) since the last update, given those printings "wouldn't have existed yet for me to include them, half a decade ago".

• Augur of Autumn certainly wasn't a thing at the time (this one I sort of remember what got cut and that it was Courser of Kruphix (probably)).
• Balefire Dragon was, and was certainly in the deck but it wasn't this totally sweet full-art version from Commander Masters.
• Domri, Anarch of Bolas I 100% pointed out when I swapped the (apparently last, spoilers I guess for anyone years behind the story of Magic: The Gathering) version in as my solitary non-creature inclusion (for the other non-creature inclusion it replaced), but I recently (as in "like days ago") acquired & swapped in the "but what if... porcupine?!" version that I didn't realize "was a thing" (because I've been paying not super close attention to the dizzying non-stop fire-hose that is "new card printings" and didn't catch that they made woodland critter versions of older stuff too when Bloomburrow came out).
• Dragonlord Atarka ditto the first instance of an elder dragon in my colors, the recent Secret Lair version is what's new, not the card itself (that's been in there since it was legal for me to include it & has never left).
• Loot, Exuberant Explorer is the most recent modification to the deck - and thus I can remember perfectly well why it's in here now and what got cut to run it - and the answer to that is it replaced Dryad of the Ilysian Grove, a card I had neglected to bother pointing out that I had put onto the list; as to why, it's because in a vacuum they do "the same thing" that I actually want them for primarily (extra lands) for the same MV and casting cost and nearly the same stat-line, but one has a genuinely useful but also extremely "not impactful while top-deck mode" ability to fix mana (that alas does not also "make caring about what colors I tapped it for irrelevant" so I still very much have to track that across the course of a turn) and the other one - this one - lets me dig a decent way down into my library to cheat creatures into play, which is much more impactful while in top-deck mode.
• Eladamri, Korvecdal on the other hand definitely wasn't around back then, what with how it only came into existence "last year" as I'm typing this (and is hella rad).
• Fanatic of Rhonas same - because "from the same set" - deal with the Fanatic, who I actually remember what got cut to include it (Karametra's Acolyte), because the Fanatic is a not strictly better but definitely still better version of Karametra's Acolyte (for HALF the mana!).
• Goblin Anarchomancer this little dude from the previous Modern Horizons set also wasn't around back then because "didn't exist yet".
• God-Eternal Rhonas 100% existed at the time though, I just never saw fit to point out that I'd included it, for some reason (despite pointing out another card from War of the Spark that did get swapped in).
• Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma was also definitely around but I'd never indicated as such, but now I have this sweet Multiverse Legends version.
• Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea on the other hand, had not yet been printed: I am so very glad that this card has been printed, it puts in work.
• Hellkite Tyrant might not have been on the list at the time of my last update - it's popped off and back on the list over the years, so who knows - but what definitely wasn't around is the current full-art anime version from Ravnica Remastered.
• Ilharg, the Raze-Boar would have been on the list at the time of my last comment on the curation process, I just... hadn't brought it up; not the Secret Lair version though, that's more recent (though still not super recent, half decade after all).
• Inferno of the Star Mounts would not have been on that list, since Inferno wasn't printed yet. It's sweet and does a very silly (but effective) thing that is not overkill because you cannot have too much kill. Science fact.
• Klothys, God of Destiny was 100% around and in this exact form, I was just apparently too lazy to mention it or anything else from THB.
• Kogla, the Titan Ape was also part of the list at time of last update, but not in this specific Secret Lair version form.
• Mina and Denn, Wildborn I "think" I may have actually pointed out when I put these very helpful elves into the deck originally, but their current "belated after the fact showcase courtesy Secret Lair" form is new.
• Moraug, Fury of Akoum was never commented on but also he didn't exist yet so that was just more general laziness on my part of not updating for half of a frickin' decade; bonus combat phases for making land drops is bonkers.
• Nikya of the Old Ways I can't remember now if I was always running Nikya since around War of the Spark made that an option, or if that was a latter revision, but I'm pretty sure I didn't comment on it, so... now I am.
• Nylea, Keen-Eyed has, as a Theros Beyond Death card, been on this list for ages sans any comment from me; I really don't know why.
• Nyxbloom Ancient same deal with the mana chonk but the current form of the card has been updated in the interim at least.
• Ohran Frostfang has been on the list since it was a legal inclusion & even got commented about... but the full art version from Commander Masters was not yet a thing, so that is new.
• Omnath, Locus of Rage ditto angry Omnath, what's new is just the (quite trippy) full art version I play now.
• Oracle of Mul Daya has likewise been around for a hot minute, but this particular printing did not exist back then & now it does & that's the version I run in my deck now, huzzah.
• Purphoros, Bronze-Blooded another instance of me saying "oh yeah, new(er) Purphoros is on the list now" because "I didn't appear to think it was necessary to mention the slew of cards I swapped in from Theros Beyond Death, at the time I actually did that.
• Quartzwood Crasher same deal with the trampling dinosaur that makes dinosaurs that trample, I just glossed right over that whole time period; come to think of it that was right towards the beginning of COVID, so... I'll blame that (pay you no attention to the fact that I could have perfectly well typed words on the internet while in social isolation, pay no attention I say!).
• Questing Beast oh yeah apparently I also skipped pointing out anything from Throne of Eldraine? The current Secret Lair version is newer than my last update post though, so there's that at least.
• Radha, Heir to Keld has been on the list since... well much longer than half a decade, but not the Dominaria Remastered version.
• Regal Behemoth I DID comment on this when I first included it, but the current incarnation from Commander Masters is new(er) than that comment, so I am pointing it out now in this list of stuff I am pointing out belatedly. Welcome to my TED talk.
• Saryth, the Viper's Fang I at least have the excuse that this card "didn't exist yet" at the time of my last comment on the curation process of my deck (not so much the whole "no comments for 5 years" thing).
• Scourge of the Throne I 100% percent have commented on the dethrone dragon before, but the Secret Lair Warhammer full-art version is more recent than those comments, ergo this comment.
• Selvala, Heart of the Wilds pretty sure I have likewise also brought up new(er) Selvala before (I am selectively lazy and will not check to confirm that) but the neat raised foil profile version from Commander Masters that's in the deck now certainly didn't exist at the time.
• Silverback Elder back to another card that wasn't commented on last time because "not printed yet". It's ridiculous (in a good way).
• Skyline Despot like Regal Behemoth what's new is the specific version of the card (from a quite recent at time of typing Secret Lair drop), not "the card itself being in this deck" since it's been there for about as long as it was legal for it to have been there.
• Stonehoof Chieftain didn't get overlooked in terms of "me pointing out I play it" but in the intervening years foil printings "became a thing" and I run one now, instead of the original version from a Commander precon deck.
• Svella, Ice Shaper didn't get overlooked because Svella did not yet exist. She's neat, and does useful things if not in a busted way.
• Toski, Bearer of Secrets the current form of this card is itself an update from the version I've been playing for quite some time now, but neither existed back when I last saw fit to comment on my deck curation process (so at least I wasn't lazy and neglectful).
• Utvara Hellkite never got brought up in comments about my deck curation because I'm reasonably certain its always been on the list (that was publicly viewable anyways, it has not been in the deck from literal day 1 for the reasons I lay out in the description, aka "just didn't have many cards yet back then"), but the current version is new (to me commenting on it). Huzzah dragons.
• Vizier of the Menagerie I am almost 100% certain that I definitely commented about the original version of the Vizier that I started playing (no I won't switch tabs to check, selectively lazy remember) but the cool full-art version in the deck now is a more recent thing.
• Zopandrel, Hunger Dominus certainly was not around at the time of my last comment (it is bonkers).

I'm feeling selectively too lazy to point out changes to the lands in the deck that I didn't also comment on within the deck description itself so... I won't, but you can be certain that new dual lands + new decent non-basics have become swapped in for things I probably never commented on before that are now not there anymore (mana isn't creatures & is therefore boring (except in how it can bring forth creatures)).

None

bekeleven, 1 week ago

Two swaps, one of which happened ages ago but I forgot to record. Bloodforged Battleaxe -> Umezawa's Jitte. Mana efficient! I don't want to equip all these axes. Dismember -> Deadly Rollick.

The Mad King's Court

Andramalech, 1 week ago

• Upon the release of Final Fantasy: Through the Ages (2025) Nekusar is eating.. so well. The King has a new cast in his court. The halls of his castle left barren by years of not-quite-good-enough printing to commander.

• The first addition to our court is the concierge, the liason and expert analyst. Emet-Selch of the Third Seat finds himself well equipped with knowledge, with tact, with cunning. Making the most of the kingdom laid before Nekusar, we find this gentleman, Emet-Selch, Unsundered  ^Flip, and brazenly delegating tasks amongst the other members of the court. You'll find that this right-hand Fiend is ghoulishly well lifted at raising the same opportunities from the grave and Reanimate'ing the most useful tools of our kingdom.

• Mysidian Elder is a long-standing advisor who represents the lower bracket of the nobility. Alongside his aid, we see the most promising of this lineage come to the forefront; Kuja, Genome Sorcerer  ^Flip.

• If we cast things on curve, we can align ourselves to perfectly arrange the number if Wizards needed to flip Kuja. Making himself a prized ally of Nekusar, securing his place amongst the short list of his court.

• Of all the new additions, we also find that Nekusar's reach throughout a Warped kingdom, the reach of a madman who twists reality to his image.. we see new lands seeped with his influence.

• Lindblum, Industrial Regency populated by the newly aligned Shadow Wizard Money Gang, holds up more utility than it often would show at face value.

• Jidoor, Aristocratic Capital provides avast wealth of knowledge and aqueduct space. These passageways provide cover, and transportation between the locales of the kingdom.

• Midgar, City of Mako is a deep, Unbounded core of energy.. just waiting to be absorbed and made useful again by Nekusar. The pulse of Lifestream coming from deep within this land is.. so tempting. The Mad King will make the most of this new wealth of power.

• As new lands are discovered, one might Ponder on the means by which Nekusar expands his kingdom.. and it's much more clever than you'd give to a supposed Necromancer, gone mad mind you. It begs the question of death in its simplicity; all things die, yes? Well.. so do plants. And plants... are easy to manipulate. By way of Unearthing a vast array of Sabotender, the Shambling King seeks evermore into the horizon. For.. knowledge? One would hope.. .

• ..and the pursuit of knowledge leads us to the most important additions to our cast; the remainders of the last royal kingdom that has been ransacked. It was turned over by the Dark Confidant Nekusar had weaseled his thoughts into- Emet-Selch. As the former attendant, The Emperor of Palamecia  ^Flip was all too easy to influence. A once proud ruler made a pawn by the Mad king's power.

• What of the old court? Where did those valuable assets flee to? Well, for those who weren't Saw in Half.. members of the Mage's Guild were made useful such as the immaculate caster, Vivi Ornitier. As a Wizard himself, Nekusar appreciates the adaptive nature of a lesser apprentice.

• The once empty halls of Nekusar's domain incited fear. They developed a brewing discourse of howls from the wind, groans from floorboards along passages, and.. boredom. No subjects for Nekusar to Torment or be entertained by..

.. but that was changing very quickly. For as much as Nekusar, the Mindrazer was captivated by his own Mischief and misdeeds, he understood what an ally, and a Nemesis looked like. What he wasn't familiar with was what to do immediately if ever confronted by an individual who encompassed both concepts in the same body. But.. things were changing with his acquiring of an older court; including the alignment of Kefka, Court Mage  ^Flip.

• and now the silence and boredom of Nekusar's castle walls, amongst a Crumbling Necropolis is broken up by the Dancing Mad. The groaning of floors is made sheepish as Kefka, Court Mage  ^Flip puts on his Jester-Like show. It's as if Kefka could hear his New Mad King's thoughts, and they make him fill the halls with laughter.

The Addition of Stax

Runnerman, 1 week ago

I have gone ahead and added some stax pieces to this deck to increase the power level. It should preform more aggressively and get to the win cons more often as games take longer. Yedora also pairs very well with cards like Smoke Stack + Living lands because this deck can sac creature lands while everyone else eventually runs out of permanents.

Primer and Playstyle

Stodge17, 1 week ago

1. Ring Recursion Engine • Sauron + The Ring Tempts You = Loot + Reanimate • Key Cards: Ringsight, Flame of Anor, In the Darkness Bind Them, Mordor on the March • Play cards that tempt you frequently to filter draws and fill your graveyard with bombs. 2. Reanimator Shenanigans • Big Reanimation Targets: The Balrog of Moria, Cavern-Hoard Dragon, Scourge of the Throne, Shelob, Dread Weaver • Reanimation Tools: Living Death, Reanimate, Extract from Darkness, Shadow of the Enemy 3. Death/ETB/Token Abuse • Sacrifice Package: Merciless Executioner, River Kelpie, Too Greedily, Too Deep • Recursion Value: River Kelpie + Living Death = draw a card for each dying and entering creature • Token Swarm: Lord of the Nazgûl, Sauron’s Ransom, Isengard Unleashed can flood the board with threats. 4. Control and Steal • Removal: Feed the Swarm, Blasphemous Act, Decree of Pain, Flame of Anor • Steal and Play: Hostage Taker, Notion Thief, Subjugate the Hobbits (SB) • Use Sauron’s Ransom and Fact or Fiction to overload your hand with gas. Different hand deck directions: Control Opener: • Island, Swamp, Arcane Denial, Flame of Anor, Arcane Signet, Mordor on the March, Consider • Plan: Slow start. Counter early threats, draw cards, and prep for a midgame Sauron drop and massive value swing. Reanimator Opener: • Swamp, Evolving Wilds, Faithless Looting, The Balrog, Reanimate, Deep Analysis, Relic of Sauron • Plan: Turn 2 loot, dump Balrog. Turn 3 Reanimate. Hit them with 8 power of pure molten evil. Aggro Tempo Opener: • Mountain, Crumbling Necropolis, Orcish Bowmasters, Ringsight, Witch-king of Angmar, Sol Ring, Consider • Plan: Drop Sol Ring ? Ringsight ? get an Army early and start growing it. Apply pressure while digging for combo pieces.

Playstyle

Stodge17, 1 week ago

Commander: Ezio Auditore da Firenze Ezio enables freerunning—casting Assassins post-combat for just two black mana if a player was dealt combat damage by three or more creatures. Your game plan revolves around triggering this consistently to flood the board with deadly, evasive Assassins. Game Plan by Phase Early Game (Turns 1–3) Priorities: • Get Ezio into play quickly. • Set up mana fixing (e.g., Arcane Signet, Command Tower, Exotic Orchard). • Drop low-cost Assassins or evasive creatures like Brotherhood Spy, Evie Frye, or Layla Hassan. Key Tips: • Cover of Darkness, Propaganda, and Whispersilk Cloak help protect your board and ensure attackers connect. • Use Rooftop Bypass or Viewpoint Synchronization to enable freerunning ASAP. Mid Game (Turns 4–7) This is your explosive phase. • Attack with three+ creatures to enable freerunning. • Drop powerful Assassins for two black mana (e.g., Aveline, Edward Kenway, Altair, Arno Dorian). • Equip your team: use Sword of Feast and Famine, Assassin Gauntlet, Whispersilk Cloak, or Excalibur for extra value and unblockability. Combos/Synergies: • Edward Kenway + freerunning = Treasure snowball. • Bayek of Siwa + Desynchronization clears threats and reuses ETBs. • The Revelations of Ezio for mid-to-late board development + recursion. Late Game (Turns 8+) Closing the Game: • Go wide and swing big with a team of equipped, evasive Assassins. • Use Queen Marchesa, Black Market Connections, or Ballad of the Black Flag to grind value and draw into answers. • Sword of Sinew and Steel + Sword of Light and Shadow help with recursion and control. • Fall of the First Civilization and Temporal Trespass can pivot the game or end it entirely.

Final Fantasy: Through the Ages (2025)

Andramalech, 1 week ago

• Upon the set release (June) we had spoiled Absolute Virtue for whom this deck-fork is named, and also Ancient Adamantoise.

• Both have made the final list in some capacity, and I'm sparing the inclusion of Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger in favor of the turtle receiving a One-Of.

• My intention is to use the Tortoise as a means of having a pseudo-Glacial ChasmGC effect that kinda locks out the oppositions boardstate in a serious way.

• Assuming it's successful, this is meant to simply reinforce this particular deck's gameplan of a controlled, delayed burst shot for the win, that is accomplished via precise timing and choices.

• My test plays put this as maybe I might bump my inclusion of the Tortoise to 2, maybe 3 copies.

• It does it's (the Tortoise) best work up against burn match ups, and gets stunted on the most by Mirror-esque matchups, or decks where control elements are mainstays (murktide comes to mind as that match up blew me out of the water first time around, go figure.)

• TL;DR: Ancient Adamantoise is Glacial ChasmGC and prevents Burn and Stompy from scorching our bits and caving our face in, respectfully. Worst matchups are obvi things that already hurt our strategy, just win faster. Simple. shrug

• Thanks for checking in! I'll see y'all again in the comments or if another bomb of a creature gets dropped at casting cost. Cheers!

Playstyle and Primer

Stodge17, 1 week ago

Meren Takes Us to Nel Toth — Primer & Playstyles Commander: Meren of Clan Nel Toth – Your necromantic MVP. Generates value by recurring creatures and building experience counters. With her on the board, every creature death is fuel for the graveyard engine. Primary Win Conditions 1. Protean Hulk Combo Once Protean Hulk dies, fetch: • Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Walking Ballista (if enough mana available), or • Necrotic Ooze, Phyrexian Devourer, and Walking Ballista into graveyard to prep for… 2. Necrotic Ooze Combo Requires Necrotic Ooze on field, and Phyrexian Devourer + Walking Ballista in the graveyard: • Exile top cards with Devourer’s ability ? put counters on Ooze. • Remove counters with Ballista’s ability to ping opponents. • Loop for lethal. Note: Make sure Devourer’s death clause doesn’t interfere — only exile enough cards to finish the game or go just under the 7 power threshold. 3. Razaketh Line With Razaketh on the field (via reanimation or tutoring): • Sacrifice creatures to tutor up whatever you need: • Entomb to dump combo pieces. • Victimize/Animate Dead/Necromancy for reanimation. • Protean Hulk for more value. • Living Death for massive reanimation swing. This often leads directly into win-con assembly or a board reset in your favor. 4. Drain & Smash Sometimes you don’t need infinite loops. You can: • Drain life with Syr Konrad, the Grim, Kokusho, the Evening Star, and The True Scriptures. • Overwhelm with Massacre Wurm, Archon of Cruelty, or Avenger of the Fallen. • Stick Mikaeus + anything undying for value loops. • Go wide with value and smash face if the board state allows. Playstyles Based on Opening Hands Ramp Hand Example: Sol Ring, Golgari Signet, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Dark Ritual Goal: Get Meren out early (turn 2–3) and start accumulating experience counters quickly. Start setting up for a quick Hulk/Devourer dump. Control Hand Example: Assassin’s Trophy, Toxic Deluge, Fleshbag Marauder, Deathcap Glade Goal: Stall the board and chip away value while preparing your graveyard. This path sets you up to pivot into combos after wiping the board. Graveyard Setup Hand Example: Entomb, Buried Alive, Stitcher’s Supplier, Necrotic Ooze Goal: Quickly load the graveyard with combo pieces and support cards. Reanimate them by turn 4-5. Ooze combo becomes a real threat early. Tutor Hand Example: Grim Tutor, Final Parting, Jarad’s Orders Goal: Tutor directly into your wincons. Use Meren to recur utility creatures and sac outlets. Tutor for Living Death, then laugh maniacally. Reanimator Hand Example: Reanimate, Animate Dead, Exhume, Archon of Cruelty Goal: Reanimate a big threat early and ride that momentum. If you’ve got Archon, Kokusho, or Razaketh in hand or grave, you’re already spooky.

Final upgrades

Stodge17, 1 week ago

Hello all! This is my final product of my mummy and zombie deck! Based of Eternal Might pre-con, with several upgrades. It is a solid bracket 2 deck and can hold its own if you can get Temmet out there and start to beef up your zombies. P.s. I only plan to upgrade this with select few cards as they ideally need to align with artwork of the desert and mummy’s/zombie deck :)

Standard Tarkir Store Championship.

BotaNickill, 1 week ago

I turnt out with the Angels tonight, and started off pretty hot, taking down an Izzet Prowess deck 2-0. Went onto the next match feeling pretty good and then ran into a Jeskai control build, that seemed to have answers for everything I had to throw at it even with the sideboard. We grinded em out, but in the end, I Lost 0-2. Third round was Golgari Control deck, deathtouch and lifelink, I had a good first round and won, then lost my ground to all the Golgari Hate cards in the game. Had a dozen angels in the grave on the third match. Crazy. Lost that round 1-2. The thing that pushed round three in my opponents direction was mostly the utility lands like Soulstone Sanctuary which I hadn't really seen yet, and now know that I should have had all along. So I ordered me a set and a set of Exemplar of Light to hopefully help draw more cards, cause my other problem was running out of gas. Oh Well, We'll see what the new set brings to the table next week at the pre release for FF! Cheers To Grand Slam for hosting the event!

Change

IQuarent, 1 week ago

IN: Breena, the Demagogue, Qarsi Revenant

OUT: Revival of the Ancestors, Master Biomancer

Let's be real, Master Biomancer got powercrept pretty bad. Railway Brawler is better 90% of the time and will be the next thing to be added, most likely. Breena also fulfills the purpose of "puts lots of counters on things" plus the flying is nice.

Revival of the Ancestors didn't test very well. The second chapter in particular really calls out for "anthem your whole team" instead of "distribute 3". It's also slow as balls. Qarsi Revenant is powercrept Vampire Nighthawk and the fact it can give counters synergizes pretty well with a lot of things in this deck.

Some cards I had my eye on for this deck were Railway Brawler, Reluctant Role Model, Rikku, Resourceful Guardian, and Vivien, Monster's Advocate, but I have no idea how I'm going to find more room. This deck is already packed to the brim with all the best +1/+1 counter cards.

????

Idoneity, 1 week ago

This list has felt great! Definitely strong for more casual playgroups, and I underestimated how hard it is to interact with cycling as a mechanic. I think it's fine though. For this deck's first trick, I have removed Grave Upheaval which has been fine but not great, Rule of Law just because I don't feel like I need two effects like this, and Demonic Counsel to eliminate some of the tutors. In their lieu, I have added Brand cause it's funny, Barrowgoyf cause it's good, and Shardless Outlander to enable delirium more easily.

Adding verges, control elements

WorldEater_42, 1 week ago

Blazemire Verge, Riverpyre Verge and Gloomlake Verge have replaced the filter lands (Graven Cairns, Sunken Ruins, Cascade Bluffs). The coloured pip production is more useful especially with paired with Urza's Saga, Ancient TombGC etc.

Frostcliff Siege replaces Fervor which is essentially a strict upgrade.

Winternight Stories replaces Night's Whisper. The harmonize on winternight is perfectly costed for Mairsil.

Propaganda replaces Soul Shatter. Propaganda is more effectively slammed on turn 3. It also directs my opponents towards each other, forming a better effective control element.

An Offer You Can't Refuse replaces Faithless Looting. Turn 1 surveil land into turn 2 looting spell is more common and better from a card advantage perspective. Later looting spells and/or instant speed looters are better in that they minimise graveyard exposure (i.e. an early Bojuka Bog.).

I am currently testing Ill-Timed Explosion over Thassa, Deep-Dwelling. Thassa is less powerful now with the absence of dockside, and there are a variety of ways to increase cage effects. I am less sure about this change. If this change feels positive, it is also perhaps replacing Pinnacle Monk  ^Flip with Mistrise Village.

I am currently aiming to increasing the ways to resolve Mairsil on the way down. Options include Swan Song, Expedition Map for Cavern of Souls and even Tidal Barracuda.

More Red

xraider, 1 week ago

- By By By: everflowing chalice, whirlpool rider, lightning runner, echoing assault, Mystical tutor, Saheeli the sun's brilliance - Welcome: Sunset strikemaster, Rose room treasurer, terror of the peaks, Agate instigator, purphoros, god of the forge, molten gatekeeper - Description change

v2.0.0

TekkThunder, 2 weeks ago

+ Argentum Armor -> Bloodforged Battle-Axe + Blackblade Reforged -> Chariot of Victory + Student of Warfare -> Bruenor Battlehammer + Cavalier of Dawn -> Blacklance Paragon + Temple of Silence -> Shattered Sanctum + Kindred Dominance -> Winds of Abandon + Heliod's Intervention -> Chaos Warp + Fighter Class -> Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter + Temple of Triumph -> Sundown Pass + World at War -> Gift of Estates + Quest for the Holy Relic -> Sunforger + Buried Ruin -> Slayers' Stronghold + Trailblazer's Boots -> Whispersilk Cloak + Vault of the Archangel -> Plains + Masterwork of Ingenuity -> Deathrender + Semblance Anvil -> Grafted Exoskeleton + Armageddon -> Boros Charm + Furycalm Snarl -> Faithless Looting + Shineshadow Snarl -> Crush Contraband + Talisman of Hierarchy -> Guardian of Faith

Honing Temptations

TotallyNotAMimic, 2 weeks ago

Major changes starting with Bolas's Aetherstorm (Aetherflux Reservoir + Bolas's Citadel + Sensei's Divining Top ). While the rush of putting it together was super fun, actually doing so was few and far between.

I've also focused less on the Exquisite Bond combo as well. Infinite combos are good at preventing drawn out games, but not something every one of my decks need to focus on.

As a result I've put more of an emphasis on my winning strategy (flying S vampires), card draw, and removal. I relied on New Blood to "remove" pesky creatures a little too much.

Revision #1

Nelsje3010, 2 weeks ago

Added: + Ethereal Armor + Fungal Fortitude + Legions to Ashes + Loyal Subordinate + Martial Impetus + Stab Wound + Vow of Malice + Vow of Torment

Removed: - Glistening Oil - Hateful Eidolon - Norn's Annex - Not Dead After All - Nurgle's Rot - Phyresis - Utter End - Vampiric Link

None

Velostar215, 2 weeks ago