Basandra, Battle Seraph

Legendary Creature — Angel

Flying

Players can't cast spells during combat.

{R}: Target creature attacks this turn if able.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

hyalopterouslemur on Rules Committee Gives Up Managing …

6 months ago

I miss the way they did precons. In the original precons, all the psychographs were represented. (Johnny would have a field day with all but the Mardu deck.) Here's how they stacked up:

Kaalia of the Vast Timmy and Spike

Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Timmy

Basandra, Battle Seraph Spike

Riku of Two Reflections Timmy and Johnny

Animar, Soul of Elements Timmy and Spike

Edric, Spymaster of Trest Spike

Ghave, Guru of Spores All three (Johnny likes the "combos with anything" nature of Ghave; Spike likes the sac outlet and the fact that you can use any +1/+1 counter for Ghave's abilities; Timmy likes an army of mushroom people.)

Karador, Ghost Chieftain Spike

Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter Spike

Zedruu the Greathearted *f-etch* Johnny

Ruhan of the Fomori Spike

Nin, the Pain Artist Johnny and Spike

The Mimeoplasm Johnny and Spike

Damia, Sage of Stone Spike

Skullbriar, the Walking Grave Timmy and Spike

Not that it was all Timmy and Johnny; the first precons did include a reprint of Skullclamp after all.

Look at the last precons? All eight of the new legends were designed for Spike. Where's the room for creativity on the part of players?

I admit that some of the changes to EDH have been fine. (I joke that nobody used instants before 2014. Which is somewhat true, people were more concerned with card advantage with their answers than they were with actual, you know, answers.) But I would like some legends to be designed for Johnny or Timmy.

TheDivine1 on Sexy Magic The Gathering Card Women - Suggestions?

2 years ago

Kiora, the Tide's Fury, Kiora, the Crashing Wave, Naya Battlemage, Basandra, Battle Seraph, Chosen of Markov  ^Flip, and Thassa, God of the Sea would all be good cards

DrukenReaps on Cards that put creature token …

3 years ago

NTakamura I didn't consider that being attacked was actually part of the goal. If that's the case keep on keeping on.

Some of the first that jumped to my mind were Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs and Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor. As Kazuul wants to be attacked and Varchild gives out lots of tokens just by existing while protecting you. Those, however, are monocolored. Still options for the 99.

Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant is pretty solid but I'd edge more towards Kardur, Doomscourge. He goads your opponents every ETB. Combine that with some of the already mentioned cards and Rite of the Raging Storm, Goblin Spymaster, and Tempt with Vengeance. Among others. You could actually drop the lifegain or with cards like Exquisite Blood and Whip of Erebos keep it going.

As a final offering Basandra, Battle Seraph allows you to force attacks like the Rakdos options but keeps attacking you open. I think the hardest part of this strategy is going to be forcing attacks. Particularly if you don't use red. Up to you of course and I think Teysa works well too.

TypicalTimmy on Commander Deckbuilding Advice - A …

3 years ago

Build. Around. Your. Commander.

I see quite often decks select a Commander, but the cards within the +99 or +98 (or even +97 if you're a madlad) have almost no true synergy with what their Commander wants. For example, if you want to build Basandra, Battle Seraph then you need to understand her personal goal: "Players can not cast spells during combat". The best way to build her is to lock yourself in as much combat as possible, preventing anyone from interacting with you. Cram as many additional combat spells and abilities into the deck and ensure you are hitting 3, 4, hell even 7 combat phases per turn and win before you reach the end step.

Want to build Horde of Notions? Ask yourself: If I am able to play Elementals from my graveyard, how do I get them into there? Answer: Discard and mill. Dump your library ASAP to play everything. Your graveyard becomes one massive tutor.

Daxos the Returned? You better have dozens, like +80% of your nonland cards, be enchantments. I've seen decks with like... 12 enchantments? My guy what are you doing??

Please. Build around your Commander at all times. That's how you'll win. It's also how you'll have the most fun. Why is that? Because your Commander is realistically the only card you can cast as often as you'd like in the game. If you build around your Commander, no card you draw into will ever truly be a dead card in hand, because you'll always have some sort of synergy you can build into.

MaltOMeal on Absolute Theocracy

3 years ago

Sup lobsternips!

As a baseline, you'll need to add lands, which I'm sure you know. Since you're making Treasure and Gold tokens in this deck you'd probably be good with roughly 34-36 lands, leaning more to the most mana color you'll need, say like a 25/25/50 split if thats what you're going for.

Creatures

- We'll cover your cards to include by type, so lets start with creatures. I like the Angels, Demons, and Dragons subtheme, if you were considering it I'd try and include Kaalia of the Vast if you can get your hands on one, otherwise just slim down on the tribal stuff, reaching too far into each different theme could result in inconsistencies and clunky play. I've been there, it sucks a lot. (Unfortunately, you can't run Shalai, Voice of Plenty since she has a Selesnya color identity)

• Key Angels you may wanna keep: Avacyn, Angel of Hope , Angel of Destiny , Angel of Serenity , Sunblast Angel , Lyra Dawnbringer , Eradicator Valkyrie .

• While I do like Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Tariel, Reckoner of Souls they have a high mana cost as most good Angels do, while Tariel synergizes well with your strategy she does have that randomness factor and would advise a more reliable and consistent option. Gisela speeds up the game. As a player this is good and accelerates the game, but as an opponent my first priority would be to get rid of Gisela and that paints an even bigger target on your back.

• Restoration Angel is fantastic for your edict effects, at face value. You'd need to run flicker effects to really make it shine. Basandra, Battle Seraph seems really good, forcing people to attack is nice and it prevents players from casting anything in combat, however it means instant speed removal will be used before the combat step. This also stops you from casting spells in combat.

• As for Human synergy, I really like Teysa Karlov , Thalisse, Reverent Medium , Queen Marchesa , General's Enforcer and Fain, the Broker . All of them work very well with the token strategy, especially Teysa and Thalisse

• Things I wouldn't necessarily include are cards like Juri, Master of the Revue (as good as she is with Fling ), General Kudro of Drannith (incidental unless you go all in on the Human tribal strategy), Devout Chaplain (same reason for Kudro), or Dire Fleet Hoarder (basically a one time effect unless you jump through the Teysa hoop, yes it does give you a Treasure token, but at a cost of 2 mana and the creature dying).

• Things like Ruthless Knave , Pitiless Plunderer , and Impulsive Pilferer perform outstandingly well in terms of more bang for your buck in this case.

• As for Demons I really like the Archfiend of Depravity and Rakdos, the Showstopper , their mass sacrifice effects are wonderful, however Rakdos does effect your board heavily unless you play to his synergies, you wouldn't want Negan to die to his effect would you?

-When it comes to your Dragons, I think you hit the nail on the head, nothing I would really change or take out. Allows for Magda, Brazen Outlaw to have a decent outlet if you don't want an artifact.

-Finally, the other things you've got going. Dockside should just be an auto-include, albeit a heavy price tag, but if you can get one you should definitely include it.

• Dark Impostor , while mana intensive is still a decent mana sink that can function effectively as targeted removal. Definitely keep your edict creatures, they are super useful and trigger Negan, and thats what you want.

• Starnheim Aspirant is useful if you go super heavy into the Angel theme, but if you skimp on the Angel theme this could very often be a dead card.

• Storm-Kiln Artist , I like this a lot for this deck, can be a beater, and generates value.

• Vault Robber , seems bad, and bad to do. Synergizes with Magda and makes Treasure tokens, but thats really it... PLUS it requires you to have a creature in YOUR grave. I'd cut this, but if you have a reason to play it I'm not seeing immediately play it in your deck.

• Viscera Seer , good card, good sac outlet, not much else to say.

• Creatures I'd include based on what I've seen: Solemn Simulacrum , Burnished Hart and Mayhem Devil . Some good ramp and a decent damage dealer if you'd like to play a cheap one. Plus the Devil is great at just 3 mana.

Enchantments

First thing I wanna point out is the abundance of them, its good, but its quite a few. I like the variety of them though, from token generation to mana value, all of them are GOOD in a sense.

Angelic Renewal is basically a one time effect. While good, there are better recursion spells out there, but this one does fit the Angel theme so thats really cool. :D

Land Tax : Definitely play this if you want more inclusions in your deck and want to play less lands, but don't forget to have a focus on more basic lands for the landbase.

Luminarch Ascension is subject to removal by other players, and somewhat makes you a target, but with Divine Visitation and your non-Treasure generators make this super useful.

Aside from that, I think that's a decent spread of enchantments. Nothing to add really, love the inclusion of the Sagas and Revel in Riches .

• You could also put Martyr's Bond in for shenanigans, Hidden Stockpile for utility, or Flameshadow Conjuring for more token synergy.

• Flickerform is also a unique enchantment, but makes it doubly effective with edict creatures like Plaguecrafter .

• Shiny Impetus is good for token generation, but don't play a sacrifice creature to have that player just get rid of it, deceptively good and bad.

• The Eldest Reborn is also another good saga to include if you want another edict type effect, and when it does go off you can get what you want from players' graveyards.

Artifacts

I'm sure you'll add more later, but here are some I'd DEFINITELY include:

The three signets for your colors, Arcane Signet as well.

Goldvein Pick : hidden tRAESurES!!!

Inspiring Statuary for a low mana investment, you can effectively keep your Treasures around, or use your Gold tokens twice(tap it for colorless, then sac it for colored mana).

Panharmonicon to double up on edict effects.

Instants

Not much in this category outside of removal or token generation.

Wouldn't run Secure the Wastes strictly because it doesn't put Humans into play, play the sorcery option Martial Coup instead if you want a token creator with some OOMPH.

I'd recommend more removal, but with everything else considered I think you're pretty much good here. Really like the Crackling Doom and Vona's Hunger inclusions.

Sorceries

OOOOkay, lots to look at here.

• Approach of the Second Sun : Does provide you an effective way to win, very good card for a deck like this especially if the game goes long.
• Brass's Bounty . Love it, not much else to say.
• Contract Killing fits the theme and the flavor. Love it.
• Damnable Pact is good card draw for you, and useful against someone who flies too close to the sun.
• Debt to the Deathless / Entreat the Angels . While both good, is not something you want to draw into early game or open with. I would highly suggest playing less finisher cards like these, but if you wanna play em don't let me stop you.
• Killing Wave . Love it, super good.
• Necrotic Hex . Expensive, but great effect.
• Excavation Technique is actually a really good spell. Synergizes with Magecraft like WoTC intended and is deceptive for your opponents.
• Increasing Devotion / Finale of Glory . One of these is better than the other. I'll let you decide which is which.
• Heartless Pillage / Seize the Spoils . I really like both of these cards as spells and thematically. They work well for Negan and as spells for you to Pillage and Loot with as you please.
• Ruinous Ultimatum / Tragic Arrogance : Both are fantastic, especially as finisher spells. I'd make a point to include both so you have an option when you're ready to win(IE: Revel in Riches in play with a ton of creatures on board, its akin to vandalblasting with a lettuce on board).

Notable Lands

Mortuary Mire : Get that creature back in play!

High Market : Useful when Dictate of Erebos is in play.

Sanctum of Eternity / Command Beacon : You never know when you might need to use them. Negan can get expensive real fast.

That basically does it for my brief review, hope I was of some help!

TheVectornaut on Hot Women Card Collection

3 years ago

I actually made an entire deck around this concept that works surprisingly well. Steve Argyle is a particularly great resource for this topic. In addition to Liliana of the Veil and Chosen of Markov  ^Flip, he's also done Deadly Allure , Guul Draz Vampire , Naya Battlemage , and Night Revelers . Other notable artists are Jason Chan ( Deathpact Angel , Fires of Undeath , Kiora, Master of the Depths , Mayael the Anima , Maul Splicer , Treasured Find ) and Volkan Baga ( Elspeth, Knight-Errant , Korozda Gorgon , Stoic Angel , Student of Warfare ). I ended up going with vampires + knights and some other cards I included are Hero of Bladehold , Knight Exemplar , Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts , Elenda, the Dusk Rose , and possibly the most ridiculous piece of Magic art ever created: Soul Collector . Some cards that came close to making the cut are Angel of Despair , Bloodflow Connoisseur , Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief , Knight of Dusk , Magister of Worth , Avacyn, Angel of Hope , Vampire Hexmage , and Veteran Cavalier .

Other cards that I like (sorted by type) include Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch , Lyzolda, the Blood Witch , Kemba, Kha Regent , Sunspear Shikari , Elvish Champion , Gaea's Herald , Quirion Dryad , Nimbus Naiad , Dreamborn Muse , Mistral Singer , Shipwreck Singer , Siren of the Fanged Coast , Akroma, Angel of Wrath , Archangel of Strife , Basandra, Battle Seraph , Razia, Boros Archangel , and Ire Shaman . Looking at this list now, it's clear I've spent far too much time researching this subject.

_5HATT3R3R_ on Zirda, the Bargain Bin Boi

4 years ago

If you replace Solemn Simulacrum and Oath of Lieges with any cards with activated abilities, you could switch Zirda, the Dawnwaker with another legendary creature with an activated ability like Basandra, Battle Seraph, Brion Stoutarm, Razia, Boros Archangel, or Tajic, Legion's Edge, and just have Zirda as your companion. But Zirda will also be very vulnerable since you can't recast her from the command zone if she gets removed, but if you play Brion Stoutarm you could just sac her when she gets targeted, and just use one of the many white recursion spells to bring her back. If you so choose to lean into the Sunforger side of the deck though, you could easily play Kykar, Wind's Fury as the commander, and just run extra protection spells that you could pull out of the deck using Sunforger such as Eerie Interlude, and Razor Barrier, or counterspells like Render Silent and Hindering Light. I think I might build something like that soon!

stellarnear on Kaalia queen of the Hell and Heaven

4 years ago

Upgrade 08/08

Basandra, Battle Seraph > Brought Back
Restoration Angel> Stoneforge Mystic
Utter End > Anguished Unmaking