Dolmen Gate

Artifact

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to attacking creatures you control.

Discussion (51)

FyreLorde on Kaalia's Inferno

1 month ago

subiskier: Glad you like it! Yeah, getting Kaalia swinging quickly is definitely important, though I'm not really a huge fan of Hanweir Battlements , Slayers' Stronghold , and most other lands that give haste. Effectively paying 2 or 3 mana is a pretty big tax on getting Kaalia out, and I rarely find myself in a situation where I'm really wanting to pay it. I used to run Flamekin Village in the deck, but I swapped it out for Hall of the Bandit Lord which seems to work way better as you're not really paying anything extra other than it entering tapped. As for Fervor , I've actually been looking into slotting in Dragon Tempest (which is almost strictly better in this deck) but I haven't really decided what I'm willing to take out for it yet. Swiftfoot Boots is definitely a good card, and worth running alongside Lightning Greaves , but at a 5 mana investment I'm not too fond of Whispersilk Cloak . Thanks for the comment, and good luck to you too!

loricatuslupus: Thanks! I agree, I love creature decks much more than combos and Kaalia seems like one of the few that is aggressive enough to have a consistent chance at outpacing them. In my personal meta it's rather rare for there to not be any player without a flyer that Kaalia can safe swing at, so I'm not really too concerned about preventing blocking or damage effects with things like Dust Corona and Dolmen Gate . However, I actually have been thinking about adding Reconnaissance to the deck for a while (and probably would've already if I could find a copy locally) due to it's amazing value in both giving Kaalia safe triggers and pseudo-vigilance to all of my creatures. As for Chromatic Lantern , I actually used to run it in the deck (most of the maybe board is cards I ran at one time but later cut) but I just found that it wasn't very helpful. My mana base is stable enough at this point that I very rarely am in need of it's fixing, and at 3 cmc it doesn't really help me ramp Kaalia out. The initial goal of the deck is always have Kaalia swinging on turn 4 at the latest (ideally turn 2 or 3), and 2 cmc rocks like Sphere of the Suns just do a much better job at accomplishing that. Dark Ritual has done pretty well for me, I think. It allows for some pretty explosive early turns in either getting an extra rock out or ramping out Kaalia up to 2 turns earlier. Even late game I can usually find some use for it to stretch out my mana for more valuable turns. While temple lands are arguable some of the better taplands, I personally would not run them if I don't have to as taplands significantly reduce the speed of the deck and are detrimental to my plan of getting Kaalia out as quickly as possible. I used to run Reya Dawnbringer but I found that she was often either stuck without a target, or removed before she could do anything. I cut her in an attempt to shift away from effects like hers where you have to wait a turn to get anything out of them, and towards things that give immediate value upon entering/hitting. Also there's already enough times where I have Animate Dead or Reanimate in my hand with no good targets that I don't really think I'm in need of more recursion right now. Never really been a fan of Adarkar Valkyrie as her ability seems a bit underwhelming to me, especially when you have to wait a turn to use her as well. They're both alright cards, but if I ran them it would be solely for the synergy with a couple of cards like Razaketh, the Foulblooded that you mentioned, and that's not really worth it for me. Thanks for the comment and suggestions, and good luck with your own deck as well!

loricatuslupus on Kaalia's Inferno

2 months ago

Nice list! Also a Kaalia player (shameless plug: Still Better than Dan Brown...) and I really enjoy the challenges she brings to the table. Being creature based always feels far more like playing a "fair" deck than some of the combo commanders, and Kaalia herself is a real Achilles heel that can countered/killed/ Imprisoned in the Moon . I definitely agree with subiskier about additional protection: Dust Corona , Reconnaissance and Dolmen Gate are all good picks. I see Chromatic Lantern in your Maybes, and honestly since it got reprinted there is absolutely no reason not to get a copy to replace Sphere of the Suns. On the topic of mana acceleration, how has Dark Ritual performed for you? I used to run it but found there was nothing I needed the triple black for except Necropotence and usually would rather see a mana rock. You're better off just upgrading the mana base so that it can deal with whatever you need to play, painlands and Temples are strong picks. Creaturewise I'd only suggest that as you already have Razaketh and Rune-Scarred Demon you add either Reya Dawnbringer or Adarkar Valkyrie for some serious #walue.

TwinStags on Skullbriar, Oh Lawd He Comin’

2 months ago

@McToters

Molting Skin / Broken Fall are fun cards, but the more I play them the more I realized how slow my games go.

Yavimaya Hollow is pretty pricey, but worth the regen on a stick, especially in a creature heavy deck. The issue is you’re still spending 2 mana each time you use it. I still think it’s worth it.

So now I’m sitting here, staring into void, thinking what do I do with my draw outlets.

I added in Smuggler's Copter , which I know is weird but somehow works with creatures that aren’t doing much combat if I don’t have Dolmen Gate or Vigor . My big debate is if all the weird search discard/search cards I have suffice or if I’ll need to add Sylvan Library and/or Dark Confidant .

With a more healthy aggro approach, I might need to add in more destroy cards too

McToters on Rhys' Elven Horde

2 months ago

Nice build! Have you thought about Divine Visitation and/or Anointed Procession ? Mirror Entity could work wonders here too with enough tokens out.
And if you’re lacking removal there is always Aura Shards . Buddy of mine runs that in his Rhys deck.

I really like how you are running Dolmen Gate and Throne of the God-Pharaoh . Both fit in this deck!

Good luck! +1

griffstick on Ghired being disrespected?

2 months ago

I think a deck like this needs all 4 of these in it

• Dolmen Gate
• Loyal Unicorn
• Iroas, God of Victory
• Tajic, Legion's Edge

These would make it really easy to keep attacking with your cmdr and keep the pressure on

And with the 3 of the 4 I mentioned you can use red damage based board wipes, like Starstorm and Faultline and others to wipe the board and keep yours.

griffstick on Challenge of Budget

2 months ago

Gaea's Cradle for Growing Rites of Itlimoc  ^Flip

Asceticism for Steely Resolve

Cabal Coffers for Magus of the Coffers

Dolmen Gate for Loyal Unicorn

Gauntlet of Power for Caged Sun

TwinStags on Skullbriar, Oh Lawd He Comin’

2 months ago

@McToters

Supp dœg

Draw is at an interesting impasse. The more evasion/trample this deck has, the more Keen Sense and Sixth Sense are viable; Running both seems overkill. Rishkar's Expertise is not half bad, but I’m torn between it, Garruk, Caller of Beasts and Vivien Reid . Inspiring Call is now leagues better with Drana. I’m still waiting for that diamond in the rough.

I’m jumping in headfirst with Dolmen Gate . Sooo many creatures sit on the board only to boost Skullbriar. This combos super well with Drana. Dolmen also acts as alternative evasion since not everyone wants to block a lose/lose.

Ouphe wrecks. So many decks play off mana rocks and artifact combo win cons. I search for him quick. Besides big cmc, I avoid those evasion-equipment because of him.

I need to buy shizo... I just can’t imagine a reprint of a weird card like that... but that $$$ hurts.

Scheming supports friendly gameplay. Like, idk if I’d be bothered playing it 1v1. EDH is supposed to be fun, not punishing.

Rite is rough around edges. High cmc, doesn’t work with dolmen, most creatures aren’t tough enough to survive the initial damage, and not a guaranteed counter. This is an aggro deck so the creatures should always be tapped and attacking. Without vigilance, Rite doesn’t work as well imo. Idk, I feel like Unspeakable Symbol and Vivien, Arkbow Ranger land more counters, but even then I feel like none of these warrant their slot. I’m pretty shoehorned into Drana and Dolmen lol

McToters on Skullbriar, Oh Lawd He Comin’

2 months ago

So if draw still feels lacking, what are your thoughts on I have personally had plenty of success with Parting Thoughts and Hunter's Prowess . The latter is a semi-expensive cmc-wise and I already know it isn’t exactly your play-style but I feel like I should suggest it!

Heroic Intervention is a great card but I agree with how you feel about it in this deck. Seems very eh in most scenarios, but I still think the other two— Inspiring Call and Rishkar's Expertise certainly have a place here.

I certainly agree with your decision on Beast Within . Also, love the idea of Dolmen Gate . I would test the waters with that one before totally committing on it.

I really really like Collector Ouphe (I just popped one myself!). Adds a nice stax piece to this aggro deck. Also, Shizo is a must-add. Something I would definitely do if I went and bought one. And I am all for keeping Prowler's Helm and Trailblazer's Boots .

I agree with Scheming Symmetry . I need to pick up up one of these!

I’d rank Rite of Passage higher in this particular deck over Evol and Drana. The reasoning is it gives opponents another reason not to block Skullbriar. “Oh he’s just going to get bigger?” And in most cases for me he’s the biggest creature on the entire board so he’s a force to be reckoned with. And if people choose to block him when he has no trample or evasion—he’s at least getting slightly bigger at the same time.

YES—Urborg and Filth. Couldn’t agree more with those.