Feed the Swarm

Sorcery

Destroy target creature or enchantment an opponent controls. You lose life equal to that permanent's converted mana cost/mana value.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Pauper Duel Commander	Legal
Pauper EDH	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Pre-release	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Standard	Legal
Standard Brawl	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

Last_Laugh on Marchesa the Black Rose - Sacrifices must be made!

1 month ago

Not a bad start, but I do have several suggestions for you. I'll keep things budget friendly and break it down by category.

Finisher: Gray Merchant of Asphodel will end games. With alternate sources of +1+1 counters the lifegain doesn't matter at all. Even with an expensive Marchesa build, this is my #1 go-to finisher.

Alternate +1+1 Counter Sources: Vigean Graftmage is really good here. It comes down before and immediately protects Marchesa and it's 2 free sacs on each player's turn (itself plus 1 other). Sage of Fables likewise immediately protects Marchesa and allows you to abuse any wizard etb/death triggers every turn. Unspeakable Symbol is one you use in response to removal targeting anything without a counter (don't proactively put counters on everyone).

Card Draw: Grim Haruspex is easily your 2nd best draw engine here behind Danny Pink. Liliana's Standard Bearer will draw cards for everything that died the turn Marchesa returns it. Plumb the Forbidden helps you dodge non-destroy wraths (instant speed and pseudo dodging counterspells makes this card). Lethal Scheme helps you surprise protect up to 4 creatures without counters without tapping lands and to remove a creature while drawing some cards.

Enchantment Removal: Cards like Solemnity and Rest in Peace are the bane of Marchesa. Don't get caught with your pants down... Chaos Warp, Feed the Swarm, and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel are your only 3 realistic options and ALL 3 deserve spots.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas, I've had her built for about 9 years straight now so if you have any question, shoot. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated (especially Marchesa since it'd be upvote #200 lol). Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on Marchesa, the Black Rose

1 month ago

This is a good start, but I have several suggestions for you. I'll keep things budget friendly, break it down by card function, and if you'd like I can help suggest some cuts too.

Enchantment Removal: So you don't get caught with your pants down against effects like Solemnity/Rest in Peace. Feed the Swarm, Chaos Warp, and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel all deserve spots.

Alternate +1+1 Counter Sources: Sage of Fables/Vigean Graftmage come down before and immediately protect Marchesa. Sage let's you abuse any other wizard etb/death triggers every turn and Vigean allows you to abuse any 1 etb/death trigger (itself plus 1 other). Spark Double either copies Marchesa so they protect your board better and give double Dethrone triggers or it copies your best etb/death trigger every turn. Thran Vigil only works on your turn but works wonders here. Anduril, Narsil Reforged/Metallic Mimic are also great options but aren't as budget friendly (just sac Mimic to rename a creature type to whatever is most abuseable the time).

Card Draw: Danny Pink is a little more expensive but is absolutely nuts here. Lethal Scheme is card draw and surprise protection for anything without counters. Plumb the Forbidden in response to most non-destroy wraths will win games.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. I run the same etb/death trigger abuse strat and have had Marchesa built for about 9 years now so if you have any questions, shoot. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated (especially since it'd be upvote #200!). Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Last_Laugh on Marchesa, the Black Rose

3 months ago

I have several suggestions for you. I'll keep things budget friendly and if you're picking up what I'm putting down, I can also help suggest some cuts.

First off is enchantment removal. There's hardly any options in th5ese colors but I recommend running all 3 so problematic enchantments like Solemnity or Rest in Peace don't wreck your day. Chaos Warp, Feed the Swarm, and Canoptek Tomb Sentinel are all budget friendly and worth their weight in gold here. Another good boardwipe here is Last One Standing.

I don't really do theft in my Marchesa list, but Gisa, Glorious Resurrector is the exception and holy crap does she put in some dirty work.

Next is card draw. Liliana's Standard Bearer, Lethal Scheme, Plumb the Forbidden, and Sage of Fables are all good budget options here. Sage will also come down before Marchesa and immediately give her or any other wizards you run a +1+1 counter. Plumb in response to boardwipes or right before your turn will refill your grip (instant speed and pseudo dodging counterspells makes this card). Also, Danny Pink's price has been sloooowly climbing but it's a very real possibility you'll find one in your LGS dollar binder and omg is this thing absolutely nuts!

On the subject of alternate sources of +1+1 counters... Thran Vigil only works on your turn but it'll get new counters on anything you stole and sac'ed on your turn. Vigean Graftmage let's you sac 2 creatures on everyone's turn (itself + whatever) to abuse etb/death triggers like Gray Merchant of Asphodel or even Grim Haruspex card draw. Spark Double I guess falls into this category and copies either Marchesa for double Dethrone or whatever your meanest etb/death trigger is at the time.

I'm also guessing Rakdos Locket was supposed to be Rakdos Signet.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. It's far from budget friendly overall but I run everything I recommended. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them

Profet93 on Kill, Kill and Kill some more.

3 months ago

Hypersayia9001

Lands

Cabal Stronghold/Cabal Coffers - Former budget, latter not. Big black mana producing lands. Contamination does shut them off though. Should that be an issue, note Infernal Darkness as a potential alternative.

Crypt of Agadeem - Ramp

Bojuka Bog - Personally, not a huge fan of tapped lands. But with fetches, you can use at instant speed. Not needed but worth considering depending on amount of GY decks in the meta.

Shizo, Death's Storehouse > Rogue's passage - Once budget opens, this is an upgrade. Not needed but worth considering.

Misc

Contamination - Sacrifice synergy. High synergy with bitterblossom, reassembling skeleton and any other creature that can return to field.

Syphon Mind > Dark Tutelage - While you have a relatively low avg cmc of 3.00, black has better draw that doesn't hurt you as badly. Not to mention it's steady draw, which can be good, but sometimes burst draw is preferred. Syphon mind is draw 3, each opponent discard 1. Budget friendly too.

Skullclamp - Speaking of draw, this goes well with all your sac synergies.

Murderous Rider > Murder - Can hit Walkers, is versatile as a creature with lifelink that can recoup your lifeloss. Almost a strict upgrade.

Feed the Swarm - Removal that hits enchantments. Black has difficult with artifacts and enchantments. I can provide you with some potential artifact removal should you wish depending on your meta. But this might be worth considering given that a Rest in Peace can mess u up.

Maybe Corpse Dance - With your sac outlets, you can ignore the negative aspect of the card. Also do note that after a wipe, you can choose the order in which your creatures enter the GY if they go together simultaneously.

Dark Ritual - Simple ritual ramp

Mind Stone - Ramp when you need it, draw when you don't.

Oubliette - Commander hate

At the risk of being too risky and pricey, Hatred - Do note life loss is additional cost to cast but it can be fun with use with your commander, either with it's ability or commander damage. Not to mention the political aspect of using it on your opponents attacking each other (Bonus points if you use it on their commander).

Profet93 on I BEG YOUR F@CKING PARDON??!!! - Razaketh

3 months ago

77hi77

Deck Discussion

Thank you for your detailed reply. Based on your description of your decks and the meta which pilots similar decks, you're right, you do have those 2 choices. If you want to make it lower power, remove some ramp and increase your average cmc by adding cards with higher CMC. Personally, rather than power it down and not making it do what it's supposed to do, keep it as your higher powered, non cEDH deck. That way should you face against someone else, then you can stand your ground. That being said, I wouldn't spend too much $ on it, especially if you don't know how it performs in a stronger meta.

cEDH

This deck is not close to cEDH level. cEDH decks have a smaller commander list, much lower average cmc and much more interaction. They have expensive, powerful cards, and adapt to their meta with a multitude of cards.

Deck Discussion #2

I'm unsure if you're aware but EDHREC is a great resource. You mention you want artifact / enchantment removal that doesn't destroy your stuff. Mono black doesn't have many options, I can list them all (if you want, lmk). For now, I believe your best bet is Ugin, the Ineffable. It's ramp for almost 20% of your deck, creates blockers/draw and can hit enchantments (and some artifacts). Another good idea which goes with the lifeloss is Feed the Swarm. If you need specific artifact hate, I have some as well.

I have more ideas for the deck but want your thoughts prior to providing additional suggestions so I know I'm going in the right direction. Do you like combos? Is stax/more control okay? $ per card you're willing to spend?

Crow_Umbra on Shanghai Dawn - Obeka, Splitter of Seconds

3 months ago

Definitely one of the cooler new commander options out of Thunder Junction. I'm pretty interested in seeing the variety of Obeka build variants we will be getting.

Your deck looks pretty fun! The only suggestions I have are in regards to your removal/interaction. You seem pretty light beyond the counterspells. Slots are at a premium, but Feed the Swarm and Chaos Warp might be worth keeping in your back pocket, since Grixis can have a hard time dealing with Enchantments, aside from countering them.

Profet93 on millipede succer

3 months ago

Joslay131

Cut Voltaic Key - There are only like 4 rocks that go positive with it, you don't get much value of out it.

Cut Gravestorm - Nice repetitive draw but often times player's gy's are filled and this won't help mid-late game.

Cut Soul Stair Expedition and Epicure of Blood - There are much better cards to add

Cut Lotus Field + Lotus Vale - Anti synergy to coffers, one of the lotuses can be strip mined against. No synergy benefit for the deck. Swap them with either a Deserted Temple, Thespian's Stage, or more swamps. Should you wish, including a fetchland or 2 is a nice instant speed way to bring out bojuka bog. Moreover, Urborg allows you to keep your lands as swamps and then shuffle the deck with top should you not like your upcoming draws

Introduction to Annihilation - I know you need artifact/enchantment removal. Add in a Feed the Swarm and/or a Karn Liberated if it's really given you issues.

Bolas's Citadel + Aetherflux Reservoir + Sensei's Divining Top = Good times!

Some lower costed ramp to get your commander out more quickly such as Dark Ritual and Mind Stone are helpful

Imp's Mischief - "Counter" counterspells while redirecting targeted removal, draw and extra turns! Given your deck is commander reliant + Your lich enchantment, this can serve you very well.

HeavenlyAxe on

4 months ago

Hey Indie,

First off I really like the lands you have assembled and the suggestions from SufferFromEDHD are all good.

You are definitely going to want an artifact ramp package.

Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, Arcane Signet, Fellwar Stone, Gilded Lotus, Thran Dynamo

Special Mention to Nyx Lotus, it could be good being in mono black. and Jeweled Lotus, pays for your commander for free on turn 1 even.

Sword of the Animist is not bad ramp at all and buffs yours rats

Commander's Plate might be cute.

Liliana of the Dark Realms, makes sure you always get a land drop and could make your swamps tap for four.

Chittering Witch if your playing with more opponents.

Crypt Ghast is sort of ramp, but doubles your swamps. Very good in mono black.

Dauthi Voidwalker is not on theme at all but is just sooo much value in a two cost card I have to recommend it.

God-Eternal Bontu is excellent draw power in the right situation.

Dont forget you can run any number of Relentless Rats

Gray Merchant of Asphodel will heal you up a lot and hurt your opponents

Krav, the Unredeemed is also great card draw.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, has card draw, removal, and proliferate all on one card

Deadly Rollick, potentially free removal

Defile, cheap good removal

Thrilling Encore saves you from a board wipe or lets you bring everything back after sacrificing it all to like God-Eternal Bontu

Phyrexian Arena some ok card draw.

Bojuka Bog if you are worried about graveyards

Mutilate, a good board wipe in mono black

Night's Whisper, Read the Bones, Sign in Blood, are a great draw package for mono black

Toxic Deluge a great board wipe for when things need resetting, and you could follow with Thrilling Encore and get it all back

Syphon Mind is great draw if your playing with more players

Victimize - is really really strong, get rid of one weak thing for two of your best things

Yawgmoth's Will - lets you treat your graveyard like your hand for a turn

Lord Skitter, Sewer King makes rats

Marrow-Gnawer - lets you make lots of rats

Infectious Inquiry - good draw and gives poison

Ogre Slumlord - makes rats when your creatures or your opponents creatures die.

Tangled Colony - if your opponent has to block it or it dies to like Blasphemous Act will make you rats

Vraska's Fall removal and poison counter

Drown in Ichor removal and poison

Bontu's Monument all your creatures cost less

Rat Colony can have any number and they buff themselves, and cost less mana than Relentless Rats

Typhoid Rats deathtouch rat opponents wont want to block

Crypt Rats can board wipe but can also win the game if you give it infect, doesnt work with your commander because toxic specifies combat damage but does work if you give it infect and deal damage with it's ability.

Ratcatcher tutors rats, and gives you card advantage

Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm - buffs your rats and lets you get rats back

Wave of Rats has blitz and reanimates itself

Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni rat that steals opponents stuff

Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion rat that steals opponents stuff

Adaptive Automaton is a rat and buffs rats

Okiba-Gang Shinobi rat makes opponents discard and has ninjutsu

Filth gives all your rats swampwalk pairs well with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

Dark Ritual lets your get a head start or some extra mana a turn you need it

Tainted Strike instant speed infect, funny in multiplayer because you can use it on anyone's creatures.

Phyresis Outbreak gives poison and might kill opponents creatures

Feed the Swarm enchantment removal in black

Vat Emergence gets a creature back and proliferates

Spread the Sickness destroys a creatures and proliferates

Pact of the Serpent strong tribal card draw

Living Death swap graveyards with battlefields, great after sacrificing your whole board to draw cards

Skullclamp sack small rats for card draw

Thrumming Stone if you go the Relentless Rats or Rat Colony route

Coat of Arms your rats will be huge

Bolas's Citadel this card is dumb lol, lots of casting power and then you hit Gray Merchant of Asphodel and keep going lol

Icon of Ancestry kinda draw buffs rats...is ok

Contagion Engine proliferate twice each time you activate

Eldrazi Monument gives creatures flying indestructible and +1/+1

Grafted Exoskeleton gives a creature infect, great with Crypt Rats

Sword of Truth and Justice proliferate sword

Bad Moon buff all black creatures, opponents too

Phyresis gives infect again good with Crypt Rats

Greed card draw

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting proliferate planes walker

I know that's a lot but hopefully gave you some ideas to work with!