Havengul Lich

Creature — Zombie Wizard

: You may cast target creature from a graveyard this turn. When you cast that card this turn, Havengul Lich gains all activated abilities of that card until end of turn.

Discussion (51)

king-saproling on Thanks for the Cards!!!

3 weeks ago

You might like these: Thief of Sanity, Herald of Leshrac, Thada Adel, Acquisitor, Havengul Lich, Geth, Lord of the Vault, Nightveil Specter, Mindleecher, Dead Man's Chest, Mind's Dilation, Shared Fate, Diluvian Primordial, Wrexial, the Risen Deep, Lord of the Void, Memory Plunder, Spelltwine, Dredge the Mire

Zinon on Zombie tribal

1 month ago

Havengul Lich, Sidisi, Undead Vizier, Rooftop Storm make a really good combo, a Demonic Tutor type effect for 1 is quite good

Zinon on Zombie tribal

1 month ago

Chromatic Lantern for if you want/need to target an opponents creature with Havengul Lich

Optimator on Gisa and Geralf EDH V.2.2

1 month ago

I have a guide/repository for card-draw cards if you want to peruse it. You may find some cards with more synergies that you like. Weight of Memory can be decent for self-mill strategies, etc. EDH Card-Draw Master List

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As for cuts... let's see...

I don't love Forgotten Creation, personally. I always felt like I had non-creatures I wanted to keep in my hand all the time. Your deck is a bit more creature-heavy than mine, so perhaps it's pulling its weight.

You have the necessary components for Gravecrawler combos, but not a ton of tutors to make them reliable to get out. As such, perhaps one of the weaker payoffs for that can go, such as Vengeful Dead or Plague Belcher. If you're using Buried Alive to find the pieces then you'll only ever need one, and Diregraf Captain is an excellent choice. That said, your deck is fairly token-heavy so perhaps the incidental groupslug is being underappreciated by me.

I don't really love Ancient Excavation or Compelling Deterrence.

Personally I think Endless Ranks of the Dead is a bit of a trap unless you're all-in on the token strategy, such as a Ghoulcaller Gisa or Sidisi, Brood Tyrant zombie deck. Very fun, but a bit win-more unless you can really make it pop off. I've never been satisfied with it's performance in my deck, but you're going wider than I do so perhaps it's fine. Something to think about though.

It all kind of depends on how much you're self-milling. You have a decent amount, but you aren't exactly going all-in. As such, Grimoire of the Dead may be a liability. I have played around with that card in some of my decks and it just seems to get removed before it works. When it did I usually won the game, though. It's fun, but unreliable. Rise of the Dark Realms is obviously more reliable but it's very pricey.

I never found the self-mill in my deck as useful as regular card-draw. There's not a ton of point to have 15 zombies in the graveyard if you only want to cast one or two of them over and over. There are payoffs, of course, but to me it feels like being in the middle-ground is way worse than being all-in or having minimal self-mill. I just hate milling over answers or Rooftop Storm!

I don't think you're running enough to make Nightscape Familiar worth it.

Honestly, I don't love Havengul Lich a ton. The color restriction makes it hard to use and you have lots of ways to bring out your own zombies already. He's better in a more mill-your-opponents strategy IMO.

Tymaret Calls the Dead is a bit of a weaker card. Exiling your own zombies is a bit of a non-bo (unless your self-mill strategy is really rolling). The lifegain can be nice but I'd rather run Whip of Erebos if that's the goal, or a better card-draw card if that's the goal.

Optimator on Gisa and Geralf EDH V.2.2

1 month ago

I have a Gisa & Geralf deck too! Rooftop Experiments (Zombie Tribal).

So you say this decks needs some help. I've looked over it and here are my thoughts:

First off, it looks really good. I love your creature selection. It appears you're going somewhat wide with a "regular" aggro plan, so I'll be basing my suggestions off that. From what I've seen of your other decks you have something of a budget (as do I!) so I'll refrain from just suggesting every big-time upgrade on EDHREC.

One thing is it looks like you only have four or five ramp pieces. Personally I aim for at least eight in all my decks that don't have a ramp strategy, and more for those that do. Perhaps three more? I've found that I really like casting a spell from hand then casting a zombie from the graveyard as much as possible, so you'll be happy with the extra mana. Fellwar Stone is good for the Havengul Lich. Consider Mind Stone, Wayfarer's Bauble, Talisman of Dominance, Star Compass, Sky Diamond, Charcoal Diamond, or perhaps Black Market.

You're also at around five or six card-draw cards. Could be better, but it's not bad--especially since you have so much card advantage coming from the graveyard. Still, hand refills are always nice and it's nice to draw into answers. Windfall is good for graveyard-y decks. Perhaps a big hand-refiller like Mind Spring, Tidings, or Overflowing Insight? You would often have The City's Blessing for Kumena's Awakening if you can't afford a Phyrexian Arena and/or Rhystic Study. Rain of Revelation has a hint of graveyard synergy, and stuff like Reconnaissance Mission and Keep Watch synergize with your go-wide build.

Sidisi, Undead Vizier is premium in Gisa & Geralf decks. Can't recommend her enough. Great way to get Rooftop Storm out!

tacolover25 on Zombies, Mill, Infect, Counters, and Control

1 month ago

May I suggest Skinrender? Does work in casual. Also recommend Skaab Ruinator, Geralf's Messenger, and Havengul Lich.

Lastly, I have a soft spot for Forbidden Alchemy but not sure if it fits in with how deck building has progressed the deck.

Cotter11 on Zombies

1 month ago

Fallen Shinobi

Forgotten Creation

Geth, Lord of the Vault

Ghoulraiser

Gravecrawler

Havengul Lich

Noxious Ghoul

Plaguebearer

Prized Amalgam

Relentless Dead

Shepherd of Rot

Soul Diviner

Sultai Emissary

Vengeful Dead

Zombie Master

Cover of Darkness

Coastal Piracy

Reconnaissance Mission

mistarilledawn on Here, Let Me Cast That

2 months ago

WarSpaniel

Most of those cards were better in Jeleva, and got hated on by my playgroup so to keep things healthy I switched all that out. Switching things out in general, I'd probably start by taking out Agent of Treachery, Havengul Lich, Mazemind Tome, and one or both of the Ashioks. They're all good cards in their own sense, but I feel they aren't core to the deck, and sit in flexible spots.

Havengul Lich and Mazemind Tome haven't seen a lot a play and are still being tested, so I'd say they're flexible.

Neither ashiok is really necessary, but new Ashiok's ult is great and is fueled by old Ashiok.

Many of those were also replaced with much lower costing cards, in an attempt to even out the curve of the deck. Honestly, it's up to you on what you like/ don't like, but, those would be my choices.