Increasing Devotion

Sorcery

Create five 1/1 white Human creature tokens. If Increasing Devotion was cast from a graveyard, create ten of those tokens instead.

Flashback (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)

Discussion (49)

Masterful on Necronomicon | Teysa Karlov | Primer

3 weeks ago

Xxtormundxx Secure the Wastes and Increasing Devotion are usually too much mana. Cards like Doomed Traveler give us fodder for mana at a 2-1 rate, or 3-1 with Teysa out. Having to tap out just to play some fodder on turn 4 or 5 is tough when its not protected against boardwipes. Making fodder from creatures with Pawn of Ulamog or Elenda, the Dusk Rose tends to be more mana efficient than paying a bunch of mana for upfront tokens. Teysa also doesn't double them. They're definitely not that bad if you want to play them, I just prefer cheaper cards. If you want more fodder for 1 card, try Ministrant of Obligation.

LinkOpensChest_wav on Yikes! Humans!

2 months ago

SaberTech I can't tell you how much I appreciate your suggestions! I started this deck when I pulled Sigarda from a booster pack once, and it's much better now than it was then, but still needs a lot of help, and so I've got some of the cards you suggested (for example, I've got an Increasing Devotion in my binder - how am I not using it!), and most of the others are very budget friendly, which is important to me. (Only reason I can run some expensive cards like Sensei's Divining Top is because I've had them since they cost much less than they do now.)

So I'm going to put in a TCGPlayer order, and this will give me something fun to work on!

I'm very thankful for users like you who take the time to give valuable input. And yeah, Cathars' Crusade is pretty pricey, so it's nice to have another alternative! I can spent a fiver on a card every now and then, but I also like to run alternatives to the staples, for creativity's sake!

Appreciate you!

SaberTech on Yikes! Humans!

2 months ago

I've yet to have the chance to sit down across from a human tribal commander deck. Considering how much support the tribe has gotten over the years that kind of surprises me, you would think that they would be more common. This deck looks like it is gearing to be a fun human stompy deck and its price is pretty reasonable. Some key points you may want to pay attention to though is that the deck has very few removal options and I think there are some pump effects that you are missing out on.

Kyler, Sigardian Emissary is really affordable right now and looks like a good addition to help give your creatures some extra power to throw around. It conflicts with Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa though. Still, it's a cheaper card to buy than Cathars' Crusade while giving a similar game-swinging effect, especially if you were to also run Increasing Devotion in the deck.

Good-Fortune Unicorn and Renata, Called to the Hunt do half of what Durable Handicraft can do but don't require you to pay mana to do it, letting you play more cards more easily in a turn while still giving you a pump effect. They help build up the +1/+1 synergies that you are already working with, like Abzan Falconer.

Champion of Lambholt Would be another way to help you to push a bunch of damage through and feeds a bit off of other cards you may rung that can pump it.

In regards to removal, I think that you should be running some more instant speed options instead of damage prevention cards like Repel the Abominable, since you don't need to worry about preventing the damage from creatures that are already dead. There are a number of good options. If you are worried about creatures dying then you could consider Valorous Stance since it is about to be reprinted and can both kill and protect.

Working in some creatures that double as removal is another way to go.

Kogla, the Titan Ape is a top-of-curve budget pick-up that can save your human creatures and lets you re-use ETB effects like Eternal Witness's, on top of doubling as removal.

Devout Chaplain is a particular payoff for running humans, giving access to a repeatable source of artifact and enchantment removal. Intrepid Hero also gives you a way to cut down your opponents' larger creatures while you build up your own forces.

As a random addition: Sakura-Tribe Elder can combo with Emeria Shepherd to pull a bunch of Plains out of your deck in one go.

Humans have a lot of options to work with so I imagine that you could be tinkering with this deck for a long while to figure out what you like and what you don't. I hope some of my suggestions help give you some ideas to try out.

multimedia on Teysa

7 months ago

Hey, you don't need massive help. This is a good first version especially if it's your first deck.

Some advice is try to reduce the mana curve. A 3.5 avg CMC is high, reducing this number will help gameplay. You want to prioritize the four, five or higher CMC cards. Keep the best ones for your strategy and cut the others. This deck building process is called streamlining or "cutting the fat". Adding more draw and ramp will help game play.

An example, the best fours drops here are: Teysa, Smothering Tithe, Pitiless Plunderer, Luminous Broodmoth, Elenda, Anointed Procession. Best five drops and six drops here: Sidisi, Thalisse, Wurmcoil Engine, Elspeth.

All the others not named could be cut to reduce the mana curve. A five drop that has a powerful die trigger is Archon of Justice, it's an upgrade for Liesa, Shroud of Dusk. Solemn Simulacrum is a fine four drop for ramp and a draw trigger when it dies, it's an upgrade for Kor Cartographer.

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Reducing the mana curve means cutting high CMC cards for lower ones. Some examples:

• Cutting Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, a seven drop, adding one drop Skullclamp. Skullclamp is one of the better cards with Teysa for a draw engine. It's die trigger draws four cards, it's very good with the 1/1 token theme and sac outlets.

• Cutting Increasing Devotion, adding Viscera Seer, five drop for a one drop. You can create tokens from many other sources that have more interaction with Teysa than Devotion does. Seer is a one drop repeatable sac outlet who can also be repeatable filtering the top card of your library to help draws especially with Skullclamp.

• Cutting Debtors' Knell, adding Phyrexian Reclamation. A seven drop that doesn't do anything the turn you play it for a one drop that's mana efficient repeatable creature recursion even at instant speed.

• Adding more two drop mana rocks: Talisman of Hierarchy and Orzhov Signet to improve ramp by cutting some four drops such as Oketra the True and Ill-Gotten Inheritance. For your deck Oketra is an expensive price card that's a mana expensive source of tokens which doesn't have much interaction with Teysa.

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You could complete two combos with Teysa by adding two cards: Reassembling Skeleton and Ministrant of Obligation.

• Teysa + Ashnod's Altar + Pitiless Plunderer + Reassembling Skeleton = infinite mana and infinite die triggers.
• Teysa + Ashnod's Altar + Nim Deathmantle + Ministrant of Obligation = infinite Spirits and infinite die triggers. Do this combo on your last opponent's turn to then on your next turn attack all opponents with infinite Spirits.

If interested I offer more advice. Would you like more advice? Good luck with your deck.

MaltOMeal on Absolute Theocracy

8 months 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!

RazortoothMtg on Elephant's Graveyard (Boros Reanimator Combo)

9 months ago

I'm not sure how exactly Quin plays yet, but I'm trying to come up with something with him too so I'll throw some cards I thought were interesting at you. Sentinel's Eyes seems decent, with Quin out it gives you two 3/2s for , which is pretty good. Battle Screech is just a generally strong tokens card so it fits with the token support, but also gives you a 3/2 (for free!). Same with Increasing Devotion , although thats definitely a lower power level just because of the mana cost. Prismatic Strands / Rally the Peasants are both also pretty strong cards that also will just throw in a 3/2 with Quin.

You have quite a few humans, so maybe throw in Bruna, the Fading Light  ^Flip, and if you want to meld, Gisela, the Broken Blade ? Bruna's solid on her own, but I might just be biased because I love meld. Angel of Glory's Rise too, depending on how many humans you end up with. You could also play things like Resurrection and Breath of Life , or even Gate to the Afterlife / God-Pharaoh's Gift . Angelic Renewal goes infinite with Sun Titan and a sac outlet, which you should probably have at least one more of. Ashnod's Altar is the go too, but I think its pretty expensive nowadays, so maybe Blasting Station , Dark-Dweller Oracle , or Grafted Exoskeleton

A bunch of the phoenixes seem decent, since they always return. I think the best ones would be Flamewake Phoenix , Rekindling Phoenix , and Skyfire Phoenix . Flamewake seems great since with Quin your spirits activate ferocious, the others I'd be more skeptical about.

Well I hope that's at least somewhat helpful lol

Gidgetimer on Mana doubler question.

1 year ago

I have a small correction to make that isn't relevant to this example, but is an important distinction.

Mana Reflection never triggers off of anything. It is a replacement effect. Since this example deals with mana abilities it is a distinction without a difference. For similarly worded cards such as Doubling Season that apply to other things it matters though. A flashed back Increasing Devotion with Doubling Season out will make 20 tokens and nothing in the interaction can be Stifled.

the7thDOF on Elsha, Infinite turns

1 year ago

Hi, I hope you are my friend and not a Clever Impersonator of him hacking his account. I’ve done a Frantic Search in your deck, but didn’t find the Elsha of the Infinite turns combo. Maybe the Orcish Librarian ate some pieces already?

Let me know if you want to do a Brainstorm session with me and do a Deep Analysis of the cards you chose, so you Think Twice about this combo of yours.

I would Cancel my plans for a Young Pyromancer like you and share my Chemister's Insight if that helps Increasing Devotion you have for this Devil's Play that we call Magic: the Gathering

I'm no Niv-Mizzet, Parun, you can count on me ;)

¡¡ Sun Titan !!