Liliana's Standard Bearer

Creature — Zombie Knight

Flash (You may cast this spell at any time you could cast an instant.)

When this enters, draw X cards, where X is the number of creatures that died under your control this turn. (Dying is being put into the graveyard from the battlefield. Tokens enter the graveyard before they cease to exist.)

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	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
Freeform	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Historic Brawl	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Modern Beyond Horizons	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (49)

DarkKiridon on Thieves of the Black Rose

2 months ago

Last_Laugh, I appreciate all of your suggestions!! I have seen almost every one of these cards too but have yet to add them to the main deck or the maybeboard yet haha.

I do really like the idea of replacing Disciple of Bolas with Liliana's Standard Bearer though. :)

I've also been scaling back on the theft cards a bit lately though and just trying more value creatures on Enters/Death, but just last week I had a game that ended with a Mass Mutiny and took control of an opponent's Solphim, Mayhem Dominus and followed it up with Gray Merchant of Asphodel to win so that was cool :D

Last_Laugh on Thieves of the Black Rose

2 months ago

Unspeakable Symbol is an amazing card here. Just don't proactively add a +1+1 counter to every creature or this card looks like a stinker real quick. Only use it in response to removal or to loop specific etb/death triggers on everyone's turns.

Gev, Scaled Scorch is another alternate source of +1+1 counters that I've had really good results with so far. Your opponents will trigger this frequently.

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector is theft plus the sac outlet in one to make that theft permanent.

Liliana's Standard Bearer and High-Society Hunter are 2 good draw engines I run here that are budget friendly.

I'd also try to make room for the other 2 Talismans and 2 Signets.

Last_Laugh on Oops! All female! Marchesa

2 months ago

You are also correct, having too many 4 drops can be pretty awkward here so I'll help suggest a few cuts and lower cmc replacements.

Solemn Simulacrum - could be pretty much anything else. Satoru, the Infiltrator is one of the best draw engines Marchesa has ever seen.

Cormela, Glamour Thief - seems out of place. Gev, Scaled Scorch is another alternative source of +1+1 counters that I've had good results with so far.

Pitiless Plunderer - is probably the card I'm most tentative to suggest cutting. I was personally happier with Mahadi, Emporium Master coming down a turn earlier but have ultimately cut both personally.

Disciple of Bolas - Liliana's Standard Bearer is 1 mana cheaper, has flash, and will draw as many cards typically.

Domineering Will - is a cool card but not really the timing you're looking for since you get no window to attack, get a +1+1 counter on it, and make that theft permanent. Grim Haruspex is a possible replacement.

Reins of Power - You trade Marchesa as part of this swap so you can't make this theft permanent. Vigean Graftmage comes down before Marchesa, can immediately protect her with a +1+1 counter, and enables 2 sacrifices (itself +1 other) each turn for etb/death trigger abuse.

Last_Laugh on Marchesa’s Metallurgic Machinations

5 months ago

Not a bad start but I do have some suggestions.

First, Canoptek Tomb Sentinel is your only repeatable piece of removal for enchantments in these colors. Bonus points for being an artifact and hitting other permanent types. Chaos Warp is worth running too.

Second is card draw. Marchesa's triggers are each separate and creatures come back one at a time, so Satoru, the Infiltrator triggers separately for each creature. Danny Pink, High-Society Hunter, and Liliana's Standard Bearer are amazing here too.

Last_Laugh on Modular Marchesa

6 months ago

I definitely recommend a lot more draw power but otherwise the deck looks great. Satoru, the Infiltrator and Danny Pink are absolute all-stars in Marchesa. Liliana's Standard Bearer is another that will draw a bunch of cards here. High-Society Hunter is another great option. Plumb the Forbidden helps dodge exile boardwipes while drawing cards.

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

1 year 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 year 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

Last_Laugh on Marchesa, Take Two

2 years ago

Canoptek Tomb Sentinel is versatile removal that hits enchantments.

Danny Pink is one of the best draw engines for Marchesa.

Plumb the Forbidden does card draw, life loss, and sacrifice at instant speed. I typically use it in response to boardwipes I can't come back from (exile, -X-X, sac, etc.).

I would also HIGHLY recommend getting Unspeakable Symbol into the deck. You don't use it to put counters on everyone proactively, you use it in response to boardwipes/spot removal.

Liliana's Standard Bearer is another great way to draw cards here.

Feel free to check out my list for ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Every Masochist Needs a Marchesa to Love Them