Scoured Barrens

Land

Scoured Barrens enters the battlefield tapped.

When Scoured Barrens enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life.

: Gain or .

Discussion (50)

Spirits on Undying Persistence

1 month ago

Ok, here's a little bit of analysis to consider. Break it up into some comments to read. These are opinions based on experience, playing and watching lots of commander content over the years, doesn't account for your specific playstyle or how you have fun playing commander which are certainly as important of decisions, as is card selection.

Topic: Ramp

You are very low in the mana curve, 11 1-drop, 21 2-drop, 15 3-drop, 16 4-drop, and Orzhov () has lots of pips, but mana ramp is critical to getting your plan onboard as quickly as others, having mana available to advance board state/gain advantage and have interaction, and landing your larger threats sooner.

Sol Ring (CMC1 for 2 = +1 mana) is a must include.

Orzhov Signet I personally don't like (CMC3 for 1 = -2 mana) but also you're in which doesn't ramp as it's core strength.

Arcane Signet (CMC2 for 1 = -1 mana) is a must include, there are only a few archetypes I wouldn't play this in and usually only .

Talisman of Hierarchy (CMC2 for 1 = -1 mana) is a must include in .

Dark Ritual (CMC1 for 3 = +2 mana) this allows for explosive turns like a T1 Vampire Nighthawk .

I would start with that at least, some fringe ones I like are: Burnished Hart (creature/recursion), Commander's Sphere (draw), Mycosynth Wellspring (to hand, fringe), Pristine Talisman (lifegain, fringe), Solemn Simulacrum (ramp+draw!), The Birth of Meletis (doesn't help with , but ramp, 0/4 blocker, lifegain? it has it all!), Wayfarer's Bauble (ramp).

On a premise of battlecruiser/low/mid power 3-6 I DO NOT recommend these, but there are stronger options out there beyond 6: Phyrexian Altar (combo builds), Mana Vault , Mana Crypt , Chrome Mox , Smothering Tithe , Land Tax (Might not be bad in this build)

Honestly on a Avg. CMC 2.99 mana curve, I would likely have 10-12 ramp.

Some potential cuts for these:

Gorgon's Head you've got plenty of deathtouch already, it's not pairing with a Viridian Longbow strategy or anything, it's redundant, but also the worst. Easy cut. (We can get to Open the Armory / Steelshaper's Gift later)

Pierce Strider CMC4 for a 3/3 is just plain bad, the idea is play, do 3 damage, block/sac it, noone going to pay 3 to prevent it? but they will because it's going to do 3 anyway on return, and if your using recursion on this, your making the wrong play as it has no value engine on it. Easy cut.

Creeping Chill for CMC4 sorcery is not great, you're not playing a mill strategy so you're not really casting it for free often. It's not a strong play, we can find better ones, like ramping into Athreos, God of Passage sooner.

Font of Return for CMC6? Yikes. (CMC2+CMC4 for 3 creatures to hand is not great, we can get them on the battlefield for that high a CMC).

Angelic Gift hmm we have flyers, with deathtouch, it replaces itself (draw a card) but unless we flickering it ( Ephemerate or Brago, King Enternal something like that, it sets up easy 2-for-1 if an opponent has instand speed removal.

Topic: Lands! (Umm!)

Average Distribution Build: 38 lands

Average Budget Build: 36 lands

Average Expensive Build: 37 lands

Average Aristocrats Build: 35 lands

Average Reanimator Build: 31 lands (closer)

Your Build: 30 lands (Umm!)

No way you can run 30 lands, and 0 ramp in this deck. I wouldn't shuffle this deck with less than 33 lands, probably 34-36 if I'm playing enters tapped/utility lands. I might (maybe not) go to 33 lands with 9+ ramp spells, but even then, 34 would feel better.

Do you have a combo with Piranha Marsh like Worldgorger Dragon does, if not, just delaying yourself for little value (1 damage). Kabira Crossroads in this same bucket, it's just not work the tapped mana.

Reliquary Tower where are the cards coming from? The colorless is a detriment. Unless your playing a draw strategy Necropotence / Greed it will hurt you more than the rare occasion it might help.

Let's be honest, lands SUCK, they are too expensive! Here is a list of lands you should look at:

Lands I suggest: Godless Shrine ($9), Orzhov Basilica (<$1, slow ramp), Caves of Koilos (<$1 must have!), Command Tower (Umm!), Brightclimb Pathway  ^Flip ($4), Tainted Field (<$1)

Lands I don't suggest: Evolving Wilds / Terramorphic Expanse (<$1 fixed color), Scoured Barrens (<$1 fixed color), Isolated Chapel ($6, Not bad but not T1 land), Myriad Landscape (<$1, slow), Temple of Silence (<$1, scry/slow).

Forsaken Sanctuary only ever enters tapped so even Isolated Chapel is better, but there is also Orzhov Guildgate that does this too.

Have to head out, I'll review more topics and recs later, but here are some other cards can come out for mana. Gorgon Flail it's on theme and not bad, but let's get that Basilisk Collar or Quietus Spike instead. Soul Stair Expedition I would rather Animate Dead or Reanimate to the battlefield right away, not have to wait for lands (it still sacrifices itself). Not Forgotten we have better removal. Have to head out now! More later to read. :) If it's too much info, let me know!

Voralnic on Proliferate Fear

2 months ago

06/03/2021

Removed: Viridian Corrupter , Steelbane Hydra , Wanderer's Strike , Purify , Grind / Dust , Bloodletter Quill , Animation Module , Scoured Barrens , Mystifying Maze , Opulent Palace , Jwar Isle Refuge , Sandsteppe Citadel , Thornwood Falls

Added: Fynn, the Fangbearer , Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon , Ugin, the Spirit Dragon , Time Wipe , Merciless Eviction , Illusory Ambusher , Hatred , Vault of Champions , Gavony Township , Zagoth Triome , Morphic Pool , Indatha Triome , Rejuvenating Springs ,

Voralnic on Proliferate Fear

2 months ago

Removed: Viridian Corrupter , Steelbane Hydra , Wanderer's Strike , Purify , Grind / Dust , Bloodletter Quill , Animation Module , Scoured Barrens , Mystifying Maze , Opulent Palace , Jwar Isle Refuge , Sandsteppe Citadel , Thornwood Falls

Added: Fynn, the Fangbearer , Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon , Ugin, the Spirit Dragon , Time Wipe , Merciless Eviction , Illusory Ambusher , Hatred , Vault of Champions , Gavony Township , Zagoth Triome , Morphic Pool , Indatha Triome , Rejuvenating Springs ,

Saccox on Life and Death

2 months ago

Hi bbenny0610,there are many cards that can be used for this deck: Prism Ring , Survival Cache , Cliffhaven Vampire , Ajani's Pridemate , Angel of Vitality , Serene Steward , Recumbent Bliss , Scoured Barrens .They can be done many deck versions with this idea. My version,Vampires gain life Pezzent

Afrodeciacdream on Karlov’s Bond of Agony

4 months ago

You're missing Scoured Barrens.

bdobinski on Brad's Commander Cube (v2): Non Basic Mana List

4 months ago

Update 12/28/2020

Bountiful Promenade replacing Blossoming Sands
Luxury Suite replacing Bloodfell Caves
Morphic Pool replacing Dismal Backwater
Rejuvenating Springs replacing Thornwood Falls
Sea of Clouds replacing Tranquil Cove
Spectator Seating replacing Wind-Scarred Crag
Spire Garden replacing Rugged Highlands
Training Center replacing Swiftwater Cliffs
Undergrowth Stadium replacing Jungle Hollow
Vault of Champions replacing Scoured Barrens

bdobinski on Brad's Commander Cube (v2): Full List

4 months ago

Update 12/28/2020

Animar, Soul of Elements replacing Yasova Dragonclaw
Geist of Saint Traft replacing Daxos of Meletis
Halana, Kessig Ranger replacing Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
Bala Ged Recovery  ^Flip replacing Regrowth
Kazuul's Fury  ^Flip replacing Fling
Keeper of the Accord replacing Glorious Anthem
Bountiful Promenade replacing Blossoming Sands
Luxury Suite replacing Bloodfell Caves
Morphic Pool replacing Dismal Backwater
Rejuvenating Springs replacing Thornwood Falls
Sea of Clouds replacing Tranquil Cove
Spectator Seating replacing Wind-Scarred Crag
Spire Garden replacing Rugged Highlands
Training Center replacing Swiftwater Cliffs
Undergrowth Stadium replacing Jungle Hollow
Vault of Champions replacing Scoured Barrens

rotimislaw on Angelic Control (standard)

5 months ago

I love the idea of the deck! I think I'll try it myself!

Do you plan to improve on your mana base? Myself, dry-playtesting, I find it missing Swamps in most cases. The most mana-demanding Murderous Rider and its Adventure takes 2x with CMC=3, whereas any spell that demands 2x is only at CMC=4 and higher.

I think you could and swap additional Plains into Castle Locthwain. Fabled Passage should find its place here too. This, with a full set of Temple of Silence instead of Scoured Barrens will help with the late game mana flood!

What do you think?