Solemn Simulacrum

Artifact Creature — Golem

When this enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.

When this dies (is put into the graveyard from the battlefield), you may draw a card.

Discussion (49)

Mana_Mythic_Legendary on Pursuing Perfection, Part 4: Mono-Red …

2 days ago

At the outset of this article I wasn’t overly fond of pure red as a concept. In my eyes it’s been too aggressive and too narrow in scope to form a deck that would keep me, specifically me, happy. I say this with a double helping of skepticism, because Omnath, Locus of Rage , Okaun, Eye of Chaos , and Rakdos, Lord of Riots all keep me very happy. Today, we’re talking Burn, Chaos, and Sneak Attack as key concepts in mono-red. As always, please bear in mind that our focus here is not necessarily competitive but rather thematic, archetypical commanders.

Burn

Red patented fast damage output, but the standard RDW strategy has limited viability in EDH. Lightning Bolt and the like often don’t cut it in a format where everyone starts with 40 life. Dig for recurring damage like Irencrag Pyromancer or BIG stuff Molten Disaster , though, and you can reach frightening levels of well done and extra crispy.

I am a huge fan, and not just because of the card. Gloriously savage as this card might be, it still pales in comparison to the character in the books. Anyone who single-handedly roflstomps the blue representation on an entire plane and then EATS HIS OWN DEITY should inspire terror even when rendered on cardstock. Make sure that only you have an odd life total, play any Furnace of Rath effect, turn right, leave only blood and ashes in your wake. Seriously. He might pop off the card and eat you if you don’t.

I knew a guy who played Ashling and 99 mountains. I’m fairly sure he never won with it, but nobody laughed either. Hard to laugh at someone whose general is a water balloon slowly filling with napalm.

I don’t like Purphoros. I freely admit to sulking like a teenager with a bad haircut whenever I see him in a game, let alone in the command zone. Indestructible on generals, I can take and even enjoy. Massive damage output tied to creating horde of tokens, I can appreciate (see my favorite in mono-black, hehe). Both of them together, though, is too much for me to take with grace. But who needs to care about grace when you have so. Much. POWA.

Chaos

Some folks aren't looking for anything logical, like winning. Some folks just want to watch the world burn. Such folks come to Red, the color of all true agents of chaos, where they can ensure no plan, no board state, no hand is safe. Planar Chaos , Possibility Storm , and the iconic Wheel of Fortune are all examples of this wild approach to magic. Go nuts, and drive everyone else crazy in the process. Maybe you'll win, maybe you won't, but you'll certainly make a difference and have fun!

Does anything really need to be said, other than a profound sense of pity for opponents who are praying to top deck? Play things like Seize the Day and seize all their goodstuffs as well.

Come the time to discuss Izzet we’ll talk a coin deck, but I don’t honestly think ol’ double-or-nothing here is just for flipping coins all game. No, you come to this guy to truly take your chances. Who should his partner be? Don’t have one. That, and the prospect of a twincast Warp World will drive opponents bonkers. However, point of order (bleh): Krark is also an unholy terror if you want to break storm spells. Just be sure to bring his thumb.

I'd never heard of Diochan before writing this, and... wow. Just wow. Assuming you aren't stocking a suite of boots or maybe Darksteel Plate , how delightfully risky. How marvelously political. Bring Thornbite Staff for EXTRA wow... Wow!

Sneak Attack

This is an odd, but potent one. Next to the whole glorious theme of chaos, Red's most irritating archetype may well be creating/playing/stealing creatures for a turn, examples being Tilonalli's Summoner , Insurrection , or even the ludicrously rare keyword Dash. There isn’t a relevant mono-red general that temporarily steals creatures as yet, but there are still some real doozies in the neighborhood. Just ask Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and his blue ETB untap friends (disqualified for extra-chromatic fraternization, but still).

The raw potential here utterly terrifies me: spam useful cantrips and have a Combustible Gearhulk in play. Or maybe Utvara Hellkite . EeeeEeeeEEEK.

Red has the least graveyard-related cards of any color and arguably the least thematic business to be fiddling about in there, phoenixes notwithstanding, so Feldon’s a bit unusual. Consider the weight of discard/draw in Red’s wheelhouse (see what I did there?). Consider what can be in your graveyard. Consider that it will cost three mana to wink it out. No more, no less. Solemn Simulacrum . Cavalier of Flame . Bearer of the Heavens . Have yourself a time.

We’ve talked graveyard and copies, but red also makes with the actual Sneak Attack . I suppose Lord Okkoto makes for a world class distraction. A favorite red archetype of mine is the extra combat phase, and the high mighty porkiness is a marvelous opportunity to fetch opponents an epically Savage Beating by dropping all sorts of heinous nastiness without actually paying for it.

And, for my personal favorite...

Rakdos, Lord of Riots and Omnath, Locus of Mana are two of my oldest commanders. Evidently those genes shouldn’t be mixed, because that’s how I surmise we got here. What an absolute beast. I started this article down on red, and ended it with a passionate need to build this monstrosity. As you may have guessed and will confirm in the next article, I am a green player at heart. Neheb sings the song of my people. Loudly. Boisterously. Encouraging atypical silliness like Soulfire Eruption and Apex of Power .

That's it for this round. Thoughts and questions are welcome. I hope you enjoyed it, and will come back next week for Green!

Prior Articles:

Mono-White

Mono-Blue

Mono-Black

multimedia on Wyleth, soul of combat card draw

4 days ago

Hey, nice changes. Boros Signet is an upgrade for Solemn Simulacrum which at 4 CMC is too high for a ramp source. You can abuse Sunforger with Mistveil Plains which is an upgrade for Temple of Triumph .

Some haste enablers to try out:

• Escape Velocity : Wyleth also works with auras and while they're not as reliable as equips there's some exceptions such as auras that can return themselves from your graveyard with escape.
• Lightning Greaves : is worth playing because of it's 0 equip cost. Just equip another creature before you want to add more equips to Wyleth and then when done equip Wyleth with Greaves.
• Ring of Valkas : after giving haste can grow Wyleth on your turn each turn.

The interaction of Puresteel Paladin + Toggo, Goblin Weaponsmith is very good with Wyleth. Toggo creates equipment (Rocks) for free with landfall. Each time a Rock is created it triggers Puresteel to draw. Rocks help or three of them can activate metalcraft and can then 0 equip all Rocks to Wyleth.

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Some other cards that could be cut for better options:

• Oblivion Ring
• Duplicant
• Return to Dust
• Fires of Invention : only being able to cast spells during your turn is too much a drawback in Commander.
• Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
• Sword of Body and Mind : the worst Sword when opponents have 99 card decks.
• Luminous Broodmoth
• Osgir, the Reconstructor : needs it own dedicated deck as Commander.
• Zirda, the Dawnwaker

multimedia on Teysa

2 weeks 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.

Arkhanuin on Ayara - MonoBlack - TEST

2 weeks ago

Thank you very much your feedback and suggestions.

I really plan to cut out Breeding Pit and Aphemia, the Cacophony , I just feel I need more token factories and those are my only possibilities right now. Ophiomancer and Bloodline Keeper  ^Flip are brilliant cards for my deck, unfortunately I don't have money for them right now.

Ghoulcaller Gisa is a good call, but I really won't have big power creatures, I could sacrifice only 0-1-2 power creatures, and for 5 mana it's too much from a creature without ETB effects.

I don't want Glaring Spotlight and Daring Fiendbonder in my deck, since these cards are for attack support. I don't feel like attack at all with this deck. Probably all my creatures will defend my health and my PW's and they will be sacrificed before the summoning sickness wears off.

I made some changes tho, some cards arrived, what I ordered previously: Sword of the Animist instead of Sword of Body and Mind

Crypt Ghast instead of Solemn Simulacrum

and I took off some "targeted removals" for more Damge//Gain Life effects like: Blood Artist , Bontu's Monument and Vindictive Vampire

MaltOMeal on Absolute Theocracy

1 month 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!

abby315 on Temur Emerge

1 month ago

Hey, thanks for your comment! I actually looked at your deck yesterday because one of my friends used to run a Temurge deck in standard and loved it. Unfortunately, that's the extent of my knowledge about both Temurge and the pioneer format, so I don't have a ton of suggestions.

Only thing I can think of - do you often get Delirium for Traverse the Ulvenwald ? It looks hard to do without having Solemn Simulacrum in the GY. If it's not consistently a tutor for your one-of creatures, I might cut that and your one-ofs in favor of more consistency, maybe going up to 4x each Kozilek's Return , Sylvan Caryatid , Champion of Wits , etc.

Love the idea, hope it continues to be a fun deck for you!

LilMissWiz on Ulamog, Colorless Leader

1 month ago

Solemn Simulacrum , Unstable Obelisk , The Immortal Sun , Ugin, the Ineffable are almost all must needs

arquistar on Octavia Unblockable Cantrips

1 month ago

I've been brewing a similar deck. I think cards with delve (although typically awesome) are a bit of a trap for Octavia (ref: Treasure Cruise , Dig Through Time ) as it can really hamper your graveyard spell count. Also I'd look in to lowering your mana curve, big spicy spells are nice but sometimes having a Gitaxian Probe is nice. I'd also cut out 3-4 creatures and work on putting in some more instants. Keep in mind Octavia's ability transforms any creatures in to 8/8's not just yours so be sure to politic a bit and turn somebody's Solemn Simulacrum or Aven Mindcensor in to a Quilled Slagwurm to make for bad blocks or random swings in life totals.