Stroke of Midnight

Instant

Destroy target nonland permanent. Its controller creates a 1/1 white Human creature token.

Tokens

• Human 1/1 W

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Alchemy	Legal
Arena	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Brawl	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Pre-release	Legal
Standard	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (17)

Crow_Umbra on Where in the world is Carmen

1 week ago

No prob! Tombstone Stairwell is def a cool recommendation. I'd recommend checking out Scryfall for updated text on older cards.

In terms of stuff that you could potentially swap out:

• I'd recommend swapping Feed the Swarm with Generous Gift, Stroke of Midnight, or Cathar Commando. Gift & Midnight each offer more flexibility in what you can answer, but Commando is a recur-able body. I'd mostly recommend Feed the Swarm if you were playing a color combo that didn't have the type of enchantment removal that White has access to.

• Skrelv's Hive could possibly be a swap out, mostly because the Mites can't block. I get it that they're there mostly for sac fodder and they do have Toxic 1, but you don't really have any other Toxic/poison synergy beyond this & Crawling Chorus. Similarly, Chorus could be another potential swap out.

• Bone Splinters could be a swap for a removal effect on a creature. I think in some cases some of your non-creature spells can be replaced with creatures that fill a similar role, especially in a deck that wants to recur beneficial bodies.

• Speaking of beneficial ETB effects, it could help to have some creatures that can also recur bodies when they die or ETB, so 1) it takes some pressure off Carmen being your primary means of recursion 2) you can recur multiple creatures in a turn, and have an extra body for whatever.

• Sun Titan is kinda like a 2nd Carmen. Karmic Guide and Reveillark can also bring stuff back, and are part of a combo loop when used in tandem (if you're into that sort of thing). This loop can work with basically any free sac outlet.

• Archon of Cruelty is a card I'm always kinda torn on. Strong effect for ETB and attack, but is so steep at 8 cmc. Def seems like an reanimation target more than a hard-cast.

Spirits on ArahBo - Mon chat s'appelle Mitaine

2 weeks ago

MrHawtStuff,

You have lots of cat lords, Feline Sovereign, Kaheera, the Orphanguard, King of the Pride, etc. as well it works with self-modifiers like Loam Lion and Qasali Pridemage the new cat Sovereign Okinec Ahau can permanently +1/+1 counter your cats. Notably missing (in your maybeboard) Regal Caracal would give everyone lifelink too.

Glittering Lynx seems off, the {2} isn't that disruptive for an opponent if it matters. I think you're trying to maximize your MV 1-drop cats, but Arcbound Mouser would give you a second Trained Caracal with upside instead. Lion Sash is also nice, but it is MV 2-drop.

The other new cat would be good: Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar, he could replace something like a vanilla Leonin Skyhunter or a mana sync like Bronzehide Lion or a really high cmc creature with low value like Jareth, Leonine Titan who probably is a win-more at MV6 that won't turn a loss into a win, really he MV7 to activate. Card in that MV slot has to be extremely impactful. Cats like Scrounging Bandar also work well with this new cat. Limiting interaction on your turn especially flashing in +3 spells (Indomitable Might) is really nice.

Leonin Relic-Warder is nice for controlling artifacts/enchantments and providing another MV2 cat.

Everybody Lives! gives another Heroic Intervention type effect.

Farseek is MV2 but I'm betting Harvest Season probably does more work at MV3. 35 lands seems like a lot for a low curve, maybe some low MV ramp like Talisman of Unity. Boseiju, Who Endures is a good forest but it's stupid expensive.

Rancor is a really nice trample/evasion enabler. Or like a Shadowspear or something which also helps out with Indestructibles blocking your cats. Pridemalkin is on a cat body, but don't like the MV3.

Mirri's Guile is okay, but a bit of a trap, way more value at MV2 with Sylvan Library

Song of the Dryads I get for locking out a commander but some instant interaction like Stroke of Midnight are usually more utility in more situations, might be a meta card though.

Eladamri's Call will bring up consistency to draw the finisher cats.

Cheers

Crow_Umbra on Ave, True to Caesar (Primer Prototype)

4 weeks ago

Generally speaking, I think Caesar and token Isshin lists will end up having a lot of similarities. In looking at your list, I have a few suggestions:

• I think it would be worth it to add some more board protection like Reconnaissance, Dolmen Gate, and Iroas, God of Victory. Having an instant speed protection option or two like Unbreakable Formation, Clever Concealment, Scapegoat, or Teferi's Protection are all helpful for dodging board wipes. These type of go-wide aggro strats thrive on maintaining as much of their board presence in tact for momentum.

• Mentor of the Meek could potentially be swapped with Chivalric Alliance as another draw option. Similarly, you could swap a land for Minas Tirith as another draw option.

• Speaking of lands, Vault of the Archangel could be helpful to have for its keyword anthems. It can be used on those big aggro swings, or to threaten against crack back, if you left blockers up. Similarly, Ankle Shanker can spice up those swings.

• Breath of Fury could open up some combo potential, especially with how many different effects you have that produce tokens on attack.

• I'd recommend giving Flowering of the White Tree a look as an anthem and protection piece.

• It could be worth swapping out Bedevil for either Stroke of Midnight or Anguished Unmaking as more versatile options at the same cmc, and aren't as color cost intensive.

I hope these suggestions are helpful. Caesar is likely going to find a home in my Isshin deck, come next March. I'm hoping we get a decent NCR Ranger in the precon.

Crow_Umbra on Isshin, We Couldn't Budget the Second Heaven

1 month ago

You've got a pretty decent looking deck here. I love the name, +1 for that alone.

If you're open to suggestions, I do have some thoughts on potential changes you could make. I get that a lot of the expensive stuff in deck is stuff you already own, so my suggestions are being made with budget not necessarily being an issue:

• I think you can replace Chaos Warp and Mortify, mostly because Mardu has some more versatile options like Anguished Unmaking, Generous Gift, Stroke of Midnight, Soul Partition, and Wear / Tear.

• I highly recommend adding Dolmen Gate and Reconnaissance as additional board protection effects. Reconnaissance basically acts a pseudo-Vigilance anthem that can untap and save your creatures at the end of combat, since they are considered attacking until the end of combat.

• Karlach, Fury of Avernus and/or Aurelia, the Warleader could be potential swaps with Raiyuu, since you aren't limiting yourself to a single Samurai or Warrior attacking, and can swing with the whole team. Both Karlach and Aurelia get some additional mileage with vigilance anthems.

• Chivalric Alliance could be a potential swap with Thorough Investigation or Search the Premises.

• As much as I love Alesha, she was my first Mardu commander before I converted her to Isshin over a year ago, I don't think she really fits this deck. Only ~8 of your creatures have power 2 or less. Perhaps Professional Face-Breaker could be a swap to reward your aggro plays, and also give you another means of (impulse) drawing.

I hope these suggestions are helpful. I'm happy to chat through any additional suggestions or ideas if you're up to it. Best of luck with your deck and its games!

DranDraggore on [Primer] Helming the Host of Heaven *Update*

1 month ago

Stroke of Midnight could be a replacement for Oblation?

On the other Hand, shuffling into the library is harder to get around than destroying.

Crow_Umbra on Isshin, Two Heavens as One

1 month ago

Hi there, welcome to Isshin deck brewing! Isshin is a blast to play if you haven't had the chance to do so already. If you're open to suggestions, I have a few ideas in looking at your already pretty solid list:

• I think you can swap out Goblin Traprunner. I've played coin-flipping as part of that coin-flip pre-con, and it can be a very boom or bust strategy. Additionally, having to go through each flip can be kind of time consuming to do or sit through.

• Skyhunter Strike Force or Ogre Battledriver could be potential swaps for Goblin Traprunner. Skyhunter is basically like a mini Adriana, Captain of the Guard, and Battledriver is a helpful combo of Haste anthem & power boost.

• If your budget allows, I'd recommend checking out Dolmen Gate and Reconnaissance as protection effects. Isshin thrives on keeping his board as protected as possible to maintain aggro momentum. Reconnaissance acts as like a pseudo-Vigilance anthem that can also save your creatures from combat damage. This article helps detail how that timing makes that work.

• On the topic of board protection, I'd recommend checking out Unbreakable Formation and Clever Concealment, if your budget allows, as instant speed protection options. Your tokens can help convoke cast Clever Concealment, essentially making it free in some instances.

• Lastly, I think you could swap Chaos Warp with either Stroke of Midnight or Soul Partition. Stroke of Midnight is basically like another copy of Generous Gift, but doesn't hit lands. Soul Partition pulls double duty as "temporary" removal, or as a single target protection effect.

I hope these suggestions are helpful. I'd be happy to chat through more if you're open to it. Isshin is a commander I've enjoyed playing since he made his debut, so you're in for a fun time.

SaberTech on Zurtron

1 month ago

If you are going for a Voltron style of Zur there are a few auras that are often seen in those sorts of lists:

• Diplomatic Immunity protects Zur and itself from targeted removal. Zur's ability can put more auras on himself even if he has Shroud because auras that are put into play by a spell or ability don't target.
• Shielded by Faith is better than Gift of Immortality because you don't want Zur to actually die and lose his auras.
• Steel of the Godhead
• Daybreak Coronet

Darksteel Mutation and Oubliette complement Imprisoned in the Moon as ways that neutralize commanders. They make it difficult for your opponents to immediately get their commanders back to recast if they don't have enchantment removal. Darksteel Mutation is much better than Kasmina's Transmutation because the indestructible that the Mutation gives means that the enchanted commander will live through a board wipe and not go back to its owner's command zone. Oubliette could replace Pendrell Flux.

There's a bit of a call to make between Flaming Fist and Battle Mastery. Flaming Fist won't trigger the turn Zur puts it into play because Zur will have already been declared as attacking at that point. However, Flaming Fist does stick around if Zur happens to die since it's not an aura. Battle Mastery will let Zur hit with double strike the turn it enters but dies with Zur. It's a call to make depending on how aggressive you want to be. Duelist's Heritage is also generally better than Flaming Fist but not if Zur has shroud from a card like Diplomatic Immunity, so that depends on what auras you choose to run in the end.

If you aren't running Stony Silence as a silver bullet to shut down opponents' artifacts then it could be worth considering Nettlecyst as another creature/pump effect in the deck, even if Zur can't tutor it up. It could potentially replace Gray Merchant of Asphodel since the current list doesn't look that geared to reliably get a big hit off the Merchant's ability.

One of Zur's biggest strengths though is that he can tutor up Necropotence, so that's a card you should aim to add as soon as you can get your hands on one.

Rest in Peace is a strong card for messing with decks that utilize the graveyard.

Back to Basics can punish decks with greedy mana bases.

Stroke of Midnight is better than Expose to Daylight.

Seal of Cleansing or Aura of Silence are targets for Zur to tutor up to get rid of enchantments and artifacts.

Sevinne's Reclamation and/or Sun Titan could be worth considering for getting key permanent cards back from your graveyard.

Lightningbolter on Isshin (Unfinished)

2 months ago

Ogre Battledriver is kind of nice I may add him.

I did know that about Elturel Survivors, thanks for letting me know how that works tho.

I'll stick to deathtouch rather than menace, as I said Pyreheart Wolf Was really just filler lol.

Skyhunter Strike Force is nice I'll keep that in mind.

Yeah I pretty much made the decision to cut Lightning Runner as we were speaking as I thought the same, also thanks for checking the price.

Corpse Knight and Witty Roastmaster are good adds, I didn't even think of taking advantage of the tokens with things like them and similar effects lol.

Hellrider and didn't even see that effect of Commissar Severina Raine but they are both good for the same reason.

I'll take the lands into account, Captain Lannery Storm is quite nice with isshin.

I'll keep Tibalt's Trickery in mind but for now I'll keep chaos warp for overall budget reasons lol.

I missed Soul Partition in the brothers war set, it's quite nice.

Generous Gift and Stroke of Midnight are definitely nice cards, kind of forgot about Generous Gift lol.

As for now I like Mortify a bit better as there's currently no really threatening Artifacts, but Wear / Tear will be noted tho.

I love Plumb the Forbidden lol.

Fates' Reversal is really just for the times isshin gets killed a lot and he becomes too expensive to cast again, the idea I have is just let him go to the graveyard and bring him back if it gets stopped it's no big deal as that would be my last effort before complete death, that's really all Fates' Reversal is for lol.

I did see Flowering of the White Tree But don't have it for money reasons.