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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 |
| 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 |
Verity Circle
Enchantment
Whenever a creature an opponent controls becomes tapped, if it isn't being declared as an attacker, you may draw a card.
: Tap target creature without flying.
Hexapod on
Standing Stones | Archelos, Lagoon Mystic
5 months ago
Thank you Craeter for your comment!
I wish Verity Circle was worded differently, but unfortunately as you guessed it would do nothing here.
One of my goals is to make this deck casual and fun, so I ruled out Opposition as a heinous card. Archelos can be salty enough by himself; I will tap him for mana through cards like Citanul Hierophants or Cryptolith Rite at the end of my turn.
I aim to get value out of my lands coming into play untapped, and exploiting things like Thawing Glaciers to get triggers and ramp. I have various possible wincons, one of them being to turn lands into creatures and attack, although I think I need to make room for Earth Surge for this to be a viable option.
I can also win with mill using Phenax, God of Deception. This works fast with Murkfiend Liege on the board.
Then there are the obvious ones, Rampaging Baloths and Avenger of Zendikar
Conduit of Worlds is a good idea, I am not sure I was aware of that card, thank you. I don't think Druid Class and Lifegift make the cut.
Glad you liked the story!
Craeter on
Standing Stones | Archelos, Lagoon Mystic
5 months ago
Wow great job with the story, the imagery is absolutely stellar. And the characters seem unique and described vividly, very impressive for such a short story. Kudos for that and this deck construction.
It's cool to see you've included Calming Verse, I remember you mentioning that on my Arcades deck.
I see that Landfall / Ramp is the main premise to the deck, curious how does that tie into the Commander? I'm probably just not seeing the interaction, but wouldn't you want to include some cards like Opposition to manipulate Archelos and the battlefield? Does Verity Circle work with this Commander? I'm guessing not since it says "become tapped" and the Commander makes them ETB already tapped, but it would be cool if it worked.
Also do you know about Conduit of Worlds? It's very similar to Crucible of Worlds, but it allows for recursion and redundancy with Crucible. Druid Class is also super good for decks like this. Maybe Lifegift as well
GangstaFranksta on
Arcades, the Strategist's Army
1 year ago
You should think about adding The Pride of Hull Clade because he is good but also cool. But I think you would benefit a lot from improving your mana base. I suggest it should look more like this:
Lands
Basic
Pain
Adarkar Wastes, Brushland, Yavimaya Coast
Scry Lands
Temple of Mystery, Temple of Enlightenment, Temple of Plenty
Tri Color
Brokers Hideout, Seaside Citadel, Bant Panorama
Any Color
If you wanted you could also add the gain 1 life lands: Tranquil Cove, Blossoming Sands, and Thornwood Falls. You may also consider adding Krosan Verge or Myriad Landscape just to help ramp.
It would also be really beneficial to have at least a Sol Ring and an Arcane Signet.
Other
Remove Verity Circle. Seems like there are a lot of possibilities where it is just sitting on the field not providing any value. And it isn't even a creature so it can't block. You could replace this with one of the mana artifacts I mentioned earlier or like a Swords to Plowshares, Pongify, Rapid Hybridization, Path to Exile (I kind of think you need some more removal lol, but you could replace Verity Circle with whatever you wanted.)
Remove Alive / Well. Just straight up not worth. Replace with one of the cards I have mentioned.
Other than that I think this is a really good deck. I think you could use most of my suggestions and keep it close to $100.
Breakaway on
I'd Untap that
1 year ago
Curse of Chains combos nicely with Solitary Sanctuary and Verity Circle
Steelspike on Similar cards to Sigil of …
1 year ago
If you're looking to have your creatures tap for no reason, Angel's Trumpet taps any creature that didn't attack
It's pretty good with Verity Circle, altho, you'd obviously have to be in Azorious for that combo with the Elephant as commander
Licecolony on
Goaded With The Sauce
2 years ago
I really like your manifest take on Jon. Consider Dulcet Sirens. It's a clever way to mitigate risk of having those horrible creatures for yourself. I'll definitely be adding Crawlspace and Endless Whispers to my list.
Suggested removals from deck Plague Reaver. While it's a nice card to give away, the turn you play it you'll have to sacrifice Jon Irenicus to Plague Reaver's trigger regardless of which order you put the abilities onto the stack. You'd rather not lose Jon.
Gisa, Glorious Resurrector. It's something you can't give away, which means it's good when you're ahead, but not great when you're behind,. Your mileage may vary, but I think getting something more immediately impactful on the board tends to be best.
Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker. You're not running a mill strategy, you'll only be filling the graveyard of dedicate graveyard decks.
Taniwha. I love this creature and totally understand running it for the memes, but phasing triggers before your upkeep, which means that when you give it away, it'll be phased out for the first turn under your opponent, so they'll keep their lands and you won't draw a card from Jon's ability. The turn cycle has to make two full rounds before Taniwha does anything.
Tergrid, God of Fright Flip. Unlike Sheoldred, Tergrid doesn't make the opponent do either of its effects. It's another creature you don't want to give away, and Jon makes cards unsacrificeable. It just won't trigger much unless you're against a sacrifice deck.
Ensnaring Bridge. The creatures you donate will often be quite big. Ensnaring bridge will prevent them from attacking your opponents and deny you card draw.
Chromatic Lantern. It's only good if you need the mana fixing. You don't need the mana fixing. Try something like Thought Vessel or Decanter of Endless Water or Midnight Clock instead.
Assault Suit doesn't goad the creatures itself. Often they'll swing at you if possible.
Dissipation Field. Not as good as it looks. Doubles ETB triggers. Anti synergy with cards like Endless Whispers.
No Mercy Jon just has better options for this slot. If you can replace a non-creature with a creature in this deck, you usually want to.
Grave Betrayal. That's 7 mana for a card that could ruin your game by forcing you to revive bad cards you do not want.
Diplomatic Immunity. You want instant speed protection and protection from board wipes. Something like March of Swirling Mist is more versatile offensively and defensively.
Dark Ritual. I'm uncertain what you're trying to ramp into so quickly that you would need this. Maybe I'm wrong.
Countersquall. You may as well play the one mana version in An Offer You Can't Refuse.
Redirect may be bested by Narset's Reversal? That's a matter of opinion.
AEtherize risks bouncing creatures attacking other opponents such as those you've goaded but want them to keep. Try replacing this with a more versatile effect like Reins of Power or a more aggressive effect in Illusionist's Gambit.
Damnation. Jon prefers sacrifice board wipes so that your opponents keep their shit creatures.
Overall I think you could run less counter-magic in favor of more proactive effects.
Cards to Consider Creatures Generally I want to focus on adding creatures that you can give away and then steal back later to win the game.
With Jon, you often want cheap evasive creatures to give out for early card draw with his ability. Right now you have 1 two-drop creature. Throwing in a Changeling Outcast or a Slither Blade can mean you can give a creature away for cheap and still hold up mana for other things. Slither blade wouldn't die to Heartless Summoning too.
In the two-drop slot, you can run creatures that are more defensive like Baleful Strix, or give you card draw like Sygg, River Cutthroat or just more powerful creatures like Flesh Reaver which is a goaded 6/6 that can deal 12 damage a turn or Wretched Anurid. Heck, you can even add a versatile two-drop in Dimir Infiltrator which can be given away in the early game or used as a tutor in the late-game.
In the three drop slot, I think your idea of adding Steel Golem is a great one to make sure the only creatures your opponent has are the ones you're giving them. It's a brutal card. Rotting Regisaur is a card you don't mind giving away early, and can take back later to win. Phyrexian Soulgorger can be donated to an opponent as a goaded 10/10. They won't have to pay the upkeep, but that's a great body to give someone as a political tool. Cephalid Facetaker is also worth consideration though I personally don't run it.
In the four-drop slot, like you mentioned, Grid Monitor is a proactive creature counter. Abyssal Persecutor can save you from death. Archfiend of the Dross is risky but fun (it comes back to your control after the opponent dies).
In the 5-drop slot, both of the evil-eye cards are absolute ALL STARS. They work so well every game I've drawn them. They can also replace some of your weaker defenses like No Mercy and Dissipation Field
As a sidenote, I also like Deep-Sea Kraken as an unblockable 8/8 that can win you the game with homeward path.
Removal I recommend running more sacrifice-based removal since it'll mean your opponents keep the crap you give them. Things like Tergrid's Shadow or Vona's Hunger or All is Dust (one of my favorites) or Killing Wave. I also prefer Toxic Deluge to some of your other removal since it goes through hexproof. Curse of the Swine is also an exile effect that can be selective and works really well. You can also run single-target removal like Reality Shift or Pongify if you'd rather instant speed interaction. Feed the Swarm is quality. If you really don't care about cruelty, you can run Torment of Hailfire, but that card is honestly always too boring for me to want in my decks.
Card Draw Jon has access to some great card draw that most decks can't take advantage of. Fateful Handoff is a card draw spell that also donates (though does not goad). Sygg, River Cutthroat works well with evasive threats you give away (though should not be donated). Verity Circle works great with Jon's ability since it donates the creature first, and then taps it down. Teferi's Ageless Insight allows you to double your draw triggers from Jon.
Equipment Remember that you can donate creatures while they're equipped and you still control the equipment so they can't re-equip it. Pact Weapon makes the attacking creature bigger, while ensuring you can't die, and will draw you another card whenever the donated creature attacks. Dowsing Dagger Flip works effectively on evasive creature to get you ramped. Vorpal Sword is a win condition on your unblockable evasive creatures.
Goad Dulcet Sirens, Bloodthirsty Blade.
Misc Graveyard removal is king. Throw in a Scavenger Grounds. My favorite card to run is Reality Shift. Make an Avenger of Zendikar spawn a dozen Wretched Anurids. It's not GREAT, but it is always funny. Cultural Exchange is a fun time too with all your manifest and shitty creatures.
That is all. Hope it was helpful.
Last_Laugh on
CARD DRAW EQUALS PAIN
2 years ago
Starscream, Power Hungry Flip feels custom made for this deck and 100% deserves a spot.
Esper is fortunately filled to the brim with card draw options. I'll try to keep it to options with the potential to draw multiple cards. Bident of Thassa and Coastal Piracy are 2 more options like Recon Mission. Verity Circle can draw a LOT of cards in the right meta. Aerial Extortionist draws off commanders, gy stuff like flashback, and stuff cast from exile... while doubling as removal. Plumb the Forbidden is typically used in response to boardwipes thanks to instant speed.
I run Alela flyers but it's the same colors with a lot of similar subthemes (lots of draw, pillowfort, etc.). Feel free to check it out for ideas. Upvotes on any of my decks are appreciated. Alela's Aerodynamics: A Crash Course
king-saproling on
Look at my horse
2 years ago
Wow this deck has some unexpected horsepower. What do you think of Emiel the Blessed? It makes infinite colorless with Workhorse.
Riding the Dilu Horse could be another thematic way to present lethal with Jegantha.
Some others you might like: Sundering Growth, Thundermare, Verity Circle, Tithe, Phantom Steed, Corpse Knight, Lu Xun, Scholar General, Capture of Jingzhou
| Have (2) | metalmagic , Azdranax |
| Want (1) | beesaurs |