Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Minion

As this enters, an opponent of your choice gains control of this creature.

This attacks each combat if able, and can't attack this creature's owner or planeswalkers the owner of this controls.

{3}: This creature's controller loses 2 life and you draw a card. Any player may activate this ability.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planar Constructed	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (50)

Veghelia on Combat Superiority

2 months ago

Hey Crow_Umbra, sorry for the radio silence. Become a bit more busy with non-MTG stuff, so I got less time for brewing, sadly.

"Support" suspicions are just going to be part of playing this deck, so I've accepted that's going to be something I'm gonna run into. I do mostly play with a relatively consistent group of friends (read: like 5 different groups, some with some overlapping players, but all with similar vibes), and they do look at me with suspicion, but are most of the time greedy enough that they'll take advantage of my almost-symmetrical support cards. If they ever choose to destroy them or otherwise turn them off for the others, that tends to draw the table's ire, so most of the time they don't unless everyone agrees they're becoming an issue, in which case I can hardly blame them. I'm currently still mostly feeling that I'm going to try to leave goad out of it as much as possible, safe for a few choice cards (Taunt from the Rampart hasn't shined yet, but I'm feeling it will at some point).

Alright, now on to the card discussions.

• I'm leaving Xantcha, Sleeper Agent and Emberwilde Captain in the maybeboard. Your arguments are very valid, but I do feel like the don't vibe enough with the "support" idea.

• I had Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser in my deck before and removed her, because she's an odd play. With my lack of goad or other ways to force attacks, I have very little control over the amount of cards I draw with her, if I draw any. I imagine she'd work great as a commander, since you can reliably have her on the field in the early to mid game, where plenty of people attack each other, but I think she does a lot worse as a late-game topdeck.

• Kambal, Profiteering Mayor feels like a "one step too far" kinda card. If my entire point was to give my opponents tokens, then he'd be amazing, but I feel like he's going to not do anything far too often (although I will admit that I don't quite now how often my playgroups play tokens).

• Master Warcraft has one mayor flaw that I'm pretty sure a good chunk of my playgroup will notice: I can force an attack, but I can't force them to not attack me, and my playgroups are spiteful enough that that is exactly what will happen :P

• Batwing Brume is interesting. It's going on the maybeboard for now, since I'm not sure if the problem it fixes is one I run into all that often, but it does feel like a beautiful blindside.

Currently, Ghostly Prison and Brutal Hordechief are most likely going to be in the next version.

Besides that, I'm reviewing:

1. The beaters I have in the deck, since they don't feel strong enough. It's not like I didn't know Skysovereign, Consul Flagship and Tajic, Blade of the Legion weren't the best in slot, but the little hope I had for them has been dashed.
2. Different graveyard hate (I'm recently formed the opinion that Bojuka Bog really only works in a lands deck), and Kutzil's Flanker is currently my most considered option.
3. Lands and ramp. Thran Dynamo was way better when Endbringer was going to be a part of the deck, and the deck feels too color-heavy to run it otherwise. Similar thoughts about the pain-lands. Also, I've adopted the "Chromatic Lantern is bad" position.

Veghelia on Combat Superiority

3 months ago

Crow_Umbra, thank you for your feedback and suggestions!

If you're interested in sparring a bit, I've looked into your feedback and I have some thoughts. If any of this brings up other ideas or you have other suggestions, I’d love to hear it.

Regarding using more goad and embracing "being the villain":

I'm very much still experimenting with being as "supportive" with this deck as I can be, since that is really the desire I have that got me to make this deck. I derive enjoyment from seeing the table enjoy what I do and playing with me, and not forcing them to play along is an important part of that. I've made another deck (Death or Mogis) that a lot of my friends love to play against or play themselves, and I'm trying to do a similar thing here, but more combat-focused. I’ll leave the idea of embracing "being the villain" open, but I first want to figure out if I can make the "I'm your best friend in a game without allies" approach work before I fully switch (or more honestly, probably retire the deck).

Regarding Boros Battleshaper and Endbringer:

Yeah, you're right. I've noticed in goldfishing already that they don't feel good enough. Boros Battleshaper just feels like a cool idea that could work but doesn't, and Endbringer really is a remnant of the older version of this deck where I was more going for a mafia-style “broker” vibe, capable of “solving problems” on other people’s turns. Sadly, that’s a couple of steps removed from what the deck is now. I want them to be cool, but you’re right in that they really don't work in the deck.

Regarding your suggestions:

• Xantcha, Sleeper Agent creates a bit of a weird situation. I have to give it to someone, making me the bad guy in their eyes, and then they do get to benefit from my attack triggers (forcibly), but they are also the victim of the "drain and draw" ability. I think it's a bit too much of a mixed bag emotionally, and although it is not a bad card, I'll probably leave it out of the maybeboard, at least for a while or until I switch to embracing villainhood.
• Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip is just not my jam aesthetically. I can appreciate some Universes Beyond stuff, but this is a no-go for me. I also think he might be too good and closing out the game himself, drawing too much ire as a result.
• Assault Suit has been on my list for a long time, and I've only really removed it from this deck's maybeboard because I'm thinking of trying it in a different, more equipment focused deck. I might re-add it later though.
• Ghostly Prison feels spot on. I hadn't considered it yet, and it feels like it would slot in reaaaaal good.
• Emberwilde Captain goes back on the maybeboard. It also gives a reason to attack me, and that's anti-syngery, but it could also be good recurring draw + punishment for trying to take it from me, and the deck is likely good enough at taking the crown back if necessary.
• Kardur, Doomscourge also goes back on the maybeboard. By far the best way to force my opponents to fight each other and have them break parity rather than have to try doing it myself :P. I had removed it together with some other goad cards, but he could be one of the few that still make the deck.
• Vengeful Ancestor has my doubts, mostly because its effect doesn't really excite me. I'm leaving it out for now, but I'll look down here if I ever can't find other good options.
• Brutal Hordechief is probably also a great suggestion. As I mentioned, I want Boros Battleshaper to work, but I've already noticed that it doesn't really, and I'm currently more fighting with the copium than leaving it in for good reasons. This would probably be the replacement. Both having some drain to add to the combat damage pressure is nice, and I could also force blocks on somebody else's turn, which is pretty cool.
• Enduring Courage is a great option. I've mostly not included it yet because it feels a bit off aesthetically, but it might just be the best option. The deck can use more haste enablers, and I’ve really just not found the one that feels the best yet.
• Hellrider probably doesn't make the cut, since the deck doesn't go-wide enough IMO, and the tokens I put in during combat don't trigger this effect, where I can buff them to hit harder.

Again, thanks for the feedback and the suggestions!

Crow_Umbra on Combat Superiority

3 months ago

I don't see combat control variants of Isshin as often as I do other variants, so kudos to you for taking a less conventional build path. My main play group plays with Goad pretty frequently, and Aggro in general, and I understand your concerns about "being the villain" for playing a lot of it. In all honesty, I think it's something that you should lean into if you're going to do it. Being the "table villain" can be fun.

I haven't read through all of your change logs, so my bad if I missed them as past edits, but have you considered any of the following:

• If you want a couple more "donation" creatures to support your Alexios, both Xantcha, Sleeper Agent and Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip could be worth checking out. Assault Suit is also in line with this theme and what you're going for.

• It might be worth it to throw in a Ghostly Prison to further deter attacks at you. Emberwilde Captain is another deterrent that triggers with Isshin.

• Depending on the success you have had with them, it could be worth considering swapping out Boros Battleshaper and Endbringer for creatures in the 3-4 cmc range that can produce more tokens for your own defensive/aggro purposes. Kardur, Doomscourge and Vengeful Ancestor could be additional Goad pieces worth including as potential swaps if you don't go the token support route.

• Looking at stuff already in your Maybeboard, I think Brutal Hordechief or Enduring Courage could be worthy inclusions. Hordechief and similar group slug/drain effects, like Hellrider can help send damage straight to faces, especially since Isshin gives them an additional trigger. Takes some of the pressure off your reliance on combat damage for a deck like this.

Best of luck with the deck. I think a bit more Goad could help spice your deck up, especially if other players don't really want to "buy into" the support that you're offering them. Sometimes you have to pivot from suggesting they fight each other to actively forcing them to do so lol.

Unlife on Archetype Name and Card Recommendations

3 months ago

I'm planning on possibly rebuilding my Saskia the Unyielding deck (again) and I've been considering a few ideas, one of which being cards that I give to opponents, but that can't attack me. I was wondering if there was a term for these sorts of cards, and if anyone had any recommendations for cards that could fit into the deck. I want to see how many there are before adding goad effects. The deck is {B}{G}{R}{W}, and so far I've found:

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent, Sleeper Agent, Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos, Rite of the Raging Storm, and Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor

Thanks in advance

NTakamura on Looking for advice on creature …

4 months ago

I would like your help in tidying up my Karazikar, the Eye Tyrantdeck that focuses on using defector creature. Cards like Xantcha, Sleeper Agent,Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip and Khârn the Betrayer just to name a few of them. I want to know if what I have here is synergistic, and focused to the theme. And any cards that I may have missed to better the deck.

Snake Squad

NV_1980 on The GOAT of GOAD

1 year ago

This is awesome but please explain why Xantcha, Sleeper Agent is not in the mainboard; she's so much fun!

NV_1980 on Queen Marchesa, the Monarch's War

1 year ago

Curious as to why Xantcha, Sleeper Agent didn't make your list.

amarthaler on EDH Kardur, Doomscourge

1 year ago

Update!

Out: Revenge of Ravens… Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

In: Grenzo, Havoc Raiser… Khârn the Betrayer