Volrath the Risen
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 583 | 231 COMMENTS | 112414 VIEWS | IN 204 FOLDERS
The (300 votes) Necropotence update!! —Jan. 10, 2016
After a long time, and one very important rules clarification, Necropotence is now a part of the deck. What rules clarification you may ask? The important distinction that Necropotence causing you to exile discarded cards is a triggered ability, and not a replacement effect. This does seem to be a direct contradiction to what was printed on the original card. However, the newest printing in FTV: Exiled seems to be more in line with this large difference, and it has been confirmed to me by a level 3 Judge. That was all the push I needed to add this amazing draw engine into the deck. Because the exile clause can be responded to, and because discarding an Eldrazi titan and stacking its ability to resolve before Necropotence does means that I don't have to lose everything that I pitch. The results have been terrific.
Also appearing is my new Volrath proxy, hand drawn by the amazing rk post. Mr. Post has always been one of my favorite artists. Sadly, even though he did lots of pieces during and around the Rath Cycle, the closest he ever came to depicting my favorite villain was in his beautiful Unmask artwork. I love the way this came out, and think it adds an awesome element to the deck even if it's just being displayed in the command zone.
Other notable updates: Two more awesome cards have been added to the deck.
Apparently I spoke to soon about not getting Command Beacon in foil...
- Thief of Blood is replacing Aether Snap in the main deck. I made this decision based on two criteria. Number one, Thief of Blood can be fed to Volrath as well as reanimated for repeat effect. Number two, In lieu of Aether Snap, boardwipes will still effect tokens while Thief of Blood continues to affect counters like Aether Snap did. (plus giving you a huge flyer) Another upside is that while casting Thief of Blood triggers Dark Depths just like Aether Snap, it won't kill your Marit Lage token should it already be on the field. Thief of Blood can also be "cheated" into play many ways. Regardless, Aether Snap will remain in the sideboard for token decks.
- Command Beacon is replacing Sanctum of Ugin. Sanctum was fun, but tricky and expensive. I never found it netting me the value I wanted, and it usually felt like a land that I didn't want. Command Beacon however, is very very useful. In many games I let Volrath go to the graveyard to avoid the commander tax. Now, I can let him go to the much safer Command Zone, and bring him straight to my hand at instant speed. In long running games this can be worth lots of mana, and also a tricky way to cheat him into play at instant speed (pair with Quicksilver Amulet, Triassic Egg, or the like)
Ooh, shiny...
Every time I get a notification for this deck it just gets danker and danker.
August 18, 2015 4:33 a.m.
Quite possibly one of the best edh decks here on tappedout.
September 14, 2015 9:36 a.m.
Squirrel_of_War says... #4
With all the crazy new eldrazi being spoiled in Battle for Zendikar I think you should take a look and see if there is anything worth swapping out.
September 14, 2015 1:23 p.m.
Definitely the new Ulamog, it lets you exile enchantments and artifacts.
September 15, 2015 2:58 p.m.
operationremie says... #7
i think the new ulamog deserves a spot in here. definitely.
i was also thinking Conduit of Ruin might be a good thing too. casting him gets you one of your 8 colorless creatures. it's a fantastic tutor.
October 3, 2015 5:14 a.m.
linksdeity says... #8
New Ulamog is being tested right now! I am excited that his ability (though admittedly no Annihilator) is its own win condition! :) His on cast ability is great, and Indestructible is always nice! He will almost certainly stay in the deck!
Conduit of Ruin is in my maybe pile. Lots of good advantage, but I don't have the open slots to test him out just yet. Right now Void Winnower and Ob Nixilis Reignited are getting tested out. Ob Nix seems really good so far! Void Winnower needs to see some more play before I decide if it is tricky enough to accomplish anything!
Other cards I am looking at include Breaker of Armies and Blighted Fen
October 8, 2015 8:07 p.m.
Zorynjaibro says... #9
Volrath has always been my favorite card, Tasigur is a close second. I'm modifying this decklist since I'm not able to afford most of the pricey ramp cards. Also making it a bit more reanimator. Great idea, thanks for sharing this. Always wanted to make a volrath edh, this is where I'm starting.
November 14, 2015 1:49 a.m.
Have you thought about Phyresis? It will sadly fall off after Volrath gains protection from Black but it could turn any boosting card into a kill. It also fits well with the theme because nothing is more rude than an Infect loss.
November 30, 2015 1:31 a.m.
Had a great run with my version of this deck tonight. A little more reanimator, less horribly instant killing- mostly due to budget reasons. I added a Lord of the Void I picked up in a trade, which has provided exceptional value (Hit an opponent, got a Prophet of Kruphix out)- went into Marit Lage, ulted Liliana for all the creatures, Imp's Mischief'd a time stretch, and then toxic deluge to knock out all creatures but my Marit Lage (one of my opponents had cloned it, I had caged sun out) and bring Volrath back from the yard with Stands of Undeath on the first extra turn, then attacked for lethal, discarding Draco on the second.
It was a fantastic run and the deck did really well, although I have to partially attribute it to some of the players evaluating Volrath poorly. At least two of the players were much more worried about Rafiq or Xenagod killing them than they were about Volrath.
December 18, 2015 9:28 p.m.
Zorynjaibro says... #12
I've been extremely successful playing this deck. Still have to get a few of the more expensive cards, but it works great. I put in Ugin until I get Karn, and don't have Kozilek yet, but I do have an altered and signed Blightsteel Colossus with tentacles!
I see your replacing the Aether Snap, but so far getting rid of tokens has been a key play at times. I like the new Command Beacon, but Sanctum of Ugin should also stay.
My favorite plays are using Quicksilver Amulet to bring out Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, or It That Betrays and equipping Lightning Greaves for some quick annihilation!
December 22, 2015 8:04 a.m.
Centaureayl says... #13
I see Pestilence is in the maybeboard... That's not in the 99. Put that card into the main deck 100% of the time. It's so freaking good for what it does.
anth says... #1
Been staring at Volrath a while and wanting to build a deck for the guy. He's a neat card with tons of practical value and I'm happy someone did it!
August 18, 2015 12:56 a.m.