I Live! I Die! I Live Again!
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 44 | 16 COMMENTS | 7802 VIEWS | IN 33 FOLDERS
We're #1! —Nov. 26, 2017
Thank you. Thank you very much.
I'm thrilled to see that this is now the highest scoring Kokusho deck in this community. Thank you very much for your approval and support. However, this doesn't mean that this deck is finished. I look forward to continue fine-tuning and refining it as well as watch it perform against upcoming cards from future releases.
In other news, I finally managed to get my hands on a new shiny and chrome Kokusho as well as pull Keiga, the Tide Star from the second Iconic Masters pack I bought. Groovy.
Since my last update I've been weighing the benefits of including either Void Winnower or Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger in the deck. Both are phenomenal eldrazi, but, after careful consideration, I've come to conclude that Ulamog is the better choice since he's indestructible, has the power to wipe out key parts from opponents decks en masse, and can immediately remove two things from the game forever when played from your hand. Void Winnower is rude, but not rude enough. Halting opponents from casting things with even converted mana costs can only slow down so much. It can't stop all combo pieces, it's vulnerable to more boardwipes and removal spells, and it can't directly influence other things already on the board except other creatures when you attack (something that this deck doesn't do often). We love you, Void Winnower, but there are bigger and better places for you.
Recent Swaps
OUT:Sheoldred, Whispering One
-> IN:Chainer, Dementia Master: Don't get me wrong, Sheoldred is cool and all, but she's kind of slow. The key to this deck is momentum and Chainer offers more speed for less. On top of that, the price of his ability is virtually pennies compared to the profit I gain from Kokusho, the Evening Star or Gray Merchant of Asphodel. I can't believe I forgot about this guy.
OUT:Choice of Damnations -> IN:Consume Spirit: Choice of Damnations hurts, but it isn't entirely a game ender. Removing a troublesome creature, burning away an opponent's life, and having one more thing that synergizes with Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood feels more like an appropriate fit.
Sideboard Additions
Dimir House Guard, Sidisi, Undead Visier, Library of Leng, Crucible of Worlds, Marsh Flats, Verdant Catacombs, Homeward Path, & Mana Web have been added to the sideboard.
Dimir House Guard and Sidisi are appealing since they let us tutor.
Adding Library of Leng will grant better access to the spoils of Necropotence, relieve the burden of digging for Reliquary Tower, and protect our hand from any unwelcome wheels.
I'm exploring the idea of adding Crucible of Worlds, Marsh Flats, and Verdant Catacombs because running into a mana drought always sucks if and when that ever happens. Since this deck is fueled by its ability to ramp, it seems logical to consider an outlet that can improve your ability to play a land every turn and/or allow access to lands that had to be thrown away earlier either by choice or by force.
I may try to include Homeward Path in the deck. There have been very few times where I wish I had it, but it's a nice safeguard to keep all of my creatures where I want them. I technically shouldn't need it since there are a variety of responsive measures that I can take in the event of my creatures being stolen, not to mention that there are other functional winning strategies that I can take advantage of. All in all, having Ulamog fall into the wrong hands during a game would be the most concerning since Toxic Deluge is the only thing I have that can immediately respond to indestructible creatures. Grave Pact can work too, but it's slower.
Lastly, I may experiment a little with Mana Web, but, alas, Contamination still seems to be the better choice. Not only because it is a sacrifice outlet, but also because it turns Islands and other non-black lands off. Mana Web is a hindrance, but it still gives blue players access to from their stack of Islands - something that can be all they need to ruin your day. With Contamination, non-black opponents will have to rely exclusively on mana rocks for their colored mana.
Thoughts, Recommendations, and Upvotes are always welcome.
