Introduction:
This is a somewhat budget* (Not really) cEDH "The Locust God" Decklist.
* = There is no Timetwister, LED, or Mox Diamond
The Goal:
Win on Turns 3-6 (Preferably via Isochron Scepter/Dramatic Reversal)
Quick Note:
People often associate this commander with wheel effects and rightfully so, this commander has an effect that benefits from card draw. With that said, do remember that wheels can benefit the opponent and often, you don't need 7 cards to win the game. Sometimes a Gitaxian Probe/Brainstorm/ or even Faithless Looting can give you the locusts you need to combo out. When you wheel, try to do so with Narset on the field. This is something that should never be done in a casual game of EDH but is welcomed in the cEDH format which is the format that this deck is trying to play in.
Combo Lines/Win Conditions:
1.) Skullclamp + Ashnod's Altar
- Skullclamp + Ashnod's Altar is an infinite combo assuming you have your commander and one colorless mana to equip the clamp to one of your locusts. Your locust will die, you'll draw 2 cards making two more, one of which you sac to the altar to keep the loop going.
Note: If you play Twister and or an Eldrazi Titan (Kozilek) this is infinite so long as those cards are not exiled/in your deck.
2.) Skullclamp + Mana Echoes
- Draw a card, make a locust, equip Skullclamp to a locust, make two more, use colorless produced by echoes to repeat the process until you draw your deck. You can then either make infinite mana/birds using Isochron Scepter, deck your opponents using Blue Sun's or swing with birds/insects.
3.) Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal + Mana Rocks that tap for a total of 3.
Make infinite mana.
- Once you make infinite colorless or colored depending on which rocks you're working with, you can play the Locust God and draw your deck using his ability. You can then win by Blue Sun's Zenithing your opponents/combat damage with birds (Iso swan) or insects.
4.) The Locust God + Sage of the Falls:
- You draw a card, make a locust, trigger Sage of the Falls, rinse and repeat thanks to Kozilek. If something happens to Kozilek, you just keep using the effect until you are able to sculpt you hand into a winning one.
5.) Shared Animosity: Make 12+ locusts and swing.
- Given that you have 12 swinging locusts swinging at once Shared Animosity will make them 12/1s'. This would mean that with 12 insects you're swinging lethal assuming no blocks.
6.) Wheel effect + Narset, Parter of Veils:
- You draw the amount the wheel lets you and your opponents draw a single card.
7.) Swan Song + Isochron Scepter + Infinite Mana
- Play a 1 drop card like Brainstorm, counter it, demonstrate the loop/make a ton of birds and swing for lethal!
Anti-Fast combo cards/Note:
- This deck plays multiple Counterspells (9) and interaction pieces (12) that can be used if you find yourself in a high octane combo pod. Note: This is definitely an area that can and should be modified depending on playgroup. You should be playing multiple interaction pieces!
Counterspells:
- Counterspell, Delay, Swan Song, Mana Drain, Force of Will, Pact of Negation, Memory Lapse, Muddle the Mixture, Force of Negation.
Hate Pieces/Other interaction:
- Pongify, Rapid Hybridization, Reality Shift, Magmaquake, Chain of Vapor, Cyclonic Rift, Blood Moon, Stranglehold, Vandalblast, By Force, Blasphemous Act, Dress Down
Changes that I would consider making:
-
Add Timetwister/Gilded Drake/Volcanic Island/Grim Monolith/Transmute artifact (Budget doesn't allow)
-
Cavern of Souls (Great card, swap a basic if you have one for it. Right now I just cannot justifiably afford one)
Noteworthy exceptions/inclusions:
1.) Thassa's Oracle/Lab Man/Lab Man effects:
- I feel that these win conditions are slow, win more, and susceptible to last second removal thereby making them a double edged sword. If you're able to draw your deck, you should be able to win without them. Blue Sun's/ Sculpting a hand that can deal with upkeep responses is far less risky.
2.) Mox Diamond:
- Two comments 1.) budget, 2.) I play 30 lands in this list. Diamond doesn't seem as optimal as Chrome Mox.
3.) Reserved cards under changes I would make.
- Budget, that is all.
