Belzenlok, Godo's Ugly Cousin

Commander / EDH Bazzul

SCORE: 71 | 53 COMMENTS | 26679 VIEWS | IN 35 FOLDERS


Update 10: —Feb. 9, 2024


1) New "ramp" lands:

  • Branch of Vitu-Ghazi has the same mechanic as Zoetic Cavern, that is, play as creature turn 2 and flip turn 3 for an extra land.

  • 2) New utility lands:

  • Sheltered Valley provides healing if landed early and offsets some of the damage from Belzenlok.
  • The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, probably played as a proxy card. Although it does not tap for mana, it may slow opponents long enough for a win. In addition, it acts as damage prevention by reducing the number of creatures in play.
  • War Roomfoil, losing life goes against our main game plan, but given that this deck is monocoloured, we minimize this cost and benefit from card draw.
  • Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth serves two purposes. First, it allows "bad" lands to tap for mana normally for example Bottomless Vault or even the aforementioned The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale. Second, it "gives" a forest to opponents, guaranteeing a free cast of Deepwood Legate when comboing off.

  • 3) Other cards:

  • Beseech the Mirror is the new 4 CMC tutor spell, it is much more efficient than Insidious Dreams.
  • Virtue of Persistence very efficient removal with a healing component.

  • 1) Removed cards:

  • Geode Golem although on paper very efficient, leaving a non-hasted creature that allows for an instant win on our next turn is not very realistic.
  • Insidious Dreams replaced by Beseech the Mirror.
  • Strip Mine for us losing a land is much more painful than destroying an opponent's.
  • Treasure Vault does not help us to ramp to 6 mana on turn 4. Although it could help us re-cast Belzenlok after a failed attempt, we are better off with a Swamp that can be fed into a Lake of the Dead (which is the more streamlined way to get to 6 mana).
  • xenca says... #1

    Hey, I love this deck idea! Today we have another line, but very similar, using Trazyn the Infinite instead of Necrotic Ooze. Argivian Avenger can give him haste for . With Voltaic Construct and Gilded Lotus we have infinite mana. Then Staff of Nin can finish for us with infinite damage in instant speed.

    May 7, 2023 10:35 a.m.

    Naikon21 says... #2

    I found this deck list of a demonlord belzenlok edh deck similar to the one you posted. However this guys doesn't run dread. yet somehow he was able to win 1st place at a 30 man multiplayer budget edh tournament. Here is the link. https://mtgdecks.net/Commander/demonlord-belzenlok-decklist-by-randy-mestiola-1713483. Is there any way you can explain how he prevents himself from decking out without dread? And why does he run crypt ghast and dread presence? is it simply to buffer his life to survive belzenloks dmg? It seems his strategy is to create ubound black mana with endling/cinderhaze wretch and use cackling imp. I figured he would've thought about the possibility of being interrupted but I can't seem to figure out his follow up in case that happens. Any help is appreciated thx. If not, wish you the best. Your decklist and explanations are awesome!

    August 19, 2023 6:49 a.m.

    Nempek says... #3

    Higly suggesting to include in your list "The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale" cause it's a land and can save some times. And also suggesting to add Yavimaya, because it allows to force your opponents to have forests and it also allows to produce mana with lands such as "The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale" and "Glacial Chasm". Also suggesting to add "Grief" because it allows to see a hand of opponent before going off and removes potential interruption. And also suggest adding "Leyline of the void" cause based on that you can muligan very aggressively you can find it in your oppening hand pretty often.

    September 23, 2023 1:18 a.m.

    igorforkst says... #4

    do you think Null Brooch can be a good card to protect the combo?

    September 28, 2023 11:33 p.m.