Hi, I've recently started work on a derevi list and would appreciate it if you could answer a few questions i've got (been very impressed with your list from mtgmuddstah vids):

• reasons for not running mana dorks such as llanowar elves, elvish mystic, avacyn's pilgrim etc? Is this so board wipes don't set you back as much?
• reasons for Cultivate/Kodama's Reach? I initially thought that they would be too slow as they delay casting derevi?
• do you have such a high land count because of utility lands like Diamond Valley, High Market and Seaside Haven?
• reasons for River Hoopoe?
• thoughts on the new cards Shalai, Voice of Plenty and to a lesser extent Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle?

This is my current list: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/derevi-wizard-tribal-v2/?cb=1526092209 would really appreciate if you have any suggestions!

@almotions - Thanks for the kind words.

My list had 18 cards outdated from the video you saw.

• Mana dork are awesome with Derevi but my playgroup is board wipe heavy. For this reason I went with more land fetching instead.

• I since cut Cultivate/Kodama's Reach as they are indeed a bit slow. But I love the mana color fix.

• I always go with 33 land ( mana producer ), and I restrict myself to 3 colorless land utility as Derevi is color hungry. I always feel oom with a lower land count. The Diamond valley is a pure sac engine.

• River Hoopoe was an attempt to have a second Thrasios, Triton Hero in the deck. That doesn't work and was removed.

• I love Shalai, Voice of Plenty, ( win con + protection + evasive derevi trigger ) I have yet to test Teshar, Ancestors Apostle ( I do not have that much historic cards in my deck )

Watching your deck on the muddstah channel actually pushed me to build my own in a similar vein and it's been the most fun EDH deck I've ever played so thank you. One card I've found that dramatically over-performs for me is Uncage the Menagerie. I know it seems kind of janky, but grabbing Bloom Tender and Thrasios or Rector/Shalai/Linvala/Oracle all in one shot is such a powerful affect. I was wondering if you had tested it at all.

Also, is there a reason you don't run Sword of Feast and Famine?

Hi rimfire24,

Glad to read you enjoy this deck! It let other player play their spells and you actually have to work to win the game as their is no infinite combo.

I have yet to test Uncage the Menagerie, but I will include it in the next build and give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, Sword of Feast and Famine could be played but it slow down the tempo when you equip it. People will also kill/ maze the creature before it connect. If you want more untap land effect, I would suggest include Nature's Will instead. If you connect on several opponents, it will trig that many time and you can float the mana during combat phase to draw card with Thrasio if he is on the field. Since it also tap the opponents's land, you increase your chances to have your spells going un-countered during main phase 2.

As a side note. You can't untap the creature that is equipped with Sword of Feast and Famine because of Pro-Green.

Great deck. Mtgmuddsah vid inspired me to build my own derevi, much to my playgroups dismay :)

I wanted to pick your brain, if you don't mind.

How is Awakening? Seems like a card that will bite you in the butt fairly often.

Also, have you considered Druids' Repository? In my testing it has overperformed. Snowballs outta control quickly.

@ griz024,

Thanks :)

Awakening Will be awesome as long as your deck run several effect to use this extra mana/untap effects. Since my playgroup banned the sphere/stax cards I went the opposite way and included this card. This being said, Seedborn Muse will always be your best untap effect in the deck. Awakening is your plan B but only if you benefit more from it than your opponents, otherwise, keep it in your hand.

I tested Druids' Repository long time ago. It was very strong in a heavy token generator Derevi deck.

Have you ever considered Dismiss into Dreams?

This card is very powerful with Derevi's triggers. Searchable with Rector, messes with Voltron, lets you switch gears and go offensive with the tap triggers.

I ran it for a while and im considering readding it.

@ sonalexander,

Yes, Dismiss into Dream is indeed very strong in Derevi. I tested it for quite a while. The only issue was its high mana cost.

Yeah, its a bit high, but i feel its justified with all the untap effects in your build. Plus you can cheat it out.

Hey adam i want to know if other than always having a sac with derevi for helm of possesion? Like is there any other reason to run it for example can you sac the creature you gained control of with derevis untap triggers?

Yo Adam,

I think you should consider running Alchemist's Refuge in your list. Its something that requires almost no investment in and provides you loads of advantage with all the untap effects.

Its a favorite of mine in my Zegana list, and honestly should be an auto include with any seedborn muse list.

@ tcgplayer

Sadly no, as soon as the Helm untap, you lose the stolen creature. So you cannot abuse it like that. The helm usually stop opponents from casting their best creatures and its a great dissuasion effect just being up on the table.

I've cut it a few times to test other cards and I always regretted it.

@ sonalexander

Yes, Alchemist's Refuge is indeed a great card for this build. This being said, I always seems to draw all my colorless mana land early game and I end up mana color screwed. For this reason I stay at 3 or less in the deck.

I cannot cut Homeward Path or High Market ( I wish I could run 4 of each in the deck )

And Gavony Township usually give me the game with seedborn on the field.

Dare i say... Cut Diamond Valley :P

@sonalexander

hehe, Diamond Valley saved me so many times :)

A $400 card does work? Say what?

Hi Adam,

I like the way you 'tactically' pilot Derevi as I've seen it on Muddstah's channel and I admire it even more with your no stax & no infinite combos rule for your deck. The artwork of Derevi perfectly shows drama of your games: 'always under fire' :)

Have you ever tested Surgespanner? I think the wizard fits your playstyle and works great with Derevi, Empyrial Tactician. Apart from Derevi, Azami, Lady of Scrolls or Galecaster Colossus are enablers for Surgespanner and they are already in your decklist.

I think I don't have to mention synergy with your no. 1 star: Seedborn Muse

1 question: Why Willbreaker was removed from you decklist? Is the card too slow or your playgroup doesn't like it in Derevi deck? :)

Hey adam i dont know if youre following the cmdr 18 spoilers. If so are there any cards you plan to put in here? Such as liutenants or something? Cheers from NJ

Im considering changing Utopia Sprawl in my list for Carpet of Flowers. Can you think of a reason this would be a bad call?

Also, i run Trygone Predator and Coldeyed Selkie in my list. I also run a Krosan grip, because i feel it needs more Artidact and enchatment hate.

Thoughts on my choices?

Its funny. I used your build as a baseline for mine. I added and use several cards you dont. But the more I play my list, the more i realize the way you think and why you choose to use some of the cards you have. Cards like Diviner's Wand. This has made its way in my list.

I don't want my build to be identical to yours, i just thought this was amusing.

@ Arkadius

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, Surgespanner does indeed work well in the deck but it was never as good as the Galecaster Colossus.

Willbreaker was removed as it never last more than half a turn in my playgroup. The card is awesome, but you need to have a sac outlet or ways to protect it or it won't do anything.

@ tcgplayer,

I will defitively try Magus of the Balance, Loyal Unicorn and Myth Unbound

@ sonalexander,

If you always face blue players in your Meta, go for carpet of flowers. Otherwise, it is often a dead card. Personally, I would never cut Utopia Sprawl.

Trygone Predator is awesome, but it is also a removal magnet that have to survive a turn do do anything. Coldeyed Selkie is interesting but fragile as well. I try to go with card draw that survive creature bordwipe unless they are too good on their own, like the consecrated sphynx, Edric and Thrasios.

There is at least 5 or 6 different directions Derevi's build deck can go. And this is hard to focus on one as I could put 2000 cards in this deck!

I have yet to update my list but I went back to a token win strategy for my Derevi lately.

Then you and i are on the same page as i switched my focus to a token wincon as well. My token producers are, Sacred Mesa, Squirrels Nest, Elspeth Sun's Champion (power house) and Luminarch Ascension.

Elesh Norn is also in there because i have a real fondness for her and she is token support.

@ sonalexander,

I am also running sacred mesa ( probably my favorite one ), and squirel nest but I have no planeswalker. I've cut luminarch as I am usually dead before I get 4 counter on it.

I am playing Phyrexian Processor and Myr Turbine that can fetch at instant speed my only myr card of the deck Mirror Entity that usually finish the game.

Elesh is awesome, but I got it stolen so many time that I've cut it as it make my game miserable if the opponent control it.

So far im not a fan of Mesa, but im sure it will work out well. I added it due to a lack of flyers in one match up. Squirrel Nest is probably my favorite. Elspeth is amazing. Nearly all cards in our list arent effected by her Minus, so she is another token creator with a board wipe.

I see your reasoning behind not using Luminarch or The Norn. Those events havent happened to me yet, so im not concerned.