Doran of the Infinite Butts

Commander / EDH* Bulwer

SCORE: 16 | 67 COMMENTS | 3086 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS


gobucks says... #1

Looks fun to play, +1. Not really my play-style so I unfortunately have no real suggestions at this time. Perhaps Forgotten Ancient or Vigor?

May 6, 2015 9:10 a.m.

Recover819 says... #2

Great title and execution. I have a legacy deck that is similar that you may like. Assault Formation

Shield Sphere?

May 6, 2015 9:19 a.m.

lukesymwalker says... #3

My anaconda does. +1

May 6, 2015 9:55 a.m.

Bulwer says... #4

Shield Sphere is nice, as is its swingy little brother Phyrexian Walker. They'd give me a way to Pod into Sylvan Safekeeper or Mother of Runes, but I dunno if they'd be a good draw after turn 2.

That Assault Formation deck is so cool. I especially like Brain Freeze.

May 6, 2015 9:58 a.m.

enpc says... #5

If you're going for a combo oriented victory, you need to run more ways to setup the combo and in general cut away the stuff which doesn't do anything. For example, Glissa, the Traitor, although good can be just as easily replaced by Eternal Witness who will retrieve more stuff. You don't need to run Bear Umbra, its not like your deck has big mana sinks (or or access to Aggravated Assault). Fruit of the First Tree is bad because you only get the benefit when your creature dies and you're not a token deck. Similarly, Worthy Cause is bad because it doesn't really do anything. Infinite life is not a win con dition. You can't do anything with it, its not like you're running Felidar Sovereign or Serra Avatar.

On the topic of mana base (and in reference to your forum thread), your land count should probably be 36/37. I would also highly recommend cutting Sungrass Prairie and Selesnya Sanctuary. You sould also consider either a Strip Mine or at least a Tectonic Edge (I recommend both). Havign targetted land removal is super important.

The biggest issue I think I'm going to run into recommending cards though is badget. The deck would operate much better with Stoneforge Mystic, Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor, Survival of the Fittest and Eladamri's Call but that's halfthe price of the deck there. One card that IS worth getting and should be a bit cheaper is Enlightened Tutor. It gets Assault Formation and any of your combo artifacts. I would also recommend Diabolic Tutor, its just good.

Thats a bit of a wall of text, but I hope it helps a bit. I think the deck is onto a really cool idea here, I just think it needs a bit of refining and you will have something quite powerful indeed. It just comes down to cutting away the stuff that slows it down.

May 11, 2015 3:12 a.m.

klone13 says... #6

If I play combo, my deck comprises of tutors/card advantage, ramp, control/protection, and the actual combo. Nothing else. I recommend Deathrite Shaman due to it's utility, and as for card advantage Sensei's Divining Top and Sylvan Library. Vindicate is excellent removal, and Silence/Autumn's Veil can protect the combo. I love the addition of Sylvan Safekeeper tho. As for ramp: Mana Vault is cheap and quick. Burgeoning and Exploration are great effects and synergize awesomely with Lotus Cobra. Luminate Primordial is a bit too expensive for my taste, same goes with Avenger of Zendikar. I also think Krosan Grip is a must because of its split second. Also, consider Imp's Mischief. I would remove Ohran Viper and possibly Silklash Spider. Also as a nice trick Green Sun's Zenith + Dryad Arbor is great ramp and arbor can be podded into a Deathrite Shaman, Birds of Paradise, etc. Hope this helped.

May 11, 2015 7:33 a.m.

Bulwer says... #7

enpc, thanks for the thoughtful response. I can make some swaps right now:

Out: Selesnya Sanctuary, Sungrass Prairie, Worthy Cause, Fruit of the First Tree, Bear Umbra.

In: Forest, Plains, Strip Mine, Tectonic Edge, Something Good.

I can get an Oracle of Mul Daya for 10.50, which is about as good as it gets, but I might be better off swapping out Courser of Kruphix for that. Maybe Silence.

May 11, 2015 10:58 a.m.

Bulwer says... #8

Tectonic Edge out, Reap and Sow in. The ability to grab Hall of the Bandit Lord is worth the cost.

May 11, 2015 11:18 a.m.

Bulwer says... #9

OK, Courser --> Oracle, Fruit --> Reflecting Pool

May 11, 2015 12:25 p.m.

Bulwer says... #10

klone13, I'm giving serious thought to cutting Avenger and Primordial for something better.

Rather than Dryad Arbor, my preferred 0-drops would be the 0-power artifact creatures: Shield Sphere, Phyrexian Walker, or Ornithopter. I dunno if I'd ever want to Pod into a 1-drop, though...

I'd love to add an Exploration on top of my new Oracle of Mul Daya, too.

May 11, 2015 12:46 p.m.

enpc says... #11

Dryad Arbor is the best zero drop as you can Green Sun's Zenith into it turn one for access to 3 mana turn 2. The other zero drops are all generic creatures. While they get bigger with Doran on the field, they offer no real value whatsoever towards your win condition. And if you're going for a fast combo, I can assure you they will feel disappointing to draw into.

May 11, 2015 6:07 p.m.

klone13 says... #12

Yeah- all I can say is- the deck needs to be faster to be competitive.

May 11, 2015 6:32 p.m.

enpc says... #13

As for Exploration - this card is much better when you're drawing multiple card a turn or in your oppening hand. Remember, technically both Oracle of Mul Daya and Exploration have a strict reliance on access to lands. Without that they don't actually provide ramp. Oracle is much better as it looks at the top of your library but this is something you need to take into consideration with those effects.

May 11, 2015 7:25 p.m.

Bulwer says... #14

OK, so here's a list of potential cuts:

Wall of Blossoms
Avenger of Zendikar
Luminate Primordial
Ensouled Scimitar
Beseech the Queen
Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice

I don't want to cut any of those; they're all great.

Here's what doesn't have a place yet:

Eladamri's Call
Green Sun's Zenith + Dryad Arbor
Exploration + more land-to-hand sorceries
Courser of Kruphix
More card draw? Snake Umbra, or even leave Wall of Blossoms in and add Wall of Omens. Heartwood Storyteller?
More evasion? Dauthi Embrace or Bladed Pinions or some such.
Concordant Crossroads?

Are any of those swaps that I'm dumb for not making? Elad's Call for the Wall is easy enough.

Am I missing anything in the under-$10 range that I should definitely have? I appreciate both of you guys for giving advice in a competitive context-- that's just the perspective I lack.

May 11, 2015 8:13 p.m.

Bulwer says... #15

OK, Elspeth helps me very little. She's the one who gets cut for Eladamri's Call.

May 11, 2015 8:25 p.m.

enpc says... #16

For the "land to hand" effects, you just want more card draw in general. Necropotence is one of the best options, but there is also Greed, which I actually prefer. Black offers some good card draw like Night's Whisper as well as the suite of tutors.

For evasion, trample might be your best bet. Akroma's Memorial maeks it easy, but there are a few options. I'll have a think and get back to you on that.

As for the deck help, I'm more than happy to :D

May 11, 2015 8:29 p.m.

Bulwer says... #17

Greed over Erebos, God of the Dead? I've got both.

For trample, I've got Primal Rage and Rancor, both extraordinarily cheap.

May 11, 2015 8:41 p.m.

enpc says... #18

Greed is cheaper as far as the card draw is concerned, and you're swinging for leathel on attack no matter their life, so Erebos' other ability feels less relevant. But at the same time "porque no los dos?"

And yeah, Primal Rage seems decent for now. Comes down early and is a global effect.

May 11, 2015 8:57 p.m.

Bulwer says... #19

Luminate Primordial is next on the chopping block. Him and Trostani, Selesnya's Voice for Green Sun's Zenith and Dryad Arbor is a swap that really says "me want go faster."

I'd love a utility green 1-drop. Rancor or Concordant Crossroads, something to drop on the combo turn to make me win. I'd need to cut something else for that. Wall of Blossoms, probably.

May 11, 2015 9:04 p.m.

Bulwer says... #20

The tradeoff between Rancor and Primal Rage here is that Rancor will sit in my hand and eat G on the combo turn, whereas Primal Rage can get me some utility earlier on. On the other hand, I'm probably gonna need to go off twice to kill everyone in a big game, and Rancor can stick around, surviving even a board wipe.

May 11, 2015 9:09 p.m.

enpc says... #21

Primal Rage should survive most board wipes too. It will eat more targetted removal yes, but it's a set and forget kind of card. Again, you may be able to make space for both.

May 11, 2015 9:12 p.m.

klone13 says... #22

I like wall, it gives nice card advantage. In all honesty, glissa os lackluster in this build. If you do add necropotence Dark Ritual would be pretty sweet. T1 Necropotence thanks!Also Shuko.

May 11, 2015 9:14 p.m.

klone13 says... #23

Your deck can win extremely easily on t3 with more ramp. Maybe even Lotus Petal/Elvish Spirit Guide. I also like Grim Monolith/Mana Vault.

May 11, 2015 9:17 p.m.

Bulwer says... #24

Next up is a Plains for Greed, since Dryad Arbor has upped our land count.

May 11, 2015 9:20 p.m.

klone13 says... #25

I also don't see why evasion is at all necessary. You are combo, which I doesn't need to use combat damage. It can tho. That being said, it could be good nonetheless. Crucible of Worlds would be great as well now that I think about it. Strip Mine, Dryad Arbor, Crop Rotation etc.

May 11, 2015 9:21 p.m.

Please login to comment