I'm currently building a Marchesa deck and this and precociousapprentice's write ups have been really useful, thanks. Going a bit of a different direction, forcing opponents to attack with cards like Fumiko the Lowblood, hopefully not at me or my fort! Have you tried any of this type of effect?

For my build, Fumiko the Lowblood never added up. I never had enough creatures to attack with the make it a serious threat, and whenever I wanted her to be big enough to survive blocking a huge creature, there were rarely enough attackers to make her big enough. I went with things like Master of Cruelties and other deathtouch creatures. It may make a fine budget alternative to Master of Cruelties in the right build, though.

Mrf1shie, thanks for taking a look at the deck.

I haven't tried Fumiko specifically but I have tried that effect with Goblin Diplomats and Goblin Spymaster. My experience was that people would agree to attack me out of spite for being forced to attack (even with the pillowfort). That is why I prefer cards like Disrupt Decorum and Besmirch because you force them to attack each other. Curse of Opulence and Duelist's Heritage are great because it gives them a bonus of they attack someone else. Maybe the mindset of your playgroup is different and you won't run into the same problem of people attacking you out of spite. Just want to warn you this MAY happen, especially after they figure out what Marchesa is up to.

Yeah, the reason I'm planning on using the "everyone attack" style cards are that a lot of my playgroup likes to sit back and durdle until they can swing out for the win (or just win with combo). I know ow they're not going to make any friends, was just wondering if when you ran them, the rattlesnakes were enough.

Love the build!

What do you think about Edifice of Authority over Pacification Array?

It is not able to tap artifacts, however it costs only to activate and once it has three brick counters, it is quite strong blocking activated abilities.

zenia thanks for the suggestion. edifice looks like a decent card. I prefer pacification array's flexibility though. not only does it prevent attack, it can also tap down blockers. this makes it a great political card when opponent A is trying to attack opponent B

Agreed, MegaMatt13. zenia, being able to use all your pieces to not just stop attacks, but to redirect them at your opponents, that is the real power of a political Queen Marchesa. edifice of authority may stop an attack, and later may even stop an ability, but I would rather that my opponents keep all their offense at full strength, just be unwilling to target me with it. edifice of authority stops them from being able to attack my opponents, and leaves a blocker around to discourage people from attacking them until later in the game. Interesting, but I think it would not replace Pacification Array.

how about Reciprocate it's an exile for 1, and it kinda "displays" what will happen to opponents that attack you and not each other.

Sismir, I know this is not directed my way, but I would like to chime in. I think that any targeted removal needs to be the least conditional possible. This is even more conditional than Condemn, in that you can't even get rid of something when it attacks someone else. Reciprocate is only good for those attacking you. I would not run it over Condemn, and I wouldn't run Condemn. That is just me, though.

Sismir, really appreciate the suggestion. As precociousapprentice mentioned Reciprocate is a bit too conditional. I want to be able to remove a threat before it has the chance to hit me. Also, sometimes I want to remove a threat targeting someone else for political reasons.

100+ upvotes! Awesome, and congrats, your deck is freakin' wicked! Queen Marchesa for Victory!!!!!!!