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Old Stickfingers Reanimator *ZOMBIES*

Commander / EDH BG (Golgari) Reanimator Zombie

205cwood


BRAINS (Introduction)

From the moment I saw Old Stickfingers I wanted to make him a commander. The ability to get an X amount of creatures in your graveyard is an ability with a lot of potential. At first I wanted to make more of a faster, semi-CEDH, or just full on CEDH deck with him but after making a decklist I decided that wasn't really the kind of deck I wanted to actually play with so a switched gears to ZOMBIES.

Now I have to say that, in general, I don't like tribal decks, especially in commander. Tribal decks are pretty easy to build and with tribes like Elves and Slivers you can end up with a really powerful deck without really trying that hard. I play magic because it's fun, challenging, and there's a lot to think about and tribal decks just don't do it for me. I don't mean to insult anyone, that's just my opinion.

Considering my general views on tribal decks there are two things that made me happy about building this deck and have me excided to actually own the deck, first, I like zombies and second, I get to use reanimation. I'm not much of a TV person, there are very few shows that I have made an effort to watch and one of those is The Walking Dead. Now, I don't think anything like a Zombie Apocalypse is ever going to happen or is even possible but I find the premise entertaining. Reanimation! Ever since the first time I saw reanimation mechanics in MTG I thought it was so cool and I think that's a big part of why I was drawn to Old Stickfingers in the first place because I immediately saw the connection.

I do not physically own this deck so I don't really know how it will run but I think it looks like a lot of fun to play and certainly very capable of winning games.

BRAINSS (Playing the Deck)

This deck has a few Zombie-like ways of winning the game, the first is using what I consider to be the decks "second" commander Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord. Old Stickfingers and Jarad pair so well together, Stickfingers can get Jarad into grave and Jarad get get himself out. Old Stickfingers is also one of the many good targets for Jarad's ability, other great targets include Unbreathing Horde, Soulless One, Liliana's Elite, Ghoultree, Rhizome Lurcher, and Diregraf Colossus.

Another win can come by using Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar and either Vengeful Dead to possibly win outright or Mikaeus, the Unhallowed to get infinite mana and with card draw coming from either Midnight Reaper or Moldervine Reclamation can get the pieces necessary for a win.

Of course there is the classic ZOMBIE HORDE win condition which God-Eternal Rhonas and more importantly Craterhoof Behemoth help make happen.

Running the deck is pretty straightforward, cast Old Stickfingers, reanimate zombies, and set myself up for one of the wincons that I've already outlined. This is a creature heavy deck and I shouldn't have much of a problem keeping myself protected and keeping pressure on my opponents while I set up for the win. By casting Old Stickfingers, Buried Alive, and Unmarked Grave I can get creatures in my graveyard and reanimate the ones that i need to depending on the situation.

  1. Reanimation
  2. This is a critical part of this deck performing well and there are 9 spells, not including Liliana, Death's Majesty, that reanimates and I'm hoping that proves to be enough. Two things that are true about every reanimation spell in this deck is that 1. you need at least one target in the graveyard and 2. they are sorcery speed. It is important that we have and keep creatures in our graveyard and to protect my creatures while they are in the graveyard I have Elixir of Immortality, and Perpetual Timepiece so that I can still have access to them rather than them be exiled. I also have Emergence Zone in case a situation presents itself in which being able to cast a reanimation spell at instant speed could be relevant.
  3. Removal
  4. I may not have enough removal in this deck but the removal that I do have is significant. Because reanimation is so present in this deck I have a few creatures that I have as great removal in Terastodon and the closest thing to a board wipe in this deck Massacre Girl. I am not to worried about creature removal because I should have a steady flow of creatures to block with so the stuff I'm worried about is flying creatures and value artifacts and enchantments my opponents have but I think I have enough stuff in this deck to deal with it.

BRAINSSSSSS (The last thing my opponents see)

Suggestions

Updates Add

After playing with this deck for a few months I have learned more about what works and what doesn't. The cards I removed proved to be at bit of a dud and the cards added I believe will help the deck get to where it wants to be faster and give it some tools to pop off better.

REMOVED: Endless Ranks of the Dead, Cemetery Reaper, Death Baron, Rhizome Lurcher, Liliana, Death's Majesty, and Diregraf Rebirth.

ADDED: Carrion Feeder, Cryptbreaker, Dread Return, Greater Good, Jarad's Orders, and Skirge Familiar.

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Date added 2 years
Last updated 4 months
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

8 - 0 Mythic Rares

38 - 0 Rares

28 - 0 Uncommons

9 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.27
Tokens Beast 3/3 G, Elephant 3-3 G, Zombie 2/2 B
Folders Commander, New Possibilities, Decks I Own
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