Queen Marchesa: Politics, Aikido, and Control

Commander / EDH* precociousapprentice

SCORE: 740 | 914 COMMENTS | 200908 VIEWS | IN 400 FOLDERS


Pimping and Ixalan update —Sept. 30, 2017

The only Ixalan card that I think may find a home here is Treasure Map. Scry is great, and the little bit of ramp is worthwhile, even if it will not get us Marchesa on turn 3. It replaced Pristine Talisman.

I have not played with Dowsinng Dagger, but this may have a place. I am not sure about giving defenders to my opponents, but making Marchesa a 5/5, or just giving it to another deathtouch creature to make it both hard to block and hard not to block, is pretty nice, and the flip to a no-drawback Lotus Vale is super nice.

I also updated to include the foils I have been collecting to make things look pretty. Queen Marchesa feels that every queen should be impressive to her subjects.

MegaMatt13 says... #1

Taking a look at your Ixalan thoughts...I dunno...I'm not hyped about this set at all (could be because it's coming out so soon after C17). I'm not sure that any of the cards you mention are worthy of our queen's presence. They are either very expensive CMC or are weaker versions of previously existing cards. Settle the Wreckage, for example, seems like a removal spell that could really backfire. Do I really want to be ramping an opponent that much? Time will tell but so far none of the cards are jumping out at me.

September 2, 2017 12:51 p.m.

I agree completely. Somewhat underwhelmed. Not sure any of the cards will make it. The only really great thing about the set will be the reprint of the Checks. I want to get my set of foils. Now will be the time.

September 2, 2017 1:54 p.m.

MegaMatt13 says... #3

I am wondering what your thoughts on Viridian Longbow are. It could be a powerful rattlesnake. At the same time it may make Marchesa herself look too threatening.

September 4, 2017 1:11 p.m.

That is not how I would use the term Rattlesnake. I know that you understand this, but I want to be clear for others reading. A Rattlesnake is a card that advertises a retaliation or consequence for attacking or messing with me, one that is directly tied to the action of attacking or messing with me. It is not typically something that is a threat beyond retaliation. Viridian Longbow doesn't come with a strong deterrent beyond the possibility of combining it a Deathtouch creature. It can also be used proactively, without the input of my opponents. In this situation, it no longer acts to influence my opponent's behavior like it would if it was only useable reactively. This makes it counter to the goals of a Rattlesnake card. It may be a powerful synergy, it may fit with other elements of the deck, but I can virtually guarantee that it will draw hate. I would not use it because of this.

September 4, 2017 4:09 p.m.

As I look at the Ixalan spoilers more, I am getting more and more excited about Treasure Map.

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That is super good for this deck. Scry, Ramp, and Card Draw. I am almost 100% sure this will appear in the deck.

September 4, 2017 4:25 p.m.

This is also cool. Probably not for this list, but still.

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September 4, 2017 4:34 p.m.

MegaMatt13 says... #7

Wow, that is going into my Wort: the Ramp Mother of Burn deck.

September 4, 2017 7:42 p.m.

I'm thinking about changing my Izzet spellslinger test deck into a Kess, dissident mage Storm deck, and Primal Amulet would be a great addition.

September 4, 2017 9:10 p.m.

MegaMatt13 says... #9

Absolutely. I see no reason NOT to run that in any spellslinger deck.

September 4, 2017 10:33 p.m.

Has anyone played Path of Ancestry ? I am thinking about trialing it. The rare scry may be worth it, especially attached to a multicolored land, even if it ETB tapped.

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September 5, 2017 10:12 p.m. Edited.

MegaMatt13 says... #11

I run it in my new Ur-Dragon deck and it's great there. However, that's 5 colour and tribal which boosts the utility of the card.

I think in any 3+ colour deck it's fine. It's a slightly better "tri-land" like Nomad Outpost.

September 5, 2017 10:24 p.m.

I ordered one for testing. As you may have seen, I really like scry. It is more subtle than pure card draw, but it adds up significantly over a game. Even just using it to cast your commander is an extra scry in the game, and any other times it is used are just bonus. I am surprised that I missed it.

September 5, 2017 11:08 p.m.

sashaza says... #13

Thoughts on the new Ixalan card, Rampaging Ferocidon?

September 8, 2017 4:08 p.m.

Interesting. Against lifegain, creature combo, and token decks, this is solid. Good body on a low CMC card, evasive, with semi-Aikido mode against mass token, and totally hoses lifegain. Meta dependent, but definitely a great card.

September 8, 2017 4:30 p.m.

Impressive build and description. My only real suggestion would be to not have cards be in more than 1 custom category, but that's more just a personal preference for ease of reading. Great work, can see the time that's gone into it.

The deck list is solid, but a few other options to consider: Crackling Doom solid removal against things like Voltron, also a fan of Mortify, Mizzium Mortars and Kolaghan's Command. Skyline Despot, Boltwing Marauder, Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury could be fun. Athreos, God of Passage can abuse stuff like High Priest and Selfless Spirit, I also like Iroas, God of Victory for when you want to put the politicking aside and go in for the kill.

+1

September 9, 2017 11:21 a.m.

Thanks for the comment and +1 Jimmy_Chinchila. I appreciate it. I will consider the suggestions. I have been criticized on the double listing in multiple categories before, it just helps me personally to see how full each category is, and sometimes that means double listing. I get it though, and I think it does come down to personal preference. Is the card primary, or is the category/function primary. I have focused on category/function.

I played Crackling Doom before, but voltron was a rare archetype in my last meta, so it was taken out. I have not yet explored a new meta here in my new home of Pittsburgh PA, so this may make it back in, if it proves to be valuable. Mortify was also an inclusion at one time, and I just felt that I needed less spot removal than I had. I moved away from sweepers to things like Disrupt Decorum , so Mizzium Mortars was less useful in this list. Kolaghan's Command will make an appearance in another Aikido deck I am working on, and I am trying not to put too many cross over cards between them, as an exercise in showing the breadth of Aikido as an archetype. All of the big bombs you list could easily be good options, but the deck really needs to be careful about how many bombs it runs. Enough to get aggressive when it is time, but not to many that it tempts you to become aggressive too early, or so many that it takes up card slots that put you in better position in other ways. This becomes a fine line, and it is often a matter of experience with the deck that allows me to run the perfect amount of bombs. Of those you list, I like Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury best due to the dash mechanic. Seems like it may work well holding my threats in my hand until I will use them.

September 9, 2017 12:01 p.m.

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This is pretty amazing. Card draw, life gain, semi-Ramp. Nice

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This would require some retooling, but may be worth it. I will have to think about that.

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This is bonkers. Not for this deck, obviously, but for any green deck, just bonkers.

September 9, 2017 5:01 p.m.

MegaMatt13 says... #18

With the black one I imagine it will be very rare that it transforms. However, it is still quite an efficient card draw engine even without flipping. Same rate as Erebos per card drawn but 2 mana cheaper to cast

September 9, 2017 5:16 p.m.

It's a frickin Gaea's Cradle!

September 9, 2017 6:06 p.m.

Arguel's Blood Fast is like Greed or Erebos, God of the Dead, only cheaper than both, and with a built in lifegain defense if you find out you have overused it. Awesome.

And bringing back Gaea's Cradle, with a flip condition, but giving it a little bonus to help flip it, that is pretty insane. So turn 1 elf. Turn 2, 2 more elves, and something else. Turn 3, cast that enchantment for 3, get a creature in the top 4 cards of your library. You have 3 elves you can still do something with, so you cast that creature. And at the end of turn, flip the enchantment for a Gaea's Cradle, you have . That is the end of turn 3. Untap turn 4 for like 10 mana.

September 9, 2017 7:18 p.m.

MegaMatt13 says... #21

Yeah, the black one will take the place of Underworld Connections in my deck :)

September 9, 2017 9:36 p.m.

Exactly. Way better. Close to the same cost, with the added safety of lifegain when really needed.

September 9, 2017 9:39 p.m.

I have begun experimenting with another Aikido deck. Keep Your Friends Close But Your Enemies Closer, also located on my profile. I want to better understand what Aikido as an archetype consists of, and how it can be expanded to include more color combinations. Check it out if interested.

September 11, 2017 2:41 p.m.

GaugeGuy says... #25

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Saw this spoiled, would it fit in this deck? Or is on board too threatening?

September 12, 2017 12:04 p.m.