Reyhan&Ishai | Where Unstoppable Meets Immovable!

Commander / EDH AkaAkuma

SCORE: 157 | 108 COMMENTS | 19703 VIEWS | IN 80 FOLDERS


Ravnica Update - New Primer —Jan. 20, 2019

With the Ravnica releases, shock lands became more reasonably priced and new toys in the form of Knight of Autumn and Guardian Project became to be.

Also ZendikariWol came with an Inspiring Call on how aristocratic and goodstuff the deck is, but in turn very divided it was on it's focus. Which is exactly the eye opener I needed. I have been very experimental on cards and tactics which could improve the deck. But now that I know what works, I have returned to my brew-stand and brewed together the deck I wanted it to be.

And so a primer has also been made for easier navigating. Thanks for all the good reviews!

Darksteel_Eye says... #1

Hello I spent a few minutes studying your list. I am aiming to make the same partner deck. I have a couple questions tho. Why are you using sac effects? Just to move counters around? And also do you have problems mana fixing at all? I notice the abscence of signets, cryptolith rite. I'm very close to finalizing my list just out of cards in my collection. Also how does Necromantic Summons work with Reyhen or Ishai? I can post a link in here if you respond. Thanks again!

February 7, 2018 2:29 a.m.

AkaAkuma says... #2

@Darksteel_Eye ow fun! I always love hearing about other tactics and ideas for this deck, I haven't been able to play it allot though since people who know me squeeze there buttcheeks together on the sight of this deckbox and with some other people with less money in there budget I play more on budget as well.

I'm slightly unsure about Necromantic Summons (have I made a typo somewhere?), but Necromantic Selection is in my maybe board as it works the same way as living dead does. They are one of the few exceptions that let me keep a boardstate with all counters I had even though Reyhan leaves play before new creatures are on the battlefield since this cards effect needs to finish before Reyhan can check her ability.

However i haven't run either necromantic cards yet, it's just an idea.

Furthermore I play some sacrifice for multiple reasons.

  • To move counters is one, and this strategy combo's with the likes of Doubling Season and Corpsejack Menace.
  • To still salvage the maximum out of my creatures when they would be exiled, bounced e.g.
  • Cards like Darksteel mutation
February 7, 2018 4:08 a.m.

AkaAkuma says... #3

*sacrificing is essential especially when Reyhan is being enchanted to be without ability and useless.

Lastly which i forgot to explain is that i dislike mana rocks and try to limit artifacts as much as possible to this deck. You start your game with 2 creatures already, just mulligan to as many lands or a lucky Sol ring, Selvala of ordeal of nylea as you start. I never start mana screwed

February 7, 2018 4:17 a.m.

Monitor says... #4

Hey man, just want to report again that I'm having a helluva time with the deck. Have you looked at my good friend Winding Constrictor? Nothing game breaking, but works with basically everything.

February 10, 2018 11:04 p.m.

noshadowkick says... #5

This looks like a sweet deck! I have Pir & Toothy deck that turned out to be pretty boring so I'm adapting it to be a Reyhan/Ishai deck and your list is very inspiring. Have you ever tried Greater Good in your build? Seems like it would be an ideal fit. Also, how about Sage of Hours?

August 16, 2018 5:21 p.m.

AkaAkuma says... #6

@noshadowkick Well my friend, you've came to the right page!

In all honesty, I haven't been able to play magic so much and if I do, I end up playing as Sydri, Galvanic Genius. Let alone that I still need to adjust this deck to the battlebond expansion. But Reyhan stays my favorite commander to go.

My playgroup including myself really look down to taking long turns and that includes sage of hours, otherwise good addition! Greater good is actually in my current setup, but haven't seen it in action. Same is true for Ajani, Caller of the Pride, Ghave, Guru of Spores and Bramble Sovereign (out of my head).

I'll update this deck soon! Also, I'm curious to your experience playing this deck!

August 17, 2018 5:25 a.m.

noshadowkick says... #7

I'll keep you posted as I tune it and get some games in. I think I'm going to lean a bit more heavily into graveyard recursion so I can get back all the critters I sacrifice and I'm trying to work in a Birthing Pod package. Check out my list: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/four-color-counters-4/

August 17, 2018 9:15 a.m.

OrgasmAndTea says... #8

Very cool deck.

October 23, 2018 2:04 a.m.

ZendikariWol says... #9

Your deck has a lot of goodstuff. I mean a looot. I would guess a third of your nonland cards don't contribute to your main strategy at all. For the strategy you're going for, I think Reyhan would work better with Ravos, Soultender, and make it a full-on countery, semi-aristocrat brew. These are my main contributions up front, but if you want me to go into more detail I'm willing to.

October 23, 2018 1:05 p.m.

AkaAkuma says... #10

@ZendikariWol: Yes please explain, I'm always ear to strategies revolving Reyhan! I'm aware that my deck is more than just making counters on first sight, but every card counts toward the goal of creating even more counters. And no it's not just some good stuff mashup.

  • I sacrifice and recur because allot of creatures come into play with counters and Reyhan starts doing stuff on death triggers.
  • All the Clone shenanigans is toward cloning Reyhan, so multiple triggers hit the stack. And a clone of Reyhan still moves to the graveyard with x counters attached.
  • And the few support cards like Octopus Umbra seem very self-explanatory. Always be able to have at least one creature stay on the field, and this umbra is a flat +8/+8 for Reyhan.

Apart from Hardened Scales Ishai has nothing much to add to this deck than swing lethal alternatively. But I personally think blue benefits Reyhan the most out of all colors, it doubles counters rather than just adds one +1/+1 which white tends to do and it's a shame that Ravos does not add to that strategy also. With Ravos i cannot play Mirror Mockery, Walking Archive, Prime Speaker Zegana or Hadana's Climb  Flip (to name only a few!) which are very valuable assets or win conditions to Reyhan, or Havengul Lich and Muldrotha, the Gravetide which are the only few ties that Reyhan has with Ravos have.

October 23, 2018 1:57 p.m.

ZendikariWol says... #11

Okay so I have two different decks that might help you. If you want me, once again, to go more in-depth, I certainly will and I would be happy to recommend specific additions. I'll actually be recommending specific cuts right here.

Ajani, Caller of the Pride is not very good. It's suuuper slow and while it does put counters on things, its mana is weird and frankly you're not gonna be casting it on turn 3. It's totally not worth casting after turn 3 and barely worth casting on.

Cathars' Crusade is probably not worth it, especially for the few creatures you're casting AFTER turn 5.

Gyre Sage is so suboptimal, like you're really not putting that mant counters on it early-game, and in the late game it does almost nothing.

You're gonna cast Predator Ooze on like turn 5 or 6. Not. Worth. It.

Selvala, Heart of the Wilds is not very good. It's just a mana dork, and yeah eventually it's big mana, but like Gyre Sage, you'll just play your hand and then you're living on topdecks the rest of the game.

Skullbriar, the Walking Grave isn't that good. He'd normally be useful if you were bringing him back from the graveyard, but you're... not.

Octopus Umbra is a decent card but it's not the best in this deck. Not only could you use it better elsewhere, but there are better cards you could put in its place here.

Ghoulcaller Gisa is, once again, not bad here, but there are just better cards- ESPECIALLY in the 5-drop slot!

Bear Umbra is another really good card, but really it could be used better in other places and better things could be put in its place here.

Gift of Immortality is weak in general, and even worse here.

Journey to Eternity  Flip, in the same boat as the Umbras, is good but not great and here it's far from ideal.

Your entire grave recursion package is kinda shoehorned in and would be better in its own deck. Maybe build Muldrotha, the Gravetide?

Rashmi, Eternities Crafter is meh, and here it's a genuinely confusing addition. It's a fine card but it's just not a good addition here.

Deathbringer Regent is fine I guess, but once again, this deck is just not the place for it.

So once again, if you want me to drop some specific cards to replace my suggested cuts, I will certainly go into more detail. But for now, happy brewing and have some deck links!


+1 Pancakes

Commander / EDH ZendikariWol

SCORE: 3 | 3 COMMENTS | 215 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS



Rotten Pancakes

Commander / EDH ZendikariWol

8 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER


October 24, 2018 12:27 a.m.

AkaAkuma says... #12

ZendikariWol: Well you have some points. But apart from muldrotha who I'm still play testing, Rashmi that I just enjoy playing because of the card draw and cheat minigame and Gisa who indeed is very situationable, the rest has a solid function in this deck.

And for in the two years where I have intensively played this deck I think I know how to run it and what works or not.

Ajani is not really there for the +1, but it's -1 has erased me opponents before though.

Umbra's are amazing by the totem armor itself, my playgroups play allot of fieldwipes and this enables me to either have one creature with allot of counters, or having them think twice about wiping.

Gift of Immortality brings me a death trigger, enter the battlefield effect and it "untaps" afterwards. It's far better than e.g. Indestructibility could be and a valuable asset.

I think you should reconsider your value in Gyre Sage and Selvala also. For one the sage never has her counters to tap by evolve alone. And in magic, never play your hand empty as well. But that's why we add card draw to also replenish.

Deathbringer Regent is just my way of playing Wrath of God. It's just a Duneblast in a 5/5 flying body. It's exactly what I want: one surviving creature in heated times.

And predator Ooze has never wronged me. It's that sitting object on the table no one can easily rid off. People think their fine until ajani gives it double strike and flying.

But I'll take a look to your decks, maybe I'll see something of interest.

October 24, 2018 1:35 a.m.

ZendikariWol says... #13

Okay. So let it be known that I was insanely tired when I wrote that comment. Looking back it comes off as super repetitive and weirdly aggressive. Sorry bout that.

I've kinda just come to the conclusion that we're not the same animal. I'm a lot more engine-inclined, and I make it a point to stick to my theme as closely as possible. I focus more on flavor. That's fine and I'm 100% not judging you.

Anyways one notable card that's not in either of those decks and should probably be in the Atraxa brew is Gilder Bairn. It's arguably a better Vorel of the Hull Clade.

October 24, 2018 9:26 a.m.

AkaAkuma says... #14

That our flavors do not match does not matter! It shows that there are different views I mightve not explored of thought of yet. Reyhan is in my opinion very flavorful and diverse. I am still interested and grateful for your suggestions! And I actually found Together Forever to be a interesting found in your deck.

October 24, 2018 10:28 a.m.

ZendikariWol says... #15

All right. In that case Imma throw out some suggestions.

First of all and probably strangest: Cephalid Constable. If you can get some counters on this boi, preferably make it evasive? Suddenly you're mega-time-walking every opponent. Maybe try Helm of the Host or Blade of Selves with him but pro'lly not.

Divine Reckoning is insane, especially here. I would say much better than Deathbringer Regent. Yes, it leaves everyone else a creature too, but for 4 less mana I'd say it's an improvement (since you could cast more than just that on the same turn).

You don't have Herald of Secret Streams!? He's one of the only good reasons to run blue!

Bred for the Hunt is equally awesome; my other reason to run blue.

Plaxcaster Frogling and Sporeback Troll are protection for your countered creatures, and also have some counters themselves.

Consider that you don't need black for like... anything. You have a total of like 12 black spells. No removal? No Viscera Seer? Attrition? There are good sac outlets you're missing. This is gonna go against one of my points farther down but like. Yeah.

This one isn't an actual comment of value, but I wanted to commend your idea for copying Reyhan. I had never considered it and it is really fresh and intriguing. Love the flavor, love the application.

Couldn't help but notice Karador, Ghost Chieftain in the maybeboard. He might be pretty good too, if you wanted to move this and sorta kinda separate the aristocrats and the counters. I would love to see an aristocrat counter deck that leans more into the aristocrat side. Skullbriar, the Walking Grave would be a monster!

Your mana curve is super high, effectively starting at 3 and going down fairly slowly. I searched long and hard for the 1-drops I have, and I am glad to share them with you. Just peep in on my decks (tappedout makes that easy to find) and steal some.

You have a lot of aristocrat themes and a lot of counter themes, but the problem is you don't have much intersect between the two. As a result this deck feels almost like two separate decks, and I don't know if that's hindered you before in practice, but in theory it seems really bad.

October 24, 2018 12:41 p.m.

ZendikariWol says... #16

Thank you for listening to my ted talk.

October 24, 2018 12:42 p.m.

AkaAkuma says... #17

Well that's allot of valuable information, thank you! Cephalid Constable is incredibly gross, what a card! Why does it not include 'non-land'?

Divine Reckoning is actually in another deck that i use, but it never passed my mind here. Maybe i'll give it a try.

Also Plaxcaster Frogling and Sporeback Troll are good suggestions. Graft has passed my searches allot of times, but they just feel so much more in place in a atraxa themed deck. However, these two might be versions however i should playtest. They remind me of Ring of Evos Isle and Ring of Xathrid

Herald of Secret Streams is definitely great, seen and debated about the card so many times before. But perhaps I should first consider Champion of Lambholt to make a return to the deck.

And Karador, Ghost Chieftain just as Muldratha passed my deck as viable options after Skullbriar got included. I guess he should be good. He definitely combo's nicely off Greater good or survival of the fittest.

And Black, I actually hate black sources, but somehow the color still always comes splashed on top of commanders that I like. I guess they do make the most flavorful commanders. Attrition is good, but i'm afraid I'll end up having no non-black target i wish to destroy. Viscera Seer like Carrion Feeder are great sac outlet..... But i'm not sure if i should fit a slot for him. decisions, decisions..

As to where manacurve goes, my ideal hand actually starts with 3-4 land - as I don't care about having no creatures in hand - And if i'm stuck on 3 mana, then that sucks, but the deck should be sufficient enough to manage most of the times. Most ramp spells can be applied on Reyhan right after I cast her and even Mirror Mockery let's Reyhan hit for 9 - 15 - 21 - 27....

October 24, 2018 5:33 p.m.

KayneMarco says... #18

I was gonna suggest Durable Handicraft until I read your primer. I don’t think you’ld really need it though lol. Also a couple other possible additions in case you don’t get as an explosive start to the game as it can do are Pir, Imaginative Rascal and Toothy, Imaginary Friend.

December 31, 2018 5:43 p.m.

AkaAkuma says... #19

Hey KayneMarco, thanks for leaving a comment!

It is interesting you mention Pir and Toothy, but not Krav, the Unredeemed . I really love the concept between the two! Hardened Scales and Chasm Skulker are solid pieces in this deck, those two are just like that with a tutor among themselves.

But the 1/1 aspect really blows. They have no evasion or protection and there is no reliable way to pop Toothys ability. If only the card draw would've said 'target' player, I could just dump counters and sacrifice for a cheap elimination.

For now I wouldn't switch them into my deck for anything else, but thank you for the thoughts!

But I think the simic and orzhov guilds will soon come with very juicy additions for reyhan and ishai so I'll bring an update soon

January 3, 2019 6:27 p.m.