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Shadowborn Apostles and the demons who love them

Commander / EDH Bracket 2 Demons Theme/Gimmick WB (Orzhov)

Hybrow

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Land (35)

Sorcery (3)

Creature (48)

Artifact (5)

Commander (1)

Commander: Teysa, Orzhov Scion

Enchantment (5)

Instant (3)

Maybeboard

Enchantment (1)

Teysa, Orzhov Scion

with the help of Shadowborn Apostles

The first rule I learned when starting to play EDH was: Other than basic lands, no two cards in your deck could be the same. When I came across Shadowborn Apostle I knew I had to build a deck.

It took me quite a while to accumulate the apostles I needed, and I have swapped out commanders a couple times, but the synergy with Teysa, Orzhov Scion is undeniable. And the ability to splash in white gives me access to retrieval devices like Immortal Servitude and Rally the Ancestors.

Dictate of Erebos and Grave Pact were automatic additions, as was a card like Thrumming Stone, cause what other EDH deck will I ever get to use that in?

Also, how many Apostles are too many, and how many demons do I really need or can I reasonable summon? For now I have settled on 36 Apostles and down to 7 Demons (9 if you count Ormendahl   and Withengar  ). This makes it possible to get a win with Liliana's Contract.

I have tried to add only the best of the best for Demons, but am happy to consider other options and am open to any other suggestions as well. Thanks for your time!

Below is a detailed list of all cards in this deck, and my reasoning behind adding them.

Demon of Death's Gate - A 9/9 trampler, he can be tutored or played from my hand for 3 Apostles and some life

Gray Merchant of Asphodel - It is not uncommon for me to have 6-10 devotion to black when this guy enters the battlefield, and with 3-4 opponents that’s a lot of life gain

Hanweir Militia Captain   - Usually can become a Cult Leader   the turn after she is played, and then starts generating Clerics for Teysa. More of a long game benefit

Krav, the Unredeemed - If I use Apostles to tutor for him I get Regna in hand

Harvester of Souls - Card draw is handy late game, and a 5/5 deathtoucher is nice.

Lord of the Void - 7/7 flyer that if played early will let me start stealing creatures from my opponents decks

Ob Nixilis, Unshackled - The moment I play him I can use Teysa to sacrifice 3 white spirits and he becomes a 7/7

Razaketh, the Foulblooded - Probably my favorite Demon to summon first. The tutor ability is great for those key pieces like Thrumming Stone, Grave Pact, and lately Liliana's Contract

Regna, the Redeemer - If I get her in hand and play her, she will bring Krav to my hand. She is also great for creating white creatures that Teysa can sacrifice

Rune-Scarred Demon - Great demon that allows me to pull another win condition, such as Grave Pact, Thrumming Stone, or later game Liliana's Contract

Shadowborn Apostle - 37! I have gone up and down a bit with these guys, but this seems like a good mix

Teysa Karlov - The most recent addition to this deck, I have yet to see her in play, but the ability to double all the tokens that my commander makes seems good, as does the doubling of effects from Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos. Ob and the Harvester also benefit when she is on the board.

Torgaar, Famine Incarnate - Just re-added this guy back. Although not a demon, he fits with the sac'ing Apostles to get out huge beasties. Removed Demon of Wailing Agonies to slot this guy in

Demonic Tutor - Being able to tutor for key pieces like Thrumming Stone and Grave Pact is quite handy

Immortal Servitude - A great way to bring back 6 Apostles for another round of sacrifice

Torment of Hailfire - This one I am on the fence about, by mid to late game I usually have a ton of mana, but until then, I dont know if its worth hanging on to

Arcane Lighthouse - One step above a Detection Tower for its ability to enable my commander to target creatures

Cabal Stronghold - With 16 swamp lands, this can be a great late game way to gain mana

Command Tower - Dual Land - pretty straight forward add

Concealed Courtyard - Dual Land - pretty straight forward add

Crypt of Agadeem - This, along with 2 other lands can easily net me 6 mana

Detection Tower - One step down from a Arcane Lighthouse for its ability to enable my commander to target creatures

Evolving Wilds - I have 2 fetches in this deck, they are used to mana fix and to change the mix of my deck slightly

Godless Shrinefoil - It’s a Swamp and a Plains, and in a pinch, can be played untapped

Homeward Path - Nothing worse than getting out a few big demons and getting them stolen from me

Isolated Chapel - This is a dual land that generally does not enter tapped

Orzhov Basilica - Just a bit of mana fixing, I could probably swap out for a non-tapped basic land

Path of Ancestry - With all the Apostles in the deck, the scry is nice to throw the next guy to the bottom of my deck if he isnt needed.

Plains - Basic lands. Need them to cast my stuff and things

Scrublandaltered - It a handmade copy, not a Wizards legit one. But it works in my playgroup, we are pretty casual; playing for fun, not for high stakes. I do own a copy, but its safe in a sleeve out of play

Shambling Vent - just a basic tapped dual land. Late game, it can become a creature if i need to sacrifice for any reason.

Swamp - Basic lands. Need them to cast my stuff and things

Tainted Field - Pretty much always enters as a untapped dual land.

Temple of Silence - The Scry makes this one well worth the fact that it enters tapped

Terramorphic Expanse - I have 2 fetches in this deck, they are used to mana fix and to change the mix of my deck slightly

Westvale Abbey   - Is really just in here for flare, but in a pinch can be an awesome demon and can generate white tokens for Teysa to sacrifice

Elbrus, the Binding Blade   - Although expensive at , Withengar Unbound   is very tempting. Especially with 3 tramplers in the deck to force the initial damage through. This is a recent addition, removed Darksteel Mutation

Lightning Greaves - Great for keeping my Commander safe so he can exile, or keeping demons safe so they cannot be copied or stolen

Sol Ring - umm, it’s a Sol Ring

Swiftfoot Boots - Great for keeping my Commander safe so he can exile, or keeping demons safe so they cannot be copied or stolen

Thrumming Stone - How many EDH decks get to see this card? If I get it I can basically cycle through my entire deck taking out Apostles.

Anguished Unmaking - Just a bit of extra exile. The fact that it can target enchantment and artifacts is nice as that is something that Teysa lacks

Necrologia - Trade out a Black Market for this addition. I feel like I will need the card draw more than the extra mana

Rally the Ancestors - A great way to bring back 6 Apostles for another round of sacrifice

Dictate of Erebos - 1 Mana more expensive than Grave Pact but worth it to make every opponent sacrifice 6 creatures when I use my Apostles

Grave Pact - Every time I sacrifice 6 Apostles all opponents must sacrifice 6 creatures. Same when Teysa sacrifices 3 white creatures.

Liliana's Contract - I have yet to win a game because of this card, but the draw is nice when all my creatures only cost

Blood Speaker - Thinking of removing 1 Apostle for this guy. Seems like 6 Apostles rolled into one great creature.

Darksteel Mutation - This is a terrific way to shut down a pesky commander. recently removed to add the Binding Blade  , I will see how it works and re-add this if needed

Demon of Wailing Agonies - Starts as a 4/4, but the Lieutenant ability generally makes him a 6/6 right away. Very recent removal, but still sits at the back of my deckbox, ready to be re-added if needed

Secret Salvage - Was a recent suggestion, going to watch to see if it would be better to have this every time I pull Necrologia

Suggestions

Updates Add

Changes — May 21, 2018
Edit

I made some minor changes to this deck.

Removed Overseer of the Damned for Cabal Stronghold. Found I was a bit light on mana, and had more demons than i was able to pull in any one game. Will keep the Overseer in the wings just in case i need to re-add him. But will test out the new mix.

Removed Desperate Research, added Hanweir Militia Captain . The few times i have gotten to play the research it hasnt been super successful. So figured at least the flip side of the Captain can generate white creatures for my Commander

I also got a Rite of Belzenlok and have it in my Maybes pile.. Not sure if it will work, but it is definitely thematic.

Rivals of Ixalan — Jan. 22, 2018
Edit
Poor showing from the planeswalker — Nov. 11, 2017
Edit

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Revision 30 See all

(1 year ago)

-1 Dictate of Erebos maybe
+1 Unholy Annex / Ritual Chamber maybe