4 simple favors & I'll handle the rest... (Gisela CMDR deck)
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Oct. 2, 2018, 12:08 p.m. by BMHKain
Soldier of Fortune, Boros' Final Stand
Commander / EDH*
SCORE: 1 | 102 VIEWS
I don't want help with the deck in general this time; I'll do that after myself. This time, before I plan my Deck & Izzet Pride (cdkime & I both agreed I'd be best in Izzet, though my traits seem to derive from my Ambitions, Nobunaga-Style), I would like some help for 4 qualities this is lacking...
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There is a list of stuff with potential way down. What do you see as good there?
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What 5 Color/UBRG commander would you recommend in
Kozilek, Spatial Render
Commander / EDH*
13 VIEWS
instead?
It's also to be noted that I'm working on a guide for Boros in MTG. If anyone wishes to contribute, check here:
The Index of Aurelia's Codex...
Unknown*
1 COMMENT | 48 VIEWS
Haven't updated it in awhile though... Thanks for helping in advance BTW! :D
Flooremoji says... #3
Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle has won many games for me in modern, maybe it will help you in EDH. Order of Whiteclay and Sun Titan are also of the same vein. I didn't see if you had Emeria, The Sky Ruin.
October 2, 2018 8:53 p.m.
landofMordor says... #4
Friend, that deck of yours is 132 cards last I checked. If you cut it to 100, your ENTIRE deck becomes better, because you increase the chances of drawing a good card. Instead of an x/132 chance you draw your extra-turn combos, you have a x/100, which is a HUGE improvement. I get it if the deck has extra cards because it's a WIP, but your goal should really be 100.
Regarding your requests 1 and 2, I'll point you to Scryfall.com's advanced search tool, which will be helpful for your other decks, too. This should help you find as many extra turns and spot removal as you could want.
For 3 and 4, you're in the wrong colors. You really need B for recursion and U for bounce. This is perhaps where I'd try to cut those 30 cards. If you feel like your cards are too frail, well, welcome to Boros EDH(; as a Gisela player myself, I understand your pain, but "indestructible until EOT" is really the best you can get except for the examples of recursion you've already mentioned. Same for bounce.
Best of luck! Hmu if I can be helpful! Cheers!
October 3, 2018 4:26 p.m.
Thanks guys! I like your ideas! & landofMordor, thanks for the support! I'll just note scryfalls to be sure...
Suggestions will be added soon! I'll cut when I get a decent slate... :)
Although there's one more thing of note I kind of wanted in: Protection from color cards (Having protection from your own colors (& Artifice) doesn't seem good here...)
Thanks again! ^_^
October 4, 2018 2:07 p.m.
landofMordor says... #6
Well, for protection, you've got both Akromas, but they're ludicrously expensive on mana. There's Favor of the Mighty and Pristine Angel, too.
Just FYI, I found those results by typing "id<=rw o:protection" into Scryfall. That finds cards in your color identity with "protection" somewhere in their text box. Hope it helps (:
Another high-level suggestion: it seems like you're wishing for a way to make each card in your Boros deck completely unstoppable. Unfortunately, the cards in RW are either too CMC-expensive for a normal EDH deck, or you'll end up just running 40 pieces of ramp into mythic Angels (which doesn't seem like what you're going for). Instead of wishing that Boros could win the value-and-card-advantage-and-inevitability war with the other colors (because, as annoying as it is, there are not enough RW cards in the world to do recursion, protection, extra turns, AND winning in the same deck!), just lean into what your Boros deck can do well. That way, you'll benefit from the synergies of Gisela, and you'll also be able to benefit from the social advantage of being the "weakest" deck at the table, a deck that flies under the radar and kills the last man standing who thought you could be ignored.
October 4, 2018 4:30 p.m.
@landofMordor: I'm currently trying to swallow the comment of yours. I'd really like to show my perspective of a Good Boros Commander on the custom cards forum all while conforming to its standards to Boros. Problem for now is that MTG Set Editor doesn't have Legendary Borders that are introduced in DOM/Dominaria...
But, sure. I just need a shortened ver. of the same post you mentioned previously... Thanks BTW.
October 5, 2018 12:05 p.m.
BTW, landofMordor, I'm trying to find cards for support for "You Lose the Game" avoidance. Using Scryfall BTW: & loving it. XP I'll see what I can do about the rest from there...
October 5, 2018 4:30 p.m.
landofMordor says... #9
Ah, yes. Sorry about that -- I was typing quickly and didn't notice the wall of text (:
The TLDR of that post was: Boros, as it stands now, can't hang with the other multicolor pairings in a multiplayer, 40-life format like EDH. Boros can be the deck for "surprise battlecruiser victory", but it can't be the "infinite turns" or "reanimate everything" deck. If your heart is set on those strategies as anything more than a fun sub-theme, then add another color to save yourself the heartache of losing(:
Glad you like Scryfall! It's a brewer's most important tool! I'm happy to take another look at your deck(s) whenever you want -- just mention me and I'll be glad to help(: cheers, and best of luck!
October 5, 2018 4:41 p.m.
@landofMordor: One thing about Scryfall though; how does one do syntax searches? I tried using that keyword of yours (About Protection), but it did zilch wherever I paste it. Also, I'm using such cards to prove Boros is more than just "Tap to Attack." I hope you understand what I mean... That said, I could throw in an Aggro-esque theme as a last resort. Though it's Ironic that CommandCast has ideas for Boros outside of mindless attacking... Sorry about that... X/
October 6, 2018 10:01 a.m.
landofMordor says... #11
On Scryfall’s main page, hit “Advanced search” if you want to see every way you can search.
Copy what I put in the quotes, but not the quote marks themselves. Also put a space between criteria. Hope that helps.
Yes, I totally get that. I will be the first to brew such a deck when a janky commander comes out...the best we have now are Firesong and Sunspeaker and Brion Stoutarm, which might tickle your fancy, as well...
Yeah, I’m hoping new Commander products innovate like the Command Zone hopes, but until then, I’ll keep dreaming up custom cards(;
October 6, 2018 3:43 p.m.
Check. Shame the search doesn't show cards that would do good very well with Pristine Angel (I was trying to find a card that can copy the Protection effects...)
Anyways, thanks for understanding, landofMordor! :D
October 7, 2018 10:20 a.m.
Wait, would Concerted Effort be useful in the case of copying stuff like this?
October 7, 2018 10:44 a.m.
@landofMordor: Well, would it? Also, I put both Meld duos in the deck in case they're needed. But I still have one last question to ask: What can bypass the "You Lose the Game" Clause in Boros' colors besides Sundial of the Infinite? Also, I found spot removal compatable for Sunforger for everything but Planeswalkers. I wonder why...
Finally, how good are Brisela, Voice of Nightmares
, & Hanweir, the Writhing Township? Wish I could ask about Graf Rats, Midnight Scavengers, & Chittering Host... Not in Boros' Colors unfortunately...
October 8, 2018 12:10 p.m.
Platinum Angel, though it's a bit difficult to cast without ramp.
Gideon of the Trials, though it's subject to being able to keep it alive.
Angel's Grace - the End Step (when Final Fortune's ability triggers) occurs before the Cleanup Step (when Angel's Grace's effect wears off).
October 8, 2018 12:16 p.m.
Got it. BTW: Eldrazi Displacer + Sneak Attack keeps fatties on the field in case one cares... I think? Ah, whatever, I'll cut the amount to 100 myself later...
October 8, 2018 12:48 p.m.
Then again, I actually have one last favor at least...
What cards in Boros' colors w/ Devoid seem good here? I already have Eldrazi Displacer (Which is the only White Card of this kind...), so, any other ideas?
October 9, 2018 10:13 a.m.
Here are the cards I found that are in such a color:
*Gisela, the Broken Blade/Bruna, the Fading Light
*Hanweir Battlements/Hanweir Garrison
*Reality Hemorrhage (Possible Sunforger Package add?)
Which do you think would be good for my Boros Deck? Also I omitted Eldrazi Displacer as it is a standard for this deck anyway.
Also, one last question, Since my Kozilek Deck is doing nothing but fail the meter, do you think I should run a 5Color Commander, & if so, what?
October 9, 2018 1:33 p.m.
BUMP!
Does anyone have any opinion on these? And what 5 Color Commander do you think would be better for Eldrazi? Also, are Eldritch Moon based Eldrazi safe to play in this case? I'll edit my Boros Deck from here; I just added some new "Tutors"...
October 10, 2018 9:01 a.m.
Actually, I have one last favor after that. Remember the Pristine Angel + Concerted Effort combo? Does it really work, & if so, are there any cards in Boros' Colors that have Protection from Colorless (You know, Eldrazi?)? I'll search for now, though Posts 17-19 need a responding to as well. Thanks!
October 10, 2018 10:58 a.m.
Actually, to add to this, I was trying to see if Pristine Angel + Concerted Effort + Empty-Shrine Kannushi/Pledge of Loyalty can also give protection from Creature Types, Card Types of such colors, Protection from Colorless, Enemy Effects for those Colors, etc. & if it's a legit combo. Also, is there such a card in Boros' colors that can even spread these effects to the player? Finally, I still want to know if any of post #18's list of cards are even necessary for this deck? I somehow have the urge to make a Tier REDACTED again, & it seems to be shaping as a Toolbox deck like Ocelot44 was guessing... anyone have any answers?
October 10, 2018 1:55 p.m.
landofMordor says... #22
Wow friend -- you're really going to town on Scryfall! It's awesome to see the neurons firing like this (: Sorry for the slow reply. I've been busy irl, but I'll respond when I get a chance.
Starting from the beginning (I'll be a little concise so avoid wall-of-text, but I promise I'm not trying to be rude!). Yes Concerted Effort works, but the real question is whether it's good enough in a vacuum to take a slot in your 100. Does it combo with other things? Or are you relying on drawing the Angel alongside it? If the latter, cut it.
Black is the only color that can answer planeswalkers with instants, but you can target planeswalkers with direct-damage instants like Lightning Helix, even though it's less consistent than Oblivion Ring and friends.
You're right about Sneak Attack -- the flickered creature is treated like a new game object, with no history of being snuck. But that doesn't mean you need to put that 2-card combo in, either. The chances of having those two cards in your opening hand are nearly 0, and the other W flicker cards aren't good enough in a vacuum to justify putting in more.
Similarly, devoid in general is terrible in RW, unless you're making an Eldrazi deck. I think your Gisela deck is suffering from "100-slot syndrome". You need to split all these great ideas into about 6 decks -- one RW+BLACK reanimator, one RW+BLUE flicker-and-bounce, a Kozilek Eldrazi deck, an Angels tribal deck, and finally a Gisela deck that isn't just a list of generically good RW cards. Otherwise, I can speak from experience that you'll hate playing this list -- it'll always feel like you've drawn the wrong half of your deck, and that nothing has feel-good synergy.
What does "fail the meter" mean? If you're referring to T/O's Competitive Meter, that's a bogus way to gauge a deck, since nobody knows how it works. For your Kozilek, I'd just ask your playgroup if they're okay with you using Devoid cards as if their color identity were colorless, which would maximize both flavor and fun without being carte blanche.
Regarding protection: Concerted Effort would spread "protection from creatures/types/etc", but Pledge and Kannushi don't have that. Players almost never get protection, because protection gives immunity to damage. Your closest bet is hexproof through Witchbane Orb and friends...but again, that's not a good card in a vacuum, so I don't recommend it.
Regarding "toolbox Boros deck", yes, you could make a deck whose sole purpose is to tutor for Sunforger...so you can tutor for any instant answer...and then you can tutor for a creature with protection and win over the course of 20 turns...but the real question is, is that going to be fun after the first game? My humble suggestion is that you'd get really sick of it, especially because 1) you need B for functional tutors, and 2) nothing I just described is a winning strategy. Look at all the cards you've mentioned; look at your decklist -- those cards might be good, but they're ALL either too CMC-expensive or only good in a combo that you'll never draw into in Boros or simply not as powerful as killing somebody dead.
I'm happy to continue the conversation on your decklist, where I can break it down some more card-by-card, but that's my instinct here. Check out my deck One-Punch Woman (Primer) in the meantime, in case that helps show you what I mean.
October 10, 2018 3:24 p.m.
(Why I've yet to upload a vid about my thoughts on Boros, much less stuff outside of Fighting Games I dunno...)
landofMordor, I myself am surprised at how much I've used Scryfall Myself. Xp It's strictly better than Gatherer if I am allowed a one-word review. XD
Anyways, now to get to the biz...
There is one other reason for Concerted Effort, but I might have to search Scryfall again for such things in ... That one other card is Odric, Lunarch Marshal. I'd also throw in Ward of Bones, but this already has many creatures as it is... Plus, Flickering Effects + Solemn Simulacrum = More lands than your opponent, I already have more rocks than most, thus the Strikeout for Ward of Bones. Might be good in a Superfriends deck though; it was made before Shards of Alara by one Core Set (I think?) & one part of a block.
I don't need either one right now; I already have Tutors not many would think exist. ;)
Ironically, Sneak Attack is thrown to promote a decent amount of Fat where nothing else can. Gisela & Bruna #2 for instance. Also, maybe I'll have to get more flicker effects besides Eldrazi Displacer to be safe...
Already knew that. XD. I think the reason why such a WIP deck is 96% Casual is that for Eldrazi, 7 cost is the Golden Number...
Ironic; since I have Aegis of the Gods in. Is it worth cutting as well?
Okay, maybe not (RW Toolbox) was the right term. But I pretty much have the Motivation/Ambition now to prove RW's Competitive nature anyway. This is my last chance, you should know.
I never wanted this to be Aggro. I didn't even want this to be a Schmogepoge of garbage; I just wanted to go as far as I can to a Tier I know I can't reach, but I'm betraying Yoda's most famous quote on this regard, & doing it in some way.
We'll finish this in the actual deck list, which is currently getting cut one by one.
BMHKain says... #2
(Placeholder comment placed...)
Any ideas for either?
October 2, 2018 2:11 p.m.