Esper Win Con Help
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on June 23, 2018, 2:39 a.m. by Danno1011
So I'm working on a budget Merieke Ri Berit have always had trouble with win cons. Unfortunately, I don't have a deck list yet. Just a pile of things I need to thin out. The only thing I have right now would be Rise of the Dark Realms . My play group doesn't allow infinite so the Exquisite Blood and Sanguine Bond combo is out as well as Mindcrank and Duskmantle Guildmage . I will be running Storage Matrix and either Winter Orb or Static Orb so those may help me to set up but I'm at a loss to what I'm setting up for. Any ideas?
Homelessguy says... #3
You could also run Liliana's Contract(( this is a card coming out in m19 but for some reason the link will take you to a deck)) but it basically says for three colorless and two black when it comes in a play lose 3 life draw three cards at the beginning of your upkeep if you control four or more demons with different names you win the game, with Arcane Adaptation naming demons!
June 23, 2018 3:32 a.m.
I like the contract idea. I wish I had known about Arcane Adaptation a while back. The CMC and I'm pretty sure the price is cheaper than Conspiracy. Thanks for the ideas Homelessguy.
June 23, 2018 5:14 a.m.
In casual budget, I'd go with whatever combination of cheap big threats you want. Sphinx of the steel wind, sure of stagnation, etc. You could also use repeated ways to recur creatures like kokusho, the evening star with cards like phyrexian reclamation or something. There's a lot of ways to close out games.
June 23, 2018 10:50 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
This may just be coming from a hateful place because I am not a fan of groups that ban playing combo, but I recommend just putting some hard locks in. Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir+Knowledge Pool and Solemnity+Decree of Silence are the two that jump to mind.
June 23, 2018 1:47 p.m.
Eh. I have played in shops were people ban combos and I severely nerf my Grand Arbiter deck to play at their level. The issue is that once I have enough card advantage going, it's really difficult for me to lose. Do you really want me to have to go through another 5 turns of plusing Elspeth or beating you with drogskol reaver? Im sitting on 3 counters, you're top decking, and I'm gaining life and drawing cards. Can I just please combo out?
June 23, 2018 7:31 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #8
Luckily i have never had to deal with this in person. If i ever do run into it I plan on borrowing my buddy's Doomsday Zur deck and just own. I have noticed that most people who say they don't like combo really just don't like having to think about ways to win outside of combat damage. I doubt they would be amused by Doomsday wins even though I would be.
June 24, 2018 12:03 a.m.
Combos are far easier to think about that combat. The combat phase is easily the most complicated part of the turn cycle. I think it's short-sighted to say most people dislike combos because they're too complicated for them. Instead, I think those ho hate combo perceive the archetype to be unfair or antithetical to fun.
June 24, 2018 10:08 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #10
Please don't straw man my arguments. I never said that combos were too complicated for anyone. I said that it has been my experience that most players who dislike combo dislike having to think along axes besides combat damage. There was no stated nor implied reason for them not enjoying these other aspects of the game. I was simply making the observation that most of the time it isn't the infinite nature of combos that they object to, but the fact that you are playing along an axis that removes combat from the game.
Homelessguy says... #2
Well in a pinch you can run Approach of the Second Sun
June 23, 2018 3:26 a.m.