Expedition map or a creature / counter
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on May 11, 2019, 1:53 a.m. by Joe_Ken_
So I’ve been wondering about the use of Expedition Map recently in my Boros angel tribal deck. Aurelia's Angelic crusade
I’ve been considering slotting it out for either Reya Dawnbringer or Archangel Avacyn Flip if I were to go for another creature. Or I was considering Lapse of Certainty to have a counterspell in the back pocket that I can grab with Sunforger in the event I need to stop a board wipe.
firestorms90 I like all the insight you’ve got for each of the cards and I think while the loop idea with Reya Dawnbringer and Karmic Guide is interesting it isn’t likely to happen often. The most I could seeing it happen is when I have Reya out and use my Recruiter of the Guard to grab Karmic guide from the deck. Also a reason I didn’t have Reya in my first draft of the deck was because it does take an entire rotation to get its trigger to go off meaning if I do have a valuable creature in grave she would be likely to get hit with some removal so it is a bit of a risk having her out. Nothing really care about creatures entering play, but it’s just to keep my board stocked with a bunch of angels so they can beat down my opponents.
I don’t run into board wipes too often and normally I can just use Sunforger and Boros Charm / Teferi's Protection to avoid them, but the reason I had some thoughts about Archangel Avacyn Flip was for another board wipe protector and if one of my non-angels die it can be a mini board wipe for small creatures like mana dorks or other useful small creatures as well as bolting each opponent for 3, which really isn’t all too much in the scheme of things.
The reasons I have been considering Lapse of Certainty is for another board wipe protector or just to counter any potentially harmful spells and then try to take them out before they draw it again. But there is also a bit of a combo with Sunforger + Mistveil Plains (which I try to tutor for with Tithe ) where I can just put an instant back on the deck during each one of my turns. I normally do this with Boros Charm for its indestructible use, but I was thinking I could use it with the Lapse to always have that counterspell ready to go in case I need it.
I guess out of my ideas Avacyn is probably the worst choice since I have a fair amount of board wipe protection already in the deck while Reya provides a lot of graveyard value and Lapse gives me a reoccurring counterspell in White.
May 11, 2019 11:06 p.m.
SMASHER101 says... #4
I would say take out a land and put in map, but you only have 36 lands and a high curve. Take out Reya Dawnbringer . Map serves the same purpose in the late game by getting Emeria, The Sky Ruin and doesn't cost 80 mana. Archangel Avacyn Flip is better board wipe insurance than Lapse of Certainty . Not sure why Selfless Spirit isn't in here if your worried about wipes.
May 12, 2019 8:28 a.m.
Haven’t really looked into Selfless Spirit which is actually a really good card. I mostly try to make the board wipe protection at instant speed though since then my opponents are more likely to play them and wipe everyone else instead, but with it being searchable for Recruiter of the Guard I can see having it.
I think I may also remove Mind's Eye from the deck since it can be pretty slow and won’t always provide too much benefit since if I need card draw I can normally tutor for Mask of Memory
firestorms90 says... #2
I can't really offer a strong argument for one over the others, but perhaps by offering my thoughts you can better make your decision.
I personally love Reya; though I've never run her in an edh deck I love the reanimation and can see it supplementing much of what you already have in the deck. I have an angel deck that's a monowhite counterpart to my black demon deck, and part of my goal when building it was to try and mimic the black deck's reanimation. Reya bringing back Karmic Guide to bring back something else is always gravy. Plus, I think you could stack the upkeep triggers such that Guide dies to echo, then Reya brings it back. Not sure that interaction has much relevance in your deck (I don't remember seeing anything that cares about creatures entering play), but it's interesting to note.
How frequently do you encounter board wipes besides your own? The other two options you list seem like they could fill a similar role in regards to stopping board wipes. I like that Lapse can be tutored for with Sunforger, especially since you can already tutor for the equipment. Plus, you've only got to pay two for it when you use the hammer, and it's still just three to cast from hand. Avacyn costs more to cast and you've got to have it in hand already to save your creatures from board wipes, but it has the added benefit of sticking around as a beater afterwards. Is the damage dealt upon her transformation going to harm you much? If not, that's potentially another creature wipe for you, and extra damage to opponents to boot!
May 11, 2019 9:59 p.m.