Glissa, the Traitor Ideas
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on May 17, 2016, 11:12 p.m. by Flagellum
So I've decided to start a Glissa, the Traitor deck but don't know the most effective way to build her. Trying to stay away from another 
good stuff deck. I'm aware of the combos she forms with things like Thornbite Staff, Mindslaver, Executioner's Capsule, ect., ect. which I'm planning on running. It's the direction of the deck I'm more concerned about (as well as wincons). I've seen her built in so many different ways it's hard to discern what is best. I assume a control/stax build with Attrition like elements is best, but what do I know...
So what is the best way to build her? Voltron, Dredge, Control/Stax, Eggs, Infect (lol), or some other way that I haven't seen?
I had a Glissa deck that was infect - she is famously feared for synergy with infect.
It was fast and strong, you can recur important equipment or artifacts (and artifact creatures): Core Prowler, Ichorclaw Myr, Contagion Clasp, etc. She also has great synergy with Throne of Geth
That said, this does not mean that one can't think out of the box with her. Voltron Glissa would be a new direction for me, I haven't seen a voltron deck with her at the helm in play yet.
May 18, 2016 6:16 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #4
She seems like she would be good with artifacts that will want to be removed or artifacts that sacrifice themselves. So artifact good stuff + artifact self-sacrificers seem to be the most synergistic. Mind's Eye and Mirror Universe for example. Also, her having first strike and deathtouch could be useful. Maybe stuff that forces creatures to attack/block? Nemesis Mask for example.
May 18, 2016 6:32 a.m.
GobboE: It is very tempting to go that route, but I have a feeling that I wouldn't last long at the LGS. There is plenty of synergy between Glissa and the infect artifact creatures. I have no doubt it might take 1-2 players out, but I'd definitely be archenemy. My meta also runs 20 counters.
MagicalHacker: Yup, I thought of self sacrificing creatures/artifacts, that's why I've seen many "egg" decks with things like Urza's Bauble, Necrogen Spellbomb, ect. ect. Mind Stone, Commander's Sphere, other similar rocks/artifacts become draw engines. The creatures like Sylvok Replica work well with Grave Pact and/or Attrition effects. Myr Retriever can pull double duty with Glissa, or can act like Glissa if she's been killed. Krark-Clan Ironworks acts like an Ashnod's Altar for artifacts that want to die like Ichor Wellspring or Cathodion. Copper Gnomes can get out more expensive artifacts out and then get recured by Glissa.
May 18, 2016 10:53 a.m.
Okay, MagicalHacker... I'm brewing my own, well, brew. While most egg decks seem to durdle a lot; gaining CA over time controlling the board by destroying the biggest threat while trying to be the last one standing. Eggs have a low creature count, and low amount of win cons. I'm more of the typical "Purphoros" guy that wants to speed things up. So, I'm looking for synergistic cards that can also be win cons due to interaction of artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield. Or possibly combo with other cards which can enable degenerate things.
Like using Executioner's Capsule numerous times in a turn, which can charge Golem Foundry (or other artifact token producers) up to produce golems that can be sac'd to Krark-Clan Ironworks for mana. This synergizes well with Grave Pact or Attrition to generate more interactions... Semblance Anvil can enable a LOT of these things too (suddenly, Chromatic Star becomes a 1:1 mana fixer and nets me a card...). Sacrificing Scuttling Doom Engine to Krark-Clan Ironworks/Kuldotha Forgemaster/Attrition and recuring him via Glissa can become a win con too. Heck, Kuldotha Forgemaster can fish some something like Wurmcoil Engine and/or Blightsteel Colossus (though those two are a bit $$, might be an either/or). Tossing Mycosynth Golem in for giggles can lead to so many things too...
I dunno, maybe I'm on to something, maybe I'm just wasting my time. Whatcha think? Perhaps this is starting to get too much artifact "goodstuff" and the lack of 
might be more damaging than I realize...
May 19, 2016 9:50 p.m.
Just spitting out cards that would go well with the above scenario. Not listing the key combo or bauble cards that work well with Glissa. Note: Obviously these aren't the best, just perhaps lesser known/used:
Moriok Rigger/Vermiculos/Molder Beast/Arcbound Crusher/Glaze Fiend: Big beats. Glaze Fiend or Arcbound Crusher are the better of the bunch. Vermiculos could get insaaaaaaanely fat here, it just lacks evasion.
Fangren Marauder/Scrapheap: lifegain.
Summoning Station/Myr Turbine/Nuisance Engine/Orochi Hatchery: tokens. Obviously better with the likes of Parallel Lives/Doubling Season (the latter is out of the budget).
Mirrorworks: because sometimes one isn't enough.
Throne of Geth: perhaps, if I run enough counters of various sorts.
May 19, 2016 10:18 p.m.
Meh, it seems pretty great. But my deckbuilding skills from scratch need work. It just seems that running eggs leaves you with cards in hand, but a lack of board presence. With Glissa online, it makes you an unassuming threat. Trying to incorporate that with the above idea seems to slow down the tempo and the baubles aren't a great target to recur as compared to other things.
Honestly, I am contemplating infect since I've always wanted an infect deck. It's pretty budget and sounds like fun. Although I will have to refrain from pods of 4 or more as there will be no hope. Recurring Glaring Spotlight sounds amusing too... That or I'm just going to drop her altogether lol. Just can't seem to find something that interests me with her. Not sure if Varolz would be better though...
May 20, 2016 12:43 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #11
Varolz is the way to go if you decide to try infect.
May 20, 2016 6:37 a.m.
RoarMaster says... #12
If you are trying to use Glissa Ive seen her used well as a voltron commander with badass equipment. But it would be an expensive build alright.
If you want to play infect, my vote is for Marchesa, the Black Rose. Infect doesnt cause loss of life, getting you those dethrone triggers. Also, she buffs the little cheap infect guys you need to run in order to be fast enough, and brings them back after they start dying to opponents big stuff. Added bonus that both poison and her dethrone counters benefit from proliferation.
May 20, 2016 6:56 a.m.
I'd probably run Nekusar, the Mindrazer with infect if I were going grixis. His ability is good with or without infect (and I used to run him). But I'm staying away from tri-colored decks simply because of the mana base.
I like Varolz, just worried that he is too gy dependent. I've already checked out your deck MagicalHacker and playing solitaire was much better than with Glissa. I do like the idea that it doesn't necessarily come off as infect to begin with (I.e. setting up discard outlets, ect.). Of course once the cat is out of the bag... :)
May 20, 2016 9:43 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #14
Cool! Is your playgroup one that has a disproportionate response to the threat of infect by hating it out of the game or, even worse, nerfing it by changing the ability from 10 poison counters to 15 or 20?
May 20, 2016 11:14 a.m.
I said 20, but I think it's probably 15. I'll have to ask them again. Either way, 20 is less than 40. Nobody runs infect in my meta which is why I'm not sure lol. LGS is 10 which I've been playing at more often.
ZeGinger says... #2
You will make people sad with stax, because it's really strong. I'm not one who knows how to build it but everyone I speak to says stax is the strongest build. There's my input.
May 18, 2016 12:58 a.m.