Help with Forced Attack Deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 20, 2018, 11:51 a.m. by RazortoothMtg
Hello all! I'm looking to build a deck that forces everyone to attack me, then punishes them with cards like Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs.
The problem is I don't have nearly enough cards.
For cards that force people to attack, I have Trove of Temptation, Fumiko the Lowblood, Boros Battleshaper (kind of), Bident of Thassa, and Alluring Siren. Also Hellraiser Goblin, since I plan on the commander being Zedruu the Greathearted
As for punishing them when they attack, all I have is Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs, and then Lust for War-type cards, but those aren't great.
And yes, while cards like Crown of Doom, Gahiji, Honored One, and Assault Suit seem great, I want people to attack me. But it only really works if there are more cards like Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs that then punishes them for attacking me.
Edit: After looking a little more, I found Goblin Spymaster, Goblin Diplomats, War's Toll, Warmonger Hellkite, Curse of the Nightly Hunt, and Grand Melee
Avatar of Slaughter is another card which forces opponents to attack. Giving your opponents double strike might be a tad problematic though.
Angel's Trumpet punishes an opponent for not attacking, though it is rendered obsolete by other forced attack cards.
Stuffy Doll is another viable punishment card, as it is an indestructible blocker who reflects damage.
Delaying Shield is a strong punishment card alongside Zedruu--you can force your opponents to attack you, put a significant number of delay counters on Delaying Shield, then promptly donate it to an enemy (preferably one who cannot easily generate White mana).
Lightmine Field works wonders against decks that go wide, and can easily destroy an enemy's entire force.
Aurification will neuter their creatures after they attack, though this would not prove useful if you want to repeatedly force attacks. Might be a tad fun alongside Angel's Trumpet though.
Isperia, Supreme Judge is probably too costly to cast, but it turns their attacks into card advantage. That might be more punishing than reflected damage.
Riddlekeeper mills them when they attack. Not significant against Voltron or other decks focusing on large creatures, but might be nifty against wide token decks.
Slumbering Dragon is a one-drop that can very quickly become a large, evasive creature.
February 20, 2018 12:18 p.m.
griffstick says... #4
Goblin Diplomats, Illusionist's Gambit, Aggravate, Shipwreck Singer, Rage Nimbus, Norritt, Nettling Imp, Nettling Curse, Magnetic Web, Into the Fray, Incite, Imps' Taunt, Heckling Fiends, Gideon, Battle-Forged, Courtly Provocateur, Chemister's Trick, Bullwhip, Boiling Blood, Basandra, Battle Seraph, Arcum's Whistle, Alluring Siren
February 20, 2018 12:19 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #5
You may need to include black if you are wanting people to attack you. That will give you access to things like Marchesa's Decree, Blood Reckoning, Hissing Miasma, No Mercy, Dread, and Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts.
I would also recommend running mostly rattle snakes for your creatures like Ophiomancer or Archetype of Finality. You are not only looking to make them attack you but also gain some kind of advantage from the attack. If you are not gaining advantage you are just making a deck designed to lose the game.
You will want protection. Platinum Angel, Platinum Emperion, Fortune Thief, Worship, and Elderscale Wurm are all good for this.
Lightmine Field, Caltrops, Powerstone Minefield are also good options. Repercussion would be great.
Lifeline and Endless Whispers because many of my suggestions can kill and eventually people will run out of creatures so people will stop attacking...
Due to the variety of colors in my post perhaps O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami would be the right commander? I will note that I built this deck and couldn't really get it to work but perhaps I just didn't give it enough time to sort out.
February 20, 2018 12:28 p.m.
griffstick says... #6
Fumiko the Lowblood, Warmonger Hellkite, War's Toll, Total War, Season of the Witch, Maddening Imp, Grand Melee, Gideon Jura, Disrupt Decorum, Avatar of Slaughter, Aurafication, Angel's Trumpet
February 20, 2018 12:36 p.m.
Spirit_Logan says... #7
alright everyone. we're all commenting the same cards with a few differences.
LOOK AT WHAT THE PEOPLE ABOVE YOU ARE SAYING!!!
if you know one that hasn't been said, say it. don't be redundant.
February 20, 2018 12:41 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #8
So after all that thinking maybe it would be better to go mono red with Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs as your commander. He gets you what you want to do and keeps things simple so the deck works. Basandra, Battle Seraph if you really want more colors I suppose. Just a thought, sometimes less colors makes for a much better deck.
February 20, 2018 12:42 p.m.
griffstick says... #9
Slumbering Dragon, Riddlekeeper, Marchesa's Decree, Isperia, Supreme Judge, Hissing Miasma, Crown of Doom, Briar Patch, Blood Reckoning, Barbed Foliage, Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, Hixus, Prison Warden, No Mercy, Dread, Vengeful Pharaoh, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
February 20, 2018 12:45 p.m.
griffstick says... #10
Oh hey sorry @Spirit_Logan I've just been going off I have not been reading just posting
February 20, 2018 12:47 p.m.
Spirit_Logan says... #11
**griffstick!!!!!!!!!!! DID YOU NOT SEE MY POST????!!!!
February 20, 2018 12:47 p.m.
griffstick says... #13
All good I like this one cause it's an easy one haha so I'm posting all possible cards.
February 20, 2018 12:53 p.m.
griffstick says... #14
@RazortoothMtg can we get a link to your deck when you have decided on a CMDR
February 20, 2018 12:54 p.m.
Spirit_Logan says... #15
@griffstick he wants zedruu to be the commander
February 20, 2018 12:56 p.m.
GhostChieftain says... #16
My suggestion would be just go mono red kazuul. Punish people for attacking you, but make them attack. Punish people for tapping lands, but make them tap them. Use stax abilities, and a bunch of ways for you to still perform. Use artifacts to supplement your game plan and as the main card type, since red is weak without artifacts and strong with them. If you go with other colors in there, you lose the ability to always have a way to punish them (with your commander) for attacking you.
February 20, 2018 12:59 p.m.
griffstick says... #17
I think Kaervek the Merciless would be a solid choice.
February 20, 2018 1:18 p.m.
I have personally had more fun focusing on the theme of aggression between opponents
I recently saw someone post this artifact that allows damage redirection to ANY creature when you activate it when you take dmg - I wish I could remember the name because THAT would be wacky in a "attack me" deck
February 20, 2018 7:30 p.m.
Nova Pentacle - My bad... This is better in my Lazav deck for goofy funzies I guess
February 20, 2018 7:40 p.m.
Suns_Champion says... #21
Didn't see Imaginary Threats up there. Or Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker.
Perhaps cards that also punish creatures that didn't attack? Siren's Call for example?
I think using black would suit you well. Queen Marchesa perhaps? No Mercy, Batwing Brume, High Priest of Penance , many others already mentioned.
February 20, 2018 7:56 p.m.
RazortoothMtg says... #22
Okay, so many comments here!
I'm probably gonna be prototyping a few decks with each of the different suggested commanders here. I'll post them here when I have a rough outline of each.
Thoughts between Zedruu the Greathearted, Queen Marchesa, O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami, and just Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs?
Zedruu the Greathearted allows for some cool tricks with cards like Delaying Shield, as well as drawing me cards and gaining back the life I lose from everyone attacking me. Also, gives me Courtly Provocateur-style effects, as well as Riddlekeeper and Isperia, Supreme Judge, both of which seem like some of the best cards in this style of deck.
Queen Marchesa does a lot of things for the deck, and is my top pick as of right now. gives me No Mercy effects, High Priest of Penance (and the Phyrexian Reclamation that would make it great), rattlesnake cards like Ophiomancer, and does a lot herself, such as giving me card draw, or another reason to attack me, and when I'm not the monarch she gives me deathtouchers to make attacking me extra painful.
O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami gives me all the above mentioned cards, and gives me an attack punisher in the command zone. Not a lot to say about it, other than getting to Vindicate something every turn seems pretty good. Or twice a turn with Fireshrieker. Would also give me an easy actual wincon in commander damage, since it's big and evasive.
Finally, Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs, the card that started this, is probably my last pick since I don't get to play a lot of the cool cards like No Mercy and stuff. However, having one of the best punishers at all times might be the correct choice.
February 20, 2018 9:28 p.m.
griffstick says... #23
Nice. Don't forget about Dread, and Vengeful Pharaoh, and Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, and Aurification they are all like No Mercy
February 20, 2018 9:40 p.m. Edited.
RazortoothMtg says... #24
There's a quick list for Marchesa. I really like her in the command zone. Any thoughts on the deck itself would be appreciated.
February 20, 2018 10:31 p.m.
Suns_Champion says... #25
I'd say Queen Marchesa, but if you feel like you'll miss blue go with O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami and run everything.
Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs can go in either deck and be great, but in the command zone limits your color options.
Zedruu the Greathearted is cool but a good chunk of the deck would have to be dedicated to what he does to benefit from him. You can't go giving your good stuff away so I feel like he isn't the right fit. I've played Delaying Shield in Marchesa and so it can still be used to good effect.
My personal bias is to my Queen. But if blue is something you feel like you need, O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami might be the way to go. He seems like the best way to blend all these elements and make a really unique deck.
Let me know when you have a decklist(or multiple) up! I'll be happy to check it out!
EDIT: Snipped! I'll be there shortly!
Spirit_Logan says... #2
I wanted to do this once :)
http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+%5B%22attack+%22%5D+%5B%22if+able%22%5D for force attacks
i cant find cards that punish people for attacking, sorry :P
February 20, 2018 12:04 p.m.