swarm yard deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 3, 2016, 8:56 p.m. by zachi
So i need help making a swarm yard deck for my brother. He wants a squirrel deck, but im the only one in our play group who really has a 60 card and they are both competitive. So i thought making an EDH deck around swarm yard. Im thinking G/B or G/W/B for colors and having Vesuva, Thespian's Stage to copy Swarmyard. I dont know who to use as a commander though.
Rhys the Redeemed for massive token generation perhaps? Or you might also do good with a general like Ezuri, Claw of Progress to pump up the squirrels you have. Both color sets have their advantages for the theme.
January 3, 2016 9:17 p.m.
@Livingham All three will have enough tutors, but im saying a swarmyard deck because it will be squirrels, incest, rats and spiders.
@GearNoir But then im only looking at squirrels, some insects, some spiders and no rats.
January 3, 2016 9:31 p.m.
Sounds like your brother really wants a squirrel deck rather than a Swarmyard deck. Check if rats and other small critters are in vogue too (there are some good snake things). Or perhaps Druids & Treefolk?
Agree with the Rhys suggestion. Ask your brother about any green (preferably Gx) commander he likes though.
January 3, 2016 9:33 p.m.
@zachi I assume you mean the lack of Black. That might be good for more removal and sac effects, but I figured straightforward token flooding and creature pump might be more effective. If you can still manage some decent pump combos with just BG Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord is an option.
January 3, 2016 10 p.m.
This may see like an odd idea, but what about Five color? Im actually sitting down, looking at the color breakdown of insects, squirrels, rats and spiders and insects have a little to medium dabble in red and blue.Army Ants could be nice control, if i put Crucible of Worlds in. Carrion Beetles is a slight push to add black. Fire Ants, niche pick for clean up on main phase 2. Delver of Secrets Flip is a push to add a splash for blue. Invader Parasite
I wont go through and add every idea i have, but im really thinking i would atleast need W/G/B minimum.
January 3, 2016 10:30 p.m.
The main issue with WGB or going 5-color IMO is the lack of General selection for your theme, besides needing ultra focus on the 99.
WGB gives you Teneb, the havester, Karador, Ghost Chieftain, Anafenza, the Foremost, Ghave, Guru of Spores, and Doran, the Siege Tower. I think these would require some wonky combos to be beneficial for your focus.
5-color gets a little better in utility, but comes with it's own drawbacks. Karona, False God is probably your best bet, but is a double edged sword, Progenitus has a massive cast cost that only gets bigger and does little for the rest of your deck, or there's Sliver Hivelord if you want to smash in a silver sub theme.
I would personally stick to Green + a color that will give you the most of the utility type you are looking for.
This is all opinion of course. :)
January 4, 2016 12:45 p.m.
RedUndead40 says... #10
Couple things - if you really want the deck to revolve around Swarmyard, you have two options- a Relentless Rats deck with something like Marrow-Gnawer at the helm, or you could just run Sidisi, Undead Vizier as your commander and just have her act as a self-sacrificing tutor to find your Swarmyard reliably, every game.
I once played a deck with Sidisi at the helm, and the guy would just search out Conspiracy every time with Sidisi and the rest of the deck was Mercenary tutoring with black goodstuff. Ever since then I've always been interested in having a tutor as your commander with Sidisi.
January 4, 2016 12:50 p.m. Edited.
But again, neither commanders are what i want to use. I think going jund would be good if im going token.
January 4, 2016 5:48 p.m.
Going wtih Shattergang Brothers and using Army Ants, Mortician Beetle ect with Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest can get really insane, espeically in a four man pod. shattergang sacs a spider token, thats four +1/+1 counters from mazirek, then another 4 on beetle.
January 7, 2016 9 a.m.
Definitely put in some recursion then. Once you pump from Mazirek, I'd imagine he'll very quickly be target #1 for removal - Skullwinder fits your theme for instance.
Livingham says... #2
You're going to have to have a lot of tutors to make an EDH deck focused on one card.
January 3, 2016 8:58 p.m.