Upgrade for Naya token deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Dec. 25, 2015, 6:43 p.m. by clayperce
I run a budget Naya token deck over at Smashface Gardening w/ Rith (EDH Dragons), and I'm looking to do a post-Christmas splurge update. Here are my top three options, from most expensive to least (though as I type this they're all just under $30 on TCGplayer):
More Dragons!
- Dragon Broodmother: Absolutely perfect for the deck
- Aggravated Assault: Great for the deck, and of course insane as Aggravated Assault + Savage Ventmaw
- Sarkhan Vol: A great card and great flavor, but is he really worth it (assuming I'll never see his ultimate)?
More Smashface!
- Dragon Broodmother and Aggravated Assault: Same as above
- Sublime Archangel: Absolutely bonkers in a token deck, though slightly off-flavor
More Tokens and Counters!
- Doubling Season: An amazing card, though of course very pricey
I'd love to hear your thoughts and recommendations!
Deckologist says... #3
Boros Charm can help with board disruption. It's only one card out of 100 but it works well. Since you're running naya a Sunforger could be just the thing you need. It's a build around me card but any good instant you would throw into a naya deck would become part of its package. Doubling Season is fantastic with token builds and also makes your Cathars' Crusade bonkers. It's pricey but I promise you it's well worth it. Mana Reflection is also a pricey but amazing card. And finally there is Rhys the Redeemed a token pooper and a token doubler. Once again he's costly but very nice to have even if you only use him once before he's dead.
Almost forgot. Hammer of Purphoros gives your dudes haste and in a pinch can make tokens. I normally don't run it unless I have a Crucible of Worlds and a way to tutor for it.
I hope this helped.
December 27, 2015 1:31 a.m.
TheDevicer,
Great comments as always; thanks tons!
Solid point on Sarkhan Vol, that he's not useful when behind. And I could not agree more on the futility of chasing ultimates!
The thought on Sublime Archangel is she would be decent anytime, and amazing when the board is stalled out on the ground. I've got a little Voltron on Rith so she can almost always connect, and I envisioned using the Archangel as a repeatable Might of the Masses. But hearing she'd probably not last long enough to be repeatable, makes me think the Might would be a better plan :-)
Dragon Broodmother's pretty solid no matter what the board state. I actually think barely using the Devour, just to keep her as low key as possible, would be the way to go. Something like a 1/1 flyer then Devouring it for a 3/3 flyer, then rinse and repeat.
Spot removal, Wraths, and counterspells are a constant threat, so I tend to not worry about them much ... rebuilding quickly is where the deck gets most of its resiliency. Though I am planning to add at least one more sac' engine, a tough more regeneration, and some anti-counterspell capability on the next update.
Deckologist,
Great comments too; thanks so much!
+1 on the Boros Charm. I've had one in my Maybeboard since forever. I keep thinking it'll be awesome, but I have yet to draw it in playtest, so I keep rotating it out. I'll pull it back to the front though!
I'm not a big fan of tutors, but Sunforger is definitely awesome. And thanks for the thoughts on Doubling Season.
Thanks also for mentioning Mana Reflection and Rhys the Redeemed. I'd dismissed the Reflection early on due to budget, and then forgot about it as a splurge option. Similarly, I'd dismissed Rhys early due to budget and the Elf tokens of his first ability (I'm only running Saprolings and Dragons), but I totally forgot about his doubling ability!
I really like Hammer of Purphoros too. I was running it early on, and pulled it in favor of Fervor. It's first on the list to go back in though, if I add more haste effects.
December 28, 2015 11:40 a.m.
Boros Charm is great. Loxodon Hierarch could serve a similar purpose.
Arvail says... #2
Sarkhan Vol is really mediocre if you're not in a decent position. Chasing walker ults is silly in EDH. For haste, go Urabrask the Hidden, Ogre Battledriver, or Fires of Yavimaya. Sublime Archangel is hella risky. You've got 15 creatures out. Why not attack with them and not risk getting blown out by Path or something? Dragon Broodmother is also only amazing if you've got board presence.
Are wipes not common in your meta? The way I see it, your deck is very weak to disruption.
December 25, 2015 9:49 p.m.