Abusing Lazav

Commander (EDH) forum

Posted on Jan. 1, 2013, 1:01 a.m. by GriffinRider

So I just saw the new spoilers for Gatecrash. I was so excited by Lazav that I immediately decided to make an EDH deck using him.

I was wondering how best to abuse him though... Should I pack the deck with removal and turn him into their creatures? Should I mill them and take my pick? Should I add Szadek, Lord of Secrets and mill for crazy amounts, each time pinging Lazav?

So I'm wondering what everyone else came up with. Please post ideas!!! Thanks.

Jimhawk says... #2

When you don't have to choose between mill, discard, and kill, just do all three.

My first thought was how ridiculous he is with Geth, Lord of the Vault .

January 1, 2013 1:08 a.m.

vila_a23 says... #3

imo, he just begs to be abused with The Mimeoplasm

January 1, 2013 2:11 a.m.

HangDoll says... #4

What should you do? Why not do all of them. Kill, Mill, discard, counter. Actually I think you should use the new Cipher mechanic in a strange voltron style deck that wins on a million spell triggers, but really depends on what else is printed with Cipher. Also use Talrand with him so you can get some drakes. Maybe use some things to give him unblockable. Such as Rogue's passage, whispersilk cloak, Trailblazer's Boots or w/e. Make combat as miserable for your opponent as possible.

January 2, 2013 9:36 a.m.

fd3z says... #5

I like the idea of playing a turn 2 acelerator like:

Sphere of the Suns Dimir Signet Talisman of Dominance

So you're able to cast T3 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind

T4: one of these: Corpse Connoisseur - Buried Alive

or just attack and surprise him/her with Entomb and search for Phage the Untouchable , Lazav becomes a copy of Phage and you just won.

is that abusing Lasav? LOL.

January 27, 2013 7:43 p.m.

Jimhawk says... #6

That doesn't work. Lazav only looks at an opponent's graveyard.

January 27, 2013 7:52 p.m.

Rayenous says... #7

It's really hard to abuse Lazav, Dimir Mastermind , because it is reliant on what your opponent is running.

I would love to mill someone's Phage the Untouchable when I have Lazav, Dimir Mastermind in play... It's the only way I can think of safely having her abilities in play without anyone casting her.

Unfortunately, you can't even guarentee that your opponent has any creatures at all, in which case he's just a 3/3 Hexproof for 4 specific CMC.

The 2 best spells I can think of for use with him are Cruel Fate and (only if you can make him regenerate or indestructible) card:Life's Finale.

January 28, 2013 3:14 p.m.

Stormsong says... #8

I made my Lazav deck on release day, and so far my favorite thing to do is this:Using rocks, accelerate to drop a T3 Lazav (Turn 4 works, but the quicker the better). Then, the next turn, cast Traumatize. :P

February 8, 2013 4:45 a.m.

Stormsong says... #9

My bad. Been a while since I've been back on this site: Traumatize .

February 8, 2013 4:47 a.m.

saltyk says... #10

this seems like it would be a good general but it has way to many flaws. if someone cracks a card:Tormod's Crypt after you cast Traumatize you are boned with the trigger. in some situations that could be a good thing that their graveyard is gone but for me i don;t like decks based on a situationial circumstance.

February 13, 2013 2:51 p.m.

saltyk says... #11

by a good general i mean fun to play a couple times but not a deck that would win imo

February 13, 2013 2:52 p.m.

Stormsong says... #12

One of my big questions is: does Lazav have the ability to respond to cards that shuffle into their owner's library after hitting the graveyard already? Could Lazav copy cards like Kozilek, Butcher of Truth or Worldspine Wurm since they hit the graveyard but are then shuffled? I know that graveyard effects happen very quickly, but I figure that, since Lazav triggers from cards entering the library from anywhere, that he could still copy it?

February 13, 2013 8:31 p.m.

saltyk says... #13

yes in response to kozilek hitting the graveyard declare it as the copy target then the real on gets shuffled in.

February 14, 2013 12:12 p.m.

saltyk says... #14

lazav targets creatures in opponents graveyard not yours but it could still copy opponents kozilek

February 14, 2013 12:16 p.m.

Stormsong says... #15

Good to know. I figured it was correct, but cloning someone's Eldrazi always felt kind of cruel. XD

February 16, 2013 6:54 p.m.

This discussion has been closed