Anti-Eldrazi EDH
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on July 12, 2015, 1:25 p.m. by ComradeJim270
Are you sick of seeing Eldrazi all the time? I am. Someone drops Ulamog or Kozilek and I either groan and facepalm or start grinding my teeth. How boring! Plus, annihilator is bullshit.
Yeah, there are plenty of answers for these dudes. But the way they play and the frequency with which I see them aggravate me to such a degree that I'm entertaining the idea of building a deck that actually punishes people for playing them or just makes them straight-up useless.
Perhaps something that messes with their ramp, or prevents them from casting spells that would get them onto the field. Lots of removal (especially exile and tuck) to get rid of Eldrazi, get rid of things that find Eldrazi, etc. Stuff that stops them from attacking. Graveyard hate so as soon as they hit the yard they're gone. Control elements so they don't even hit the field. Stuff to steal them and punch people in the face with their own dudes. Maybe cards that punish them for dropping fatties. Some land destruction sounds good too.
The idea amuses me greatly. Will it be a great deck? Not likely, but as long as it makes running Eldrazi a huge headache I will be pleased.
Every color is capable of doing some of the things I named. But as for the direction? I'm not sure. Does anyone else have ideas on how to fuck up people who build decks around Eldrazi?
Probably URW for counters, tucking/exile and then land/burn to deal with their ramp. Like make it complete disruption or chaos. Maybe using Numot, the Devastator as a commander?
July 12, 2015 1:37 p.m.
asasinater13 says... #4
or just run grixis chaos magic and make it hell for them to ever get to their eldrazi.
July 12, 2015 1:39 p.m.
Hey, seems like you should look for a new playgroup ;). In my meta I rarely see any eldrazi but there are cool ways to punish these players for casting (or cheating) them (in).You could go for a Norin the Wary deck to mess with the whole table. Simply put in Confusion in the Ranks, Knowledge Pool, Possibility Storm, Genesis Chamber.You can go for a "if you play eldrazi I'll steal them"-approach.
July 12, 2015 1:41 p.m.
Basically you need chaos. Any combination with Izzet in it should work. Like it's probably needed to counter them before they hit the field, or disrupt them so they don't get out in the first place. Like I can see Plasm Capture being extremely useful against the edh legal eldrazis.
July 12, 2015 1:44 p.m.
Gather Specimens could be strong, maybe in a Merieke Ri Berit edh deck
July 12, 2015 1:45 p.m.
if you are looking for the stifle approach, Isochron Scepter would be a good addition for more value out of one stifle. that and Voidmage Husher
July 12, 2015 1:46 p.m.
The deck you are looking to make is Jhoira of the Ghitu. Suspend land destruction, suspend leviathan, titan, colossus, or eldrazi yourself. GG.
July 12, 2015 1:46 p.m. Edited.
ComradeJim270 says... #10
All appealing ideas. Someone suggested Sigarda at one point, which does blank annihilator but also limits my options. I feel like three colors is the way to go for maximum utility.
I feel like white is a must here for he removal. Also, Containment Priest. Jeskai and Esper are great ideas here and Numot would be a fine commander since it allows me to specifically go after one player's lands. I could even hit someone else and then blow up the Eldrazi players' lands. Value!
Sadistic Sacrament is awesome, I didn't even know that was a thing.
Grixis chaos would work too, but for my taste it's a little too... well, chaotic! The idea did occur to me though.
Either way, it feels like this would be something focused on control. The whole goal is to shut down decks revolving around resolving or cheating out fatties like Kozilek, and if it's good solid control options it should be ok in other matchups.
July 12, 2015 1:47 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #11
Wow, this got a lot of comments really fast! Thanks folks! Ok then...
Chaos, I'd consider. However there's still a lot of chance the craftier members of my playgroup could work around it. I've certainly seen it done when someone runs chaos.
@AlexoBn: Nah, they're cool. It's just my own personal peeve, we've got a few players who really like their eldrazi. I really... don't. Stealing their eldrazi does sound appealing though.
@Steaditup: Another possible commander, thanks!
@kyuuri117: Nah, I don't want to run my own. Plus Jhoira gets hated off the table.
July 12, 2015 1:53 p.m.
another thing to consider is stopping the eventual All Is Dust
July 12, 2015 1:55 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #13
@rshizzle: Very true, I'd fully expect it. Sigarda isn't an option in the colors I'm leaning towards, but Mycosynth Lattice would blank it and it can certainly be countered.
July 12, 2015 1:57 p.m.
Jhoira does get hated, but honestly that's why the deck runs like 20 mana rocks and ten-fifteen counter spells. You dump like 4-5 rocks out turns 2-3, play her turn four, and just dump the rest of your hand. Then they have like four turns to kill your before you end the game.
July 12, 2015 1:57 p.m.
Well, if you really want to, you could run Moat. Just gotta make it indestructible so Ulamog doesn't blow it up.
July 12, 2015 2:04 p.m.
BRW is also an option if you are feeling particularly spiteful. You lose out on counterspells, but those don't necessarily get rid of the Legendary Eldrazi anyway. Black and white have options for exiling, either from play or from the library. Black and red gives you cards to steal creatures and "fling" spells like Grab the Reins. Black and red also has Traitor's Roar, Delirium, and Backlash as ways to give a big middle finger to the person who decided to drop a large eldrazi onto the table (and if you have managed to drop their life total down with Sorin Markov then all the better).
Oros, the Avenger may work as the commander since it can help counter some of the token strategies that make cards like Backlash really sub-par. Tariel, Reckoner of Souls gives you a way of getting creatures to cushion your board in case an eldrazi does manage to attack you. Zurgo Helmsmasher isn't great without trample but it could potentially soften up opponents a bit before using cards like Backlash and Grab the Reins.
July 12, 2015 2:06 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #18
Well that's a thing, PepsiAddicted! I'll add that to the list of ideas. Green is interesting here for its ability to make tokens I don't really care about so if someone does resolve an eldrazi and swing they only manage to make me sac a few saprolings.
@kyuuri117: Oh, moat would be amazing! It's just that it costs a few hundred bucks.
@SaberTech: Excellent suggestions. Oros could work, and Tariel has a definite appeal.
July 12, 2015 2:11 p.m.
Izu_Korasu says... #19
I also think the jeskai route would be the best. Numot destroys lands, ruhan can smack them for lethal while they are busy ramping, and narset can let you play non-creatures for free.
narset seems like the most fun for this theme, maybe something along the lines of Narset: Competitive Mass-Denial Deck and Analysis with access to cards like Commandeer/Blatant Thievery/Catch/Debt of Loyalty/Empress Galina/Flash Conscription/Grab the Reins/Bribery and fun chaos cards List of EDH Chaos Cards
or you could go a Narset Transcendent/planeswalker party theme and control the eldrazi that way (The Chain Veil)
July 12, 2015 2:13 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #20
Well it seems like a lot of people are suggesting Jeskai, and I'm feeling it. Black has a lot of cool stuff I'd be missing out on, but it makes up for it with fun red toys. Narset's nice, but I really like the idea of Numot. Because I can potentially make things difficult for two players at once, and also he has evasion built-in.
July 12, 2015 3:23 p.m.
You could go the full anti-annihilator route and play a Sigarda, Host of Herons EDH deck.
July 12, 2015 3:25 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #22
That was my first thought, Steaditup. But while that blanks Annihilator against me it doesn't do as much about actually stopping Eldrazi from being used, which is the goal here. If I can stop eldrazi from being played, recurred, attacked with, etc. that's much better. Or if I can do things that punish opponents for playing something like that, which is more in the domain of other colors.
July 12, 2015 3:31 p.m.
Izu_Korasu says... #23
or you can ask to be annihilator-ed with Marchesa, the Black Rose and grixis.
Crosis's Charm and Unscythe, Killer of Kings have alot of utility here the colors also allow for Cruel Ultimatum and Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker while still having access to both Commandeer and cards like Delirium/Backlash. Grixis also allows for cards like Dack's Duplicate, Kaervek the Merciless and Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver.
not to mention all the counters/hate/steal effects you could want in a deck. Grixis could sucessfully Stifle the eldrazi menace and leave your opponent with an Essence Backlash from the Bitter Ordeal.
July 12, 2015 3:53 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #24
Oooh, now there's an idea. I'll definitely look into that as well.
July 12, 2015 4:02 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #25
My favorite way of dealing with them is Bribery and Telemin Performance. Simply take it from them before they even have a chance of getting the mana for it.
Praetor's Grasp is another fun one, since you can cast their Eldrazi no matter what colors you are playing.
July 12, 2015 4:53 p.m.
if you go marchesa, Mind Slash is fun. Cant cast what you don't have.
July 12, 2015 5:09 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #27
I use to play Braids, Conjurer Adept with lots of steal effects. "Thanks for getting your eldrazi out on turn 5, I'll take it with Control Magic."
Or you could go with a high power hate Doran, the Siege Tower deck using stuff like Meekstone.
July 12, 2015 8:49 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #28
True. Meekstone's an idea I especially like. If it becomes inconvenient I can just bounce it.
July 12, 2015 9:03 p.m.
Or you build a cutthroat combo deck. Combo off before your opponents can even think about casting their eldrazi. Another way I see is stax. Mana denial or counter heavy decks in combination with Arcane Laboratory
July 13, 2015 3:47 a.m.
RussischerZar says... #30
What you should totally do:
Play Zedruu the Greathearted, play lots of Act of Treason effects, steal the Eldrazi, attack the owner for annihilator and afterwards 'gift' them to a 3rd player. :D
And yes, I hate them as much as you do.
Other good cards that Jeskai colors offer include the above mentioned stealing cards (Bribery, Desertion), and stuff like Rest in Peace and Relic of Progenitus if they hit the GY.
July 13, 2015 5:03 a.m. Edited.
MagicalHacker says... #32
Also, Sigarda, Host of Herons turns off annihilator.
July 13, 2015 7:39 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #33
@AlexoBn: Possible, but it doesn't sound too fun and I want to be able to specifically target individual players to screw with. Stax is going to punish the whole table.
@RussischerZar: Yeah, RIP is auto-include here. Your Zedruu ideas is especially interesting, I could just steal the things and hand them to the player who's farthest behind. I love it.
@MagicalHacker: Yeah, true. But sadly either as a commander denies me access to blue and/or black, which would both be very useful here. However I love the idea of Brion in the 99 to throw someone's Kozilek at them. Jeskai colors can run him, so I'll probably do just that.
July 13, 2015 3:44 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #34
Hmm in that case, why not just go with a typical Aikido deck? A great commander would be Rubinia Soulsinger or Merieke Ri Berit. :)
July 13, 2015 5:40 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #35
@MagicalHacker: Bant aikido? Quite possible, I'll add that to the list of possibilities.
July 13, 2015 8:55 p.m.
Advocating black again. Make them feel the sacrifice pain with Dictate of Erebos, Butcher of Malakir, Grave Pact, Fleshbag Marauder, Phyrexian Obliterator, etc.
Make it mutually assured sacrifice.
July 13, 2015 10:48 p.m.
Maybe 5 color aikido/punishment for casting them? There is answers in each color and ways to use the fact that they either make you sacrifice or are just huge, mana wise and power wise. For example, Alpha Brawl on Ulamog or Kozilek will kill everything else they have. You can exile them with Path to Exile or search them out with Praetor's Grasp. Or you can always counter them with Counterspell or Arcane Denial. Not to mention making sure they can't cast them easily with Vorinclex or Stasis. Finally, you can always punish them with Blood Seeker or Dictate of Erebos or Mimic Vat them.
July 13, 2015 10:57 p.m.
Actually Mimic Vat is probably a fantastic option against them.
July 13, 2015 10:58 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #39
Presently I'm leaning towards Jeskai control with a touch of group hug for this idea, likely using Numot (the more powerful option) or Zedruu (the more amusing one). Blue, white and red seem like a good "you can't have stuff that pisses me off" tag team. However...
@Kravian:Black's library and hand hate are very appealing here. I also like the idea of punishing people for hitting me with annihilator. Where possible though, I'd like to punish people for hitting anyone with it. Something that makes bad stuff happen any time a creature dies, perhaps. The ability to use black is another strong argument in favor of Marchessa or Merieke Ri Berit.
@dbpunk: Maybe, but five color mana bases are expensive. Alpha Brawl is hilarious though, especially if I can copy it or double damage in some way (or both, which is overkill if their Eldrazi is their commander). Thanks for mentioning that card because I hadn't noticed it. For counterspells I think something like Spell Crumple is a lot more entertaining. But yes, Mimic Vat is a fantastic answer (especially paired with more normal counters) and that's part of the reason I run it in my Trostani EDH. I can just block with enough tokens to kill Kozilek, then exile it for a Kozilek token of my own... which I then populate so I can keep one.
I'm not a big enough asshole to run Vorinclex or Stasis. It would make the "I'd play Emrakul if it wasn't banned" crowd cry, but that's because it'd make everyone cry. My personal preference would be for things that can be directed at a specific opponent if so desired. Not that I won't mess with others too...
July 14, 2015 12:12 a.m. Edited.
Izu_Korasu says... #40
i dont think white does nearly as much for you as black.(path, but thats about the list
Between the library removal (Bitter Ordeal + Nightmare Incursion ), annihilator punishment (Grave Pact, graveyard hate/recovery (Gruesome Encore?) and all the blue/black/red combinations of cards that punish players for owning, playing and attacking with eldrazi ... not to mention the overall power level of grixis.
Grixis is like making a deal with the devil, your goal is to destroy eldrazi, but your granted powers make you more like them, for instance Thraximundar (all the sacrifice)
otherwise Zedruu is probably the best choice...
also fun to note that due to APNAP, mimic vat can only imprint Kozilek on either its controllers turn, or where turn order puts your trigger on the stack after Kozilek's. (and RiP, leyline void and Anafenza ruin both triggers)
July 14, 2015 2:25 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #41
@IzuKorasu: Well, white also has fun stuff like RiP. A good number of control effects too. Also, lots of boardwipes and exile effects for when Ulamog manages to resolve. But I see your point and the library stuff is especially appealing.
Thraximundar is something I hadn't considered and I especially like that it directly fits the theme of punishing people for doing what Eldrazi want them to do. Deal with the devil, for sure! I'll keep that on the list of possibilities and look at other Grixis commanders.
I'm curious why you think Zedruu would be a better option than Numot. I'm not disagreeing, but am interested in the reasoning.
As for the Mimic Vat thing, I feel like there's something I'm missing. Maybe you can explain it on my wall?
asasinater13 says... #2
I would think esper (giving you access to Sadistic Sacrament, Stifle effects to take care of their triggers, and exile spells) could work, or jeskai for exile, stifle, and Act of Treason.
July 12, 2015 1:36 p.m.