Does Omnath, Locus of Mana have competitive value as a commander?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Jan. 19, 2015, 2:39 p.m. by PValBlanc
I've been playing a pretty casual EDH deck for awhile now. I'm starting to want to run something fairly competitive and while I'm liking Omnath for a general, I'm not sure if he can actually lead a competitive deck. So I'll ask you knowledgeable lot before I start pouring a few hours into theorycrafting.
I'm mostly into multiplayer commander. If I want to run an ultra-violent one on one format I'll play Legacy. That said, if the potential is there for Omnath, I will be a happy camper.
January 19, 2015 2:47 p.m.
PValBlanc - basically, you want to run all/most of the one-mana mana elves (Llanowar Elves, Elvish Mystic, etc.), ramp spells (Cultivate, Kodama's Reach, etc.), and payloads. Also, Omnath, Locus of Mana can turn into a 1-shot robot through Commander damage. So cards like Rogue's Passage might be a good thing to consider.
January 19, 2015 2:50 p.m.
Programmer_112 says... #5
Mana Reflection, Seedborn Muse, Doubling Cube, and Asceticism are all really mean. Although, Omnath always draws hate, so that's no fun.
January 19, 2015 3:19 p.m.
Anyhow. I don't want to turn this into a decklist suggestion post, Epoch has enough on his plate today without needing to move this to Deck Help. If the general concensus is yes, it can be competitive, I'll sit and work out a decklist. Thanks for the input :)
January 19, 2015 3:23 p.m.
HeroInMyOwnMind says... #7
It's not common, but it is completely possible to run an Omnath, Locus of Mana voltron deck.
I find having access to mana is never a bad thing in EDH, especially in green. Hydra decks, Elf decks, artifact deks, and good stuff decks all get exponentially better when you add absurd amounts of mana.
January 19, 2015 3:32 p.m.
fadelightningmm says... #8
Omnath is insane, but that is besides the point. I'm a firm believer that in edh any deck has the potential to be competitive
January 19, 2015 3:40 p.m.
It's doing decent in the French league I'm in. Seems a bit weak to control is the issue. A deck that can keep Omnath in the command zone gets the upper hand very fast because the rest of the deck tends to want the ramp Omnath provides.
Definitely usable. I wouldn't say he's top of the line though.
January 19, 2015 3:47 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #10
I would call Omnath semi competitive. He was the 2nd EDH deck I ever made. He can really be crazy. Omnastic if you want to check it out.
He provides your mana with double duty, something that is pretty unique. You can use it towards commander damage, then play stuff.
I want to caution against running him as a voltron commander, or relying on him too much. He will get tucked often in a competitive environment. Ramp hard, really really hard.
Mono green has some weak points so try to concentrate on those. Removal, and draw. Recycle, Greater Good, and those type of things are very good. Beast Within, Woodfall Primus, Terastodon, ect on removal side.
The biggest reason why I would not class Omnath as a highly competitive commander is because he is mono color. If you branch out to more colors, you can build stronger, more versitle decks.
January 20, 2015 10:46 a.m.
Didgeridooda I was mainly looking at huge ramp for one shot commander damage, some big fatties with utility and a prominent tokens subtheme, which will help with draw (as I think green has a lot of creature dependent draw engines). The only elements of Voltron that seem to be worth it are those that will provide draw, or some evasion to not get chumpblocked all day, every day. Anyhow. I think I'll build this. I like mono colour, its reliable, and I can afford to pour some budget into the rest of the deck 'cause the mana base won't cost me an arm and a leg. So if semi- competitive is as far as it goes, its still better than my Olivia Voldaren casual deck.
January 20, 2015 12:32 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #12
Don't get me wrong, I love that deck. Omnath is awesome, but competitive decks will combo out on turn 2 or 3, or have lock down control early.
The things I use to enchant Omnath in my deck are things like Bear Umbra, Eldrazi Conscription, and trample things. I started out with a more voltron build, but Omnath got countered/tucked so often. So there is a little left from that, but I ramp hard, and included as much removal as I could.
Hall of Gemstone is a must. Also, I have never lost a game when I have dropped Recycle it is a pretty late game play for me, but anything that turns lands in to a draw spell is pretty sweet.
Turn 2 Omnath is pretty important as well. One drop mana dorks are awesome. I am also running lotus petal, and elvish spirit guide to make sure he gets out. The last 2 allow for a turn one Omnath if you have sol ring. Getting him out early allows for monster plays on turn 3/4.
The deck I linked you is pretty tuned. I have been playing on a budget, and trading for the cards I need, but I have worked on that deck for 3 years or so. Tried a bunch of different things, but I like the ratios, and stuff I have in there. Played 100s of games with it.
January 20, 2015 12:44 p.m.
Did someone say ruthlessly efficient green mana doubler? Vernal Bloom
January 24, 2015 9 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #14
I just do not like advancing my opponent's game no matter what. I prefer Mana Reflection, or lense doubler.
January 24, 2015 10:43 a.m.
Mana reflection is just better. It doesn't help your opponent, but the icing is it doubles the mana peoduced, instead of "produces an additional". Which means that if you have other doublers in play, mana reflection... Doubles the doublers. It's just ridiculous. So if you have Extraplanar Lens and Mana Reflection in play, your forest each tap for 4.
January 24, 2015 11:33 a.m.
Don't underestimate the power of dropping a doubler as early as turn 2. Also note that it says forest and not just green mana producing land. It can be a real boon for a mono green deck in a competitive meta with a lot of non-basics.
January 24, 2015 12:14 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #17
I understand what you are saying sonnet, and it is a good card. Green is everywhere, and so are duals, and shocks. I realize that you are almost always going to be helping yourself more then your opponent, but you could still help them. 4-6 mana cost is a big difference, even thought the effects are too, I just can not get behind helping an opponent in any way.
I understand this is an opinion that I hold. I would not run a Nekusar deck because in the process of killing someone, I could be helping them. I just want to limit my opponent's resources, and increase mine as much as possible.
JWiley129 says... #2
Omnath can do some insane decks in multiplayer EDH, as making 12 mana by turn 5 is totally fair. As a mono-green ramp deck you can play some truly offensive things early in the game: e.g. Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Terastodon, you get the idea.
If you're looking for Duel Commander, well I don't know much about that format. But I'm sure there are others here who could help out there.
January 19, 2015 2:43 p.m.