Mayael the Anima and Cream of the Crop....
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 2, 2014, 5:37 p.m. by _SeriosSkies_
So...I did a lot of Mayael the Anima research back when i first crafted it as an edh deck...
Comments on all 3 MTG based sites i use always and without hesitating suggested Cream of the Crop within the first day. after play testing with it and finding out its just garbage (IMO), i cut it and never looked back...
but as of late i started looking at it again as i like to view and help other people with Mayael the Anima decks to get a good kick off (the 'first deck' favorite), or just to look at pre-existing decks that someone cherishes(and will find it on their list)
The question(s) i pose to all you Mayael the Anima players is :
- What do you like about this "combo"? ( really its just synergy)
- If you don't like it, what didn't you like about it?
- What are some examples of things that happened in your previous games where it was spectacular?
- If nothing awesome ever happened, What are some examples of things that happened in your previous games where it was Dreadful?
I'd like to hear some stories from you guys at the very least. o.o
Ohthenoises says... #3
Redundancy. If you have Cream of the Crop it lets you pick and choose just like the rest but if, for some reason, you can't FIND the Scroll Rack Cream of the Crop can be another way to get the job done.
September 2, 2014 6:01 p.m.
Doom_of_Valyria says... #4
I haven't ever tried it before, but right off the bat I don't like putting cards on the bottom of my library (or in my graveyard as other cards do). The trade off isn't worth it, for the same reason I don't run Xenagos, The Reveler : even I I get to play some big nasty creature, I'm making it more difficult to get any cards I just put on the bottom of my library. Say I reveal 2 cards, one is Avacyn, Angel of Hope and the other is Iona, Shield of Emeria . Now I'd be putting Avacyn on top, but I'd still be pretty upset that Iona is gone until I tutor for her or shuffle my library. I'd be angrier if I had to put some of my OP enchantments on the bottom, because they aren't as easy to tutor for. I agree that Sylvan Library is much better, and I also use Mirri's Guile for the same effect minus the extra draw power.
September 2, 2014 7:17 p.m.
Long story short Cream of the Crop is great but I think it's better when used with Grenzo, Dungeon Warden or any card that plays off the bottom of the deck.
In my jund deck I have casted a Solemn Simulacrum to reveal Prosh and Butcher of Malikir (After shuffling for Solemn's land find effect) so I put butcher on the bottom.
Then I sacrificed a Solemn with Goblin Bombardment causing me to draw Prosh.
Next I paid 2 mana to get Butcher onto the Field and revealed an Ooze creature that breaks apart to make a total of six additional tokens. Needless to say I put that on the bottom and then got that with Grenzo. That revealed a Sakura Tribe Elder (Ooze had 4 power) and I put that on the bottom.
Next I cast Prossh and sacrificed Prosh, Six Kobolds, Seven Oozes and a handful of Thruuls to have exactly twenty infect. Of course I could have just won with ten but the guy wouldn't shut up about infect as soon as he saw Flesh-Eater Imp and I really wanted him to feel like he lost and judging by the expression on his face he felt it bad. Which was good because he had been annoying the other two players non stop by telling them which cards they should run, which ones they shouldn't run and what plays to make. After he died and I passed turn we all scooped in turn order and lived happily ever after.
September 2, 2014 8 p.m.
KindredDiscovery says... #6
I played with Cream of the Crop is my Mayael deck for a long time, but I eventually came to realize that it did not do what I want topdeck filters to be doing in the deck.
What exactly am I looking for? Well, two things. Number one, I want to make sure I have fatties on top of my library. And number two, I want to put utility cards in my hand. Combining those two effects means that, over time, the odds of Mayael finding a big creature (and the number of options you have to choose from) will improve. Cards like Sensei's Divining Top and Crystal Ball fit both these criteria. Every time you use them, they actively increase the probability of Mayael finding a target.
Cream of the Crop , on the other hand, is really only letting you choose what to draw. It's typically going to activate after Mayael puts a fatty into play, which means the card that you leave on top is probably what you'll be drawing next. You might be putting a whole bunch of fatties on the bottom of your library, and you have no idea what's coming up next. It doesn't really decrease the probability of Mayael finding a target, but it does (essentially) nothing to increase it either. With so many other great topdeck filters available, I just couldn't justify the slot in my deck for Cream of the Crop anymore.
If you're looking for good filtering, I believe these are your best options:
It also seems appropriate to mention cards that pull lands off the top of your library. They're stellar options for tilting the odds in your favor, and often generate card advantage.
And of course, a shameless plug for my primer on the deck.
Mayael EDH Primer Playtest
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 23 | 6 COMMENTS | 4904 VIEWSHope this helps! Have fun deckbuilding!
ChiefWannaHacka says... #2
Cream of the Crop seems good, but you have other options that don't send so many cards to the bottom. Sylvan Library , Sensei's Divining Top , and Scroll Rack are all better. I'll think of an instance for the other questions later.
September 2, 2014 5:54 p.m.