Castigate or Tidehollow Sculler?
Deck Help forum
Posted on March 6, 2020, 4:44 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
I have two copies of Castigate in my black/white deck, because that card is an awesome way to disrupt an opponent's hand for only two mana, but I am considering replacing them with two copies of Tidehollow Sculler, which, for the exact same mana cost, grants a creature that is resistant to many removal spells. The one drawback that it has is that the player can get back their card, but that seems to be a fairly minor drawback, in my mind.
What does everyone else say about this? Should I replace Castigate with Tidehollow Sculler?
DemonDragonJ says... #3
maxon, Funkydiscogod, this deck has only fourteen creatures, so two more would be very helpful.
Also, what about my EDH decks that contain black and white? I have a copy of Castigate in each of those decks, so should I replace those copies, as well? Creature removal is likely far more prevalent in EDH than are counterspells, so I am uncertain if I should replace a sorceries with creatures in those decks.
March 7, 2020 12:28 a.m.
SliverJedi says... #4
if your deck only has 14 creatures, it'd fall into the "slow" category that Funkydiscogod mentioned, and therefore you should use Castigate. and technically, Tidehollow Sculler is not really resistant to any removal spells.
March 7, 2020 1:11 a.m.
SliverJedi says... #5
also, i can tell by your build that your budget is really really tight so obviously Thoughtseize is outta the question, but Inquisition of Kozilek would probably be even better if you're looking for discard spells.
March 7, 2020 1:14 a.m.
Kitesail Freebooter is an option if you need a flyer. Despise or Duress are hyper budget options Lay Bare the Heart is slightly less effective then castigate but also less mana intensive. Harsh Scrutiny offers a acry effect. Brain Maggot is effective another tidehallow sculler
March 7, 2020 9:02 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #7
SliverJedi, in that case, perhaps I should keep Castigate in this deck, and, what I meant was that the sculler cannot be destroyed by cards such as Terror, Doom Blade, Go for the Throat, Victim of the night, or Ultimate Price; there are still many cards that can destroy it, but I still believe that it is impressive that the sculler cannot be destroyed by such a large number of cards.
March 7, 2020 9:14 a.m.
I wouldn't run Castigate in EDH unless you were playing 1V1. And even then, I'd be playing with blue for access to Amnesia if going for some discard ability.
March 7, 2020 10:04 a.m.
SliverJedi says... #9
the number of cards that "can't" destroy scullar isn't really large at all. the cards you listed never see play if the player can help it. also, you linked a deck instead of the card Victim of Night
March 7, 2020 12:39 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #10
maxon, are you saying that I should replace Castigate with Tidehollow Sculler in my EDH deck?
Also, Amnesia is a nice card, but is far too expensive, because by the time that I can afford to pay six mana, my opponent or opponents likely shall have very few cards in their hands, unless they have many ways to draw cards.
March 7, 2020 12:54 p.m.
SliverJedi says... #11
demondragonj, maxon clearly states "if going for some discard ability". this would indicate he is not suggesting swapping Castigate for Tidehollow Sculler. it should be clear that his main point was not the "form" your discard takes, but the fact you would run any at all. discard is not very good in 3+ person commander games.
March 7, 2020 12:59 p.m.
Jedi clarified exactly my thinking. And, with regard to the Mana cost, it's worth the price on many occasions. At least in the power levels I at at. I would tend to keep it in hand until I have a final opponent to deal with.
At their end of turn, overload Cyclonic Rift, then on your turn you can play Amnesia.
March 7, 2020 1:23 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #13
SliverJedi, maxon, thank you for clarifying that matter.
Since there has been no clear consensus on this subject, I shall leave my deck as it currently is, and use it, to see how it functions; if I decide that it would function better with Tidehollow Sculler, I shall change it.
March 7, 2020 3:11 p.m.
SliverJedi says... #14
seems to me the consensus was pretty clear to keep Castigate if you absolutely must use one or the other.
March 7, 2020 3:17 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #15
SliverJedi, in that case, we all are in agreement on the matter.
March 7, 2020 3:35 p.m.
BrandonJamesCAC says... #16
I think Castigate is probably on the top 20 most Underused Modern Cards.
Freebooter is better than Sculler.
I say Castigate. No question how important that Exile is.
March 7, 2020 8:42 p.m.
BrandonJamesCAC says... #17
And Sculler dies to every removal spell. Including Abrade Ancient Grudge Disenchant
March 7, 2020 8:45 p.m.
Flooremoji says... #18
I cannot see any large advantage to Castigate over cheaper discard such as Inquisition of Kozilek or Thoughtseize, the one mana discard is infinitly better than two simply because when you want to be casting discard over advancing your boardstate is loosly dependant on the turn of the game. worse and worse. For that reason, I would reccomend Sculler over Castigate because you are advancing your boardstate. If you want discard over a body, then I wouldn't choose castigate over one mana options. The exile isn't very significant I have found.
March 8, 2020 10:04 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #19
Flooremoji, if Thoughtseize were not so expensive, I would defintiely consider it; Inquisition of Kozilek is more limited than is Castigate, and Castigate also triggers both abilities of Deathbringer Liege, which is obviously is a very good thing, so I prefer that card.
maxon says... #2
I think it'd be worth trying the sculler if you need more bodies, otherwise go with castigate.
March 6, 2020 8:42 p.m.