MTG Salvation

Ever wanted to abuse a more obscure commander? Well Vhati il-Dal is your guy. Being able to change power or toughness to 1 of a creature is very strong. its even better when combined with -1/-1 counters as it will kill the creatures even if they are indestructible. This is my second attempt at this deck and I felt a more enchantress feel to it would be good. Also there is a minor purple theme to the deck which really isn't too important but if you know of a card with a purple art that isn't included that is really good let me know.

Im really currently focused on keeping a larger hand which in my 2 games with the deck has been effective. However I have had issues impacting the board too much. I know this can be very nice as it allows me to build a bit more but I have been running into the issue that I just fold to any bit of removal of key pieces of my enchantress synergy or -1/-1 theme. I am lookign for ideas on how to solve this issue more if people have ideas for this.

Reserved

Okay so i have a few more cards that I'm starting to realize I need to run so I have.
a minor change log started already.
Cuts:
Dismember
Nature's Claim
Krosan Grip
Green Sun's Zenith
Mortuary Mire
Garruk Relentless

Adds:
Beast Within
Nighthowler
Llanowar Wastes
Pharika, God of Affliction
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
Garruk Wildspeaker

The main reason I love Vhati il-Dal is being able to justify adding cards from Homelands into the deck; Grandmother Sengir, Serrated Arrows, and Torture (Torture when combined with Grim Poppet).

I feel like Grandmother Sengir could be really fun just because its a really bad Legend from Homelands but the others I am unsure about currently.

Torture + Grim Poppet = 1B: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

Quote from DementedKirby »

Torture + Grim Poppet = 1B: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

I get that but I have that in Carnifex Demon for all creatures. I have been considering Grim Poppet but torture is kind of a very situational card and that has lead me to feel its a tad too weak for my build at the moment. Grim I feel could be included but I am trying to keep the CMC at the moment lower as I often times have a lot of higher CMC cards in hand with not enough lands to cast them. If you get any other ideas I'd love to hear them. I am really liking Grandmother Sengir so far in my two game is played as in one game I found it quite hilarious to kill the Eldrazi titans with a Grandmother. A bunch of planeswalkers have issue with them and a small grandmother just kills them with Vhati.

Currently cards that I am finding a bit weaker are:
Nyx Weaver: I love the small mill effect for other things and if I play Necrotic Ooze it allows for me to recur extremely needed pieces if in the graveyard but I am just feeling I'd rather more ramp in its spot. I really do enjoy the nice blocker it provides early game however.

Agent of Erebos: With Scavenging ooze and Pharika, God of Affliction I am unsure how much grave removal is really needed. I think I might drop Agent or Scooze as both are juts the under performers but I am unsure what way to go with it at the moment.

Yeah, Vhati even looks like he could be related to Granny Sengir, lol. Hey, you're killing Eldrazi titans with a legend from Homelands. Have people let that sink in .

I get what you mean with Torture being too situational. However, Carnifex Demon also puts -1/-1 counters on your creatures as well. So you gotta be careful. Oh, Torture also works with Carnifex Demon as well, lol.

Harbinger of Night is always fun, and Vhati is about the only deck he can slot in.

Screams from Within is an all-star. Also, Blowfly Infestation can cause some havoc in similar fashion.

Quote from KodiakCutpurse »

Harbinger of Night is always fun, and Vhati is about the only deck he can slot in.

Screams from Within is an all-star. Also, Blowfly Infestation can cause some havoc in similar fashion.

Yeah, Vhati lends itself for some amazing interactions. Just saw that you had Melira in your deck. So you really don't have to worry about getting -1/-1 counters on your creature.

I've been begging myself to build a Vhati deck. Really enjoy reading through this. I see you have Back Sun's Zenith but what about Green Sun's Zenith in there? It can tutor Melira on T3 if needed or pick up other needs.

Quote from KodiakCutpurse »

Harbinger of Night is always fun, and Vhati is about the only deck he can slot in.

Screams from Within is an all-star. Also, Blowfly Infestation can cause some havoc in similar fashion.

I knew I was missing one -1/-1 counter enchantment. Thank you for reminding me of that card. This is my 3rd time building Vhati and I always forget about this one. Just threw it on my puca so thanks.

for Harbinger of Night: I actually have been looking at him but I am worried about adding him as he is very much a dead draw if I don't have Melira out so I am unsure if I really want to include it as I already have Midnight Banshee to fill that spot.

Quote from Agent of Bolas »

I've been begging myself to build a Vhati deck. Really enjoy reading through this. I see you have Back Sun's Zenith but what about Green Sun's Zenith in there? It can tutor Melira on T3 if needed or pick up other needs.

Thanks I really am glad to hear that you like it. I took out Green sun's Zenith As I couldn't find one of my copies currently so I took it out for now but I plan to add it back in if I find one in my cards.

Crystal Chimes would be helpful for when the player with all the curses stacked on them dies.

Also, putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures isn't really a problem if you have Mikaeus, the Unhallowed out.

Quote from Groovelord »

Crystal Chimes would be helpful for when the player with all the curses stacked on them dies.

Also, putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures isn't really a problem if you have Mikaeus, the Unhallowed out.

I like both of those. I may have to try them. Dark Mike is in another deck so I spaced on him being a card. I like the idea of adding him currently as it does balance out my -1/-1 counters and further give me creatures an unnatural amount of resilience however my main worry about him in theory is that the BBB is hard to hard cast at times.

If I am adding Dark Mike I might as well add Triskelion which means might as well add Necrotic Ooze so i can play some Necrotic Ooze Combos. What are people's thoughts on that?

I think the key here would be to keep it simple. Triskelion + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed is enough of a win con. The rest should be ways to consistently get rid of all creatures with Vhati's flavor. Sorceress Queen is also another good card to drop a creature's toughness down. Sure, you'd need two -1/-1 counters instead of one, but that should be easy to accomplish.

I can see that. I may add Phyrexian Devourer to combo with Triskelion for a Necrotic Ooze combo especially because I already have Reaper of the Wilds to protect the Ooze Combo.

But on the topic of Sorceress Queen I actually just picked one up for my peasant cube and honestly have been loving it in there. I may have to add it in here also.

I like your deck.

Staff of Nin has good synergy with Vhati il-Dal. The curses seem really bad except for Curse of Death's Hold. I understand they are enchantments that fit with the constellation and enchantress theme but there are way better enchantments you could be running.

I know they aren't all that great but I really enjoy them as they make the deck really fun to play. I actually am testing staff currently as it give me more draw and more responsiveness. My one and only issue with it is its 6 CMC artifact which is the highest my curve gets most times it seems and also that it is an artifact which is kind of a nonbo with the deck.

I am debating on adding Creeping Corrosion and a couple more artifact hate sources which would mean Staff would be even more of an nonbo.

I'm not sure I see why artifacts in your deck are a nobo based on your list, but I understand the curve for that card is kind of high.

How does this deck win most games? You have a few graveyard interaction cards that are powerful, but you have some greaveyard hate which seems like a nobo.

Also I wanted to recommend Sudden Spoiling, it's a great utility card that can prevent certain abilities or act as a one way Fog but it also has good synergy with Vhati il-Dal.

Artifacts are something I kind of go all in on or avoid. I have found using too many artifacts brings Shattering Sprees to the table where as having a more artifact focused deck will sweep the table before it can happen. I just prefer to be all or nothing and the current artifacts are ones that typically aren't too major of threats of focuses of target destruction. So I am currently thinking of adding Creeping Corrosion, Seeds of Innocence, and Hum of the Radix so help defer artifact strategies. I'm more thinking of Creeping Corrosion but the others are being considered.

The deck wins by Attrition typically not this attrition, but the just grinding out minor advantages and eventually just keeping the field clear to swing in with beats slowly. I am thinking of adding more reanimation to help push this faster and allow for bigger guys to bring the beats. I basically with my graveyard hate try to have one source of it to keep Grave based decks in check. I know they don't synergize all that well but I almost never have 2 of them out at the same time.

Sudden Spoiling is a card I am actually testing currently. I have been fairly pleased with it.

Minor Changes:
Nyx Weaver for puppeteer Clique: more persist combos which is always good

Grim Guardian for Erebos, God of the Dead:I figured with findign Grim kinda weak i would try Erebos in his place as a giant beater and negates lifegain.

Okay more Changes after a few games this past few weeks. I am cutting the curses... They are typically too weak and often only get me 1 kill. I am replacing therm however with some very nice cards in my eyes.

Curse of Misfortunes Natural State: I decided that I need more removal as often times I am sitting there and unable to take out various decks as they ramp out of control right away. Yes Im talking about you Sol ring into signet turn one play. Being able to nuke out atleast one peice of that synergy will be nice.

Curse of Thirst Triskelion: im currently waiting on the other peices of the combo but Im adding him for right now. I will be adding a Dark Mike soon.

Curse of Shallow Graves Animate Dead: Enchantment? Reanimation? Low CMC?

Im currently debating on adding a lands matter package to the deck or I have been thinking of making it more of an aggro enchantress as I'm sitting too deeply in late-midgame and I need a change of pace with the deck. Does anyone have any ideas?