Hey all. I've been working through a commander list for Gwendlyn Di Corci for some time. The original build was based solely around hand control/discard and was tailored more for a 1v1 environment. After recently getting together with some friends to play we decided that we would make Commander decks for our future get-togethers. I've decided to modify that list to meet a truly multiplayer environment.
Right now, I have been working off of a hand-control/discard build and also tried to add in some blue based control to basically be a jerk. I'm long on cards [116 maindeck] and the sideboard is really just other cards that I looked at to potentially put in at various points. I'm looking for some assistance in getting myself cut down to 100 cards and then we can worry about the sideboard. I have some various thoughts on individual cards below the decklist.
I've put CMC in front of each of the cards (and tried to put actual costs but they don't work so well with the deck tags...
Artifacts:
My two top picks for cutting are Sensei's Divining Top and Sword of Fire and Ice. Both are in for the ability to help draw cards in the event that I stall. Unsure if they are necessary with the other draw abilities.
Sorceries
I've tried to focus mostly on discarding for all opponents which is why Hymn to Tourach and Duress aren't in.
Instants:
I'm don't have too much counter magic that is sitting here, but I'm thinking Miscalculation goes. Also considering adding Daze and Force of Will.
Enchantments:
I don't even know where to start but feel a little heavy here.
Planeswalkers:
I really like all of them, but if I had to cut one it would be Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
I play a discard-themed deck with Nicol Bolas as my Commander, so it is the same colors and similar concept. Between blue and black, it is really easy to fill the deck up on awesome cards that don't necessarily contribute to what the deck is really trying to do, so the first thing you'll have to do is figure out how many "good stuff" cards you can live without. The best way to do that is to set aside all the cards that you absolutely want to keep in the deck, then separate the others into categories. You will find two things; 1) There will be some cards that don't really fit into a category, and 2) that you are overloaded on certain categories. I would then cut all the cards in the first category, then one card each from all the others. If that doesn't get you down enough, then look at the category with the most cards and shave 1-2 more from those. Sometimes, an entire subtheme needs to get cut (in this deck, that may be the Nukusar plus Wheels package). It's never easy to get down to 99, but almost every deck is better off once you start looking really hard at the options.
Anyway, I hope that helps. I like where the deck is headed, and its given me the idea of trying out Pain Magnification in my discard deck.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Sometimes, an entire subtheme needs to get cut (in this deck, that may be the Nukusar plus Wheels package). It's never easy to get down to 99, but almost every deck is better off once you start looking really hard at the options.
Anyway, I hope that helps. I like where the deck is headed, and its given me the idea of trying out Pain Magnification in my discard deck.
Actually that does give me some thoughts and I agree that eliminating the Nekusar, the Mindrazer and Wheels package from this makes a bit of sense.
For giving Gwen haste, I would normally suggest Thousand-Year Elixir since you not only get "Haste" for her ability but you can also use it multiple times a turn, but Elixir is only useful with Gwen and Cao Cao, Lord of Wei so it will end up being a dead card too often.
With that said, I think Anger, Urabrask the Hidden, and Akroma's Memorial are your best bets, with Anger being the frontrunner in my opinion. You already have plenty of ways to discard cards in your deck, and being essentially free to use is better than 5-7 mana.
I concur with Forgotten One. You could also use equipment that will protect Gwendlyn like Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots all while giving haste.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
With that said, I think Anger, Urabrask the Hidden, and Akroma's Memorial are your best bets, with Anger being the frontrunner in my opinion. You already have plenty of ways to discard cards in your deck, and being essentially free to use is better than 5-7 mana.
I agree with you that Anger is the best option here. I actually didn't know about this card (I've been out of the game for at least 12 years.) So thanks!
I concur with Forgotten One. You could also use equipment that will protect Gwendlyn like Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots all while giving haste.
I had come across Lightning Greaves and was toying with including it, but with struggling to cut all the other stuff I just hadn't found a space for it. So I think I'll go ahead and add it in and see what I can come up with.
Changes are below and bring me down to 116.
Maindeck: [-4 Net]
+4 Anger (See comments above)
+2 Lightning Greaves (See comments above)
-4 Sangromancer (Not as interested in gaining life as I am with milling)
-1 Personal Tutor (Just a little slow)
-3 Consult the Necrosages (Not as synergistic as it works with only one opponent)
-8 Treasure Cruise (Not sure I need the card draw mid-late game when this can be cast for U)
-8 Dig Through Time (Not sure I need the card draw mid-late game when this can be cast for UU)
-3 Dack Fayden
With that said, I think Anger, Urabrask the Hidden, and Akroma's Memorial are your best bets, with Anger being the frontrunner in my opinion. You already have plenty of ways to discard cards in your deck, and being essentially free to use is better than 5-7 mana.
I agree with you that Anger is the best option here. I actually didn't know about this card (I've been out of the game for at least 12 years.) So thanks!
No problem. Just remember that you need to have a Mountain in play in order for Anger to work and you only run 5 in the deck (3 basics + 2 shocks), so if you go that route you need to make sure that you are always fetching a Mountain consistently so that Anger is always turned on.
No problem. Just remember that you need to have a Mountain in play in order for Anger to work and you only run 5 in the deck (3 basics + 2 shocks), so if you go that route you need to make sure that you are always fetching a Mountain consistently so that Anger is always turned on.
Good point. I know I will need to re-evaluate the mana base once I finish cutting everything else and have some time to play test.
I realized that Whispering Madness was still in here from the Wheels package removal. I also stripped out some of the additional counter package that I had put in. I also adjusted the mana base slightly to include the extra Mountain to help Anger be effective. Finally I removed two of the higher casting cost creatures. I also added in Yawgmoth's Will to help with some recursion for Laboratory Maniac in case I am close to milling myself.
We are getting close here. Just a couple more modifications and she should be down to the right size and then modifications can be made from play-testing.
Right now, I have been working off of a hand-control/discard build and also tried to add in some blue based control to basically be a jerk. I'm long on cards [116 maindeck] and the sideboard is really just other cards that I looked at to potentially put in at various points. I'm looking for some assistance in getting myself cut down to 100 cards and then we can worry about the sideboard. I have some various thoughts on individual cards below the decklist.
I've put CMC in front of each of the cards (and tried to put actual costs but they don't work so well with the deck tags...
4 Gwendlyn Di Corci
Creatures (18)
2 Nezumi Shortfang
2 Sygg, River Cutthroat
2 Wight of Precinct Six
3 Cunning Lethemancer
3 Laboratory Maniac
3 Siren of the Silent Song
4 Anger
4 Blazing Specter
4 Blizzard Specter
4 Guul Draz Specter
4 Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
4 Notion Thief
5 Cao Cao, Lord of Wei
5 Consuming Aberration
5 Keeper of Keys
6 Scythe Specter
6 Sire of Insanity
10 Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
Artifact (10)
1 Sol Ring
2 Dimir Signet
2 Izzet Signet
2 Lightning Greaves
2 Rakdos Signet
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Wheel of Torture
4 Geth's Grimoire
5 Gilded Lotus
5 Memory Jar
Sorceries (13)
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Dreadbore
3 Dark Deal
3 Delirium Skeins
3 Yawgmoth's Will
4 Damnation
4 Unnerve
5 Dark Intimations
5 Skull Rend
6 Tasigur's Cruelty
8 Decree of Pain
Instants (13)
1 Brainstorm
1 Dream Salvage
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Stifle
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Counterspell
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Terminate
3 Capsize
3 Convolute
3 Disallow
3 Kolaghan's Command
3 Perplex
4 Fact or Fiction
4 Memory Plunder
1 Bloodchief Ascension
1 Shrieking Affliction
2 Aura of Dominion
2 Liliana's Caress
2 Waste Not
3 Megrim
3 Necropotence
3 Pain Magnification
3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Rhystic Study
4 Collective Restraint
4 Creeping Dread
5 Painful Quandary
Planeswalkers (2)
5 Liliana Vess
8 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Land (36)
0 Blood Crypt
0 Bloodstained Mire
0 Command Tower
0 Crumbling Necropolis
0 Dimir Aqueduct
0 Dragonskull Summit
0 Drowned Catacomb
0 Evolving Wilds
0 Geier Reach Sanitarium
0 Island x4
0 Izzet Boilerworks
0 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
0 Mountain x4
0 Polluted Delta
0 Reflecting Pool
0 Reliquary Tower
0 Scalding Tarn
0 Steam Vents
0 Sulfur Falls
0 Sunken Hollow
0 Swamp x4
0 Temple of Deceit
0 Temple of Epiphany
0 Temple of Malice
0 Terramorphic Expanse
0 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
0 Watery Grave
1 Mind Bomb
1 Mystic Remora
2 Rakdos's Return
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Frantic Search
3 Grim Tutor
3 Stoic Rebuttal
3 Undermine
3 Wander in Death
3 Words of Waste
5 Apocalypse
5 Silumgar's Command
Also, I just realized that there has to be a way to abuse Telekinetic Bonds and Gwendlyn's ability. That would be fun to exploit.
Creatures:
Obviously went with multiple specters. I wouldn't mind adding Hypnotic Specter back in, but still trying to figure out what to cut for it.
Laboratory Maniac is an alternate win condition and is also there to help prevent self-inflicted Milling losses from Waste Not or Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur.
I've considered cutting Nicol Bolas and Keeper of Keys
Artifacts:
My two top picks for cutting are Sensei's Divining Top and Sword of Fire and Ice. Both are in for the ability to help draw cards in the event that I stall. Unsure if they are necessary with the other draw abilities.
Sorceries
I've tried to focus mostly on discarding for all opponents which is why Hymn to Tourach and Duress aren't in.
Instants:
I'm don't have too much counter magic that is sitting here, but I'm thinking Miscalculation goes. Also considering adding Daze and Force of Will.
Enchantments:
I don't even know where to start but feel a little heavy here.
Planeswalkers:
I really like all of them, but if I had to cut one it would be Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
Lands:
I've considered fewer Swamps due to the ability from Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. Also would add Badlands, Volcanic Island and Underground Sea if I ever reacquire them.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
- Matt
Anyway, I hope that helps. I like where the deck is headed, and its given me the idea of trying out Pain Magnification in my discard deck.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
How about ways of giving Di Corci haste? That way you can start disrupting the moment she hits the battlefield.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Actually that does give me some thoughts and I agree that eliminating the Nekusar, the Mindrazer and Wheels package from this makes a bit of sense.
Any synergistic suggestions in my colors?
Changes have been made on the top post but include:
Main Deck Changes [-5 Net]
- 5 Nekusar, the Mindrazer
- 3 Wheel of Fortune
- 3 Windfall
- 2 Mind Grind
- 1 Sensei's Divining Top
- 3 Sword of Fire and Ice
- 3 Underworld Dreams
+ 2 Aura of Dominion
+ 3 Siren of the Silent Song
Sideboard [-6 Net]
- 2 Aura of Dominion
- 2 Mind Swipe
- 2 Revive the Fallen
- 3 Blightning
- 3 Bottomless Pit
- 3 Siren of the Silent Song
- Matt
With that said, I think Anger, Urabrask the Hidden, and Akroma's Memorial are your best bets, with Anger being the frontrunner in my opinion. You already have plenty of ways to discard cards in your deck, and being essentially free to use is better than 5-7 mana.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
I agree with you that Anger is the best option here. I actually didn't know about this card (I've been out of the game for at least 12 years.) So thanks!
I had come across Lightning Greaves and was toying with including it, but with struggling to cut all the other stuff I just hadn't found a space for it. So I think I'll go ahead and add it in and see what I can come up with.
Changes are below and bring me down to 116.
Maindeck: [-4 Net]
+4 Anger (See comments above)
+2 Lightning Greaves (See comments above)
-4 Sangromancer (Not as interested in gaining life as I am with milling)
-1 Personal Tutor (Just a little slow)
-3 Consult the Necrosages (Not as synergistic as it works with only one opponent)
-8 Treasure Cruise (Not sure I need the card draw mid-late game when this can be cast for U)
-8 Dig Through Time (Not sure I need the card draw mid-late game when this can be cast for UU)
-3 Dack Fayden
- Matt
No problem. Just remember that you need to have a Mountain in play in order for Anger to work and you only run 5 in the deck (3 basics + 2 shocks), so if you go that route you need to make sure that you are always fetching a Mountain consistently so that Anger is always turned on.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
Good point. I know I will need to re-evaluate the mana base once I finish cutting everything else and have some time to play test.
- Matt
Main Deck (-8 NET)
- 6 Crosis, the Purger
- 8 Nicol Bolas
+ 3 Yawgmoth's Will
- 3 Molten Psyche
- 4 Whispering Madness
- 7 Cruel Ultimatum
- 1 Stifle
- 2 Mana Leak
- 3 Convolute
+ 0 Mountain
- 0 Swamp x2
I realized that Whispering Madness was still in here from the Wheels package removal. I also stripped out some of the additional counter package that I had put in. I also adjusted the mana base slightly to include the extra Mountain to help Anger be effective. Finally I removed two of the higher casting cost creatures. I also added in Yawgmoth's Will to help with some recursion for Laboratory Maniac in case I am close to milling myself.
We are getting close here. Just a couple more modifications and she should be down to the right size and then modifications can be made from play-testing.
Current mana curve looks like:
0: 0
1: 9
2: 15
3: 18
4: 15
5: 9
6: 3
7+: 3
Mana Symbols:
B: 57
(U/B): 7
R: 12
U: 32
Latest Edit (05/22/17):
- 3 Sedraxis Specter
- 4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
- Matt