i feel like all of the other balthor lists on this site have been more geared towards casual EDH, so it's good to see someone out there with a fairly tight, competitive balthor list. that being said, your list is eerily similar to mine (somebody else knows about syphon mind?!).
you're absolutely right that, although things like sundering titan and it that betrays seem good in theory, they are ultimately subpar because balthor can't bring them back.
however, the one exception that i make to the all-black rule is duplicant. he's easier to hardcast than it that betrays or sundering titan, and sometimes he is your only out to troubling cards.
i have tested almost every card mammon suggested (except all is dust, which looks very promising) and don't currently run any of them except for the AMAZING decree of pain. oblivion stone is cute, but i have always found it too be faaaar too slow and mana intensive.
i'll try to post my list when i have some down time.
Thanks The only problem with this deck is that well timed graveyard removal or a wastelanded coffers can make this deck run out of steam (as with most reanimator decks). But it can get a brutal opening fairly consistent.
One tip, never play balthor before hitting 7 mana, but you probably already knew this
I agree with Duplicant, I have one lying around and will try him out. I am also putting Decree of Pain on my wishlist as I am writing this.
I like Beacon of Unrest. It's a little pricey, but it can target a lot of stuff. It's pretty a very nice late-game pull when your graveyard has been removed or shuffled. Adding another sac-outlet that's good on its own might be good too. I like Helm of Possession for the sac-outlet and for the ability to steal creatures in black. Lastly, what about Imp's Mischief? Trickery is fun. Maybe take out Syphon Mind. I don't know how big your games usually are, but it really only shines in 4 player or bigger. Not sure what else. Oh, and Shriekmaw is excellent and easy to get to the graveyard.
Petrified Field can pull coffers out if it gets killed. Vesuva can copy coffers, and Deserted Temple doubles the effect. They do require you to go a little heavier on tutoring for lands and encourage running Urborg though.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
1 Balthor the Defiled
# Spirits
1 Iname, Death Aspect
1 Horobi, Death's Wail
1 Graveborn Muse
1 He Who Hungers
1 Kagemaro, First to Suffer
1 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Midnight Banshee
1 Kuro, Pitlord
1 Spirit of the Night
# Reanimate
1 Reanimate
1 Exhume
1 Animate Dead
1 Dance of the Dead
1 Stitch Together
1 Victimize
1 Patriarch's Bidding
1 Living Death
# Stax
1 Smallpox
1 Contamination
1 Grave Pact
1 Dictate of Erebos
1 Death Cloud
1 Reassembling Skeleton
1 Bloodghast
1 Nether Traitor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Cruel Tutor
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Insidious Dreams
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Increasing Ambition
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
# Mana
1 Expedition Map
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Grim Monolith
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Black Market
1 Caged Sun
1 Nirkana Revenant
# PWs
1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
1 Liliana Vess
1 Sorin Markov
1 Karn Liberated
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Undead Gladiator
1 Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
1 Erebos, God of the Dead
1 Bloodgift Demon
1 Grave Titan
1 Massacre Wurm
1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
# Other
1 Buried Alive
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Barter in Blood
1 Mutilate
1 Decree of Pain
# Land
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Temple of the False God
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Deserted Temple
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Thespian's Stage
32 Swamp
Suggestions are welcome
DECKS
Ertai | Squee | Roon | Aurelia
USEFUL RESOURCES
Commander Decklist Database
Statistical breakdown of the commander metagame
50 Commanders / 50 Decks
27 Colors / 27 Decks
You need All Is Dust as another sweeper, and I'd seriously look at Decree of Pain. Also Oblivion Stone.
Beacon of Unrest, Rise from the Grave, and Zombify are all solid reanimation spells you'll want to look into. Additionally, Corpse Dance is terrific if you have a sac outlet like Phyrexian Plaguelord.
Try to get an Altar of Shadows in there, if your games go long its great.
I want all my creatures to be black for balthor, so all the eldrazi are out.
already have Pestilence Demon, dont like Myojin of Night's Reach because it is bad with reanimation and I will take a look at Butcher of Malakir.
I dont want to count on sac outlets if I dont have plenty of them or enough tutors to look for them.
All Is Dust, Oblivion Stone and especially Decree of Pain are already on my whishlist.
Any suggestions what I could cut for them?
DECKS
Ertai | Squee | Roon | Aurelia
USEFUL RESOURCES
Commander Decklist Database
Statistical breakdown of the commander metagame
50 Commanders / 50 Decks
27 Colors / 27 Decks
i feel like all of the other balthor lists on this site have been more geared towards casual EDH, so it's good to see someone out there with a fairly tight, competitive balthor list. that being said, your list is eerily similar to mine (somebody else knows about syphon mind?!).
you're absolutely right that, although things like sundering titan and it that betrays seem good in theory, they are ultimately subpar because balthor can't bring them back.
however, the one exception that i make to the all-black rule is duplicant. he's easier to hardcast than it that betrays or sundering titan, and sometimes he is your only out to troubling cards.
i have tested almost every card mammon suggested (except all is dust, which looks very promising) and don't currently run any of them except for the AMAZING decree of pain. oblivion stone is cute, but i have always found it too be faaaar too slow and mana intensive.
i'll try to post my list when i have some down time.
One tip, never play balthor before hitting 7 mana, but you probably already knew this
I agree with Duplicant, I have one lying around and will try him out. I am also putting Decree of Pain on my wishlist as I am writing this.
Looking forward in seeing your list.
DECKS
Ertai | Squee | Roon | Aurelia
USEFUL RESOURCES
Commander Decklist Database
Statistical breakdown of the commander metagame
50 Commanders / 50 Decks
27 Colors / 27 Decks
Check out my list if you care to.