When it comes to EDH deck design, a common practice I have is to take favorite decks from constructed magic's past and convert the formula into 99 singletons. The end result is a deck that's powerful, cohesive, and doesn't explode my brain from the endless possibilities the format lends itself to.
Over time the decks change, sometimes drastically, but the skeletons remain the same.
This deck is a take on Blink Touch from Ravnica/Time Spiral Standard, with Ruhan at the helm. For those of you unfamiliar with the deck, it used a host of creatures with ETB abilities combined with Momentary Blink and Aethermage's Touch to use and abuse their triggered abilities.
The deck received a huge power boost with the release of Avacyn Restored. Cards like Restoration Angel and Deadeye Navigator really give the deck an added punch.
The deck tries to play out as many creatures as it can, spamming their ETB abilities and using them to mimic a wide range of spells.
*Update* 5/8/2013 - With almost a year since the original post, this deck has seen an update or two. Some were improvements upon similar cards, others just to make room, and others still simply as a nod to the ever-growing arms race in my meta. As the deck evolved from the more gimmicky blinking interactions, many of your suggestions were tested to great success. Thanks to everyone who commented.
*Update* 11/14/2013 - Most of these cuts were made to streamline the deck. Clunky cards were removed, and a host of tutors were added to help with consistency.
Probably the change worth the most note is the loss of Restoration Angel. The deck certainly doesn't gain much by the addition of Cloudgoat Ranger, but the loss of the deck's last infinite combo (Restoration Angel + Kiki Jiki) is a philosophical move on my part, choosing to build a deck that reflect my preference of play, and not tempt myself or others with infinite, instant speed angels.
*Update* 9/7/2014 - There hasn't been a lot of changes to the deck in the past months. Brago seemed like a strict upgrade, while the rest of the changes were to push the deck into a more aggressive angle. I removed cards that don't help win the game on their own in favor of cards that do, and the results have been great.
What I'm really hoping for soon is another legendary creature to come out in these colors, one that fits the theme of the deck a little more, and does something other than swing for damage. Narset isn't quite it, but I'm staying hopeful.
Cool beans. I was considering a Ruhan blink deck as well. Voyager Staff without Sun Titan or another way to recur it that I can see seems sad. I like Erratic Portal or Crystal Shard. Yeah you have to pay the mana cost again, but they both work on opponent's creatures as well. Conjurer's Closet is steady CA through blinking.
Sunforger really wants Absorb, Double Negative and Suffocating Blast in some combination, since they are counterspells that you can cast with the equipment. I think Reiterate is also worth considering. I know Sunforger isn't your focus but I have found that being able to Sunforger for countermagic is incredibly powerful and that most people have no idea that you can.
@kraus - You know, I was typing this deck up here and thought "Huh, maybe Mnemonic Wall would be better than Izzet Chronarch." How about that. I think you're right, as the ONLY reason I could see to keep the Chronarch in over the Wall is to wear equipment. Even then, I doubt that would matter more often than the 4 toughness. Definitely need to switch that.
As for Crystal Shard and Sun Titan, both of them were in the deck at one point, but I cut the sacred cows because of the setback to my board and lack of targets, respectfully. Perhaps if the deck was to take more of a control angle, Those could come back in again. Conjurer's Closet, though, seems awesome.
@Prince Reyson - Yeah, this deck desperately needs a tutorable counter spell. Although this isn't a Sunforger deck, I'm surprised how often it makes an appearance in the games I play. I was thinking of cutting Desertion for one of the trio, unless you had another suggestion, as its inclusion was really only to replace another sacred cow: Bribery. Bribery was in here because of its power, but I switched it out to give the deck another counter spell and some more synergy with an effect that was still pretty similar. However, with all of the Avacyn Restored blink spells that return the blinked creature under YOUR control instead of its owners, Bribery might make a comeback.
Reiterate seems like a good way to double up on blink spells for more triggers. Is there another use for it other than that? I haven't had as much success with it in other decks as its popularity would warrant, but I also haven't tried it here.
Reiterate seems like a good way to double up on blink spells for more triggers. Is there another use for it other than that? I haven't had as much success with it in other decks as its popularity would warrant, but I also haven't tried it here.
I have a bit of a hard-on for Sunforger and with Sunforger, you can tutor for this spell, buy it back and have it for the rest of the game, usually you would do this in response to the spell you want to copy.
You should DEFINITELY be playing Zealous Conscripts as it is a super powerful effect, very good with blink spells, AND you can also Cloudshift the threatened target to keep it forever.
I also want to plug for a pet card of mine that most people don't know about, which is Wild Research. Repeatable tutoring in this format is so good. It's obviously insane with Spell Crumple since you can just tutor it up over and over, and although you aren't really set up to take full advantage of it, the card is something to consider since you can only run it in a few decks and it is very powerful. Combo it with Mistveil Plains (also great with Sunforger) for best results. It would be good to use with effects like Warstorm Surge which can be a game-ender with all your blinking.
@Hauff - There are definitely some choices here that seem a little off at first, I will admit. Rockshard Elemental and Akroma are meant to be blinked while morphed (preferably in response to removal) to mimic the Touch part of Blink Touch. The deck has superb synergy, but one of the things it lacks is punch in the form of big creatures. Rockshard Elemental helps fill that role, coming down early and swinging big. He also wears SoLS and Sunforger like a champ. BUUUUTTTT this is EDH, where bigger is always better, and he sure doesn't stand up to some of the other heavy weights of the format. I'm certainly not attached to it, I just haven't exactly found something that fills its awkward shoes yet. Maybe the Zealous Conscripts Price Reyson mentioned.
Surprisingly enough Voyager Staff has been a great addition to the deck, being tutorable with Trinket Mage, colorless when it matters (like for my own Akroma) and being part of the dwindling number of "return at EoT" blink enablers in the deck. It acts very much like a Seal of Blink and has definitely earned its spot. I encourage everyone to try it out in any deck with Trinket Mage, and definitely with Sun Titan if your deck runs it (as mentioned by kraus) :D.
I agree with you about Snapcaster. Gotta find some room for it.
@Prince Reyson - Didn't think about the fact that you'll always have a Fork in hand. Seems awesome.
Wild Research Seems really good in a deck made to support it. I don't think this is a good home for it, but it seems nutty in Zedruu especially, with its frequent use of auras like Faith's Fetters and what not.
Updated. These updates still reflect suggestions made by those who've posted here, so continue to pat yourself on the back and know your voice is heard.
Sorry for the late update, guys. This deck has definitely seen some changes, though not as drastic as the first couple.
@taincurse Wowza! Those are some resources, alright. That's I'll definitely be pouring over these for the next couple weeks. Thanks!
I've been logging my updates with little blurbs about why I've made the changes I did, so I do indeed have the answers to the specific cards you mentioned.
Akroma, Angel of Fury - Akroma was an awesome trick when she worked. Turn 3 morph, turn 4 blink, turn 5 swing. But games rarely played out that way, and it certainly didn't happen early enough to make an impact most of the time. It took a lot of resources over a couple turns to simply end up swinging with a big guy, which isn't usually enough to win a game, at least not in my meta. Worse yet, her protection from white and blue made blinking her extremely difficult after she was face-up, so I could never save her in response to a removal spell. Sphinx of Uthuun replaced her, and I've been much happier with the swap.
Duergar Hedge-Mage - Simply put, just not enough Mountains and Plains. This is an effect I really want, but the times I needed to blow up that enchantment, I found myself with only mountains, or vice versa. After the umpteenth time of playing him with no effect, I decided he needed the axe. I thought briefly about including more Mountains and Plains, but a strategy I enjoy in EDH is having my lands do more for me than make mana. I've won more games using a land's activated ability than I've lost because I couldn't destroy and artifact or enchantment. So the lands stay, the Hedge-Mages goes.
Duplicant I believe this one came out for Angel of Serenity, as it wasn't an effect I needed too much of, especially not at the higher end of the mana curve. I always advocate creatures that do more than attack and block over creatures that don't, and the angel does a lot more than Duplicant (the irony that my general does just that is not lost on me).
Cloudshift This cut was a bit weird, but I had too many blink effects at the time of this card being cut, and it was just the worst card at what it did. No flashback, hits only one creature, etc. It's still a great card, but just isn't as crucial to the deck's success as I originally expected.
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Over time the decks change, sometimes drastically, but the skeletons remain the same.
This deck is a take on Blink Touch from Ravnica/Time Spiral Standard, with Ruhan at the helm. For those of you unfamiliar with the deck, it used a host of creatures with ETB abilities combined with Momentary Blink and Aethermage's Touch to use and abuse their triggered abilities.
1 Ruhan of the Fomori
Creatures
1 Angel of Serenity
1 Archaeomancer
1 Bogardan Hellkite
1 Brago, King Eternal
1 Chancellor of the Spires
1 Deadeye Navigator
1 Draining Whelk
1 Filigree Angel
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Gilded Drake
1 Inferno Titan
1 Karmic Guide
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Knight-Captain of Eos
1 Master of Waves
1 Mistmeadow Witch
1 Mogg War Marshal
1 Mulldrifter
1 Reveillark
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Sphinx of Uthuun
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Sun Titan
1 Sunblast Angel
1 Thundermaw Hellkite
1 Trinket Mage
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Wall of Omens
1 Absorb
1 AEthermage's Touch
1 Arcane Denial
1 Chaos Warp
1 Counterflux
1 Dismantling Blow
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Ghostway
1 Momentary Blink
1 Muddle the Mixture
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Wild Ricochet
Sorceries
1 Austere Command
1 Rite of Replication
1 Supreme Verdict
Planeswalkers
1 Venser, the Sojourner
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
Enchantments
1 Parallax Wave
1 Sneak Attack
1 Warstorm Surge
1 Wild Research
Artifacts
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Expedition Map
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Sunforger
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Voyager Staff
1 Academy Ruins
1 Ancient Den
1 Azorius Chancery
1 Arid Mesa
1 Boros Garrison
1 Cascade Bluffs
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Command Tower
1 Desolate Lighthouse
1 Flooded Strand
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Great Furnace
1 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Mistveil Plains
2 Mountain
1 Mystic Gate
4 Plains
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Rugged Prairie
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Spinerock Knoll
1 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Windbrisk Heights
1 Winding Canyons
The deck received a huge power boost with the release of Avacyn Restored. Cards like Restoration Angel and Deadeye Navigator really give the deck an added punch.
The deck tries to play out as many creatures as it can, spamming their ETB abilities and using them to mimic a wide range of spells.
*Update* 5/8/2013 - With almost a year since the original post, this deck has seen an update or two. Some were improvements upon similar cards, others just to make room, and others still simply as a nod to the ever-growing arms race in my meta. As the deck evolved from the more gimmicky blinking interactions, many of your suggestions were tested to great success. Thanks to everyone who commented.
*Update* 11/14/2013 - Most of these cuts were made to streamline the deck. Clunky cards were removed, and a host of tutors were added to help with consistency.
Probably the change worth the most note is the loss of Restoration Angel. The deck certainly doesn't gain much by the addition of Cloudgoat Ranger, but the loss of the deck's last infinite combo (Restoration Angel + Kiki Jiki) is a philosophical move on my part, choosing to build a deck that reflect my preference of play, and not tempt myself or others with infinite, instant speed angels.
*Update* 9/7/2014 - There hasn't been a lot of changes to the deck in the past months. Brago seemed like a strict upgrade, while the rest of the changes were to push the deck into a more aggressive angle. I removed cards that don't help win the game on their own in favor of cards that do, and the results have been great.
What I'm really hoping for soon is another legendary creature to come out in these colors, one that fits the theme of the deck a little more, and does something other than swing for damage. Narset isn't quite it, but I'm staying hopeful.
Change Log:
-Cloudgoat Ranger +Filigree Angel
-Strionic Resonator +Tezzeret the Seeker
-Body Double +Master of Waves
-Relic of Progenitus +Basilisk Collar
-Mountain +Great Furnace
-Island +Seat of the Synod
-Plains +Ancient Den
-Galepowder Mage +Brago, King Eternal
11/14/2013
-Eternal Dragon +Expedition Map
-Phantasmal Image +Strionic Resonator
-Knollspine Dragon +Sneak Attack
-Resoration Angel +Cloudgoat Ranger
-Dream Fracture +Muddle the Mixture
-Ghostly Flicker +AEthermage's Tough
-Hallowed Burial +Parallax Wave
-Legion's Initiative +Wild Research
-Lightning Greaves +Warstorm Surge
-Mind Stone +Enlightened Tutor
-Vivid Creek +Glacial Fortress
-Vivid Crag +Clifftop Retreat
-Vivid Meadow +Sulfar Falls
5/8/2013
OUT
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Duplicant
Izzet Chronarch
Rockshard Elemental
Sakashima the Imposter
Spitebellows
Cackling Counterpart
IN
Mnemonic Wall over Izzet Chronarch, unless you really want to be able to swing for 2, which I get.
WUBRG Some of these decks can actually win games...WUBRG
How I know I should build a deck:
Level 1 Judge
As for Crystal Shard and Sun Titan, both of them were in the deck at one point, but I cut the sacred cows because of the setback to my board and lack of targets, respectfully. Perhaps if the deck was to take more of a control angle, Those could come back in again. Conjurer's Closet, though, seems awesome.
@Prince Reyson - Yeah, this deck desperately needs a tutorable counter spell. Although this isn't a Sunforger deck, I'm surprised how often it makes an appearance in the games I play. I was thinking of cutting Desertion for one of the trio, unless you had another suggestion, as its inclusion was really only to replace another sacred cow: Bribery. Bribery was in here because of its power, but I switched it out to give the deck another counter spell and some more synergy with an effect that was still pretty similar. However, with all of the Avacyn Restored blink spells that return the blinked creature under YOUR control instead of its owners, Bribery might make a comeback.
Reiterate seems like a good way to double up on blink spells for more triggers. Is there another use for it other than that? I haven't had as much success with it in other decks as its popularity would warrant, but I also haven't tried it here.
Voyager Staff is a little too narrow I think. Maybe Crystal Shard or Erratic Portal might just be better? Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir and Winding Canyons are really nice here too since you can do "bounce for value" tricks at your opponents end steps and allows you to better time abilities that really powerful, like Knight-Captain of Eos. Snapcaster Mage is painfully absent from the list as well.
---------------
Angus....................... UGW
Mimoplasm................. GUB
Ruhan....................... RWU
I have a bit of a hard-on for Sunforger and with Sunforger, you can tutor for this spell, buy it back and have it for the rest of the game, usually you would do this in response to the spell you want to copy.
You should DEFINITELY be playing Zealous Conscripts as it is a super powerful effect, very good with blink spells, AND you can also Cloudshift the threatened target to keep it forever.
I also want to plug for a pet card of mine that most people don't know about, which is Wild Research. Repeatable tutoring in this format is so good. It's obviously insane with Spell Crumple since you can just tutor it up over and over, and although you aren't really set up to take full advantage of it, the card is something to consider since you can only run it in a few decks and it is very powerful. Combo it with Mistveil Plains (also great with Sunforger) for best results. It would be good to use with effects like Warstorm Surge which can be a game-ender with all your blinking.
Level 1 Judge
Surprisingly enough Voyager Staff has been a great addition to the deck, being tutorable with Trinket Mage, colorless when it matters (like for my own Akroma) and being part of the dwindling number of "return at EoT" blink enablers in the deck. It acts very much like a Seal of Blink and has definitely earned its spot. I encourage everyone to try it out in any deck with Trinket Mage, and definitely with Sun Titan if your deck runs it (as mentioned by kraus) :D.
I agree with you about Snapcaster. Gotta find some room for it.
@Prince Reyson - Didn't think about the fact that you'll always have a Fork in hand. Seems awesome.
Wild Research Seems really good in a deck made to support it. I don't think this is a good home for it, but it seems nutty in Zedruu especially, with its frequent use of auras like Faith's Fetters and what not.
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Duplicant
Cloudshift
@odenbaugh, you mean Isochron Scepter?
Some other Ruhan decks and discussions for reference:
http://puremtgo.com/articles/50-shades-white-commander-project-part-5-blink-and-youre-dead
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/ruhan-flicker-chaos/
http://deckbox.org/sets/270488
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/216964-ruhans-blinkathon
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/490106-which-direction-to-go-with-ruhan
...but without blink / flicker focus:
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/commander/23778_Riding_With_Ruhan.html
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/standard/25988-Dear-Azami-ndash-I-Want-YOU-For-Ruhans-Army.html
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/489430-working-around-ruhan
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/216101-ruhan-all-american-looter
Blink/flicker info including other commanders and Boros
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/202410-best-blinking-cards-in-america
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/203347-comprehensive-etb-blink-guide-in-progress
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/202349-blinkaholics-anonymous
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/511136-jenara-will-blink-you-to-death
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/casual-related-formats/multiplayer/563341-w-u-blink
http://www.smileylich.com/mtg/magocracy/visual/Enters_the_Battlefield_visual.html
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/cmdrdecks-052714-gisela-blade-of-goldnight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cmdrdecks-052714-gisela-blade-of-goldnight
http://www.mtgcasualplay.com/kaalia-of-the-vast-sunforger-edh-deck/
@taincurse Wowza! Those are some resources, alright. That's I'll definitely be pouring over these for the next couple weeks. Thanks!
I've been logging my updates with little blurbs about why I've made the changes I did, so I do indeed have the answers to the specific cards you mentioned.
Akroma, Angel of Fury - Akroma was an awesome trick when she worked. Turn 3 morph, turn 4 blink, turn 5 swing. But games rarely played out that way, and it certainly didn't happen early enough to make an impact most of the time. It took a lot of resources over a couple turns to simply end up swinging with a big guy, which isn't usually enough to win a game, at least not in my meta. Worse yet, her protection from white and blue made blinking her extremely difficult after she was face-up, so I could never save her in response to a removal spell. Sphinx of Uthuun replaced her, and I've been much happier with the swap.
Duergar Hedge-Mage - Simply put, just not enough Mountains and Plains. This is an effect I really want, but the times I needed to blow up that enchantment, I found myself with only mountains, or vice versa. After the umpteenth time of playing him with no effect, I decided he needed the axe. I thought briefly about including more Mountains and Plains, but a strategy I enjoy in EDH is having my lands do more for me than make mana. I've won more games using a land's activated ability than I've lost because I couldn't destroy and artifact or enchantment. So the lands stay, the Hedge-Mages goes.
Duplicant I believe this one came out for Angel of Serenity, as it wasn't an effect I needed too much of, especially not at the higher end of the mana curve. I always advocate creatures that do more than attack and block over creatures that don't, and the angel does a lot more than Duplicant (the irony that my general does just that is not lost on me).
Cloudshift This cut was a bit weird, but I had too many blink effects at the time of this card being cut, and it was just the worst card at what it did. No flashback, hits only one creature, etc. It's still a great card, but just isn't as crucial to the deck's success as I originally expected.