So, my latest EDH creations are finished and after a long hiatus, I will be posting my new lists. Malfegor will start, but soon I will be posting my Maelstrom Wanderer list, and my Zur the Enchanter 'non-aggro' list.
First up, Malfegor. The only rule is, "Everybody Dies...
So, it should be readily apparent that this is a turbo deck, though not aiming for a mill win. With 5 "everyone draws" effects, three wheels, and multiple discard outlets, the concept is to "binge and purge" all players while causing damage on draw and (hopefully) on discard. Geth's Grimoire gains massive card advantage off any wheel, and Exquisite Blood is possibly the greatest single lifegain card ever printed for the EDH format (Seriously, if you haven't tried it yet, do. The card is just nuts.) Endgame is generally reanimating flights of demons and dragons (I went with a mild tribal theme, but wound up cutting Incubator, Belbe's, etc), and punching out opponents already half-dead due to the mass damage. Alternatively, Dragon's Breath and a couple pump cards allow Malfegor to theoretically do 21, though I've never had to bother with that option yet.
While you wear everyone's life total down (while hopefully regaining some of your own), you can either go with plan "make mana rocks then cast or cheat out huge fatties and cast backbreaking sorceries", or go with plan "drop Malfegor, cast Madness spells and abuse Retrace and self-rebuying cards". Either way, if your graveyard survives for the long term you have enough reanimations to keep recurring choice creatures, and Living Death can threaten game-over if their yards aren't equally well-stocked. Pestilence (and its Demon) add to the fun of toasting everyone evenly, while your big flyers allow you to activate for 4 or 5 without losing the fickle enchantment. Seizan and Sheoldred are basically the only nonflyers in the deck that you would care if they die, so Earthquake and Ryusei are fine sweepers. (I am working on getting a Scourge of Kher Ridges, probably to replace Pest. Demon.)
Some cards in the list might need explanation. I will attempt it.
Basilisk Collar should be beyond question. Attached to either Ryusei or Pestilence Demon, this can provide so much lifegain in a single moment that it will justify its inclusion and then some. Remember, since you're the 'jerk' burning them per draw with Underworld Dreams, people will throw random "because I can" attacks your way, hoping to wear you down a bit faster than everyone. Some lifegain is definitely required! Note that Pestilence Demon dies whenever his ability resolves if he's wearing the Collar, but you can stack multiple activations on top of one another, and even though he dies to the first that resolves, Last Known Information will still say the others each have lifelink and deathtouch. Originally the deck ran Deathbringer Thoctar, but its only combo was with B. Collar and the occasional quaked-away army of 1/1's powering it up. Typically I would just have to lose it in the next wrath without it doing much, so it was cut.
Deathrender may seem iffy due to the paucity of creatures in the deck, but don't forget the turbo and wheel aspects. You'll find fat monsters in your hand more often than not, and the "cheat" casting can take people utterly by surprise, especially if you have a Gargadon or Miren allowing you to sacrifice.
Speaking of Gargadon, he's great for eating most permanents you steal with Conscripts or Insurrection, but he's even better for preventing steal attempts on your guys. Don't be in a rush to resolve him! It's often better to have an uncounterable, undestroyable sac outlet lurking on suspend, than to have a 9/7 vanilla-haste that dies to any removal and can be chump-blocked indefinitely.
I should take a moment to point out the beautiful synergy of Bloodchief Ascension and Painful Quandary, clearly a match made in heaven. Especially with the draw-damage effects and burn-everyone stuff, it's very trivial to get Bloodchief online if it lasts for three turns. Then feel free to wheel and do your best demonic laugh.
Dragon Breath is in my opinion the most underappreciated haste-granting option in EDH. Sure, some people run things like Mangara of Corondor, mana creatures, and other things that are smaller than 6 CMC and want haste. They can keep their equipments! Dragon Breath auto-regrows and attaches itself to anything we actually want haste on (except possibly Seizan, but I don't like to risk him in battle), and grants both haste AND bonus firebreathing! Sure, they can shoot it before you swing but they can do that to Greaves too - and the Greaves don't rebuy themselves! They don't get better when discarded like Dragon Breath does. There is really no downside to employing this card in this deck. (I run Greaves itself and Anger as well, because hey, what good are scary dragons if they die before they swing?) I considered Dragon Shadow as well, but with Shizo and all my pestilence effects, I found blockers weren't much of a problem.
I will repeat, if needed, that Exquisite Blood, despite its stupid childish name, is the black True Conviction - only possibly better. When my opponents have not figured out early that it is Target Number One, they have always lost. Gaining life off all my mass-damage effects quickly puts me far out of reach, allowing me to tap out on attack and leave myself open to counterattack with near-total impunity - after all, my guys have quasi-lifelink too. This card is a real powerhouse in the format now, be prepared to Naturalize it or lose to it if your general can't deal 21. (P.S. don't bother even commenting about the combo with Sanguine Bond. I play EDH with friends and would never do something so douchey to them.)
Those who are familiar with my lists might be wondering where Shattering Pulse is hiding, or whether I've gone senile and forgotten to include the best red artifact destroyer in the format? Sadly, when your deck plans to Wheel of Fortune about every 5 turns, buyback isn't much help. :\ If only black and red had not gotten the short end of the stick on Retrace! (If only WotC would print more Retrace toys for us!)
Speaking of Retrace, Raven's Crime is a perfect inclusion in this, as it is in almost every black EDH deck that plans to self-mill. When you have extra lands, and your opponent is holding one card and has a smug expression, what better way to wipe that look off his face? And with Geth's Grimoire or Bloodchief online, you get either added draw or life drain (or both) per land you pitch! Good deal, plus it doesn't mind being pitched to Malfegor.
Torrent of Souls is hands-down one of the best reanimation spells in the format. It's not Beacon good, and it's no Reveillark obviously, but if you lack white, have black and red, and need a second reanimator, this is your best bet. Reanimation, pumps, and haste-all. Unexpected alpha strike! Using this to raise Rune-Scarred, find Insurrection or Flowstone Slide, and just one-shot an opponent who thought they were "safe" on 25+ life is hilarious and utterly fitting for black/red.
Correction: Malfegor has a second rule. No one is safe.
Anyway, I think that about sums it up, the rest of the spells and creatures should be self-explanatory. If you think I missed something that would better suit the deck's theme and approach, let me know, or if there's a card that's just a strict or effective upgrade over one I'm running, post below! Look forward to hearing other's thoughts.
First up, Malfegor. The only rule is, "Everybody Dies...
1x Malfegor
Lands (36)
1x Barren Moor
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Forgotten Cave
1x Graven Cairns
1x Lavaclaw Reaches
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Molten Slagheap
1x Rakdos Carnarium
1x Rocky Tar Pit
1x Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Sulfurous Springs
1x Tainted Peak
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Temple of the False God
1x Terrain Generator
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
9x Mountain
8x Swamp
Artifacts (18)
1x Basilisk Collar
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Deathrender
1x Dreamstone Hedron
1x Font of Mythos
1x Geth's Grimoire
1x Howling Mine
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Mana Vault
1x Mind Stone
1x Pristine Talisman
1x Quicksilver Amulet
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Sol Ring
1x Spine of Ish Sah
1x Talisman of Indulgence
1x Temple Bell
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Bloodchief Ascension
1x Dragon Breath
1x Exquisite Blood
1x Pestilence
1x Painful Quandary
1x Spiteful Visions
1x Underworld Dreams
1x Warstorm Surge
Instants (2)
1x Into the Core
1x Makeshift Mannequin
Sorceries (16)
1x Beacon of Unrest
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Earthquake
1x Exsanguinate
1x Flowstone Slide
1x Increasing Ambition
1x Insurrection
1x Living Death
1x Plague Wind
1x Profane Command
1x Raven's Crime
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Sever the Bloodline
1x Stitch Together
1x Torrent of Souls
1x Wheel of Fortune
Creatures (19)
1x Anger
1x Avatar of Woe
1x Balefire Dragon
1x Big Game Hunter
1x Bogardan Hellkite
1x Dragon Mage
1x Flameblast Dragon
1x Grave Scrabbler
1x Greater Gargadon
1x Hoard-Smelter Dragon
1x Mana-Charged Dragon
1x Pestilence Demon
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Ryusei, the Falling Star
1x Seizan, Perverter of Truth
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Zealous Conscripts
While you wear everyone's life total down (while hopefully regaining some of your own), you can either go with plan "make mana rocks then cast or cheat out huge fatties and cast backbreaking sorceries", or go with plan "drop Malfegor, cast Madness spells and abuse Retrace and self-rebuying cards". Either way, if your graveyard survives for the long term you have enough reanimations to keep recurring choice creatures, and Living Death can threaten game-over if their yards aren't equally well-stocked. Pestilence (and its Demon) add to the fun of toasting everyone evenly, while your big flyers allow you to activate for 4 or 5 without losing the fickle enchantment. Seizan and Sheoldred are basically the only nonflyers in the deck that you would care if they die, so Earthquake and Ryusei are fine sweepers. (I am working on getting a Scourge of Kher Ridges, probably to replace Pest. Demon.)
Some cards in the list might need explanation. I will attempt it.
Basilisk Collar should be beyond question. Attached to either Ryusei or Pestilence Demon, this can provide so much lifegain in a single moment that it will justify its inclusion and then some. Remember, since you're the 'jerk' burning them per draw with Underworld Dreams, people will throw random "because I can" attacks your way, hoping to wear you down a bit faster than everyone. Some lifegain is definitely required! Note that Pestilence Demon dies whenever his ability resolves if he's wearing the Collar, but you can stack multiple activations on top of one another, and even though he dies to the first that resolves, Last Known Information will still say the others each have lifelink and deathtouch. Originally the deck ran Deathbringer Thoctar, but its only combo was with B. Collar and the occasional quaked-away army of 1/1's powering it up. Typically I would just have to lose it in the next wrath without it doing much, so it was cut.
Deathrender may seem iffy due to the paucity of creatures in the deck, but don't forget the turbo and wheel aspects. You'll find fat monsters in your hand more often than not, and the "cheat" casting can take people utterly by surprise, especially if you have a Gargadon or Miren allowing you to sacrifice.
Speaking of Gargadon, he's great for eating most permanents you steal with Conscripts or Insurrection, but he's even better for preventing steal attempts on your guys. Don't be in a rush to resolve him! It's often better to have an uncounterable, undestroyable sac outlet lurking on suspend, than to have a 9/7 vanilla-haste that dies to any removal and can be chump-blocked indefinitely.
I should take a moment to point out the beautiful synergy of Bloodchief Ascension and Painful Quandary, clearly a match made in heaven. Especially with the draw-damage effects and burn-everyone stuff, it's very trivial to get Bloodchief online if it lasts for three turns. Then feel free to wheel and do your best demonic laugh.
Dragon Breath is in my opinion the most underappreciated haste-granting option in EDH. Sure, some people run things like Mangara of Corondor, mana creatures, and other things that are smaller than 6 CMC and want haste. They can keep their equipments! Dragon Breath auto-regrows and attaches itself to anything we actually want haste on (except possibly Seizan, but I don't like to risk him in battle), and grants both haste AND bonus firebreathing! Sure, they can shoot it before you swing but they can do that to Greaves too - and the Greaves don't rebuy themselves! They don't get better when discarded like Dragon Breath does. There is really no downside to employing this card in this deck. (I run Greaves itself and Anger as well, because hey, what good are scary dragons if they die before they swing?) I considered Dragon Shadow as well, but with Shizo and all my pestilence effects, I found blockers weren't much of a problem.
I will repeat, if needed, that Exquisite Blood, despite its stupid childish name, is the black True Conviction - only possibly better. When my opponents have not figured out early that it is Target Number One, they have always lost. Gaining life off all my mass-damage effects quickly puts me far out of reach, allowing me to tap out on attack and leave myself open to counterattack with near-total impunity - after all, my guys have quasi-lifelink too. This card is a real powerhouse in the format now, be prepared to Naturalize it or lose to it if your general can't deal 21. (P.S. don't bother even commenting about the combo with Sanguine Bond. I play EDH with friends and would never do something so douchey to them.)
Those who are familiar with my lists might be wondering where Shattering Pulse is hiding, or whether I've gone senile and forgotten to include the best red artifact destroyer in the format? Sadly, when your deck plans to Wheel of Fortune about every 5 turns, buyback isn't much help. :\ If only black and red had not gotten the short end of the stick on Retrace! (If only WotC would print more Retrace toys for us!)
Speaking of Retrace, Raven's Crime is a perfect inclusion in this, as it is in almost every black EDH deck that plans to self-mill. When you have extra lands, and your opponent is holding one card and has a smug expression, what better way to wipe that look off his face? And with Geth's Grimoire or Bloodchief online, you get either added draw or life drain (or both) per land you pitch! Good deal, plus it doesn't mind being pitched to Malfegor.
Torrent of Souls is hands-down one of the best reanimation spells in the format. It's not Beacon good, and it's no Reveillark obviously, but if you lack white, have black and red, and need a second reanimator, this is your best bet. Reanimation, pumps, and haste-all. Unexpected alpha strike! Using this to raise Rune-Scarred, find Insurrection or Flowstone Slide, and just one-shot an opponent who thought they were "safe" on 25+ life is hilarious and utterly fitting for black/red.
Correction: Malfegor has a second rule. No one is safe.
Anyway, I think that about sums it up, the rest of the spells and creatures should be self-explanatory. If you think I missed something that would better suit the deck's theme and approach, let me know, or if there's a card that's just a strict or effective upgrade over one I'm running, post below! Look forward to hearing other's thoughts.
--Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., who is up in Heaven now. EDH WUBRG Child of Alara WUBRG BGW Karador, Ghost Chieftain BGW RGW Mayael the Anima RGW WUB Sharuum the Hegemon WUB RWU Zedruu the Greathearted RWU
WB Ghost Council of Orzhova WB RG Ulasht, the Hate Seed RG B Korlash, Heir to Blackblade B G Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer G *click the general's name to see my list!*