So apparently Diaochan, Artful Beauty, aka the hardest to acquire legend outside of 1996 world Champion, is getting a reprint in the commander arsenal! Personally I think the arsenal can suck on a lemon, but since Diaochan is among the least-used cards in the box, I'm betting that she'll be available singly for $10 tops.
So in honor of this excellent news, I've put together a deck for the general, who I've always thought had one of the most interesting abilities, certainly among P3K legends, or in general.
Basic strategy is to use her to make friends and ally against the most dangerous players, so her "downside" becomes a double removal. The endgame plan is the same it is for most EDH control decks - acquire a stupid amount of mana and drop some insane bombs. The deck has a proliferate theme to help ultimate the walkers, some nasty enchantments that make diaochan's removal even nastier, some nastily effective artifacts, and some plain ol' mana sinks. I'm also using most of the mass destruction to reduce the field to ash when needed, and plenty of draw to keep the gas coming.
I have a question about her. If I want she cannot be chosen, I need give her shroud (so anyone could target her) or just hexproof so my opponent cannot target her? (Using, for example, Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots).
The wording on it is very odd. It's one ability that you control, which makes me agree that an opponent would be able to chose Diaochan. The question would be if the opponent is targeting a Hexproof Diaochan or merely choosing a target for you.
I don't know if there are enough reliable ways to use proliferate in Mono Red to really take advantage of it. I count 3 proliferate effects, and 5 things to be proliferated. Proliferating planeswalkers is great, I did it in standard, but I'm not 100% sure here because there is no reliable way to get them. However, if you want to continue on with the theme, I would suggest Core Prowler and Volt Charge as well, which are all of the Proliferate effects Red can access. The Prowler is nice to use with your general and Volt Charge can be forked as well as serve as removal.
I have a question about her. If I want she cannot be chosen, I need give her shroud (so anyone could target her) or just hexproof so my opponent cannot target her? (Using, for example, Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots).
You need Shroud. Hexproof is worded "~ cannot be the target of spells or abilities your opponent's control". You control Diaochan's ability so she can be chosen by your opponent.
How has Lux Cannon been working for you? I like the ability with proliferate, giving red some needed enchantment removal. Without much proliferating however, it seems like it could be slow. I'm also currently trying to build a Diaochan deck with a heavy control focus.
I love Diaochan too! She's one of the coolest generals out there, and I love how she can play politics and still be powerful if the table turns against you.
Hmm...so your list. I think it needs more focus. You have a lot of good cards, but I'm not sensing much synergy or much of a theme beyond Diaochan's ability. Obviously, it's a control deck, but why did you choose the cards that you did?
So in honor of this excellent news, I've put together a deck for the general, who I've always thought had one of the most interesting abilities, certainly among P3K legends, or in general.
Basic strategy is to use her to make friends and ally against the most dangerous players, so her "downside" becomes a double removal. The endgame plan is the same it is for most EDH control decks - acquire a stupid amount of mana and drop some insane bombs. The deck has a proliferate theme to help ultimate the walkers, some nasty enchantments that make diaochan's removal even nastier, some nastily effective artifacts, and some plain ol' mana sinks. I'm also using most of the mass destruction to reduce the field to ash when needed, and plenty of draw to keep the gas coming.
1 Diaochan, Artful Beauty
Wincons (15)
1 Koth of the Hammer
1 Karn Liberated
1 Chandra the Firebrand
1 chandra nalaar
1 burning sands
1 vicious shadows
1 avarice totem
1 goblin charbelcher
1 mimic vat
1 orochi hatchery
1 phyrexian processor
1 soul conduit
1 insurrection
1 magistrate's scepter
1 fanning the flames
Draw (9)
1 staff of nin
1 mind's eye
1 wheel of fortune
1 reforge the soul
1 planar portal
1 tower of fortunes
1 phyrexian portal
1 skyship weatherlight
1 sensei's divining top
1 Contagion Clasp
1 Contagion Engine
1 throne of geth
1 magewright's stone
1 thousand-year elixir
1 lightning greaves
1 nim deathmantle
1 rings of brighthearth
1 cloak and dagger
1 general's kabuto
1 whispersilk cloak
1 shield of kaldra
1 darksteel plate
1 Fervor
1 Anger
Answers (15)
1 Lux Cannon
1 chaos Warp
1 Wild Ricochet
1 blasphemous act
1 reiterate
1 jokulhaups
1 obliterate
1 devastation
1 oblivion stone
1 ruination
1 word of seizing
1 zealous conscripts
1 shattering pulse
1 viahsino heretic
1 vandalblast
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
1 mana vault
1 Gauntlet of Might
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Caged Sun
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Thran dynamo
1 Doubling Cube
1 Extraplanar Lens
Land (35)
1 ancient tomb
1 buried ruin
1 cavern of souls
1 dust bowl
1 hall of the bandit lord
1 high market
1 inkmoth nexus
1 mystifying maze
1 rishadan port
1 scrying sheets
1 thawing glaciers
24 Mountain
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
EDH Decks
BGGlissa, the TraitorGB
URTibor and LumiaRU
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticBUW
UBSygg, River CutthroatBU
RGXenagos, God of RevelsGR
UGVorel of the Hull CladeGU
GBSavra, Queen of the GolgariBG
URGMaelstrom WandererGRU
I don't know if there are enough reliable ways to use proliferate in Mono Red to really take advantage of it. I count 3 proliferate effects, and 5 things to be proliferated. Proliferating planeswalkers is great, I did it in standard, but I'm not 100% sure here because there is no reliable way to get them. However, if you want to continue on with the theme, I would suggest Core Prowler and Volt Charge as well, which are all of the Proliferate effects Red can access. The Prowler is nice to use with your general and Volt Charge can be forked as well as serve as removal.
RRRAshling, the PilgrimRRR
UUUThadda Adel, AcquisitorUUU
You need Shroud. Hexproof is worded "~ cannot be the target of spells or abilities your opponent's control". You control Diaochan's ability so she can be chosen by your opponent.
EDH Decks
BGGlissa, the TraitorGB
URTibor and LumiaRU
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticBUW
UBSygg, River CutthroatBU
RGXenagos, God of RevelsGR
UGVorel of the Hull CladeGU
GBSavra, Queen of the GolgariBG
URGMaelstrom WandererGRU
[Primer] WUB Dromar, the Banisher Stax [SOON TO BE OLORO]
EDH Decks
BGGlissa, the TraitorGB
URTibor and LumiaRU
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticBUW
UBSygg, River CutthroatBU
RGXenagos, God of RevelsGR
UGVorel of the Hull CladeGU
GBSavra, Queen of the GolgariBG
URGMaelstrom WandererGRU
Hmm...so your list. I think it needs more focus. You have a lot of good cards, but I'm not sensing much synergy or much of a theme beyond Diaochan's ability. Obviously, it's a control deck, but why did you choose the cards that you did?
Btw, you inspired me to post my own list, which is here http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=459460.
Mono Red's Strengths and Mono White's Strengths
EDH: WBG Karador, Ghost Chiefton