Ok, I thought I would try something a little different and try out Zedruu. In the past I have seen a lot of people load him up with cards to work specifically with Zedruu. On my approach though I wanted to go a bit more control based not focusing on him all that heavily. Thanks to him I included a few extra hate cards which can be donated if I am not playing against specific strategies.
So... no I dont want to run all these random cards that suck if he isn't in play. He is a bit fragile to being tucked in these colors as I dont have much of a way to go get him so rather than making him what the entire deck focuses around I decided to go a bit more of an artifact / enchantment themed control pillow-fort deck that can donate things later on for some nice power drawing.
I have to go find cards and figure out the landbase but I figured I would kick it out for discussion in the meantime. I suppose I should look at some other lists for zedruu as well but I will get to that later.
I love Wild Research in Zedruu, I think that Punishing Fire works well as an easily searchable recursive instant for the Research. It doesn't draw a ton of attention. Mnemonic Wall is another that will help and not attract too much attention.
I have a few random thoughts, can't really organize them, so please bear with me here.
Seems to me more like a hate-bear deck than fort.
Some cards that I would like to question are:
Spreading Seas: For soft land removal? For that purpose I find that Vedalken Plotter does a much better job. And he works wonders with your general. For Islandwalk with Thada Adel, Plotter does it almost as well.
Batterskull: Not exactly sure why this is in the deck. Just a solid creature/equipment?
It seems like your deck does a fine job hating on the strategies of other decks. However you lack reliable finishers. The ones I can identify from your list here are Gisela and Akroma, both are relatively easy to answer and I don't think you have any ways to recur them. Sigil of the Empty Throne is okay I guess, but i doubt it'll make more than one angel per turn for you. So it seems like your deck will just lead to an incredibly grindy game state where your opponents are unable to carry out their strategies while you have no reliable ways to finish the game either.
I realize you're trying to be original and avoid some of the popular donate targets. But I find Illusions of Grandeur too good to pass up in a zedruu list. The 40 life swing is enormous and even more devastating when recurred or copied with Copy Enchantment (which is another card you should consider).
Not sure what your opinion is on Cyclonic Rift, but it is one of the best blue cards ever offensively and defensively. The instant speed is delicious.
You don't have lands yet, but when you do add in lands make sure to put in Maze of Ith and Kor Haven. Along with Weathered Wayfarer to fetch for them. I find that 38 lands to be a little bit low in a non-green deck, so I highly recommend running Land Tax.
Thats all I can think of now. Will add in more later! Let me know what you think isb.
I haven't played with Zedruu, so this is just my humble opinion:
Cuts: Stoneforge Mystic - It's only there to find Batterskull, seems like, and I think there are better win conditions in EDH control. If that's the win con you want, then great, but I see it as something great in Legacy that doesn't transfer to EDH well. Magma Phoenix - I don't know what purpose this guy serves for you. There are better recurrable blockers. If you're looking for discard fodder I'd go to Squee, Goblin Nabob before this fellow. Razia, Boros Archangel - I know she fits the pillowfort style, but I don't think she's that fantastic. Akroma and Sphinx make better finishers, anyways. For something on-theme, I'd play Isperia, Supreme Judge over her. Torpor Orb - You're running quite a few ETB abilities yourself to be playing this card. Maybe if you dropped Sphinx, Snappy, and Stoneforge, and changed WOmens to something else. Probably a meta call for you, and a good inclusion, but your creature base seems off for it. Spreading Seas - This doesn't seem to fit in multiplayer EDH. You could just run some LD, since you're in red, but if you're looking for something to donate/something friendlier, I'd go with the aforementioned suggestion of Vedalken Plotter. Arrest - I think Prison Term is strictly better. Batterskull - See above, you already have some good wincons in this deck. No evasion makes for a bad beater in EDH. Insight - Again, I can see this being a meta call, but maybe Rhystic Study would be less narrow? Faith's Fetters - Has always been underwhelming to me, though it is a good way to stop a noncreature permanent doing its thing. I know it's donate-able, but I might rather have Linvala, Keeper of Silence in this slot. Puca's Mischief - Considering your opening post, this seems like an odd inclusion. It goes great with your General, but messes with some parts of your fort package. Starstorm - in white, I think there are better wipes. And American colors aren't known for ramp. Being an instant is good and all, but... why not use Blasphemous Act instead?
Suggested inclusions: Meekstone or Arena of the Ancients - less pillowfort and more lock, but these are always the first cards I think of when playing control in EDH. Meekstone in particular would make a neat addition to your Trinket Mage package.
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage - one of my favorite planeswalkers in a deck like this, I think she at least merits testing, although she might put a target on your head.
Sunken Hope - Global enchantment that helps hose down Voltron strategies. Not so good if you donate your own creatures, but I don't think you were planning on it.
Venser, The Sojourner - If you want to keep your ETB creatures around, he might be a good add in. Can also untap lands. Might merit using Stonehorn Dignitary as well. Lets you recover donated permanents if you need them, for whatever reason.
Oblation - If you're using Chaos Warp, I think this merits consideration as well.
Celestial Dawn - A great donate target that works as a mana-fixer if you're forced to hold on to it.
Return to Dust - Noncreature removal. Any deck that plans to grind into the long game should have more of this, I think.
Consecrated Sphinx - Maybe, again, too much of a target. But if you use Torpor Orb, probably better than the Sphinx you're playing. Especially since you don't seem to benefit from graveyard play.
Insurrection - In a deck with more fort and less wipes, a sturdy wincon.
Coalition Relic or Chromatic Lantern - I know you may be trying to build around [c]Stony Silence[/b], but every EDH deck needs some ramp, and your colors are stuck in artifacts.
Just some thoughts. This is not a color combination I have very much experience with or even like. There are obviously a ton of options for control in U/W though.
I agree that Jace, Architect of Thought and the new Isperia should be in this list. You already run Propaganda, why not double up on the effect with Ghostly Prison? While not necessarily pillow-fort, consider Gideon Jura who can provide cover for your other walkers and yourself, while doubling up as a win-condition. If you are okay with land destruction, I would consider a few cards to aid in helping your pillowfort cards even more.
Darcykun is completely right on Kismet and similar cards. Initially I did not run them in my Lady Evangela build, but once added the tempo loss for your opponents can be great for decks like this with no ramp. In some ways, taking this list into a more stax based approach might be a nice change up from your other decks as well. Just a few thoughts.
Edit: Forgot to mention Martyr's Bond, could be great in here as well, though it increases the curve some. Might be a solid replacement for some of your higher mana costing creatures.
So... no I dont want to run all these random cards that suck if he isn't in play. He is a bit fragile to being tucked in these colors as I dont have much of a way to go get him so rather than making him what the entire deck focuses around I decided to go a bit more of an artifact / enchantment themed control pillow-fort deck that can donate things later on for some nice power drawing.
I have to go find cards and figure out the landbase but I figured I would kick it out for discussion in the meantime. I suppose I should look at some other lists for zedruu as well but I will get to that later.
1 Zedruu the Greathearted
CREATURES (15)
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Wall of Omens
1 Hanna, Ship's Navigator
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Trinket Mage
1 Academy Rector
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Magma Phoenix
1 Sun Titan
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1 Sphinx of Uthuun
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Razia, Boros Archangel
ARTIFACT (11)
1 Expedition Map
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Pithing Needle
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Azorius Signet
1 Boros Signet
1 Izzet Signet
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Torpor Orb
1 Batterskull
ENCHANTMENTS (20)
1 Rest in Peace
1 Spreading Seas
1 Stony Silence
1 Arrest
1 Aura of Silence
1 Detention Sphere
1 Insight
1 Karmic Justice
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Propaganda
1 Wild Research
1 Collective Restraint
1 Faith's Fetters
1 Karma
1 Leyline of Anticipation
1 Puca's Mischief
1 Stranglehold
1 Sigil of the Empty Throne
1 Sphere of Safety
1 Teferi's Moat
1 Pact of Negation
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Arcane Denial
1 Starstorm
1 Chaos Warp
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Return to Dust
SORCERY (4)
1 Idyllic Tutor
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Open the Vaults
1 Austere Command
PLANESWALKER (2)
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
LAND (38)
1 Command Tower
1 Volcanic Island
1 Tundra
1 Plateau
1 Steam Vents
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Cascade Bluffs
1 Mystic Gate
1 Rugged Prairie
1 Marsh Flats
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Arid Mesa
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
1 Windswept Heath
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Academy Ruins
1 Kor Haven
1 Maze of Ith
1 Tolaria West
1 Strip Mine
1 Serra's Sanctum
3 Plains
4 Island
3 Mountain
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
Seems to me more like a hate-bear deck than fort.
Some cards that I would like to question are:
Spreading Seas: For soft land removal? For that purpose I find that Vedalken Plotter does a much better job. And he works wonders with your general. For Islandwalk with Thada Adel, Plotter does it almost as well.
Batterskull: Not exactly sure why this is in the deck. Just a solid creature/equipment?
Karma and Insight: Meta call?
Open the Vault: Decent card for this deck, but I wouldn't run this over
Replenish.
Razia, Boros Archangel: Can't understand
It seems like your deck does a fine job hating on the strategies of other decks. However you lack reliable finishers. The ones I can identify from your list here are Gisela and Akroma, both are relatively easy to answer and I don't think you have any ways to recur them. Sigil of the Empty Throne is okay I guess, but i doubt it'll make more than one angel per turn for you. So it seems like your deck will just lead to an incredibly grindy game state where your opponents are unable to carry out their strategies while you have no reliable ways to finish the game either.
One of the all star cards in my zedruu deck is Entreat The Angels. It is amazing with Mystical Tutor and Sensei's Divining Top.
I realize you're trying to be original and avoid some of the popular donate targets. But I find Illusions of Grandeur too good to pass up in a zedruu list. The 40 life swing is enormous and even more devastating when recurred or copied with Copy Enchantment (which is another card you should consider).
Not sure what your opinion is on Cyclonic Rift, but it is one of the best blue cards ever offensively and defensively. The instant speed is delicious.
You don't have lands yet, but when you do add in lands make sure to put in Maze of Ith and Kor Haven. Along with Weathered Wayfarer to fetch for them. I find that 38 lands to be a little bit low in a non-green deck, so I highly recommend running Land Tax.
Thats all I can think of now. Will add in more later! Let me know what you think isb.
Cuts:
Stoneforge Mystic - It's only there to find Batterskull, seems like, and I think there are better win conditions in EDH control. If that's the win con you want, then great, but I see it as something great in Legacy that doesn't transfer to EDH well.
Magma Phoenix - I don't know what purpose this guy serves for you. There are better recurrable blockers. If you're looking for discard fodder I'd go to Squee, Goblin Nabob before this fellow.
Razia, Boros Archangel - I know she fits the pillowfort style, but I don't think she's that fantastic. Akroma and Sphinx make better finishers, anyways. For something on-theme, I'd play Isperia, Supreme Judge over her.
Torpor Orb - You're running quite a few ETB abilities yourself to be playing this card. Maybe if you dropped Sphinx, Snappy, and Stoneforge, and changed WOmens to something else. Probably a meta call for you, and a good inclusion, but your creature base seems off for it.
Spreading Seas - This doesn't seem to fit in multiplayer EDH. You could just run some LD, since you're in red, but if you're looking for something to donate/something friendlier, I'd go with the aforementioned suggestion of Vedalken Plotter.
Arrest - I think Prison Term is strictly better.
Batterskull - See above, you already have some good wincons in this deck. No evasion makes for a bad beater in EDH.
Insight - Again, I can see this being a meta call, but maybe Rhystic Study would be less narrow?
Faith's Fetters - Has always been underwhelming to me, though it is a good way to stop a noncreature permanent doing its thing. I know it's donate-able, but I might rather have Linvala, Keeper of Silence in this slot.
Puca's Mischief - Considering your opening post, this seems like an odd inclusion. It goes great with your General, but messes with some parts of your fort package.
Starstorm - in white, I think there are better wipes. And American colors aren't known for ramp. Being an instant is good and all, but... why not use Blasphemous Act instead?
Suggested inclusions:
Meekstone or Arena of the Ancients - less pillowfort and more lock, but these are always the first cards I think of when playing control in EDH. Meekstone in particular would make a neat addition to your Trinket Mage package.
Tamiyo, the Moon Sage - one of my favorite planeswalkers in a deck like this, I think she at least merits testing, although she might put a target on your head.
Sunken Hope - Global enchantment that helps hose down Voltron strategies. Not so good if you donate your own creatures, but I don't think you were planning on it.
Venser, The Sojourner - If you want to keep your ETB creatures around, he might be a good add in. Can also untap lands. Might merit using Stonehorn Dignitary as well. Lets you recover donated permanents if you need them, for whatever reason.
Rite of Replication - One of the best win-cons for EDH control, IMO.
Oblation - If you're using Chaos Warp, I think this merits consideration as well.
Celestial Dawn - A great donate target that works as a mana-fixer if you're forced to hold on to it.
Return to Dust - Noncreature removal. Any deck that plans to grind into the long game should have more of this, I think.
Consecrated Sphinx - Maybe, again, too much of a target. But if you use Torpor Orb, probably better than the Sphinx you're playing. Especially since you don't seem to benefit from graveyard play.
Insurrection - In a deck with more fort and less wipes, a sturdy wincon.
Coalition Relic or Chromatic Lantern - I know you may be trying to build around [c]Stony Silence[/b], but every EDH deck needs some ramp, and your colors are stuck in artifacts.
Copy Enchantment - Seems good.
Frozen AEther / Kismet - Stops haste shenanigans and kind of function as ramp.
Karmic Justice - Get a little attention off of your own permanents.
Land Tax - Goodstuff.dec
Just some thoughts. This is not a color combination I have very much experience with or even like. There are obviously a ton of options for control in U/W though.
Draft my Peasant Cube.
Darcykun is completely right on Kismet and similar cards. Initially I did not run them in my Lady Evangela build, but once added the tempo loss for your opponents can be great for decks like this with no ramp. In some ways, taking this list into a more stax based approach might be a nice change up from your other decks as well. Just a few thoughts.
Edit: Forgot to mention Martyr's Bond, could be great in here as well, though it increases the curve some. Might be a solid replacement for some of your higher mana costing creatures.
[Primer] WUB Dromar, the Banisher Stax [SOON TO BE OLORO]