I have put a Melek deck together. I want the deck to be quite versatile, however I'm not quite sure about the balance of cards yet.
Mind you the deck can not contain infinite win-combo loops. Such as Niv-Mizzet + curiosity, that's one of the reasons why he's not the commander and Melek is just more fun in my opinion.
I'm thinking of cutting at least one of the Niv-mizzets since they are quite heavy in mana cost, perhaps even some more creatures. But I do want to keep the option open to hit with creatures instead of having a pure spellslinger type deck.
I don't have that much commander experience yet so any tips and advice is welcome. Also if there's simply a better card than card X in this deck, feel free to let me know, I'll see if I can obtain it.
Scroll Rack and Sensei's Divining Top are excellent in here in order to find something for Melek (though wow, they have shot way up in value since I last checked). Ponder and Brainstorm are cards I wouldn't leave home without, either.
Mana Geyser is usually my go-to red ritual in multiplayer Commander. I would run it over Inner Fire.
I'm thinking of making a Melek-led EDH deck and your list looks closer to how I want to play him. I wouldn't want to depend on simply slinging spells either.
I don't have any card suggestions other than one expensive one. How about Mana Crypt?
I will think of more reasonable card suggestions, but honestly, this looks like a fun, solid list so far!
Scroll Rack and Sensei's Divining Top are excellent in here in order to find something for Melek (though wow, they have shot way up in value since I last checked). Ponder and Brainstorm are cards I wouldn't leave home without, either.
Mana Geyser is usually my go-to red ritual in multiplayer Commander. I would run it over Inner Fire.
Darksteel Ingot is a no-brainer over Manalith, can't believe I missed that, thanks.
I think I have a Mana Geyser somewhere, good suggestion - that's definitely better in multiplayer.
So on that note:
+1 Mana Geyser
+1 Darksteel Ingot
-1 Manalith
-1 Inner Fire
I don't have a coalition relic and chromatic lantern at the moment, but those are surely worth obtaining.
Top and Scroll Rack are a bit out of budget expensive, perhaps some day.. :).
Reiterate and Mana Crypt are both good suggestions aswel, thanks.
After a few playtests I noticed that some extra ramp and/or card advantage would indeed be nice. As said in my original post, I'm thinking of cutting one of the Niv Mizzets. But that is just one card. I'm not sure what else to cut while keeping the versatility of spells/creatures.
As for what to cut, what is with all of the random Storm cards? I don't see this deck racking up a huge Storm count naturally. They are probably pretty funny with Eye of the Storm, but that's way too narrow. Those would be first up on the chopping block for me.
I don't have a brainstorm at the moment, once I get one I'll look at implementing it. Mystical Retrieval will be up for consideration aswel and it's cheap, awesome.
I did find a Ponder. I think I'll cut one of the Niv Mizzets for that. Which one though?
The T:draw is nice since it costs no mana, however I noticed that if Dismiss into Dream is on the field, the RW: Deal 1 damage ability is REALLY scary, but that's a quite expensive 2 card combo - I guess that won't happen all too often.
I want to try and keep the versatility in the deck so my opponents aren't sure what will come next. A creature that suddenly gets +10/0, Eye of the Storm causing havok all over the board, Dismiss into dream that threatens all of their precious creatures.
Preferably I'd try and cut a bit of each of those points instead of removing one thing (such Storming) all together.
Perhaps it's a bit much too put in one deck, but let's try.
+ Spell Crumple
+ Rite of Replication
+ Mystical Tutor
+ Ponder
+ Merchant Scroll
+ Felwar Stone
Reasoning:
Lowered the overall mana cost a bit.
Added some more tutors in place of card draw - Card draw is 'semi-random' so I favor tutoring. Getting cyclonic rift at the right time can be a killer.
Felwar Stone for Star Compass - I can use it for mana instantly and most in my playgroup use either red or blue, so it should be a safe pick.
Mind you the deck can not contain infinite win-combo loops. Such as Niv-Mizzet + curiosity, that's one of the reasons why he's not the commander and Melek is just more fun in my opinion.
6 Melek, Izzet Paragon
Creatures (13)
2 Lighthouse Chronologist
2 Vedalken Aethermage
2 Nivix Guildmage
2 Goblin Electromancer
2 Deranged Assistant
3 Echo Mage
3 Guttersnipe
3 Wee Dragonauts
4 Talrand, Sky summoner
5 Hypersonic Dragon
6 Charmbreaker Devils
6 Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
Sorceries (18)
1 Lava Spike
1 Mystic Speculation
1 Ponder
1 Serum Visions
1 Vandalblast
3 Counsel of the Soratami
4 Foresee
4 Rite of Replication
4 Tezzeret's Gambit
4 Wash Out
5 Ignite Memories
5 Mana Geyser
5 Mass Mutiny
6 Mindblaze
6 Spelltwine
6 Volcanic Awakening
1 Lightning Bolt
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Peek
1 Rapid Hybridization
2 Arcane Denial
2 Grapeshot
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Izzet Charm
2 Merchant Scroll
2 Pyromatics
2 Reverberate
3 Electrolyze
3 Hinder
3 Spell Crumble
4 Wild Ricochet
7 Firemind's Foresight
Planeswalkers (1)
4 Chandra, The firebrand
Enchantments (6)
2 Runechanter's Pike
4 Leyline of Anticipation
5 Arcane Melee
7 Cast Through Time
7 Dismiss into Dream
7 Eye of the Storm
Artifacts (10)
0 Spellbook
1 Sol Ring
2 Felwar Stone
2 Izzet Signet
2 Swiftfoot Boots
3 Crystall Ball
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Izzet Keyrune
3 Worn Powerstone
5 Mirari
1 Command Tower
1 Desolate Lighthouse
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Forgotten Cave
1 Halimar Depths
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Lonely Sandbar
1 Nivix, Aerie of the Firemind
1 Opal Palace
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Rupture Spire
1 Shimmering Grotto
1 Smoldering Crater
1 Temple of the False God
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Vivid Creek
7 Mountains
11 Islands
Additional notes:
I'm looking to obtain a Rite of replication.
I'm thinking of cutting at least one of the Niv-mizzets since they are quite heavy in mana cost, perhaps even some more creatures. But I do want to keep the option open to hit with creatures instead of having a pure spellslinger type deck.
I don't have that much commander experience yet so any tips and advice is welcome. Also if there's simply a better card than card X in this deck, feel free to let me know, I'll see if I can obtain it.
Thanks in advance.
Scroll Rack and Sensei's Divining Top are excellent in here in order to find something for Melek (though wow, they have shot way up in value since I last checked). Ponder and Brainstorm are cards I wouldn't leave home without, either.
Mana Geyser is usually my go-to red ritual in multiplayer Commander. I would run it over Inner Fire.
From Disappointing Signet Inc.!
Generation 16: First time you see this, change the number up 1 and copy into sig. It's a social experiment.
I don't have any card suggestions other than one expensive one. How about Mana Crypt?
I will think of more reasonable card suggestions, but honestly, this looks like a fun, solid list so far!
Darksteel Ingot is a no-brainer over Manalith, can't believe I missed that, thanks.
I think I have a Mana Geyser somewhere, good suggestion - that's definitely better in multiplayer.
So on that note:
+1 Mana Geyser
+1 Darksteel Ingot
-1 Manalith
-1 Inner Fire
I don't have a coalition relic and chromatic lantern at the moment, but those are surely worth obtaining.
Top and Scroll Rack are a bit out of budget expensive, perhaps some day.. :).
Reiterate and Mana Crypt are both good suggestions aswel, thanks.
After a few playtests I noticed that some extra ramp and/or card advantage would indeed be nice. As said in my original post, I'm thinking of cutting one of the Niv Mizzets. But that is just one card. I'm not sure what else to cut while keeping the versatility of spells/creatures.
Mystic Retrieval might be another one to keep an eye on.
As for what to cut, what is with all of the random Storm cards? I don't see this deck racking up a huge Storm count naturally. They are probably pretty funny with Eye of the Storm, but that's way too narrow. Those would be first up on the chopping block for me.
I did find a Ponder. I think I'll cut one of the Niv Mizzets for that. Which one though?
The T:draw is nice since it costs no mana, however I noticed that if Dismiss into Dream is on the field, the RW: Deal 1 damage ability is REALLY scary, but that's a quite expensive 2 card combo - I guess that won't happen all too often.
As for the Storm cards. They are not there for insane storm combos but also to support other cards. Indeed it is funny with Eye of the Storm, but they also work well with Wee Dragonauts, Guttersnipe, Charmbreaker Devils and Talrand, Sky Summoner.
I want to try and keep the versatility in the deck so my opponents aren't sure what will come next. A creature that suddenly gets +10/0, Eye of the Storm causing havok all over the board, Dismiss into dream that threatens all of their precious creatures.
Preferably I'd try and cut a bit of each of those points instead of removing one thing (such Storming) all together.
Perhaps it's a bit much too put in one deck, but let's try.
An acquaintance plays Spellweaver Volute in his Melek deck.
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
- Cancel
- Niv Mizzet, Dracogenius
- Recurring Insight
- Portent
- Think Twice
- Star Compass
+ Spell Crumple
+ Rite of Replication
+ Mystical Tutor
+ Ponder
+ Merchant Scroll
+ Felwar Stone
Reasoning:
Lowered the overall mana cost a bit.
Added some more tutors in place of card draw - Card draw is 'semi-random' so I favor tutoring. Getting cyclonic rift at the right time can be a killer.
Felwar Stone for Star Compass - I can use it for mana instantly and most in my playgroup use either red or blue, so it should be a safe pick.