Intro: I’ve been doing a lot of reading/research on this deck and decided to finally make one. I’ve built a Relentless Rats deck before and enjoyed it and this has a similar feel. This started out as a mono-black beck with Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker as the general (and I may switch it back to that if this build doesn’t work out) but I had a really hard time not including Bloodbond March and Aura Shards. So without further ado… here’s my deck! Suggestions and comments more than welcome.
Update: I’ll have the decklist below and in a spoiler below that, the previous iteration. It used to be a Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck but I’m changing it to Savra, Queen of the Golgari. I found that, with 3 colors, it was getting too convoluted and not focused enough. I’ve added in some card draw, taken out some of the combos to make it a little more agro-y (and obviously took out the white). I’m also trying to focus on/take advantage of all the sacing that I do.
Cards that I’m still thinking about adding: Damnation – Not sure that I really want boardwipes happening Kodama’s Reach - Ramp Cultivate - Ramp Dark Prophecy – This card could be awesome but scares me with using Savra already Soul Foundry – I like it but I’m not sure it’s fast enough and I don’t have a way to untap it Abhorrent Overlord – I like the idea, but not sure it will give me enough, fast enough but it is tutorable..hmm Crypt Ghast – He’s not a demon and I do splash green, MIGHT be worth it anyway… Eater of Hope – This would probably be my first addition if I cut something. He’s a demon and a sac outlet; I just ran outta room in the deck Lord of the Void – Honestly, the only reason I don’t have him is the high use of Homeward Path and creature steals in my meta Bloodgift Demon – I’m already bleeding to death in this deck, and he’s more expensive than Phyrexian Arena
You're running white, so you can use Angel of Glory's Rise for more Apostle reanimation. If you opt for this, then Dread Return can do some ridiculous things.
Oh man, this deck got shut down hard 3 games in a row last night. I'm gonna have to make some changes. I'm thinking Savra might be a better general. I lose access to white but it's going to come out faster I thunk. I also NEED moar card draw.
I've never played it myself, but I've never run a deck like this. wait until you had out 6 apostles, cast this - sac for two demons. with Grave pact out that's pretty much a board wipe for your everyone but you.
Blood Artist/Falkenrath Noble need to be in here! They were my primary wincon with my Karador Shadowborn Apostle list and I'm fairly sure they're among the best possible wincons. Also, Fecundity needs to be in here because "B: Draw six cards." is pretty ok.
I'm not sure if you have browsed the other lists on here, I posted a deck list recently, but I found Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper makes a great general for this deck. He allows an explosive turn where you sac a ton of tokens and reanimate them using bloodbond march and have a bunch of haste 3/1 creatures for the win. No need for any other pieces unlike other strategies I've seen.
I'm not sure if you have browsed the other lists on here, I posted a deck list recently, but I found Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper makes a great general for this deck. He allows an explosive turn where you sac a ton of tokens and reanimate them using bloodbond march and have a bunch of haste 3/1 creatures for the win. No need for any other pieces unlike other strategies I've seen.
Yeah, Sek'Kuar is probably my favorite commander for an Apostles list. I had this one I was fiddling with for a bit:
It can be buffed up (I have 21 EDH decks, so my friends just use mine as our meta), but I keep my different decks as relatively balanced as I can. Sek'Kuar can get out of hand really quickly though and I like red more than white for this kind of a deck because of things like Vicious Shadows and Warstorm Surge, as well as giving you access to two demons that are really great at instant speed: Malfegor and Sire of Insanity. Sek'Kuar also makes it so you aren't relying as much on the activated ability of the Apostles and with the usual Bloodbond March, Thrumming Stone type stuff he rewards you for playing with a scad of self-repeating, self-sacrificing tiny creatures to spam Graveborn tokens off of.
Karador seems slower to me, and when I showed this list to my friend who was running a Karador Apostles deck he switched over to Sek'Kuar and hasn't looked back. For more fun throw in Conspiracy, Pandemonium, Warstorm Surge, Goblin Bombardment, etc. and watch the token craziness happen.
Here is the link to my decklist using Suk'Kuar . My thinking was it really is necessary to run as many apostles as possible. My aim was to have 35 apostles in the deck. The reason being really, the best thing this deck can do, is sac 6 apostles, grab Run-Scarred demon and from their a win condition. What I found is, with Sek'Kuar as a general, being that his creatures are haste, any time I can sac apostles to grab Rune Scarred demon I can have a win the next turn or turn after. This wasn't true for any other general that I tried. I think it is important that anything you run in the deck needs to be absolutely essential. No extra "fluff" if you know what I mean. There are a lot of powerful demons and a lot of powerful combinations of cards to go with the apostles, especially in white, but nothing works better for me then a thrumming stone or bloodbond march with a phyrexian arena in play and Sek'Kuar. Using black tutors you can get these pieces fairly easily, and even without phyrexian arena, or any other sac outlet for that matter, the apostles can sac themselves creating wins without an actual sac outlet.imo 26 apostles isn't enough if you want to be tutoring for Run Scarred often which is, imo, the best thing that the apostles can do.
You only need 6. And again, I don't make my decks to be as competitive as possible, just to work within my little meta. I haven't built this one, though. It's also my first draft of a Sek'Kuar Apostles deck. I tend to skip out on tutors for EDH because they make every deck with them run more consistently, and it's the crazy board states and inconsistency that I enjoy in this format.
Update: I’ll have the decklist below and in a spoiler below that, the previous iteration. It used to be a Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck but I’m changing it to Savra, Queen of the Golgari. I found that, with 3 colors, it was getting too convoluted and not focused enough. I’ve added in some card draw, taken out some of the combos to make it a little more agro-y (and obviously took out the white). I’m also trying to focus on/take advantage of all the sacing that I do.
Note sure how lame it is to post in your own post but w/e. I'm all about giving a deck a good try before abandoning it (not like my mom). {bad joke too soon?} I really want to make this deck work in our meta.moar suggestions please!!
I'm personally not sold on doubling chant yet. I've tried it hoping to get explosive turns from it and honestly for 6 mama it just wasnt all that exciting for me.
Editing on my phone is not the easiest so I'll update the decklist later.
I only had 3 demons in my last build >.< That's been fixed! New Changes:
-Doubling Chant - To wrex101's point, I just don't see it being useful often enough
-Putrefy - Needed something to cut and with all the sac killing, I don't think I need it just for the artifact kill
-Oversold Cemetery - No real way to recur it
-Fleshbag Marauder - Overkill/not needed
-Bitter Ordeal - Most of the time it's going to be a one shot exile 7, good but I needed the slot
+Avenger of Zendikar - Moar tokens to sac and green ones at that
+Eater of Hope - Tutorable sac outlet
+Reaper of the Abyss - beef
+Conspiracy - Combo piece and allows me to call demons and tutor for any creature in the deck
+Mikaeus, the Unhollowed - Recursion
Wow I hadn't considered Falkenrath Aristrocrat in my build as a sac outlet, love it! Also I like the Conspiracy addition. I'm going to play test with it and see how useful of a card it is for me.
Have you considered cutting Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker? As with doubling Chant, I found that I just had other more useful 5 mana spells I'd rather be playing ie: Thrumming stone, and I ended up replacing Shirei with a black tutor. I'm not sold on Eater of Hope so I'd love to hear how that one ends up working for you. Mikeaus doesn't grant the apostles undying because they are human so that won't work.
Also intead of Shirei or Mikeaus, what about lifeline?
I've also been considering Havoc Demon I'm thinking -5/-5 may end up benefiting anyone with large creatures though putting me at a disadvantage. I like Savra as a general for that reason, she is a board wipe with the apostles. Sac 6 apostles, pay 12 life and wipe the board. The problem is read grants access to so many good sac outlets ie: goblin bombardment and aristocrat, as well as haste critters that can win (or at least knock out a couple opponents) on the spot.
I was thinking that you may cut Mikeaus, the Unhallowed as his Non-Human clause would not bring back your apostles. Maybe you already did, but that would be an easy cut based on it not working with your idea. Just something to consider.
Update: I’ll have the decklist below and in a spoiler below that, the previous iteration. It used to be a Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck but I’m changing it to Savra, Queen of the Golgari. I found that, with 3 colors, it was getting too convoluted and not focused enough. I’ve added in some card draw, taken out some of the combos to make it a little more agro-y (and obviously took out the white). I’m also trying to focus on/take advantage of all the sacing that I do.
1 Savra, Queen of the Golgari
Creatures (45):
30 Shadowborn Apostle
1 Avenger of Zendikar
1 Blood Artist
1 Deathgreeter
1 Eater of Hope
1 Eternal Witness
1 Falkenrath Noble
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Mikaeus, the Unhollowed
1 Ob Nixillis, the Fallen
1 Pawn of Ulamog
1 Reassembling Skeleton
1 Reaper of the Abyss
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker
Non-Creature Artifacts (5):
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Phyrexian Altar
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Thrumming Stone
1 Bloodbond March
1 Conspiracy
1 Fecundity
1 Grave Pact
1 No Rest for the Wicked
1 Phyrexian Arena
Instants (1):
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sorceries (6):
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Living Death
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Patriarch’s Bidding
1 Regrowth
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
Land (36):
6 Forest
8 Swamp
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Buried Ruin
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Command Tower
1 Deserted Temple
1 Evolving Wilds
1 High Market
1 Marsh Flats
1 Maze of Ith
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Strip Mine
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Twilight Mire
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Vesuva
1 Vorath’s Stronghold
Old Deck:
1 Karador, Ghost Chieftain
Creatures (40):
30 Shadowborn Apostle
1 Deathgreeter
1 Edgewalker
1 Eternal Witness
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Mikaeus, the Unhollowed
1 Ob Nixillis, the Fallen
1 Pawn of Ulamog
1 Rotlung Reanimator
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker
Non-Creature Artifacts (3):
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Sol Ring
1 Thrumming Stone
Enchantments (7):
1 Aura Shards
1 Bloodbond March
1 Conspiracy
1 Grave Pact
1 Mirari’s Wake
1 No Rest for the Wicked
1 Remembrance
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Putrefy
1 Vampiric Tutor
Sorceries (10):
1 Bitter Ordeal
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Immortal Servitude
1 Living Death
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Patriarch’s Bidding
1 Proclamation of Rebirth
1 Regrowth
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
1 Vindicate
Land (36):
1 Forest
1 Plains
7 Swamp
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Buried Ruin
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Command Tower
1 Deserted Temple
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Fetid Heath
1 Godless Shrine
1 Marsh Flats
1 Maze of Ith
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Savannah
1 Strip Mine
1 Temple Bell
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Twilight Mire
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Vesuva
1 Vorath’s Stronghold
1 Wooded Bastion
Cards that I’m still thinking about adding:
Damnation – Not sure that I really want boardwipes happening
Kodama’s Reach - Ramp
Cultivate - Ramp
Dark Prophecy – This card could be awesome but scares me with using Savra already
Soul Foundry – I like it but I’m not sure it’s fast enough and I don’t have a way to untap it
Abhorrent Overlord – I like the idea, but not sure it will give me enough, fast enough but it is tutorable..hmm
Crypt Ghast – He’s not a demon and I do splash green, MIGHT be worth it anyway…
Eater of Hope – This would probably be my first addition if I cut something. He’s a demon and a sac outlet; I just ran outta room in the deckLord of the Void – Honestly, the only reason I don’t have him is the high use of Homeward Path and creature steals in my metaBloodgift Demon – I’m already bleeding to death in this deck, and he’s more expensive than Phyrexian Arena
Combo that I might put back in: Mikaeus, the Unhollowed + Conspiracy+Rotlung Reanimator/Xathrid Necromancer
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
Also, Xathrid Necromancer for redundancy with Rotlung Reanimator, since the Apostles are Human Clerics.
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
I've never played it myself, but I've never run a deck like this. wait until you had out 6 apostles, cast this - sac for two demons. with Grave pact out that's pretty much a board wipe for your everyone but you.
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Radha, Heir to Keld, Barrin, Master Wizard, Prime Speaker Zegana, King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer, Patron of the Orochi, Nicol Bolas, Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, Hanna, Ship's Navigator, Marton Stromgald, Thriss, Nantuko Primus, Cromat, Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter
Yeah, Sek'Kuar is probably my favorite commander for an Apostles list. I had this one I was fiddling with for a bit:
1 Eldrazi Monument
1 Phyrexian Altar
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Skullclamp
1 Thrumming Stone
1 Blood Artist
1 Cabal Archon
1 Deathgreeter
1 Essence Warden
1 Falkenrath Aristocrat
1 Gleancrawler
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Lord of the Void
1 Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
1 Malfegor
1 Mycoloth
1 Pestilence Demon
1 Reaper from the Abyss
1 Rotlung Reanimator
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Savra, Queen of the Golgari
1 Shadowborn Demon
1 Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker
1 Sire of Insanity
1 Xathrid Necromancer
26 Shadowborn Apostle
1 Doubling Season
1 Fecundity
1 Grave Pact
1 Nantuko Shrine
1 Oversold Cemetery
1 Vicious Shadows
1 Krosan Grip
1 Putrefy
1 Terminate
1 Doubling Chant
1 Lead the Stampede
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Living Death
1 Barren Moor
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Command Tower
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Ebon Stronghold
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Forest
1 Golgari Guildgate
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Graven Cairns
1 Mountain
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Rakdos Guildgate
1 Rocky Tar Pit
1 Savage Lands
1 Sulfurous Springs
1 Tainted Wood
1 Temple of Malice
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Twilight Mire
1 Woodland Cemetery
9 Swamp
It can be buffed up (I have 21 EDH decks, so my friends just use mine as our meta), but I keep my different decks as relatively balanced as I can. Sek'Kuar can get out of hand really quickly though and I like red more than white for this kind of a deck because of things like Vicious Shadows and Warstorm Surge, as well as giving you access to two demons that are really great at instant speed: Malfegor and Sire of Insanity. Sek'Kuar also makes it so you aren't relying as much on the activated ability of the Apostles and with the usual Bloodbond March, Thrumming Stone type stuff he rewards you for playing with a scad of self-repeating, self-sacrificing tiny creatures to spam Graveborn tokens off of.
Karador seems slower to me, and when I showed this list to my friend who was running a Karador Apostles deck he switched over to Sek'Kuar and hasn't looked back. For more fun throw in Conspiracy, Pandemonium, Warstorm Surge, Goblin Bombardment, etc. and watch the token craziness happen.
To each their own.
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
Editing on my phone is not the easiest so I'll update the decklist later.I only had 3 demons in my last build >.< That's been fixed!
New Changes:
-Doubling Chant - To wrex101's point, I just don't see it being useful often enough
-Putrefy - Needed something to cut and with all the sac killing, I don't think I need it just for the artifact kill
-Oversold Cemetery - No real way to recur it
-Fleshbag Marauder - Overkill/not needed
-Bitter Ordeal - Most of the time it's going to be a one shot exile 7, good but I needed the slot
+Avenger of Zendikar - Moar tokens to sac and green ones at that
+Eater of Hope - Tutorable sac outlet
+Reaper of the Abyss - beef
+Conspiracy - Combo piece and allows me to call demons and tutor for any creature in the deck
+Mikaeus, the Unhollowed - Recursion
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
Have you considered cutting Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker? As with doubling Chant, I found that I just had other more useful 5 mana spells I'd rather be playing ie: Thrumming stone, and I ended up replacing Shirei with a black tutor. I'm not sold on Eater of Hope so I'd love to hear how that one ends up working for you. Mikeaus doesn't grant the apostles undying because they are human so that won't work.
Also intead of Shirei or Mikeaus, what about lifeline?
I've also been considering Havoc Demon I'm thinking -5/-5 may end up benefiting anyone with large creatures though putting me at a disadvantage. I like Savra as a general for that reason, she is a board wipe with the apostles. Sac 6 apostles, pay 12 life and wipe the board. The problem is read grants access to so many good sac outlets ie: goblin bombardment and aristocrat, as well as haste critters that can win (or at least knock out a couple opponents) on the spot.
WBR Alesha's Death Brigade WBR
WWW Brigid the Battlefield Saboteur WWW
UB Wydwen, the Biting Gale UB