MTG Salvation

Because of the new way decks are updated in the database here, I've decided to post more of my decks.

When I first saw Oloro, Ageless Ascetic I knew I had to make a deck with him as a commander. I've always liked Esper, and I wanted a commander that could helm a control/pillowfort deck. Oloro is perfect for such a strategy.

That said, here's my list so far:



The game plan is simple: control and hide behind a pillowfort until you can assemble Basalt Monolith + Power Artifact + Exsanguinate, Thopter Foundry + Sword of the Meek, or Exquisite Blood + Sanguine Bond.

One thing I'm wondering is how to find the right balance of pillowfort, removal, and counterspells. Sometimes it feels like I don't have enough draw power, but I'm not sure what other element I should cut from to add to it, or even if I need it at all.

I'd love some advice and suggestions from other Oloro/pillowfort/control players.

I think you can get away with cutting some of the pillow fort cards. Karmic Justice, No Mercy and Sphere of Safety are must keeps. They are awesome. I'm not a fan of Solitary Confinement. It's way to dependent on having other cards out to prevent it from hurting you more then it helps you. I also don't like Meishin but that might be a meta call. I can see it's uses against token hordes or other aggro decks.

I don't like Mind Unbound. But that might just be because the people I play against make sure that it never gets value. 3 cards is the total maximum I've ever seen drawn off of it. 3 cards over a couple turns for 6 mana isn't very good. I'd rather play Deep Analysis at that point.

Luminarch Ascension is good. Sacred Mesa not so much.

With all our access to tutors I've decided that I can get away with running Exsanguinate or Debt. Not both. Debt is my preferred because you can kill the table off less mana and it really synergies well with Vizkopa. Activate Vizkopa (3 mana). Cast Debt where x=5. If you have 3 opponents they lose a total of 40 life for 12 mana. Seems good. Active Vizkopa also triggers repeatedly with Exquisite Blood in case you never noticed (I don't see you mention it in your win cons). Active Vizkopa is essentially a better Sanguine Bond.

Speaking of tutors...No Mystical Tutor? Also, I love transmute cards. Muddle the Mixture is good in primary mode, as is Shred Memory. Add in the functionality of being able to tutor for any 2 CMC card in your deck (of which you have many key ones...). Heck, just transmuting one into Demonic Tutor is often a good play. Perplex would also be good for you given how many important 3 CMC cards you run.

Future Sight is amazing. It's like drawing an extra card every turn. Almost an auto include in blue decks. Add in its synergy with Sensei's Divining Top and Jace...FYI, Future Sight + Top + Etherium Sculptor = Draw your deck for free.

As far as counter spells are concerned...That is tough without knowing the meta. You might be fine with how many you have but adding more might not hurt. I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that Swan Song is gaining ground in the discussion of top cards in the format. I also like Memory Lapse and Remand. Stuff like Dispel and Spell Pierce are good to protect your spells as you try to win.

Finally, I'm a fan of 1 CMC cantrips. Ponder and Brainstorm are basically auto includes in blue (and again, have great synergy with Future Sight). Preordain and Serum Visions are great for their deck manipulation (Future Sight synergy again...) and Opt and Peek can be great.

Obviously I've given a lot of suggestions without all that many cuts but it's hard telling you what doesn't belong in the deck without playing in your meta. Just keep in mind the cards I've mentioned as you decide that some cards aren't performing the way you want them to perform.

Take what I suggest with a grain of salt because I've basically gone from pillow fort to Ad Nauseam combo (but not Tendrils) with my Oloro so I'm pretty much obsessed with low CMC cards. However, I still play Future Sight. That should tell you how much I love that card.

You could use Beacon of Immortality on one of your opponents followed by a False Cure for an instant kill. I'd do this on your opponents turn though since you don't want to take 4 damage from Oloro's lifegain or anything else you would've gained life from (since it checks the entire turn). False Cure also combos nicely with Swords to Plowshares especially if someone is running big nasties. You could even follow the beacon with a cheap {W} Reward the Faithful which you target all your opponents for ~12 (if Oloro is out). DO NOT use any of these False Cure combos if you have Exquisite Blood out!!!