MTG Salvation

Commander
Szadek, Lord of Secrets



I play in a casual edh group for the most part. We have built our decks to exploit the weaknesses of some of our competitors and this particular deck evolved based upon my companions' play styles. This is the first deck I built from scratch. There are a few cards I want for this deck, like Bloodchief Ascension and Tamiyo, the Moon Sage. Those aren't the only ideas I've had for improving this deck, but I would love to have some feedback on what would work best.

Do you have a certain budget in mind?

I think you need a few more 'group hug' card drawing spells. Recent ones that come to mind are Dictate of Kruphix and Master of the Feast which you could still get through some packs hopefully pretty easily since they are just rare and the set is relatively small. There are a lot of other spells for card draw, but the best ones are permanents, for EDH anyway, thanks to the added value. The good thing about card draw is that, at first, people are happy to draw more... little do they know where it will take them.

Just keep in mind, milling in commander is a pretty tricky strategy thanks to the 100 card decks.

Got some good cards there though!

EDIT: Also Agent of Erebos is good for making those milled cards permanently gone!

You can steal some ideas from the Wrexial primer, HERE.

That said, every mill deck should consider Keening Stone and Delirium Sands. Crumbling Sanctuary also mills, but tends to bite you in the back. Stealing opposing creatures and sacrificing them to Altar of Dementia, however, is doable. Sacrificing your own for the win is doable, too.

If you don't mind milling yourself in the process, Dreamborn Muse and Mesmeric Orb set up quite the conundrum for opponents, especially if you are following the "draw-more-as-mill" path. While giving your opponents cards can be dangerous, it can also provide a thrill of sorts. Forced Fruition does this best.

Increasing Confusion and Psychic Spiral look fun.

Consider adding cards that let you play stuff from opposing graveyards, like Spelltwine and Beacon of Unrest.

Cheers!

Awesome suggestions. Some of those cards I didn't know, honestly. I've considered pulling my Beacon of Unrest out of my Grixis Build, but I haven't convinced myself of a card that would replace that. Figure I'll have to just go get one eventually. A friend of mine tried to suggest that I make this less mill and more of a self-mill Reanimator. I'd love to eventually make this happen, but I'm still a little wary of the Reanimator style build since it's very unfamiliar to me.

Cyclonic Rift (overload) + Warped Devotion = derp-tastic
You could probably get some good use out of Rite of Replication too

Not really. Honestly, I don't think I would want to spend any more than $30 or thereabouts to make this a decent deck. It runs very well for me.

Didn't read every post, so I don't know if anybody suggested this stuff, Jace, Memory Adept, Mind Funeral Archaeomancer + Deadeye Navigator and already in your list Mnemonic Wall to abuse your Instant and sorcerys, you could also consider Diluvian Primordial for another target for deadeye. Thassa, God of the Sea for unblockable and card filter, and maybe consider dropping some of the lesser mill spells for some sweepers an instant speed removal to keep yourself alive like Black Sun's Zenith and Go for the Throat. And my personal favorites for keeping me alive, Exsanguinate and Mystifying Maze. To make sure stuff happens, Boseiju, Who Shelters All, to increase the chances of having it, Tolaria West, Expedition Map+ Academy Ruins is awesome. For anything you may need here are some cheap tutors, Increasing Ambition Beseech the Queen and Diabolic Tutor. And you might as well capitalize on the mill by adding Reanimate spells like Reanimate.

I wouldn't try to add everything just what you actually like.

Quote from allakillustyn »

Not really. Honestly, I don't think I would want to spend any more than $30 or thereabouts to make this a decent deck. It runs very well for me.

Weak meta...

Anyways, these cards don't do anything in edh:
tome scour
paranoid delusions
dream twist
tablet of the guilds
yawgmoth's edict
dreadwaters
Hired Torturer
triumph of cruelty

Single target mill for not even a double digit number of cards might as well be you discarding a card with how much effect it will have on the game. The life gain is also really weak. EDH is usually decided by massive overkill plays. Gaining a little life is just not going to cut it compared to most things you could have done.

I would replace them with these cards, which do something in edh:
windfall( $1 )
dreamborn muse( $.50)
bloodchief ascension ( $5, but one of the strongest cards you could add )
geth's grimoire ( $.50 cents )
traumatize ( $2 )
keening stone ( $3 )
mortivore ( $1.50 )
swiftfoot boots ( $0.50 )

I would also switch the general to phenax, who is much better at the job than szadek

I'm going to have to agree with Carthage, except I think all mill is useless in all formats if its not a permanent, except for maybe Mind Grind combine with a infinite mana combo, and Mind Funeral if you can abuse it. If you go discard/mill Liliana Vess would fit right in.