Doran was my very first EDH general when I began playing EDH in the times of New Phyrexia. He has flavor, he can hit hard, and he has a fun color combination. As a result of him being my first EDH deck, he has suffered from being a relatively mediocre list that can sometimes steal a game, or just get beat in the face. Furthermore, Doran offers so many different playstyles, complicating the deck building process. Too many themes dilutes the potency of a deck.
I have tried the wall theme with cards like Tree of Redemption and Wakestone Gargoyle, or Walls with Rolling Stones and the like, and found it extremely underwhelming, a novelty yes, but efficient, no.
Infect crossed my mind as well with Tangle Angler, Reaper of Sheoldred, and Priests of Norn, as well as other infecters, but it was not fun, and drew a target on my head, or at least one on my creatures.
While I want the list to be competitive, I don't intend to fill my mana base with shock lands, fetch lands, and such. That would be too cost intensive for me, and mana can be fixed without them with ramp. Also, our playgroup doesn't allow infinite combos. Overall, I'd like assistance taking what I have, helping me make cuts, replacements, securing win conditions, and so on. The old list that did poorly has since been improved on, but not by much, the current list is slightly above average at best.
The original deck that was posted in August was completely scrapped all together, this is the new list months later.
I feel like 39 land is tad too much for a deck that is running green, and intend to cut a land or two. What would you suggest goes in that wouldn't break the curve too much?
The above help one to reach turn 3 Doran, Cultivate, etc. Burnished Hart too. Very useful. Board wipes might wipe them, but bridging the gap early into ramp like Cultivate and [card]Explosive Vegetation can be invaluable. More ramp:
Some suggestions for cuts. I think relying on Doran too uch is a real possibility. Signets could go for land-based ramp. I'd drop some of the following:
I had a Doran deck I just took apart( I recently acquired the fancy mana base for his colors and am trying out all the junk generals) and I ran it as primarily tribal treefolk and it had pretty good results. Sure, it sometimes had issues when Doran got tucked but that didn't happen that often and it had a few outs when it did. I can understand not wanting to go to expense of securing the dual lands and fetches, but shock lands are around $10 each right now which is not too bad. I also feel that if you are not taking advantage of Doran's ability, there is no compelling reason to play Doran over other generals.
Some things I did learn from playing Doran is using too many one shot effects that took advantage of his ability was not terribly useful. Cards such as Tower Defense, Slagwurm Armor and the like were not terribly useful. However, anthems such as Spidersilk Armor and trample enablers such as Nylea, God of the Hunt and Primal Rage were very helpful.
Generally useful cards for Doran include the standard black tutor such as Demonic Tutor and Vampiric Tutor. Other tutors such as Chord of Calling and Worldly Tutor can also be helpful. In these colors, depending on your budget, having a way to get back a tucked Doran, the Siege Tower should not be that hard. Most of the good ramp options have already been covered but I noticed the omission of Skyshroud Claim which is typically a must in any green deck.
A couple other cards I would recommend for Doran regardless of how you approach him are Sylvan Library and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Both of those cards are really useful in most decks of the appropriate colors.
A lot of great suggestions, I'll definitely make some edits later.
In regards to Doran, I definitely want creatures who benefit from his ability a la, Indomitable Ancients, I just don't want to invest the entire creature base in the event that I lose him, or he becomes too expensive. I want the EDH deck to be competitive, but not at the expense of flavor and fun, a happy medium if you will.
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Doran was my very first EDH general when I began playing EDH in the times of New Phyrexia. He has flavor, he can hit hard, and he has a fun color combination. As a result of him being my first EDH deck, he has suffered from being a relatively mediocre list that can sometimes steal a game, or just get beat in the face. Furthermore, Doran offers so many different playstyles, complicating the deck building process. Too many themes dilutes the potency of a deck.
I have tried the wall theme with cards like Tree of Redemption and Wakestone Gargoyle, or Walls with Rolling Stones and the like, and found it extremely underwhelming, a novelty yes, but efficient, no.
Infect crossed my mind as well with Tangle Angler, Reaper of Sheoldred, and Priests of Norn, as well as other infecters, but it was not fun, and drew a target on my head, or at least one on my creatures.
While I want the list to be competitive, I don't intend to fill my mana base with shock lands, fetch lands, and such. That would be too cost intensive for me, and mana can be fixed without them with ramp. Also, our playgroup doesn't allow infinite combos. Overall, I'd like assistance taking what I have, helping me make cuts, replacements, securing win conditions, and so on. The old list that did poorly has since been improved on, but not by much, the current list is slightly above average at best.
The original deck that was posted in August was completely scrapped all together, this is the new list months later.
1x Doran, the Siege Tower
Creature (35)
1x Anafenza, the Foremost
1x Avacyn's Pilgrim
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Birds of Paradise
1x Bosk Banneret
1x Courser of Kruphix
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
1x Deadwood Treefolk
1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1x Forgotten Ancient
1x Graveborn Muse
1x Grizzled Leotau
1x Guiltfeeder
1x Indomitable Ancients
1x Jaddi Lifestrider
1x Leaf-Crowned Elder
1x Llanowar Elves
1x Magnigoth Treefolk
1x Nyx-Fleece Ram
1x Ohran Viper
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
1x Order of Whiteclay
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Sapling of Colfenor
1x Seedguide Ash
1x Serra Ascendant
1x Silklash Spider
1x Skinshifter
1x Sun Titan
1x Timber Protector
1x Treefolk Harbinger
1x Unstoppable Ash
1x Verdeloth the Ancient
1x Wickerbough Elder
1x Woodfall Primus
1x Blossoming Sands
1x Command Tower
1x Evolving Wilds
10x Forest
1x Gavony Township
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Jungle Hollow
1x Mosswort Bridge
1x Murmuring Bosk
1x Orzhov Guildgate
8x Plains
1x Sandsteppe Citadel
1x Scoured Barrens
1x Sunpetal Grove
7x Swamp
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Woodland Cemetery
Enchantment (6)
1x Aura Shards
1x Crackdown
1x Eland Umbra
1x Mirari's Wake
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Spidersilk Armor
Instant (3)
1x Path to Exile
1x Reach of Branches
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Austere Command
1x Cultivate
1x Decree of Pain
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Diabolic Revelation
1x Explore
1x Genesis Wave
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Praetor's Counsel
1x Retribution of the Meek
1x Wave of Reckoning
Artifact (5)
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Meekstone
1x Mind's Eye
1x Sol Ring
I feel like 39 land is tad too much for a deck that is running green, and intend to cut a land or two. What would you suggest goes in that wouldn't break the curve too much?
So many options for Doran! I might end up building one sometime, but Teneb demands quite a bit of difference.
Some more ramp to compensate for the lack of expensive lands would help. Some suggestions:
1 Elves of Deep Shadow
1 Avacyn's Pilgrim
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Elvish Mystic
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Burnished Hart
The above help one to reach turn 3 Doran, Cultivate, etc. Burnished Hart too. Very useful. Board wipes might wipe them, but bridging the gap early into ramp like Cultivate and [card]Explosive Vegetation can be invaluable. More ramp:
1 Farhaven Elf
1 Wood Elves
1 Sakura-tribe Elder
1 Explosive Vegetation
1 Khalni Heart Expedition
1 Rampant Growth
1 Farseek
Sakura-tribe elder is one of the best ramp spells, given its interaction with recursion and being a creature. Fantastic card!
Some card draw would be useful for you. Some suggestions:
1 Night's Whisper
1 Sign in Blood
1 Read the Bones
1 Ambition's Cost
1 Ancient Craving
1 Harmonize
1 Promise of Power
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Snake Umbra
More removal is always nice. Some options for enchantments and artifacts:
1 Harmonic Sliver
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Acidic Slime
1 Indrik Stomphowler
Some creature and generally more protean removal, too:
1 Condemn
1 Go for the Throat
1 Diabolic Tutor
[sdeck]1 Austere Command
1 Merciless Eviction
1 Terminus
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Final Judgment
Some fairly cheap reanimation options:
1 Dance of the Dead
1 Necromancy
1 Life//Death
1 Karmic Guide
1 Living Death
Some miscellaneous suggestions:
1 Silklash Spider
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Soul of the Harvest
1 Withered Wretch
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Grand Abolisher
1 Fleshbag Marauder
Some suggestions for cuts. I think relying on Doran too uch is a real possibility. Signets could go for land-based ramp. I'd drop some of the following:
1 Golgari Signet
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Nyx-fleece Ram
1 Skinshifter
1 HErald of Leshrac
1 Souls of the Faultless
1 Leaf-crowned Elder
1 Indomitable Ancients
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Oathsworn Giant
1 Unmake
1 Mortify
1 Sylvan Scrying
1 Eland Umbra
1 Heroes's Resolve
Some things I did learn from playing Doran is using too many one shot effects that took advantage of his ability was not terribly useful. Cards such as Tower Defense, Slagwurm Armor and the like were not terribly useful. However, anthems such as Spidersilk Armor and trample enablers such as Nylea, God of the Hunt and Primal Rage were very helpful.
Generally useful cards for Doran include the standard black tutor such as Demonic Tutor and Vampiric Tutor. Other tutors such as Chord of Calling and Worldly Tutor can also be helpful. In these colors, depending on your budget, having a way to get back a tucked Doran, the Siege Tower should not be that hard. Most of the good ramp options have already been covered but I noticed the omission of Skyshroud Claim which is typically a must in any green deck.
A couple other cards I would recommend for Doran regardless of how you approach him are Sylvan Library and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite. Both of those cards are really useful in most decks of the appropriate colors.
In regards to Doran, I definitely want creatures who benefit from his ability a la, Indomitable Ancients, I just don't want to invest the entire creature base in the event that I lose him, or he becomes too expensive. I want the EDH deck to be competitive, but not at the expense of flavor and fun, a happy medium if you will.