This is a deck that I have been pondering on for awhile, but just recently am I actually applying some time to formulate a list and test it online. I have for a long time wanted to build a mono white control deck, but was always unsure of the commander. Like I said, I considered Eight-and-a-Half-Tails a few times, but it was only til recently that I realize this is my favorite mono white legend for a control archetype. Anyway, this is a work in progress, I have been testing on Cockatrice with a few buddies, and will continue til until I sleeve this up in paper. But I am looking for suggestions on the deck.
Eiganjo Castle makes no sense to me in an 8.5-tails deck. For the cost of 2 lands (W + the castle) you can prevent 2 damage to only a legendary creature, OR for the same 2 land cost, you can just use your general to make the source white + give your target creature protection. I think the 'Castle would be much more useful for you as either a Mistveil Plains, or just another SC Plains.
My personal opinion is that Blind Obedience is a better use of a slot than Kismet. Missing out on the extort ability on BO is significant for you.
I've not had very good luck with running Luminarch Ascension in mono-white. IMO, it puts too much of a target on your head while on the battlefield. Everyone will try to keep it from becoming active, which means a lot of attacks directed at you over everyone else. Your experience may differ, though.
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"I have seen the true path. I will not warm myself by the fire—I will become the flame."
—Lim-Dul, the Necromancer
Eiganjo Castle makes no sense to me in an 8.5-tails deck. For the cost of 2 lands (W + the castle) you can prevent 2 damage to only a legendary creature, OR for the same 2 land cost, you can just use your general to make the source white + give your target creature protection. I think the 'Castle would be much more useful for you as either a Mistveil Plains, or just another SC Plains.
My personal opinion is that Blind Obedience is a better use of a slot than Kismet. Missing out on the extort ability on BO is significant for you.
I've not had very good luck with running Luminarch Ascension in mono-white. IMO, it puts too much of a target on your head while on the battlefield. Everyone will try to keep it from becoming active, which means a lot of attacks directed at you over everyone else. Your experience may differ, though.
Hey, thanks for the suggestions:
I think you're right on Eiganjo Castle. Granted, the cost difference between Eight-and-a-Half Tails giving a creature protection, compared to Eiganjo Castle, is still a colorless mana, I think preventing two damage to only legendary creatures probably does not warrant it a spot. I'll probably replace it with another Snow-Covered Plains.
I'm unsure about Kismet at the moment. I actually started the list running Blind Obedience, for the extort and cheaper cost, but I like that Kismet can help slow down some land-ramp decks, and not just artifact ramp. I'll keep Blind Obedience in my, though.
I completely agree with Luminarch Ascension. Originally I had been running Mobilization, then Heliod, God of the Sun, and just figured that four mana might be too much. I was looking for something to replace its spot, and considered Eye of Ugin with all of my colorless beaters, but I felt like just the three did not warrant a spot. The reason why I figured I would test Luminarch Ascension was that I always see it popping up in various W/x decks. My problem with the card is that a.) It is very dependent on your opponents. If you're play a three player game, you may never get all of the quest counters. b.) It puts a target on your head quickly.
Nice deck! I also run 8.5 tails in a more midrange type shell. One word of advice would be to not underestimate Story Circle as it can give you protection from generals with shroud or hexproof! (provided you chose that colour when you cast it) I usually use it without 8.5 tails as a separate means of protection against the most threatening general. Oh and DEFINITELY include Pithing Needle and maybe even Phyrexian Revoker because mono white has very few ways of dealing with decks like Azami. Plus you can recur them with Sun Titan if they get destroyed!
Nice deck! I also run 8.5 tails in a more midrange type shell. One word of advice would be to not underestimate Story Circle as it can give you protection from generals with shroud or hexproof! (provided you chose that colour when you cast it) I usually use it without 8.5 tails as a separate means of protection against the most threatening general. Oh and DEFINITELY include Pithing Needle and maybe even Phyrexian Revoker because mono white has very few ways of dealing with decks like Azami. Plus you can recur them with Sun Titan if they get destroyed!
While path does get rid of her, it doesn't STOP her, and thats the issue. She'll at least draw cards off your path (and be recast, AND get a land) so you're losing CA there.
As for Nevermore...eh. Its ok if multiple people in your game are playing the same colour but its more pre-emptive than reactive which I think white does better. If you want an effect like that I would suggest Runed Halo
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EDH RADAMARO, FIRST TO DESIRER UKEFNET THE MINDFULU GSASAYA, OROCHI ASCENDANTG MODERN RMONO-RED ELDRAZIR
While path does get rid of her, it doesn't STOP her, and thats the issue. She'll at least draw cards off your path (and be recast, AND get a land) so you're losing CA there.
As for Nevermore...eh. Its ok if multiple people in your game are playing the same colour but its more pre-emptive than reactive which I think white does better. If you want an effect like that I would suggest Runed Halo
I understand what you are saying. I actually don't have anyone playing Azami in my meta, so I don't think either of the Pithing Needle variants are necessary. Although, they are something I'll keep in mind as I continue to test!
I played a game today, here's what I got from it:
- Played against a Hazezon Token/ETB deck and a Scion Voltron/Reanimator deck
- I ramped really early into Mind's Eye and drew like crazy
- Dropped a Caged Sun with a Vedalken Orrery out, and flashed in a Sacred Mesa, then went to town
- Unfortunately made some play mistakes, which, after miracling an Entreat the Angels for X=23, someone cracked a Oblivion Stone
- The game ended up getting cut short because of a technical problem (it was on Cockatrice)
Basically, like I discussed in a few posts above, Luminarch Ascension never seems to do so well. Either it never activates, or it just puts a huge target on your head. Either way, its spot was better deserved for Return to Dust. In the game I played, I realized that this deck needs a little bit more enchantment/artifact removal, and whats better than Return to Dust for white?
Also what I learned from that game was that Kismet comes down a little too late, and when it comes down to what permanents I care about entering the battlefield tapped, Blind Obedience catches them. Basically artifact ramp is a lot more explosive than land ramp during the early game, and during the late game creatures entering the battlefield tapped is quite nice. Also, I realized that the Extort ability is also quite relevant.
after Return to Dust I use Disenchant Its just gravy. Sure it's not a flashy spell but you dont need one. Besides, you already run Austere Command
Yeah, I considered running one of the lower mana cost spells, but realized I really enjoy the ability to hit multiple permanents. Like you said, although I run Austere Command, I often find myself wanting to hit a sword and two, and not want to blow up my extreme amount of artifact ramp or my own swords. I do like Disenchant though.
1 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
//Creatures
1 Serra Ascendant
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Spirit of the Labyrinth
1 Grand Abolisher
1 Hushwing Gryff
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Angel of Jubilation
1 Sun Titan
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Burnished Hart
1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1 Blightsteel Colossus
//Planeswalkers
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Karn Liberated
//Sorceries
1 Steelshaper's Gift
1 Glare of Heresy
1 Council's Judgment
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Terminus
1 Austere Command
1 Entreat the Angels
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
1 Oblation
1 Unexpectedly Absent
1 White Sun's Zenith
//Enchantments
1 Land Tax
1 Luminarch Ascension
1 Rune of Protection: White
1 Circle of Protection: White
1 Sacred Mesa
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Crackdown
1 Rule of Law
1 Aura of Silence
1 Kismet
//Artifacts
1 Mana Crypt
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Skullclamp
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Mind Stone
1 Scroll Rack
1 Torpor Orb
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Extraplanar Lens
1 Trading Post
1 Vedalken Orrery
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Mind's Eye
1 Caged Sun
1 Staff of Nin
1 Flagstones of Trokair
1 Eiganjo Castle
1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
25 Snow-Covered Plains
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Kor Haven
1 Scrying Sheets
1 Terrain Generator
1 Buried Ruin
1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
1 Strip Mine
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Maze of Ith
My personal opinion is that Blind Obedience is a better use of a slot than Kismet. Missing out on the extort ability on BO is significant for you.
I've not had very good luck with running Luminarch Ascension in mono-white. IMO, it puts too much of a target on your head while on the battlefield. Everyone will try to keep it from becoming active, which means a lot of attacks directed at you over everyone else. Your experience may differ, though.
—Lim-Dul, the Necromancer
EDH/Commander
WWMichiko Konda, Truth Seeker Mono-White Control
RWBasandra, Battle Seraph Sunforger Shenanigans
GRWZacama Loam & Lands
Cube
Draft my "Classic Border Cube"
WUBRGCheck out some of my older lists and my Type4 Cube!GRBUW
Hey, thanks for the suggestions:
I think you're right on Eiganjo Castle. Granted, the cost difference between Eight-and-a-Half Tails giving a creature protection, compared to Eiganjo Castle, is still a colorless mana, I think preventing two damage to only legendary creatures probably does not warrant it a spot. I'll probably replace it with another Snow-Covered Plains.
I'm unsure about Kismet at the moment. I actually started the list running Blind Obedience, for the extort and cheaper cost, but I like that Kismet can help slow down some land-ramp decks, and not just artifact ramp. I'll keep Blind Obedience in my, though.
I completely agree with Luminarch Ascension. Originally I had been running Mobilization, then Heliod, God of the Sun, and just figured that four mana might be too much. I was looking for something to replace its spot, and considered Eye of Ugin with all of my colorless beaters, but I felt like just the three did not warrant a spot. The reason why I figured I would test Luminarch Ascension was that I always see it popping up in various W/x decks. My problem with the card is that a.) It is very dependent on your opponents. If you're play a three player game, you may never get all of the quest counters. b.) It puts a target on your head quickly.
Here's what I'm thinking for changes:
+ Circle of Protection: White
+ Snow-Covered Plains
+ Heliod, God of the Sun
- Eiganjo Castle
- Story Circle
- Luminarch Ascension
I'm just continue testing with Heliod, but I'm looking to most likely change it.
You can see my deck here for some ideas : )
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/574318-mono-white-interactive-midrange-with-8-5-tails
RADAMARO, FIRST TO DESIRER
UKEFNET THE MINDFULU
GSASAYA, OROCHI ASCENDANTG
MODERN
RMONO-RED ELDRAZIR
Oh yeah, Story Circle is a little better than I had thought. I'm definitely going to have to consider that. Anyways, I have yet to test either Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker, but doesn't removal such as Path to Exile deal with cards like Azami, Lady of Scrolls. How do you feel about Nevermore?
As for Nevermore...eh. Its ok if multiple people in your game are playing the same colour but its more pre-emptive than reactive which I think white does better. If you want an effect like that I would suggest Runed Halo
RADAMARO, FIRST TO DESIRER
UKEFNET THE MINDFULU
GSASAYA, OROCHI ASCENDANTG
MODERN
RMONO-RED ELDRAZIR
I understand what you are saying. I actually don't have anyone playing Azami in my meta, so I don't think either of the Pithing Needle variants are necessary. Although, they are something I'll keep in mind as I continue to test!
I played a game today, here's what I got from it:
- Played against a Hazezon Token/ETB deck and a Scion Voltron/Reanimator deck
- I ramped really early into Mind's Eye and drew like crazy
- Dropped a Caged Sun with a Vedalken Orrery out, and flashed in a Sacred Mesa, then went to town
- Unfortunately made some play mistakes, which, after miracling an Entreat the Angels for X=23, someone cracked a Oblivion Stone
- The game ended up getting cut short because of a technical problem (it was on Cockatrice)
Anyways, I've made some changes:
- Luminarch Ascension
- Kismet
+ Return to Dust
+ Blind Obedience
Basically, like I discussed in a few posts above, Luminarch Ascension never seems to do so well. Either it never activates, or it just puts a huge target on your head. Either way, its spot was better deserved for Return to Dust. In the game I played, I realized that this deck needs a little bit more enchantment/artifact removal, and whats better than Return to Dust for white?
Also what I learned from that game was that Kismet comes down a little too late, and when it comes down to what permanents I care about entering the battlefield tapped, Blind Obedience catches them. Basically artifact ramp is a lot more explosive than land ramp during the early game, and during the late game creatures entering the battlefield tapped is quite nice. Also, I realized that the Extort ability is also quite relevant.
RADAMARO, FIRST TO DESIRER
UKEFNET THE MINDFULU
GSASAYA, OROCHI ASCENDANTG
MODERN
RMONO-RED ELDRAZIR
Yeah, I considered running one of the lower mana cost spells, but realized I really enjoy the ability to hit multiple permanents. Like you said, although I run Austere Command, I often find myself wanting to hit a sword and two, and not want to blow up my extreme amount of artifact ramp or my own swords. I do like Disenchant though.