Of all the red legendaries, Jaya Ballard is by far my favorite. Just about every card where she has flavor text causes at least a sensible chuckle from me, her appearance is that of a certified bona fide badass, and her art is amazing to boot. So I've been meaning to build a Jaya Ballard deck, and here it is.
The deck's gameplan is simple. Set up a bit with the mana rocks, keep a low profile, and try to get one of the ways out that'll enable me to activate Jaya right after casting her. If I manage to give her indestructibility while I'm at it, all the better. Start blowing up the field and pitch renewable resources (The Phoenixes, Squee, various flashback stuff) to avoid going empty handed. It's simple, but surprisingly effective. Still, it does have trouble actually closing out games due to drawing some hate after wiping the field a few times, so I'll need something against that.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Weird thing about Commander cards; my LGS doesn't sell them as singles, and I don't like paying 3 bucks shipping for 20-cent-cards, which is why I don't have the Landscape and Sphere. Funny how that works. They're on the to-be-put-in list though.
I also don't play 1v1, so as a result, Coercive Portal isn't going to go in. The deck doesn't work if there's not an engine of artifacts going, and giving my opponents the option to O-Stone the field isn't my idea of a good time. Distorting Lens is an interesting card, worth looking into, but might be too limited.
Rings and Bracers, I'm not sure how I missed those. Especially the bracers. Yes, I do like to deal 12 damage to everyone...don't have a Rings though, should go hunt for it.
Kinda wish there was a less ugly Shard Phoenix. I did miss it though during deckbuilding, so that's on the to-be-acquired list as well. Thanks for the suggestions.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Huh, I used to think that card was only for combat damage. -adds it to shopping list.-
Gonna have to keep a lookout for the JSS Shard Phoenix. At least that one isn't such an eyesore.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
What about adding old school colorhosers, like Omen of Fire? My thinking is either they result in one-sided blasts or make for easy discard fodder. Along those lines, what about other spellshapers? I really like Hammer Mage even though he'll likely get your stuff, too.
Cheers!
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If in the area, check out Gamers N Geeks and Mini War Games in Mobile, Alabama and Underhill's Games in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Depends on your meta, but in mine aggro is common, so I use all snow-covered mountain in my Jaya. Allows me to abuse glacial crevasses with my crucible as well as able to add in Skred, Mouth of Ronom, and Scrying Sheets. But that's a purely meta-driven decision that works out nicely.
Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang Keeps Jaya from frying herself and give you the chance to win via commander damage. If she dose fry herself it can turn into a dragon to finish others off. with the amount of Mana rocks/doublers you have the mana cost should not be a problem. very under rated and can pull out wins out of no where.
I considered adding color hosers, but those aren't really used in my meta, it's a bit of a social thing. I also know that if I were to run some of those, the guys running those colours will gun for me immediately, which I'd rather avoid.
Snow-covered mountains aren't a bad thought, and the combination with Scrying Sheets in particular warrants consideration. Aggro isn't really huge here though, it's more midrangey here.
Tatsumasa might not be a bad idea. The equip cost isn't high either, so it does warrant a test run. 6 mana is kind of an odd spot in this deck though, but I'll give it a try.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
If you take the snow route, Coldsteel Heart play nice with Scrying Sheets. I do the snow thing in my Heartless Hidetsugu deck, and it works quite well, especially the earlier-mentioned Glacial Crevasses.
Cheers!
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If in the area, check out Gamers N Geeks and Mini War Games in Mobile, Alabama and Underhill's Games in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Yeah, Coldsteel Heart will definitely go in if I do take the snow route. It's just as good as the Diamond, if nothing else.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Creatures:
3 Burnished Hart
3 Pilgrim's Eye
3 Squee, Goblin Nabob
4 Anger
4 Ashcloud Phoenix
4 Fanatic of Mogis
4 Firewing Phoenix
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Anarchist
5 Hoarding Dragon
5 Magma Phoenix
6 Charmbreaker Devils
6 Skarrgan Firebird
Instants:
1 Pyroblast
4 Wild Ricochet
Sorceries:
0 Wheel of Fate
1 Faithless Looting
1 Vandalblast
1 Winds of Change
2 Firecat Blitz
2 Recoup
3 Molten Psyche
3 Wheel of Fortune
4 Past in Flames
5 Incendiary Command
5 Reforge the Soul
9 Blasphemous Act
4 Furnace of Rath
4 Outpost Siege
5 Dictate of the Twin Gods
Planeswalkers:
4 Chandra, Pyromaster
6 Chandra Ablaze
Mana Accelerants:
0 Everflowing Chalice
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
2 Doubling Cube
2 Fire Diamond
2 Mind Stone
2 Ruby Medallion
5 Gauntlet of Power
6 Caged Sun
6 Dreamstone Hedron
Haste and Protection:
2 Lightning Greaves
2 Swiftfoot Boots
3 Darksteel Plate
3 Magebane Armor
3 Thousand-Year Elixir
4 Shield of Kaldra
7 Akroma's Memorial
Drawpower and other Utility:
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Skullclamp
2 Illusionist's Bracers
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Loxodon Warhammer
4 Deathrender
4 Seer's Sundial
4 Trading Post
4 Vedalken Orrery
6 Staff of Nin
1 Arcane Lighthouse
1 Dormant Volcano
1 Forgotten Cave
1 Haunted Fengraf
1 Kher Keep
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Smoldering Crater
1 Spinerock Knoll
1 Springjack Pasture
1 Temple of the False God
1 Terrain Generator
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
24 Mountain
The deck's gameplan is simple. Set up a bit with the mana rocks, keep a low profile, and try to get one of the ways out that'll enable me to activate Jaya right after casting her. If I manage to give her indestructibility while I'm at it, all the better. Start blowing up the field and pitch renewable resources (The Phoenixes, Squee, various flashback stuff) to avoid going empty handed. It's simple, but surprisingly effective. Still, it does have trouble actually closing out games due to drawing some hate after wiping the field a few times, so I'll need something against that.
Changelog:
15/2: Removed Foriyisian Totem for Illusionist's Bracers.
To Be Acquired list:
I also don't play 1v1, so as a result, Coercive Portal isn't going to go in. The deck doesn't work if there's not an engine of artifacts going, and giving my opponents the option to O-Stone the field isn't my idea of a good time. Distorting Lens is an interesting card, worth looking into, but might be too limited.
Rings and Bracers, I'm not sure how I missed those. Especially the bracers. Yes, I do like to deal 12 damage to everyone...don't have a Rings though, should go hunt for it.
Kinda wish there was a less ugly Shard Phoenix. I did miss it though during deckbuilding, so that's on the to-be-acquired list as well. Thanks for the suggestions.
Gonna have to keep a lookout for the JSS Shard Phoenix. At least that one isn't such an eyesore.
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.
Also if you have not seen her Primer: http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/217038-mono-r-control-with-jaya-ballard
Very good info
Snow-covered mountains aren't a bad thought, and the combination with Scrying Sheets in particular warrants consideration. Aggro isn't really huge here though, it's more midrangey here.
Tatsumasa might not be a bad idea. The equip cost isn't high either, so it does warrant a test run. 6 mana is kind of an odd spot in this deck though, but I'll give it a try.
Cheers!
Krichaiushii on PucaTrade.