MTG Salvation

So this is my first Competitive deck I've taken a shot at building. I am relatively new to magic and looking to get into a more competitive commander scene. So here is my deck!




So its a pretty standard Alesha Build, The theory behind it is to have creatures that fit the bill to be pulled with Alesha's ability, but as soon as they hop into the field they jump in power and toughness. Cards like Ankle Shanker Glory of Warfare Gleam of Battle and both Sorin's achieve this possibility.

Now, the kicker to this build and Alesha in general, i can abuse some really good ETB and LTB cards, and while these cards in any other deck would be there mainly for those triggers, mine will come out swinging hard on top of their awesome triggers.

Secondary win con/OH ***** win con Karmic Guide Reveillark + any card that deals damage with sacs.

Dictate of Erebos Grave Pact and Butcher of Malakir Make defending against my creatures/my sacs that much more powerful and grant me control over the board.

This deck has not been tested yet, I am mainly posting for ideas/looking for any improvements.

Thanks for reading my post guys!

Just to let you know, cards like Ankle Shanker and Gleam of Battle don't work with the creatures reanimated by Alesha's ability. Those abilities check when a creature attacks, which is what Alesha does. When those creatures come into play they have not attacked, but are attacking. This is a way to get around creatures that cannot attack like Wall of Blood and have them do some interesting attacking shenanigans.

Just to let you know, cards like Ankle Shanker and Gleam of Battle don't work with the creatures reanimated by Alesha's ability. Those abilities check when a creature attacks, which is what Alesha does. When those creatures come into play they have not attacked, but are attacking. This is a way to get around creatures that cannot attack like Wall of Blood and have them do some interesting attacking shenanigans.

When you say Ankle Shanker doesnt work, you mean that my creatures wouldnt gain first strike/death touch when Ankle himself is reanimated right?

But still in most games i see myself swinging away mid game, and ankle and Gleam still are pretty decent threats. I could always throw in Anger, Archetype of Finality, and Valor. To replace Ankle if i felt it was necessary.

Right. If it's brought back to the battlefield tapped and attacking, it itself never attacks, hence it doesn't trigger those abilities. ETB effects are your best bet, or Wardscale Dragon, though it doesn't work with Alesha.

Quote from scarbo »

Right. If it's brought back to the battlefield tapped and attacking, it itself never attacks, hence it doesn't trigger those abilities. ETB effects are your best bet, or Wardscale Dragon, though it doesn't work with Alesha.

Any cards you think would be worth replacing right off the bat? And what are some good alternatives to those? Also Wardscale Dragon is nice, but i might as well use Grand Abolisher instead, seeing as he works with Alesha.

What are your thoughts on removing some enchantments and creatures to include more mana sources? Also, I that you're running so many basic lands!!! Land Tax would be a lovely way to grab them and thin out your deck, too.

As was already mentioned your land count is low, your basic land count high and your curve very high. That makes it very difficult I think to cast your cards on time and keep up with your opponents. I would look at adding more lands, more dual lands and lowering your curve. Although Alesha can help you cheat on mana, that only works if you have ways to get creatures in your graveyard. Faithless Looting, Buried Alive, Wild Guess, Daretti could all help.
With that.

Quote from 4Lark »

What are your thoughts on removing some enchantments and creatures to include more mana sources? Also, I that you're running so many basic lands!!! Land Tax would be a lovely way to grab them and thin out your deck, too.

It's in the process of being done! I'm planning on removing pretty much every creature that has raid. They are pretty underwhelming i think, and i can remove some to add lands/some more intimidating monsters.

Land Tax is an excellent mention. I really have a strong emotional attachment to all my enchantments right now, they all play with the deck SO well, it would be hard to let any go

Quote from capitacom »

As was already mentioned your land count is low, your basic land count high and your curve very high. That makes it very difficult I think to cast your cards on time and keep up with your opponents. I would look at adding more lands, more dual lands and lowering your curve. Although Alesha can help you cheat on mana, that only works if you have ways to get creatures in your graveyard. Faithless Looting, Buried Alive, Wild Guess, Daretti could all help.
With that.

Buried alive is in there already, Wild Guess is an excellent mention, i will consider that. And I've known about Daretti, just wasnt sure if the mana for him would be worth using only the up loyalty. The down loyalties are good just would be very rare to use in this deck.

I didn't realize my mana curve was that high? 48 cards are 4 mana or less, I'm relatively new to magic, is that a high mana curve?

Besides all the creatures with raid, who are relatively underwhelming, and have a low CMC. I dont really know what creatures to take out.... Possibly Abyssal Horror, or the dredge cards, as dredge seems like a risky way to put stuff into my graveyard.

Quote from shinizter »

Buried alive is in there already, Wild Guess is an excellent mention, i will consider that. And I've known about Daretti, just wasnt sure if the mana for him would be worth using only the up loyalty. The down loyalties are good just would be very rare to use in this deck.

I didn't realize my mana curve was that high? 48 cards are 4 mana or less, I'm relatively new to magic, is that a high mana curve?

Besides all the creatures with raid, who are relatively underwhelming, and have a low CMC. I dont really know what creatures to take out.... Possibly Abyssal Horror, or the dredge cards, as dredge seems like a risky way to put stuff into my graveyard.

My apologies for missing Buried Alive . My reason for saying your mana curve was high was because you have only 38 mana sources in your deck while you play relatively few 1-2 mana cards and your curve is centered on 3-4 mana cards. In addition you have, if I counted correctly, 18 cards of 5 mana or more, which is a lot. So I would consider your mana curve quite high, which is okay, as long as you do make sure that you have enough lands (around forty) and ramp cards (maybe 7-8) so that you are able to cast your cards on time. Some cards which I would consider cutting:

• Abyssal Horror
  
• Butcher of Malakir
  
• Herald of Leshrac
  
• Greater Gargadon
  
• The dredge cards
  
• Gleam of Battle
  
• Bitter Revelation
  

You have a lot of, what I term, "cutesy" cards in your deck. Stuff that seems fun and fulfills a role, but may be too niche for this style of deck. I would recommend cutting all of the raid and dash cards unless you want to focus on more of a sac-style deck. Other than that, cards I could see cutting, in addition to Capitacom's list would be:

Battle Brawler - Ideally you want your creatures to do more than just be a body
Pontiff of Blight - A good card to cut to bring your curve down. If you like Extort, then I'd consider Blind Obedience.
Ponyback Brigade - Another card that can bring your average CMC down. A pain to cast outright. It's only good as an Alesha reanimation target. There are better (and cheaper) token producing targets for Alesha. Consider Siege-gang Commander.
Manic Vandal - If you keep a high basic land count, you may consider Duergar Hedge-Mage instead for more utility.
Flame-kin Zealot - Seems a bit pricey for it's body and one-time effect

Now for cards I'd recommend:

Skullclamp - With decent token production, massive card draw.
Phyrexian Reclamation - Good way to refill your hand, bringing back something Alesha can't reanimate, or protect some stuff if your yard is getting exiled
Reconnaissance - A pet card of mine. Great for getting Alesha and her newly reanimated helper out of harm's way if need be. Also, thanks to the specific order of events, you can use the ability after damage has been dealt to untap your creatures, since they are still considered attacking creatures until combat ends, giving them pseudo-vigilance.
Avalanche Riders - Personally, I frown on land destruction, but sometimes some good spot removal of troublesome lands is a good thing for everyone.
Mother of Runes - Just great protection all around.

My Alesha deck has been in the works for a while now. I shy away from infinite combos, so I head towards a combination of sac/aggro, which works well in my meta (since my group kills pretty much everything that hits the board right away). Just my little take on Alesha. We all have different ideas/styles.

Quote from capitacom »

My reason for saying your mana curve was high was because you have only 38 mana sources in your deck while you play relatively few 1-2 mana cards and your curve is centered on 3-4 mana cards. In addition you have, if I counted correctly, 18 cards of 5 mana or more, which is a lot. So I would consider your mana curve quite high, which is okay, as long as you do make sure that you have enough lands (around forty) and ramp cards (maybe 7-8) so that you are able to cast your cards on time. Some cards which I would consider cutting:

• Gleam of Battle
  
• Bitter Revelation
  

When I suggested adding more mana sources, I was including mana rocks in that.

I run Gleam successfully in my own Alesha deck (link in my signature), but counters matter in my deck and I have other cards that synergize with it.

Revelation's great if you're planning to go infinite with it.

As for all the suggestions so far, i really appreciate it, i have some rhyme and reason for not taking some things out. Some are on the fence, like Gleam of battle and Butcher. As for the cards i added, some make some pretty obvious sense, some might not. I like the control aspect of Hokori, although that may be a bit too specific, but he could easily be the target of bury alive, which makes him pretty easy to get on the field, sac before my upkeep, use alesha to bring him back out. Grenzo is excellent for this deck as most creatures will fit the bill for his ability....

When I suggested adding more mana sources, I was including mana rocks in that.

I run Gleam successfully in my own Alesha deck (link in my signature), but counters matter in my deck and I have other cards that synergize with it.

Revelation's great if you're planning to go infinite with it.

I REALLLY want to run Oona's Blackguard not only is the card art ADORABLE, it does sort of fit. Not as nicely as your deck 4Lark, but still pretty nicely.....

Reconnaissance will most likely end up in the deck, as of now its taking a seat on the bench. But i like it alot in theory.
Phyrexian Reclamation Same deal as Recon.

Thanks for all the ideas guys, let me know what your thoughts are on the changes

but creatures get first strike and death touch until end of turn so why would reanimated creatures get it?