Originally started as a Tariel, Reckoner of Souls built as a color shifted version of my Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck. Tariel herself really never brought much to the table and most of the time picked little useless tech creatures out of peoples' graveyard. Switched it out for Zurgo Helmsmasher a week or so ago, but may switch it back if I can get a hold of the FTV foil Tariel.
I'm a bit biased, but I do prefer Tariel as a commander for this kind of deck. Even if you only grab small utility dudes, they still provide you with some extra fuel. But that's just the commander.
I'd personally always run a Bitterblossom/Assemble The Legion + Grave pact effects combination in Mardu attrition-based builds. Those tokens + Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobyte also give you another route to victory, one that served my Tariel quite well, and is supplemented beautifully by Grave Titan. Just my $0.02
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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.
I'm a bit biased, but I do prefer Tariel as a commander for this kind of deck. Even if you only grab small utility dudes, they still provide you with some extra fuel. But that's just the commander.
I'd personally always run a Bitterblossom/Assemble The Legion + Grave pact effects combination in Mardu attrition-based builds. Those tokens + Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobyte also give you another route to victory, one that served my Tariel quite well, and is supplemented beautifully by Grave Titan. Just my $0.02
I've honestly never been much of a fan of Bitterblossom. It may just be that I've seen too many people die to their own bitterblossom, but one 1/1 a turn has never been that exciting for me. Assemble the legion is better, as it gives an increasing amount of 1/1s, but at 5 mana I still really don't like having to wait to get it out and then for it to actually do something. I did consider Rise of the Hobgoblins at one point because of the first strike ability and being able to bring it back with Sun Titan or Treasury Thrull.
I've also never really been a huge fan of Grave pact. It's good and I've used it many times, but I've never really found it to be that great of a help. It was in an early version of the deck, but eventually got cut. Mostly because I don't have that many sac outlets and this deck plays fairly more aggressive than my Karador deck.
Also, just because I didn't mention it in the OP, but this deck is like three years old and had Tariel at the helm until just recently. I've played her extensively and Zurgo being able to put on the pressure has made a clearly noticeable change in how much pressure the deck can put on people. I really like Tariel as a card in basically every way but she just didn't do enough, though as i've already stated She may see a return if I can get a hold of one of the FTV versions. I'd be willing to forgo the extra benefit Zurgo gives in exchange for having a foil Tariel.
TBH, the only reason I really posted this thread is to fill out my signature with actual links to lists rather than just a commander name. Last time I edited this deck was adding Bloodstained Mire thanks to Khans of Tarkir which was as recent as the General change. Last edit before that was Sire of Insanity and Wear // Tear when Dragon's Maze came out and I got both on prerelease night.
EDIT: TBH, Karador and this deck are both really well established and probably won't change until I see a new card printed that would make me change it. Jeleva and a newly built Derevi are in need of some tips and card suggestions if you've got the time. I'm planning on posting the Derevi deck tomorrow and jeleva is in my sig.
I think running some guildgates and refuges in the mana base would be better than Manaforge Cinder as a filter. There are, of course, larger-budget options for fixing colors as well.
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You would never guess, at the terrifying sight of the man, that Hunding was as charming a companion as one could wish for.
I think running some guildgates and refuges in the mana base would be better than Manaforge Cinder as a filter. There are, of course, larger-budget options for fixing colors as well.
Manaforge is there to offset all the lands that tap for colorless: Techlands, painlands, and filterlands. Plus, it's just really awesome when Sol ring's mana get's filtered to colored. I've honestly never considered replacing it, but I don't know of a better card to replace it. It's niche but surprisingly effective.
Creatures:
2 Treasury Thrull
3 Angel of Serenity
4 Phyrexian Delver
5 Manaforge Cinder
6 Restoration Angel
7 Shriekmaw
8 Goblin Welder
9 Zealous Conscripts
10 Urabrask the Hidden
11 Sire of Insanity
12 Rummaging Goblin
13 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
14 False Prophet
15 Flametongue Kavu
16 Faceless Butcher
17 Karmic Guide
18 Corpse Connoisseur
19 Sun Titan
20 Chandra's Phoenix
21 Big Game Hunter
22 Duplicant
23 Reveillark
24 Murderous Redcap
25 Mindclaw Shaman
Planeswalkers:
26 Chandra Ablaze
Artifacts/Enchantments:
27 Lightning Greaves
28 Oblivion Stone
29 Sol Ring
30 Sensei's Divining Top
31 Scroll Rack
32 Blashting Station
33 Skullclamp
34 Mana Vault
35 Sneak Attack
36 Goblin Bombardment
37 Animate Dead
38 Blind Obedience
39 Sigil of the New Dawn
40 Necromancy
41 Entomb
42 Rakdos Charm
43 Hide // Seek
44 Swords to Plowshares
45 Wear // Tear
46 Path To Exile
47 Snuff out
48 Chaos Warp
49 Boros Charm
50 Return to Dust
51 Enlightened Tutor
52 Dreadbore
53 Demonic Tutor
54 Faithless Looting
55 Wheel of Fortune
56 Damnation
57 Wrath of God
58 Austere Command
59 Reanimate
60 Vindicate
61 Reforge the Soul
Land:
62 Mountain
63 Mountain
64 Mountain
65 Plains
66 Plains
67 Plains
68 Swamp
69 Swamp
70 Swamp
71 Command Tower
72 City of Brass
73 Reflecting Pool
74 Plateau
75 Arid Mesa
76 Bloodstained Mire
77 Marsh Flats
78 Godless Shrine
79 Blood Crypt
80 Sacred Foundry
81 Clifftop Retreat
82 Isolated Chapel
83 Dragonskull Summit
84 Rugged Prairie
85 Graven Cairns
86 Fetid Heath
87 Caves of Koilos
88 Battlefield Forge
89 Lavaclaw Reaches
90 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
91 Flagstones of Trokair
92 Volrath's Stronghold
93 Phyrexian Tower
94 Kor Haven
95 Vault of the Archangel
96 Kher Keep
97 Slayer's Stronghold
98 Reliquary Tower
99 Maze of Ith
100 High Market
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain
B Toshiro Umezawa
BG Pharika, God of Affliction - Necromancy and Politics
WWW The Church of Heliod
WBR Zurgo, Helmsmasher
RG Wort, the Raidmother
UBR Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade
I'd personally always run a Bitterblossom/Assemble The Legion + Grave pact effects combination in Mardu attrition-based builds. Those tokens + Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobyte also give you another route to victory, one that served my Tariel quite well, and is supplemented beautifully by Grave Titan. Just my $0.02
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.
I've honestly never been much of a fan of Bitterblossom. It may just be that I've seen too many people die to their own bitterblossom, but one 1/1 a turn has never been that exciting for me. Assemble the legion is better, as it gives an increasing amount of 1/1s, but at 5 mana I still really don't like having to wait to get it out and then for it to actually do something. I did consider Rise of the Hobgoblins at one point because of the first strike ability and being able to bring it back with Sun Titan or Treasury Thrull.
I've also never really been a huge fan of Grave pact. It's good and I've used it many times, but I've never really found it to be that great of a help. It was in an early version of the deck, but eventually got cut. Mostly because I don't have that many sac outlets and this deck plays fairly more aggressive than my Karador deck.
Also, just because I didn't mention it in the OP, but this deck is like three years old and had Tariel at the helm until just recently. I've played her extensively and Zurgo being able to put on the pressure has made a clearly noticeable change in how much pressure the deck can put on people. I really like Tariel as a card in basically every way but she just didn't do enough, though as i've already stated She may see a return if I can get a hold of one of the FTV versions. I'd be willing to forgo the extra benefit Zurgo gives in exchange for having a foil Tariel.
TBH, the only reason I really posted this thread is to fill out my signature with actual links to lists rather than just a commander name. Last time I edited this deck was adding Bloodstained Mire thanks to Khans of Tarkir which was as recent as the General change. Last edit before that was Sire of Insanity and Wear // Tear when Dragon's Maze came out and I got both on prerelease night.
EDIT: TBH, Karador and this deck are both really well established and probably won't change until I see a new card printed that would make me change it. Jeleva and a newly built Derevi are in need of some tips and card suggestions if you've got the time. I'm planning on posting the Derevi deck tomorrow and jeleva is in my sig.
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain
B Toshiro Umezawa
BG Pharika, God of Affliction - Necromancy and Politics
WWW The Church of Heliod
WBR Zurgo, Helmsmasher
RG Wort, the Raidmother
UBR Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade
Manaforge is there to offset all the lands that tap for colorless: Techlands, painlands, and filterlands. Plus, it's just really awesome when Sol ring's mana get's filtered to colored. I've honestly never considered replacing it, but I don't know of a better card to replace it. It's niche but surprisingly effective.
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain
B Toshiro Umezawa
BG Pharika, God of Affliction - Necromancy and Politics
WWW The Church of Heliod
WBR Zurgo, Helmsmasher
RG Wort, the Raidmother
UBR Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade