Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter is fairly unique when it comes to cards on the list of unused commanders as she is actually fairly powerful, she plays well in the format, and she gives you a good direction to build around. Unfortunately, her similarity to Rhys the Redeemed has made her less popular than a general of her quality normally would be. When setting out to make an Oviya deck, the first thing a builder asks is "Why not just play Rhys instead? He does a better job of making tokens and gives you access to White, a great color for tokens."
It is true that they play around in similar space, and many of the cards I chose for this deck fit right in to any Rhys build, but they are a bit different. The biggest difference, aside from creature type and color identity, is the second ability. Rhys doubles your creature tokens for six mana. Oviya makes one big token for five mana. This difference takes the deck in a somewhat different and interesting direction. First Oviya's ability doesn't only count your tokens, but your non-token creatures as well, meaning that while tokens are still the fastest route to making giant constructs, you can start making reasonably sized constructs by having a few regular creatures on the board. Second, the tokens she makes have the potential to be huge, making them threats on their own, which allows you to 1) get proactive and attack sooner as they are more likely to survive without needing a pump or alpha strike and 2) Get around some of the best non-sweeper answers to "go wide" strategies, such as Propaganda. Third, being able to generate huge creatures on demand opens up some pretty powerful effects, namely the ability to abuse the hell out of Greater Good, but also getting good mileage out of the one shot versions Life's Legacy and Momentous Fall, as well as cards like Cream of the Crop, Death's Presence, Ulvenwald Tracker, Selvala, and Dragon Throne of Tarkir. Lastly, Oviya's second ability is 1 mana less than Rhys's and thus comes online a turn sooner. The deck can be very explosive, and I like the flexibility it provides to either go wide with a token army or to keep them home and send in token battlecruisers depending on what the situation calls for. Getting any of the power based draw spells is often game, and resolving Greater Good is monstrous.
This deck is not tuned and likely (definitely) has room for improvement. Still, never underestimate the kindly old lady next door. She might be able to parlay her collection of cat figurines into a mech.
The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
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It is true that they play around in similar space, and many of the cards I chose for this deck fit right in to any Rhys build, but they are a bit different. The biggest difference, aside from creature type and color identity, is the second ability. Rhys doubles your creature tokens for six mana. Oviya makes one big token for five mana. This difference takes the deck in a somewhat different and interesting direction. First Oviya's ability doesn't only count your tokens, but your non-token creatures as well, meaning that while tokens are still the fastest route to making giant constructs, you can start making reasonably sized constructs by having a few regular creatures on the board. Second, the tokens she makes have the potential to be huge, making them threats on their own, which allows you to 1) get proactive and attack sooner as they are more likely to survive without needing a pump or alpha strike and 2) Get around some of the best non-sweeper answers to "go wide" strategies, such as Propaganda. Third, being able to generate huge creatures on demand opens up some pretty powerful effects, namely the ability to abuse the hell out of Greater Good, but also getting good mileage out of the one shot versions Life's Legacy and Momentous Fall, as well as cards like Cream of the Crop, Death's Presence, Ulvenwald Tracker, Selvala, and Dragon Throne of Tarkir. Lastly, Oviya's second ability is 1 mana less than Rhys's and thus comes online a turn sooner. The deck can be very explosive, and I like the flexibility it provides to either go wide with a token army or to keep them home and send in token battlecruisers depending on what the situation calls for. Getting any of the power based draw spells is often game, and resolving Greater Good is monstrous.
This deck is not tuned and likely (definitely) has room for improvement. Still, never underestimate the kindly old lady next door. She might be able to parlay her collection of cat figurines into a mech.
1x Oviya Pashiri, Sage Lifecrafter
Token Sources:
1x Awakening Zone
1x Imperious Perfect
1x Beacon of Creation
1x From Beyond
1x Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury
1x Garruk, Primal Hunter
1x Garruk, Wildspeaker
1x Wolfbriar Elemental
1x Ant Queen
1x Mycoloth
1x Cultivator of Blades
1x Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
1x Rampaging Baloth
1x Avenger of Zendikar
1x Hornet Queen
1x Hooded Hydra
1x Myr Battlesphere
Creatures:
1x Ulvenwald Tracker
1x Lotus Cobra
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Shaman of the Forgotten Ways
1x Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
1x Acidic Slime
1x Thunderhoof Baloth
1x Pathbreaker Ibex
1x Craterhoof Behemoth
1x Duplicant
1x Momentous Fall
1x Beast Within
Sorceries:
1x Life’s Legacy
1x Cultivate
1x Kodama’s Reach
1x Skyshroud Claim
1x Overwhelming Stampede
1x Shamanic Revelation
Artifacts:
1x Umezawa’s Jitte
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Moss Diamond
1x Grim Monolith
1x Skullclamp
1x Sensei’s Divining Top
1x Expedition Map
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of the Animist
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Dragon Throne of Tarkir
1x Gilded Lotus
Enchantments:
1x Cream of the Crop
1x Sylvan Library
1x Beastmaster Ascension
1x Parallel Lives
1x Doubling Season
1x Primal Vigor
1x Greater Good
1x Death’s Presence
1x Primeval Bounty
1x Helix Pinnacle
1x Nissa, Vital Force
Lands:
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Blighted Woodland
1x City of Shadows
1x Gaea’s Cradle
1x Myriad Landscape
1x Khalni Garden
1x Temple of the False God
1x Thawing Glaciers
1x Mosswort Bridge
1x Oren-RIef, the Vastwood
1x Reliquary Tower
26x Forest
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!