So, this deck was incepted this weekend. I grew tired of being the attrition guy with Savra, Queen of the Golgari and decided I wanted a change. I've always loved reanimator strategies, and therefore Meren seemed like a good deal.
Bear in mind this is the very first pass at this deck, and most of what you see here is simply ported over, so there may be better choices and better strategies - you are most welcome to offer your suggestions in this respect.
I'm always happy to engage in discussion regarding where my decks are weak, strong or otherwise. There are definite ways to improve here. I'm wondering if there would be a place for Birthing Pod, Blood Artist needs to go for Zulaport Cutthroat (thought I had a copy and couldn't find one), and some of the stuff at the top of the creature curve is questionable - Overseer of the Damned, Havoc Demon. Just my opinions, I'm always happy to discuss.
When I was running Meren, I really enjoyed having Vulturous Aven. It provided a nice Sign in Blood effect while still adding experience counters. I liked it more than Masked Admirers, mostly because paying GG to recur it made me sad sometimes.
I'd also look to add Bloodghast to complement your recursive creature suite. Does great things with your sac outlets, and it's easy to bring back: just hit your land drops and you have free fodder turn after turn.
Finally, I'd consider Skullclamp a must in this kind of list. The card advantage you get out of it is insane.
EDH GWSelvala and the Return to HumanityGW UWDragonlord Ojutai, Control's Elder DragonUW UBGTasigur, the God-Pharaoh's Gift to EDHUBG UBRNicol Bolas and his SuperfriendsPawnsUBR
Modern UWUW Control/Midrange/Bad JundUW WUBRGHumansWUBRG BGMidrangeBG
As you mentioned the top of the curve, Rune-Scarred Demon is generally great with meren.
Also Panharmonicon and Strionic Resonator can provide quite some value by doubling ETB effects, or in case of the resonator double Meren's own reanimation ability.
As you mentioned the top of the curve, Rune-Scarred Demon is generally great with meren.
Also Panharmonicon and Strionic Resonator can provide quite some value by doubling ETB effects, or in case of the resonator double Meren's own reanimation ability.
I don't have spares of either the Stri Res or PH. That being said, if I did the Stri would go straight in here. Rune-Scarred Demon is awesome, don't have a copy though unfortunately.
In: Kokusho, the Evening Star - classic reanimation target, no doubt at all he's a good add. Yavimaya Elder - ramp and draw, repeatable, should be a winner.
In: Oversold Cemetery - Meren reanimates once per turn. So this is some insurance, especially considering I should have extra mana, and a lot of the creatures in the deck have ETB effects.
Out: Grave Titan - Now, hear me out. He's of a lot more use in a deck where he can turn sideways almost straight away. So he's ported over to Chainer. Meren has Koko so it's only fair.
In: Birthing Pod - Perfect for Meren - speeds her reanimation up and gets value in the yard. Aid from the Cowl - An extra reanimation guaranteed every turn. Exhume - Guaranteed I can make better use of this than anyone else.
The zone is pure gas, the exarch is great control, the sage has a 'may' clause, and the explorer is great ramp. I was never sure of exhume, I don't want to give away reanimation if I can help it.
Both of the outs are far better in a deck where they can be recurred at will rather than once per turn cycle. It remains to be seen how much that will neuter this deck, but hopefully they won't be missed overly. The ins are for further recursion and stability.
Bear in mind this is the very first pass at this deck, and most of what you see here is simply ported over, so there may be better choices and better strategies - you are most welcome to offer your suggestions in this respect.
4 Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Artifacts
2 Nim Deathmantle
4 Helm of Possession
4 Birthing Pod
Enchantments
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Vampiric Rites
2 Oversold Cemetery
2 Evolutionary Leap
3 Awakening Zone
5 Perilous Forays
5 Aid from the Cowl
5 Dawn of the Dead
6 Deadbridge Chant
Sorceries
1 Caravan Vigil
1 Unearth
2 Life's Legacy
3 Primal Growth
4 Explosive Vegetation
4 Reprocess
5 Beacon of Unrest
6 Grim Flowering
6 Seasons Past
7 Necromantic Selection
8 Decree of Pain
Creatures
1 Veteran Explorer
1 Carrion Feeder
1 Viscera Seer
1 Caustic Caterpillar
2 Apprentice Necromancer
2 Viridian Emissary
2 Reassembling Skeleton
2 Vampire Hexmage
2 Blood Artist
2 Viridian Zealot
2 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Nether Traitor
3 Reclamation Sage
3 Dark Impostor
3 Doomed Necromancer
3 Eternal Witness
3 Farhaven Elf
3 Big Game Hunter
3 Grim Haruspex
3 Yavimaya Elder
4 Agent of Erebos
4 Treasure Keeper
4 Crypt Ghast
4 Creakwood Liege
4 Brawn
4 Smothering Abomination
5 Corpse Connoisseur
5 Ogre Slumlord
5 Acidic Slime
5 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
5 Phyrexian Delver
6 Brutalizer Exarch
6 Demon of Dark Schemes
6 Reaper from the Abyss
6 Thief of Blood
7 Scourge of Nel Toth
7 Overseer of the Damned
7 Herald of Leshrac
8 Terastodon
1 Tainted Wood
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Slippery Karst
1 Polluted Mire
1 Barren Moor
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Golgari Guildgate
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 Grim Backwoods
1 Temple of Malady
1 High Market
1 Command Tower
11 Swamp
14 Forest
I'm always happy to engage in discussion regarding where my decks are weak, strong or otherwise. There are definite ways to improve here. I'm wondering if there would be a place for Birthing Pod, Blood Artist needs to go for Zulaport Cutthroat (thought I had a copy and couldn't find one), and some of the stuff at the top of the creature curve is questionable - Overseer of the Damned, Havoc Demon. Just my opinions, I'm always happy to discuss.
Sure thing!
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I'd also look to add Bloodghast to complement your recursive creature suite. Does great things with your sac outlets, and it's easy to bring back: just hit your land drops and you have free fodder turn after turn.
Finally, I'd consider Skullclamp a must in this kind of list. The card advantage you get out of it is insane.
GWSelvala and the Return to HumanityGW
UWDragonlord Ojutai, Control's Elder DragonUW
UBGTasigur, the God-Pharaoh's Gift to EDHUBG
UBRNicol Bolas and his Super
friendsPawnsUBRModern
UWUW Control/Midrange/Bad JundUW
WUBRGHumansWUBRG
BGMidrangeBG
Bloodghast I definitely can't afford barring any reprints in the future.
Skullclamp should go in here too. I may have a spare.
Thanks for the tips.
Also Panharmonicon and Strionic Resonator can provide quite some value by doubling ETB effects, or in case of the resonator double Meren's own reanimation ability.
W(W/U)U Ephara - Flash & Taxes W(W/U)U || B(B/G)G Meren - Circle of Life B(B/G)G
RGW Marath - Ever shifting Wilds RGW || (U/R)C(W/B) Breya - Artificial Dominion (U/R)C(W/B)
UBR Becket Brass - take what you can, give nothing back UBR
I don't have spares of either the Stri Res or PH. That being said, if I did the Stri would go straight in here. Rune-Scarred Demon is awesome, don't have a copy though unfortunately.
Small change:
In:
Apprentice Necromancer - it gives haste. Which is awesome.
Out:
Corpse Connoisseur - Gisa and Geralf needed him more.
Phyrexian Delver
Out:
Sever the Bloodline
2 for 1's are good value, seems like a good replacement.
In:
Kokusho, the Evening Star - classic reanimation target, no doubt at all he's a good add.
Yavimaya Elder - ramp and draw, repeatable, should be a winner.
Out:
Chainer, Dementia Master - he's leading his own pack now.
Sangromancer - with this guy in tow.
In:
Caravan Vigil - Morbid turns this into decent ramp without even the ETB tapped clause of Rampant Growth - damn right there's creatures dying.
Out:
Wild Pair - It didn't seem like a great fit here, just not the right place for it.
In:
Oversold Cemetery - Meren reanimates once per turn. So this is some insurance, especially considering I should have extra mana, and a lot of the creatures in the deck have ETB effects.
Out:
Grave Titan - Now, hear me out. He's of a lot more use in a deck where he can turn sideways almost straight away. So he's ported over to Chainer. Meren has Koko so it's only fair.
In:
Birthing Pod - Perfect for Meren - speeds her reanimation up and gets value in the yard.
Aid from the Cowl - An extra reanimation guaranteed every turn.
Exhume - Guaranteed I can make better use of this than anyone else.
Out:
Masked Admirers
Moldgraf Monstrotity
Filth
All of these have reduced value in this deck, so generally these are good upgrades.
In:
Veteran Explorer
Reclamation Sage
Awakening Zone
Brutalizer Exarch
Out:
Animate Dead
Exhume
[c]Vampire Nighthawk[c/]
Indrik Stomphowler
The zone is pure gas, the exarch is great control, the sage has a 'may' clause, and the explorer is great ramp. I was never sure of exhume, I don't want to give away reanimation if I can help it.
In:
Dawn of the Dead - With a sac engine this is undoubtedly pure power each turn.
Reprocess - Just in case I run out of gas.
Out:
Archetype of Finality
Havoc Demon
Two of the weaker choices at the top of the curve.
In:
Nim Deathmantle
Seasons Past
Out:
Disciple of Bolas
Kokusho, the Evening Star
Both of the outs are far better in a deck where they can be recurred at will rather than once per turn cycle. It remains to be seen how much that will neuter this deck, but hopefully they won't be missed overly. The ins are for further recursion and stability.
In: Corpse Connoisseur
Out: Necrotic Ooze
There was nothing absolutely crucial for the ooze to copy, so I'd rather speed things along with the corpse.