My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Copy Enchantment for more Slide, Archive to keep the party of Slides going. I had to decide what cards either sat dead or I just didn't have time to cast them. Otherwise, improved the mana base. I'm hoping for the U/W Land to drop in price a little, I find it weird that it is the most expensive land (over U/B).
I noticed today two things: the deck folds pretty badly if Astral Slide and co. die, so I'm going to be adding a lot more Creatures that ETB to return Enchantments back to hand. At the very worst, they'll help be recycle Runes for more Cycling action. Secondly, Palace Jailer is a god. Every time it enters play, you Exile a Creature but they only return once you lose Monarch. Now I understand why it's a good card.
Otherwise, I'm looking for more Hour of Devastation goodies. So far nothing has really stood out besides the Nimble Bird and the Cycling Deserts. I hope they make a colorless version too.
Better landbase, including another Cycling Land; more efficient mana rock and the hard part was the Creature Swap. I realized Venser doesn't answer Threats, he merely delays them. I decided that something that helps me recycle my Enchantments with Astral Slide is probably more important and if my Enchantment mix does get blown up, the Idealist can return them to my hand.
I don't want to cast any of the cycled cards, I'm even thinking of using Gravedigger just so I can recycle my cycled Creatures. So I'm not interested in Abandoned Sarcophagus. It would also let me chain getting back Auramancer to return Astral Slide faster in case of a deep clean board wipe. Hell, I'm thinking of replacing Haunted Crossroads with Phyrexian Reclamation just to get Creatures back into my hand faster, even at the cost of life and more mana intensity.
As for Fluctuator, it's expensive. This whole deck costs around $80 USD, Fluctuactor alone is $10. This is just another budgety, casual deck I have. I just don't label it under Casual because it's still better than most of the Casual players in my meta because I'm willing to run Ramp while they are not.
Illumination just drew cards and frequently I didn't like it as a better Inspiration. I tend to have a large yard, so Countervailing Winds does something and my deck tends to leave a lot of mana open. I would be able to counter on demand if necessary.
I have too many ETBT Lands. While that's the gig, particuarly because a lot of them are Cycle cards first and Land Drops with only Regret, I still need mana fixing. There have been plenty of times when I lacked UU or BB, so City of Brass goes in for optimal fixing and removing the Leechridden Swamp. The Swamp originally was thought of a low opportunity cost way of inevitability that could even be tutored up. It ended up that the ETBT was too much for its effect.
I found that I just didn't have time to Shadow of the Grave. I'd rather just keep cycling away, especially since I have my Auramancer and its clone to recur Enchantments for me. Gravedigger will be another way to recur my draw engine, but unlike Shadow it can be prepaid and then gets tons of utility from Astral Slide. Plus all of the advantages of being a Creature. Other Creatures I was tempted to cut were Gonti, Lord of Luxury and Shriekmaw; however, they've proven to be useful. I haven't cast a single Gonti spell, but it gives me insight into my opponents and it has given me good denial as well as emergency buttons. Most of my Gonti grabs are for Answers and it's a testament to the deck that I don't need to fall back on that yet.
I cut Sundial because it only worked if the player didn't know better, if they didn't know better I didn't need more ways to trick them into getting victory. It felt like a dirty trick or something I didn't want to spend mana on. As the deck struggles for ensuring it has draw to keep up the Control, I added in Ephara. I have no illusions about using her as a non-enchantment, but she's great just because of how often I make Creatures with Drake Haven or when I Slide my own Creatures. That card draw should keep me
You ever consider Sun Titan? I really like him in my Zur cycling list. He's great at getting back our 3CMC or less enchantments that we tutor with Zur and which eventually get destroyed (Astral Slide, Faith of the Devoted, Drake Haven), and he's a great slide target for more recursion.
In addition, have you considered more draw? I have included Phyrexian Arena and Necropotence, though the latter can cause some problems in terms of exiling things I cycle away. Thankfully, necro generally doesn't stay around long, and I have ways of killing it myself (Aura of Silence, Seal of Cleansing).
I would like to add Phyrexian Arena but I don't know what to cut. A lot of the suboptimal, niche cards in the deck are there for cycling. In a way, Monastery Siege is better, just because it gives me Drake and Drain triggers. I would like more but I think Ephara, even if she isn't tutorable, would provide me with a lot more Card Advantage. I wouldn't run Necro because I discard too much and I have a recursion engine that doesn't want to get Exiled, same reason why I didn't want to bother with Abandoned Sarcophagus.
As for Sun Titan, he would be the most expensive card to cast in the deck. The other 6+ drops are Wraths and New Perspectives. I have no intention of casting all the other 6 and 7 drop Enchantments or Creatures. They're just Cycle Fodder with that niche application if I really need to. The deck runs really low to the ground, as you maybe cast a 5 drop at most and keep the rest of the mana up to Control the board. Also, I don't really have any targets I would want the Sun Titan to bring back. Maybe Lands? I did add Mistveil Plains for recursion with Zur's Attack trigger.
The only thing I'm looking for is maybe better duals, like if Adarkar Wastes ever gets reprinted and becomes cheap. It and Brushland are two cards I'm hoping to see in CMDR17 especially since the other reprints tanked the other painland's price. Supreme Verdict would be my replacement for Day of Judgment. I've had a few times when I wanted to cast a Wrath and not have to also have a Counterspell at the ready.
Someone made the suggestion to use Approach of the Second Sun and I thought it isn't a bad idea. The one problem with the deck is that it can get far ahead but has trouble finishing out the game. This would reduce that, especially with the amount of cycling to help me draw it back and cast it again. If it gets countered, I have Archaeomancer or Mistveil Plains. Hell, I'd be tempted to shuffle it away after the first cast just so that I'm left alone without a ticking time bomb. Then again, I might have the table decide to finish me off which is difficult if they play fairly. Grey Merchant got the axe because it was supposed to be a finisher but I frequently didn't have time for it. While I did like the life gain, I didn't often find a time it would be justifiable to cast him and keep multiple Cycling cards at ready to protect my 'wincon'.
Plains got axed for a Command Tower. Now, the question I have for myself regarding my manabase is cut another Basic for Path of Ancestry or the triland. Zur has enough Human or Wizards in the deck that I think it is justifiable in replacing Arcane Sanctum with a strict upgrade.
And so every time I cycle a card it gets Exiled? I have too much recursion to waste it on Necropotence. Just because you can doesn't mean you should and that's really true with this Casual deck.
Day of Judgment is just a simple Wrath, not a big deal. Terminus, on the other hand, can be Miracled on an opponent's turn but more importantly it puts all of those indestructible Creatures away. Also, avoiding Dies Triggers can be pretty important.
I've found that I didn't have time or want to use Phyrexian Reclamation; in fact, the biggest weakness of the deck is if I ever run out of gas. Compulsion replaced it, as I wanted more card draw and not recursion. By drawing cards I can dig for more Cylcers but also the discard means it triggers Drake Haven and Faith of the Devoted. Sure, it isn't Astral Slide but sometimes just gaining an extra blocker or life is worth it without the Flicker.
The idea that creating a chump blocker can save me a lot of life is what made me cut Renewed Faith. It just gains me life, that doesn't do that much; however, Decree's Soldier tokens can easily stop the loss of more than 2 life I would've gained with Renewed Faith. They're both defensive oriented cards but I think Decree is so much better.
I was searching for an astral slide centered EDH deck and i stumbled upon your list, since it was so cheap i built something very similar adding some cards i owned and i really wanted to thank you because it works wonders and feels amazing to play with! This is the list i'm playing right now, i'm still testing Magister Sphinx, combined with faith of the devoted should be a decent win-con.
I looked at my 5 drops and cut the least flexible option. Lavinia of the Tenth is oppressive as hell, the rest either Evoke or Cycle, and so Cloudblazer got the axe for Hostage Taker. The idea is to Slide her out, steal mana rocks and proceed to keep accumulating a mana base. I decided to pick up Taker and Search because it seems like there's a lot of buzz and I wanted to grab them before they skyrocketed in price.
I cut Approach because I never felt like I had an opportunity to actually cast it safely. I couldn't lock out people and go off, I am continually fighting my opponents. What's great is Search turning into a land, it's gotten me thinking of adding Legion's Landing - I do attack with a lot of Drakes and I could randomly generate lifelinkers but the primary reason would be to ramp my deck.
Otherwise, I'm liking the changes I've made. Compulsion has been great for making Drakes and Drains with what would otherwise be deadweight cards. Hell, the need for draw and discard has me thinking of adding Smuggler's Copter to the deck with Drakes Crewing it for more draw and discard. Copter has been great in the decks I've used it in and it's beginning to invade every other deck idea I have - I guess there's a reason it got banned.
After talking about how difficult it was to safely cast Approach of the Second Sun, I realized I dislike spending a lot of mana during my turn. Usually, ideally, I would have Zur attack to advance my board state and then plop down a mana rock. Maybe cast an Enchantment or Creature that would help me. With that in mind, I examined all of my 5 drops and made adjustments that go in line with saving mana.
First, I cut a Plains because I don't need that much colored mana and replaced it with the utility land of Tower of the Magistrate. One of the deck's weaknesses is having someone suit up an Equipment Voltron and go to town. It's hard to slide them out or block them with my tokens when they're geared up, or just trying to run me out of cards. With Tower I can make all of their Equipment fall off and then throw Drakes at them until they die.
I've been humming and hawing over Gravedigger, as it is part of my recursion suite, but sometimes I don't have Creatures to recur. Enter the Entomber Exarch which allows me to get rid of troublesome cards if I need to keep sliding him out. Just a lot more flexibility at what I hope is a negligible cost.
Shriekmaw has been dead a few times when my targets are only Artifact or Black Creatures, plus it's expensive unless I do an Evoke Slide trick which is then costly. Reflector Mage should keep trouble off of the table and it's not like they can make me run out of cards by continually playing problem Creatures, as they can only do so every other turn. The 3 cost is definitely nice over 5 on Shriekmaw.
Mulldrifter had the same problem with being too mana intensive, even if it is pure card advantage. What I discovered is that the deck much vastly prefers Looting over raw draws, as Loots trigger my wincons. The Smuggler's Copter is very inexpensive and is powered easily by Drakes. It also fits right into my mana curve desires of 2 which is the cost of a standard rock.
Lastly, Compulsion might be far less expensive to cast than Unfulfilled Desires but each activation is costly. At first, I thought the one life loss would be too much to ask, but with Faith of the Devoted, I barely feel the pings as I Drain the table. Desires lets me make more Drakes and Drains and that's what's important, even its activation is superior: Draw then Discard over Compulsion's Discard then Draw. I've already noticed a vast improvement with this, as an opponent had Exiled my Astral Slide yet with Drakes and Drains on demand, I was able to close out the game. The first time ever I've had victory after losing my true General.
Rebuild is by far the weakest card in the deck. There are a lot less situations I'd thought where mass artifact bounce would've been good. It is also a relatively expensive card. It got cut by being the weakest.
Quite honestly, I haven't been playing Zur too often because the deck feels 'complete' barring Fetches, ABUR Duals or Shocks. I took Zur out for a whirl, managed to draw the Sword and it was great for acceleration. Normally, I dislike tapping 4 but the Sword pays for itself and if someone Wraths, I just have a Drake made EOT who will carry the Sword.
I played a game where I really needed to find my Mistveil Plains to start rebuilding my blown up board and it just wouldn't arrive, so I added another way to fetch it:
I found that I never cast Ancient Excavation, so it was just for the random basic cycling. I rather have another way to find my Mistveil Plains or another Nonbasic Plains.
Lavinia was a quite brutal lock and so she goes. Entomber Exarch was just never worth casting and sliding, even with the potential abuse of regrowing my Cyclers.
Instead, I've put more targets for Zur to use and they're quite fun too. This way I don't quickly run out of things to fetch but the two Curses give incentive for players to attack others. The Curse of Disturbance synergizes with Ephara, God of the Polis and Verbosity gives the deck more draw which it needs. I got the idea for these after seeing how effective they were in my Mikro Vosk, Mind Drinker deck.
4 Zur the Enchanter
Creatures - 16
3 Auramancer
3 Eldrazi Displacer
3 Monk Idealist
3 Nimble Obstructionist
3 Reflector Mage
3 Undead Gladiator
4 Archaeomancer
4 Entomber Exarch
4 Ephara, God of the Polis
4 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Archfiend of Ifnir
6 Jhessian Zombies
6 Noble Templar
6 Sanctum Plowbeast
7 Eternal Dragon
Enchantments - 20
2 Rune of Protection: Artifacts
2 Rune of Protection: Black
2 Rune of Protection: Blue
2 Rune of Protection: Green
2 Rune of Protection: Red
2 Rune of Protection: White
3 Astral Slide
3 Aura of Silence
3 Copy Enchantment
3 Curse of Verbosity
3 Disinformation Campaign
3 Drake Haven
3 Estrid's Invocation
3 Faith of the Devoted
3 Imprisoned in the Moon
3 Monastery Siege
3 Unfulfilled Desires
4 Cast Out
4 Smothering Tithe
7 Lay Claim
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
2 Dowsing Dagger
2 Mind Stone
2 Smuggler's Copter
2 Sword of the Animist
2 Talisman of Dominance
2 Talisman of Progress
2 Thought Vessel
3 Victory Chimes
Sorcery - 4
4 Decree of Justice
4 Supreme Verdict
6 Akroma's Vengeance
8 Decree of Pain
Instants - 9
2 Angelsong
2 Gilded Light
2 Miscalculation
3 Complicate
3 Countervailing Winds
3 Expunge
3 Forbid
3 Forsake the Worldly
3 Radiant's Judgment
Basic Lands - 14
5 Island
6 Plains
3 Swamp
Nonbasic Lands - 26
0 Adarkar Wastes
0 Arch of Orazca
0 Ash Barrens
0 Barren Moor
0 Blasted Landscape
0 Caves of Koilos
0 Command Tower
0 Desert of the Glorified
0 Desert of the Mindful
0 Desert of the True
0 Drifting Meadow
0 Fetid Pools
0 Geier Reach Sanitarium
0 Irrigated Farmland
0 Lonely Sandbar
0 Mistveil Plains
0 Polluted Mire
0 Reliquary Tower
0 Remote Isle
0 Secluded Steppe
0 Temple of the False God
0 Thespian's Stage
0 Underground River
0 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
0 Vault of the Archangel
0 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Cast Out
1 Curator of Mysteries
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
1 Perplexing Chimera
1 Disinformation Campaign
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Perplexing Chimera
1 Estrid's Invocation
1 Smothering Tithe
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Dowsing Dagger
1 Victory Chimes
1 Supreme Verdict
3 Plains
1 Island
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Hostage Taker
1 Ravenous Chupacabra
1 Search for Azcanta
1 Detention Sphere
1 Cast Out
1 Azorius Signet
1 Dimir Signet
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Hallowed Burial
1 Arcane Sanctum
1 City of Brass
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Isolated Chapel
1 Nimbus Maze
1 Sunken Hollow
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Temple of the False God
1 Prairie Stream
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Entomber Exarch
1 New Perspectives
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
1 Arch of Orazca
1 Tower of the Magistrate
1 Plains
1 Eldrazi Displacer
1 Ravenous Chupacabra
1 Curse of Disturbance
1 Palace Jailer
1 Curse of Verbosity
1 Curse of Disturbance
1 Entomber Exarch
1 Lavinia of the Tenth
1 Noble Templar
1 Ancient Excavation
1 Nimbus Maze
1 Plains
1 Sword of the Animist
1 Rebuild
1 Tower of the Magistrate
1 Entomber Exarch
1 Reflector Mage
1 Smuggler's Copter
1 Unfulfilled Desires
1 Plains
1 Gravedigger
1 Shriekmaw
1 Mulldrifter
1 Compulsion
1 Hostage Taker
1 Search for Azcanta
1 Cloudblazer
1 Approach of the Second Sun
1 Terminus
1 Compulsion
1 Decree of Justice
1 Day of Judgment
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Renewed Faith
1 Command Tower
1 Approach of the Second Sun
1 Plains
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 City of Brass
1 Gravedigger
1 Ephara, God of the Polis
1 Leechridden Swamp
1 Shadow of the Grave
1 Sundial of the Infinite
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Aura of Silence
1 Detention Sphere
1 Haunted Crossroads
1 Seal of Cleansing
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Countervailing Winds
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Nimble Obstructionist
1 Desert of the Glorified
1 Desert of the Mindful
1 Desert of the True
1 Wander in Death
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Sunken Hollow
1 Prairie Stream
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Monk Idealist
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Isolated Chapel
1 Irrigated Farmland
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
1 Copy Enchantment
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Fetid Pools
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Underground River
1 Brago, King Eternal
1 Eldrazi Displacer
1 Jwar Isle Refuge
1 Choked Estuary
1 Temple of Deceit
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
1 Copy Enchantment
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Fetid Pools
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Underground River
1 Brago, King Eternal
1 Eldrazi Displacer
1 Jwar Isle Refuge
1 Choked Estuary
1 Temple of Deceit
I noticed today two things: the deck folds pretty badly if Astral Slide and co. die, so I'm going to be adding a lot more Creatures that ETB to return Enchantments back to hand. At the very worst, they'll help be recycle Runes for more Cycling action. Secondly, Palace Jailer is a god. Every time it enters play, you Exile a Creature but they only return once you lose Monarch. Now I understand why it's a good card.
Otherwise, I'm looking for more Hour of Devastation goodies. So far nothing has really stood out besides the Nimble Bird and the Cycling Deserts. I hope they make a colorless version too.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Monk Idealist
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Isolated Chapel
1 Irrigated Farmland
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Venser, Shaper Savant
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Sunken Hollow
1 Prairie Stream
1 Island
1 Plains
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Also, what about Fluctuator?
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsAs for Fluctuator, it's expensive. This whole deck costs around $80 USD, Fluctuactor alone is $10. This is just another budgety, casual deck I have. I just don't label it under Casual because it's still better than most of the Casual players in my meta because I'm willing to run Ramp while they are not.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Nimble Obstructionist
1 Desert of the Glorified
1 Desert of the Mindful
1 Desert of the True
1 Wander in Death
1 Swamp
1 Island
1 Plains
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Countervailing Winds
1 Hieroglyphic Illumination
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Aura of Silence
1 Detention Sphere
1 Haunted Crossroads
1 Seal of Cleansing
1 Oblivion Ring
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 City of Brass
1 Gravedigger
1 Ephara, God of the Polis
1 Leechridden Swamp
1 Shadow of the Grave
1 Sundial of the Infinite
I found that I just didn't have time to Shadow of the Grave. I'd rather just keep cycling away, especially since I have my Auramancer and its clone to recur Enchantments for me. Gravedigger will be another way to recur my draw engine, but unlike Shadow it can be prepaid and then gets tons of utility from Astral Slide. Plus all of the advantages of being a Creature. Other Creatures I was tempted to cut were Gonti, Lord of Luxury and Shriekmaw; however, they've proven to be useful. I haven't cast a single Gonti spell, but it gives me insight into my opponents and it has given me good denial as well as emergency buttons. Most of my Gonti grabs are for Answers and it's a testament to the deck that I don't need to fall back on that yet.
I cut Sundial because it only worked if the player didn't know better, if they didn't know better I didn't need more ways to trick them into getting victory. It felt like a dirty trick or something I didn't want to spend mana on. As the deck struggles for ensuring it has draw to keep up the Control, I added in Ephara. I have no illusions about using her as a non-enchantment, but she's great just because of how often I make Creatures with Drake Haven or when I Slide my own Creatures. That card draw should keep me
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
In addition, have you considered more draw? I have included Phyrexian Arena and Necropotence, though the latter can cause some problems in terms of exiling things I cycle away. Thankfully, necro generally doesn't stay around long, and I have ways of killing it myself (Aura of Silence, Seal of Cleansing).
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsAs for Sun Titan, he would be the most expensive card to cast in the deck. The other 6+ drops are Wraths and New Perspectives. I have no intention of casting all the other 6 and 7 drop Enchantments or Creatures. They're just Cycle Fodder with that niche application if I really need to. The deck runs really low to the ground, as you maybe cast a 5 drop at most and keep the rest of the mana up to Control the board. Also, I don't really have any targets I would want the Sun Titan to bring back. Maybe Lands? I did add Mistveil Plains for recursion with Zur's Attack trigger.
The only thing I'm looking for is maybe better duals, like if Adarkar Wastes ever gets reprinted and becomes cheap. It and Brushland are two cards I'm hoping to see in CMDR17 especially since the other reprints tanked the other painland's price. Supreme Verdict would be my replacement for Day of Judgment. I've had a few times when I wanted to cast a Wrath and not have to also have a Counterspell at the ready.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Command Tower
1 Approach of the Second Sun
1 Plains
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Plains got axed for a Command Tower. Now, the question I have for myself regarding my manabase is cut another Basic for Path of Ancestry or the triland. Zur has enough Human or Wizards in the deck that I think it is justifiable in replacing Arcane Sanctum with a strict upgrade.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Instead of Phyrexian Arena, play Necropotence. Could remove Ancient Excavation.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Terminus
1 Compulsion
1 Decree of Justice
1 Day of Judgment
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Renewed Faith
I've found that I didn't have time or want to use Phyrexian Reclamation; in fact, the biggest weakness of the deck is if I ever run out of gas. Compulsion replaced it, as I wanted more card draw and not recursion. By drawing cards I can dig for more Cylcers but also the discard means it triggers Drake Haven and Faith of the Devoted. Sure, it isn't Astral Slide but sometimes just gaining an extra blocker or life is worth it without the Flicker.
The idea that creating a chump blocker can save me a lot of life is what made me cut Renewed Faith. It just gains me life, that doesn't do that much; however, Decree's Soldier tokens can easily stop the loss of more than 2 life I would've gained with Renewed Faith. They're both defensive oriented cards but I think Decree is so much better.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
This is the list i'm playing right now, i'm still testing Magister Sphinx, combined with faith of the devoted should be a decent win-con.
1 Hostage Taker
1 Search for Azcanta
1 Cloudblazer
1 Approach of the Second Sun
I cut Approach because I never felt like I had an opportunity to actually cast it safely. I couldn't lock out people and go off, I am continually fighting my opponents. What's great is Search turning into a land, it's gotten me thinking of adding Legion's Landing - I do attack with a lot of Drakes and I could randomly generate lifelinkers but the primary reason would be to ramp my deck.
Otherwise, I'm liking the changes I've made. Compulsion has been great for making Drakes and Drains with what would otherwise be deadweight cards. Hell, the need for draw and discard has me thinking of adding Smuggler's Copter to the deck with Drakes Crewing it for more draw and discard. Copter has been great in the decks I've used it in and it's beginning to invade every other deck idea I have - I guess there's a reason it got banned.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Tower of the Magistrate
1 Entomber Exarch
1 Reflector Mage
1 Smuggler's Copter
1 Unfulfilled Desires
1 Plains
1 Gravedigger
1 Shriekmaw
1 Mulldrifter
1 Compulsion
I've been humming and hawing over Gravedigger, as it is part of my recursion suite, but sometimes I don't have Creatures to recur. Enter the Entomber Exarch which allows me to get rid of troublesome cards if I need to keep sliding him out. Just a lot more flexibility at what I hope is a negligible cost.
Shriekmaw has been dead a few times when my targets are only Artifact or Black Creatures, plus it's expensive unless I do an Evoke Slide trick which is then costly. Reflector Mage should keep trouble off of the table and it's not like they can make me run out of cards by continually playing problem Creatures, as they can only do so every other turn. The 3 cost is definitely nice over 5 on Shriekmaw.
Mulldrifter had the same problem with being too mana intensive, even if it is pure card advantage. What I discovered is that the deck much vastly prefers Looting over raw draws, as Loots trigger my wincons. The Smuggler's Copter is very inexpensive and is powered easily by Drakes. It also fits right into my mana curve desires of 2 which is the cost of a standard rock.
Lastly, Compulsion might be far less expensive to cast than Unfulfilled Desires but each activation is costly. At first, I thought the one life loss would be too much to ask, but with Faith of the Devoted, I barely feel the pings as I Drain the table. Desires lets me make more Drakes and Drains and that's what's important, even its activation is superior: Draw then Discard over Compulsion's Discard then Draw. I've already noticed a vast improvement with this, as an opponent had Exiled my Astral Slide yet with Drakes and Drains on demand, I was able to close out the game. The first time ever I've had victory after losing my true General.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Sword of the Animist
1 Rebuild
Quite honestly, I haven't been playing Zur too often because the deck feels 'complete' barring Fetches, ABUR Duals or Shocks. I took Zur out for a whirl, managed to draw the Sword and it was great for acceleration. Normally, I dislike tapping 4 but the Sword pays for itself and if someone Wraths, I just have a Drake made EOT who will carry the Sword.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Nimbus Maze
1 Plains
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Noble Templar
1 Ancient Excavation
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Curse of Verbosity
1 Curse of Disturbance
1 Entomber Exarch
1 Lavinia of the Tenth
Instead, I've put more targets for Zur to use and they're quite fun too. This way I don't quickly run out of things to fetch but the two Curses give incentive for players to attack others. The Curse of Disturbance synergizes with Ephara, God of the Polis and Verbosity gives the deck more draw which it needs. I got the idea for these after seeing how effective they were in my Mikro Vosk, Mind Drinker deck.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs