I am looking for opinions and ideas on building a toolbox style deck for the multiplayer setting. I have a few questions about the deck prior to putting it all together. I've already got a set of Eldritch Evolution but I am wondering if I need to add x amount of Chord of Calling or Birthing pod to make the deck more consistent? I am also interested in going Temur if it is strong enough, but BUG also interests me, does anybody have any suggestions of why one is better than the other? I thought it might be interesting to add an infinite combo, but not to rely on it for the win. I don't like to go the traditional route, but in my looking online I thought that puppeteer clique seemed like it could be fun (knowing that puts me into BUG). The Murderous Redcap is kinda been there, done that. I am always interested in unique things to do with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. I appreciate any and all suggestions.
What about Jund? Do you have any examples in those colors? I Suppose I can use the normal suspects viscera seer/ Meliria and something with persist...Just looking for ideas.. much appreciated.
I see Eldritch Evolution as a spell that can make your deck super consistent. In this deck it would help me to get good starts by turning 2 drops into Meren and good endgame by turning Tasigurs into Craterhoof Behemoth or maybe something cooler like Avatar of Woe. I haven't thought too much about the deck yet, but I would totally have somekind of "toolbox" in there featuring cards like Bane of Progress, Duplicant, Demon of Dark Memes and Sepulchral Primordial. Puppeteer Clique and that one beast who gives 5 life when it comes to play and leaves a 3/3 beast if it dies would also be pretty nice in there.
What about Jund? Do you have any examples in those colors? I Suppose I can use the normal suspects viscera seer/ Meliria and something with persist...Just looking for ideas.. much appreciated.
So I have a lot of this stuff, but what does a functional list look like?
I mean that mostly depends on what you own, your budget, what your manabase will look like, what you want to play, how removal-heavy your meta is, if you're going to add Birthing Pod or not, on and on and on. Still, a starting point in Jund might be something like:
But you can always add combo pieces, remove them, add interaction (Pernicious Deed for example), remove it, change the 6 drop (Primeval Titan, Grave Titan, Massacre Wurm, Demon of Dark Schemes), there's a million ways to build it. You could even add a 4th color for things like Pestermite/Felidar Guardian to make Kiki even stronger and let's not forget that Felidar Guardian is insane with Birthing Pod. It's basically a question of "what do you want to play" and "how deep do you want to go on combos" because there's no shortage of solid playables to choose from.
What is the Felidar Guardian doing exactly? Without something like Karmic Guide you can't actually go infinite with Kiki-Jiki very easily. I'm currently playing a 5 color Pod deck and the most basic kill that I could conjure up was:
Pod away 2 CMC creature, finding Deceiver Exarch, untap Pod. [note that this step isn't required insofar as you have a 3 drop in play]
Pod away Exarch, finding Felidar Guardian, blink Pod.
Pod away Guardian, finding Karmic Guide, return Guardian, blink Pod.
Pod away Guardian, finding Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker.
Copy Karmic Guide with Kiki, return Guardian, untap Kiki.
Make infinite Felidar Guardian copies with Kiki.
Swing at everyone for lethal.
And while this probably isn't the optimal combo it's the fastest one that doesn't require a sac outlet and since I dislike playing Viscera Seers and whatnot it's the one that I'm using. I guess you don't need a perfect sequence since you can always assemble Kiki + Guardian "the hard way" but it's nice to have access to a clean kill. Something to think about anyways. FWIW the deck doesn't need to be Blue for things like Deceiver Exarch but, again, it enables to turn any 2 drop into a kill which can be handy.
Obviously you don't have to use this kill either, you can do Melira kills or Mikaeus kills or whatever, I just haven't found a kill as quick and clean as this one assuming that I don't want to run worthless sac outlets. I'll also state that it's risky to run Pod combo kills in a deck with only 2 Pods and that if you do decide to move towards a combo-based deck that you'd have to strongly consider shelling out for the full 4.
Beyond that I'll state that if you do add White then this can be a decent Siege Rhino deck. Not only can you EE any of your 2 drops into one but that also ramps you straight to 4 mana on turn 4 to cast another. This often means turn 3 Rhino turn 4 Rhino which is a fun way to start a game. It's clearly not oppressive or anything but that enables you to build a deck that "plays Magic" as opposed to one that always beelines for a combo kill. You can still play some combos if you want but there's also nothing wrong with playing the Tireless Tracker + Meren of Clan Nel Toth + Siege Rhino value game in which you're merely playing good Magic cards.
Just chiming in to say that that is a damn sexy deck.
Pod in general is just so rewarding to play -- this one totally mitigates the lifeloss, ramps you, has recursion and gas. Looks like an absolute blast.
It does make me want to jam Panharmonicon for the Gray Merchant dream, but the 4-5 drop is quite crowded.
Just chiming in to say that that is a damn sexy deck.
Pod in general is just so rewarding to play -- this one totally mitigates the lifeloss, ramps you, has recursion and gas. Looks like an absolute blast.
It does make me want to jam Panharmonicon for the Gray Merchant dream, but the 4-5 drop is quite crowded.
If I opted for the Panharmonicon route I would field more cards like Wall of Blossoms and Phyrexian Rager as opposed to the Primal Druids and such. They're still fine card to EE/Pod away but the lack of Panharmonicon synergy would be a deal-breaker.
You certainly don't need to add Pod but it helps if you you can afford some. Chord is "meh" however and I'd personally always play Green Sun's Zenith over it. Still, you can always forgo either for things like Mystic Remora (read the Oracle text), Painful Truths, Rhystic Study, Deathreap Ritual, Syphon Mind, etc.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
I have a deck like that except I use Primal Druid and Viridian Emissary as my 2 drops since they actually ramp you and in addition to Eldritch Evolution I field Primal Growth. You can probably imagine how much fun it is to turn 2 Primal Druid turn 3 Primal Growth only to hardcast a Sylvan Primordial on turn 4 (or any other 6-7 drop for that matter). Meren is definitely the go-to 4 drop and for Tasigur I like to Eldritch Evolution him into a Griselbrand but Sheoldred, Whispering One works just fine too. Avenger of Zendikar is also sweet so really you can't go wrong.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
I don't play much Jund Pod since my favorite Jund card is Prossh, Skyraider of Kher and he's a nonbo with tutor effects. If you want to build Melira combo that's obviously fine but the Jund decks that I enjoy building and playing tend to be token-based and field things like Sylvan Offering, Zulaport Cutthroat, Beastmaster Ascension, Purphoros, God of the Forge, Shamanic Revelation, Deranged Hermit, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, Avenger of Zendikar, etc. Jund also has amazing card draw between things like Painful Truths, Deathreap Ritual, Greater Good, Shamanic Revelation, Skullmulcher, etc. and even has good interaction too. Mostly I just enjoy playing Prossh + Avenger of Zendikar since they're two of my favorite critters and so it's mindless to jam them alongside Zulaport Cutthroat, Beastmaster Ascension, Purphoros and Shamanic Revelation and call it a day.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
I mean that mostly depends on what you own, your budget, what your manabase will look like, what you want to play, how removal-heavy your meta is, if you're going to add Birthing Pod or not, on and on and on. Still, a starting point in Jund might be something like:
23x Land
Creatures (25)
3x Viscera Seer
4x Viridian Emissary
3x Primal Druid
3x Melira, Sylvok Outcast
1x Scavenging Ooze
2x Eternal Witness
1x Tireless Tracker
1x Meren of Clan Nel Toth
1x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Thragtusk
1x Puppeteer Clique
1x Inferno Titan
1x Sylvan Primordial
4x Eldritch Evolution
2x Beast Within
1x Painful Truths
2x Birthing Pod
2x Nevinyrral's Disk
1x Deathreap Ritual
But you can always add combo pieces, remove them, add interaction (Pernicious Deed for example), remove it, change the 6 drop (Primeval Titan, Grave Titan, Massacre Wurm, Demon of Dark Schemes), there's a million ways to build it. You could even add a 4th color for things like Pestermite/Felidar Guardian to make Kiki even stronger and let's not forget that Felidar Guardian is insane with Birthing Pod. It's basically a question of "what do you want to play" and "how deep do you want to go on combos" because there's no shortage of solid playables to choose from.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
Creatures
1x Felidar Guardian
1x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Inferno Titan
1x Thragtusk
1x Meren of Clan Nel Toth
2x Melira, Sylvok Outcast
1x Griselbrand
2x Eternal Witness
1x Sylvan Primordial
1x Kiki-jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Puppeteer Clique
3x Viscera Seer
4x Viridian Emissary
3x Primal Druid
2x Birthing Pod
4x Eldritch Evolution
2x Beast Within
1x Painful Truths
This is where I am at currently.
Or you just go Mikaeus + Triskelion and ignore the sac outlet requirement.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
What is the Felidar Guardian doing exactly? Without something like Karmic Guide you can't actually go infinite with Kiki-Jiki very easily. I'm currently playing a 5 color Pod deck and the most basic kill that I could conjure up was:
Pod away 2 CMC creature, finding Deceiver Exarch, untap Pod. [note that this step isn't required insofar as you have a 3 drop in play]
Pod away Exarch, finding Felidar Guardian, blink Pod.
Pod away Guardian, finding Karmic Guide, return Guardian, blink Pod.
Pod away Guardian, finding Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker.
Copy Karmic Guide with Kiki, return Guardian, untap Kiki.
Make infinite Felidar Guardian copies with Kiki.
Swing at everyone for lethal.
And while this probably isn't the optimal combo it's the fastest one that doesn't require a sac outlet and since I dislike playing Viscera Seers and whatnot it's the one that I'm using. I guess you don't need a perfect sequence since you can always assemble Kiki + Guardian "the hard way" but it's nice to have access to a clean kill. Something to think about anyways. FWIW the deck doesn't need to be Blue for things like Deceiver Exarch but, again, it enables to turn any 2 drop into a kill which can be handy.
Obviously you don't have to use this kill either, you can do Melira kills or Mikaeus kills or whatever, I just haven't found a kill as quick and clean as this one assuming that I don't want to run worthless sac outlets. I'll also state that it's risky to run Pod combo kills in a deck with only 2 Pods and that if you do decide to move towards a combo-based deck that you'd have to strongly consider shelling out for the full 4.
Beyond that I'll state that if you do add White then this can be a decent Siege Rhino deck. Not only can you EE any of your 2 drops into one but that also ramps you straight to 4 mana on turn 4 to cast another. This often means turn 3 Rhino turn 4 Rhino which is a fun way to start a game. It's clearly not oppressive or anything but that enables you to build a deck that "plays Magic" as opposed to one that always beelines for a combo kill. You can still play some combos if you want but there's also nothing wrong with playing the Tireless Tracker + Meren of Clan Nel Toth + Siege Rhino value game in which you're merely playing good Magic cards.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
5x Swamp
4x Jungle Hollow
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
4x Exotic Orchard
1x Golgari Guildgate
1x Aether Hub
1x Forest
1x Plains
1x Phyrexian Tower
1x Volrath's Stronghold
4x Viridian Emissary
2x Primal Druid
2x Bloodghast
4x Geralf's Messenger
1x Eternal Witness
1x Meren of Clan Nel Toth
4x Siege Rhino
4x Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1x Massacre Wurm
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
4x Eldritch Evolution
2x Pernicious Deed
2x Beast Within
4x Birthing Pod
The idea here is that Eldritch Evolution on Geralf's Messenger for Gray Merchant of Asphodel is absurd and so is podding Messenger into Siege Rhino into Gary into Massacre Wurm. Bloodghast is fantastic to draw as a 1-of because it Pods into Messenger into Rhino into Gary and it EEs into Meren of Clan Nel Toth for easy recursion later on. Otherwise you can EE Gary into Sheoldred, Whispering One in order to recur your Garys and Rhinos.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
Pod in general is just so rewarding to play -- this one totally mitigates the lifeloss, ramps you, has recursion and gas. Looks like an absolute blast.
It does make me want to jam Panharmonicon for the Gray Merchant dream, but the 4-5 drop is quite crowded.
If I opted for the Panharmonicon route I would field more cards like Wall of Blossoms and Phyrexian Rager as opposed to the Primal Druids and such. They're still fine card to EE/Pod away but the lack of Panharmonicon synergy would be a deal-breaker.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
Nothing still beats turn 1 Fetch + Thought Scour/Mental Note, turn 2 Fetch + Tasigur, the Golden Fang, turn 3 Eldritch Evolution for Griselbrand .
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold