Can't cast spells off her ability on opponents' turns -> can't make much use out of counterspells in the 'yard.
I disagree that she's a good control commander, but she might be okay for storm.
Good point about counterspells, but there's really no other choice for a control commander in Grixis colors. Control decks are always hungry for more resources, and getting extra mileage off of your proactive spells like removal, time magic, or card draw seems like it would be effective. You don't need to recur counterspells if you draw into one off of a Kess flashbacked Fact or Fiction.
Kess, dissident mage: pretty disgusting with time magic, otherwise pretty fun and reasonably fair. Definitely very strong and probably broken for those who want to break her.
Mairsil the pretender: my favorite of the set. Really cool but probably not possible (?) to really break competitively. Pretty savage with the right activated abilities that motivate you to play a lot of old janky cards, my kind of deal.
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist: basically useless on the battlefield and incredible in the command zone. Wizards are already a lot of pretty busted cards, now they're a lot more busted. Yay, emblems as commanders. Greeeeaaaat.
Taigam, Sidisi's Hand: Not super exciting but pretty decent. Seems pretty good-stuffy but maybe he'd be ok as a reanimator. Overall seems fine.
Licia, Sanguine tribune: it's just a big dude. Yawn.
edgar markov: not as obnoxious as inalla since vampires mostly suck. I doubt it'll be too terribly powerful, so I guess I'm not too annoyed about cards that are uninteractive as long as they're also not that impressive. I really doubt vampires will be a great tribe even with new support. He himself is pretty easy to kill and even block.
Mathas, Fiend Seeker: giving CA to my opponents is not what I want to do. Not interested. At all. 1v1 has more potential but then they need to actually play creatures that die (and don't go to the command zone).
Arahbo, Roar of the world: cat tribal is bad and eminence is bad. Surprise, I do not like this card. At least it's not very good, and it motivates you to actually cast it unlike inalla.
Mirri, Weathlight Duelist: interesting abilities but nowhere near strong or interesting enough to be a commander imo. More of a 99.
Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith: Fine card that SHOULD NOT BE GREEN HE SHOULD BE RED OR AT LEAST MONO-WHITE GREEN HATES EQUIPMENT THIS MAKES NO SENSE UUUEEERRRGGHH.
...I just wanna play sunforger goddamn it.
Balan, Wandering Knight: Super wish it was red, but mono-white at least makes sense even if it bums me out. Maybe too vanilla to be a commander, but he's still pretty decent and I like his ability. Mono-white is tough to want to play, but I'll at least consider him. Cool card.
O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami: trash ability, weak card, doesn't provide any support for spirits so I don't see why anyone would care about it. Wizards shouldn't have shoehorned it into this set and made it suck. Why is it a dragon anyway? dumb. Doesn't make me mad like inalla or nazahn, it's just bad.
The Ur-Dragon: If this weren't dragons it'd probably be OP, but tribal dragons is legitimately terrible so I doubt this is going to do anything too nuts. Still hate imminence but this is probably the least offensive. And the art is fairly sick.
Ramos, Dragon Engine: Gonna do some stupid combo crap. Hate.
Wasitora, Nekoru Queen: dumb name, bad card. Don't care.
Taigam, Ojutai Master: pretty absurd with time magic (bit of a theme this set). I want to like him but I also think he might be busted.
notable non-legends:
Kindred summons: I hate this card and I hate wotc for trying to out-do tooth and nail. Stop making broken green sorceries, wizards. STOP IT.
curse of X: I like all these cards fine except for 2 points. (1) why is it some weird hipster dude in all of them that super looks like they took some actual guy from irl, and (2) why is the white one SO BAD OMG IT'S SO BAD I CAN'T EVEN. Why can't it cost 1 at least? So baffling.
Hungry Lynx: if there was ever a way to win me over on cat tribal (there is not) this is probably it.
Kheru mind-eater: I like it.
Stalking Leonin: I like it.
Teferi's Protection: this is either busted or worthless and I can't decide which. I guess obliterate combos? Too bad worldfire is banned.
Territorial hellkite: dammit, why does mono-red keep getting worthless dragons for commander recently? Any of the other new ones would have been great in Zirilan, this one is absolute garbage. I thought red was, y'know, the best dragon color? Bleh.
Bloodforged War Axe: hilarious, love it.
Overall thoughts: I don't like tribal and I don't like eminence. That said, the other legends are for the most part OK. I wish wotc did a better job of figuring out power level for these things, some of the cards are totally insane and some are really bad. It just doesn't feel like they know what they're doing, the design for cards in actual sets is usually much cleaner and without such aberrant power levels. There are a few cool cards in here for sure, though. Considering the design of the set, I should probably be glad I got that much.
Mairsil might actually have chance of changing to be my Grixis commander, for one good reason: Jeleva is fun, but when playing Commander with semi-randoms, having a pile off their decks next to me leads rather easily to accidentally 'borrowed' cards, especially if shields happen to be same or the game drags on (it happens).
Also, because Mairsil can potentially lead into a stupid durdlepile that doesn't know how to win. My kind of deck.
EDIT: Shifting Shadow is getting a home without a doubt. I have no short supply of creature decks that can use more of whatever this is.
Brother! I know that Inalla will be a better commander, but man is it hard to say no to the durle-lossus that is Mairsil. I don't know if I can help myself. I have a deck that is already that (Gitrog Frog), but he does it with a totally different style and so much potential for "wait, that does what now?" moments.
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Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G) RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B) WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Kess seems super broken. I have a time warp based jhoira list linked in my signature that is going to change over to Kess.
Entomb or Intuition a time stretch or expropriate to the yard and cast it for free on turn4 without any ramp? Surely that isn't broken. Colors of reverberates? Yes please. 3 power flying so you don't even need to dig for a win-con? Dumb.
Kess seems super broken. I have a time warp based jhoira list linked in my signature that is going to change over to Kess.
Entomb or Intuition a time stretch or expropriate to the yard and cast it for free on turn4 without any ramp? Surely that isn't broken. Colors of reverberates? Yes please. 3 power flying so you don't even need to dig for a win-con? Dumb.
Btw, does anyone know how Portal Mage works with annihilator triggers? Will the sac effect be redirected as well?
It says it's casted during the chosing attacker/target step, before the actual attack, so yeah.
Wrong, you can't change something that hasn't been selected yet. And once it's selected, it's too late, trigger is on the stack.
The declare attackers starts with the active player declaring attackers (doesn't use the stack) and then each player gets priority. That's when you get to cast it, but it's after attackers are declared. Annihilator will hit you.
That's amazing. Maybe my favorite part of this set (it's not bad, but I'm not drawn to anything in particular--gotta see what other merfolk Ix block gifts us).
Whoever wrote the card specific release notes had some fun with Mairsil.
If Mairsil has an equip ability, activating it won't cause anything to happen. Mairsil doesn't become attached to a creature. They may remain friends.
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Without blinks or bounces, her potential to be a one woman destructive force diminishes.
Whoever wrote the card specific release notes had some fun with Mairsil.
If Mairsil has an equip ability, activating it won't cause anything to happen. Mairsil doesn't become attached to a creature. They may remain friends.
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Cage Tawnos's Coffin. 3, t: Cage another thing and reset Mairsil's once-per-turn restriction.
Whoever wrote the card specific release notes had some fun with Mairsil.
If Mairsil has an equip ability, activating it won't cause anything to happen. Mairsil doesn't become attached to a creature. They may remain friends.
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Cage Tawnos's Coffin. 3, t: Cage another thing and reset Mairsil's once-per-turn restriction.
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Without blinks or bounces, her potential to be a one woman destructive force diminishes.
Yeah, having to build around a general to make it better is terrible.
Cage Tawnos's Coffin. 3, t: Cage another thing and reset Mairsil's once-per-turn restriction.
I'm don't think this works, because abilities resolve everything in order. The delayed trigger to return Mairsil is set up after it leaves the battlefield and the trigger condition will therefore never be fulfilled. I'm open to learn if I'm wrong, because it's an unusual situation.
Private Mod Note
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[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Without blinks or bounces, her potential to be a one woman destructive force diminishes.
Yeah, having to build around a general to make it better is terrible.
I know you are being sarcastic but if you are just drawing your bonce effect, great you are kinda screwed, If you aree not dawing your blink, you are not grabbing the stuff you want.
While my Vela deck has one strategy, i have multiple ways to get a variation of pieces that pull it off. I cannot justify filling a deck with bounce. Even though the general would love it.
Though the fact that you can run black means you do have access to the best tutors in the game. So maybe not so bad.
Aetherling is potentially better with Mairsil, the Pretender anyway. Cage an additional card for the low prince of U. I hope you're caging from your yard, though. Looting recommended.
Has anyone thought of Pack Rat for Mairsil? Once caged it provides protection from targeted removal by making a token and losing the original. The token also makes another trigger to cage something else.
Has anyone thought of Pack Rat for Mairsil? Once caged it provides protection from targeted removal by making a token and losing the original. The token also makes another trigger to cage something else.
why sac the original, sac the copy.
Edit: nevermind missedtge partabout removal.
Has anyone thought of Pack Rat for Mairsil? Once caged it provides protection from targeted removal by making a token and losing the original. The token also makes another trigger to cage something else.
why sac the original, sac the copy.
Edit: nevermind missedtge partabout removal.
I would include Cackling Counterpart in my Mairsil deck just to get even trickier.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Good point about counterspells, but there's really no other choice for a control commander in Grixis colors. Control decks are always hungry for more resources, and getting extra mileage off of your proactive spells like removal, time magic, or card draw seems like it would be effective. You don't need to recur counterspells if you draw into one off of a Kess flashbacked Fact or Fiction.
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
Kess, dissident mage: pretty disgusting with time magic, otherwise pretty fun and reasonably fair. Definitely very strong and probably broken for those who want to break her.
Mairsil the pretender: my favorite of the set. Really cool but probably not possible (?) to really break competitively. Pretty savage with the right activated abilities that motivate you to play a lot of old janky cards, my kind of deal.
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist: basically useless on the battlefield and incredible in the command zone. Wizards are already a lot of pretty busted cards, now they're a lot more busted. Yay, emblems as commanders. Greeeeaaaat.
Taigam, Sidisi's Hand: Not super exciting but pretty decent. Seems pretty good-stuffy but maybe he'd be ok as a reanimator. Overall seems fine.
Licia, Sanguine tribune: it's just a big dude. Yawn.
edgar markov: not as obnoxious as inalla since vampires mostly suck. I doubt it'll be too terribly powerful, so I guess I'm not too annoyed about cards that are uninteractive as long as they're also not that impressive. I really doubt vampires will be a great tribe even with new support. He himself is pretty easy to kill and even block.
Mathas, Fiend Seeker: giving CA to my opponents is not what I want to do. Not interested. At all. 1v1 has more potential but then they need to actually play creatures that die (and don't go to the command zone).
Arahbo, Roar of the world: cat tribal is bad and eminence is bad. Surprise, I do not like this card. At least it's not very good, and it motivates you to actually cast it unlike inalla.
Mirri, Weathlight Duelist: interesting abilities but nowhere near strong or interesting enough to be a commander imo. More of a 99.
Nazahn, Revered Bladesmith: Fine card that SHOULD NOT BE GREEN HE SHOULD BE RED OR AT LEAST MONO-WHITE GREEN HATES EQUIPMENT THIS MAKES NO SENSE UUUEEERRRGGHH.
...I just wanna play sunforger goddamn it.
Balan, Wandering Knight: Super wish it was red, but mono-white at least makes sense even if it bums me out. Maybe too vanilla to be a commander, but he's still pretty decent and I like his ability. Mono-white is tough to want to play, but I'll at least consider him. Cool card.
O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami: trash ability, weak card, doesn't provide any support for spirits so I don't see why anyone would care about it. Wizards shouldn't have shoehorned it into this set and made it suck. Why is it a dragon anyway? dumb. Doesn't make me mad like inalla or nazahn, it's just bad.
The Ur-Dragon: If this weren't dragons it'd probably be OP, but tribal dragons is legitimately terrible so I doubt this is going to do anything too nuts. Still hate imminence but this is probably the least offensive. And the art is fairly sick.
Ramos, Dragon Engine: Gonna do some stupid combo crap. Hate.
Wasitora, Nekoru Queen: dumb name, bad card. Don't care.
Taigam, Ojutai Master: pretty absurd with time magic (bit of a theme this set). I want to like him but I also think he might be busted.
notable non-legends:
Kindred summons: I hate this card and I hate wotc for trying to out-do tooth and nail. Stop making broken green sorceries, wizards. STOP IT.
curse of X: I like all these cards fine except for 2 points. (1) why is it some weird hipster dude in all of them that super looks like they took some actual guy from irl, and (2) why is the white one SO BAD OMG IT'S SO BAD I CAN'T EVEN. Why can't it cost 1 at least? So baffling.
Hungry Lynx: if there was ever a way to win me over on cat tribal (there is not) this is probably it.
Kheru mind-eater: I like it.
Stalking Leonin: I like it.
Teferi's Protection: this is either busted or worthless and I can't decide which. I guess obliterate combos? Too bad worldfire is banned.
Territorial hellkite: dammit, why does mono-red keep getting worthless dragons for commander recently? Any of the other new ones would have been great in Zirilan, this one is absolute garbage. I thought red was, y'know, the best dragon color? Bleh.
Bloodforged War Axe: hilarious, love it.
Overall thoughts: I don't like tribal and I don't like eminence. That said, the other legends are for the most part OK. I wish wotc did a better job of figuring out power level for these things, some of the cards are totally insane and some are really bad. It just doesn't feel like they know what they're doing, the design for cards in actual sets is usually much cleaner and without such aberrant power levels. There are a few cool cards in here for sure, though. Considering the design of the set, I should probably be glad I got that much.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Brother! I know that Inalla will be a better commander, but man is it hard to say no to the durle-lossus that is Mairsil. I don't know if I can help myself. I have a deck that is already that (Gitrog Frog), but he does it with a totally different style and so much potential for "wait, that does what now?" moments.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
It says it's casted during the chosing attacker/target step, before the actual attack, so yeah.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Entomb or Intuition a time stretch or expropriate to the yard and cast it for free on turn4 without any ramp? Surely that isn't broken. Colors of reverberates? Yes please. 3 power flying so you don't even need to dig for a win-con? Dumb.
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
The spell you cast isn't free.
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
The declare attackers starts with the active player declaring attackers (doesn't use the stack) and then each player gets priority. That's when you get to cast it, but it's after attackers are declared. Annihilator will hit you.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Marath, Will of the Wild
Friendly Kess Twin Combo
Tatyova - Sir Bounce A Lot
Gonti's Luxury Pie
Prime (Eldrazi) Speaker Zegana (Retired)
Im planning on doing the exact same thing
UBarrin, Master WizardU
USticher GeralfU
UIxidor, Reality SculptorU
UWNoyan Dar, Roil ShaperUW
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
I am slightly annoyed that there is no other way to get more Caged stuff without recasting er. You need to get her to ave bounce abilities. It is possible but not as practical.
Without blinks or bounces, her potential to be a one woman destructive force diminishes.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Mairsil is going to have some weird rulings.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
I'm don't think this works, because abilities resolve everything in order. The delayed trigger to return Mairsil is set up after it leaves the battlefield and the trigger condition will therefore never be fulfilled. I'm open to learn if I'm wrong, because it's an unusual situation.
I know you are being sarcastic but if you are just drawing your bonce effect, great you are kinda screwed, If you aree not dawing your blink, you are not grabbing the stuff you want.
While my Vela deck has one strategy, i have multiple ways to get a variation of pieces that pull it off. I cannot justify filling a deck with bounce. Even though the general would love it.
Though the fact that you can run black means you do have access to the best tutors in the game. So maybe not so bad.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
why sac the original, sac the copy.
Edit: nevermind missedtge partabout removal.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
I would include Cackling Counterpart in my Mairsil deck just to get even trickier.
Facing impending doom, Mairsil suddenly evolved!
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist