So I want to make a sort of "Castlevania" themed deck with a Legendary Vampire representing Dracula leading hordes of nightmarish monsters against my opponents. Problem is, I've got 4 different legendary vamps that could all fit the role! My choices are:
I originally thought I'd just use Kalitas, but when I searched legendary vampires up on the gatherer database, the rest of these guys all came to my attention. Which one do you guys all think I should go with? Also somewhat on topic, but what other cards do you think I should really make sure I include in this themed EDH deck?
I'd go with either Vish Kal or Anowon. Vish Kal has a fantastic combo with mikaeus the unhallowed, pretty much let's you wrath all of your opponent's creatures. It can be a little dangerous, in that it will skyrocket his casting cost if your opponents manage to take them both out of action.
Baron Sengir is overpriced crap. He wasn't even good by the time he was printed, and these days he's about on par with Craw Wurm for usefulness. It's sad, I really want the Baron to be good, but he isn't. He didn't even make the cut for my vampire tribal deck.
Personally, I think the two best vampire generals are Garza Zol, Plague Queen (who heads up my vamp deck) and Olivia Voldaren. Red offers some very good support to a vampire deck and blue... well, it's blue. Does more need to be said? But if you want to go mono-black, Anowon and Kalitas are both quite good. Personally, I favor Anowon due to lower cost and how he makes it difficult for opponents to keep creatures around (and how much he screws over a lot of voltron decks), but an argument can be made for the Bloodchief.
Vish Kal is stronger than either Anowon or Kalitas, but Vish Kal decks tend to end up as more combo decks than as "swarm of nightmare creatures" decks.
Baron Sengir is overpriced crap. He wasn't even good by the time he was printed, and these days he's about on par with Craw Wurm for usefulness. It's sad, I really want the Baron to be good, but he isn't. He didn't even make the cut for my vampire tribal deck.
You take that back! He's tied for most expensive card in Homelands.
Personally, I think the two best vampire generals are Garza Zol, Plague Queen (who heads up my vamp deck) and Olivia Voldaren. Red offers some very good support to a vampire deck and blue... well, it's blue. Does more need to be said? But if you want to go mono-black, Anowon and Kalitas are both quite good. Personally, I favor Anowon due to lower cost and how he makes it difficult for opponents to keep creatures around (and how much he screws over a lot of voltron decks), but an argument can be made for the Bloodchief.
Vish Kal is stronger than either Anowon or Kalitas, but Vish Kal decks tend to end up as more combo decks than as "swarm of nightmare creatures" decks.
If you run Garza Zol you'll be in Grixis colors and can run the oh so thematic Castle Sengir.
I played a Memnarch denial deck which was really fun for awhile. Basically ~33 counters and combo pieces to take everyone's stuff. Personally, I just had more fun deciding who was allowed to cast what.
With Kalitas or Anowon your general becomes instant target for destruction (so have some protection, i.e. boots) but are very powerful. Garza and Olivia aren't as directly powerful, imo, but break you into other colors which can give you some very useful spells, especially since Garza gives you blue. Ultimately the choice is yours, but I would go with Kalitas and run some untap abilities to abuse the board.
Just the whole bloodrites in a vampire deck speaks to me for flavor, and I have found that playing with vampires can at times leave you low on life which he can help with. Plus he is already on his throne!
I'd go with either Vish Kal or Anowon. Vish Kal has a fantastic combo with mikaeus the unhallowed, pretty much let's you wrath all of your opponent's creatures. It can be a little dangerous, in that it will skyrocket his casting cost if your opponents manage to take them both out of action.
I'm a bit curious on what's supposed to "skyrocket his casting cost" in this situation?
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I originally thought I'd just use Kalitas, but when I searched legendary vampires up on the gatherer database, the rest of these guys all came to my attention. Which one do you guys all think I should go with? Also somewhat on topic, but what other cards do you think I should really make sure I include in this themed EDH deck?
WB Eldrazi Processors BW
Legacy:
WUBRGLandless DredgeGRBUW
EDH:
BGMeren of Clan Nel TothGB
WUBrago, King Eternal (Budget!)UW
Personally, I think the two best vampire generals are Garza Zol, Plague Queen (who heads up my vamp deck) and Olivia Voldaren. Red offers some very good support to a vampire deck and blue... well, it's blue. Does more need to be said? But if you want to go mono-black, Anowon and Kalitas are both quite good. Personally, I favor Anowon due to lower cost and how he makes it difficult for opponents to keep creatures around (and how much he screws over a lot of voltron decks), but an argument can be made for the Bloodchief.
Vish Kal is stronger than either Anowon or Kalitas, but Vish Kal decks tend to end up as more combo decks than as "swarm of nightmare creatures" decks.
You take that back! He's tied for most expensive card in Homelands.
If you run Garza Zol you'll be in Grixis colors and can run the oh so thematic Castle Sengir.
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Venser, Shaper Savant (as a general, he may not hard counter but he'll bounce back Obliterate and Boseiju, Who Shelters All spells) + Deadeye Navigator + Palinchron seems good to me.
Switch Venser with Draining Whelk bouncing for a hard counter blinker, and Mnemonic Wall to grab those counters, Inundate, All Is Dust, or Time Warp from your grave for another use.
http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Baron_Sengir
It's just as awful as the Baron, I'll grant you that.
Flavor's not everything. You can put the best seasoning in the world on a turd, and it will still be a turd.
I'm a bit curious on what's supposed to "skyrocket his casting cost" in this situation?