While not the most original deck, I absolutely love being able to reuse and get so much mileage out of every card type; between Life from the Loam, Academy Ruins, Phyrexian Reclamation, Archaeomancer, and Regrowth type effects, no card stays lost in my yard for long. Grinding out an advantage to win in EDH true BUG style.
----Commander----
The Mimeoplasm, Pest Control
Marath, Mononoke's Call
Kruphix, Walking the Horizon
Ephara, Miracles in a Flash
Balthor, A Short Story About Zombies
Seizan, Truth or Draw
Talrand, Journey to the Sky
Feldon, Artificial Love ----Modern----
BW Tokens
Melira Pod (Retired) ----Horde----
Zombies!
I've got eight decks, but my favorite is probably my Gisela, Blade of Goldnight deck. I call it "Firebender" because it's all about manipulating huge sources of damage. It's got damage-based sweepers, damage doublers, and infinite damage combos using Boros Reckoner and friends. It's not really a combo deck though, and beating face with Gisela is always an acceptable plan C. The thing I love about it the most is how all the on-theme cards come together to make a different experience every game.
Notable combos: Mogg Maniac + Guilty Conscience + Boros Charm (indestructible mode) could be a turn 3 win. Volcano Hellion + Alabaster Mage for unlimited life.
Another time I played Furnace of Rath into Heartless Hidestugu and won because I was the only player with an odd life total.
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Commander DecksUB Sygg - Stream of Answers UBGWU Phelddagrif - Hugs and Handshakes GWURW Gisela - Firebender RWB Endrek - Correct! 6,000 Thrulls BBU Wrexial - Wrist Deep In Your Graveyard BUGW Trostani - My Wife's Deck GWBR Lyzolda - Chaos Hug BR
WUBRG Reaper King - The Trouble With Tribals WUBRG
It's a tie between two decks for me. The first is Jaya Ballard, Task Mage control. I just enjoy playing a long-game control plan in a color that's not really known for it, and it's been fun to find the cards that work well to make it an effective strategy. Most of the memorable wins come from things like Repercussion paired with a damage doubler, though phoenix beats on a weakened board are probably more common.
The second is Jasmine Boreal enchantress. It's a super grindy lockdown/control deck. The gaemplan typically involves going for Humility ASAP, then supplementing it with whatever enchantments I need for a given game. The usual win is general damage because on a board full of vanilla 1/1s, the 3/3 flyer is queen. I don't play it all that often, because it's kind of a grueling deck to play against when I can get set up and most people can only do Humility + Moat + redundant protection so often before getting annoyed.
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[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
- Child of Alara
- "Dreamcrusher"
- It's a "pauper" deck sort of (the other 99 are all commons)
- Traditional Control
- I like that such a large community has collectively worked to make the deck better, and that other users (urdjur, Overheat, and others) are piloting their own versions of it. It's less "my deck" now and more "our deck". I also like that our 5-color pile of commons runs does more with less and runs smoother than all but the most competitive lists out there. It also consistently tests my technical play.
- I have taken down several big events and many 4-man pods with the deck. On a few occasions the opponents scoop and someone shouts "...And the Pauper deck takes it!" or something. It's really a big compliment to the great minds that helped me put it together.
Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts is probably my favorite. I don't really have a name for it, but I'm not sure it needs one. The theme of the deck is Orzhov, and by that I mean, there's a fair bit of life drain involved, and my creatures aren't finished when they're dead because they have debts to pay. The theme has mostly shifted into Humans because of Angel of Glory's Rise, but still fits the drain/gain feel that I had originally gone for even though extort isn't as common as I would like it to be. At it's heart, it's a combo deck, but the general is there as a backup plan when things get hairy. She makes people think twice about attacking while also swinging without fear. Another theme of the deck is Sun Titan. Yes, that's a theme. I keep as many permanents at or below 3 CMC as I can so that they can come back with the Titan. They have to do something important to cost more.
I like the deck because it combines a lot of things that I personally love despite it not being red. At heart, I am a red mage, but Orzhov has always had a certain attraction. The Life/Death aspect of it is just an interesting theme, and that's one of the things I love about it. I even include bad cards like Orzhova, the Church of Deals because it fits the theme and feel. I also love Teysa's character and her aspiration to overthrow one of the most powerful entities on the plane, which is why I have not included either Ghost Dad into the deck.
The main win cons of the deck are Sanguine Bond/Vizkopa Guildmage+Exquisite Blood, which was not only my main win con, but my only infinite combo for the longest time. Then Gift of Immortality came out, and I suddenly had another win con, which I discovered on accident when I put it on Sun Titan. With a sac outlet and something like Blood Artist, it meant that I won the game. However, that lead to another loop, which was more of a defensive loop. Cartel Aristocrat+Pariah. I had included Pariah from the start because it was too perfect with my general, but taking it a step further, protection form colors was a little stronger than just creatures. I realized I needed something else to work that well with Sun Titan, and I remembered Shade's Form does exactly what I need (it just doesn't recur itself at the end of the turn). Now, I had two available loops for the Titan with a card that protected itself. However, I needed a little more protection because Animar runs rampant in my meta, and BW has a bit of trouble with it. That's where Martyr's Cause enters. I can use the Titan with auras to protect myself from anything as a backup plan to the Aristocrat. Then I added Banisher Priest and Fiend Hunter as more ways to combo with the Titan, and it occurred to me that without it, I was going to be hurting. Exiling is very real. I know, my deck does it well. So I was looking around and looking around Thinking of another way to effectively combo, and then I remembered the old standard combo: Angel of Glory's Rise. I immediately added Death Cultist and the Angel, and suddenly had another out while allowing me to safely play my humans without much worry because they would all come back, and probably combo off on the spot. That, however, wasn't enough. I wouldn't always have Death Cultist, and Blood Artist wasn't a human, so I needed something to finish it. There weren't really any more human options besides Highway Robber, which was 1 mana more expensive than I wanted. Then it hit me like a brick. Vizkopa Guildmage. Not only is it human, but it has a very relevant ability because while humans aren't very good at taking life when they come into play, they are extremely good at giving it. SoulSisters. The mage and sisters were all humans, which meant they all came back with the Angel, all it took was 3 more mana to gain infinite life and drain everyone for the same.
Sorry, that was kind of long, but that's how the deck evolved into it's many win cons and interactions. I am quite pleased with everything and how it all came together, and that's probably why it's my favorite deck.
I like winning when no one expects it. I also love the theme. ^.^
My favorite way I've won was using Balduvian Warlord to mess up the other remaining player's blocks to connect with a pumped up, double striking Vengeful Firebrand.
My favorite is absolutely Glissa, the Traitor Reanimator/Control. I've tried thinking of a name for it, but I've yet to find something I like. Being able to pump out monsters, reuse small but powerful effects, and build up to a wildly explosive finish gets me all kinds of giddy. My favorite times are when one of my big X spells gets blown out, only to have another huge spell ready the following (or sometimes the same) turn.
But really, I love all the decks I build. Why else would I build them?
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"When does a man die? When he is hit by a bullet? No! When he suffers a disease? No! When he ate a soup made out of a poisonous mushroom? No! A man dies when he is forgotten!" Currently Piloting: EDH BGGlissa, The Traitor - Recursion (Primer) WBRKaalia of The Vast URGRiku of Two Reflections WUBSydri, Galvanic Genius UBRamirez DePietro GWKrond, The Dawn-Clad GWUDerevi, Empyrial Tactician RGOmnath, Locus of Rage
If the deck has a name, what is it? Karn is not impressed!
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it? Well, it's artifact combo/aggro ish? Oh and it's colorless!
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in? Combo? People kindad complained so it's quite wattered down.
Why do you like it so much? Because i love artifacts and karn
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won? the most fun way must've been... me vs the last player alive, i got mana, Vedalken Orrery, Temporal Aperture untapped, so i can play my stuff with flash. He topdecks a Austere Command, so i spin the wheel, and i manage to get a Darksteel Forgeof all cards. It was his last out, so i managed to animate my stuff with karn and killed him :).
My nekusar deck managed to kill someone with Chandra Ablaze, he had 4 life, i wheel but i get to keep Chandra, i manage to hit a Time Warp, played it. My opponent has like i said 4 life and he's gonna win the game in his upkeep. I manage to play a Time Spiral, no red cards from the Time Spiral, so i wheeled again and managed to find 1 red card! Plusing Chandra, winning the game : ).
•If the deck has a name, what is it?
The Best Crew the Weatherlight has Ever Known
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Like most Sisay lists, it has a legendary theme.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Midrangy-hatebears-Maverick
•Why do you like it so much?
Sisay is probably the deck I put the most work into, and is my longest running deck by far (active since 2012). This deck has part of soul attached to it, as well as many of my favorite cards (Gaddock Teeg, Gaea's Craddle, Green Sun's Zenith). It's also important to my Vorthos that I have a member of the Weatherlight in my arsenal, so it might as well be the ship's captain.
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
This deck was a lands-based combo deck that I made back in 2010, (warning: hip moment ahead) before Ad Nauseam was a known quantity in Commander. I built a deck around indestructible land dudes, when my brother suggested I add Ad Nauseam as a draw engine. When I first cast the card, I netted 40+ cards and quickly began retooling the deck around that. The combo went: Find Ad Nauseam, cast the spell netting as much as you could, then cast Seismic Assault off of Chrome Mox/Mox Diamond/Lotus Petal/Mox Opal and discard the lands to the face. It was hilarious everytime.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Lands.EDH, combo.
•Why do you like it so much?
I felt like I broke something in half, and like I was pioneering something, although I had to take it apart for power-level reasons (my group at the time was not ok with it's win% or speed)
•Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won?
I once killed 3 players with 3 combos on turn 3. I believe I Seismic Assaulted one player out, Tendrils of Agonyd another, and Dark Depths the 3rd. I believe that was the day I decided to take the deck apart.
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Based initially off d0su's list (I think I built my first draft of Squee back in 2010?). The deck is a mix between Squee engines (with a little help from the phoenix tribe) and burn, since all of the good madness/flashback spells in red are burn spells.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Sac/Discard based engine and burn, mostly.
•Why do you like it so much?
Squee is the most useful, and was the first deck I built around my general, as opposed to finding a general to fit the deck I was building. It's a lot of fun when the group starts tracking how many times you use Squee.
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Based initially off d0su's list (I think I built my first draft of Squee back in 2010?). The deck is a mix between Squee engines (with a little help from the phoenix tribe) and burn, since all of the good madness/flashback spells in red are burn spells.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Sac/Discard based engine and burn, mostly.
•Why do you like it so much?
Squee is the most useful, and was the first deck I built around my general, as opposed to finding a general to fit the deck I was building. It's a lot of fun when the group starts tracking how many times you use Squee.
Any chance you will post an updated list of your Squee deck? Mine has changed a lot over the last four years and I'd like to steal some tech from you if I can.
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Based initially off d0su's list (I think I built my first draft of Squee back in 2010?). The deck is a mix between Squee engines (with a little help from the phoenix tribe) and burn, since all of the good madness/flashback spells in red are burn spells.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Sac/Discard based engine and burn, mostly.
•Why do you like it so much?
Squee is the most useful, and was the first deck I built around my general, as opposed to finding a general to fit the deck I was building. It's a lot of fun when the group starts tracking how many times you use Squee.
Any chance you will post an updated list of your Squee deck? Mine has changed a lot over the last four years and I'd like to steal some tech from you if I can.
I don't regularly update the deck--I gave it to my fiance years ago so she'd play Magic with me, so I only update it when I have extra store credit/the card is really cheap. I'll try to remember to post a list in your thread
P.S. - Funny that I don't see this kind of thread more often but maybe I just miss them.
While these threads are fun to respond to, they don't really foster that much conversation. People just drop in, have fun posting their own lists, and dip out. That being said...
Is your list up on the site? I'm interested in building a grindy Sidisi deck. She seems like the queen of incrimental advantage. I love Mimeo to death, but he's associated a lot with BUG Goodstuff and I'm looking for different directions.
Using baubles as repeatable sources of card draw. I did my best to make a B/G control deck feel like Modern Eggs, because that was my favorite modern deck.
Control/Combo
I like playing bad cards like Chromatic Sphere. Looking at my deck after a game, one of my friends said, "I have no idea how this deck won." And I like getting that reaction. I like long games, incremental advantage, and always having a full grip of cards.
Usually it's something related to Mindslaver. Alternate win conditions include Crypt Ghast extort or Psychosis Crawler. The damage from those really adds up with the cheap baubles.
Hmm... Between my Riku and my Ghostcouncil deck I'd say I prefer my Orzhov deck.
It doesn't have a name, we just refer to it as "the Orzhov deck", since it's the only one in our playgroup.
It uses the general as a sac outlet if you need one and play like a reanimator, abusing all the etbs and ltbs, grinding out the opponent and eventually kill him, leaving him without a way to safe himself, as the recursion is sooo strong, boardwipes usually set me only one turn behind.
It's clearly a reanimator deck.
I like it because, first of all, the Orzhov syndicate is my favorite guild, and it has a strong resilience. I like it, how there are still unknown engines in the deck and how it interacts with the opposing deck, usually with Puppeteer Clique for surprising board states. Have you ever locked someone out with his own Mistbind Clique? Good thing Puppeteer Clique is a Faerie.
And while it was some broken blowout potential, the games usually end in very interesting attrition wars.
Best Buried Alive package: Solemn Simulacrum Hell's Caretaker Karmic Guide. Every turn a free Rampant Growth plus a draw is a train ticker to value town. In the late game I can play completely without a hand, and usually abuse the synergies between the cards.
- Karador, Ghost Chieftain
- No name
- Rock control, blow crap up until I win, but you can have a couple lands I don't care about. Also, blow my own crap up, but it will be back, you can count on it.
- Control, Reanimator, Ramp, Combo
- I enjoy utility, and this deck has it in spades. Also, I greatly dislike limited uses of cards, and being able to replay my GY is maximum utilization and my opponent must utilize one card to try to shut down cards I have already used a couple of times. Also, it can be highly political. Early game, I ramp and remove threats, so everyone thanks me, until I remove their threat, then they are sad. So I keep removing threats/keeping good decks locked out until I play my own threat, and low and behold, no one has an answer to it. Anymore, usually in the form of a combo.
- Different ways I win changes pretty much every time. There are often combos that I never knew were in there and I discover that I can loop certain effects. Usually people just quit because I have stripped them of any reasonable chance for a comeback. I use my graveyard enough to be a nuisance, but sparingly enough to ensure it being exiled doesn't set me back too far.
Side note, it is also all foiled out. Like $4000+, by far my most expensive/sexy deck and Karador is altered by a Sr. Klug.
Who is the general? ]Teysa, Orzhov Scion]
If the deck has a name, what is it? No name but my playgroup call it "Annoying" lol
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it? No theme but the idea is to kill with combo
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in? Control
Why do you like it so much? Because it is my most constant deck
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won? My stronger way to win is ]Beacon of Immortality] and ]False Cure] but my most fun way I won is in a game where a player played ]Storm Herd] and after, I played ]Netherborn Phalanx]... He wanted to kill me ahah
Edit: I don't know why my tags don't work, sorry :S
Sigarda, Host of Herons
Enchantress (Are you surprised?)
Beating with enchanted things/Enchant matters
She was my first. Literally. Sigarda was in the second ever pack I opened and since then she hasn't been long out of a deck. She started as GW mostly goodstuff due to a small card pool, then she was turned into Odric, Master Tactician humans, angels, and battletricks. Which then split into Sigarda and Gisela.
Having an on-demand response to almost any win condition, while not being as overbearing as a mono-blue control deck just satisfies me.
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won?
Typical win conditions are: Voltron+Worldslayer, beatdown, with an option for infinite turns, infect, and there used to be an infinite storm combo which went through sunforger.
I've got 18 decks as of yesterday (although one has very little work put into it and the one I "finished" yesterday is missing the Onslaught fetches, which I indent to wait for Khans to pick up.) However, I think I can list my oldest surviving deck as my "favorite" -- it's survived for a reason, right?
If the deck has a name, what is it?
I don't name my decks.
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
The deck doesn't have a wincon. It relies on stealing my opponents' wincons.
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
The closest fit would be "control". I kind of take the name of the archetype in another direction, though "controlling" all of my opponents' stuff.
Why do you like it so much?
It's super inconsistent, and has a terrible mana curve. However, every single game is different. I might play the same theft spells over and over, but they're always getting me different things.
What are the most fun ways you've won?
I stole someone's Orochi Hatchery with Thada and cast it for X=17 once. (I had a lot of mana rocks and doublers in play.) I stole Perilous Forays from the same opponent and got all of my Islands out in short order. The game was short after that, especially when I drew Capsize.
Using the MTGO version of the deck, I once cast Gather Specimens in response to an Undead Alchemist. My opponents were Kaarthus dragon tribal and Grimgrin zombie tribal, and Grimgrin had been milling both of us the whole game; I was tired of it. The Grimgrin player had never seen Gather Specimens before, and commented that it was a cool card, then let it resolve. The Grimgrin cast Rise from the Grave on my Keiga, the Tide Star (presumably to steal back the Alchemist), not realizing that Gather Specimens lasts for the whole turn. I get Keiga and thank him, and he comments that GS is really strong. Grimgrin activates Coffin Queen targeting one of his zombies, and it comes in under my control. He rages that GS is overpowered. He activates Balthor the Defiled and I get a ton of zombies and dragons, and he ragequits, saying GS should be banned. Kaarthus scoops.
Also with the MTGO version, I had Thada hit with Oblation. Another opponent felt sorry for me, and targeted me with Tunnel Vision naming Thada so I could get her back. She was 14th from the bottom. Fortunately, I had Crucible of Worlds in play and Academy Ruins in my hand, and the deck has a lot of strong artifacts. I never drew another card from the deck, I just kept playing lands with Crucible and grabbing artifacts with Ruins.
A third MTGO game, it was down to 1v1 with a Sharuum the Hegemon player. I managed to steal Venser the Sojourner the turn before Sharuum used his ultimate, and use the ultimate for myself. Unfortunately, then Sharuum put out Leonin Abunas and equipped it with Lightning Greaves. That's when I found out that Venser's ultimate isn't an optional trigger; Once I got Sharuum down to 4 (artifact) lands, I had no more exile targets, and each of my spells would force me to exile one of my own permanents. Eventually, I managed to dig for Mindslaver, move the Greaves to another creature, and steal the Abunas, letting me exile my opponent's cards again.
My personal favorite is not all that unique of an idea, but i go all in with only 4 cards in for goodstuff/removal
Commander: Kresh The bloodbraided
Name: Sac lunch
Idea: Sacrifice ALL the things, ALL the time
Archetype: probably combo, but can go a weaker agro route if that becomes necessary
I like it because it makes me think a lot about every move. Do i sacrifice this guy now, or wait til later? to ashnod's altar or goblin bombardment?
The best way that I've won has happened a couple of times, where i think I'm dead from an attack, so i just start sacing everything to do as much damage as i can and end up killing everyone else at the table.
I have two EDH decks that I love equally for different reasons.
Thassa, god of the Sea
The deck's theme is archaeology in the deep ocean and along the Mediterranean. So I've combined the Greek Mythology tropes of Theros with the Exploration theme of Zendikar alongside various ocean/archaeology related cards from other sets.
Major archetypes are Sea Monsters (Krakens, Leviathans, Serpents, etc.) and Sphinxes. The goal is to set off Quest For Ula's Temple and cycle through Whelming Wave.
I enjoy it because it's thematic, has giant sea creatures, and combines my love for marine archaeology with MTG.
Ways I win? Tromokratis.
Ephara, god of the Polis
Thematically it's essentially Wizard and Angel tribal with a Snow sub-theme. So Ice Wizards/Cryomancers. Anything related to foresight, knowledge, secrecy, and wisdom fit into this deck's theme.
This deck plays some of my favorite cards such as Azami, Arcanis, Lighthouse Chronologist and Omniscience. Also the home of some of my favorite Counterspells.
Omniscience and Wizard lockdown are usually how I win.
Favourite deck has got to be Kozilek as of now, currently named "Kozi-leken" ("leken" is Swedish and pretty much translates up to the-, or an in other ways specified deck. It also translates to game, as in a game kids play). It lacks theme and is pretty much the parts of Juwdah's "Butcher with Juice" I felt like spending my money on to improve my original Karn list. That it hails from BwJ means that it's pretty much the same archetype; ramp too much and beat face with Eldrazi.
I love this deck simply because of the more or less Archenemy situations I tend to get into from playing this deck, especially against an unknowing field of players. It also liberated my Karn deck from it's bonds that were put up when my playgroup about half a year ago decided to ban infinites in-game. I'd put too much time and dedication into the deck to see it be scrapped, so I transitioned into Kozilek and found that it was the best decision. That my general is pretty much an uncounterable opportunity is what makes the deck playable and something that makes it even more joyful to play, I mean, who don't like drawing cards? (For clarification I should add that you can counter Kozilek, but no one I've played so far have stopped me from drawing my cards after casting him, something that would need a stifle or something of the sort).
Wow, a colorless player AND a fellow swede?`Awesome. var spelar du någonstans? Jag är nere i skåne, har aldrig sett en annan person lira colorless.
GeneralBruna, Light of Alabaster Name None, really. Sad. Theme Enchantments mostly, with a bit of wizard tribal thrown in for good measure Archetype It's a pillowfort deck, really. The whole idea with the deck is to wait it out until you get all the cards you need on the board or in your graveyard/hand and take each player out one by one, starting with whoever is in the strongest position. Why? Bruna was the first commander deck I built. I only really got in to Magic during Dark Ascension, and Bruna was the first legendary I pulled out of a pack. I've really enjoyed playing with her over the last few years, and I always look forward to the new cards from each set. Enjoyable Plays It's always fun to get out Aura Thief and Enchanted Evening and watch the table squirm. Steel of the Godhead is fun, and everyone in my group knows I've got Eldrazi Conscription in the deck, but I always wait as long as possible to let it hit the battlefield, just to keep everyone honest.
Honorable Mention goes to Krenko, Mob Boss just for being super fun.
My Favorite:
I'm just interested in hearing about the ruthless, silly, awesome, etc decks that make people love this format so much.
P.S. - Funny that I don't see this kind of thread more often but maybe I just miss them.
The Mimeoplasm, Pest Control
Marath, Mononoke's Call
Kruphix, Walking the Horizon
Ephara, Miracles in a Flash
Balthor, A Short Story About Zombies
Seizan, Truth or Draw
Talrand, Journey to the Sky
Feldon, Artificial Love
----Modern----
BW Tokens
Melira Pod (Retired)
----Horde----
Zombies!
Links coming soon!
Notable combos:
Mogg Maniac + Guilty Conscience + Boros Charm (indestructible mode) could be a turn 3 win.
Volcano Hellion + Alabaster Mage for unlimited life.
Another time I played Furnace of Rath into Heartless Hidestugu and won because I was the only player with an odd life total.
The second is Jasmine Boreal enchantress. It's a super grindy lockdown/control deck. The gaemplan typically involves going for Humility ASAP, then supplementing it with whatever enchantments I need for a given game. The usual win is general damage because on a board full of vanilla 1/1s, the 3/3 flyer is queen. I don't play it all that often, because it's kind of a grueling deck to play against when I can get set up and most people can only do Humility + Moat + redundant protection so often before getting annoyed.
- "Dreamcrusher"
- It's a "pauper" deck sort of (the other 99 are all commons)
- Traditional Control
- I like that such a large community has collectively worked to make the deck better, and that other users (urdjur, Overheat, and others) are piloting their own versions of it. It's less "my deck" now and more "our deck". I also like that our 5-color pile of commons runs does more with less and runs smoother than all but the most competitive lists out there. It also consistently tests my technical play.
- I have taken down several big events and many 4-man pods with the deck. On a few occasions the opponents scoop and someone shouts "...And the Pauper deck takes it!" or something. It's really a big compliment to the great minds that helped me put it together.
Draft my Mono-Blue Cube!
lichess.org | chess.com
I like the deck because it combines a lot of things that I personally love despite it not being red. At heart, I am a red mage, but Orzhov has always had a certain attraction. The Life/Death aspect of it is just an interesting theme, and that's one of the things I love about it. I even include bad cards like Orzhova, the Church of Deals because it fits the theme and feel. I also love Teysa's character and her aspiration to overthrow one of the most powerful entities on the plane, which is why I have not included either Ghost Dad into the deck.
The main win cons of the deck are Sanguine Bond/Vizkopa Guildmage+Exquisite Blood, which was not only my main win con, but my only infinite combo for the longest time. Then Gift of Immortality came out, and I suddenly had another win con, which I discovered on accident when I put it on Sun Titan. With a sac outlet and something like Blood Artist, it meant that I won the game. However, that lead to another loop, which was more of a defensive loop. Cartel Aristocrat+Pariah. I had included Pariah from the start because it was too perfect with my general, but taking it a step further, protection form colors was a little stronger than just creatures. I realized I needed something else to work that well with Sun Titan, and I remembered Shade's Form does exactly what I need (it just doesn't recur itself at the end of the turn). Now, I had two available loops for the Titan with a card that protected itself. However, I needed a little more protection because Animar runs rampant in my meta, and BW has a bit of trouble with it. That's where Martyr's Cause enters. I can use the Titan with auras to protect myself from anything as a backup plan to the Aristocrat. Then I added Banisher Priest and Fiend Hunter as more ways to combo with the Titan, and it occurred to me that without it, I was going to be hurting. Exiling is very real. I know, my deck does it well. So I was looking around and looking around Thinking of another way to effectively combo, and then I remembered the old standard combo: Angel of Glory's Rise. I immediately added Death Cultist and the Angel, and suddenly had another out while allowing me to safely play my humans without much worry because they would all come back, and probably combo off on the spot. That, however, wasn't enough. I wouldn't always have Death Cultist, and Blood Artist wasn't a human, so I needed something to finish it. There weren't really any more human options besides Highway Robber, which was 1 mana more expensive than I wanted. Then it hit me like a brick. Vizkopa Guildmage. Not only is it human, but it has a very relevant ability because while humans aren't very good at taking life when they come into play, they are extremely good at giving it. Soul Sisters. The mage and sisters were all humans, which meant they all came back with the Angel, all it took was 3 more mana to gain infinite life and drain everyone for the same.
Sorry, that was kind of long, but that's how the deck evolved into it's many win cons and interactions. I am quite pleased with everything and how it all came together, and that's probably why it's my favorite deck.
RRRAshling, the PilgrimRRR
UUUThadda Adel, AcquisitorUUU
My Helpdesk
[Pr] Marath | [Pr] Lovisa | Jodah | Saskia | Najeela | Yisan | Lord Windgrace | Atraxa | Meren | Gisa and Geralf
Molimo, Maro-sorcerer
If the deck has a name, what is it?
Viagra
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Bigger is better and the more the merrier
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Voltron, swarm, comboish
Why do you like it so much?
Highly resilient, low perceived threat level, very fun and casual for the table, fun to pilot
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won?
Casting boundless realms followed up with eternal witness getting back boundless realms then casting rude awakening to untap all my lands to cast avenger of zendikar and boundless realms and concordant crossroads and swing in
But really, I love all the decks I build. Why else would I build them?
Currently Piloting:
EDH
BGGlissa, The Traitor - Recursion (Primer)
WBRKaalia of The Vast
URGRiku of Two Reflections
WUBSydri, Galvanic Genius
UBRamirez DePietro
GWKrond, The Dawn-Clad
GWUDerevi, Empyrial Tactician
RGOmnath, Locus of Rage
Modern
UG Infect
If the deck has a name, what is it? Karn is not impressed!
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it? Well, it's artifact combo/aggro ish? Oh and it's colorless!
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in? Combo? People kindad complained so it's quite wattered down.
Why do you like it so much? Because i love artifacts and karn
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won? the most fun way must've been... me vs the last player alive, i got mana, Vedalken Orrery, Temporal Aperture untapped, so i can play my stuff with flash. He topdecks a Austere Command, so i spin the wheel, and i manage to get a Darksteel Forgeof all cards. It was his last out, so i managed to animate my stuff with karn and killed him :).
My nekusar deck managed to kill someone with Chandra Ablaze, he had 4 life, i wheel but i get to keep Chandra, i manage to hit a Time Warp, played it. My opponent has like i said 4 life and he's gonna win the game in his upkeep. I manage to play a Time Spiral, no red cards from the Time Spiral, so i wheeled again and managed to find 1 red card! Plusing Chandra, winning the game : ).
Who needs Colours?
My most played EDH deck:
X Kozilek, the Great Distortion
UBR Nekusar, the Mindrazer
Mah Beybay
•Who is the general?
Captain Sisay
•If the deck has a name, what is it?
The Best Crew the Weatherlight has Ever Known
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Like most Sisay lists, it has a legendary theme.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Midrangy-hatebears-Maverick
•Why do you like it so much?
Sisay is probably the deck I put the most work into, and is my longest running deck by far (active since 2012). This deck has part of soul attached to it, as well as many of my favorite cards (Gaddock Teeg, Gaea's Craddle, Green Sun's Zenith). It's also important to my Vorthos that I have a member of the Weatherlight in my arsenal, so it might as well be the ship's captain.
The Haymaker
•Who is the general?
Child of Alara
•If the deck has a name, what is it?
(none)
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
This deck was a lands-based combo deck that I made back in 2010, (warning: hip moment ahead) before Ad Nauseam was a known quantity in Commander. I built a deck around indestructible land dudes, when my brother suggested I add Ad Nauseam as a draw engine. When I first cast the card, I netted 40+ cards and quickly began retooling the deck around that. The combo went: Find Ad Nauseam, cast the spell netting as much as you could, then cast Seismic Assault off of Chrome Mox/Mox Diamond/Lotus Petal/Mox Opal and discard the lands to the face. It was hilarious everytime.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Lands.EDH, combo.
•Why do you like it so much?
I felt like I broke something in half, and like I was pioneering something, although I had to take it apart for power-level reasons (my group at the time was not ok with it's win% or speed)
•Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won?
I once killed 3 players with 3 combos on turn 3. I believe I Seismic Assaulted one player out, Tendrils of Agonyd another, and Dark Depths the 3rd. I believe that was the day I decided to take the deck apart.
The One That Got Away
•Who is the general?
Squee, Goblin Nabob
•If the deck has a name, what is it?
(none)
•If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
Based initially off d0su's list (I think I built my first draft of Squee back in 2010?). The deck is a mix between Squee engines (with a little help from the phoenix tribe) and burn, since all of the good madness/flashback spells in red are burn spells.
•What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
Sac/Discard based engine and burn, mostly.
•Why do you like it so much?
Squee is the most useful, and was the first deck I built around my general, as opposed to finding a general to fit the deck I was building. It's a lot of fun when the group starts tracking how many times you use Squee.
BRRakdos, Lord of RiotsBR
Group Hug
Speeding up the game in a painfully slow meta
Its group hug
I like it because it creates insane scenarios
Ummm... I don't think I've ever won an EDH game with it. I did however create the biggest piece of crap boardstate: Vernal Equinox +Awakening + Upwelling +Heartbeat of Spring + Heartwood Storyteller + Concordant Crossroads
Turns Never ended. Everyone got nuked by Jarad.
Draft my Mono-Blue Cube!
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I don't regularly update the deck--I gave it to my fiance years ago so she'd play Magic with me, so I only update it when I have extra store credit/the card is really cheap. I'll try to remember to post a list in your thread
BRRakdos, Lord of RiotsBR
While these threads are fun to respond to, they don't really foster that much conversation. People just drop in, have fun posting their own lists, and dip out. That being said...
Is your list up on the site? I'm interested in building a grindy Sidisi deck. She seems like the queen of incrimental advantage. I love Mimeo to death, but he's associated a lot with BUG Goodstuff and I'm looking for different directions.
As for my own...
Draft my Peasant Cube.
It doesn't have a name, we just refer to it as "the Orzhov deck", since it's the only one in our playgroup.
It uses the general as a sac outlet if you need one and play like a reanimator, abusing all the etbs and ltbs, grinding out the opponent and eventually kill him, leaving him without a way to safe himself, as the recursion is sooo strong, boardwipes usually set me only one turn behind.
It's clearly a reanimator deck.
I like it because, first of all, the Orzhov syndicate is my favorite guild, and it has a strong resilience. I like it, how there are still unknown engines in the deck and how it interacts with the opposing deck, usually with Puppeteer Clique for surprising board states. Have you ever locked someone out with his own Mistbind Clique? Good thing Puppeteer Clique is a Faerie.
And while it was some broken blowout potential, the games usually end in very interesting attrition wars.
Best Buried Alive package: Solemn Simulacrum Hell's Caretaker Karmic Guide. Every turn a free Rampant Growth plus a draw is a train ticker to value town. In the late game I can play completely without a hand, and usually abuse the synergies between the cards.
Usually the game ends with some random fatties, for example Rune-Scarred Demon and Archon of Justice beating down the opponents, while getting extra value every turn with Hell's Caretaker.
EDH
WBruna -- Control voltronU
BCrosis -- CruelcontrolUR
WGhostcouncil -- Sac 'n recB
BGlissa -- StaxG
WKemba -- Equipment voltronW
UMelek -- StormR
RPurphoros -- RDWR
BRakdos -- Combo beatdownR
URiku -- Timmy beatdownRG
BSidisi -- Dredge GU
Vintage
Control Slaver
Bomberman
- No name
- Rock control, blow crap up until I win, but you can have a couple lands I don't care about. Also, blow my own crap up, but it will be back, you can count on it.
- Control, Reanimator, Ramp, Combo
- I enjoy utility, and this deck has it in spades. Also, I greatly dislike limited uses of cards, and being able to replay my GY is maximum utilization and my opponent must utilize one card to try to shut down cards I have already used a couple of times. Also, it can be highly political. Early game, I ramp and remove threats, so everyone thanks me, until I remove their threat, then they are sad. So I keep removing threats/keeping good decks locked out until I play my own threat, and low and behold, no one has an answer to it. Anymore, usually in the form of a combo.
- Different ways I win changes pretty much every time. There are often combos that I never knew were in there and I discover that I can loop certain effects. Usually people just quit because I have stripped them of any reasonable chance for a comeback. I use my graveyard enough to be a nuisance, but sparingly enough to ensure it being exiled doesn't set me back too far.
Side note, it is also all foiled out. Like $4000+, by far my most expensive/sexy deck and Karador is altered by a Sr. Klug.
MTGS egos at their finest.
Thoughts on proxies:
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
If the deck has a name, what is it? No name but my playgroup call it "Annoying" lol
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it? No theme but the idea is to kill with combo
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in? Control
Why do you like it so much? Because it is my most constant deck
Optional: What are example ways you win or the most fun way you've won? My stronger way to win is ]Beacon of Immortality] and ]False Cure] but my most fun way I won is in a game where a player played ]Storm Herd] and after, I played ]Netherborn Phalanx]... He wanted to kill me ahah
Edit: I don't know why my tags don't work, sorry :S
Enchantress (Are you surprised?)
Beating with enchanted things/Enchant matters
She was my first. Literally. Sigarda was in the second ever pack I opened and since then she hasn't been long out of a deck. She started as GW mostly goodstuff due to a small card pool, then she was turned into Odric, Master Tactician humans, angels, and battletricks. Which then split into Sigarda and Gisela.
Some of my favourite combos are Weathered Bodyguards/Pallisade Giant + Indestructibility or any or the pro-creatures enchantments. Primal Surge is always fun to trigger, and of course, stacking as many Auras on Sigarda as possible for those OHKOs
Kemba | Linvala | Talrand | Geth | Krenko | Zada | Patron of the Orochi | Medomai | Athreos | Gisela | Trostani | Nin | Silumgar | Kaervek | Jarad | Xenagos | Sydri | Narset | Roon | Zurgo | Ghave | Marath | Uril | Tasigur | Animar | Riku | Riku | Sek'Kuar | Cromat
Who is the general?
Thada Adel, Acquisitor
If the deck has a name, what is it?
I don't name my decks.
If the deck has a theme or unique idea, what is it?
The deck doesn't have a wincon. It relies on stealing my opponents' wincons.
What archetype(s) does the deck fit in?
The closest fit would be "control". I kind of take the name of the archetype in another direction, though "controlling" all of my opponents' stuff.
Why do you like it so much?
It's super inconsistent, and has a terrible mana curve. However, every single game is different. I might play the same theft spells over and over, but they're always getting me different things.
What are the most fun ways you've won?
I stole someone's Orochi Hatchery with Thada and cast it for X=17 once. (I had a lot of mana rocks and doublers in play.) I stole Perilous Forays from the same opponent and got all of my Islands out in short order. The game was short after that, especially when I drew Capsize.
Using the MTGO version of the deck, I once cast Gather Specimens in response to an Undead Alchemist. My opponents were Kaarthus dragon tribal and Grimgrin zombie tribal, and Grimgrin had been milling both of us the whole game; I was tired of it. The Grimgrin player had never seen Gather Specimens before, and commented that it was a cool card, then let it resolve. The Grimgrin cast Rise from the Grave on my Keiga, the Tide Star (presumably to steal back the Alchemist), not realizing that Gather Specimens lasts for the whole turn. I get Keiga and thank him, and he comments that GS is really strong. Grimgrin activates Coffin Queen targeting one of his zombies, and it comes in under my control. He rages that GS is overpowered. He activates Balthor the Defiled and I get a ton of zombies and dragons, and he ragequits, saying GS should be banned. Kaarthus scoops.
Also with the MTGO version, I had Thada hit with Oblation. Another opponent felt sorry for me, and targeted me with Tunnel Vision naming Thada so I could get her back. She was 14th from the bottom. Fortunately, I had Crucible of Worlds in play and Academy Ruins in my hand, and the deck has a lot of strong artifacts. I never drew another card from the deck, I just kept playing lands with Crucible and grabbing artifacts with Ruins.
A third MTGO game, it was down to 1v1 with a Sharuum the Hegemon player. I managed to steal Venser the Sojourner the turn before Sharuum used his ultimate, and use the ultimate for myself. Unfortunately, then Sharuum put out Leonin Abunas and equipped it with Lightning Greaves. That's when I found out that Venser's ultimate isn't an optional trigger; Once I got Sharuum down to 4 (artifact) lands, I had no more exile targets, and each of my spells would force me to exile one of my own permanents. Eventually, I managed to dig for Mindslaver, move the Greaves to another creature, and steal the Abunas, letting me exile my opponent's cards again.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Commander: Kresh The bloodbraided
Name: Sac lunch
Idea: Sacrifice ALL the things, ALL the time
Archetype: probably combo, but can go a weaker agro route if that becomes necessary
I like it because it makes me think a lot about every move. Do i sacrifice this guy now, or wait til later? to ashnod's altar or goblin bombardment?
The best way that I've won has happened a couple of times, where i think I'm dead from an attack, so i just start sacing everything to do as much damage as i can and end up killing everyone else at the table.
Thassa, god of the Sea
The deck's theme is archaeology in the deep ocean and along the Mediterranean. So I've combined the Greek Mythology tropes of Theros with the Exploration theme of Zendikar alongside various ocean/archaeology related cards from other sets.
Major archetypes are Sea Monsters (Krakens, Leviathans, Serpents, etc.) and Sphinxes. The goal is to set off Quest For Ula's Temple and cycle through Whelming Wave.
I enjoy it because it's thematic, has giant sea creatures, and combines my love for marine archaeology with MTG.
Ways I win? Tromokratis.
Ephara, god of the Polis
Thematically it's essentially Wizard and Angel tribal with a Snow sub-theme. So Ice Wizards/Cryomancers. Anything related to foresight, knowledge, secrecy, and wisdom fit into this deck's theme.
This deck plays some of my favorite cards such as Azami, Arcanis, Lighthouse Chronologist and Omniscience. Also the home of some of my favorite Counterspells.
Omniscience and Wizard lockdown are usually how I win.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
Wow, a colorless player AND a fellow swede?`Awesome. var spelar du någonstans? Jag är nere i skåne, har aldrig sett en annan person lira colorless.
Who needs Colours?
My most played EDH deck:
X Kozilek, the Great Distortion
UBR Nekusar, the Mindrazer
General Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Name None, really. Sad.
Theme Enchantments mostly, with a bit of wizard tribal thrown in for good measure
Archetype It's a pillowfort deck, really. The whole idea with the deck is to wait it out until you get all the cards you need on the board or in your graveyard/hand and take each player out one by one, starting with whoever is in the strongest position.
Why? Bruna was the first commander deck I built. I only really got in to Magic during Dark Ascension, and Bruna was the first legendary I pulled out of a pack. I've really enjoyed playing with her over the last few years, and I always look forward to the new cards from each set.
Enjoyable Plays It's always fun to get out Aura Thief and Enchanted Evening and watch the table squirm. Steel of the Godhead is fun, and everyone in my group knows I've got Eldrazi Conscription in the deck, but I always wait as long as possible to let it hit the battlefield, just to keep everyone honest.
Honorable Mention goes to Krenko, Mob Boss just for being super fun.
WU Bruna UW | R Kiki-Jiki R | RB New Chainer BR
Legacy - Burn | Pauper - Reanimator | Aristocrats | Burn
@votechainer2016