For a long time, I have wanted to create a commander deck that abuses the unfair combination of first strike and deathtouch. I have created several different versions of this deck, however, none of them satisfy me in the playability department (or the bedroom).
What do you think is the best color combination / commander for this type of strategy?
I have also enjoyed the idea of splashing in cards like Goblin Sharpshooter or Wojek Embermage to combo hard with deathtouch, however, if the tri-color format for the theme I crave above is too much, forget about it. Let me know what you think!
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If you go with Glissa, the Traitor, what do you do about first strike? Just artifacts? Obviously she has it built in herself, but I want the whole deck to have synergy. I would probably want to use cards that force blocking and fights.
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Yeah, those would be bad ass in a powerhouse deathtouch deck. My trouble with Glissa is that you lose white for first strike. I currently have a rag tag Doran, the Siege tower deck that can hardly be considered a Doran deck. I basically just threw in all the cards I own that were good and mildly related to the First Strike / Deathtouch theme. It has won a couple times, purely because my friends weren't concerned with me and I had all the time in the world. I will say though, Gift of the Deity and Glissa, the Traitor are soul mates.
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Deathtouchers are too plentiful for me to want to list here, and there are equipments abound for both effects (Trample helps as well, as it makes chump blocks a pointless effort). Forcing blocks and getting indirect damage can be kind of difficult to do without R though, if you are fully invested in the theme. Kresh the Bloodbraided might be a reasonable Commander if you want to go Jund, as he directly profits from creatures dying left, right, and center.
Most of the creatures that come with first or double strike, and most of the cards which grant those abilities, are W or R. Most creatures with deathtouch are either B or G, as are many effects that grant those abilities. One route to make a deck that combines those abilities is to use some combination of those colors. Abzan, Mardu, Jund and Naya are options.
Thank you for the list Lycoris. Maybe it is more doable than I thought. Time to start brewing. I'll definitely check out your Glissa deck.
I actually already own a Kresh the bloodbraided, so it wouldn't be too difficult to build Glissa and sub in some red cards to see how it goes. I have always wanted to make a Kresh deck with a Phyrexian Dreadnought in it. Just letting it kill itself is instant +12/+12.
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Thanks for your thoughts JWK. I have already tried constructing a deck like like your last example using Kresh the bloodbraided. I found it very difficult to balance win conditions with removal; Kresh being my only real win con. Any thoughts for how you could have multiple win conditions in that sort of jund deck?
Also, for your r/w and Mardu thoughts, I actually already had a thread out on Zurgo Helmsmasher, trying to turn him into my deathtouch deck. Zurgo's only real synergy is making a board wipe deck (which I despise with a passion). I realized I would probably be wasting my time and money building a sub-par deck with him, so I abandoned the idea.
I only have one real serious EDH deck, Animar, soul of elements. It is extremely powerful, which makes me happy, but I feel bad using it every time. I want a deathtouch themed deck that can be decently competitive. I'm ready to spend some cash, but I have to be sure it is for the right deck.
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Wow, not a bad idea at all Xoth. I'm definitely going to build something around him. I want the new deck. The temptation to fire off an order is there, but I am doing my very best to have patience. I just built the Kresh the Bloodbraided Deck. I'll link in a second. Seems like it is missing something, like card draw.
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I would definitely go RWB. Most of the stuff that grants deathtouch is equipment, so you can more than make up for the loss of a few natural deathtouchers in G with the equipment tutors in W. WR also has a ton of first strike/double strike, and you get both relevant Archetypes: Archetype of Courage (who protects your guys, basically) and Archetype of Finality, the only mass static source of deathtouch I'm aware of. RWB also gives you Ankle Shanker, who is tailor made for this deck, as well as the only creature other than Glissa who has both abilities already, Master of Cruelties. Glissa is fun, but RWB supports the rest of the deck a lot better.
You could also throw a couple ways to grant trample in there and just roll over blockers. There are very few ways to effectively stop a first strike, deathtouch, trample creature in combat other than removal.
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[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
YES Weebo. I reluctantly just built this Kresh deck. My first real dream was to make it RWB because of cards like both Archetypes and the badass Ankle Shanker. I love Crackling Doom also. I am going to give the deck build another shot, but I will use Xoth's Oros, the Avenger suggestion (can't believe I didn't make that connection on my own). Here comes the brewing. I'll link my build when complete. Thanks!
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Green also brings Nightshade Peddler to the table. It's not much, but it is a card to keep in mind as it works deliciously well with Trample. (It and Pathbreaker Wurm were my bombs during AVR Prerelease. Two of each. Ripped through enemy defenses like butter.)
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Here it is! The Oros, the Avenger deck that I may own very shortly own. I am probably dropping some serious cash here, so if you guys could take a look and help me with any final changes, I'd be beyond grateful. I realized after I made it, I didn't put any trample in. It may not be necessary though with how effective it potentially can be clearing the board. But hey, maybe y'all think differently. Let me know! Thanks!
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Thanks for your thoughts JWK. I have already tried constructing a deck like like your last example using Kresh the bloodbraided. I found it very difficult to balance win conditions with removal; Kresh being my only real win con. Any thoughts for how you could have multiple win conditions in that sort of jund deck?
I would probably use broad damage effects like Hurricane, Earthquake and Pestilence to finish off opponents damaged by your creatures without killing yourself off. To assist this, you might want to include some undying creatures (Flayer of the Hatebound, Vorapede, Dark Mikaeus) who can keep coming back and hitting hard, and/or some reanimation.
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For a long time, I have wanted to create a commander deck that abuses the unfair combination of first strike and deathtouch. I have created several different versions of this deck, however, none of them satisfy me in the playability department (or the bedroom).
What do you think is the best color combination / commander for this type of strategy?
I have also enjoyed the idea of splashing in cards like Goblin Sharpshooter or Wojek Embermage to combo hard with deathtouch, however, if the tri-color format for the theme I crave above is too much, forget about it. Let me know what you think!
5-color Eggs
Did I write something useful? Leave a like.
Any new cool Daretti cards printed in the latest set? Tell me about it!
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Xathrid Slyblade (also has deathtouch)
Vampire Hexmage (also messes with opposing planeswalkers/counters in general)
Sanguine Guard (also has regeneration)
Pit Spawn (also a walking Sword of Kaldra)
Phyrexian Crusader (also has protections + infect)
Nekrataal (also a Terror)
Mirri, Cat Warrior & Mirri the Cursed (also a cat warrior/vampire cat)
Gurmag Swiftwing (also a hasty flier)
Glissa Sunseeker (also artifact removal)
Abattoir Ghoul (also lifegain)
Deathtouchers are too plentiful for me to want to list here, and there are equipments abound for both effects (Trample helps as well, as it makes chump blocks a pointless effort). Forcing blocks and getting indirect damage can be kind of difficult to do without R though, if you are fully invested in the theme. Kresh the Bloodbraided might be a reasonable Commander if you want to go Jund, as he directly profits from creatures dying left, right, and center.
RRR - Bosh's School of Hard(cover) Knocks
Another route is to go RW for first/double strike and to use artifacts that grant deathtouch and similar abilities. The combination of Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile + Basilisk Collar is a pretty potent one. She's even better with Sword of Kaldra. Wojek Embermage and various "pinger" creatures (Prodigal Pyromancer or Kumano, Master Yamabushi, for example) can do this trick pretty effectively, and cards like Gorgon Flail grant more deathtouch. R and W also has various means of fetching equipment via creatures (Stoneforge Mystic, Godo, Bandit Warlord) or spells.
If you are using lots of creatures with deathtouch, or have ways of granting it to lots of creatures (Mer-Ek Nightblade or Archetype of Finality, for example), Lightning Volley can be quite a blow-out.
I actually already own a Kresh the bloodbraided, so it wouldn't be too difficult to build Glissa and sub in some red cards to see how it goes. I have always wanted to make a Kresh deck with a Phyrexian Dreadnought in it. Just letting it kill itself is instant +12/+12.
Also, for your r/w and Mardu thoughts, I actually already had a thread out on Zurgo Helmsmasher, trying to turn him into my deathtouch deck. Zurgo's only real synergy is making a board wipe deck (which I despise with a passion). I realized I would probably be wasting my time and money building a sub-par deck with him, so I abandoned the idea.
I only have one real serious EDH deck, Animar, soul of elements. It is extremely powerful, which makes me happy, but I feel bad using it every time. I want a deathtouch themed deck that can be decently competitive. I'm ready to spend some cash, but I have to be sure it is for the right deck.
You could also throw a couple ways to grant trample in there and just roll over blockers. There are very few ways to effectively stop a first strike, deathtouch, trample creature in combat other than removal.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I would probably use broad damage effects like Hurricane, Earthquake and Pestilence to finish off opponents damaged by your creatures without killing yourself off. To assist this, you might want to include some undying creatures (Flayer of the Hatebound, Vorapede, Dark Mikaeus) who can keep coming back and hitting hard, and/or some reanimation.