I was going to rework Karador into a more traditional reanimation deck, but decided i wanted to do something new instead. Toss me a suggestion / color combo/ strat and lets figure out the best one.
I prefer it have B/W, but you could convince me otherwise
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Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord benefits from having guys in your graveyard, something you are looking to do anyway. He's a pretty strong game-ending sac outlet to boot.
Bare B/W could have problems with straight reanimation, the colors I'd personally go are BG (Meren and stuff), Abzan (Karandor!) or Sultai (Mimeo, Sidisi, Tasi).
Sedris, the Traitor King can be brutally efficient as well. His Unearth ability serves as a backup in case you absolutely need to pull something out of the 'yard. Grixis also allows you to run all the good hand-to-grave dump cards.
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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.
I'd say The Mimeoplasm is my personal favorite, but in overall power level he's outclassed by Tasigur, the Golden Fang. I'm a big fan of BUG since it's a strong color combo overall, and each color brings something great to the table for reanimator.
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EDH playing competitive Magic cast away
Current Decks GTitania midrange RGThromok tokens/goodstuff | UB Grimgrin zombie tribal GW Sigarda enchantress | R Godo voltron U Braids aggro | WR Kalemne punisher RU Mizzix storm | BUG Mimeoplasm competitive reanimator | UG Ezuri infect
I think the straight-up best would be Sultai Sidisi or Tasigur. If you can't slam a turn-two Jin-Gitaxias, it's not reanimator.
Red can probably replace green. Faithless Looting and stuff are pretty cool I guess.
Though I do love Chainer and sweet, sweet Gary loops.
Jin-Gixatias is better than any other reanimation target in the game
You get counters.
You get a general that is usually 1 mana
You have infinites
Your general wins with infinites
Your general is 1 mana
You have Jin-Gixatias
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Hey guys so I've actually moved on from commander on to 60 card decks so I don't have any commander decks.
Anyway I've started my own gameplay channel in which I play games (Magic also)
This isn't optimal by any means, but Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter could probably be a pretty sweet commander for a graveyard based deck if you want to go b/w. You get access to all white's revilark/karmic guide shenanigans, and Vish Kal is a free sac outlet, which is always good. If you want the strongest general, I'd probably second the mimeoplasm, that dudes a beast
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
I think Chainer is better as a monoblack reanimator general, particularly in big mana monoblack since you can use his ability multiple times and can play with your enemies' graveyards. That said, I don't think monoblack is the way to go if you want to make a reanimator deck. You'll definitely want green and blue since they have the best creatures in the format, so I think either The Mimeoplasm or Tasigur, the Golden Fang are the best choices.
Thirded. The only downside Chainer, Dementia Master has is that monoblack struggles with troublesome artifacts and enchantments. Also, Chainer dominates other GY based decks in an absurd fashion. Meren and Jarad just crumple into the fetal position when Chainer hits the board.
Though I'm partial to Altar of Dementia as it allows you to mill an opponent and steal threats out from under their nose.
Poor red doesn't get any recommendation here. (Disclaimer: I know the reason, it was part sarcastic, part "since no one did it, let's point it out and recommend despite it being not optimal")
Start with the classicPackage, but since you didn't want Jin-Gitaxias, I guess a big ol' dragon should be vastly underwhelming as huge reanimation targets go. Then set up Strionic Resonator and Conjurer's Closet when the first dragon falls and keep bringing them back.
Then in the late game, roll over to graveyard hate... yep there was a reason red wasn't recommended, we should just add the other 3 colors as well then...
I would second Sedris, the traitor King. Good colours for a bit of self mill and traditional dumping to yard. Follow this up with strong reanimation stuff and the ability to Unearth things and punch.
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EDH BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern: RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
Mono-black has a lot of good options. Chainer is probably the strongest, but Sheoldred, Whispering One is pretty great too. Further down the power scale in my personal favourite mono-black reanimator: Balthor the Defiled. It's really an all-in haymaker kind of deck though.
If you want to include white, I like Tariel, Reckoner of Souls. It's a little bit different from a traditional reanimator, because you're looking at your opponent's graveyards, but you can also include all the good self-reanimation spells and feed the deck with symmetrical mill effects.
Chainer, Dementia Master - Can lend himself to a very combo style. You can build him aggro, but when it's more efficient to simply reanimate Gray merchant of Asphodel 6 times in a row... games end pretty simply. His life payment actually hurts, but with all the life theft black has, you end up playing a huge see-saw. Black has penty of draw, sacrifice, etc, to cycle your deck with Chainer until you win. He can also reanimate opponents' stuff, meaning you get to steal all their draw and mana ramp too. Instant speed reanimation means you get to play on End Steps, and win reanimation wars. You life total is a resource to protect.
Balthor, the defiled - Lends himself up to super combo mode. He's like a living death combo in the Command zone. One you hit a critical mass of creatures with a blood artist and sac outlets, you simply win.
Geth, Lord of the Vault - Only hitting opponents makes it harder for you to combo off. That said, all you need to do is fill your deck with ramp and draw and go to town. He fuels himself, so once he hits you get to have a field day with all the best stuff. Stuff coming in tapped prevents the defensive usages, but it still leaves you with an EOT playstyle. He's also big and evasive, so you have an easy Commander damage plan b. Best part is that once he hits, you set your hand aside and play from opponents' graveyards, so once they deal with all your stuff, you still have a full hand to play with.
Xiahou Dun, the one-eyed - The 'only your turn, before you attack' limits the timing, and the 'to hand' means you don't even get to cheat costs. Still, being able to reanimate spells and enchantments is huge, and there are a number of value creatures you'll still love to get back. Combos with various mana outlets, and Living Death, among other things.
Black + X(X)
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - Resurrects once per turn, but for free. Adding green makes the big mana plays easier, and she comes online sooner to recur Sakura-Tribe Elders for a quick jumpstart. Resilient and jump starts your game, but loses out on the pure power in the late game. More focused on value and out-resource-ing opponents rather than combo.
Karador, Ghost Chieftan - Resurrects once per turn, but works with 'cast' stuff. Like Meren, green jump starts your mana (and some draw), and white adds more powerful recursion for the later game. Since you have the once per turn limti, there's less emphasis on combo, and more on pure value and control. Many lists include False Prophet.
Alesha, who smiles at death - Cheap cost tends to favor aggro, but there are a number of silly 'combo' aspect plays as well, such as reanimating a Master of Cruelties on an unblockable board - typically with Iroas, god of victory and... that other piece that says you can only block with one guy. All able to be grabbed via Buried Alive. This is more aggro reanimation, with white and black providing bonus recursion, while red adds on some pain with Flayer of the hatebound, and Purphoros/warstorm surge variants. Extra combats to hit with the army and get even more reanimation. Plenty of black creatures to reanimate for card draw, like the artifact dude that sacs to Night's Whisper, while white provides Mentor of the Meek. White also adds game closeout with Cathars' Crusade.
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Honestly, my Trostani deck also plays a surprisingly large amount of games out of the graveyard, so your colors and commander themselves don't need to be 'reanimator' in order to play reanimator.
Thirded. The only downside Chainer, Dementia Master has is that monoblack struggles with troublesome artifacts and enchantments. Also, Chainer dominates other GY based decks in an absurd fashion. Meren and Jarad just crumple into the fetal position when Chainer hits the board.
Though I'm partial to Altar of Dementia as it allows you to mill an opponent and steal threats out from under their nose.
Yeah I helped my brother building the deck, since there is a lot of control in our meta we put some disruption like defense grid, and the usual discard suite hymn to tourach, thoughtseize, etc. Also mesmeric orb is nuts accelerating the graveyard strategy.
I would second Sedris, the traitor King. Good colours for a bit of self mill and traditional dumping to yard. Follow this up with strong reanimation stuff and the ability to Unearth things and punch.
I want to try Sedris so bad. I play a budget legacy reanimator (no duals) and UB is a great shell for reanimation. I don't like Tasigur, the golden fang for a reanimation deck since it doesn't help the game plan that much, but it's great as a control general.
I recently played against a pretty strong Meren of Clan Nel Toth reanimator deck. Not as fast as Tasigur, but if you're not looking to reanimate Jin, then you could probably skip the blue.
I prefer it have B/W, but you could convince me otherwise
MTGO: UberMower
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.
Current Decks
GTitania midrange
RGThromok tokens/goodstuff | UB Grimgrin zombie tribal
GW Sigarda enchantress | R Godo voltron
U Braids aggro | WR Kalemne punisher
RU Mizzix storm | BUG Mimeoplasm competitive reanimator | UG Ezuri infect
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
I second this, you can make all kind of vicious combos reanimating things like fleshbag marauder, mesmeric fiend and Gray Merchant of Asphodel with a simple sacrifice outlet like viscera seer.
Red can probably replace green. Faithless Looting and stuff are pretty cool I guess.
Though I do love Chainer and sweet, sweet Gary loops.
Draft my Peasant Cube.
Jin-Gixatias is better than any other reanimation target in the game
You get counters.
You get a general that is usually 1 mana
You have infinites
Your general wins with infinites
Your general is 1 mana
You have Jin-Gixatias
Anyway I've started my own gameplay channel in which I play games (Magic also)
Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/dies_to_doom_blade
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/UpsidedownHandshake
Mono-B Big Mana and reanimate ALL the things.
Nicol Bolas Dragon Dick
Hanna, Ship's Navigator Heart-attack Stax
Oona, Queen of the Fae Fairy Dance
Vhati Il-Dal Tree of Woe
Scion of the Ur-Dragon Durgensturm
Jolrael, Empress of Beasts Jamuraa's Army
Liliana, Heretical Healer Rise from your Graves and Proliferate
Tariel, Reckoner of Souls Angelic Judgment [
I think Chainer is better as a monoblack reanimator general, particularly in big mana monoblack since you can use his ability multiple times and can play with your enemies' graveyards. That said, I don't think monoblack is the way to go if you want to make a reanimator deck. You'll definitely want green and blue since they have the best creatures in the format, so I think either The Mimeoplasm or Tasigur, the Golden Fang are the best choices.
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
Thirded. The only downside Chainer, Dementia Master has is that monoblack struggles with troublesome artifacts and enchantments. Also, Chainer dominates other GY based decks in an absurd fashion. Meren and Jarad just crumple into the fetal position when Chainer hits the board.
Though I'm partial to Altar of Dementia as it allows you to mill an opponent and steal threats out from under their nose.
Bladewing the Risen and a boatload of great dragons and some not so great ones too.
Start with the classic Package, but since you didn't want Jin-Gitaxias, I guess a big ol' dragon should be vastly underwhelming as huge reanimation targets go. Then set up Strionic Resonator and Conjurer's Closet when the first dragon falls and keep bringing them back.
Then in the late game, roll over to graveyard hate... yep there was a reason red wasn't recommended, we should just add the other 3 colors as well then...
Jarad Graveyard Combo[Primer]!
Sidisi ANT!
Playing Commander to Win - A guide on Competitive, 4-player EDH
LandDestruction.com - An EDH blog
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern:
RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
I'd build her or Chainer, Dementia Master.
If you want to include white, I like Tariel, Reckoner of Souls. It's a little bit different from a traditional reanimator, because you're looking at your opponent's graveyards, but you can also include all the good self-reanimation spells and feed the deck with symmetrical mill effects.
Chainer, Dementia Master - Can lend himself to a very combo style. You can build him aggro, but when it's more efficient to simply reanimate Gray merchant of Asphodel 6 times in a row... games end pretty simply. His life payment actually hurts, but with all the life theft black has, you end up playing a huge see-saw. Black has penty of draw, sacrifice, etc, to cycle your deck with Chainer until you win. He can also reanimate opponents' stuff, meaning you get to steal all their draw and mana ramp too. Instant speed reanimation means you get to play on End Steps, and win reanimation wars. You life total is a resource to protect.
Balthor, the defiled - Lends himself up to super combo mode. He's like a living death combo in the Command zone. One you hit a critical mass of creatures with a blood artist and sac outlets, you simply win.
Geth, Lord of the Vault - Only hitting opponents makes it harder for you to combo off. That said, all you need to do is fill your deck with ramp and draw and go to town. He fuels himself, so once he hits you get to have a field day with all the best stuff. Stuff coming in tapped prevents the defensive usages, but it still leaves you with an EOT playstyle. He's also big and evasive, so you have an easy Commander damage plan b. Best part is that once he hits, you set your hand aside and play from opponents' graveyards, so once they deal with all your stuff, you still have a full hand to play with.
Xiahou Dun, the one-eyed - The 'only your turn, before you attack' limits the timing, and the 'to hand' means you don't even get to cheat costs. Still, being able to reanimate spells and enchantments is huge, and there are a number of value creatures you'll still love to get back. Combos with various mana outlets, and Living Death, among other things.
Black + X(X)
Meren of Clan Nel Toth - Resurrects once per turn, but for free. Adding green makes the big mana plays easier, and she comes online sooner to recur Sakura-Tribe Elders for a quick jumpstart. Resilient and jump starts your game, but loses out on the pure power in the late game. More focused on value and out-resource-ing opponents rather than combo.
Karador, Ghost Chieftan - Resurrects once per turn, but works with 'cast' stuff. Like Meren, green jump starts your mana (and some draw), and white adds more powerful recursion for the later game. Since you have the once per turn limti, there's less emphasis on combo, and more on pure value and control. Many lists include False Prophet.
Alesha, who smiles at death - Cheap cost tends to favor aggro, but there are a number of silly 'combo' aspect plays as well, such as reanimating a Master of Cruelties on an unblockable board - typically with Iroas, god of victory and... that other piece that says you can only block with one guy. All able to be grabbed via Buried Alive. This is more aggro reanimation, with white and black providing bonus recursion, while red adds on some pain with Flayer of the hatebound, and Purphoros/warstorm surge variants. Extra combats to hit with the army and get even more reanimation. Plenty of black creatures to reanimate for card draw, like the artifact dude that sacs to Night's Whisper, while white provides Mentor of the Meek. White also adds game closeout with Cathars' Crusade.
====
Honestly, my Trostani deck also plays a surprisingly large amount of games out of the graveyard, so your colors and commander themselves don't need to be 'reanimator' in order to play reanimator.
Retired EDH - Tibor and Lumia | [PR]Nemata |Ramirez dePietro | [C]Edric | Riku | Jenara | Lazav | Heliod | Daxos | Roon | Kozilek
Yeah I helped my brother building the deck, since there is a lot of control in our meta we put some disruption like defense grid, and the usual discard suite hymn to tourach, thoughtseize, etc. Also mesmeric orb is nuts accelerating the graveyard strategy.
I want to try Sedris so bad. I play a budget legacy reanimator (no duals) and UB is a great shell for reanimation. I don't like Tasigur, the golden fang for a reanimation deck since it doesn't help the game plan that much, but it's great as a control general.
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebears