I know I have some decent experience messing around with this card but I want others opinions as currently this card has become almost an auto-include for me in any black deck that uses creatures or reanimation. What are other's experiences with it? I'm trying to figure out if my assessment of it being nearly always an include with decks with 14+ creatures is correct or now.
It's hard for this card to compete with Phyrexian Reclamation, but I think it's possible with madness goodies or reanimator shenanigans. Special mention for Grave Scrabbler, who can make this card shine.
its not all so bad, like mentioned previously, if you can build the deck around madness/dredge/squee-esque things, then it can definitely do some work. in BR, you can also do things like discard anger and er... filth.
It is one of my favourite cards in Alesha, Who Smiles at Death. I can toss a power<3 creature to reanimate and bring someone I want to actually cast back to my hand. Or if I have Makeshift Mannequin in my hand I can toss an Ashen Rider and instantly reanimate it in response to an opponent's action. In this particular deck, and on occasion in others, I run it and don't run Phyrexian Reclamation or Strands of Night.
I think in any deck that has a large array of CMC in the creature base, Tortured Existence should almost be an auto-include. It can turn Elves, Birds, Soldiers and other weenies into a Rune-Scarred Demon or Avenger of Zendikar after a board wipe or whatever non-exiling removal your opponents used.
I think it needs synergies like these to be better than Phyrexian Reclamation, but it's generally a good card.
I have had great experiences with it in Athreos, as it basically forces players to pay three life for everything, and even then, I'm just a topdeck away from getting back what I need.
Tortured Existence
I know I have some decent experience messing around with this card but I want others opinions as currently this card has become almost an auto-include for me in any black deck that uses creatures or reanimation. What are other's experiences with it? I'm trying to figure out if my assessment of it being nearly always an include with decks with 14+ creatures is correct or now.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
http://www.commandercast.com/category/articles/generally-speaking
Follow me on Twitter: @generalspeak
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
| Omnath | Zada | Alesha | Scion |
| Mazirek | Animar |
Modern
UR Storm RU
UBRG Dredge GRBU
Standard
UR Thermo-Thing RU
you can also do weird things with volrath's shapeshifter for 1 mana less!
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
I think in any deck that has a large array of CMC in the creature base, Tortured Existence should almost be an auto-include. It can turn Elves, Birds, Soldiers and other weenies into a Rune-Scarred Demon or Avenger of Zendikar after a board wipe or whatever non-exiling removal your opponents used.
Everything combos with Tombstone Stairwell.
I think it needs synergies like these to be better than Phyrexian Reclamation, but it's generally a good card.
I have had great experiences with it in Athreos, as it basically forces players to pay three life for everything, and even then, I'm just a topdeck away from getting back what I need.
Draft my Peasant Cube.