I've been pondering on three specific archetypes I've been wanting to make at a semi-competitive level...all of them belonging in a combination of White, Blue, or Green. I narrowed down a list, but haven't decided what is truly the most optimal experience for each archetype.
My very only restriction is no overlap in color combinations. For instance: I would like to avoid having two Azorius or two Bant decks etc.
The problems I have ran into with these is that each of them have their pros and cons. I want to explain my thought process behind all of them:
Blink: Roon versus Brago. Roon I found to be incredibly powerful by virtue of being in three really strong colors, and holding a very powerful dual type (Simic). With that, he had so many tools to produce incredible value. However, the problem I found with him is that he feels like a Blue/White deck with a splash of green. Brago I have personally seen do work. Note that this is not going to utilize Stax cards or planeswalkers that much, which makes me feel like Brago may not be the best choice for a deck like this. At the same time: He offers the best type of support for a blink.dec. Other generals I took to consideration: Rasputin Dreamweaver - I actually own a copy. I ran him for a while as well. But my issue with him is that he's too slow and relies on a decent early game to pick up the steam. But by then it will be too late.
Hatebear: Selvala versus Ephara Selvala I have seen do some major damage. It follows a stage-pattern of game play where it starts off incredibly strong early game, disrupts the mid game, and finds itself the only person on the table with a late game. I do not mind one bit about running stuff like Winter Orb and the like, but my only concern with her is that it would feel one trick. I will admit: I have yet to play a single test game of her. Ephara is a different story. Inspired by pokken and ISBPathfinder's lists, I built a proto-type deck that rewarded me for playing a controlly deck that kept having a fresh grip all of the time. It felt satisfying to play with, but the problem was closing the game out. I never felt like I could do something that says "Here's what happening. If no one responds, I'm sealing the deal." Other generals I took to consideration: Gaddock Teeg - While I am running him in the 99, I don't feel comfortable running him as a general seeing that it may or not not work to my advantage as much as I'd hope for. It feels like a 50% chance he will make an impact. Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - I seen some interesting lists using Alesha, but not only is she hard to recast, she's especially hard to connect in the first place.
Enchantress: Sigarda versus Jenara Sigarda as I understand is the marquis choice for Enchantress based builds, Uril falling behind second with Bruna being more of a combo version of Sigarda. She's very hard to answer, and I know this because a fellow friend has a Sigarda Enchantress deck that will help him win games. One thing I am wary of is that she's too "good" and how she is vulnerable to countermagic unless the stars align with me landing a City of Solitude or something. Jenara offers a very interesting choice for me. It sucks that she only has flying, but the main appeal to me is that she costs 3. She comes out quick early game, and she enables me to use cards like Privileged Position and Asceticism, all while playing a side of control to protect her. Other generals I took to consideration: Bruna, Light of Alabaster - I fell in love with her ever since she was released in Avacyn Restored. Sadly she has fallen out of grace for me as she felt incredibly one-trick. I fear the same face for Sigarda, ironically. Uril, the Miststalker - Once again, this was the case that two colors took the show and I barely used the third color (red) to its fullest aside from a few auras.
My real question is: What combination of generals of this list should I go with...for each Archetype and color combination? What general will give me the best play experience for each archetype listed?
One of each color combo
One of each archetype
No overlap
Blink:Roon of the Hidden Realm. While i play a non-infinite Brago, King Eternal list, Roon of the Hidden Realm has several advantages. He doesn't draw as much hate, can blink on each turn, synergizes well with untap stuff, activated and triggered ability doublers, doesn't rely on connecting and has great colors. On the other hand he can only flicker creatures, needs more mana - especially if you compare both in situations where they have haste - and heavily relies on other flicker enablers. But since you're going for a semi-competitive build i'd prefer him.
Enchantress:Jenara, Asura of War. She's cheap, flying, there are tons of counter engines and she comes with colors that support her fantastically. The only real advantage i see with Sigarda, Host of Herons is her having hexproof. But she drops later, comes in worse colors and her prot from sacing things can be irrelevant against a majority of commanders.
Hate Bears: This is propably the closest call of the three, but i'd go with Selvala, Explorer Returned as she's rather underestimated, has ways to seal the deal and some level of randomness that i always enjoy. While Ephara, God of the Polis is okay i always feel like players have to durdle with her until they hit some kind of lockdown or combo off. Not my cup of tea and theoretically boring if you ask me.
My very only restriction is no overlap in color combinations. For instance: I would like to avoid having two Azorius or two Bant decks etc.
Here's what I've been thinking of:
Bant GWU
Roon of the Hidden Realm (Blink) OR Jenara, Asura of War (Enchantress)
Selesnya GW
Selvala, Explorer Returned (Hatebear) OR Sigarda, Host of Herons (Enchantress)
Azorius WU
Ephara, God of the Polis (Hatebear) OR Brago, King Eternal (Blink)
The problems I have ran into with these is that each of them have their pros and cons. I want to explain my thought process behind all of them:
Blink: Roon versus Brago.
Roon I found to be incredibly powerful by virtue of being in three really strong colors, and holding a very powerful dual type (Simic). With that, he had so many tools to produce incredible value. However, the problem I found with him is that he feels like a Blue/White deck with a splash of green.
Brago I have personally seen do work. Note that this is not going to utilize Stax cards or planeswalkers that much, which makes me feel like Brago may not be the best choice for a deck like this. At the same time: He offers the best type of support for a blink.dec.
Other generals I took to consideration:
Rasputin Dreamweaver - I actually own a copy. I ran him for a while as well. But my issue with him is that he's too slow and relies on a decent early game to pick up the steam. But by then it will be too late.
Hatebear: Selvala versus Ephara
Selvala I have seen do some major damage. It follows a stage-pattern of game play where it starts off incredibly strong early game, disrupts the mid game, and finds itself the only person on the table with a late game. I do not mind one bit about running stuff like Winter Orb and the like, but my only concern with her is that it would feel one trick. I will admit: I have yet to play a single test game of her.
Ephara is a different story. Inspired by pokken and ISBPathfinder's lists, I built a proto-type deck that rewarded me for playing a controlly deck that kept having a fresh grip all of the time. It felt satisfying to play with, but the problem was closing the game out. I never felt like I could do something that says "Here's what happening. If no one responds, I'm sealing the deal."
Other generals I took to consideration:
Gaddock Teeg - While I am running him in the 99, I don't feel comfortable running him as a general seeing that it may or not not work to my advantage as much as I'd hope for. It feels like a 50% chance he will make an impact.
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death - I seen some interesting lists using Alesha, but not only is she hard to recast, she's especially hard to connect in the first place.
Enchantress: Sigarda versus Jenara
Sigarda as I understand is the marquis choice for Enchantress based builds, Uril falling behind second with Bruna being more of a combo version of Sigarda. She's very hard to answer, and I know this because a fellow friend has a Sigarda Enchantress deck that will help him win games. One thing I am wary of is that she's too "good" and how she is vulnerable to countermagic unless the stars align with me landing a City of Solitude or something.
Jenara offers a very interesting choice for me. It sucks that she only has flying, but the main appeal to me is that she costs 3. She comes out quick early game, and she enables me to use cards like Privileged Position and Asceticism, all while playing a side of control to protect her.
Other generals I took to consideration:
Bruna, Light of Alabaster - I fell in love with her ever since she was released in Avacyn Restored. Sadly she has fallen out of grace for me as she felt incredibly one-trick. I fear the same face for Sigarda, ironically.
Uril, the Miststalker - Once again, this was the case that two colors took the show and I barely used the third color (red) to its fullest aside from a few auras.
My real question is: What combination of generals of this list should I go with...for each Archetype and color combination? What general will give me the best play experience for each archetype listed?
One of each color combo
One of each archetype
No overlap
Enchantress: Jenara, Asura of War. She's cheap, flying, there are tons of counter engines and she comes with colors that support her fantastically. The only real advantage i see with Sigarda, Host of Herons is her having hexproof. But she drops later, comes in worse colors and her prot from sacing things can be irrelevant against a majority of commanders.
Hate Bears: This is propably the closest call of the three, but i'd go with Selvala, Explorer Returned as she's rather underestimated, has ways to seal the deal and some level of randomness that i always enjoy. While Ephara, God of the Polis is okay i always feel like players have to durdle with her until they hit some kind of lockdown or combo off. Not my cup of tea and theoretically boring if you ask me.
To avoid overlaps i'd build Jenara, Asura of War, Selvala, Explorer Returned and Brago, King Eternal.