I'm in the very beginning phases of coming up with a new Narset commander deck. So far, all of my other decks are very heavily creature-based and do not play red. I want to challenge myself and try a different style of playing that is more spells-based than creature-based. I have somewhat of an idea forming of what I want the deck to do but am not sure on what my win-con will be. One option is giant red burn spells that I can cast for free with Narset's ability and then hopefully copy or retrieve from my graveyard to be cast again (perhaps with Soulfire Grand Master). I've done some gatherer and google searching but am having some trouble finding what I'm looking for. Google turns up the generic "top 10 burn spells" where lightning bolt is always #1 or near the top... however it's not the best for commander generally. I'm wondering if anybody could supply me with a list or a couple of suggestions for burn cards that do lots of damage but do NOT have X in their casting cost (so that I can cast them for free with Narset's ability). Probably the best example of this that I can think of that I'm looking for is Ignite Memories or Mizzix's Mastery. What other cool red stuff is out there? Thanks!
The big problem is that burn spells don't scale well for multiplayer with double life totals without having X in their cost.
You could try something like Repercussion paired with things like Inferno and Blasphemous Act, but by and large burn spells without X in their cost aren't going to do well as finishers. Maybe as removal, so Narset can get through unblocked, but not as a finisher.
If you're looking at Ignite Memories, though, you could also try looking at Grapeshot. There are a number of ways to achieve infinite storm count (Reiterate on something like Mana Geyser is common).
Unfortunately because of the amount of damage required to eliminate your opponents in this format, you'll find that almost all of the good burn spells are going to be either X spells or storm count, both of which are better suited in infinite combo decks like U/R. You could run Heartless Hidetsugu with a haste outlet perhaps.
I agree with what has been said above. I would honestly say that maybe choosing a different general would make more sense for what you are trying to do. Gisela, Blade of Goldnight is pretty good for this type of deck since she can double damage you are dealing while protecting you from your opponents spells (as well as your own). It also lets you utilize those X spells a little more effectively since you don't need nearly as much mana to make casting them worthwhile.
If your dead set on Narset as you General, Inferno and Blasphemous Act (as Lithi mentioned) and Heartless Hidetsugu (as Cryogen mentioned) are decent. Fire Tempest is another Inferno. I know Heartless can't be cast off Narset, but it will be difficult to get a true "free" burn style deck with Narset.
Otherwise, you could try Firestorm if you can get enough cards in your hand (such as off Enter the Infinite). If you do use Enter the Infinite, you could try Master of the Way. You could also just use Narset to assemble an infinite mana combo (Power Artifcat + Basalt Monolith for example) and then use that mana to cast an X burn spell.
Otherwise, you could try Firestorm if you can get enough cards in your hand (such as off Enter the Infinite). If you do use Enter the Infinite, you could try Master of the Way. You could also just use Narset to assemble an infinite mana combo (Power Artifcat + Basalt Monolith for example) and then use that mana to cast an X burn spell.
Firestorm isn't going to work out how you want it to. You are required to have X targets and you can't target something more than once. If you want to burn someone out from 40 life, you need 39 other targets.
Master the Way, on the other hand, could be a decent finisher if you can copy it enough times.
Otherwise, you could try Firestorm if you can get enough cards in your hand (such as off Enter the Infinite). If you do use Enter the Infinite, you could try Master of the Way. You could also just use Narset to assemble an infinite mana combo (Power Artifcat + Basalt Monolith for example) and then use that mana to cast an X burn spell.
Firestorm isn't going to work out how you want it to. You are required to have X targets and you can't target something more than once. If you want to burn someone out from 40 life, you need 39 other targets.
Master the Way, on the other hand, could be a decent finisher if you can copy it enough times.
That's a good point. I have never played Firestorm and didn't think through all the targeting issues. It does still do quite a bit if you discard 10 cards (assuming 10 targets) but the inconsistency makes it difficult to be a "finisher". This does further support the idea of there not being enough burn spells worth casting for free off Narset (without copying them a couple times anyway).
Thank you all for your suggestions. I might have been confusing in my original post. I guess I'm not looking to make it a 100% burn deck, but rather a commander deck that makes use of burn spells and can cast them for free. It will probably be mostly creatureless, relying on instants and sorceries that either do direct damage or make tokens. I do however like the idea of including Soulfire Grand Master to give my burn spells lifelink, and then allow me to pay 4 mana to have those cards end up back in my hand rather than the grave, since hopefully Narset will allow me to cast them for free anyway the first time. I'm just not too familiar with red or burn spells in general. And like some of you have said, there may be a better way to go with this deck... haven't made up my mind yet
I would recommend you to have a damage doubler or two in your deck.
Cast them for free, and follow up with a combination of the cheap all player burn spells. Acidic soil, Price of progress (people tend to go overboard with nonbasics in my opinion), Fiery confluence.
hitting a doubler with narset holding any variant of twincast means most of the above will hit for 20+ damage. (on the first two this depends on the deck).
also recommend you to play, some sort of way to avoid killing yourself in this manner, but as long as you're at one or above a win is a win.
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RWUNarset, jeskai burn RUB Marchesa the black rose R Daretti, reanimator goodstuff BU Vela, ninja assasin UG Ezuri, woodland critters.
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I have seen decent non-X burn decks. Typically they rely on damage doublers and spell copy effects to copy a big finisher like Searing Wind or Urza's Rage. I think the most impressive shot I've seen was a Chandra copied Searing Wind, with Fork cast on it, and Furnace of Rath on the field. For 60 damage. Sadly, his Repercussion was destroyed before his turn rolled around, otherwise that would have been an 'easy' 120 damage to the table.
And he had an Urza's Rage in hand with an Increasing Vengeance to do it again the next turn, and would have done it on that same turn had his Mana Geyser not been countered.
You could try something like Repercussion paired with things like Inferno and Blasphemous Act, but by and large burn spells without X in their cost aren't going to do well as finishers. Maybe as removal, so Narset can get through unblocked, but not as a finisher.
If you're looking at Ignite Memories, though, you could also try looking at Grapeshot. There are a number of ways to achieve infinite storm count (Reiterate on something like Mana Geyser is common).
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If your dead set on Narset as you General, Inferno and Blasphemous Act (as Lithi mentioned) and Heartless Hidetsugu (as Cryogen mentioned) are decent. Fire Tempest is another Inferno. I know Heartless can't be cast off Narset, but it will be difficult to get a true "free" burn style deck with Narset.
Otherwise, you could try Firestorm if you can get enough cards in your hand (such as off Enter the Infinite). If you do use Enter the Infinite, you could try Master of the Way. You could also just use Narset to assemble an infinite mana combo (Power Artifcat + Basalt Monolith for example) and then use that mana to cast an X burn spell.
Master the Way, on the other hand, could be a decent finisher if you can copy it enough times.
Thanks for the clarification.
Cast them for free, and follow up with a combination of the cheap all player burn spells. Acidic soil, Price of progress (people tend to go overboard with nonbasics in my opinion), Fiery confluence.
hitting a doubler with narset holding any variant of twincast means most of the above will hit for 20+ damage. (on the first two this depends on the deck).
also recommend you to play, some sort of way to avoid killing yourself in this manner, but as long as you're at one or above a win is a win.
RWU Narset, jeskai burn
RUB Marchesa the black rose
R Daretti, reanimator goodstuff
BU Vela, ninja assasin
UG Ezuri, woodland critters.
pucatrade
big receipts
alpha mox emerald
beta time walk
4 goyfs received
3 liliana of the veil
4 karn liberated
3 force of will
4 grove of the burnwillows
snapcaster mage
3 horizon canopy
2 full art damnation
Also, earlier in the game his Pyromancer's Goggles got destroyed too.
And he had an Urza's Rage in hand with an Increasing Vengeance to do it again the next turn, and would have done it on that same turn had his Mana Geyser not been countered.
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