I've been trying to crawl out of my Johnny comfort zone and try my hand at a more Timmy strategy for awhile now. I'm trying to get away from being a one-trick pony; that of combos and board control. I've been exploring the aggro side of MTG, but I knew I wanted to do something different. Elves and goblins are good, but they just don't hold my interest.
I recently discovered Lovisa Coldeyes and I think I've found my next deck project.
I have some goals in mind for this deck:
I want it to hit fast and hit hard. Haste, first strike, double strike. Anthem Effects. Extra combat steps. Things like that.
I want it to have interesting tech. A good analogy would like having Gate to Phyrexia for artifact removal in mono-black.
Consistency. I doubt it'll be Tier 1 "Sheldon ban this ASAP pl0x" but I'd at least like it to be reasonably reliable from game to game.
I should probably note that I'm not actually making a proper decklist here. I'm just compiling a list of cards that I'll refer to when I actually go to make it.
First off I will preface this with, I have my own deck list for Lovisa located here.
I find with Lovisa, that I am usually not allowed to build more than three creatures. Otherwise you leave yourself fairly open to wraths and become too large of a target to ignore. I find that evasive effects are more important than extra combats in this deck. I will always play a Raging River, or Goblin War Drums whereas getting stuck with a Savage Beating to no effect has happened a lot to me in the past. Otherwise, running small hate effects pushes the games down faster. Stuff like Sulfuric Vortex cuts people off at the knees when they depend on life gain. Chandra's Ignition acts as a one sided wrath when your commander is out against creatures with toughness 3 or less (most warriors are more than 1 base toughness). You have to be careful though, as it can end up wrathing yourself sometimes as well. I also prefer value equipment over damage equipment due to the deck being mono red. Sabertooth Outrider and Atarka Pummeler turn on with just your commander, are on theme, and aggressive.
You'll also want to keep in mind that you want to play on your first main phase most of the time, so cards like Sword of Feast and Famine are less good.
First off I will preface this with, I have my own deck list for Lovisa located here.
I find with Lovisa, that I am usually not allowed to build more than three creatures. Otherwise you leave yourself fairly open to wraths and become too large of a target to ignore. I find that evasive effects are more important than extra combats in this deck. I will always play a Raging River, or Goblin War Drums whereas getting stuck with a Savage Beating to no effect has happened a lot to me in the past. Otherwise, running small hate effects pushes the games down faster. Stuff like Sulfuric Vortex cuts people off at the knees when they depend on life gain. Chandra's Ignition acts as a one sided wrath when your commander is out against creatures with toughness 3 or less (most warriors are more than 1 base toughness). You have to be careful though, as it can end up wrathing yourself sometimes as well. I also prefer value equipment over damage equipment due to the deck being mono red. Sabertooth Outrider and Atarka Pummeler turn on with just your commander, are on theme, and aggressive.
You'll also want to keep in mind that you want to play on your first main phase most of the time, so cards like Sword of Feast and Famine are less good.
Hey, thanks, that's some really solid advice! I was kind of beating my head against how to recover from board wipe in mono red to the point the obvious eluded me: don't overextend. I wanted to do extra combat stuff mostly to drive in more damage, but those slots could also be used to make it harder for people to deal with them in the first place. You make a good case for Sulfuric Vortex. It's just a shame Rain of Gore has black in the color identity. That'd be closer to what I'd want and it's potentially flavorful with a bunch of warriors on a killing spree. : P I did include things like Sword of Body and Mind and Obsidian Battle-Axe in, half for their damage, half for their value effects. Feast and Famine was in there because it combos with Hellkite Charger for infinite combat steps (it's a sickness, I can't help it!)
https://edhrec.com/ maybe a very useful site for what you are trying to do. Just search for Lovisa, make sure the option for "view as commander" is clicked (it is by default), and then you can see what percentage of Lovisa decklists run different types of cards.
Dunno about your meta, but mine has fetches, tutors, extra-turns shenanigans... stranglehold shuts all of that right down. If you're trying to beat down strategically, disabling tutors and things like Sunforger can really help. Also pretty much ruins ramp deck strategies.
https://edhrec.com/ maybe a very useful site for what you are trying to do. Just search for Lovisa, make sure the option for "view as commander" is clicked (it is by default), and then you can see what percentage of Lovisa decklists run different types of cards.
This was actually a very useful resource, thanks! I added a ton to the list because of it!
Also, yeah, Stranglehold is great. I run it in my Tariel dack. Black and blue decks find it infuriating lol.
Hiya! I'm the author of the Lovisa Primer we have here on the site. I don't have much in the way of offering specific cards, because you cover a lot of it in your OP, but I'm always happy to help if you have any specific questions.
As you mentioned above, the big thing to keep in mind is to avoid overextending, as we don't really have that many ways to recover from a boardwipe if that happens.
Hiya! I'm the author of the Lovisa Primer we have here on the site. I don't have much in the way of offering specific cards, because you cover a lot of it in your OP, but I'm always happy to help if you have any specific questions.
As you mentioned above, the big thing to keep in mind is to avoid overextending, as we don't really have that many ways to recover from a boardwipe if that happens.
Hey, yeah! That'd be great. I have a few questions, how would you like me to get them to you? Post here, in your primer, or PM you?
Hiya! I'm the author of the Lovisa Primer we have here on the site. I don't have much in the way of offering specific cards, because you cover a lot of it in your OP, but I'm always happy to help if you have any specific questions.
As you mentioned above, the big thing to keep in mind is to avoid overextending, as we don't really have that many ways to recover from a boardwipe if that happens.
Hey, yeah! That'd be great. I have a few questions, how would you like me to get them to you? Post here, in your primer, or PM you?
Either works for me. ^.^
And best of luck bringing down those pesky ice mages.
I recently discovered Lovisa Coldeyes and I think I've found my next deck project.
I have some goals in mind for this deck:
Here's some stuff I've been looking at
1 Archetype of Aggression
1 Ash Zealot
1 Boldwyr Intimidator
1 Brighthearth Banneret
1 Goblin Wardriver
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Paragon of Fierce Defiance
1 Splatter Thug
1 Stingscourger
1 Vengeful Firebrand
1 War-Name Aspirant
1 Zealous Conscripts
1 Zo-Zu the Punisher
1 Ogre Battledriver
1 Warchief Giant
1 Vulshok Battlemaster
1 Bloodmark Mentor
1 Wrecking Ogre
1 Hamletback Goliath
1 Kargan Dragonlord
1 Sabertooth Outrider
1 Atarka Pummeler
1 Flamerush Rider
1 Academy Raider
1 Hammerheim Deadeye
1 Manic Vandal
1 Markov Blademaster
1 Cyclops Gladiator
1 Blood Ogre
1 Falkenrath Marauders
1 Jeska, Warrior Adept
1 Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms
1 Manic Vandal
1 Stormblood Berserker
1 Taurean Mauler
1 Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
1 Borderland Marauder
1 Scab-Clan Berserker
1 Countryside Crusher
1 Kragma Butcher
1 Beetleback Chief
1 Avatar of Slaughter
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Godo, Bandit Warlord
1 Balduvian Warlord
1 Hellkite Charger
1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
1 Soul of New Phyrexia
1 Lightning Berserker
1 Urabrask the Hidden
Other stuff
1 Insurrection
1 Warstorm Surge
1 World at War
1 Chandra, Flamecaller
1 Obsidian Battle-Axe
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Dolmen Gate
1 Mimic Vat
1 Blood Moon
1 Raging River
1 Goblin War Drums
1 Sulfuric Vortex
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Reforge the Soul
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Gamble
1 Wild Guess
1 Faithless Looting
1 Price of Glory
1 War's Toll
1 Chaos Warp
1 Stranglehold
1 Koth of the Hammer
1 Shared Animosity
1 Hall of Triumph
1 Bonfire of the Damned
1 Rage Reflection
1 Shattering Pulse
1 Staff of Nin
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Hammer of Purphoros
1 Sword of the Animist
1 War Cadence
1 Karn Liberated
1 Collective Defiance
1 Aggravated Assault
1 Gratuitous Violence
1 Starstorm
1 Chain Reaction
1 Caged Sun
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Gauntlet of Might
1 Mind's Eye
1 Ruby Medallion
1 Uphill Battle
1 Smash
1 Battle Hymn
1 Wild Ricochet
1 Sol Ring
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Akroma's Memorial
1 Cloud Key
1 Berserker's Onslaught
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Scroll Rack
1 Cauldron of Souls
1 Blasphemous Act
1 Ruination
1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
1 Madblind Mountain
1 Mutavault
1 Homeward Path
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Thawing Glaciers
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Arena
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Scrying Sheets
So yeah, I'd love some ideas on where to go from here. Just give me some cards and I'll add them to the list.
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
I find with Lovisa, that I am usually not allowed to build more than three creatures. Otherwise you leave yourself fairly open to wraths and become too large of a target to ignore. I find that evasive effects are more important than extra combats in this deck. I will always play a Raging River, or Goblin War Drums whereas getting stuck with a Savage Beating to no effect has happened a lot to me in the past. Otherwise, running small hate effects pushes the games down faster. Stuff like Sulfuric Vortex cuts people off at the knees when they depend on life gain. Chandra's Ignition acts as a one sided wrath when your commander is out against creatures with toughness 3 or less (most warriors are more than 1 base toughness). You have to be careful though, as it can end up wrathing yourself sometimes as well. I also prefer value equipment over damage equipment due to the deck being mono red. Sabertooth Outrider and Atarka Pummeler turn on with just your commander, are on theme, and aggressive.
You'll also want to keep in mind that you want to play on your first main phase most of the time, so cards like Sword of Feast and Famine are less good.
Current EDH
Akroma W | Tymna and Bruse RBW
Hey, thanks, that's some really solid advice! I was kind of beating my head against how to recover from board wipe in mono red to the point the obvious eluded me: don't overextend. I wanted to do extra combat stuff mostly to drive in more damage, but those slots could also be used to make it harder for people to deal with them in the first place. You make a good case for Sulfuric Vortex. It's just a shame Rain of Gore has black in the color identity. That'd be closer to what I'd want and it's potentially flavorful with a bunch of warriors on a killing spree. : P I did include things like Sword of Body and Mind and Obsidian Battle-Axe in, half for their damage, half for their value effects. Feast and Famine was in there because it combos with Hellkite Charger for infinite combat steps (it's a sickness, I can't help it!)
Great stuff. I'll add them to the list.
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
Flamerush Rider
Academy Raider
Hammerheim Deadeye
Manic Vandal
Markov Blademaster
Cyclops Gladiator (use with Basilisk Collar!)
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Added. I especially like that interaction with Cyclops Gladiator. Fun times!
Right, I'm off. I'll check back later.
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
The Mimeoplasm || Karador, Ghost Chieftain
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher || Vial Smasher/Tymna Group Slug
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief || Talrand, Sky Summoner
Yidris - Unblockable Saboteurs || Kiki-Jiki, ETB breaker
Kess, Dissident Mage
This was actually a very useful resource, thanks! I added a ton to the list because of it!
Also, yeah, Stranglehold is great. I run it in my Tariel dack. Black and blue decks find it infuriating lol.
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
As you mentioned above, the big thing to keep in mind is to avoid overextending, as we don't really have that many ways to recover from a boardwipe if that happens.
My Helpdesk
[Pr] Marath | [Pr] Lovisa | Jodah | Saskia | Najeela | Yisan | Lord Windgrace | Atraxa | Meren | Gisa and Geralf
Hey, yeah! That'd be great. I have a few questions, how would you like me to get them to you? Post here, in your primer, or PM you?
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH
And best of luck bringing down those pesky ice mages.
My Helpdesk
[Pr] Marath | [Pr] Lovisa | Jodah | Saskia | Najeela | Yisan | Lord Windgrace | Atraxa | Meren | Gisa and Geralf
UAzami, Locus of All KnowledgeU
BMarrow-Gnawer, Crime Lord of ComboB
WBRTariel, Hellraiser StaxWBR
Annul is really good in EDH