MTG Salvation

So I want to build a Naya deck that wins through "I win" alternate win effects. Additionally on theme, I want to include a few you can't lose cards. However, i'm looking for ways to make the deck feel cohesive while also being able to fullfill the alternate win conditions:

Test of Endurance - Epic Struggle - Mayael's Aria - Approach of the second sun - Darksteel Reactor - Felidar Sovereign.

So obiously I need to gain lots of life, preferably infinite and need lots of creatures, so probably using tokens will be neccesary.

Any suggestions on specific cards and/or angles to make the deck cohesive?

Definitly an enchantress style deck. Argothian Enchantress and friends. Idyllic Tutor even an Obliterate (because it doesn't hit enchantments, but only good with the 50 life one)
Can do life gain, all your enchantment tutors, card draw, removal and protection.

Nemata Grove Guardian could make 20 creatures or a 20 power creature.

There is also the Helix Pinnacle. Naya has a few infinite mana combos you could utilize to get the Pinnacle online, and not many decks run a LOT of effects that can deal with it. It'd also fit in the Enchantress style build SlaveToPhage suggested.

Approach of the Second Sun

I'll second the enchantress idea, Naya is a solid set of enchantress colors, a lot of alternate win cards are enchantments, and the card draw from the enchantresses will get you to the alt-win cards.

Especially good with Approach of the Second Sun; cast it and then every enchantment digs you closer to it for the win.

Darksteel reactor seems bad unless you have a lot of counter-adding effects and i'd say there are enough alt wins (around 6 by my count) that you don't need it.

I think five color is a lot easy to do alt win con decks but you can go for naya if you want.

The reason 5 is better is yo,u have access to even more wincons and black has the tutoring cards.

There are so many great ones. Two of my personal favs are Near-death experience and Barren Glory because they reward you for doing specific things that you don't otherwise necessarily want to do. More in line with the other cards you've listed is Celestial Convergence

Then, I feel like there is a thematic overlap with cards like Last Chance, Final Fortune and the new Amonkhet card Glorious End. I feel like there is a thematic link here, but these also probably fit in well with what you're trying to do. They go especially well with "you can't lose" cards like Platinum Angel, which is fun too.

An enchantress theme sounds like a good idea. You can combine it with some of the usual pillowfort and grouphug enchantments to keep yourself alive.

For a commander, I'd suggest Marath, Will of the Wild. His abilities help you win through either Epic Struggle or Mayael's Aria, or even burn yourself low enough to win through Near-Death Experience.

Wild Ricochet is a pretty clutch card for protecting your wincons from destruction. Alternately, you can use it to steal an opponent's 'I win' card. Sterling Grove is more reliable protection, and also tutors for your wincons.

This deck sounds sweet. I kinda want to build it now...

Quote from SlaveToPhage »

Definitly an enchantress style deck. Argothian Enchantress and friends. Idyllic Tutor even an Obliterate (because it doesn't hit enchantments, but only good with the 50 life one)
Can do life gain, all your enchantment tutors, card draw, removal and protection.

I understand your suggestion, but I already have an enchantment heavy deck, and I'm afraid this would play too much the same if I went that route. Also, Obliterate, being mass land destruction, is frowned upon in my group.

Quote from Krimsonmask »

Nemata Grove Guardian could make 20 creatures or a 20 power creature.

Good catch, will definitly add that one. I just recently deconstructed an old Treefolk deck where it was in, so this and the Gaea's Crade that it's good with will slide perfectly into this new deck.

Quote from LouCypher »

There is also the Helix Pinnacle. Naya has a few infinite mana combos you could utilize to get the Pinnacle online, and not many decks run a LOT of effects that can deal with it. It'd also fit in the Enchantress style build SlaveToPhage suggested.

Good call. I think I will add this one. Normally i feel kind of bad playing infinite combo, but this deck could be a good compromise. Being able to go infinite in mana and life but at the same time not winning immediately because you do feels like this could be a "fair" combo deck.

Quote from darrenhabib »

Approach of the Second Sun

This card being spoiled, along with the inkling of Mayael's Anima, is what made me decide to finally build it. So this is definitly going in. As is the new Gideon.

Quote from aslidsiksoraksi »

Darksteel reactor seems bad unless you have a lot of counter-adding effects and i'd say there are enough alt wins (around 6 by my count) that you don't need it.

Agreed. I can have a few that win off of life, Epic Struggle and the anima to win off of creatures and the Pinnacle to win with mana.

Quote from Nemo1342 »

There are so many great ones. Two of my personal favs are Near-death experience and Barren Glory because they reward you for doing specific things that you don't otherwise necessarily want to do. More in line with the other cards you've listed is Celestial ConvergenceNear-Death Experience is on my maybe list... it's nice with cards that allow me to pay life but it seems a bit counterintuitive in a deck that aims to gain infinite life. Barren Glory is too wacky for me. You aim to fullfill it's conditions only to have someone instant speed removal it and you've just locked yourself out of the game. Not my cup of tea. Celestial Convergence seems too slow... My aim would be too drop a alt win card, give everyone one turn to answer it, or it kicks in. This is too much signalling beforehand imo.

[quote from="Hungerstriker »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/774705-naya-deck-wins-looking-for-suggestions?comment=9"]For a commander, I'd suggest Marath, Will of the Wild. His abilities help you win through either Epic Struggle or Mayael's Aria, or even burn yourself low enough to win through Near-Death Experience.

Yeah he seems like a good commander, I was doubting between him or Rith, The Awakener. Marath is more swiss army knife, but Rith is a 5+ power creature for Mayael's Anima and makes tokens for Epic Struggle.

Quote from Hungerstriker »

This deck sounds sweet. I kinda want to build it now...

If you do, please share your list. I will once I get a draft version up but giving my schedule, this may take another week or two.


Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming!

I think you'll want plenty of recursion effects. Besides the obvious Green options in that department, white offers plenty of mass recursion. Replenish, Second Sunrise, Open the Vaults and Faith's Reward all have the potential to blow out a game by not only bringing back your win conditions but also, in some cases, circumvent targeted or mass destruction.

Crystal Chimes, maybe?

Hellkite Tyrant might be too easy with Mycosynth Lattice.

Epic Struggle and Helix Pinnacle can both be helped out by Doubling Season.

Newcomer Approach of the Second Sun seems like something you can use some card draw and self-mill to cast twice, and seems "fair".

Quote from Skios »

I think you'll want plenty of recursion effects. Besides the obvious Green options in that department, white offers plenty of mass recursion. Replenish, Second Sunrise, Open the Vaults and Faith's Reward all have the potential to blow out a game by not only bringing back your win conditions but also, in some cases, circumvent targeted or mass destruction.

I will definitly add Replenish and Open the Vaults, if only for the "O ***** now he has 3 win triggers in play, how do we stop them all" look on opponents faces.

The last bit I need to start seriously brewing is infinite life combos for this deck. I know about Angelic Protector/Task Force with any any Kor creature and then sacrificing them to Worthy Cause/Miren, the Moaning Well, but what else?