I’m really drawn particularly to the last two: Neheb, the Eternal and Etali, Primal Storm, but each way I’m brainstorming to build them how I would want to, I see some issues that I’m hoping I can get some feedback on to clarify my own thinking and decision-making before I spend countless hours brewing and settling on a list.
I would build Neheb, the Eternal as either spellslinger burn or creature-heavy aggro to make opponents lose life and take advantage of Neheb’s post-combat ability, both would use extra combat step spells and abilities (a theme Neheb and Etali builds would share). It would basically be swinging out of the gates, trying to kill as many opponents as possible in as fast as possible, even taking out myself if it comes to it, but I’m having fun. This doesn’t seem like it would make any friends and would draw a lot of early hate from tables a la many Norin, the Wary, Purphoros, God of the Forge, and Rakdos, Lord of Riots decks I’ve played against, and I dunno if drawing that much attention/hate would be fun for me.
Etali, Primal Storm seems pretty straightforward for me: ramp him out, various haste enablers and extra combat spells and abilities to abuse his attack trigger and reap the profits of ripping spells of of opponents’ and my own libraries, maybe with my own top-deck manipulation via Sensei’s Divining Top and/or Scroll Rack. But, really, enough turns or extra combats with Etali on the field can really take a game away. The issues I see with this? I know a lot of players hate (some absolutely despise) having their spells “stolen” from their own libraries and used against themselves. Even the threat of doing so, and Etali signals that pretty clearly, would draw a lot of hate, even if illogical based on the board state just because other players don’t want their toys taken from them. I’ve heard many a player lement on Memnarch, Thada Adel, Acquisitor, Merieke Ri Berit, Sen Triplets, and other like “theft” strategies. I’ll admit that I don’t particularly like the idea of it if it makes a lot of players feel that way, but Etali looks so fun to me that I’m still interested. I could always “play nice” and choose not to cast a majority of the exiled spells, and only take ones that are real bombs or can help my strategy directly.
So I can’t really decide! Anyone have any insights or can shed any light on my quasi pro-cons above? I know Etali is newer, so might not get as much feedback, but maybe some feedback on the general strategy that he is drawn to.
Check out the thread Double this, double that, if you want to try a cool spellslinger deck. Squee is the commander to take advantage of red looting, and play a rather controlish style and can go off in a huge blow. And aborter good thing, nobody sees Squee as a threat!
I’m really drawn particularly to the last two: Neheb, the Eternal and Etali, Primal Storm, but each way I’m brainstorming to build them how I would want to, I see some issues that I’m hoping I can get some feedback on to clarify my own thinking and decision-making before I spend countless hours brewing and settling on a list.
I would build Neheb, the Eternal as either spellslinger burn or creature-heavy aggro to make opponents lose life and take advantage of Neheb’s post-combat ability, both would use extra combat step spells and abilities (a theme Neheb and Etali builds would share). It would basically be swinging out of the gates, trying to kill as many opponents as possible in as fast as possible, even taking out myself if it comes to it, but I’m having fun. This doesn’t seem like it would make any friends and would draw a lot of early hate from tables a la many Norin, the Wary, Purphoros, God of the Forge, and Rakdos, Lord of Riots decks I’ve played against, and I dunno if drawing that much attention/hate would be fun for me.
Etali, Primal Storm seems pretty straightforward for me: ramp him out, various haste enablers and extra combat spells and abilities to abuse his attack trigger and reap the profits of ripping spells of of opponents’ and my own libraries, maybe with my own top-deck manipulation via Sensei’s Divining Top and/or Scroll Rack. But, really, enough turns or extra combats with Etali on the field can really take a game away. The issues I see with this? I know a lot of players hate (some absolutely despise) having their spells “stolen” from their own libraries and used against themselves. Even the threat of doing so, and Etali signals that pretty clearly, would draw a lot of hate, even if illogical based on the board state just because other players don’t want their toys taken from them. I’ve heard many a player lement on Memnarch, Thada Adel, Acquisitor, Merieke Ri Berit, Sen Triplets, and other like “theft” strategies. I’ll admit that I don’t particularly like the idea of it if it makes a lot of players feel that way, but Etali looks so fun to me that I’m still interested. I could always “play nice” and choose not to cast a majority of the exiled spells, and only take ones that are real bombs or can help my strategy directly.
So I can’t really decide! Anyone have any insights or can shed any light on my quasi pro-cons above? I know Etali is newer, so might not get as much feedback, but maybe some feedback on the general strategy that he is drawn to.
Thanks in advance all!
Current EDH
UThassa, God of the Sea devotion control
WRGTana, the Bloodsower & Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa partners weenie tokens
UUnesh, Criosphinx Sovereign Sphinx tribal
WUTaigam, Ojutai Master tokens on the rebound spellslinger
GRhonas the Indomitable green creature beats
UGRashmi, Eternities Crafter ETB tribal
Retired EDH
WURGKynaios and Tiro of Meletis group hug
URThe Locust God draw swarm
UTalrand, Sky Summoner funsies blue spells
WBObzedat, Ghost Council life gain/drain