So I finally got some spare cash flowing in and wanted to build my next Commander. I've been sitting on Captain Sisay for a while now and love her tool box ability. I've seen the decklist that is on the primer and that is just a weee bit out of my price range and out dated. I was looking at something a little more tool box approach vs the infinite combo kill as I like to not be hated off the table after playing someone once or twice.
The one listed in my signature is expensive, but you can throw out a lot of the more expensive stuff for other cheap legendaries. Surprises in my deck usually come from Commander Eesha, Lieutenant Kirtar, and Reki. Throw out $40 for the kitty commander deck, and you can have most of your Sisay deck built already(it was hard for me to not put more of the legendary kitties in my deck as it was...only Mirri and Nazahn, along with his hammer made the cut).
Quest for Renewal will be an all-star in this deck as well...it will be amazing how quickly you can filter out your deck once that goes off. Seeing that Sisay should be tapped frequently, Throne of the God-Pharaoh is a nice way to put additional pressure on your opponents. Themonuments from Amonkhet are useful as well, not to mention mini-Gaea's Cradle.
Hope that gives you some points to start with! Don't forget that planeswalkers are now legendary as well, and can be tutored by Sisay. If you go with them, considertakingthe oaths as well.
I play a Planeswalker version. I play a creature lockdown version. Also a combo version with a link in my signature.
They are all cool and I would consider them all good. Let me know if you want my lists, and I can explain them a bit if one takes your fancy.
I've been really enjoying the Planewalker one, it's got some really nice sequences you can do.
The creature lock down one has lots of hate creatures, like Gaddock Teeg and Elesh Norn, to stop what your opponents can do with Captains Sisay's search ability.
Unfortunately the all have lots of expensive cards. Whats your sort of budget?
I'm thinking budget around 600-700$ maybe before lands, since its a 2 color deck, land base is easier to work with. I bought a handful of cards from tcgplayer. I still need to pick up the commons and uncommons, mana dorks i lack in my collection.
Ah...my decklist runs about $350 or so, for full disclosure(and some of that is because a few of the cards are promos). So, if you like what you see on mine too, feel free to use what you wish.
I need to update my decklist, but I went with a toolbox approach that specialized in hatebears and answers. A lot of legends have abilities that can often answer an entire deck or at least protect you from what your opponent is trying to do. I'll have to update my list sometime this week to match what I am actually playing.
Thank you guys. I'll post what I purchased so we can work from there. Those are some great deck lists. Lots of Legends I either forgot or didn't know about.
I cannot recommend enough AGAINST playing Iona. Yes, that is a powerful legendary, but if your playgroup is not up for that(particularly power level-wise), you will be hated out of games pretty fast.
As for the rest, please don't forget card tags so we can help you more efficiently.
Sorry for tag-less, was rushed to get to work. Updated with tags. Also, Iona's cost is high so she will be harder to cast, and really only works well when you can lock 2 players out. Most of the time she would see play is if you're going up against some combo deck that doesn't go off fast and you can sneak her in.
Truthfully speaking, you're underestimating(perhaps severely so) how easy it can be to get Iona on the board, particularly with green in play. And while your stated restraint is admirable, that has often(with myself and others) been broken because of 'hateplays'(which are always a factor, Iona or no) or 'just to screw over the guy in the lead'. And while Iona is great at slowing down janky combo deck, you still run the risk of locking out a mono-color opponent as well. It's your deck, but I continue to urge you to remove Iona from consideration; she's not worth the hate you can draw(even from those unaffected by her).
Some other points to make:
1. Thalia and Dosan can easily put the screws to you, since they affect all players equally. Thalia can be particularly backstabby if one of your opponents drops something like Grand Arbiter Augustin IVon the battlefield, as those two are BFFs no matter what side they're on. As for Dosan...well, there's a number of 'instants'(heh) where he can prove to be your nightmare, not the least of which is being unable to Swords your opponent's creature swinging in for lethal.
"But I can pick when to cast them, I don't have to cast them right away!" you might be saying. Holding onto them for a situational maneuver is effectively making them dead draws(which can be a significant weakness of a Sisay deck). As they sit in your hand, you wait and wait and wait for the right moment...which either never comes, or comes too late to give you the advantage you want. Most of your other critters are useful most, if not all, of the time; you have to acknowledge that Thalia and Dosan are not so much, unless the deck is built for them.
2. Eladamri's Call is a good card, but I would suggest replacing it with Tooth and Nail. While 'everyone' casts it for entwine, the nice thing in a Sisay deck is that you don't need to do that. It's just as nice to grab two creatures into your hand for a later card I'll point out, or to drop two overcosted EldraziLegends onto the field as needed.
3. Hunting Grounds is a magnificent card, guaranteed to scare the crap out of people if you drop it turn 2. Those janky combo decks suddenly work in your favor.
4. Genesis Wave or Green Sun's Zenith are arguably better than Chord of Calling. They might be worth flipping around as you figure out which is best(or run all three for maximum lolz).
5. Root Maze also affects you. Unless you plan to run Seedborn Muse, I would recommend instead running Blind Obedience(the Extort explanation does not make it illegal in a non-black deck...that's reminder text).
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
The one listed in my signature is expensive, but you can throw out a lot of the more expensive stuff for other cheap legendaries. Surprises in my deck usually come from Commander Eesha, Lieutenant Kirtar, and Reki. Throw out $40 for the kitty commander deck, and you can have most of your Sisay deck built already(it was hard for me to not put more of the legendary kitties in my deck as it was...only Mirri and Nazahn, along with his hammer made the cut).
Quest for Renewal will be an all-star in this deck as well...it will be amazing how quickly you can filter out your deck once that goes off. Seeing that Sisay should be tapped frequently, Throne of the God-Pharaoh is a nice way to put additional pressure on your opponents. The monuments from Amonkhet are useful as well, not to mention mini-Gaea's Cradle.
Hope that gives you some points to start with! Don't forget that planeswalkers are now legendary as well, and can be tutored by Sisay. If you go with them, consider taking the oaths as well.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)
They are all cool and I would consider them all good. Let me know if you want my lists, and I can explain them a bit if one takes your fancy.
I've been really enjoying the Planewalker one, it's got some really nice sequences you can do.
The creature lock down one has lots of hate creatures, like Gaddock Teeg and Elesh Norn, to stop what your opponents can do with Captains Sisay's search ability.
Unfortunately the all have lots of expensive cards. Whats your sort of budget?
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)
2023 Average Peasant Cube|and Discussion
Because I have more decks than fit in a signature
Useful Resources:
MTGSalvation tags
EDHREC
ManabaseCrafter
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
As for the rest, please don't forget card tags so we can help you more efficiently.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)
BWREDGAR MARKOV VAMPIRESBWR
Some other points to make:
1. Thalia and Dosan can easily put the screws to you, since they affect all players equally. Thalia can be particularly backstabby if one of your opponents drops something like Grand Arbiter Augustin IVon the battlefield, as those two are BFFs no matter what side they're on. As for Dosan...well, there's a number of 'instants'(heh) where he can prove to be your nightmare, not the least of which is being unable to Swords your opponent's creature swinging in for lethal.
"But I can pick when to cast them, I don't have to cast them right away!" you might be saying. Holding onto them for a situational maneuver is effectively making them dead draws(which can be a significant weakness of a Sisay deck). As they sit in your hand, you wait and wait and wait for the right moment...which either never comes, or comes too late to give you the advantage you want. Most of your other critters are useful most, if not all, of the time; you have to acknowledge that Thalia and Dosan are not so much, unless the deck is built for them.
2. Eladamri's Call is a good card, but I would suggest replacing it with Tooth and Nail. While 'everyone' casts it for entwine, the nice thing in a Sisay deck is that you don't need to do that. It's just as nice to grab two creatures into your hand for a later card I'll point out, or to drop two overcosted Eldrazi Legends onto the field as needed.
3. Hunting Grounds is a magnificent card, guaranteed to scare the crap out of people if you drop it turn 2. Those janky combo decks suddenly work in your favor.
4. Genesis Wave or Green Sun's Zenith are arguably better than Chord of Calling. They might be worth flipping around as you figure out which is best(or run all three for maximum lolz).
5. Root Maze also affects you. Unless you plan to run Seedborn Muse, I would recommend instead running Blind Obedience(the Extort explanation does not make it illegal in a non-black deck...that's reminder text).
All I have for now...let me know what you think.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)