MTG Salvation

Etrata, the Silencer 2UB
Legendary Creature - Vampire Assassin (R)
Etrata, the Silencer can't be blocked.
Whenever Etrata deals combat damage to a player, exile target creature that player controls and put a hit counter on that card. That player loses the game if they own three or more exiled cards with hit counters on them. Etrata's owner shuffles Etrata into their library.
3/5

Three hit to finish off any opponent, reminds me of a certain anime character. I like Etrata a lot, because she's a Dimir legend who's not a slave to the usual overused milling theme. The downside? Her ability is NOT an option, which requires to work around.

The way I'd build it would involve many self-bounce effect and enters-battlefield- trigger creatures, including Curfew, so instead of shuffling Etrata or send her back to command zone I'd just replay her, favorably with haste. Similarly, one could use sac effect to send her to the graveyard then revive her with Nim Deathmantle. Further, phase out effects like Vodalian Illusionist work with Etrata just fine.

Similar to Tetsuo Umezawa, you need creatures on opponent's side of the field to work. Exhume/Twilight's Call allows you to bring creature to everyone's field before you exile them, but I suspect in most cases you will have a target somewhere.

Rakath in Rumor forum mentioned that Etrata could aim to be an artifact focused general because many combos involving her (Strionic Resonator, Rings of Brighthearth, etc).

Etrata is also workable with voltron given that she cannot be blocked, but that is less favored due to her leaving the field after the combat damage (unless you want to go wacky and use Bestow creatures instead, in which you will bring all the enchantment creatures into play after Etrata leaves).

Regardless of the approach, Etrata could kill an opponent with one or two hit with some set up. I will gather ideas in this thread and form a list for deck building benefits.



Let's Brew!

How does it work with fireshrieker or any other double(/triple) strike stuff? She'll have to leave the battlefield in between strikes. Also rings only works if you have resonator out, but maybe that's good enough.

Too bad she doesn't work on tokens, otherwise forbidden orchard would be the nuts.

• Vanishing
  
• Endless Sands

Fireshrieker is indeed a nonbo.

maybe an Isochron Scepter suite?

Thank you all for correction, will remove the double-strike cards.

Quote from cyberium_neo »

Thank you all for correction, will remove the double-strike cards.

lol title is also inaccurate. Plz correct.

I request it be retitled : Etrata three-strikes, but separate strikes, but maybe only two if you have strionic resonator, finisher.

Saw darrenhabib post it in the rumor thread: Mirror Gallery + Blade of Selves

Quote from DirkGently »

Quote from cyberium_neo »

Thank you all for correction, will remove the double-strike cards.

lol title is also inaccurate. Plz correct.

I request it be retitled : Etrata three-strikes, but separate strikes, but maybe only two if you have strionic resonator, finisher.

"Three strikes" makes sense, who knew Ravnicans do baseball. :3

Don't suppose there's any meme or pop culture reference for killing three people. Kill Bill was five...

Extra turn cards like Nexus of Fate and Beacon of Tomorrows.

So...if I'm facing her and the only creature I control is my general, she HAS to exile it. Then let's say I cast my general again...and it's my only creature again. Etrata attacking me again...doesn't net her owner another hit counter, but it does just exile the general again.

I don't know how often that would arise, but it seems a way to block that wincon. Maybe use Proteus Staff to bring out another creature that you will exile? Seems risky, but who knows.

EDIT: Also maybe use the cards that remove hexproof?

The only problem with Curfew is that you have to put it on the stack in response to the exile trigger so they can just return the creature you've targeted.

Vanishing is the bomb.dot.com

Repeatable bounce/flicker
Barrin, Master Wizard
Deadeye Navigator
Tradewind Rider
Waterfront Bouncer

Lands you can use to leverage less commander tax.
Endless Sands
Safe Haven
Command Beacon
Back these up with Crucible of Worlds.

You could imprint a bounce spell like Snap onto Spellbinder, Isochron Scepter, Elite Arcanist.

You could use Ninjutsu as a repeatable method specifically using;
Walker of Secret Ways
Then Higure, the Still Wind is a nice way to search for Walker of Secret Ways. This might even allow you to leverage putting a few more Ninjutsu creatures?

I think because you're looking to recast Etrata, the Silencer every turn if you get a static bounce effect setup, that any cost reductions spells are going to really help.

• Bontu's Monument
  
• Jet Medallion
  
• Jhoira's Familiar
  
• Kefnet's Monument
  
• Nightscape Familiar
  
• Planar Gate
  
• Sapphire Medallion
  
• Seal of the Guildpact
  
• Semblance Anvil
  
• Stone Calendar
  
• Stormscape Familiar
  
• The Immortal Sun
  
• Urza's Filter
  
• Urza's Incubator
  
• Omniscience

You could straight up search for it from your library;

• Citanul Flute
  
• Planar Bridge
  
• Planar Portal
  
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded
  
• Ring of Three Wishes

You could even use a sacrifice outlet like High Market, Phyrexian Altar, etc, to send Etrata to graveyard to skirt commander tax by using;

• Dawn of the Dead
  
• Decaying Soil
  
• Endbringer's Revel
  
• Fool's Demise
  
• Malevolent Awakening
  
• Oath of Ghouls
  
• Oversold Cemetery
  
• Palace Siege
  
• Phyrexian Reclamation
  
• Strands of Night
  
• Tortured Existence

Other weird stuff is using graveyard recursion like Oath of Ghouls for example to bring back; Dimir House Guard, Fleshwrither, if you don't have a sacrifice outlet, which can search for Etrata.

---

If you wanted to get super kooky then you could leverage Arcane Adaptation and use it with "Mercenaries"; Cateran Enforcer, Cateran Overlord, Cateran Slaver.
Or even Higure, the Still Wind naming Ninja.

Quote from darrenhabib »

The only problem with Curfew is that you have to put it on the stack in response to the exile trigger so they can just return the creature you've targeted.

Vanishing is the bomb.dot.com

Repeatable bounce/flicker
Barrin, Master Wizard
Deadeye Navigator
Tradewind Rider
Waterfront Bouncer

Lands you can use to leverage less commander tax.
Endless Sands
Safe Haven
Command Beacon
Back these up with Crucible of Worlds.

You could imprint a bounce spell like Snap onto Spellbinder, Isochron Scepter, Elite Arcanist.

You could use Ninjutsu as a repeatable method specifically using;
Walker of Secret Ways
Then Higure, the Still Wind is a nice way to search for Walker of Secret Ways. This might even allow you to leverage putting a few more Ninjutsu creatures?

I think because you're looking to recast Etrata, the Silencer every turn if you get a static bounce effect setup, that any cost reductions spells are going to really help.

• Bontu's Monument
  
• Jet Medallion
  
• Jhoira's Familiar
  
• Kefnet's Monument
  
• Nightscape Familiar
  
• Planar Gate
  
• Sapphire Medallion
  
• Seal of the Guildpact
  
• Semblance Anvil
  
• Stone Calendar
  
• Stormscape Familiar
  
• The Immortal Sun
  
• Urza's Filter
  
• Urza's Incubator
  
• Omniscience

You could straight up search for it from your library;

• Citanul Flute
  
• Planar Bridge
  
• Planar Portal
  
• Razaketh, the Foulblooded
  
• Ring of Three Wishes

You could even use a sacrifice outlet like High Market, Phyrexian Altar, etc, to send Etrata to graveyard to skirt commander tax by using;

• Dawn of the Dead
  
• Decaying Soil
  
• Endbringer's Revel
  
• Fool's Demise
  
• Malevolent Awakening
  
• Oath of Ghouls
  
• Oversold Cemetery
  
• Palace Siege
  
• Phyrexian Reclamation
  
• Strands of Night
  
• Tortured Existence

Other weird stuff is using graveyard recursion like Oath of Ghouls for example to bring back; Dimir House Guard, Fleshwrither, if you don't have a sacrifice outlet, which can search for Etrata.

---

If you wanted to get super kooky then you could leverage Arcane Adaptation and use it with "Mercenaries"; Cateran Enforcer, Cateran Overlord, Cateran Slaver.
Or even Higure, the Still Wind naming Ninja.

Thx for all the good cards, and I noticed that we could use off-color Amonkhet Monuments as well since their triggers are not limited to creature spells of their respective colors.

Night Dealings is a great search card for Etrata after damage.

And when you mention about race change and fetching, perhaps Etrata has a place in Zur-Rebel deck? Since it's already aiming at playing rebel via Zur and Arcane Adaptation.

Quote from cyberium_neo »

And when you mention about race change and fetching, perhaps Etrata has a place in Zur-Rebel deck? Since it's already aiming at playing rebel via Zur and Arcane Adaptation.

Yes indeed, will add it for sure, more for fun rather than potent interaction.

I was also thinking that for non Commander related decks that have Brago, King Eternal as part of the 99, so for example an Esper deck, that I think this would work with Etrata, the Silencer. You should be able to stack the triggers so that the exile is the last to happen and that you can Brago blink out Etrata first.

Quote from DirkGently »

three-strikes, but separate strikes, but maybe only two if you have strionic resonator, finisher.

Strionic Resonator + Rings of Brighthearth lets you get there in a single hit, if you've got 4 mana open and they have at least 3 nontoken creatures.

Quote from Lithl »

Quote from DirkGently »

three-strikes, but separate strikes, but maybe only two if you have strionic resonator, finisher.

Strionic Resonator + Rings of Brighthearth lets you get there in a single hit, if you've got 4 mana open and they have at least 3 nontoken creatures.

That's a way to abuse her

Ok, so I’ve got a crazy idea. How about using things like Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas, Karn, Silver Golem, or Toymaker to convert artifacts into creatures for us to kill? Etrata only requires cards with hit counters, not creatures.

Yeah that is what I was thinking too, drop March of the Machines and start taking hits all over the place, it also slows down those strategies because then rocks all have summoning sickness.

Quote from Taleran »

Yeah that is what I was thinking too, drop March of the Machines and start taking hits all over the place, it also slows down those strategies because then rocks all have summoning sickness.

It also deals with many non-Enchantress decks that play minimal creatures as it’s probably the only way we can force opponents to gain creatures which work with Etrata, short of running Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Kormus Bell.

You can use bouncers to avoid the tax or tucking.

Quote from ChaosNomad »

Ok, so I’ve got a crazy idea. How about using things like Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas, Karn, Silver Golem, or Toymaker to convert artifacts into creatures for us to kill? Etrata only requires cards with hit counters, not creatures.

Clever, might as well add Mycosynth Lattice while we’re at it. If Etrata has white, I would’ve use all the bargain creatures, and land animater if she has green. A shame Awaken only works with your own creature.

Are there any similar effects in U/B and artifacts? Isn’t there a Mishra something artifact that animated land...

Quote from cyberium_neo »

Clever, might as well add Mycosynth Lattice while we’re at it. If Etrata has white, I would’ve use all the bargain creatures, and land animater if she has green. A shame Awaken only works with your own creature.

Are there any similar effects in U/B and artifacts? Isn’t there a Mishra something artifact that animated land...

The card you're thinking of is Mishra's Groundbreaker, but for that cost Wind Zendikon or Corrupted Zendikon might be the better bet.

I'm surprised there's no mention of a sac outlet and Corpse Dance. Dodges commander tax, gets in for a hit with haste, then sac and repeat.

Quote from KissMyAssassin »

I'm surprised there's no mention of a sac outlet and Corpse Dance. Dodges commander tax, gets in for a hit with haste, then sac and repeat.

Goryo's Vengeance too, if one has it. Great idea! Looks like the killing is getting sharper.

And, on the top I mentioned an idea of going creatureless/tokens and uses Polymorph and Proteus Staff, this would ensure Corpse Dance always hits Etrata.

Quote from MRdown2urth »

So...if I'm facing her and the only creature I control is my general, she HAS to exile it. Then let's say I cast my general again...and it's my only creature again. Etrata attacking me again...doesn't net her owner another hit counter, but it does just exile the general again.

I don't know how often that would arise, but it seems a way to block that wincon. Maybe use Proteus Staff to bring out another creature that you will exile? Seems risky, but who knows.

EDIT: Also maybe use the cards that remove hexproof?

There are two problems with this:
1) You would most likely put your Commander into the Command Zone instead of letting it get exiled.
2) Hit counters go on the CARD not the player, so even if a single card got 15 counters on it somehow, if it is the only card with counters, then the owner will not lose the game.