So i was talking with my playgroup last night and we were talking about playing a Vanilla EDH deck, and it got me thinking, is this even viable?
My challenge is a vanilla EDH deck (All creatures have no abilities) and still be able to win in a casual-focused environment. (though i think my meta may be more of an optimized place.)
so that is my challenge. I also want to build this deck so i do have a budget as well.
I'd think you want to at least be Green/White so you can have Muraganda Petroglyphs for obvious reasons and Humility to make everyone "suffer" with you. Throw in protection for your enchantments like Sterling Grove, Greater Auramancy, and Fountain Watch. For the creatures themselves, you want to stick with the 1-2 drops to play around your own humility. Add all this up and you have the Magic the Gathering version of Yu-Gi-Oh's Skill Drain deck.
If need be, splash blue to protect your antics as well. Maybe Kesita because you can bestow around the Humility. God I kinda want to try this deck now.
I second the GW or maybe Naya enchantments, though you'll probably have to go in a different direction than a normal Enchantress build since your challenge automatically excludes most Enchantress effects. I would personally look at a go wide strategy with aggressively costed creatures and buff enchants/anthems.
You can't buff your creatures if you give them shroud yes. The thing is I'm more concerned with shrouding the enchantments. Not gonna shed a tear if someone Terminates my Eager Cadet. Actually I'd be amused it got to such a point really.
I second the GW or maybe Naya enchantments, though you'll probably have to go in a different direction than a normal Enchantress build since your challenge automatically excludes most Enchantress effects. I would personally look at a go wide strategy with aggressively costed creatures and buff enchants/anthems.
If nothing else I support it since it gives you a real reason to run of those vanilla legends from legends as your commander ^^
You can also go the cheap route of running no creatures at all But that dodges the challenge a bit. I think the best way is to do some kind of ramp/card draw deck combined with some type of effect that cares about you having a bunch of creature. Some kind of GR deck that plays Gigantosaurus et al to beat face and later flings them at people's faces.
How i feel about competitive players and casual players in EDH: The competitive are german tourists, the casual are italian tourists, both in a italian beach. The italians asking themselves "why are the germans here?" make a legitimate question, the answer is because the beach is beautiful, no matter the country you came from. The italians wanting to ban the germans are dumb, because if the germans pay for their stay and follow the rules like everyone else, they have the right to be in the beach. Hovewer, if the germans started to ask themselves "why are the italians here?"... they would be dumb as hell.
If nothing else I support it since it gives you a real reason to run of those vanilla legends from legends as your commander ^^
You can also go the cheap route of running no creatures at all But that dodges the challenge a bit. I think the best way is to do some kind of ramp/card draw deck combined with some type of effect that cares about you having a bunch of creature. Some kind of GR deck that plays Gigantosaurus et al to beat face and later flings them at people's faces.
List of vanilla creatures, green seems to be the best option in creature quality, no surprise here
Link is broken, but yes I think R/G is the best bet. use The lady of the mountain as my commander and just toss in Big dumb creatures.
Calamity Unbound posted a good list of enchantments to help.
How many creatures does it take to not defeat the purpose?
I think the hard thing about this kind of challenge is that your best deck will always be the one that basically ignores the creatures and treats them as blanks. So you have to set some strict requirements for the sorts of things you're allowed to do.
How many creatures does it take to not defeat the purpose?
I think the hard thing about this kind of challenge is that your best deck will always be the one that basically ignores the creatures and treats them as blanks. So you have to set some strict requirements for the sorts of things you're allowed to do.
I say about 20.
They deck is all about having blanks. they are big and dumb. green allows some ramp and red allows grull enchantments that boost.
The main issue is that every deck you see, unless the creature is really big, you will never see them in an EDH deck. Even Desolation twin, come sin with a friend. I want this deck to win but keep within the restrictions of No abilities on the creatures. (and my general is just as blank as the creatures I am running, which means this deck really does not depend on the general.
I mean I run an aggro dragons and one of my players quits after oe game. Its not a super strong deck, it is just much stringe rthan his (And it is my only deck, but i have a Yuriko about to be renovated and in the process of building Brudiclad and Firesong. I also have 10 guild decks all following a restriction (All decks may only contain cards from the ravnica sets (with very minor exceptions)
so I wnat to build this deck to have something fun to pull out, removes every threat given at face value for fun.
Go GW Jasmine Boreal. You can use anthems, pump effects, and vanilla token generating spells along with the normal green ramp and white removal options. I think Jasmine Boreal would be better than Torsten Von Ursus or Sir Shandlar of Eberyn because she is cheaper to cast and easier to acquire as it was printed as a Time Shifted card in Time Spiral.
The other option is RG Jerrard of the Closed Fist (better than The Lady of the Mountain) with a similar theme (anthems, generating vanilla tokens, green ramp, and red removal), and even though you have less pump effects you gain some interesting potential options in red like Confusion in the Ranks.
Go GW Jasmine Boreal. You can use anthems, pump effects, and vanilla token generating spells along with the normal green ramp and white removal options. I think Jasmine Boreal would be better than Torsten Von Ursus or Sir Shandlar of Eberyn because she is cheaper to cast and easier to acquire as it was printed as a Time Shifted card in Time Spiral.
The other option is RG Jerrard of the Closed Fist (better than The Lady of the Mountain) with a similar theme (anthems, generating vanilla tokens, green ramp, and red removal), and even though you have less pump effects you gain some interesting potential options in red like Confusion in the Ranks.
CONFUSON IN THE RANKS, so cruel and so perfect. Here you get a 1/1 vanilla and I get your 7/7 flyer.
and yea anthems work, grull has some nice stuff.
jerrard is fine but both cost 6 and Jerrard is a little harder to cast for 1 extra power. Although, Jerrard kills in 4 hits, Lady kills in 5...
I second the GW or maybe Naya enchantments, though you'll probably have to go in a different direction than a normal Enchantress build since your challenge automatically excludes most Enchantress effects. I would personally look at a go wide strategy with aggressively costed creatures and buff enchants/anthems.
Gahji, Honored One night be a good option if you decide to go the Naya route.
Gahiji is not vanilla.
but i do like the idea of Naya enchantments.
Sorry, didn't see you'd specified that the general also had to be vanilla. That's going to limit your color choices, so I agree that Gruul is your best option after that.
I second the GW or maybe Naya enchantments, though you'll probably have to go in a different direction than a normal Enchantress build since your challenge automatically excludes most Enchantress effects. I would personally look at a go wide strategy with aggressively costed creatures and buff enchants/anthems.
Gahji, Honored One night be a good option if you decide to go the Naya route.
Gahiji is not vanilla.
but i do like the idea of Naya enchantments.
Sorry, didn't see you'd specified that the general also had to be vanilla. That's going to limit your color choices, so I agree that Gruul is your best option after that.
Yeah I am gonna go grull. I feel it is the best bet to get fatties.
It's a joke. Back when this was conceptualized, this format was (and still is, tbh) one where everyone complained about everything and no one should have anything nice. Can't have trample or removal, or things that gain flying, that's too OP. Anything that distracts from getting my blade onto my Wurm is OP and way too unfun....
As a thought exercise, I optimized this list with latter creatures, typically higher p/t ratio to cmc while keeping with the theory of being a deck without answers. That's been some number of years ago now, but the name "craw-blade" always stuck out in my mind as a shot to the caw-blade standard (SHA-ZEN).
It's a joke. Back when this was conceptualized, this format was (and still is, tbh) one where everyone complained about everything and no one should have anything nice. Can't have trample or removal, or things that gain flying, that's too OP. Anything that distracts from getting my blade onto my Wurm is OP and way too unfun....
As a thought exercise, I optimized this list with latter creatures, typically higher p/t ratio to cmc while keeping with the theory of being a deck without answers. That's been some number of years ago now, but the name "craw-blade" always stuck out in my mind as a shot to the caw-blade standard (SHA-ZEN).
Its not really woosh if you don't get the reference. if you don't take into account someone's background (I this case players and meta) thay cannot be held accounted for getting or not getting the joke. my meta is filled with a variety of decks, some having answers and some that do not, some bounce back faster than others. (And some decks can come back and win even when they get hit by a ruination and run 0 basics)
But thanks for the explanation, i get it now. i also get that the thread should have been read sarcastically. But at the same time, this challenge deck is actually meant to be taken seriously, i really want to build an all vanilla deck, just for laughs. It might not win often, but if i can get even 20% win rate, that will be okay with me. I mean 1/5 games. My biggest advantage is not being seen as a threat, and thus ignored.
Do tokens (that have no abilities) count against your theme? If not then Sandwurm Convergence craps out big vanilla beaters every turn while stopping cheaty fliers and contributing to your enchantment theme. There's definitely more (and better) ones you can run, but whether tokens count is up to you.
If you want to take Igzex's idea a bit further and play some cards that put your opponents creatures down to your level and make the game "simple", Torpor Orb, Cursed Totem, and Damping Matrix lock down activated and triggered abilities. Rest in Peace stops death triggers and Eon Hub stops upkeep triggers. Katabatic Winds is funny as a way of hating on those totally unfair creatures with flying, at least every other turn.
Do tokens (that have no abilities) count against your theme? If not then Sandwurm Convergence craps out big vanilla beaters every turn while stopping cheaty fliers and contributing to your enchantment theme. There's definitely more (and better) ones you can run, but whether tokens count is up to you.
If you want to take Igzex's idea a bit further and play some cards that put your opponents creatures down to your level and make the game "simple", Torpor Orb, Cursed Totem, and Damping Matrix lock down activated and triggered abilities. Rest in Peace stops death triggers and Eon Hub stops upkeep triggers. Katabatic Winds is funny as a way of hating on those totally unfair creatures with flying, at least every other turn.
True conviction would be nice, but i am going Grull.(Someone would have to name a card so good that it would be idiotic to not switch at this point. True conviction is good with the lifelink and double strike, but it is not worth switching (yet))
And yes so long as the token generation is not from a creature (Unless it is like Spitting image (Which is not legal in this deck, just an example)
And i like the idea of nullifying their abilities... and I am gonna run Akroma's memorial
I built the 5 original elder dragons with a french vanilla theme before.
What happened was that the games were pretty freaking boring. And it 'bore' all the new players i tried to get into EDH too. I'm not really sure this is a great idea. an interesting deck building challenge, though!
My challenge is a vanilla EDH deck (All creatures have no abilities) and still be able to win in a casual-focused environment. (though i think my meta may be more of an optimized place.)
so that is my challenge. I also want to build this deck so i do have a budget as well.
If need be, splash blue to protect your antics as well. Maybe Kesita because you can bestow around the Humility. God I kinda want to try this deck now.
Berserker's Onslaught
Bow of Nylea
Fervor
Goblin War Drums
Gruul War Chant
Hammer of Purphoros
Primal Rage
Rhythm of the Wild
Serra's Blessing
Asceticism
Beastmaster Ascension
Cathar's Crusade
Gahji, Honored One night be a good option if you decide to go the Naya route.
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain
B Toshiro Umezawa
BG Pharika, God of Affliction - Necromancy and Politics
WWW The Church of Heliod
WBR Zurgo, Helmsmasher
RG Wort, the Raidmother
UBR Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade
Gahiji is not vanilla.
but i do like the idea of Naya enchantments.
You can also go the cheap route of running no creatures at all But that dodges the challenge a bit. I think the best way is to do some kind of ramp/card draw deck combined with some type of effect that cares about you having a bunch of creature. Some kind of GR deck that plays Gigantosaurus et al to beat face and later flings them at people's faces.
https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?page=0&action=advanced&type= [%22Creature%22]&text=+![a]+![e]+![i]+![o]+![u]
List of vanilla creatures, green seems to be the best option in creature quality, no surprise here
UGR Wanderer
UGB Tasigur Control
URB Jeleva Storm
RW Gisela Control
Defeats the purpose of this challenge
Link is broken, but yes I think R/G is the best bet. use The lady of the mountain as my commander and just toss in Big dumb creatures.
Calamity Unbound posted a good list of enchantments to help.
Defeats the purpose of this challenge
I think the hard thing about this kind of challenge is that your best deck will always be the one that basically ignores the creatures and treats them as blanks. So you have to set some strict requirements for the sorts of things you're allowed to do.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I say about 20.
They deck is all about having blanks. they are big and dumb. green allows some ramp and red allows grull enchantments that boost.
The main issue is that every deck you see, unless the creature is really big, you will never see them in an EDH deck. Even Desolation twin, come sin with a friend. I want this deck to win but keep within the restrictions of No abilities on the creatures. (and my general is just as blank as the creatures I am running, which means this deck really does not depend on the general.
I mean I run an aggro dragons and one of my players quits after oe game. Its not a super strong deck, it is just much stringe rthan his (And it is my only deck, but i have a Yuriko about to be renovated and in the process of building Brudiclad and Firesong. I also have 10 guild decks all following a restriction (All decks may only contain cards from the ravnica sets (with very minor exceptions)
so I wnat to build this deck to have something fun to pull out, removes every threat given at face value for fun.
The other option is RG Jerrard of the Closed Fist (better than The Lady of the Mountain) with a similar theme (anthems, generating vanilla tokens, green ramp, and red removal), and even though you have less pump effects you gain some interesting potential options in red like Confusion in the Ranks.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
CONFUSON IN THE RANKS, so cruel and so perfect. Here you get a 1/1 vanilla and I get your 7/7 flyer.
and yea anthems work, grull has some nice stuff.
jerrard is fine but both cost 6 and Jerrard is a little harder to cast for 1 extra power. Although, Jerrard kills in 4 hits, Lady kills in 5...
Sorry, didn't see you'd specified that the general also had to be vanilla. That's going to limit your color choices, so I agree that Gruul is your best option after that.
Yeah I am gonna go grull. I feel it is the best bet to get fatties.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
9 damage is a lot?
I am totally gonna run the good ol' Grizzly Bears
Whoosh.
It's a joke. Back when this was conceptualized, this format was (and still is, tbh) one where everyone complained about everything and no one should have anything nice. Can't have trample or removal, or things that gain flying, that's too OP. Anything that distracts from getting my blade onto my Wurm is OP and way too unfun....
As a thought exercise, I optimized this list with latter creatures, typically higher p/t ratio to cmc while keeping with the theory of being a deck without answers. That's been some number of years ago now, but the name "craw-blade" always stuck out in my mind as a shot to the caw-blade standard (SHA-ZEN).
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Its not really woosh if you don't get the reference. if you don't take into account someone's background (I this case players and meta) thay cannot be held accounted for getting or not getting the joke. my meta is filled with a variety of decks, some having answers and some that do not, some bounce back faster than others. (And some decks can come back and win even when they get hit by a ruination and run 0 basics)
But thanks for the explanation, i get it now. i also get that the thread should have been read sarcastically. But at the same time, this challenge deck is actually meant to be taken seriously, i really want to build an all vanilla deck, just for laughs. It might not win often, but if i can get even 20% win rate, that will be okay with me. I mean 1/5 games. My biggest advantage is not being seen as a threat, and thus ignored.
calamity_unleashed did a good job of getting some of the better creature enchancer enchantments, but I'll throw in Rage Reflection, Rancor, True Conviction, and Collective Blessing as some additional good ones for dumb beats. Kessig Wolf Run, Rogue's Passage and Skarrg, the Rage Pits are lands that help your 10/10s connect with face. I also feel like mentioning Kher Keep, not that it's super good in the deck, but it seems extremely on theme.
You'll definitely want some card draw to fuel your Craw Wurm parade (and I hope you're playing Craw Wurm), and for that Rishkar's Expertise, Soul's Majesty and Hunter's Prowess pair well with the Wurm. Guardian Project, Greater Good, Elemental Bond, and Colossal Majesty provide consistent streams of cards that are also enchantments.
If you want to take Igzex's idea a bit further and play some cards that put your opponents creatures down to your level and make the game "simple", Torpor Orb, Cursed Totem, and Damping Matrix lock down activated and triggered abilities. Rest in Peace stops death triggers and Eon Hub stops upkeep triggers. Katabatic Winds is funny as a way of hating on those totally unfair creatures with flying, at least every other turn.
UGR Wanderer
UGB Tasigur Control
URB Jeleva Storm
RW Gisela Control
*Cute Noise*
True conviction would be nice, but i am going Grull.(Someone would have to name a card so good that it would be idiotic to not switch at this point. True conviction is good with the lifelink and double strike, but it is not worth switching (yet))
And yes so long as the token generation is not from a creature (Unless it is like Spitting image (Which is not legal in this deck, just an example)
And i like the idea of nullifying their abilities... and I am gonna run Akroma's memorial
*Cute Noise*
So running that.
What happened was that the games were pretty freaking boring. And it 'bore' all the new players i tried to get into EDH too. I'm not really sure this is a great idea. an interesting deck building challenge, though!
Anyways, am looking forward to seeing a decklist
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
Selesnya is easy mode for an edh deck with vanilla creatures.
Rakdos is the true challenge. I think I'm going to have a brew and then brew a deck idea for a Vanilla Lady Orca Black/Red Deck
Mr Barrin this Cube is on Fire!! - http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/80149
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