_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ The "HATE THE SINNER" and "WMD" versions are the only lists currently updated through Shadows Over Innistrad. The BUDGET version is currently updated through Commander 2015. This is a collection of theme decks (of varying levels of ruthlessness) based on the end of the world as foretold in Revelations, all ideal choices for Vorthosian Spikes who enjoy control. (Visit TappedOut.net for the first deck's sample hand generator.)
Strategy
Use "Tithing" (Land Tax) and the deck's "Holy Relics" (mana rocks) to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" (the Four Horsemen and global creature removal) and pour out the "Bowls" (mass land removal) of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" (targeted removal) to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest" (Stonehewer Giant), to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" (Swords of X and Y) and don her in "Angelic Raiments" (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) of protection. Swing for the win.
There are six versions of Judgment Day included in this primer. The first two are no-holds barred ultra-controlling builds with LOTS of mass land destruction, with the first deck including cycling lands and a handful of "hateful" enchantments like Rest in Peace and Stranglehold in place of lands and more artifact ramp, respectively. The goal of the third is to ramp and cast a MASSIVE global destruction spell—think Apocalypse or Obliterate—on the same turn as a flicker effect like Ghostway or Sudden Disappearance. The fourth version doesn't include nearly as much LD as the first two versions. The fifth is a low-cost budget version of the fourth. The final version's set of "Bowls" are instants searchable with Sunforger (instead of mass LD). Half of these instants also offer rewards for bolder players who wish to end the game quickly through general damage. The last version is ideal for 1v1 duels.
"John the Revelator" Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer as "John the Revelator".
Prophetic Visions Outpost Siege: I think the deck benefits more from the card draw provided by Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm running the Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo along with Sensei's Divining Top. Not too keen on exiling cards I might need later.
The Son of Man Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table, and I'm definitely not paying for Entreat, either, so it's just the deck's archangels for the foreseeable future.
A Haste enabler Fervor/In the Web of War: Both Fervor and Web are easier to remove than Anger in the graveyard, but I prefer using lands to grant haste. Replaced with Slayers' Stronghold, Hall of the Bandit Lord, and Flamekin Village.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Stoneforge Mystic/Brion Stoutarm: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. I prefer the ability to tutor every time I untap with the Giant. As for Stoutarm, angels are much too dignified to be flung like common goblins. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant. Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter/Glory of Warfare: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War. Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum/Twilight/Dire Hour: Adding in high cost cards like Reya would require a significant restructuring of the deck. Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable; with haste, Valkyrie has an immediate presence on the board, unlike Shepherd; Sunblast potentially hits all opponents' creatures, not just those attacking. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals Day of Judgment/Inferno/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Although Inferno interacts with Gisela, its inability to deal a variable amount of damage like Earthquake weakens it. Bonfire's better for 1v1. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme. Despite their lack of synergy with Avacyn, a successfully resolved Purification or Cataclysm with a protected Gisela in play equates to "Good game," in my experience.
7 Trumpets Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp. Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless. Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments Champion's Helm/Mask of Avacyn: Greaves and Boots work with the deck's non-legendary creatures and have cheaper equip costs. Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost. Skullclamp: The deck only runs 16 creatures, all of which likely stand a higher chance of being exiled or tucked. Also, Skullclamp hardly seems appropriate from a flavor perspective. Running Mind's Eye instead for card draw. Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan. Sword of Light and Shadow/Sword of War and Peace/Sword of Body and Mind: In a deck with several global red damage spells/effects, F&I fits perfectly. SoFF works well to double lands' mana production in a sense, a boon with all of the removal. Protection from W nerfs Deathless Angel's ability and prevents targeting Gisela with Boros Charm. With so much mass land removal, the deck is vulnerable enough to reanimation strategies, no need to make it worse with B&M.
Signs & Wonders Serenity: "Not really synergystic with the deck." Besides, there's no serenity on Judgment Day!
The Righteous Squee, Goblin Nabob: Goblins look demonic.
The Resurrection & Emptied Graves Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide/Faith's Reward: Recovery and Guide don't fit the deck's eschatological themes. Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs! However, Boros Charm is more versatile even if it does require being in hand with mana up. Reward is lovely, but largely defensive, as casting it and a mass removal spell costs at least eight mana. Again, Boros Charm is half the cost.
Armageddon, the Last Battle Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War/Insurrection: Yes, Insurrection ends games. Yes, it often is the Last Battle, "Armageddon." It also costs eight and necessitates opponents having creatures worth stealing. Far better to repeatedly give Gisela double strike with Sunhome.
Holy Relics Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo. Mana Crypt/Boros Signet: The deck's average converted mana cost is below 4 (not counting Decree of Annihilation actual cost). In testing, mana has not been an issue. Twelve mana rocks, Land Tax, and Weathered Wayfarer, have proven sufficient.
Tithing Eternal Dragon: Great card, but the deck only has thematic room for one (red) dragon.
Streets Paved With Gold Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness. Valor/Glory: Don't want to be too reliant on graveyard. Preacher: Too campy. Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow. Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
The Apocalypse combo version (board wipes + flicker = your opponents' end)
Deck Stats
32 White cards
16 White permanents*
20 Red cards
7 Red permanents**
23 White mana sources
19 Red mana sources
*counting Entreat the Angels and Glory
**counting Anger
"John the Revelator" Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer as "John the Revelator".
Prophetic Visions Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from the card draw provided by Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm still running the Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo to help out with top deck manipulation.
The Son of Man Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
A Haste enabler Fervor/In the Web of War: Both Fervor and Web are easier to remove than Anger in the graveyard. Anger makes a fine chump blocker.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Stoneforge Mystic/Brion Stoutarm: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. I prefer the ability to tutor every time I untap with the Giant. As for Stoutarm, angels are much too dignified to be flung like common goblins. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant. Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter/Glory of Warfare: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War. Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum/Twilight: Adding in high cost cards like Reya would require a significant restructuring of the deck. Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. With haste, Valkyrie has an immediate presence on the board, unlike Shepherd. Better to get single creatures for free, so to speak, than pay out of pocket to cast them out of hand.The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals Day of Judgment/Inferno/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Although Inferno interacts with Gisela, its inability to deal a variable amount of damage like Earthquake weakens it. Bonfire's better for 1v1. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme. Despite its lack of synergy with Avacyn, a successfully resolved Purification with a protected Gisela in play equates to "Good game," in my experience (so far).
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp. Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless. Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Word of Seizing. Nevermore: I'd rather tuck opposing generals with Banishing Stroke or Condemn, giving opponents less time to interact with the card.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures. Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost. Skullclamp: The deck only runs 15 creatures, two of which belong in the graveyard. Skullclamp hardly seems appropriate. Running Mind's Eye instead. Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan. Sword of Feast and Famine: In a deck with several global red damage spells/effects, W&P and F&I fit perfectly. SoFF doesn't combo with Jaya's or Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P.
Signs & Wonders Serenity: "Not really synergystic with the deck." Besides, there's no serenity on Judgment Day!
The Righteous Squee, Goblin Nabob: Goblins look demonic.
The Resurrection & Emptied Graves Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Recovery and Guide don't fit the deck's eschatological themes. Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs! Relic of Progenitus: It works against the deck's Incarnations, Glory and Anger. Also, isn't recursible with Sun Titan.
Armageddon, the Last Battle Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War: Insurrection ends games. It is the Last Battle. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by Insurrection.
Holy Relics Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo. Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault. Grim Monolith/Mana Crypt/Boros Signet: The deck's average converted mana cost is below 4. In testing, mana has not been an issue. Five mana rocks, three tithing spells, and Weathered Wayfarer have proven sufficient.
Tithing Eternal Dragon: Great card, but the deck only has thematic room for one (red) dragon.
Streets Paved With Gold Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela. Preacher: Too campy. Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow. Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
The Seven Bowls aggro-control version (more instants, less land destruction)
Clear the board of opponents' creatures. Equip Gisela with Swiftfoot Boots or one of the Swords of X and Y for protection from removal. Attack. If no blockers, cast a spell like Soul's Fire or Overblaze.
Once you've done that, you've probably killed off at least one opponent.
The following version's set of "Bowls" are instants searchable with Sunforger (instead of mass LD). Half of these instants also offer rewards for bolder players who wish to end the game quickly through general damage.
This last version is ideal for 1v1 duels but does not follow the French rules of deck construction (which you can find here). If you want to make the deck legal for official 1v1 games, you'll have to remove the following cards:
Strategy
Use "Tithing" (Land Tax) and the deck's "Holy Relics" (mana rocks) to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" (global destruction) of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" (targeted destruction) to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest" (Stonehewer Giant), to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" (Swords of X and Y) and don her in "Angelic Raiments" (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) of protection. Pour out the "Bowls" (Soul's Fire, Overblaze, etc.), increasing Gisela's might, and swing for the win.
2 Artifact/Enchantment Control: Return to Dust, Wear // Tear
2 Land Control: Strip Mine, Armageddon
1 Graveyard Control: Relic of Progenitus
6 Non-land Mana: Everflowing Chalice, Gilded Lotus, Mana Vault, Sol Ring, Coalition Relic, Chromatic Lantern
35 Mana-producing lands
15 Creatures
14 Artifacts
6 Equipment
30 White cards
16 White permanents*
6 Red permanents**
24 Red cards
23 White mana sources
19 Red mana sources**
*counting Entreat the Angels
**counting Anger
Sun Titan + Jaya/Land Tax/Crypt/almost all artifacts
SoFI + Inferno/Jaya
Razia's Purification + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Wild Ricochet/Reverberate + most of the Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls/all the tutors/Resurrection/R2D
Scroll Rack/Firestorm + Land Tax
Sunforger + Chaos Warp/Wear // Tear/P2E/S2P/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Wild Ricochet/all of the Bowls
Spinerock Knoll + half the angels
Discarded Choices
"John the Revelator" Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Mad Prophet not incredibly synergistic with deck. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer.
The Son of Man Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Stoneforge Mystic: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant. Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War. Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum: Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals Day of Judgment/Terminus/Hallowed Burial/Catastrophe/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Terminus/Hallowed Burial, and Catastrophe don't interact well with Gisela. Inferno affects more of the board than Bonfire. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme.
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Terminus/Hallowed Burial==>Catastrophe==>Fault Line==>Devastation
Bonfire of the Damned==>Inferno
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp. Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless. Cessation/Faith's Fetters/O-Ring: Dropped for Word of Seizing. Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Grab the Reins.
7 Bowls Wild Ricochet: Reverberate's low casting cost makes it a better fit for the deck, allowing for duplication of my own spells.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures. Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost. Skullclamp: Not useful in this deck. Running Mind's Eye instead. Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan. Sword of Feast and Famine: Doesn't combo with Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P. Mask of Avacyn: Doesn't grant haste. Darksteel Plate: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud. Fireshrieker: Not as powerful on its own. Helm of Kaldra: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud. Quietus Spike: Not as powerful on its own.
The Resurrection Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs!
Armageddon, the Last Battle Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War: Insurrection ends games. It is the Last Battle. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by Insurrection.
Holy Relics Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo. Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault.
Streets Paved With Gold Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela. Preacher: Too campy. Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow. Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel. Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from card draw. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation.
I can't say much as far as card decisions based on their choices for their thematic purposes. However
Thraben Doomsayer: Terribly inefficient. False Prophet is kind've relevant, but is best with a sac outlet. Serra Ascendant takes a pretty solid place.
Avatar of Slaughter: Could be dangerous. True Conviction costs 2 less, is harder to remove, benefits only you, and benefits you with lifelink instead of a 8/8 body.
Jaya Ballard / Mageta: you're in boros, where there isn't much card draw. You don't want to discard things!
Gideon: Neat bot not terribly efficient either. Mitigates some damage, but your general does that as well.
Luminarch Ascension will draw a lot of hate. I could only see playing it when your general is in play. At that point in the game, I'm not sure how relevant it would be.
Indomitable Archangel, and Platinum Angel seem irrelevant. You already benefit from lesser damage, and don't have an artifact themed deck to make indomitable relevant.
Day / Terminus / Bonfire: Day is obviously not as good as wrath, and you don't seem to have much if anything that's a full board wipe. I'd run Akroma's Vengeance or Rout over Day. I still think I'd run Hallowed Burial over terminus, as I feel wraths are generally cards you hold not get lucky top decking. And Bonfire seems pretty inefficient if it isn't miracled. I would run Earthquake, Chain Reaction, Blasphemous Act, or Inferno over it. Oblivion Stone is also pretty good, especially if you run Sun Titan. By the way, run Sun Titan! He looks holy
Banishing Stroke: May or may not be worse than oblation. Would require testing to say for sure! Especially dependent on whether or not you have any top deck manipulation. Swords to Plowshares: Not here?!
Evangelize: Heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well. I'd run something like Word of Seizing, Heat Shimmer, Grab the Reins instead.
Cessation: I'm partial to prison term, faith's fetters, and oblivion ring over this.
Thunderous Wrath: Just seems inefficient
Sword of Vengeance: I've tried it, just always found out that it was expensive to cast and it gets blown up a lot =/
Sword of Kaldra: Also expensive, and can't be abused terribly well.
Fireshrieker: Expensive, but could be pretty scary. Problem being, you don't have many means to give her +1 / +Whocares. Without that, double striking with your general is still two swings.
Moonsilver Spear: Flavorable I guess? I hate it otherwise Sword of Feast and Famine might make a decent addition.
Other 2 kaldra pieces: Expensive, hard to tutor for without littering your deck with tutors, and have a tendency to get dun blowed up. I hate them in decks without great artifact recursion.
You run a lot of equipment, but I feel as if you're missing a few key things and may be able to cut from your equipment. If you keep a lot of equipment in the deck, I'd add Stonehewer Giant. Otherwise Stoneforge Mystic is great, as is skullclamp, minds eye, and any other form of card draw you can find that doesn't benefit others. I ran inheritance in my mono white deck for a while.
Dimensional Breach seems questionable
Darksteel Forge: Unnecessary
Armillary Sphere: Not bad, but you could run land tax which combos with scroll rack
Helvault: You're in colors that don't need this
You only run 35 lands, and only a few mana rocks. I'd up the rocks and the land count. To maybe 37-38 land and maybe 5 rocks. Adding coalition relic, and mana vault would probably help a lot. You have a decent amount of colorless land, try to keep it under 5. You also have a lot of land that come into play tapped. I think rupture spire is downright awful.
I can't say much as far as card decisions based on their choices for their thematic purposes. However
Thraben Doomsayer: Terribly inefficient. False Prophet is kind've relevant, but is best with a sac outlet. Serra Ascendant takes a pretty solid place.
Since Boros has problems digging through its library, I've replaced Doomsayer with Mad ProphetWeathered Wayfarer since it also makes for a good John of Patmos. Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that.
Avatar of Slaughter: Could be dangerous. True Conviction costs 2 less, is harder to remove, benefits only you, and benefits you with lifelink instead of a 8/8 body.
You make an excellent point! I swapped out one Avatar for another, replacing Avatar of Slaughter with Nobilis of War, a much more fitting Horseman besides.
Jaya Ballard / Mageta: you're in boros, where there isn't much card draw. You don't want to discard things!
Typically, I'd be inclined to agree on both points. That being said, a reusable and abusable—when equipped with SoFI/SoWP or with Avacyn in play—Inferno is too good to pass up. I do concede, however, that Mageta demands too much so he's been replaced with another one of your suggestions, Stonehewer Giant.
Gideon: Neat bot not terribly efficient either. Mitigates some damage, but your general does that as well.
While I was actually planning on using Gideon for removal doubling as a beatstick, you're absolutely right. Sun Titan fills his slot perfectly and works with almost all of my non-creature permanents. Plus, like you noted already, Sun Titan just looks holy!
Luminarch Ascension will draw a lot of hate. I could only see playing it when your general is in play. At that point in the game, I'm not sure how relevant it would be.
I thought long and hard about this one. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I'd rather pay 8 and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
Indomitable Archangel, and Platinum Angel seem irrelevant. You already benefit from lesser damage, and don't have an artifact themed deck to make indomitable relevant.
After doing the math, I'm with you on this one. The chance of this deck getting three artifacts into play at once, even with tutors, is slim. These two angels have been replaced by Deathless Angel and Baneslayer Angel, the latter primarily chosen for flavor purposes.
Day / Terminus / Bonfire: Day is obviously not as good as wrath, and you don't seem to have much if anything that's a full board wipe. I'd run Akroma's Vengeance or Rout over Day. I still think I'd run Hallowed Burial over terminus, as I feel wraths are generally cards you hold not get lucky top decking. And Bonfire seems pretty inefficient if it isn't miracled. I would run Earthquake, Chain Reaction, Blasphemous Act, or Inferno over it. Oblivion Stone is also pretty good, especially if you run Sun Titan. By the way, run Sun Titan! He looks holy
I went ahead and traded out all three in favor of Rout, Catastrophe, and Inferno, and also removed Austere Command for Earthquake since it has better synergy with Gisela.
Banishing Stroke: May or may not be worse than oblation. Would require testing to say for sure! Especially dependent on whether or not you have any top deck manipulation.
While I appreciate Oblation's versatility, I took it out and put in Swords to Plowshares, leaving Banishing Stroke in since a) it doesn't help my opponent like Oblation does and b) has artwork that better suits the deck's theme.
Evangelize: Heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well. I'd run something like Word of Seizing, Heat Shimmer, Grab the Reins instead.
I went with the Word (for obvious reasons), although I'm still going back and forth on this one since Sunforger can grab the Reins.
I'd forgotten all about Prison Term! It matches the deck's theme more than you know:
"…bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him…till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
Sword of Vengeance: I've tried it, just always found out that it was expensive to cast and it gets blown up a lot =/
Sword of Kaldra: Also expensive, and can't be abused terribly well.
Fireshrieker: Expensive, but could be pretty scary. Problem being, you don't have many means to give her +1 / +Whocares. Without that, double striking with your general is still two swings.
Moonsilver Spear: Flavorable I guess? I hate it otherwise Sword of Feast and Famine might make a decent addition.
Other 2 kaldra pieces: Expensive, hard to tutor for without littering your deck with tutors, and have a tendency to get dun blowed up. I hate them in decks without great artifact recursion.
I'm willing to take the chance with Vengeance and Fireshrieker, although I did drop the Spear, along with Kaldra's sword and shield. After some consideration, I think Helm of Kaldra deserves a chance for both the haste as well as Sun Titan recursion.EDIT: Both Helm and Fireshrieker got their chance and have since been removed.
You run a lot of equipment, but I feel as if you're missing a few key things and may be able to cut from your equipment. If you keep a lot of equipment in the deck, I'd add Stonehewer Giant. Otherwise Stoneforge Mystic is great, as is skullclamp, minds eye, and any other form of card draw you can find that doesn't benefit others. I ran inheritance in my mono white deck for a while.
If I ever decide to make a more Rapture-focused variant of this deck, Dimensional Breach is getting off the bench along with Safe Haven and various "blink" effects.
Darksteel Forge: Unnecessary
Armillary Sphere: Not bad, but you could run land tax which combos with scroll rack
Helvault: You're in colors that don't need this
You only run 35 lands, and only a few mana rocks. I'd up the rocks and the land count. To maybe 37-38 land and maybe 5 rocks. Adding coalition relic, and mana vault would probably help a lot. You have a decent amount of colorless land, try to keep it under 5. You also have a lot of land that come into play tapped. I think rupture spire is downright awful.
I only went up to 36 lands and 5 mana rocks on the basis of adding in Tithe and Land Tax to supplement Gift of Estates. I figure that between the 3 tithing cards and Scroll Rack the deck should be okay. I got rid of Rupture Spire and slipped Emeria, the Sky Ruin into its place based on AEferyamma's suggestion. What do you think?
True, and Defy Death would go great with any of my 7 archangels. But what would Judgment Day be without the Resurrection? And have you seen the FNM version? I had to include it!
I love the theme, it gave me a pretty good laugh when I first went through. Good choices for all the passages.
However I think you can do better with your dragon. Knollspine's cost makes him terribly inefficient without loads of mana to also make the card draw worth it (inferno for instance) even with Gisela. On the other hand Balefire Dragon would make an excellent choice since his ability to hit all your opponents creatures with one swing gets doubled by Gisela.
I love the theme, it gave me a pretty good laugh when I first went through. Good choices for all the passages.
However I think you can do better with your dragon. Knollspine's cost makes him terribly inefficient without loads of mana to also make the card draw worth it (inferno for instance) even with Gisela. On the other hand Balefire Dragon would make an excellent choice since his ability to hit all your opponents creatures with one swing gets doubled by Gisela.
Thanks, Seth!
I can't decide between Balefire and Knollspine. The former works well my general and has a repeatable effect, but Knollspine's card draw is very tempting, as is her flavor text: "It woke to find a vast world in need of a master." If that doesn't spell out 'Antichrist', I don't know what does! (Plus Balefire's scales are more black than red.)
On a more competitive note, I'd like to fit in Pyrohemia. What are five card choices you'd consider cutting? Also, I'm considering exchanging Rout for Devastation. Thoughts?
I really like the theme you give to your deck. I still play testing my list, but there is one thing that is certain: if you want to play duel with it you need to put a lot of mana rock to play your general as soon as possible. In multiplayer the hard thing is to protect your general. No one want to take double dommage from everywere, so Gisela, Blade of Goldnight become a real removal magnet.
This is the few thing I would change:
For Holly relic:
Maybe mana vault for darksteel ingot: The ingot is cool, but i think mana vault will be more effective.
Another thing that can be cool is Aggravated Assault in "ARMAGEDDON, THE LAST BATTLE" and put a Sword of feast and famine in "FLAMING SWORDS".
Another thing I just noticed, maybe run only one "land destroy" effect will be useless. Catastrophe is maybe not the best choice, with the effect of the general, i would for sure run more effect card that act like earthquake (comet storm is really awesome with a lot of mana).
In another vein, Mana Barb can be awesome, but risky because no one want to take 2 damage for 1 mana^^.
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XEDHX
RWGMarath, Will of the WildRWG GUPrime Speaker Zegana (+1/+1 Shenanigans!!)UG RWGUril, The MistwalkerRWG
True, and Defy Death would go great with any of my 7 archangels. But what would Judgment Day be without the Resurrection? And have you seen the FNM version? I had to include it!
I really like the theme you give to your deck. I still play testing my list, but there is one thing that is certain: if you want to play duel with it you need to put a lot of mana rock to play your general as soon as possible. In multiplayer the hard thing is to protect your general. No one want to take double dommage from everywere, so Gisela, Blade of Goldnight become a real removal magnet.
This is the few thing I would change:
For Holly relic:
Maybe mana vault for darksteel ingot: The ingot is cool, but i think mana vault will be more effective.
Another thing that can be cool is Aggravated Assault in "ARMAGEDDON, THE LAST BATTLE" and put a Sword of feast and famine in "FLAMING SWORDS".
I took your suggestion for exchanging the Ingot for the Vault, which makes a lot more sense given the deck's low land count. On that note, I replaced Insurrection for World at War, which is both cheaper to cast and a better fit for 'Armageddon', and swapped out a Mountain for Spinerock Knoll. Sword of Feast and Famine was actually in the deck's first incarnation, and although it could help with mana production, I don't think it's the strongest choice against the Reanimator decks in my meta; it also doesn't abuse Gisela as much as the other swords I've included. You're right about Gisela needing some "holy armor" and that's where the deck's Equipment comes in. A few of the other archangels help out in that regard as well. As for Sensei's Divining Top, I think the deck benefits more from Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation. While hilarious, Preacher is too campy for the deck's gravity.
Another thing I just noticed, maybe run only one "land destroy" effect will be useless. Catastrophe is maybe not the best choice, with the effect of the general, i would for sure run more effect card that act like earthquake (comet storm is really awesome with a lot of mana).
In another vein, Mana Barb can be awesome, but risky because no one want to take 2 damage for 1 mana^^.
Instead of Rout or Devastation, try Catastrophe. If life is hard, kill all the creatures. If life is easy, kill all the lands and swing for the win.
I ended up removing both Catastrophe and Rout, replacing them with Fault Line and Razia's Purification. Purification makes the pass to set up the layup for the win and its flavor is simply DIVINE.
I did consider Entreat, but I ended up going with Decree of Justice for two reasons: 1) although it costs more than Entreat, I can always cycle for "onward Christian soldiers", and 2) it fits the vengeful flavor of the deck better.EDIT: After cracking an Entreat at the Prerelease, I changed my mind.
WOW! I need to find one of those for my own Gisela deck now.
I know, right?!
After a lot of soul searching, I came around and took nurse.jason's advice to drop Thunderous Wrath. I found a much more flavorful replacement in Angel's Trumpet.
I could see killing Faultline for Pyrohemia. They do roughly the same thing, just in different forms.
Finally, I've decided against Pyrohemia and Oblivion Stone. Although the former has insane interactions with Gisela and the latter could turn into "The Rock Eternal" with Sun Titan, both are too expensive for worthwhile activation the turn they come into play given how few lands the deck runs. Also, I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness, like Pyrohemia or Brightflame.
This is a competitive theme deck based on the end of the world as foretold in Revelations. The following version is more flavorful than the OP, including the Seven Bowls, represented by game-changing—or game-ending with Gisela, Blade of Goldnight in play—instants searchable with Sunforger.
Strategy
Use "Tithing" spells and the deck's "Holy Relics" to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest", to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" and don her in "Angelic Raiments" of protection. Swing for the win.
5 Non-land Mana: Everflowing Chalice, Gilded Lotus, Mana Vault, Sol Ring, Coalition Relic
35 Mana-producing lands
15 Creatures
16 Artifacts
7 Equipment
31 White cards
17 White permanents*
5 Red permanents**
22 Red cards
24 White mana sources
18 Red mana sources***
*counting Entreat the Angels and Glory
**counting Anger
***counting Seething Song
Gisela + Glory (Glory + anything, really)
Gisela + Stonehewer Giant
Gisela/Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Earthquake/Fault Line/Destructive Force/Inferno/Jaya/World at War
Gisela + Comet Storm/Ajani Vengeant/True Conviction/Firestorm/Soul's Fire
Gisela + Whispersilk Cloak/SoWP/Sunhome/Double Cleave/Chaos/Overblaze
Avacyn + Sunblast Angel/Wrath of God/Angel's Trumpet
Sun Titan + Jaya/Prison Term/Land Tax/Crypt/almost all artifacts
Wrath of God + Ghostway
Razia's Purification + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Reverberate + most of the Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls/all the tutors/Looting/Resurrection/R2D/World at War/Entreat
Scroll Rack/Firestorm + Land Tax/Tithe/Gift of Estates
Sunforger + Condemn/P2E/S2P/Tithe/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Ghostway/all of the Bowls
Spinerock Knoll + half the angels
Discarded Choices
"John the Revelator" Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Removed Mad Prophet as "John the Revelator" to make room for the Seven Bowls. Mad Prophet not incredibly synergistic with deck.
The Son of Man Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Stoneforge Mystic: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant. Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War. Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum: Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals Rout/Day of Judgment/Terminus/Hallowed Burial/Catastrophe/Austere Command/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Devastation/Chain Reaction/Blasphemous Act: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Terminus/Hallowed Burial, Catastrophe, and Austere Command don't interact as well with Gisela like Fault Line and Earthquake do. Inferno affects more of the board than Bonfire. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Difficult to abuse Devastation without Avacyn in play and no synergy with Gisela. Chain Reaction/Blasphemous Act are both too conditional and neither fit the deck's theme.
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Terminus/Hallowed Burial==>Catastrophe==>Fault Line
Austere Command==>Earthquake
Bonfire of the Damned==>Inferno
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Angel's Trumpet for obvious flavorful reasons. Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless. Cessation/Faith's Fetters/O-Ring: Dropped for Prison Term, which is both flavorful and effective. Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Word of Seizing.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures. Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost. Skullclamp: Not useful in this deck. Running Mind's Eye instead. Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan. Sword of Feast and Famine: Doesn't combo with Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P. Mask of Avacyn: Doesn't grant haste. Darksteel Plate: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud. Fireshrieker: Not as powerful on its own. Helm of Kaldra: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud. Quietus Spike: Not as powerful on its own.
The Resurrection Defy Death/Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Resurrection is more flavorful. Also, the FNM art is amazeballs!
Armageddon, the Last Battle Aggravated Assault/Insurrection/Waves of Aggression: It only costs five mana to get a total of four combat phases out of World at War, and its castable well before Insurrection. It's difficult for the deck to cast Assault and activate it the same turn. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by World at War.
Holy Relics Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo. Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault.
Streets Paved With Gold Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela. Preacher: Too campy. Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow. Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel. Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from card draw. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation.
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There are no divisions: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28
Excuse my suggestions if they are not completely on theme.
I think you should add more mana sources - 44 seems a bit on the low side. Maybe add grim monolith / mana crypt / boros signet .
Fervor seems to fit the theme better than anger and is much more reliable if you don't have many discard outlets.
Orim's Thunder over Angel's Trumpets which seems very weak?
I'm going to say first that I'm terrible at picking cards for a theme deck, but I'll try my best to at least offer some constructive criticism off the top of my head.
Capitacom hit on some good points. I'm always a fan of Weathered Wayfarer. I think he's very underplayed (at least in my meta) for what he does. Considering the sheer number of utility lands that most EDH decks play, he can fetch a whole lot of answers, as well as just helping you ramp.
I'm not a terribly big fan of Fervor. I feel like for what EDH is as a format, In the Web of War does much better things. I guess maybe this would fit in your "Armageddon" heading?
I think I'd keep Nobilis of War over Glory of Warfare. Glory would shine more in a token list or if you were running a ton of small guys. At least the Nobilis is a beatstick on its own.
I love the flavor and the list is really good with it. I'll throw some card suggestions your way with as much flavor as I can find. Take from it what you will.
I've been checking this thread constantly over the past few days. I'm seriously impressed with the deck, Chimeric. It's awesome that you managed to fit so much flavor and on-theme choices into a competitive list.
Anyway, I'm in the process of building my own Gisela list, and this proved to be really helpful. My take on the deck won't be nearly as on-theme, of course, but I'd like for it to be as powerful as I can possibly make it. That said, I'll come back with a link to it once it's built, and hopefully you can give me some constructive criticism on the deck. If all goes well, I'll have the full list posted by the weekend.
Again, just totally floored with your dedication to flavor and playability at the same time. One question -- what are its match-ups like, generally? My 4-5 player group has a pool of decks like Azusa, Child of Alara, Kaalia of the Vast, Thraximundar, Uril the Miststalker, The Mimeoplasm, and more. Do you have any thoughts/personal experience on how a match goes against those types of decks?
I got your message asking for my input, but I'm not really sure why. I say this based on the fact that while I enjoy flavor and consider myself a Vorthos (and a Timmy one at that), I don't run flavor cards over things that are just objectively better. So you probably won't like or agree with my suggestions.
For example, if I were building off of this list, I would use Karmic Guide and Reya Dawnbringer. If you have enough discard, then there's no problem in discarding your higher cost angels and reanimating them with the karmic guide and with an Defy Death. Of course, you'd be running that in addition to the Resurrection. This is made better if you have Chandra Ablaze to act as a discard source since she let's you draw three, and it disrupts your opponents' hands.
But I do understand the concerns with the lack of ramp the deck chooses not to run in favor of flavor, especially since you're hindering the list by omitting what little ramp r/w has when you take out Sol Ring, Boros Signet, and Darksteel Ingot. But that's just my opinion.
I'm also not a fan of Banishment since you plan on drawing cards outside of the draw step. I'd rather run Chaos Warp, or even Oblation if I wanted to play politics. Nor am I a fan of running Razia's Purification over Austere Command, partly since Avacyn can't protect against the sacrifice effect. I also agree with running Twilight Shepherd over Adarkar Valkyrie, particularly since she can give you back all of the permanants you lose to your own board wipe rather than just the one.
Wild Richochet is just one of those red spells that begs to be included in most decks that run only two colors. Being able to redirect/copy a spot removal or piggyback off of someone's ramp spell is too good of an effect to pass up, and I'd rather have that over order//chaos. Actually, I'd also rather run Master of Warcraft over order//chaos.
If you're going to run Jaya, might I suggest Squee, Goblin Nabob? This might be one of the few cards I suggest that's actually on-theme, since he has a "always devoted follower" feel to him.
Skull Clamp is what gives r/w a lot of its card advantage, especially with the aforementioned Squee.
Finally, I'd rather run Cage of Hands over Prison Term since it has the option to bounce itself in case of:
1) enchantment removal
2) board wipe
3) bigger threat appears
That's just my 10 cents off the top of my head. I know these cards aren't flavorful with what you want to do, but when I'm asked for input I usually try to follow through with input I feel either makes the deck objectively better or are a part of an interesting theory I've developed out of inexperience.
I know im probably going to get hated on in this forum for saying this but I would prefer Final Judgment as opposed to something like Inferno. I understand that with Gisela it's a possible kill everyone else's creatures save the ones you have but sometimes you dont have Gisela out or the opponent has something like Akroma's Memorial/Eldrazi Monument. If you want to deal damage to all players I think an earthquake variant would work better, if you want to kill massive creatures then something like Terminus/Final Judgment seems like it would be better.
Since youre playing red I see no reason (other then perhaps flavor wise) to not play Insurrection/Stranglehold
Good god. Talk about pushing werewolves. Why don't they just give $50 to anyone who wants to run a werewolf deck? I mean, how many bells and whistles can they attach. It poops out tokens, it spot removes enemy creatures, it burns their dome, it gains you life, it tramples, its aggressively costed no matter *how* it gets played, it doesn't die to removal, it punches kittens and eats babies.
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JUDGMENT DAY
- A GISELA, BLADE OF GOLDNIGHT PRIMER -
The "HATE THE SINNER" and "WMD" versions are the only lists currently updated through Shadows Over Innistrad. The BUDGET version is currently updated through Commander 2015. This is a collection of theme decks (of varying levels of ruthlessness) based on the end of the world as foretold in Revelations, all ideal choices for Vorthosian Spikes who enjoy control. (Visit TappedOut.net for the first deck's sample hand generator.)
Strategy
Use "Tithing" (Land Tax) and the deck's "Holy Relics" (mana rocks) to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" (the Four Horsemen and global creature removal) and pour out the "Bowls" (mass land removal) of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" (targeted removal) to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest" (Stonehewer Giant), to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" (Swords of X and Y) and don her in "Angelic Raiments" (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) of protection. Swing for the win.
There are six versions of Judgment Day included in this primer. The first two are no-holds barred ultra-controlling builds with LOTS of mass land destruction, with the first deck including cycling lands and a handful of "hateful" enchantments like Rest in Peace and Stranglehold in place of
The HATE THE SINNER ultra-control version
Slow down the opposition with "hate" cards like Rest in Peace, Blood Moon, and Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Clear the battlefield using sweeps like Descend Upon the Sinful and Austere Command and targeted removal such as Chaos Warp and Path to Exile. Once the board is relatively clear, cast Gisela and immediately equip her with something to protect her, e.g. Lightning Greaves or Sword of Feast and Famine. On the next turn, cast a mass destruction spell like Armageddon or Razia's Purification.
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
"THE REVELATION…
TO SHEW THINGS
WHICH MUST
SHORTLY COME
TO PASS"
1x Enlightened Tutor
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1x Weathered Wayfarer
TITHING
1x Land Tax
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
(THIRTY-FIVE LANDS)
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Mistveil Plains
1x Drifting Meadow
1x Secluded Steppe
8x Plains
1x Flamekin Village
1x Smoldering Crater
1x Forgotten Cave
7x Mountain
1x Plateau
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Boros Garrison
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Arid Mesa
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Darksteel Citadel
1x Blasted Landscape
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Mind Stone
1x Basalt Monolith
1x Grim Monolith
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Clock of Omens
1x Rings of Brighthearth
St. Michael,
Dragonslayer
1x Baneslayer Angel
Gabriel,
Angel of Resurrection
1x Twilight Shepherd
Raphael,
Angel of Healing
1x Archangel Avacyn
Seraphiel,
the Silent
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Ramiel,
Angel of Hope
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Uriel,
Angel of Death
1x Angel of the Dire Hour
Raguel,
God's Vengeance
1x Aurelia, the Warleader
THE SON OF MAN
1x Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT
BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
"A SCROLL, SEALED
WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1x Scroll Rack
THE SEVEN SEALS
(including THE FOUR HORSEMEN
OF THE APOCALYPSE)
1x Stonehewer Giant (Conquest)
1x Nobilis of War (War)
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker (Famine)
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Death)
1x Descend Upon the Sinful
1x Austere Command
1x Tragic Arrogance
"AND WHEN THE SIXTH SEAL
WAS OPENED…
THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD…"
1x Blood Moon
"AND WHEN THE SEVENTH SEAL
WAS OPENED, THERE WAS SILENCE
IN HEAVEN…"
1x Aura of Silence
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1x Chaos Warp
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Path to Exile
1x Wear // Tear
1x Return to Dust
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Boros Charm
THE SEVEN BOWLS
1x Armageddon
1x Cataclysm
1x Global Ruin
1x Razia's Purification
1x Catastrophe
1x Devastation
1x Decree of Annihilation
LIFE'S WORRIES, AND
THEY DO NOT MATURE"
1x Stranglehold
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Champion's Helm
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Sword of War and Peace
"THE GRAVE SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1x Rest in Peace
BORN AGAIN
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Wheel of Fortune
1x Tormenting Voice
1x Wild Guess
"…THOU GIVE REWARD
UNTO THY SERVANTS
THE PROPHETS,
AND TO THE SAINTS,
AND THEM THAT
FEAR THY NAME,
SMALL AND GREAT"
1x Oblation
THOSE LEFT BEHIND
1x Faithless Looting
"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH:
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
AND THE FIRST EARTH
WERE PASSED AWAY"
1x Crucible of Worlds
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
CREATURES - 13
1x Angel of the Dire Hour
1x Archangel Avacyn
1x Aurelia, the Warleader
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1x Nobilis of War
1x Stonehewer Giant
1x Sun Titan
1x Twilight Shepherd
1x Weathered Wayfarer
SORCERIES - 15
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Cataclysm
1x Catastrophe
1x Decree of Annihilation
1x Descend upon the Sinful
1x Devastation
1x Faithless Looting
1x Global Ruin
1x Razia's Purification
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Tormenting Voice
1x Tragic Arrogance
1x Wheel of Fortune
1x Wild Guess
1x Boros Charm
1x Chaos Warp
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Oblation
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Wear // Tear
1x Wild Ricochet
ENCHANTMENTS - 5
1x Aura of Silence
1x Blood Moon
1x Land Tax
1x Rest in Peace
1x Stranglehold
TOTAL ARTIFACTS - 22
EQUIPMENT - 8
1x Champion's Helm
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Sunforger
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of War and Peace
UTILITY ARTIFACTS - 4
1x Clock of Omens
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Rings of Brighthearth
1x Scroll Rack
MANA ROCKS - 10
1x Basalt Monolith
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Grim Monolith
1x Mana Vault
1x Mind Stone
1x Sol Ring
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Arid Mesa
1x Blasted Landscape
1x Boros Garrison
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Darksteel Citadel
1x Drifting Meadow
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Flamekin Village
1x Forgotten Cave
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Mistveil Plains
7x Mountain
8x Plains
1x Plateau
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Secluded Steppe
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Smoldering Crater
Planar Deck
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
"THE REVELATION…
TO SHEW THINGS
WHICH MUST
SHORTLY COME
TO PASS"
1x Enlightened Tutor
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1x Weathered Wayfarer
TITHING
1x Land Tax
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
(THIRTY-FIVE LANDS)
1x Command Tower
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Mistveil Plains
8x Plains
1x Flamekin Village
7x Mountain
1x Plateau
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Arid Mesa
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Strip Mine
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Kor Haven
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Fire Diamond
1x Marble Diamond
1x Coldsteel Heart
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Coalition Relic
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Mind Stone
1x Thought Vessel
1x Prismatic Lens
1x Fractured Powerstone
1x Pearl Medallion
1x Boros Signet
1x Grim Monolith
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Clock of Omens
St. Michael,
Dragonslayer
1x Baneslayer Angel
Gabriel,
Angel of Resurrection
1x Adarkar Valkyrie
Raphael,
Angel of Healing
1x Deathless Angel
Seraphiel,
the Silent
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Ramiel,
Angel of Hope
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Uriel,
Angel of Death
1x Sunblast Angel
Raguel,
God's Vengeance
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury
THE SON OF MAN
1x Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT
BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
"WAR MADE AGAINST THEM
SHALL OVERCOME THEM
AND SHALL KILL THEM"
1x War's Toll
1x Mana Web
"A SCROLL, SEALED
WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1x Scroll Rack
THE SEVEN SEALS
(including THE FOUR HORSEMEN
OF THE APOCALYPSE)
1x Stonehewer Giant (Conquest)
1x Nobilis of War (War)
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker (Famine)
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Death)
1x Descend Upon the Sinful
1x Austere Command
1x Tragic Arrogance
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1x Chaos Warp
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Path to Exile
1x Wear // Tear
1x Return to Dust
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Boros Charm
THE SEVEN BOWLS
1x Armageddon
1x Cataclysm
1x Global Ruin
1x Razia's Purification
1x Catastrophe
1x Devastation
1x Decree of Annihilation
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Champion's Helm
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of War and Peace
BORN AGAIN
1x Reforge the Soul
"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH:
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
AND THE FIRST EARTH
WERE PASSED AWAY"
1x Crucible of Worlds
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
CREATURES - 13
1x Adarkar Valkyrie
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Deathless Angel
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1x Nobilis of War
1x Stonehewer Giant
1x Sun Titan
1x Sunblast Angel
1x Weathered Wayfarer
SORCERIES - 11
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Cataclysm
1x Catastrophe
1x Decree of Annihilation
1x Descend Upon the Sinful
1x Devastation
1x Global Ruin
1x Razia's Purification
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Tragic Arrogance
INSTANTS - 8
1x Boros Charm
1x Chaos Warp
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Wear // Tear
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Land Tax
1x War's Toll
TOTAL ARTIFACTS - 30
EQUIPMENT - 7
1x Champion's Helm
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Sunforger
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of War and Peace
UTILITY ARTIFACTS - 3
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Mana Web
1x Scroll Rack
MANA ROCKS - 20
1x Boros Signet
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Clock of Omens
1x Coalition Relic
1x Coldsteel Heart
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Fire Diamond
1x Fractured Powerstone
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Grim Monolith
1x Mana Vault
1x Marble Diamond
1x Mind Stone
1x Pearl Medallion
1x Prismatic Lens
1x Sol Ring
1x Thought Vessel
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Arid Mesa
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Command Tower
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Flamekin Village
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Kor Haven
1x Mistveil Plains
7x Mountain
8x Plains
1x Plateau
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Strip Mine
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Planar Deck
5 Tutors: Sunforger, Stonehewer Giant, Enlightened, Land Tax, Wayfarer
3 Recursion: Sun Titan, Adarkar Valkyrie, Crucible
4 "I Win!" cards: Gisela, Cataclysm, Razia's Purification, Sunhome
1 Burn: Jaya
7 Creature Control: Jaya, Sunblast, Final Judgment, Devastation, P2E, S2P, Kor Haven
2 Artifact/Enchantment Control: Return to Dust, Wear // Tear
5 Land Control: Strip Mine, Armageddon, Decree of Annihilation, Global Ruin, Hokori
Gisela/Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Catastrophe/Jaya
Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Devastation/Austere Command/Sunblast
Avacyn + Armageddon/Decree of Annihilation
Gisela + Sunhome
Sun Titan + Jaya/Land Tax/almost all artifacts
SoFI + Jaya
SoFF + Catastrophe/Decree of Annihilation/Global Ruin/Armageddon/Razia's Purification/Cataclysm
Razia's Purification/Cataclysm + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Scroll Rack + Land Tax
Sunforger + Chaos Warp/Wear // Tear/P2E/S2P/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Wild Ricochet
Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer as "John the Revelator".
Prophetic Visions
Outpost Siege: I think the deck benefits more from the card draw provided by Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm running the Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo along with Sensei's Divining Top. Not too keen on exiling cards I might need later.
The Son of Man
Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host
Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table, and I'm definitely not paying for Entreat, either, so it's just the deck's archangels for the foreseeable future.
A Haste enabler
Fervor/In the Web of War: Both Fervor and Web are easier to remove than Anger in the graveyard, but I prefer using lands to grant haste. Replaced with Slayers' Stronghold, Hall of the Bandit Lord, and Flamekin Village.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Stoneforge Mystic/Brion Stoutarm: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. I prefer the ability to tutor every time I untap with the Giant. As for Stoutarm, angels are much too dignified to be flung like common goblins.
Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter/Glory of Warfare: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War.
Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels
Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum/Twilight/Dire Hour: Adding in high cost cards like Reya would require a significant restructuring of the deck. Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable; with haste, Valkyrie has an immediate presence on the board, unlike Shepherd; Sunblast potentially hits all opponents' creatures, not just those attacking. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals
Day of Judgment/Inferno/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Although Inferno interacts with Gisela, its inability to deal a variable amount of damage like Earthquake weakens it. Bonfire's better for 1v1. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme. Despite their lack of synergy with Avacyn, a successfully resolved Purification or Cataclysm with a protected Gisela in play equates to "Good game," in my experience.
7 Trumpets
Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp.
Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless.
Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments
Champion's Helm/Mask of Avacyn: Greaves and Boots work with the deck's non-legendary creatures and have cheaper equip costs.
Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost.
Skullclamp: The deck only runs 16 creatures, all of which likely stand a higher chance of being exiled or tucked. Also, Skullclamp hardly seems appropriate from a flavor perspective. Running Mind's Eye instead for card draw.
Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan.
Sword of Light and Shadow/Sword of War and Peace/Sword of Body and Mind: In a deck with several global red damage spells/effects, F&I fits perfectly. SoFF works well to double lands' mana production in a sense, a boon with all of the removal. Protection from W nerfs Deathless Angel's ability and prevents targeting Gisela with Boros Charm. With so much mass land removal, the deck is vulnerable enough to reanimation strategies, no need to make it worse with B&M.
Signs & Wonders
Serenity: "Not really synergystic with the deck." Besides, there's no serenity on Judgment Day!
The Righteous
Squee, Goblin Nabob: Goblins look demonic.
The Resurrection & Emptied Graves
Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide/Faith's Reward: Recovery and Guide don't fit the deck's eschatological themes. Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs!
Armageddon, the Last Battle
Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War/Insurrection: Yes, Insurrection ends games. Yes, it often is the Last Battle, "Armageddon." It also costs eight and necessitates opponents having creatures worth stealing. Far better to repeatedly give Gisela double strike with Sunhome.
Holy Relics
Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo.
Mana Crypt/Boros Signet: The deck's average converted mana cost is below 4 (not counting Decree of Annihilation actual cost). In testing, mana has not been an issue. Twelve mana rocks, Land Tax, and Weathered Wayfarer, have proven sufficient.
Tithing
Eternal Dragon: Great card, but the deck only has thematic room for one (red) dragon.
Streets Paved With Gold
Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
Valor/Glory: Don't want to be too reliant on graveyard.
Preacher: Too campy.
Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow.
Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
PROPHETIC VISIONS
1 Mind's Eye
1 Sensei's Divining Top
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1 Weathered Wayfarer
"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH:
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
AND THE FIRST EARTH
WERE PASSED AWAY"
1 Crucible of Worlds
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
(THIRTY-SIX LANDS)
1 Command Tower
1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1 Flagstones of Trokair
1 Mistveil Plains
7 Plains
1 Spinerock Knoll
6 Mountain
1 Plateau
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Boros Garrison
1 Rugged Prairie
1 Arid Mesa
1 Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Strip Mine
1 Miren, the Moaning Well
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Kor Haven
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Ancient Den
1 Great Furnace
THE KINGDOM OF GOD"
1 Expedition Map
TITHING
1 Land Tax
HOLY RELICS
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Sol Ring
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Everflowing Chalice
1 Coalition Relic
1 Worn Powerstone
SIGNS AND WONDERS
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Return to Dust
1 Boros Charm
BORN AGAIN
1 Reforge the Soul
THE SON OF MAN
1 Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT
BREAKS THE ROCK"
1 Sunforger
"BEHOLD, THE LION
OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH"
1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Elspeth Tirel
1 Gideon Jura
1 Gideon, Champion of Justice
"THOU SHALT NOT PROSPER,
FOR THE END WILL STILL BE
AT THE APPOINTED TIME"
1 Mana Web
"THE GREAT DAY OF
THE LORD IS NEAR,
IT IS NEAR AND
EXCEEDING SWIFT"
1 Vedalken Orrery
"A SCROLL, SEALED
WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1 Scroll Rack
THE END
1 Apocalypse
1 Jokulhaups
1 Decree of Annihilation
1 Austere Command
1 Final Judgment
1 Magmaquake
1 Obliterate
1 Terminus
1 Voyager Staff
1 Otherworldly Journey
1 Ghostway
1 Liberate
1 Sudden Disappearance
1 Flickerform
1 Legion's Initiative
THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS
1 Adarkar Valkyrie
1 Deathless Angel
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1 Admonition Angel
1 Twilight Shepherd
1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Swiftfoot Boots
FLAMING SWORDS
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
GOG, OF THE LAND
OF MAGOG:
CHIEF PRINCE OF
ROSH, MESHECH,
AND TUBAL
1 Godo, Bandit Warlord
"BEHOLD! A GREAT
RED DRAGON"
1 Worldgorger Dragon
"THE BEAST THAT ASCENDETH
OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
SHALL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM,
AND SHALL OVERCOME THEM,
AND SHALL KILL THEM"
1 Greater Gargadon
"THEY ARE CHOKED BY
LIFE'S WORRIES, AND
THEY DO NOT MATURE"
1 Stranglehold
"THE GRAVE SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Faith's Reward
"AND THERE SHALL BE
NO MORE DEATH"
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
ARMAGEDDON,
THE LAST BATTLE
1 Insurrection
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
PROPHETIC VISIONS
1x Mind's Eye
1x Sensei's Divining Top
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1x Weathered Wayfarer
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
(THIRTY-SIX LANDS)
1x Command Tower
1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Mistveil Plains
9x Plains
1x Spinerock Knoll
6x Mountain
1x Plateau
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Arid Mesa
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Kor Haven
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Strip Mine
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
TITHING
1x Land Tax
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Coalition Relic
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Glory
THE SON OF MAN
1x Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT
BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
"BEHOLD, THE LION
OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH"
1x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS
St. Michael,
Dragonslayer
1x Baneslayer Angel
Gabriel,
Angel of Resurrection
1x Adarkar Valkyrie
Raphael,
Angel of Healing
1x Deathless Angel
Seraphiel,
the Silent
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Ramiel,
Angel of Hope
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Uriel,
Angel of Death
1x Sunblast Angel
Raguel,
God's Vengeance
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Swiftfoot Boots
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
THE HEAVENLY HOST
1x Entreat the Angels
THE FOUR HORSEMEN
OF THE APOCALYPSE
Conquest
1x Stonehewer Giant
War
1x Nobilis of War
Famine
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker
Death
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
"A SCROLL, SEALED
WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1x Scroll Rack
THE SEVEN SEALS
1x Wrath of God
1x Razia's Purification
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Devastation
1x Final Judgment
1x Terminus
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1x Chaos Warp
1x Condemn
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Aurelia's Fury
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Wear // Tear
1x Boros Charm
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Wild Ricochet
ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
THE RIGHTEOUS
1x True Conviction
THE RAPTURE
1x Ghostway
THOSE LEFT BEHIND
1x Faithless Looting
"THEY ARE CHOKED BY
LIFE'S WORRIES, AND
THEY DO NOT MATURE"
1x Stranglehold
GOG, OF THE LAND
OF MAGOG:
CHIEF PRINCE OF
ROSH, MESHECH,
AND TUBAL
1x Godo, Bandit Warlord
"BEHOLD! A GREAT
RED DRAGON"
1x Knollspine Dragon
"THE BEAST THAT ASCENDETH
OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
SHALL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM,
AND SHALL OVERCOME THEM,
AND SHALL KILL THEM"
1x Greater Gargadon
"AND THE BEAST OPENED
HIS MOUTH TO BLASPHEME
GOD'S TABERNACLE"
1x Blasphemous Act
BORN AGAIN
1x Reforge the Soul
"THE GRAVE SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Faith's Reward
"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH:
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
AND THE FIRST EARTH
WERE PASSED AWAY"
1x Crucible of Worlds
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
CREATURES - 17
1x Adarkar Valkyrie
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1x Baneslayer Angel
1x Deathless Angel
1x Glory
1x Godo, Bandit Warlord
1x Greater Gargadon
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
1x Knollspine Dragon
1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
1x Nobilis of War
1x Stonehewer Giant
1x Sun Titan
1x Sunblast Angel
1x Weathered Wayfarer
SORCERIES - 11
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Blasphemous Act
1x Devastation
1x Entreat the Angels
1x Faithless Looting
1x Final Judgment
1x Razia's Purification
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Terminus
1x Wrath of God
1x Aurelia's Fury
1x Boros Charm
1x Chaos Warp
1x Condemn
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Faith's Reward
1x Ghostway
1 Wear // Tear
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Wild Ricochet
ENCHANTMENTS - 3
1x Land Tax
1x Stranglehold
1x True Conviction
PLANESWALKER - 2
1x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
TOTAL ARTIFACTS - 18
EQUIPMENT - 5
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Sunforger
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
UTILITY ARTIFACTS - 5
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Mind's Eye
1x Relic of Progenitus
1x Scroll Rack
1x Sensei's Divining Top
MANA ROCKS - 8
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Thran Dynamo
1x Arid Mesa
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Command Tower
1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Kor Haven
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Mistveil Plains
6x Mountain
9x Plains
1x Plateau
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Spinerock Knoll
1x Strip Mine
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
32 White cards
16 White permanents*
20 Red cards
7 Red permanents**
23 White mana sources
19 Red mana sources
*counting Entreat the Angels and Glory
**counting Anger
6 Card Draw: Mind's Eye, Scroll Rack, Reforge the Soul, Knollspine, SoF&I, Faithless Looting
6 Tutors: Sunforger, Stonehewer Giant, Enlightened, Godo, Land Tax, Wayfarer
4 Recursion: Sun Titan, Adarkar Valkyrie, Emeria, Crucible
4 "I Win!" cards: Gisela, Razia's Purification, Sunhome, Ajani
2 Burn: Aurelia's Fury, Blasphemous Act
11 Creature Control: Jaya, Sunblast, Wrath, Austere Command, Terminus, Final Judgment, Condemn, P2E, Devastation, S2P, Kor Haven
2 Artifact/Enchantment Control: Return to Dust, Wear // Tear
2 Land Control: Strip Mine, Armageddon
1 Graveyard Control: Relic of Progenitus
2 Sacrifice Outlets: Greater Gargadon, Miren
Casting Costs
All Spells
0cc: 2 (1)
1cc: 9
2cc: 4 (5)
3cc: 10
4cc: 9 (10)
5cc: 9
6cc: 7 (8)
7cc: 4
8+cc: 5* (6)
Xcc: 3
Note: (Everflowing Chalice)
*counting Blasphemous Act
Creature Spells
1cc: 1
3cc: 1
4cc: 2
5cc: 4
6cc: 4
7cc: 1
8+cc: 3
Synergies
Gisela + Stonehewer Giant
Gisela/Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Earthquake/Jaya
Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Wrath of God/Devastation/Blasphemous Act/Austere Command
Avacyn + Armageddon
Gisela + Aurelia's Fury/True Conviction
Gisela + Sunhome/Ajani
Avacyn + Sunblast Angel/Wrath of God
Sun Titan + Jaya/Land Tax/Crypt/almost all artifacts
Greater Gargadon + Devastation/Armageddon/Razia's Purification
SoFI + Earthquake/Jaya/Blasphemous Act
Wrath of God + Ghostway
Razia's Purification + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Scroll Rack + Land Tax
Sunforger + Chaos Warp/Condemn/P2E/S2P/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Wear // Tear/Wild Ricochet/Ghostway
Spinerock Knoll + half the angels
Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer as "John the Revelator".
Prophetic Visions
Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from the card draw provided by Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm still running the Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo to help out with top deck manipulation.
The Son of Man
Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host
Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
A Haste enabler
Fervor/In the Web of War: Both Fervor and Web are easier to remove than Anger in the graveyard. Anger makes a fine chump blocker.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Stoneforge Mystic/Brion Stoutarm: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. I prefer the ability to tutor every time I untap with the Giant. As for Stoutarm, angels are much too dignified to be flung like common goblins.
Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter/Glory of Warfare: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War.
Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels
Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum/Twilight: Adding in high cost cards like Reya would require a significant restructuring of the deck. Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. With haste, Valkyrie has an immediate presence on the board, unlike Shepherd. Better to get single creatures for free, so to speak, than pay out of pocket to cast them out of hand.The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals
Day of Judgment/Inferno/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Although Inferno interacts with Gisela, its inability to deal a variable amount of damage like Earthquake weakens it. Bonfire's better for 1v1. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme. Despite its lack of synergy with Avacyn, a successfully resolved Purification with a protected Gisela in play equates to "Good game," in my experience (so far).
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets
Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp.
Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless.
Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Word of Seizing.
Nevermore: I'd rather tuck opposing generals with Banishing Stroke or Condemn, giving opponents less time to interact with the card.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments
Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures.
Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost.
Skullclamp: The deck only runs 15 creatures, two of which belong in the graveyard. Skullclamp hardly seems appropriate. Running Mind's Eye instead.
Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan.
Sword of Feast and Famine: In a deck with several global red damage spells/effects, W&P and F&I fit perfectly. SoFF doesn't combo with Jaya's or Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P.
Signs & Wonders
Serenity: "Not really synergystic with the deck." Besides, there's no serenity on Judgment Day!
The Righteous
Squee, Goblin Nabob: Goblins look demonic.
The Resurrection & Emptied Graves
Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Recovery and Guide don't fit the deck's eschatological themes. Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs!
Relic of Progenitus: It works against the deck's Incarnations, Glory and Anger. Also, isn't recursible with Sun Titan.
Armageddon, the Last Battle
Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War: Insurrection ends games. It is the Last Battle. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by Insurrection.
Holy Relics
Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo.
Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault.
Grim Monolith/Mana Crypt/Boros Signet: The deck's average converted mana cost is below 4. In testing, mana has not been an issue. Five mana rocks, three tithing spells, and Weathered Wayfarer have proven sufficient.
Tithing
Eternal Dragon: Great card, but the deck only has thematic room for one (red) dragon.
Streets Paved With Gold
Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous
Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela.
Preacher: Too campy.
Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow.
Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
1x Mercadian Atlas
PROPHETIC VISIONS
1x Crystal Ball
THE HEAVENLY HOST
1x Decree of Justice
GLORIA PATRI
1x Glory
"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR,
IT IS NEAR AND EXCEEDING SWIFT"
1x Anger
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
1x Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer (Conquest)
1x Nobilis of War (War)
1x Hokori, Dust Drinker (Famine)
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Death)
THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS
1x Battlegrace Angel (St. Michael, Dragonslayer)
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury (Raguel, God's Vengeance)
1x Indomitable Archangel (Seraphiel, the Silent)
1x Adarkar Valkyrie (Gabriel, Angel of Resurrection)
1x Sunblast Angel (Uriel, Angel of Death)
1x Silver Seraph (Ramiel, Angel of Hope)
1x Aegis Angel (Raphael, Angel of Healing)
"I SAW STILL ANOTHER MIGHTY ANGEL,
CLOTHED WITH A CLOUD"
1x Victory's Herald
THE SEVEN SEALS
1x Kirtar's Wrath
1x Razia's Purification
1x Volcanic Vision
1x Fated Retribution
1x Rout
1x Destructive Force
1x Inferno
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1x Return to Dust
1x Condemn
1x Crib Swap
1x Oblation
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Boros Charm
1x Wear // Tear
THE SEVEN THUNDERS UTTERED,
AND DO NOT WRITE THEM"
1x Molten Psyche
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Obsidian Battle-Axe
1x Fireshrieker
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1x Whispersilk Cloak
1x Swiftfoot Boots
THE RIGHTEOUS
1x Kor Cartographer
THE RAPTURE
1x Otherworldly Journey
THOSE LEFT BEHIND
1x Faithless Looting
"THEY ARE CHOKED BY
LIFE'S WORRIES, AND
THEY DO NOT MATURE"
1x Stranglehold
"BEHOLD! A GREAT RED DRAGON"
1x Knollspine Dragon
"THE BEAST THAT ASCENDETH
OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
SHALL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM,
AND SHALL OVERCOME THEM,
AND SHALL KILL THEM"
1x Greater Gargadon
"AND THE BEAST OPENED
HIS MOUTH TO BLASPHEME
GOD'S TABERNACLE"
1x Blasphemous Act
"THE GRAVE SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Resurrection
1x Defy Death
GOG, OF THE LAND
OF MAGOG:
CHIEF PRINCE OF
ROSH, MESHECH,
AND TUBAL
1x Godo, Bandit Warlord
ARMAGEDDON,
THE LAST BATTLE
1x Insurrection
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Boros Signet
1x Coldsteel Heart
1x Fire Diamond
1x Marble Diamond
1x Mind Stone
1x Thought Vessel
1x Basalt Monolith
1x Worn Powerstone
1x Gift of Estates
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1x Wayfarer's Bauble
1x Armillary Sphere
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
(THIRTY-SEVEN LANDS)
1x Shimmering Grotto
1x Command Tower
1x Mistveil Plains
12x Plains
1x Flamekin Village
7x Mountain
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Ancient Amphitheater
1x Scabland
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Vivid Crag
1x Vivid Meadow
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Mystifying Maze
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
1x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1x Boros Guildgate
1x Slayers' Stronghold
Once you've done that, you've probably killed off at least one opponent.
The following version's set of "Bowls" are instants searchable with Sunforger (instead of mass LD). Half of these instants also offer rewards for bolder players who wish to end the game quickly through general damage.
This last version is ideal for 1v1 duels but does not follow the French rules of deck construction (which you can find here). If you want to make the deck legal for official 1v1 games, you'll have to remove the following cards:
- Crucible of Worlds
- Mana Vault
- Sensei's Divining Top
- Sol Ring
- Strip Mine
Here are my suggestions for substitutes:- Gift of Estates
- Grim Monolith
- Crystal Ball
- Thran Dynamo
- Wasteland
The differences between this version's "Bowls" and the WMD version's are as follows:-Wake of Destruction
-Decree of Annihilation
-Global Ruin
-Rout
-Rolling Earthquake
-Catastrophe
-Molten Disaster
+Reverberate
+Boros Charm
+Firestorm
+Soul's Fire
+Order (Order/Chaos)
+Overblaze
+Grab the Reins
JUDGMENT DAY
Strategy
Use "Tithing" (Land Tax) and the deck's "Holy Relics" (mana rocks) to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" (global destruction) of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" (targeted destruction) to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest" (Stonehewer Giant), to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" (Swords of X and Y) and don her in "Angelic Raiments" (Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots) of protection. Pour out the "Bowls" (Soul's Fire, Overblaze, etc.), increasing Gisela's might, and swing for the win.
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
PROPHETIC VISIONS
1x Mind's Eye
1x Sensei's Divining Top
THE SON OF MAN
1x Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR,
IT IS NEAR AND EXCEEDING SWIFT"
1x Anger
"BEHOLD, THE LION
OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH"
1x Ajani, Caller of the Pride
"THOU SHALT NOT PROSPER,
FOR THE END WILL STILL BE
AT THE APPOINTED TIME"
1x Aurelia's Fury
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
1x Stonehewer Giant (Conquest)
1x Nobilis of War (War)
1x Ajani Vengeant (Famine)
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Death)
THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS
1x Baneslayer Angel (St. Michael, Dragonslayer)
1x Akroma, Angel of Fury (Raguel, God's Vengeance)
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence (Seraphiel, the Silent)
1x Adarkar Valkyrie (Gabriel, Angel of Resurrection)
1x Sunblast Angel (Uriel, Angel of Death)
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Ramiel, Angel of Hope)
1x Deathless Angel (Raphael, Angel of Healing)
"A SCROLL, SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1x Scroll Rack
THE SEVEN SEALS
1x Wrath of God
1x Razia's Purification
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Devastation
1x Final Judgment
1x Inferno
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
1x Chaos Warp
1 Wear // Tear
1x Path to Exile
1x Wild Ricochet
1x Word of Seizing
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Return to Dust
1x Reverberate
1x Boros Charm
1x Firestorm
1x Grab the Reins
1x Soul's Fire
1 Order // Chaos
1x Overblaze
"THEY ARE CHOKED BY
LIFE'S WORRIES, AND
THEY DO NOT MATURE"
1x Stranglehold
SIGNS AND WONDERS
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Steelshaper's Gift
ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1x Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1x Gideon Jura
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Swiftfoot Boots
BORN AGAIN
1x Reforge the Soul
"THE GRAVE SHALL
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1x Relic of Progenitus
GOG, OF THE LAND
OF MAGOG:
CHIEF PRINCE OF
ROSH, MESHECH,
AND TUBAL
1x Godo, Bandit Warlord
"BEHOLD! A GREAT RED DRAGON"
1x Knollspine Dragon
"THE BEAST THAT ASCENDETH
OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT
SHALL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM,
AND SHALL OVERCOME THEM,
AND SHALL KILL THEM"
1x Greater Gargadon
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
TITHING
1x Land Tax
"AND I, JOHN,
SAW THE HOLY CITY,
NEW JERUSALEM,
COMING DOWN FROM
GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"
1x Weathered Wayfarer
(THIRTY-SIX LANDS)
1x Command Tower
1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1x Flagstones of Trokair
1x Mistveil Plains
9x Plains
1x Spinerock Knoll
6x Mountain
1x Plateau
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Arid Mesa
1x Boseiju, Who Shelters All
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Miren, the Moaning Well
1x Kor Haven
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Strip Mine
1x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1x Hall of the Bandit Lord
"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN
AND A NEW EARTH:
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
AND THE FIRST EARTH
WERE PASSED AWAY"
1x Crucible of Worlds
7 Tutors: Sunforger, Stonehewer Giant, Enlightened, Steelshaper's Gift, Godo, Land Tax, Wayfarer
4 Recursion: Sun Titan, Adarkar Valkyrie, Emeria, Crucible
4 "I Win!" cards: Gisela, Razia's Purification, Sunhome, Ajani
5 Burn: Grab the Reins, Aurelia's Fury, Inferno, Firestorm, Soul's Fire
8 Creature Control: Jaya, Sunblast, Wrath, Austere Command, P2E, S2P, Kor Haven, Devastation
2 Artifact/Enchantment Control: Return to Dust, Wear // Tear
2 Land Control: Strip Mine, Armageddon
1 Graveyard Control: Relic of Progenitus
6 Non-land Mana: Everflowing Chalice, Gilded Lotus, Mana Vault, Sol Ring, Coalition Relic, Chromatic Lantern
35 Mana-producing lands
15 Creatures
14 Artifacts
6 Equipment
30 White cards
16 White permanents*
6 Red permanents**
24 Red cards
23 White mana sources
19 Red mana sources**
*counting Entreat the Angels
**counting Anger
All Spells
0cc: 2 (1)
1cc: 11
2cc: 5 (6)
3cc: 11
4cc: 10 (11)
5cc: 8
6cc: 7 (8)
7cc: 4
8+cc: 3 (4)
Xcc: 3
Note: (Everflowing Chalice)
Creature Spells
1cc: 1
3cc: 1
4cc: 2
5cc: 4
6cc: 4
7cc: 1
8cc: 2
Gisela/Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Inferno/Jaya
Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Wrath of God/Devastation/Austere Command/Sunblast Angel
Avacyn + Armageddon
Gisela + Aurelia's Fury/Firestorm/Soul's Fire
Gisela + Sunhome/Ajani/Chaos/Overblaze
Sun Titan + Jaya/Land Tax/Crypt/almost all artifacts
SoFI + Inferno/Jaya
Razia's Purification + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Wild Ricochet/Reverberate + most of the Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls/all the tutors/Resurrection/R2D
Scroll Rack/Firestorm + Land Tax
Sunforger + Chaos Warp/Wear // Tear/P2E/S2P/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Wild Ricochet/all of the Bowls
Spinerock Knoll + half the angels
Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Mad Prophet not incredibly synergistic with deck. Replaced with Weathered Wayfarer.
The Son of Man
Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host
Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Stoneforge Mystic: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant.
Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War.
Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels
Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum: Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals
Day of Judgment/Terminus/Hallowed Burial/Catastrophe/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Chain Reaction: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Terminus/Hallowed Burial, and Catastrophe don't interact well with Gisela. Inferno affects more of the board than Bonfire. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Chain Reaction is too conditional and doesn't fit the deck's theme.
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Terminus/Hallowed Burial==>Catastrophe==>Fault Line==>Devastation
Bonfire of the Damned==>Inferno
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets
Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Chaos Warp.
Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless.
Cessation/Faith's Fetters/O-Ring: Dropped for Word of Seizing.
Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Grab the Reins.
7 Bowls
Wild Ricochet: Reverberate's low casting cost makes it a better fit for the deck, allowing for duplication of my own spells.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments
Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures.
Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost.
Skullclamp: Not useful in this deck. Running Mind's Eye instead.
Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan.
Sword of Feast and Famine: Doesn't combo with Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P.
Mask of Avacyn: Doesn't grant haste.
Darksteel Plate: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud.
Fireshrieker: Not as powerful on its own.
Helm of Kaldra: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud.
Quietus Spike: Not as powerful on its own.
The Resurrection
Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Resurrection and Defy Death are more flavorful. Also, the FNM art for Resurrection is amazeballs!
Armageddon, the Last Battle
Aggravated Assault/Waves of Aggression/World at War: Insurrection ends games. It is the Last Battle. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by Insurrection.
Holy Relics
Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo.
Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault.
Streets Paved With Gold
Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous
Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela.
Preacher: Too campy.
Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow.
Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from card draw. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation.
The Resurrection itself is a common religious theme
I've already got Resurrection in the list, and I thought about what you said and took the religious theme even further:
the folks left behind post-Rapture:
Faithless Looting
Born Again:
Reforge the Soul
a better John the Revelator:
Thraben Doomsayer
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
Ajani Vengeant (Famine)
Avatar of Slaughter (War)
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Conquest)
Mageta the Lion (Death)
The Dragon:
Knollspine Dragon
The Son of Man:
Gideon Jura in a more appropriate spot
Heavenly Virtues:
Glory
Valor
Armageddon's fast approach:
Anger
Armageddon itself:
Insurrection
Adding more creatures was necessary to stay alive, and taking into account the cards that can create tokens, the deck now has twenty "working" creatures. Glory, Valor, and Anger ensure the deck's creatures come out faster and stick around longer. Reforge the Soul, Faithless Looting, Jaya Ballard, Task Mage and Mageta the Lion provide extra ways to get the Incarnations into the graveyard just in case Avacyn, Angel of Hope is on the field, with the latter two offering more ways to abuse Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Avacyn. Avatar of Slaughter is another way to maximize Gisela's ability, as is Insurrection. Knollspine Dragon boosts the deck's card draw capability.
Thraben Doomsayer: Terribly inefficient. False Prophet is kind've relevant, but is best with a sac outlet. Serra Ascendant takes a pretty solid place.
Avatar of Slaughter: Could be dangerous. True Conviction costs 2 less, is harder to remove, benefits only you, and benefits you with lifelink instead of a 8/8 body.
Jaya Ballard / Mageta: you're in boros, where there isn't much card draw. You don't want to discard things!
Gideon: Neat bot not terribly efficient either. Mitigates some damage, but your general does that as well.
Luminarch Ascension will draw a lot of hate. I could only see playing it when your general is in play. At that point in the game, I'm not sure how relevant it would be.
Indomitable Archangel, and Platinum Angel seem irrelevant. You already benefit from lesser damage, and don't have an artifact themed deck to make indomitable relevant.
Day / Terminus / Bonfire: Day is obviously not as good as wrath, and you don't seem to have much if anything that's a full board wipe. I'd run Akroma's Vengeance or Rout over Day. I still think I'd run Hallowed Burial over terminus, as I feel wraths are generally cards you hold not get lucky top decking. And Bonfire seems pretty inefficient if it isn't miracled. I would run Earthquake, Chain Reaction, Blasphemous Act, or Inferno over it. Oblivion Stone is also pretty good, especially if you run Sun Titan. By the way, run Sun Titan! He looks holy
Banishing Stroke: May or may not be worse than oblation. Would require testing to say for sure! Especially dependent on whether or not you have any top deck manipulation.
Swords to Plowshares: Not here?!
Evangelize: Heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well. I'd run something like Word of Seizing, Heat Shimmer, Grab the Reins instead.
Cessation: I'm partial to prison term, faith's fetters, and oblivion ring over this.
Thunderous Wrath: Just seems inefficient
Sword of Vengeance: I've tried it, just always found out that it was expensive to cast and it gets blown up a lot =/
Sword of Kaldra: Also expensive, and can't be abused terribly well.
Fireshrieker: Expensive, but could be pretty scary. Problem being, you don't have many means to give her +1 / +Whocares. Without that, double striking with your general is still two swings.
Moonsilver Spear: Flavorable I guess? I hate it otherwise
Sword of Feast and Famine might make a decent addition.
Other 2 kaldra pieces: Expensive, hard to tutor for without littering your deck with tutors, and have a tendency to get dun blowed up. I hate them in decks without great artifact recursion.
You run a lot of equipment, but I feel as if you're missing a few key things and may be able to cut from your equipment. If you keep a lot of equipment in the deck, I'd add Stonehewer Giant. Otherwise Stoneforge Mystic is great, as is skullclamp, minds eye, and any other form of card draw you can find that doesn't benefit others. I ran inheritance in my mono white deck for a while.
Dimensional Breach seems questionable
Darksteel Forge: Unnecessary
Armillary Sphere: Not bad, but you could run land tax which combos with scroll rack
Helvault: You're in colors that don't need this
You only run 35 lands, and only a few mana rocks. I'd up the rocks and the land count. To maybe 37-38 land and maybe 5 rocks. Adding coalition relic, and mana vault would probably help a lot. You have a decent amount of colorless land, try to keep it under 5. You also have a lot of land that come into play tapped. I think rupture spire is downright awful.
Miraculous Recovery is just better than Resurrection
Karmic Guide, Reveilark, Sun Titan are some of the best recursion.
Hopefully this helps, and hopefully I didn't kill the theme too badly
Since Boros has problems digging through its library, I've replaced Doomsayer with
Mad ProphetWeathered Wayfarer since it also makes for a good John of Patmos. Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that.You make an excellent point! I swapped out one Avatar for another, replacing Avatar of Slaughter with Nobilis of War, a much more fitting Horseman besides.
Typically, I'd be inclined to agree on both points. That being said, a reusable and abusable—when equipped with SoFI/SoWP or with Avacyn in play—Inferno is too good to pass up. I do concede, however, that Mageta demands too much so he's been replaced with another one of your suggestions, Stonehewer Giant.
While I was actually planning on using Gideon for removal doubling as a beatstick, you're absolutely right. Sun Titan fills his slot perfectly and works with almost all of my non-creature permanents. Plus, like you noted already, Sun Titan just looks holy!
I thought long and hard about this one. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I'd rather pay 8 and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
After doing the math, I'm with you on this one. The chance of this deck getting three artifacts into play at once, even with tutors, is slim. These two angels have been replaced by Deathless Angel and Baneslayer Angel, the latter primarily chosen for flavor purposes.
I went ahead and traded out all three in favor of Rout, Catastrophe, and Inferno, and also removed Austere Command for Earthquake since it has better synergy with Gisela.
While I appreciate Oblation's versatility, I took it out and put in Swords to Plowshares, leaving Banishing Stroke in since a) it doesn't help my opponent like Oblation does and b) has artwork that better suits the deck's theme.
I went with the Word (for obvious reasons), although I'm still going back and forth on this one since Sunforger can grab the Reins.
I'd forgotten all about Prison Term! It matches the deck's theme more than you know:
Aw, c'mon! What better way to express the LORD'S wrath (besides Wrath of God)?
I'm willing to take the chance with Vengeance and Fireshrieker, although I did drop the Spear, along with Kaldra's sword and shield.
After some consideration, I think Helm of Kaldra deserves a chance for both the haste as well as Sun Titan recursion.EDIT: Both Helm and Fireshrieker got their chance and have since been removed.You're spot on about the Giant and Mind's Eye!
If I ever decide to make a more Rapture-focused variant of this deck, Dimensional Breach is getting off the bench along with Safe Haven and various "blink" effects.
'Nuff said.
I only went up to 36 lands and 5 mana rocks on the basis of adding in Tithe and Land Tax to supplement Gift of Estates. I figure that between the 3 tithing cards and Scroll Rack the deck should be okay. I got rid of Rupture Spire and slipped Emeria, the Sky Ruin into its place based on AEferyamma's suggestion. What do you think?
True, and Defy Death would go great with any of my 7 archangels. But what would Judgment Day be without the Resurrection? And have you seen the FNM version?
Yeah, but Reveillark doesn't work with any of the deck's creatures. Sun Titan's pretty badass, though!
You're been INCREDIBLY helpful and I thank you. I hope you'll weigh in on the deck's evolution thus far!
However I think you can do better with your dragon. Knollspine's cost makes him terribly inefficient without loads of mana to also make the card draw worth it (inferno for instance) even with Gisela. On the other hand Balefire Dragon would make an excellent choice since his ability to hit all your opponents creatures with one swing gets doubled by Gisela.
Thanks, Seth!
I can't decide between Balefire and Knollspine. The former works well my general and has a repeatable effect, but Knollspine's card draw is very tempting, as is her flavor text: "It woke to find a vast world in need of a master." If that doesn't spell out 'Antichrist', I don't know what does! (Plus Balefire's scales are more black than red.)
On a more competitive note, I'd like to fit in Pyrohemia. What are five card choices you'd consider cutting? Also, I'm considering exchanging Rout for Devastation. Thoughts?
This is the few thing I would change:
For Holly relic:
Maybe mana vault for darksteel ingot: The ingot is cool, but i think mana vault will be more effective.
Another thing that can be cool is Aggravated Assault in "ARMAGEDDON, THE LAST BATTLE" and put a Sword of feast and famine in "FLAMING SWORDS".
A sensei divining top would be a great in the deck.
Last thing... your deck need a Preacher!!!
RWGMarath, Will of the WildRWG
GUPrime Speaker Zegana (+1/+1 Shenanigans!!)UG
RWGUril, The MistwalkerRWG
In another vein, Mana Barb can be awesome, but risky because no one want to take 2 damage for 1 mana^^.
RWGMarath, Will of the WildRWG
GUPrime Speaker Zegana (+1/+1 Shenanigans!!)UG
RWGUril, The MistwalkerRWG
They both seem on-par as far as flavor goes.
The art on that is spectacular
WOW! I need to find one of those for my own Gisela deck now.
GUB [Retired Primer] The Mimeoplasm BUG
Modern: UR Storm RU
Cube: WUBRG Pauper Cube GRBUW
Credit for the banner goes to DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Instead of Rout or Devastation, try Catastrophe. If life is hard, kill all the creatures. If life is easy, kill all the lands and swing for the win.
I'm glad you like the theme!
I took your suggestion for exchanging the Ingot for the Vault, which makes a lot more sense given the deck's low land count.
On that note, I replaced Insurrection for World at War, which is both cheaper to cast and a better fit for 'Armageddon', andswapped out a Mountain for Spinerock Knoll. Sword of Feast and Famine was actually in the deck's first incarnation, and although it could help with mana production, I don't think it's the strongest choice against the Reanimator decks in my meta; it also doesn't abuse Gisela as much as the other swords I've included. You're right about Gisela needing some "holy armor" and that's where the deck's Equipment comes in. A few of the other archangels help out in that regard as well. As for Sensei's Divining Top, I think the deck benefits more from Mind's Eye. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation. While hilarious, Preacher is too campy for the deck's gravity.I ended up removing both Catastrophe and Rout, replacing them with Fault Line and Razia's Purification. Purification makes the pass to set up the layup for the win and its flavor is simply DIVINE.
I did consider Entreat
, but I ended up going with Decree of Justice for two reasons: 1) although it costs more than Entreat, I can always cycle for "onward Christian soldiers", and 2) it fits the vengeful flavor of the deck better.EDIT: After cracking an Entreat at the Prerelease, I changed my mind.I know, right?!
After a lot of soul searching, I came around and took nurse.jason's advice to drop Thunderous Wrath. I found a much more flavorful replacement in Angel's Trumpet.
Finally, I've decided against Pyrohemia and Oblivion Stone. Although the former has insane interactions with Gisela and the latter could turn into "The Rock Eternal" with Sun Titan, both are too expensive for worthwhile activation the turn they come into play given how few lands the deck runs. Also, I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness, like Pyrohemia or Brightflame.
Thoughts?
The differences are as follows:
-Mask of Avacyn
-Darksteel Plate
-Fireshrieker
-Helm of Kaldra
-Quietus Spike
-Mad Prophet
-1 Mountain
+Reverberate
+Seething Song
+Firestorm
+Double Cleave
+Soul's Fire
+Order // Chaos
+Overblaze
JUDGMENT DAY
Strategy
Use "Tithing" spells and the deck's "Holy Relics" to ramp into Gisela. Break the "Seals" of God's wrath to the sound of blaring angel "Trumpets" to control the board. Call upon the First Horseman, "Conquest", to equip Gisela with "Flaming Swords" and don her in "Angelic Raiments" of protection. Swing for the win.
1x Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
PROPHETIC VISIONS
1x Mind's Eye
THE SON OF MAN
1x Sun Titan
"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE,
LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK"
1x Sunforger
THE HEAVENLY HOST
1x Entreat the Angels
GLORIA PATRI
1x Glory
"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR,
IT IS NEAR AND EXCEEDING SWIFT"
1x Anger
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
1x Stonehewer Giant (Conquest)
1x Nobilis of War (War)
1x Ajani Vengeant (Famine)
1x Jaya Ballard, Task Mage (Death)
"BEHOLD! A GREAT RED DRAGON"
1x Knollspine Dragon
THE 7 ARCHANGELS
1x Baneslayer Archangel (St. Michael, Dragonslayer)
1x Akroma, Angel of Wrath (Raguel, God's Vengeance)
1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence (Seraphiel, the Silent)
1x Adarkar Valkyrie (Gabriel, Angel of Resurrection)
1x Sunblast Angel (Uriel, Angel of Death)
1x Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Ramiel, Angel of Hope)
1x Deathless Angel (Raphael, Angel of Healing)
"A SCROLL, SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS"
1x Scroll Rack
THE 7 SEALS
1x Wrath of God
1x Razia's Purification
1x Fault Line
1x Earthquake
1x Comet Storm
1x Destructive Force
1x Inferno
1x Angel's Trumpet
1x Condemn
1x Path to Exile
1x Banishing Stroke
1x Prison Term
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Word of Seizing
THE 7 BOWLS
1x Reverberate
1x Seething Song
1x Firestorm
1x Double Cleave
1x Soul's Fire
1x Order // Chaos
1x Overblaze
FLAMING SWORDS
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Vengeance
1x Sword of War and Peace
ANGELIC RAIMENTS
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Whispersilk Cloak
1x Swiftfoot Boots
SIGNS AND WONDERS
1x Steelshaper's Gift
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Return to Dust
THE RIGHTEOUS
1x True Conviction
THE RAPTURE
1x Ghostway
THOSE LEFT BEHIND
1x Faithless Looting
BORN AGAIN
1x Reforge the Soul
GIVE UP HER DEAD"
1x Tormod's Crypt
1x Resurrection
ARMAGEDDON, THE LAST BATTLE
1x World at War
HOLY RELICS
1x Everflowing Chalice
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Mana Vault
1x Sol Ring
1x Coalition Relic
TITHING
1x Tithe
1x Land Tax
1x Gift of Estates
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD (35)
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Shimmering Grotto
1x Command Tower
1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1x Mistveil Plains
13x Plains
1x Spinerock Knoll
7x Mountain
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Boros Garrison
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Tectonic Edge
1x Kor Haven
1x Slayers' Stronghold
1x Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
By the Numbers
6 Card Draw: Mind's Eye, Scroll Rack, Reforge the Soul, Knollspine, SoF&I, Faithless Looting
7 Tutors: Sunforger, Stonehewer Giant, Steelshaper's Gift, Enlightened, Tithe, Land Tax, Gift of Estates
3 Recursion: Sun Titan, Adarkar Valkyrie, Emeria
4 "I Win!" cards: Gisela, Whispersilk Cloak, Razia's Purification, Sunhome
8 Burn: Ajani Vengeant, Fault Line, E-quake, Comet Storm, D-Force, Inferno, Firestorm, Soul's Fire
9 Creature Control: Jaya, Sunblast, Wrath, Condemn, P2E, Banishing Stroke, Prison Term, S2P, Kor Haven
1 Artifact/Enchantment Control: Return to Dust
1 Land Control: Tectonic Edge
1 Graveyard Control: Tormod's Crypt
5 Non-land Mana: Everflowing Chalice, Gilded Lotus, Mana Vault, Sol Ring, Coalition Relic
35 Mana-producing lands
15 Creatures
16 Artifacts
7 Equipment
31 White cards
17 White permanents*
5 Red permanents**
22 Red cards
24 White mana sources
18 Red mana sources***
*counting Entreat the Angels and Glory
**counting Anger
***counting Seething Song
Casting Costs
All Spells
0cc: 2 (1)
1cc: 11
2cc: 6 (7)
3cc: 13
4cc: 7 (8)
5cc: 9
6cc: 7 (8)
7cc: 3
8cc: 2 (3)
Xcc: 4
Note: (Everflowing Chalice)
Creature Spells
3cc: 1
4cc: 3
5cc: 4
6cc: 4
7cc: 1
8cc: 2
Synergies
Gisela + Glory (Glory + anything, really)
Gisela + Stonehewer Giant
Gisela/Avacyn/Deathless/Valkyrie + Earthquake/Fault Line/Destructive Force/Inferno/Jaya/World at War
Gisela + Comet Storm/Ajani Vengeant/True Conviction/Firestorm/Soul's Fire
Gisela + Whispersilk Cloak/SoWP/Sunhome/Double Cleave/Chaos/Overblaze
Avacyn + Sunblast Angel/Wrath of God/Angel's Trumpet
Sun Titan + Jaya/Prison Term/Land Tax/Crypt/almost all artifacts
Wrath of God + Ghostway
Razia's Purification + Sun Titan/Valkyrie
Reverberate + most of the Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls/all the tutors/Looting/Resurrection/R2D/World at War/Entreat
Scroll Rack/Firestorm + Land Tax/Tithe/Gift of Estates
Sunforger + Condemn/P2E/S2P/Tithe/Enlightened Tutor/R2D/Ghostway/all of the Bowls
Spinerock Knoll + half the angels
Discarded Choices
Thraben Doomsayer/False Prophet/Serra Ascendant/Mad Prophet: Doomsayer is "terribly inefficient." Thematically speaking, False Prophet would make for a great addition. However, I'd like to get the most out of Avacyn, Angel of Hope whenever she's on the battlefield and exiling all creatures in play doesn't quite accomplish that. Without True Conviction or Baneslayer, I'd have to draw Serra Ascendant early on for the bonus. Removed Mad Prophet as "John the Revelator" to make room for the Seven Bowls. Mad Prophet not incredibly synergistic with deck.
The Son of Man
Gideon Jura/Reveillark: Gideon's "not terribly efficient" in the deck and Reveillark isn't useful with the deck's creatures. Replaced with Sun Titan.
The Heavenly Host
Luminarch Ascension: I'd rather pay 7 for Entreat the Angels and definitely get two angels (barring countermagic, of course) rather than hope my enchantment doesn't get blown up going around the table.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Stoneforge Mystic: More fragile than Stonehewer Giant and less useful in this deck. "Conquest", the 1st Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Stonehewer Giant.
Gratuitous Violence/Avatar of Slaughter: It's not likely the deck will have a horde of creatures in play. All the more reason to run a creature over an enchantment, I think, especially since about half the deck's creatures are for utility anyway. However, the Avatar is dangerous without Gisela on the field. "War", the 2nd Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Nobilis of War.
Mageta the Lion/Scourge of Kher Ridges: Mageta requires too much discard. Replaced with Jaya, which Sun Titan recurs. Jaya comes down several turns before the Scourge of Kher Ridges and, in a deck with only 36 lands, I can activate her ability before I can reliably cast the Scourge. To top it off, she hits all creatures, flying or otherwise. Finally, for flavor reasons, the deck only runs one dragon, Knollspine. "Death", the 4th Horseman of the Apocalypse slot, is currently filled by Jaya Ballard.
7 Archangels
Reya/Iona/Radiant/red Akroma/Basandra/Razia/Indomitable/Platinum: Reya and Iona cost too much mana; the deck doesn't run enough creatures to pump Radiant; one Akroma is enough, thank you; I happen to like combat tricks; Razia is too expensive for what she does; not enough artifacts; irrelevant without Indomitable. The deck's seven archangels were chosen based on a need for diverse mana costs, flavor, and synergy with Gisela's abilities.
7 Seals
Rout/Day of Judgment/Terminus/Hallowed Burial/Catastrophe/Austere Command/Bonfire of the Damned/Akroma's Vengeance/Obliterate/Devastation/Chain Reaction/Blasphemous Act: Wrath of God stays in. It's the cheapest board sweep the deck has and I can cast it without ramping before turn seven relatively easily, unlike Rout. DoJ is "strictly worse" than ***. Terminus/Hallowed Burial, Catastrophe, and Austere Command don't interact as well with Gisela like Fault Line and Earthquake do. Inferno affects more of the board than Bonfire. I'm running enough artifacts to not want to bother with Vengeance or Obliterate. Difficult to abuse Devastation without Avacyn in play and no synergy with Gisela. Chain Reaction/Blasphemous Act are both too conditional and neither fit the deck's theme.
DoJ==>Rout==>Razia's Purification
Terminus/Hallowed Burial==>Catastrophe==>Fault Line
Austere Command==>Earthquake
Bonfire of the Damned==>Inferno
Brightflame/Pyrohemia: I tended to opt for cards that didn't depend on having Gisela in play to maximize their usefulness.
7 Trumpets
Thunderous Wrath: "Inefficient." Dropped for Angel's Trumpet for obvious flavorful reasons.
Oblation: Dropped for Swords to Plowshares. Banishing Stroke seems like a better choice, regardless.
Cessation/Faith's Fetters/O-Ring: Dropped for Prison Term, which is both flavorful and effective.
Evangelize/Heat Shimmer: The first one is "heavily costed in colors that can't ramp well, and is super color intensive. Sorcery speed as well." Shimmer doesn't fit deck's theme. Replaced with Word of Seizing.
Flaming Swords & Angelic Raiments
Champion's Helm: Mask of Avacyn works with the deck's non-legendary creatures.
Moonsilver Spear: High equip cost.
Skullclamp: Not useful in this deck. Running Mind's Eye instead.
Sword/Shield of Kaldra: Not recursible with Sun Titan.
Sword of Feast and Famine: Doesn't combo with Gisela's abilities like F&I and W&P.
Mask of Avacyn: Doesn't grant haste.
Darksteel Plate: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud.
Fireshrieker: Not as powerful on its own.
Helm of Kaldra: Doesn't provide hexproof/shroud.
Quietus Spike: Not as powerful on its own.
The Resurrection
Defy Death/Miraculous Recovery/Karmic Guide: Resurrection is more flavorful. Also, the FNM art is amazeballs!
Armageddon, the Last Battle
Aggravated Assault/Insurrection/Waves of Aggression: It only costs five mana to get a total of four combat phases out of World at War, and its castable well before Insurrection. It's difficult for the deck to cast Assault and activate it the same turn. "Armageddon", the final battle slot, is currently filled by World at War.
Holy Relics
Armillary Sphere: Dropped for Scroll Rack/Land Tax combo.
Darksteel Ingot: Dropped for Mana Vault.
Streets Paved With Gold
Rupture Spire: "Downright awful."
Miscellaneous
Valor: Trumped by Glory and usually unnecessary with Gisela.
Preacher: Too campy.
Brilliant Halo/Runed Halo: Brilliant was for flavor only and pales next to the deck's equipment, whereas Runed is too narrow.
Darksteel Forge: Dropped along with Platinum Angel.
Sensei's Divining Top: I think the deck benefits more from card draw. Plus, I'm still running Scroll Rack to help out with top deck manipulation.
it can replace nobilis of war
but you lose the flying body
and youll only have 3 horsemen
I think you should add more mana sources - 44 seems a bit on the low side. Maybe add grim monolith / mana crypt / boros signet .
Fervor seems to fit the theme better than anger and is much more reliable if you don't have many discard outlets.
Orim's Thunder over Angel's Trumpets which seems very weak?
Weathered Wayfarer as an additional land tutor and a pilgrim?
Tormod's crypt seems very weak - relic of progenitus cantrips at the very least.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
Squee, Goblin Nabob? A worshipper who always returns and has faith? Great with Faithless Looting, Jaya Ballard, Task Mage or if you add something like Peace of Mind.
Serenity? Not really synergystic with the deck but could have it's moments and comes back with Sun Titan.
Nothing wrong with anything in your deck currently, it's thematic and reasonably powerful, just giving you some further suggestions.
Capitacom hit on some good points. I'm always a fan of Weathered Wayfarer. I think he's very underplayed (at least in my meta) for what he does. Considering the sheer number of utility lands that most EDH decks play, he can fetch a whole lot of answers, as well as just helping you ramp.
Orim's Thunder seems solid, although maybe not as much so without Sunforger. Return to Dust has good value as an alternative.
I'm not a terribly big fan of Fervor. I feel like for what EDH is as a format, In the Web of War does much better things. I guess maybe this would fit in your "Armageddon" heading?
I think I'd keep Nobilis of War over Glory of Warfare. Glory would shine more in a token list or if you were running a ton of small guys. At least the Nobilis is a beatstick on its own.
I like Wild Ricochet more than Reverberate. It's that and Misdirection all in one.
stuff
Faith's Fetters - Underrated removal in white.
Eternal Dragon - Mana fixing, self recursion, 5/5 flying body.
Stranglehold - If you aren't tutoring much, use it. Someone else will be.
Miraculous Recovery - More white recursion.
Twilight Shepherd - This little angel gets you a lot of options and can deal damage. People need to exile/tuck her or take damage.
Basandra, Battle Seraph - Debatable, but I think she fits here.
Do you not have a top? You should use a top. Sensei's Divining Top is arguably the #1 auto-include in any EDH deck.
Anyway, I'm in the process of building my own Gisela list, and this proved to be really helpful. My take on the deck won't be nearly as on-theme, of course, but I'd like for it to be as powerful as I can possibly make it. That said, I'll come back with a link to it once it's built, and hopefully you can give me some constructive criticism on the deck. If all goes well, I'll have the full list posted by the weekend.
Again, just totally floored with your dedication to flavor and playability at the same time. One question -- what are its match-ups like, generally? My 4-5 player group has a pool of decks like Azusa, Child of Alara, Kaalia of the Vast, Thraximundar, Uril the Miststalker, The Mimeoplasm, and more. Do you have any thoughts/personal experience on how a match goes against those types of decks?
Commander/EDH Decks:
BRG The Blood of Jund - Kresh the Bloodbraided BRG
WR The Blades of Goldnight - Gisela, Blade of Goldnight WR
For example, if I were building off of this list, I would use Karmic Guide and Reya Dawnbringer. If you have enough discard, then there's no problem in discarding your higher cost angels and reanimating them with the karmic guide and with an Defy Death. Of course, you'd be running that in addition to the Resurrection. This is made better if you have Chandra Ablaze to act as a discard source since she let's you draw three, and it disrupts your opponents' hands.
But I do understand the concerns with the lack of ramp the deck chooses not to run in favor of flavor, especially since you're hindering the list by omitting what little ramp r/w has when you take out Sol Ring, Boros Signet, and Darksteel Ingot. But that's just my opinion.
Objectively speaking, Sword of Feast and Famine is better than Sword of War and Peace.
I'm also not a fan of Banishment since you plan on drawing cards outside of the draw step. I'd rather run Chaos Warp, or even Oblation if I wanted to play politics. Nor am I a fan of running Razia's Purification over Austere Command, partly since Avacyn can't protect against the sacrifice effect. I also agree with running Twilight Shepherd over Adarkar Valkyrie, particularly since she can give you back all of the permanants you lose to your own board wipe rather than just the one.
Wild Richochet is just one of those red spells that begs to be included in most decks that run only two colors. Being able to redirect/copy a spot removal or piggyback off of someone's ramp spell is too good of an effect to pass up, and I'd rather have that over order//chaos. Actually, I'd also rather run Master of Warcraft over order//chaos.
If you're going to run Jaya, might I suggest Squee, Goblin Nabob? This might be one of the few cards I suggest that's actually on-theme, since he has a "always devoted follower" feel to him.
Skull Clamp is what gives r/w a lot of its card advantage, especially with the aforementioned Squee.
If you can only choose one, go with Stoneforge Mystic over Stonehewer Giant, especially since it makes for a much more attractive reanimation target with Sun Titan.
Finally, I'd rather run Cage of Hands over Prison Term since it has the option to bounce itself in case of:
1) enchantment removal
2) board wipe
3) bigger threat appears
That's just my 10 cents off the top of my head. I know these cards aren't flavorful with what you want to do, but when I'm asked for input I usually try to follow through with input I feel either makes the deck objectively better or are a part of an interesting theory I've developed out of inexperience.
P.S. No Brion Stoutarm?
www.commandercast.com
Commandercast on Tumblr!
My EDH/Commander List:
Wedges:
Numot, the Devastator RWU
Damia, Sage of Stone GUB
Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
Olivia Voldaren
-1 Evolving Wilds
-1 Shimmering Grotto
-1 Tectonic Edge
-1 Earthquake
+1 Arid Mesa
+1 Plateau
+1 Wasteland/ Strip Mine
+1 Rolling Earthquake
Also im a huge fan of Oblation/Chaos Warp especially since you can fetch them both with Sunforger.
I know im probably going to get hated on in this forum for saying this but I would prefer Final Judgment as opposed to something like Inferno. I understand that with Gisela it's a possible kill everyone else's creatures save the ones you have but sometimes you dont have Gisela out or the opponent has something like Akroma's Memorial/Eldrazi Monument. If you want to deal damage to all players I think an earthquake variant would work better, if you want to kill massive creatures then something like Terminus/Final Judgment seems like it would be better.
Since youre playing red I see no reason (other then perhaps flavor wise) to not play Insurrection/Stranglehold
1 final thing, I am not the biggest fan of Double Cleave/Firestorm.