I have had a chance to pilot this deck a few times and one thing I have learned is do not keep an opening hand with Bound in Silence. When some joker tutors our the Merit Lage combo while you are not paying attention in an early turn(with strip mine in hand as well), sorcery speed BiS is not ideal.
As I get more time to tinker for EDH rather than play EDH, my incessant tinkering has now morphed my built into all in with the Monarch mechanic (4 sources) plus Righteousnee Aura and maybe Plea for Guidance (too cheap to spend the $7.50 for Enlightened Tutor, but maybe I should). Also removed a few cards in the process- I'll post a decklist later. The deck has 30ish sources of CA, lol.
The edh decks around these parts are high cost spikey 1v1 decks, which is not ideal, but what I am working with at the moment.
Also, picked up the full 2016 Commander case (at a very reasonable price) as well as the Derevi and Meren Anthology decks (for cheap!). Looking to pick up the full 2017 Commander Case as well (too many decks?). Still loving the format.
Yea, really you dont want to draw any of the rebel tutor targets ever. Its part of why I run filtering cards. Something as simple as Mask of Memory can take rebels in hand and put them to grave where Lin Sivvi can tuck them again ready for use.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
True be told, drawing any rebel in the opening hand feels bad. Sometimes it's just a keep. I find the worts rebels to draw are the bringers. Takes away the surprise option. Look forward to seeing your list.
Lesson learned: instant speed board wipes are really powerful. Especially when there are 2.5 million Dead Eye Navigators coming at you and 2.5 million something else going to the guy next to you. We have two, Rout and Fated Retribution (more?). Both are pretty cheap to pick up too.
Lesson learned: It is a good idea to Xbringer opponent Commanders as soon as possible.
A new card to consider for the budget deck as alternatives to Rack and Top, Sunset Pyramid looks to have quite a bit of utility:
there is better. Staff of domination. Works well because you often just want to hold up mana. Alms collector is very situational. They need to draw 2 or more. It's not really a common effect in commander.
there is better. Staff of domination. Works well because you often just want to hold up mana. Alms collector is very situational. They need to draw 2 or more. It's not really a common effect in commander.
It depends a little on the meta that you play in. Its actually not hard to get into a situation where people draw a few extra cards. It would be really backbreaking to cast in response to say Brainstorm lol. Phyrexian Arena even ends up being a pickup card draw with it. I am also a lot less leery of flash based hatebears in a deck like this where we keep our mana up most of the time. Being a 4 mana flash hatebear I think in a lot of cases its too expensive to justify but we pass turn with our mana up most turns so I think its a little more interesting here.
Kindred Boon It is an interesting effect. My issue is that its kind of a lot of mana to pass out the protections and it itself requires still being in play for them to be indestructible. Its an interesting effect but its still a bit questionable.
Teferi's Protection So, this prevents a LOT of ways you could lose the game and its also wrath protection. I find it quite interesting as it also protects the non creatures so I would actually say.... this is like Ghostway for everything + Fog + Leyline of Sanctity all in one card for a one shot effect. It can probably keep you from losing to a lot of infinite combo (at least for a turn) and it also keeps you from losing to big haymaker effects. I think this is a really strong fog when you look at how many effects are packed into it and the low mana its going to be still.
teferi's protection is great. For being an on board type deck, the ability to protect is very useful. But one issue to keep in mind is having it at the right time. Being mono white our card draw/selection can be limited. It kind of fits into my "rebuild after a wrath slot." Cards like trading post, aetherworks marvel, argivian find. It's replacing my marvel.
Kindred Boon underwhelms me. I play tragic arrogance, terminus, hallowed burial. Being indestructible is not that important for my deck.
Alms collector is very situation. They need to draw two cards at once. cards like phyrexian arena, hallowing mine, etc... don't trigger it. If I want to mess up someones extra draws play spirit of the labyrinth. For drawing cards Mind's eye seems strictly better.
teferi's protection is great. For being an on board type deck, the ability to protect is very useful. But one issue to keep in mind is having it at the right time. Being mono white our card draw/selection can be limited. It kind of fits into my "rebuild after a wrath slot." Cards like trading post, aetherworks marvel, argivian find. It's replacing my marvel.
Kindred Boon underwhelms me. I play tragic arrogance, terminus, hallowed burial. Being indestructible is not that important for my deck.
Alms collector is very situation. They need to draw two cards at once. cards like phyrexian arena, hallowing mine, etc... don't trigger it. If I want to mess up someones extra draws play spirit of the labyrinth. For drawing cards Mind's eye seems strictly better.
If I could run Mind's Eye number two I would
I dont know how rare it is for people to draw in your meta. It seems like it would vary how much draw from meta to meta.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
My meta is typically varied from online play. One card that has constantly over performed has been hour of revelation and the black lotus reprint in lion's eye diamond.
Dusk // Dawn is quite a potent wrath effect for this deck, I'm currently testing it out.
I'm also considering cutting down on rebel searchers in my list. I think back when tucking was still a thing it was necessary to be able to chain into Sivvi asap again once she got tucked, but nowadays I feel like we don't need all of them any more.
I'm rarely using Sergeant for anything but chump blocking or throwing it into Skullclamp. It doesn't search up anything but Whipcorder and the CC2 searchers, and even when I naturally draw it it's awkward because on 3 you usually cast Sivvi instead of activating it, and on 4 you don't have enough mana to activate both for two relevant targets, so you usually just activate Sivvi and get a 3 anyway.
The CC2 searchers are certainly still necessary because most of the good targets are 3s and it's really valuable to fetch up two of them per turn, but I definitely won't run all 3 any more. Falcon +1 other seems stable enough. I'd go down to just Falcon too, but I'm too scared of it dying early and me being forced to immediately pay 3 extra to get another searcher from my deck.
Vanguard will probably stay as a trick, and yet again, I've been searching this up way less than I thought overall and its own search ability is largely irrelevant to me because I cut most of the CC4+ targets from my list.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Different question; how good have Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile been for you lately? Sure they're overall great cards, but oftentimes I've been wishing they were another Wrath effect instead when I drew them. Wraths are just so powerful in this deck because through the existence of Changeling Hero and wraths that let small creatures survive they're often much closer to Plague Wind than an actual symmetrical board wipe.
I could see cutting the one drop search. My only issue with it is that sometimes I have a mana left after doing something else and its the only one drop I am willing to just throw into play because I can.
Spot removal - it really comes down to how many "must answer" opposing creatures you see. If you are replacing them with wraths its not as bad but keep in mind how bad something like Elesh Norn sticking to the board is. Spot removal still has some need depending on how much you see of like say Consecrated Sphinx and a few others that may never attack but will still cause you to lose games. There is also the question of if you see combo stuff in your meta then usually moving to faster responses is a thing.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
can you send at list? Also, interesting note. lin Sivvi spiked 30 decks on edhrec withing the past couple of months.
I suspect this was aimed at Izor but... If this was aimed at me: My list has been kind of roaming in what its actually running more recently. The list in the OP is still fairly legit but I have added a little more of a minor equipment theme to it. I need to get a list kind of nailed down of where I like being and update the OP. I feel like my list has been shifting a bit much since I tried out the equipment builds and I went back to a token concept with more minor equipment for assistance rather than trying to kill players with equipped rebels.
COMMANDER 2017 Set Review:
Alms Collector I think given that its a flash hatebear who hijacks draw. It comes down a little bit to how often you see people drawing cards especially large quantities in one shot but I think it has potential. The problem with hatebears normally is that you have to sit with mana up and the option to get them as needed.
Kindred Boon so, I dont hate the intended design of this card. My issue though is that if this enchantment dies they no longer have the protection. Austere Command for instance could clear the enchantment and
Teferi's Protection this card has really not let me down yet. It can be protection from a wrath, MLD, any kind of removal / sweeper really or even be defense from a huge attack. Its a great defensive measure there is just the question of taking slots for defensive measures here with such a defensive deck. I usually aim for defensive measures that also remove whatever threats my opponents have so in a sense it still needs to contest with Comeuppance and Angel of the Dire Hour for a slot.
Hammer of Nazahn the protection it gives is fine but normally I dont really attack or defend with Lin Sivvi so from that perspective I think Darksteel Plate gives a better defensive / sticky measure.
Path of Ancestry really this comes back to me not really wanting to be casting rebels. We will still cast Lin Sivvi and the scry from that might be worth considering this. Its.... kind of sketchy still as a whole because I think really the only time this land pays off is if you can curve it in the first two turns. Its possible that the scry from casting a rebel from hand could be useful still but in general we still plan to be rebel tutoring so that scry is kind of thrown away.
Personally from commander 2017, I would probably put Alms Collector as my highest interest card. I think that Teferi's Protection is a completely amazing card but this deck is already so defensive that if I am going to devote room for protections I tend to find myself wanting one that also might act as removal. I think that if you play against a little bit of combo / MLD it might bump up Teferi's Protection but if you are expecting creature combat I often find myself wanting Comeuppance instead.
IXALAN Set Review:
Ashes of the Abhorrent I think that the hate that this card gives is a little narrow. There is no card advantage and it seems a little too niche. If this is like very specifically something you find yourself needing then perhaps but I think its a little weak.
Axis of Mortality so, really this seems like something that would be fun but part of the problem I have with this card is somewhat twofold 1) it does not do anything until your next turn. So, its slow to generate its value and it is sort of all or nothing for a 6 mana enchant. 2) We have so many defenses already.
Bishop of Rebirth its kind of a bad sun titan. The things I actually would want to recover from Sun Titan are very rarely creatures.
Ixalan's Binding Its an awkward Oblivion Ring + Nevermore except that its only Oblivion Ring vs commanders. I am not fond of Oblivion Ring effects and I dont see this being an improvement on either effect to be honest. In a lot of cases the reason to play Nevermore is to stop it from happening before it happens.
Legion's Landing / Adanto, the First Fort so, I think that really all of the transform to land effects are fairly solid in this set. The ETB token is kind of weak here and rebels don't really want to attack in a lot of cases but the payoff of a land that can slow roll tokens isn't half bad. I do think that while rebels can achieve the flip requirement of this land I think it will be something that requires some effort. I also think that while gaining a land in play is strong, I think the utility of it for this specific deck is actually kind of bad as I cant throttle a lot of mana through it and what it does I can mostly do with rebels. I guess what I am saying is that I am not dismissing the possibility of this land in rebels but the flip is a little awkward and what it does after the flip is also a little awkward to use the utility of.
Settle the Wreckage really this is a flexible Comeuppance with stronger removal but a drawback that makes it something you don't really want to use on an opponent attacking en mass (outside of lethal damage). I also don't really want to exile my rebels so its this really awkward middle of the road kind of a card where if you could like.... make 3-5+ tokens but not enough to like actually go for killing someone and then attack and turn them into lands it would be nice. I think its something to think about but it really shifts more in my mind to like... less attackers with stronger power (something we are usually good against) as well as utilizing it on your own attackers (which is mostly something we want to limit to tokens). I feel that while it could be good, the times it could be good feel too narrow to me.
Tocatli Honor Guard I have built a Torpor Orb build before and I think it depends a little as to what your meta looks like and what is working in your meta. If you were building for Torpor Orb and it was working for you then adding a third copy seems fine.
Conqueror's Galleon / Conqueror's Foothold so, I think that the transform of this card is a little tricky given that it costs 4 mana and would have summoning sickness the turn it enters as well as needing 4 power of creatures to crew it... BUT I think that the payoff land is incredibly powerful. Something to keep in mind as well with the crew mechanic is that the total power of the creatures you tap has to be 4+ so it does not mean that you need to have a single 4+ power creature to use it. Of the transform to land cards, I think that this one has the strongest abilities to support rebels and while I think it is going to be a challenge to flip it, I think it adds so much power in what it can do for us. As it stands, I think this will be one of the flip cards I am most eager to test.
Dowsing Dagger / Lost Vale given flying and shadow we should have a good number of ways to set this up and flip it. I think it will be a strong card to add to rebels especially to flush out the equipment tutors a little more. In my mind it just gives me another card that solidifies that equipment needs at least a package in rebels. I like that it really only costs a single mana to set this up given the three mana it gives back.
Primal Amulet / Primal Wellspring I think that the transform mechanic is incredibly powerful. That said, I think this is probably one of the harder effects to pull off in mono white given its flip requirement. I think it could be powerful with a few spells once flipped but it is just going to take too much work to flip and there are not enough spells I intend to cast to make this work for me.
Prying Blade I actually like the design of this card. Given our evasive attackers we can probably proc it fairly well. I just think that it lacks a little umph when comparing it to Sword of the Animist. Its a cool design though and I could see it being amusing with or against stasis / MLD
Sorcerous Spyglass its another take on Pithing Needle but it costs one more and you get to peek at a hand. I think its a nice design but just not something I am willing to give up a slot for in a deck like this.
Thaumatic Compass / Spires of Orazca I like that it can come in early and end of turns give us some land drops to hand and it flips into a land. Its really kind of a decent drop in a lot of different phases of the game. My only minor gripe is that its utility on the land side is something we tend to be strong against. I think it will be a strong card for rebels though and I intend to test it.
Treasure Map / Treasure Cove Scry / topdeck manipulation is something I always seek after in rebels. My issue is somewhat that as the artifact I feel that scry 1 is just not enough to justify a card. I don't hate the treasure / flip side and what it can do either but it takes time to flip the card so I just see myself topdecking this card like beyond turn 5 and it feels like its just too slow to flip and its value as the artifact is just so small. I am kind of ok with the treasure and the land it turns into I just think it does it too slowly and the payoff from it might not add up to the time and effort to flip it.
Vanquisher's Banner So, as an anthem, its underwhelming for the cost. We also don't really want to be casting rebels and don't run enough that casting them is all that consistent. Really, this card is giving an underwhelming draw and an underwhelming anthem. For this card to be good you really want a tribal deck where your deck is full of the tribe and you are casting them from hand all the time. If this effect triggered its draw every time a creature of that type entered under your control it would be a different discussion but its not so its underwhelming.
So, where am I at with Ixalan and Rebels? I think the Transform mechanic is ridiculously powerful for rebels and my only real concern with it is anyone who is playing with or against mass land destruction. These new mechanics should prove to be very interesting with rebels as a lot of the utility lands give us extra land drops that help towards our big mana objective as well as giving utility mana sinks. I found my interest in Ixalan to generally be:
Of these I suspect I will at least try the first three but I would like to test all 5 just to get a general feel for them. I have a LOT of newer cards that I actually want to try for Rebels which is kind of an odd feeling given how rarely rebels seems to get cards worthy of consideration. I will see if I cant get a list up and running after Ixalan comes out and try to post what it looks like and how things are going when I do.
Treasure Map could make a nice budget T2 Scry card along with Crystal Ball if one does not want to spring for Top or Scroll Rack. $2.08 right now and probably headed straight to $1 soon enough.
Treasure Map could make a nice budget T2 Scry card along with Crystal Ball if one does not want to spring for Top or Scroll Rack. $2.08 right now and probably headed straight to $1 soon enough.
It could but I think there are several budget options in the same kind of realm. If you are looking at it from a budget standpoint then it will be in part because of the power of it being a land later because flipping is not an optional with that card. I suspect that given a little bit of time it will probably be a very cheap rare but for those looking to pick up cards for a budget list, I wouldn't pay $2.00 at release when I suspect it will be a $0.25 card in a few months to a year.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
I used to run an Esper list with those cards in my playgroup (60 cards deck, non commander multiplayer) and it was a blast. Blue also adds counterspells to the mix, which is nice against combo. I'm currently toying with the possibility of an Esper Rebel deck for commander with either Oloro or Ertai as a commander...
Lin Sivvi being monowhite cuts a few of those options, but it's also really neat because you're guaranteed to have her every game, which is amazingly useful to get the tutor engine started. The problem I had with the two commanders I previously mentioned is that I would depend a lot on my draws to get the engine started. Of course I'd only need 1 rebel to start it, but still.
Anyway, super cool list and I always love seeing mono-white or mono-red decks. Well done!
I used to run an Esper list with those cards in my playgroup (60 cards deck, non commander multiplayer) and it was a blast. Blue also adds counterspells to the mix, which is nice against combo. I'm currently toying with the possibility of an Esper Rebel deck for commander with either Oloro or Ertai as a commander...
Lin Sivvi being monowhite cuts a few of those options, but it's also really neat because you're guaranteed to have her every game, which is amazingly useful to get the tutor engine started. The problem I had with the two commanders I previously mentioned is that I would depend a lot on my draws to get the engine started. Of course I'd only need 1 rebel to start it, but still.
Anyway, super cool list and I always love seeing mono-white or mono-red decks. Well done!
Thanks I know a few people have delved into the BW versions in the past. I at one point looked at Gaddock Teeg as a rebel build for the anti wrathing as well as Skyshroud Poacher for an elf tie in. I am a sucker for mono colored decks especially white ones as I really like feeling the color identity of mono color. There is also potentially the value of having a lower profile with less colors in a deck.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
My list plays as low curve hate bear / toolbox / control until it can assemble a combo finish, playing to white's strength in tutors for equipment, creatures, and lands. It turns out being able to consistently get infinite mana is great when your Commander tutors for Mirror Entity and can also set up unlimited card draw (Umbral Mantle + Skullclamp). My current list is light on the Life.dec combo, but I still assemble in many games. I found that Animal Boneyard was often quite weak, but I would probably try Condemn again if I feel I'm in a meta where it is independently useful.
My list plays as low curve hate bear / toolbox / control until it can assemble a combo finish, playing to white's strength in tutors for equipment, creatures, and lands. It turns out being able to consistently get infinite mana is great when your Commander tutors for Mirror Entity and can also set up unlimited card draw (Umbral Mantle + Skullclamp). My current list is light on the Life.dec combo, but I still assemble in many games. I found that Animal Boneyard was often quite weak, but I would probably try Condemn again if I feel I'm in a meta where it is independently useful.
My first thought is that it feels like you are trying to push your Ranger of Eos to have more utility than I think you really need. Generally speaking I think three targets is plenty for him to be fine. You could easily cut Tragic Poet or Salvage Scout for Argivian Find as an example of essentially a strict upgrade (minus toolboxing). Heap Doll also looks very underwhelming to me as well being that I would rather have almost any other grave hate drawn off the topdeck instead of that. I say these from the standpoint that if you were to draw them instead of ranger I would find them a bit underwhelming. You have 7 non rebel one drops and I would say about half of them seem questionable and I would not normally be all that happy to top deck them.
Parallax Wave is an interesting selection. I like the versatility of it but I tend to like that style of card more in a deck with ETB creatures where I have its versatility and I can re-trigger ETBs as well.
Your ramp selection is also a little odd to me as it feels more like you are trying to tempo ramp with your list. It just strikes me as a bit odd as I am usually not trying to speed up how quickly I can get my commander into play.
30 lands looks very light to me as well. I don't see any reason to advocate running Ancient Den either as there is a chance someone just pops it with something like an Austere Command or Tragic Arrogance.
Have you considered Alms Collector in place of or in addition to Spirit of the Labyrinth? Its kind of a similar hatebear but instead of cutting them off you hijack the draw.
Its an interesting approach. Its a little different from my own but its cool. Aetherflux Reservoir does seem like a strong card when having access to Children of Korlis. I am not willing to run it myself but I do like the look of it.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
The thing about the Ranger package is that every creature tutorable by Ranger of Eos is also tutorable by Recruiter of the Guard. Having two low cost creatures that act as recursion that can be tutored by two other cards is much better than one card that can never be tutored for. Plus, they are Skullclamp-able, add devotion for Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, can hold equipment, and can be used as mana dorks with Paradise Mantle and Springleaf Drum. I played Argivian Find a long time ago, but have found these two to be MUCH better.
Heap Doll is a card I always think to remove when I want to fit in a new card, but it always good when I draw it so it persists in the list. Instant speed graveyard exiling is really strong, and the fact that you can drop it turn 1-2 and never think about paying mana for it again makes it very valuable against reanimator and combo decks that use the graveyard. Again, you can really easily tutor for Heap Doll, and like the two guys above, it synergizes with many, many other cards in the deck. It's also very helpful to be able to use Ranger of Eos to get enough artifacts in hand to go off with Metalworker.
I have considered removing Parallax Wave, but I do have many ETB tutor creatures, and it disrupts lots of creature-based combos. Sometimes its just a one-sided Wrath for a turn or two, and than can be enough. I originally had it because I ran Opalescence with it, but I still don't see a card worthy of Wave's slot (especially because the deck is light on boardwipes already).
30 lands has been working because nothing cost over 4 mana in the list and the average is less than 2. As for the ramp, I think you are underestimating how valuable playing a 3 CMC card on turn 2 is. The deck would rather get a turn 2 Lin and sit on 3-4 mana for several turns than a turn 3 Lin and have more mana than it needs. Plus, the artifact ramp facilitates Metalworker. With regard to Ancient Den, it turns on Metalcraft and lets Weathered Wayfarer or Expedition Map put an artifact in hand for Metalworker. I've considered swapping it for Darksteel Citadel for the reasons you've mentioned, but I don't like pushing the number of colorless lands too far.
Spirit of the Labyrinth is much better than Alms Collector because it costs less, it tutorable, and soft locks the game with Teferi's Puzzlebox. I thought about trying Alms Collector in place of Parallax Wave, but it's pretty situational considering it only hoses effects that draw more than one card at a time. I'll probably continue to think about it, but its yet to hit my test list.
Have you tested Treasure Map any? I goldfished with it a bit and it seems pretty strong in a combo build, as it can explode ramp you 4 mana to go off or set up a 3 turn draw engine that helps you find your win-con. I haven't committed it to my test list at the moment yet, however.
That is some interesting insight. I cant comment much as I don't play with or against combo oriented metas myself so I acknowledge that you have some adjustments based on a shift in focus.
Treasure Map - I havent played it myself. I was a bit worried at how slow it was to flip and how its not an optional flip. If anyone does play it I would be interested to hear how testing goes.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
what kind of competitive decks do you play against?
Assuming you are asking me...
I play against a few decks that use Armageddon / Stasis effects on occasion. I see a lot of planeswalkers and Time Warps as well in the more annoying things I encounter as well. On occasion I see planeswalkers pushed towards ults with mass LD or extra turns as well. For the most part people wont actually do infinite combos still (mostly).
^ these are some of the outlier decks that I encounter. That is not every game as its kind of a handful of players who will run that stuff and they don't usually run that in every deck or in large numbers.
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I have officially moved to MTGNexus. I just wanted to let people know as my response time to salvation decks being bumped is very hit or miss.
As I get more time to tinker for EDH rather than play EDH, my incessant tinkering has now morphed my built into all in with the Monarch mechanic (4 sources) plus Righteousnee Aura and maybe Plea for Guidance (too cheap to spend the $7.50 for Enlightened Tutor, but maybe I should). Also removed a few cards in the process- I'll post a decklist later. The deck has 30ish sources of CA, lol.
The edh decks around these parts are high cost spikey 1v1 decks, which is not ideal, but what I am working with at the moment.
Also, picked up the full 2016 Commander case (at a very reasonable price) as well as the Derevi and Meren Anthology decks (for cheap!). Looking to pick up the full 2017 Commander Case as well (too many decks?). Still loving the format.
Cheers
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[Modern] Allies
Lesson learned: It is a good idea to Xbringer opponent Commanders as soon as possible.
A new card to consider for the budget deck as alternatives to Rack and Top, Sunset Pyramid looks to have quite a bit of utility:
http://mythicspoiler.com/hou/cards/sunsetpyramid.html
It depends a little on the meta that you play in. Its actually not hard to get into a situation where people draw a few extra cards. It would be really backbreaking to cast in response to say Brainstorm lol. Phyrexian Arena even ends up being a pickup card draw with it. I am also a lot less leery of flash based hatebears in a deck like this where we keep our mana up most of the time. Being a 4 mana flash hatebear I think in a lot of cases its too expensive to justify but we pass turn with our mana up most turns so I think its a little more interesting here.
Kindred Boon It is an interesting effect. My issue is that its kind of a lot of mana to pass out the protections and it itself requires still being in play for them to be indestructible. Its an interesting effect but its still a bit questionable.
Teferi's Protection So, this prevents a LOT of ways you could lose the game and its also wrath protection. I find it quite interesting as it also protects the non creatures so I would actually say.... this is like Ghostway for everything + Fog + Leyline of Sanctity all in one card for a one shot effect. It can probably keep you from losing to a lot of infinite combo (at least for a turn) and it also keeps you from losing to big haymaker effects. I think this is a really strong fog when you look at how many effects are packed into it and the low mana its going to be still.
Overall, I think I am a bit interested in Alms Collector and Teferi's Protection so far.
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[Modern] Allies
Kindred Boon underwhelms me. I play tragic arrogance, terminus, hallowed burial. Being indestructible is not that important for my deck.
Alms collector is very situation. They need to draw two cards at once. cards like phyrexian arena, hallowing mine, etc... don't trigger it. If I want to mess up someones extra draws play spirit of the labyrinth. For drawing cards Mind's eye seems strictly better.
If I could run Mind's Eye number two I would
I dont know how rare it is for people to draw in your meta. It seems like it would vary how much draw from meta to meta.
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[Modern] Allies
I could see cutting the one drop search. My only issue with it is that sometimes I have a mana left after doing something else and its the only one drop I am willing to just throw into play because I can.
Spot removal - it really comes down to how many "must answer" opposing creatures you see. If you are replacing them with wraths its not as bad but keep in mind how bad something like Elesh Norn sticking to the board is. Spot removal still has some need depending on how much you see of like say Consecrated Sphinx and a few others that may never attack but will still cause you to lose games. There is also the question of if you see combo stuff in your meta then usually moving to faster responses is a thing.
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[Modern] Allies
I suspect this was aimed at Izor but... If this was aimed at me: My list has been kind of roaming in what its actually running more recently. The list in the OP is still fairly legit but I have added a little more of a minor equipment theme to it. I need to get a list kind of nailed down of where I like being and update the OP. I feel like my list has been shifting a bit much since I tried out the equipment builds and I went back to a token concept with more minor equipment for assistance rather than trying to kill players with equipped rebels.
COMMANDER 2017 Set Review:
Personally from commander 2017, I would probably put Alms Collector as my highest interest card. I think that Teferi's Protection is a completely amazing card but this deck is already so defensive that if I am going to devote room for protections I tend to find myself wanting one that also might act as removal. I think that if you play against a little bit of combo / MLD it might bump up Teferi's Protection but if you are expecting creature combat I often find myself wanting Comeuppance instead.
IXALAN Set Review:
So, where am I at with Ixalan and Rebels? I think the Transform mechanic is ridiculously powerful for rebels and my only real concern with it is anyone who is playing with or against mass land destruction. These new mechanics should prove to be very interesting with rebels as a lot of the utility lands give us extra land drops that help towards our big mana objective as well as giving utility mana sinks. I found my interest in Ixalan to generally be:
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[Modern] Allies
It could but I think there are several budget options in the same kind of realm. If you are looking at it from a budget standpoint then it will be in part because of the power of it being a land later because flipping is not an optional with that card. I suspect that given a little bit of time it will probably be a very cheap rare but for those looking to pick up cards for a budget list, I wouldn't pay $2.00 at release when I suspect it will be a $0.25 card in a few months to a year.
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[Modern] Allies
I used to run an Esper list with those cards in my playgroup (60 cards deck, non commander multiplayer) and it was a blast. Blue also adds counterspells to the mix, which is nice against combo. I'm currently toying with the possibility of an Esper Rebel deck for commander with either Oloro or Ertai as a commander...
Lin Sivvi being monowhite cuts a few of those options, but it's also really neat because you're guaranteed to have her every game, which is amazingly useful to get the tutor engine started. The problem I had with the two commanders I previously mentioned is that I would depend a lot on my draws to get the engine started. Of course I'd only need 1 rebel to start it, but still.
Anyway, super cool list and I always love seeing mono-white or mono-red decks. Well done!
Custom set projects:
Aenyr: Art is Magic (100% done and fully draftable!)
Elestral: Astronomy, Weather and Duality (Currently in early design.)
Multiplayer commander decks
RGWU Bruse and Thrasios: Enchanted Alliance | BR Grenzo's Jail of Malevolence | RWU Shu Yun's Teachings | B Toshiro Umezawa's Eternal Journey | WU Ephara's City of Wonders
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Thanks I know a few people have delved into the BW versions in the past. I at one point looked at Gaddock Teeg as a rebel build for the anti wrathing as well as Skyshroud Poacher for an elf tie in. I am a sucker for mono colored decks especially white ones as I really like feeling the color identity of mono color. There is also potentially the value of having a lower profile with less colors in a deck.
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http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/white-rebel-motorcycle-club/
My list plays as low curve hate bear / toolbox / control until it can assemble a combo finish, playing to white's strength in tutors for equipment, creatures, and lands. It turns out being able to consistently get infinite mana is great when your Commander tutors for Mirror Entity and can also set up unlimited card draw (Umbral Mantle + Skullclamp). My current list is light on the Life.dec combo, but I still assemble in many games. I found that Animal Boneyard was often quite weak, but I would probably try Condemn again if I feel I'm in a meta where it is independently useful.
My first thought is that it feels like you are trying to push your Ranger of Eos to have more utility than I think you really need. Generally speaking I think three targets is plenty for him to be fine. You could easily cut Tragic Poet or Salvage Scout for Argivian Find as an example of essentially a strict upgrade (minus toolboxing). Heap Doll also looks very underwhelming to me as well being that I would rather have almost any other grave hate drawn off the topdeck instead of that. I say these from the standpoint that if you were to draw them instead of ranger I would find them a bit underwhelming. You have 7 non rebel one drops and I would say about half of them seem questionable and I would not normally be all that happy to top deck them.
Parallax Wave is an interesting selection. I like the versatility of it but I tend to like that style of card more in a deck with ETB creatures where I have its versatility and I can re-trigger ETBs as well.
Your ramp selection is also a little odd to me as it feels more like you are trying to tempo ramp with your list. It just strikes me as a bit odd as I am usually not trying to speed up how quickly I can get my commander into play.
30 lands looks very light to me as well. I don't see any reason to advocate running Ancient Den either as there is a chance someone just pops it with something like an Austere Command or Tragic Arrogance.
Have you considered Alms Collector in place of or in addition to Spirit of the Labyrinth? Its kind of a similar hatebear but instead of cutting them off you hijack the draw.
Its an interesting approach. Its a little different from my own but its cool. Aetherflux Reservoir does seem like a strong card when having access to Children of Korlis. I am not willing to run it myself but I do like the look of it.
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[Modern] Allies
Heap Doll is a card I always think to remove when I want to fit in a new card, but it always good when I draw it so it persists in the list. Instant speed graveyard exiling is really strong, and the fact that you can drop it turn 1-2 and never think about paying mana for it again makes it very valuable against reanimator and combo decks that use the graveyard. Again, you can really easily tutor for Heap Doll, and like the two guys above, it synergizes with many, many other cards in the deck. It's also very helpful to be able to use Ranger of Eos to get enough artifacts in hand to go off with Metalworker.
I have considered removing Parallax Wave, but I do have many ETB tutor creatures, and it disrupts lots of creature-based combos. Sometimes its just a one-sided Wrath for a turn or two, and than can be enough. I originally had it because I ran Opalescence with it, but I still don't see a card worthy of Wave's slot (especially because the deck is light on boardwipes already).
30 lands has been working because nothing cost over 4 mana in the list and the average is less than 2. As for the ramp, I think you are underestimating how valuable playing a 3 CMC card on turn 2 is. The deck would rather get a turn 2 Lin and sit on 3-4 mana for several turns than a turn 3 Lin and have more mana than it needs. Plus, the artifact ramp facilitates Metalworker. With regard to Ancient Den, it turns on Metalcraft and lets Weathered Wayfarer or Expedition Map put an artifact in hand for Metalworker. I've considered swapping it for Darksteel Citadel for the reasons you've mentioned, but I don't like pushing the number of colorless lands too far.
Spirit of the Labyrinth is much better than Alms Collector because it costs less, it tutorable, and soft locks the game with Teferi's Puzzlebox. I thought about trying Alms Collector in place of Parallax Wave, but it's pretty situational considering it only hoses effects that draw more than one card at a time. I'll probably continue to think about it, but its yet to hit my test list.
Have you tested Treasure Map any? I goldfished with it a bit and it seems pretty strong in a combo build, as it can explode ramp you 4 mana to go off or set up a 3 turn draw engine that helps you find your win-con. I haven't committed it to my test list at the moment yet, however.
Treasure Map - I havent played it myself. I was a bit worried at how slow it was to flip and how its not an optional flip. If anyone does play it I would be interested to hear how testing goes.
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[Modern] Allies
Assuming you are asking me...
I play against a few decks that use Armageddon / Stasis effects on occasion. I see a lot of planeswalkers and Time Warps as well in the more annoying things I encounter as well. On occasion I see planeswalkers pushed towards ults with mass LD or extra turns as well. For the most part people wont actually do infinite combos still (mostly).
^ these are some of the outlier decks that I encounter. That is not every game as its kind of a handful of players who will run that stuff and they don't usually run that in every deck or in large numbers.
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I was actually already working on one
I will see if I cant get it posted here in the next few days.
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