Soaring above the battlefield, Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, uses cunning strategies to outsmart her enemies. She orchestrates the movements of her great army as they fight invaders who would lay waste to her peaceful lands. Derevi's keen eyes absorb a multitude of factors as she rapidly alters her plan to meet the changing conditions on the ground. Derevi is disciplined but fair, and she evokes loyalty in her soldiers. Always the eye in the sky, this commander outmaneuvers her enemies time and time again.
Hi everyone. I've been playing Magic since Innistrad, and I consider myself a skilled player and competent deckbuilder. This is my rendition of a Derevi, Empyrial Tactician list which focuses on taking advantage of Stasis effects. As far as I can tell, this is the best deck in the entire format. I am new to this deck however, so any suggestions are welcome!
I'm not sure about the "Best deck in the entire format" thing. How often do you sit down to a table of turn 3-4 combo decks?
Any-who seems like a nice list. You included all the usual cards with a fun looking equipment package. I would definitely try to find a slot for that linvala you have in your considering list. She hoses most creature based combos forcing them to spend a turn answering her.
Only thing that stands out is the missing Karmic Guide, Revillark, and Saffi inclusions for additional synergies and infinities.
With other very quick combo decks, you just have to keep the low cost answers early in the game. After that, this deck is good at dealing with an entire table with its Stasis effects. Keeps everyone under control and makes the threats come out at a more manageable pace.
I feel that Karmic Guide/Reveillark isn't bad but just a bit unnecessary. I already have recursion spells that I consider to be better (Eternal Witness and Sun Titan) and there are already a few winning combos: Deadeye+Venser, EWit+Time Warp, Prophet+Opposition... and I think adding more would take up spots for some unneeded redundancy.
I do have one spot to fill, so I'll give Linvala a try! Definitely a good answer to Mikaeus/Triskelion. Thanks for the suggestions!
I am curious about the strength of your meta, what decks you face daily, and your win ratio. So far my win ratio is around 20% or less, but I play in a very competitive meta, several counter-spell lock decks, grave hate, heavy removal the whole 9 yards.
I am guessing since you are running a slightly complicated combo you have more time and breathing room to assemble it? What turn do you typically attempt to combo out?
Damia combo-control, 5C Reaper King combo, Kaalia, Sen Triplet control, Mimeoplasm combo-control, and an Omnath deck filled with every green removal spell.
In general, I just try to get Derevi out turn 2, then drop something like Prophet or Hokori turn 3 to control the board until I get a win con. The thing about this deck is it's not all about the infinite combos. I consider all of these to be sufficient win conditions (people usually scoop to these):
Art by Michael Komarck
Soaring above the battlefield, Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, uses cunning strategies to outsmart her enemies. She orchestrates the movements of her great army as they fight invaders who would lay waste to her peaceful lands. Derevi's keen eyes absorb a multitude of factors as she rapidly alters her plan to meet the changing conditions on the ground. Derevi is disciplined but fair, and she evokes loyalty in her soldiers. Always the eye in the sky, this commander outmaneuvers her enemies time and time again.
Hi everyone. I've been playing Magic since Innistrad, and I consider myself a skilled player and competent deckbuilder. This is my rendition of a Derevi, Empyrial Tactician list which focuses on taking advantage of Stasis effects. As far as I can tell, this is the best deck in the entire format. I am new to this deck however, so any suggestions are welcome!
3 Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Mana Acceleration (16)
0 Mox Diamond
1 Arbor Elf
1 Avacyn's Pilgrim
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Elvish Mystic
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Mana Vault
1 Noble Hierarch
1 Sol Ring
2 Bloom Tender
3 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Wood Elves
4 Garruk Wildspeaker
4 Oracle of Mul Daya
5 Prophet of Kruphix
Control (13)
1 Swords to Plowshares
2 Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
2 Gaddock Teeg
2 Gilded Drake
2 Mana Drain
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Bant Charm
4 Glen Elendra Archmage
4 Hokori, Dust Drinker
4 Opposition
4 Supreme Verdict
4 Venser, Shaper Savant
5 Venser, the Sojourner
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Land Tax
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Steelshaper's Gift
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Worldly Tutor
2 Eladamri's Call
2 Muddle the Mixture
2 Survival of the Fittest
3 Fabricate
3 Idyllic Tutor
3x Wargate
4 Birthing Pod
4 Captain Sisay
5 Bribery
5 Tezzeret the Seeker
Draw (12)
0 Gitaxian Probe
1 Brainstorm
1 Skullclamp
2 Coiling Oracle
2 Elvish Visionary
2 Sylvan Library
3 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
3 Sword of Fire and Ice
3x Sphinx's Revelation
4 Bident of Thassa
4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
5 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
1 Serra Ascendant
2 Luminarch Ascension
Combo (4)
3 Eternal Witness
5 Time Warp
6 Deadeye Navigator
6 Sun Titan
1 Academy Ruins
1 Blinkmoth Nexus
1 Thawing Glaciers
Fetches (9)
1 Arid Mesa
1 Flooded Strand
1 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
3 Forest
1 Gaea's Cradle
3 Plains
3 Island
1 Seat of the Synod
Dual color (9)
1 Savannah
1 Tundra
1 Tropical Island
1 Temple Garden
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Breeding Pool
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Simic Growth Chamber
1 Command Tower
1 City of Brass
1 Mana Confluence
0 Tree of Tales
1 Utopia Sprawl
1 Wild Growth
2 Earthcraft
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Kiora's Follower
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Voice of Resurgence
2x Curse of the Swine
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Mirror Entity
3x Chord of Calling
4 Armageddon
4 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
4 Linvala, Keeper of Secrets
6 Prime Speaker Zegana
7 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Changelog
-Detention Sphere, Elspeth, Knight-Errant, Lightning Greaves
+Swords to Plowshares, Gaddock Teeg, Mystical Tutor
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
Any-who seems like a nice list. You included all the usual cards with a fun looking equipment package. I would definitely try to find a slot for that linvala you have in your considering list. She hoses most creature based combos forcing them to spend a turn answering her.
Only thing that stands out is the missing Karmic Guide, Revillark, and Saffi inclusions for additional synergies and infinities.
GUGEdric, Spymaster of Trest - Elfball
WUBOloro, Ageless Ascetic- Doomsday!
RWUEphara, God of the Polis - Blink + Control
GBGGlissa, the Traitor - Stax & Lands
URGMaelstrom Wanderer - Goodstuff RUG
RGWMayael the Anima - Timmy
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher - The One Hit Wonder
RGWMarath, Will of the Wild - Old-school Enchantress Hate
RWRAurelia, the Warleader - Equipment Aggro
GGGReki, the History of Kamigawa - Legends + Banding
UBRSedris, the Traitor King - Creatures with
BUBPhenax, God of Deception - Mill
*Sidenote, I specifically excluded infinite combos from all these decks with the exception of Marath and the squirrel nest + Earthcraft combo.
Looking for something Aggressive in modern? Try - BR Aggro
I feel that Karmic Guide/Reveillark isn't bad but just a bit unnecessary. I already have recursion spells that I consider to be better (Eternal Witness and Sun Titan) and there are already a few winning combos: Deadeye+Venser, EWit+Time Warp, Prophet+Opposition... and I think adding more would take up spots for some unneeded redundancy.
I do have one spot to fill, so I'll give Linvala a try! Definitely a good answer to Mikaeus/Triskelion. Thanks for the suggestions!
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
I am guessing since you are running a slightly complicated combo you have more time and breathing room to assemble it? What turn do you typically attempt to combo out?
..
Azusa - Derevi - Glissa - Mizzix - Sharuum - Wanderer - Wort
In general, I just try to get Derevi out turn 2, then drop something like Prophet or Hokori turn 3 to control the board until I get a win con. The thing about this deck is it's not all about the infinite combos. I consider all of these to be sufficient win conditions (people usually scoop to these):
infinites
EWit+Time Warp+Deadeye Navigator
EWit+Time Warp+Sun Titan+Skullclamp
Deadeye Navigator+Bloom Tender+Derevi
non-infinite
Prophet of Kruphix+Opposition(+Hokori)
Deadeye Navigator+Venser, Shaper Savant
Deadeye Navigator+Glen Elendra Archmage
There are lots of other ways to win but they're not as definitive as these.
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]