MTG Salvation

Hey!
Some friends of mine and I are just getting into the commander format. I'm probably going to spend about $100 to get my first deck going. I started playing about the time the 2014 core set came out, so I don't have any of the old staples everyone seems to have in their commander decks (like fetch lands, cataclysm, etc.). This deck will be played primarily in a multiplayer setting, but also in 1v1, so we can use the mtgcommander.net ban list (vs the French 1v1 rules).

I found this great deck on here made by Pretender called Doran, Beginner Deck (It won't let me link to it, but I updated the decklist based on the suggestions provided in his thread). This deck seems like a great place to start. I entered the cards into TCGPlayer, and it came up around $50. I was wondering what cards you guys would replace if the budget was $100 instead of $50? As people make suggestions, I'll update the decklist.

I appreciate your input!


Current Price: $45
Budget: ~$100

i really like the Meekstone in a Doran deck, its amazing how so small a thing can be that effective!

Also, a phyrexian arena is expensive, but its a 8$ well invested.

i really like the Meekstone in a Doran deck, its amazing how so small a thing can be that effective!

Also, a phyrexian arena is expensive, but its a 8$ well invested.

Excellent choices! Especially Meekstone. What would you remove for those?

I think that the Cultivate/Kodama's Reach should be put into play ramp, like Explosive Vegetation/Wood Elves. No need to put into hand.

Pontiff of Blight can turn a small spell into a huge swing of life if you're willing to pay the mana.
Skinshifter and Thornling can be relevant attackers whether Doran is in play or not.
Kitsune Loreweaver and Ikiral Outrider can with some investment and cautious play swing for large amounts of life. Similarly, Indomitable Ancients is a big dumb beater.
If you're looking for creatures that will survive a board wipe, there is Forbidding Watchtower, Ensouled Scimitar, and Orzhov Keyrune.

Quote from Tev »

I think that the Cultivate/Kodama's Reach should be put into play ramp, like Explosive Vegetation/Wood Elves. No need to put into hand.

Disagree. At 3 cmc you can safely keep it in an opening hand, as most hands will be kept with three mana sources. But 4 cmc is a sweet spot for spells and there is no guarantee that you will be able to cast them on turn 4. This doesn't strike me as a lightning fast deck that wants to cast Doran on turn 3, so there is not competition for the casting slot. But even still, aggro decks like this will appreciate being able to have the mana fixing one turn sooner than with the 4 cmc ramp spells.

My advice? Try to pick up a Commander 2013 box, maybe power hungry cause Nature of the beast stinks up a joint hard.

There's a few goodies in there. Also remember that in a low power high toughness deck without doran kinda doesn't work. Either protect him is important. That and good black creatures can have square stats, like 3/3 or 5/5 to make it work.