It has been brought to my attention multiple times that Dark Prophecy could potentially kill me in this deck. It hasn't happened to me yet but I'll believe it. I'm looking for cuts to test newer cards so this may be one of them. As mentioned with Phyrexian Arena, I have better cards for drawing so I won't be missing Dark Prophecy all that much. I really want to test Growing Rites of Itlimoc because the potential of having a second Gaea's Cradle in the form of Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun is too good to pass up.
Curiously, Protean Hulk hasn't been performing up to my expectations in this deck (in my Sidisi, Brood Tyrant deck either). I wanted to test Ruthless Knave because I see a lot of potential in it so this could possibly be the slot to test it in.
I also made some changes to the Budget Build. Here's what I want to test next:
The reason for the first two swaps is that I didn't realize Triskelion had dropped so much in price. Also, with so much basic land ramping, Wild-Field Scarecrow is the most inefficient of all the ramp cards I have. So I'd much rather run Aerie Ouphes which can go infinite with Mazirek. Along the same reasoning ($-wise), From Beyond was just too slow for what it did; I'd rather run something faster than that. I didn't know Worm Harvest was so cheap! So the swap was very easy to do. Bloodbriar and Mortician Beetle weren't too underpeforming because they'd get huge without the aid of Mazirek but would get even more huge with Mazirek in play. However, without any form of evasion, more often then not they'd be chump-blocked. I used them more as fodder for Korozda Guildmage and Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord more than anything. I could do that with any other creature. Organ Harvest is amazing so now that it's legal from 12/01/2017 until 01/15/18 I have jump on that opportunity. Mycoloth is great as a sacrifice outlet and token generator. So I feel these changes will be much better.
I ran enough mana dorks and mana rocks for the deck. Prismatic Lens doesn't have a built-in sacrifice condition and I have to pay 1 to get B or G. I didn't have any way to protect my graveyard from hate so I swapped it out for Elixir of Immortality.
I have no doubt these changes will be for the best. If they hold for after testing, I will make the appropriate changes in the OP. As for the Budget Build, I analyzed a couple of cards that are budget that would be great for the deck. So later on I may add an Honorable Mention section for that build. As of the current date, these changes have increased the cost of the Budget Build to $34.43. I don't think that I'll try to shave it back down to below $30; $34.43 is still a great price for what the deck does and I've seen people consider $200 to be budget. Then again, I am going extremely budget so there is that.
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So I decided I had enough highly-tuned decks that I've been tinkering around with the Budget version of this. Days later and I now have a full 2DH version that rings in at just about $1.00 more than your list!
Would love to hear your thoughts on it: Mazirek 2DH
So I decided I had enough highly-tuned decks that I've been tinkering around with the Budget version of this. Days later and I now have a full 2DH version that rings in at just about $1.00 more than your list!
Would love to hear your thoughts on it: Mazirek 2DH
I haven't forgotten about checking out your deck. So far I only have internet at work and college; those kinds of websites are blocked in both. I will try to see if I can connect to somewhere else in order to see it. Fortunately, MTGSalvation bypasses my job's filters so I'm able to check it every now and again during my breaks.
So far the Rivals of Ixalan spoilers have presented me with this:
Let's just say I'm very looking forward to getting ascended.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
It's definitely worth considering. Being able to have a creature with enter the battlefield trigger be enchanted by its aura side is amazing. Once it's transformed, it's even more amazing. I can see it being used in conjunction with creatures that sacrifice themselves for value, too.
Path to Discovery is another card that seems great for the deck. It's not an auto-include but warrants testing. Being able to "filter" the top of my deck with the offchance of getting a +1/+1 counter on the creature seems pretty good. This goes great with cards like Animation Module.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Something that’s very crucial to Mazirek is how to make the most of sacrifice triggers. This is incredibly important; it’s the different between making incredible plays to making ridiculously epic plays. Mazirek’s trigger goes to the stack after sacrifices are made. However, if a sacrifice causes other abilities to trigger at the same time, you choose how they enter the stack. This can be confusing at times but be sure to always remember that what you want to resolve first should be the last thing you place in the stack. The reason this is so important is that it means the difference between getting a lot of tokens in play without +1/+1 counters or getting them all in play with +1/+1 counters. Here’s an example of what I mean:
Let’s say you use Emrakul's Evangel’s ability and sacrifice 10 creatures in the process (including Emrakul's Evangel). You’d get 10 3/2 eldrazi horror creature tokens. However, the sacrifice is part of the cost of the ability, so both that ability and Mazirek’s trigger enters the stack. If you put Mazirek’s ability first on the stack, those 10 3/2’s enter the battlefield with 10 +1/+1 counters on them as well as your creatures already in play. If you don’t place them correctly on the stack, those 10 3/2’s entering the battlefield don’t get 10 +1/+1 counters placed on them. Yeah, knowledge of how the stack functions is incredibly important with this commander. If you’re unsure as to what to do, a general rule of thumb with Mazirek is to have his trigger be the first thing entering the stack so that it’s the last one leaving the stack.
First of all, I would like to thank you for this guide. I am new to EDH and put together your budget build and I am having a blast and I am currently upgrading cards to build the more competitive version (minus really expensive cards). I have a question about what I quoted above. I understand that when you create a token with a sacrifice such as Spawning Bed the tokens created won't get the counters from Mazirek. A judge told me that with the Emrakul's Evangel sacrifice above the same thing happens. He said you cannot place Mazirek before the token creation according to him. I also tested this in MTGO in solitaire and I sacrificed Emrakul's Evangel plus other creatures and the software did not allow me to place Mazirek on the stack before the token creation.
Have you had this happen online or a judge tell you that you could not resolve the order in this way? If the judge that told me this is wrong and you have any reference I can use to change his mind I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Something that’s very crucial to Mazirek is how to make the most of sacrifice triggers. This is incredibly important; it’s the different between making incredible plays to making ridiculously epic plays. Mazirek’s trigger goes to the stack after sacrifices are made. However, if a sacrifice causes other abilities to trigger at the same time, you choose how they enter the stack. This can be confusing at times but be sure to always remember that what you want to resolve first should be the last thing you place in the stack. The reason this is so important is that it means the difference between getting a lot of tokens in play without +1/+1 counters or getting them all in play with +1/+1 counters. Here’s an example of what I mean:
Let’s say you use Emrakul's Evangel’s ability and sacrifice 10 creatures in the process (including Emrakul's Evangel). You’d get 10 3/2 eldrazi horror creature tokens. However, the sacrifice is part of the cost of the ability, so both that ability and Mazirek’s trigger enters the stack. If you put Mazirek’s ability first on the stack, those 10 3/2’s enter the battlefield with 10 +1/+1 counters on them as well as your creatures already in play. If you don’t place them correctly on the stack, those 10 3/2’s entering the battlefield don’t get 10 +1/+1 counters placed on them. Yeah, knowledge of how the stack functions is incredibly important with this commander. If you’re unsure as to what to do, a general rule of thumb with Mazirek is to have his trigger be the first thing entering the stack so that it’s the last one leaving the stack.
First of all, I would like to thank you for this guide. I am new to EDH and put together your budget build and I am having a blast and I am currently upgrading cards to build the more competitive version (minus really expensive cards). I have a question about what I quoted above. I understand that when you create a token with a sacrifice such as Spawning Bed the tokens created won't get the counters from Mazirek. A judge told me that with the Emrakul's Evangel sacrifice above the same thing happens. He said you cannot place Mazirek before the token creation according to him. I also tested this in MTGO in solitaire and I sacrificed Emrakul's Evangel plus other creatures and the software did not allow me to place Mazirek on the stack before the token creation.
Have you had this happen online or a judge tell you that you could not resolve the order in this way? If the judge that told me this is wrong and you have any reference I can use to change his mind I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Let's break this down and provide some different examples.
First the example with Emrakul's Evangel. In short, it doesn't work and here is why:
The ability is activated and place on the stack. This is the very first step with activating an ability or casting a spell. Then, the cost is paid and the creatures are sacrificed. This cost causes Mazirek to trigger and the triggers go onto the Stack. As with everything, they go on top. Since the Activated ability is already on the Stack, Mazirek's trigger will go on top of and, thus, resolve before it. There is no way to give your 3/2's counters in this situation.
Spawning Bed works the same way so you will not get counters on the tokens created that way either. Now, let's get an example of something that does work well with Mazirek:
Let's say that on the battlefield you have Viscera Seer, Golgari Germination and 5 other nontoken creatures. You choose to activate Viscera Seer's ability so you put it onto the Stack. Then, you pay the cost by sacrificing a creature. This payment will cause Mazirek to trigger and will cause Germination to trigger. While they trigger from different events (one from the sacrifice and one from the death) they both occur in the middle of an ability being activated. This means that right before a player gets priority, you have 2 abilities trying to be put onto the Stack. As such, and since you control both, you can put them on the Stack in any order you choose.
So, you put the Mazirek trigger on the Stack followed by the Germination trigger. The Stack now looks like this:
TOP
Germination Trigger
Mazirek Trigger
Seer Scry Ability
BOTTOM
Germination resolves to give you a token. Mazirek resolves to give that token and all your other creatures a counter. Seer ability resolves and you Scry 1. You can obviously activate Seer again in the middle of this to put another Seer ability on top followed by the Mazirek and Germination triggers. Your best bet with this line is to allow the Germination trigger to resolve above. Then when Mazirek and Seer's abilities are on the stack, Activate Seer again. This puts 3 more abilities on the Stack in the same order. Now the Stack looks like this:
Again, you let the Germination trigger to resolve to create a token. You do this as much as you want. This ensures you get all the tokens you want before each Mazirek trigger resolves. Then, when each trigger resolves, every token will get a counter for each trigger.
That last explanation was pretty long but hopefully it helped explain it a little.
The important thing to keep in mind is that, basically, you can order triggers if they occur at the same time before anyone gets priority. However, if you are dealing with Activated abilities (even if that ability has a cost of sacrificing creatures), the activated ability will always be on the Stack first so there is nothing to order.
It's definitely worth considering. Being able to have a creature with enter the battlefield trigger be enchanted by its aura side is amazing. Once it's transformed, it's even more amazing. I can see it being used in conjunction with creatures that sacrifice themselves for value, too.
I'm really hoping this winds up being under $2 so I can use it in my deck! I love these flip cards, just added Thaumatic Compass to my deck and it saved me in a couple of games already.
Path to Discovery is another card that seems great for the deck. It's not an auto-include but warrants testing. Being able to "filter" the top of my deck with the offchance of getting a +1/+1 counter on the creature seems pretty good. This goes great with cards like Animation Module.
I think Path might be an auto-include actually. As long as the top card isn't a land it allows us to get infinite death triggers with a persist creature and free sac outlet even without Mazirek on the board.
Let's break this down and provide some different examples.
First the example with Emrakul's Evangel. In short, it doesn't work and here is why:
The ability is activated and place on the stack. This is the very first step with activating an ability or casting a spell. Then, the cost is paid and the creatures are sacrificed. This cost causes Mazirek to trigger and the triggers go onto the Stack. As with everything, they go on top. Since the Activated ability is already on the Stack, Mazirek's trigger will go on top of and, thus, resolve before it. There is no way to give your 3/2's counters in this situation.
Spawning Bed works the same way so you will not get counters on the tokens created that way either. Now, let's get an example of something that does work well with Mazirek:
Let's say that on the battlefield you have Viscera Seer, Golgari Germination and 5 other nontoken creatures. You choose to activate Viscera Seer's ability so you put it onto the Stack. Then, you pay the cost by sacrificing a creature. This payment will cause Mazirek to trigger and will cause Germination to trigger. While they trigger from different events (one from the sacrifice and one from the death) they both occur in the middle of an ability being activated. This means that right before a player gets priority, you have 2 abilities trying to be put onto the Stack. As such, and since you control both, you can put them on the Stack in any order you choose.
So, you put the Mazirek trigger on the Stack followed by the Germination trigger. The Stack now looks like this:
TOP
Germination Trigger
Mazirek Trigger
Seer Scry Ability
BOTTOM
Germination resolves to give you a token. Mazirek resolves to give that token and all your other creatures a counter. Seer ability resolves and you Scry 1. You can obviously activate Seer again in the middle of this to put another Seer ability on top followed by the Mazirek and Germination triggers. Your best bet with this line is to allow the Germination trigger to resolve above. Then when Mazirek and Seer's abilities are on the stack, Activate Seer again. This puts 3 more abilities on the Stack in the same order. Now the Stack looks like this:
Again, you let the Germination trigger to resolve to create a token. You do this as much as you want. This ensures you get all the tokens you want before each Mazirek trigger resolves. Then, when each trigger resolves, every token will get a counter for each trigger.
That last explanation was pretty long but hopefully it helped explain it a little.
The important thing to keep in mind is that, basically, you can order triggers if they occur at the same time before anyone gets priority. However, if you are dealing with Activated abilities (even if that ability has a cost of sacrificing creatures), the activated ability will always be on the Stack first so there is nothing to order.
Thanks a lot for the help and the examples. It all makes sense now.
Something that’s very crucial to Mazirek is how to make the most of sacrifice triggers. This is incredibly important; it’s the different between making incredible plays to making ridiculously epic plays. Mazirek’s trigger goes to the stack after sacrifices are made. However, if a sacrifice causes other abilities to trigger at the same time, you choose how they enter the stack. This can be confusing at times but be sure to always remember that what you want to resolve first should be the last thing you place in the stack. The reason this is so important is that it means the difference between getting a lot of tokens in play without +1/+1 counters or getting them all in play with +1/+1 counters. Here’s an example of what I mean:
Let’s say you use Emrakul's Evangel’s ability and sacrifice 10 creatures in the process (including Emrakul's Evangel). You’d get 10 3/2 eldrazi horror creature tokens. However, the sacrifice is part of the cost of the ability, so both that ability and Mazirek’s trigger enters the stack. If you put Mazirek’s ability first on the stack, those 10 3/2’s enter the battlefield with 10 +1/+1 counters on them as well as your creatures already in play. If you don’t place them correctly on the stack, those 10 3/2’s entering the battlefield don’t get 10 +1/+1 counters placed on them. Yeah, knowledge of how the stack functions is incredibly important with this commander. If you’re unsure as to what to do, a general rule of thumb with Mazirek is to have his trigger be the first thing entering the stack so that it’s the last one leaving the stack.
First of all, I would like to thank you for this guide. I am new to EDH and put together your budget build and I am having a blast and I am currently upgrading cards to build the more competitive version (minus really expensive cards). I have a question about what I quoted above. I understand that when you create a token with a sacrifice such as Spawning Bed the tokens created won't get the counters from Mazirek. A judge told me that with the Emrakul's Evangel sacrifice above the same thing happens. He said you cannot place Mazirek before the token creation according to him. I also tested this in MTGO in solitaire and I sacrificed Emrakul's Evangel plus other creatures and the software did not allow me to place Mazirek on the stack before the token creation.
Have you had this happen online or a judge tell you that you could not resolve the order in this way? If the judge that told me this is wrong and you have any reference I can use to change his mind I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Thanks! I'm glad my primer was helpful! Welcome to MTGSalvation!
Yes, now that you mention it and WizardMN clears it up, I guess my timings are off; I misinterpreted the stack timings. Guess I'll have to go clear that up in the Primer when I have a bit more time to. Thanks!
It's definitely worth considering. Being able to have a creature with enter the battlefield trigger be enchanted by its aura side is amazing. Once it's transformed, it's even more amazing. I can see it being used in conjunction with creatures that sacrifice themselves for value, too.
I'm really hoping this winds up being under $2 so I can use it in my deck! I love these flip cards, just added Thaumatic Compass to my deck and it saved me in a couple of games already.
Path to Discovery is another card that seems great for the deck. It's not an auto-include but warrants testing. Being able to "filter" the top of my deck with the offchance of getting a +1/+1 counter on the creature seems pretty good. This goes great with cards like Animation Module.
I think Path might be an auto-include actually. As long as the top card isn't a land it allows us to get infinite death triggers with a persist creature and free sac outlet even without Mazirek on the board.
What you say is very true. It becomes broken with creatures with persist. Very broken indeed. Now I have to find something to slot it in to test.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
So I decided I had enough highly-tuned decks that I've been tinkering around with the Budget version of this. Days later and I now have a full 2DH version that rings in at just about $1.00 more than your list!
Would love to hear your thoughts on it: Mazirek 2DH
Finally have internet back in my apartment after 4 months so I was able to see your list. I'm not too keen on 2DH but I like what I see in your list. However, there are some cards that call out a bit to me, one of them being Wingrattle Scarecrow. I imagine you only run it due to the persist (which it may not always have). I feel that this is taking up a slot for a much better card.
Apart from that, just general questions on how it's been going for you. Have you played much with the deck? Remember that Organ Harvest is legal until the 15th of January and you can get a lot of mileage out of it even if you're playing 2DH. It's very cheap, as well.
Well, it's that time of the year again: the end of spoiler season! Once more, my criteria is not simply complying with mana identity but it's possibility of inclusion in the deck either by being synergistic or being broken. Here're my thoughts and opinions on the cards from Rivals of Ixalan:
Vona's Hunger - Very easy to ascend with this deck due to all the tokens. The sacrifice triggers on this card is amazing if I'm ascended. Definitely a great way to deal with swarm decks.
Thrashing Brontodon - A Caustic Caterpillar that costs 1G more to cast but an abilty that costs G less to activate. It also costs 1 more than Viridian Zealot but costs G less to activate its ability. However, unlike the aformentioned creatures, this one has a much better body. It remains to be seen if the tradeoff in mana cost is worth it to swap it over Viridian Zealot.
World Shaper - Auto-include. Although I won't be attacking with it anytime soon, I can sacrifice it for a Splendid Reclamation effect. Not only that, but I can reanimate it later in case I have to reuse its ability. In order to test it, I will swap it for Splendid Reclamation.
Golden Guardian / Gold-Forge Garrison - It doesn't necessarily have to die from the fight, it just has to die afterwards in that same turn. Getting a land that produces BB or GG could be very useful. If not, I can get a 4/4 at the end of the turn before mine fairly easily. Seems like an interesting card.
Pitiless Plunderer - Auto-include. It turns all our death triggers into treasure tokens.
Path of Discovery - Has amazing synergy with Animation Module. However, what really makes it shine is that, as long as the top card isn't a land, it makes an infinite combo with any creature with persist and a free sacrifice outlet.
Journey to Eternity / Atzal, Cave of Eternity - Amazing card and very easy to transform. Enchanting Mazirek with this makes it harder to remove. If not, this could enchant any creature that'll be sacrificed in order to transform it.
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Woohoo, congrats on having internet again! Yeah, Wingrattle Scarecrow is in there as a backup persist as well as an alternate win condition alongside Marionette Master. The deck has been a ton of fun, it's even pulled off wins in pods with normal EDH decks. Animation Module is bonkers and has won me a couple games. I keep forgetting about the Un-sets being legal, I'll try to remember to add it in for these last few days!
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Come Monday (01/15/2018) silver-bordered cards will no longer be legal in Commander. Therefore Organ Harvest had to be removed. Pitiless Plunderer is a good swap and either way it needed a slot because this guy is pretty much an auto-include. Luckily it's only just $0.50 during prerelease so it'll undoubtedly drop in price, which is great for the Budget Build. Although Seal of Primordium only costs 1G and it's ability is free, I decided to swap it out for Thrashing Brontodon. I'd rather have more creatures in this list to take advantage of Mazirek's counters. So far I have a lot of artifact and enchantment hate so I could comfortably make the swap. Splendid Reclamation has been an amazing spell in the deck since almost half of the lands in here are sacrificed for something. World Shaper being a creature makes it easy to recover than Splendid Reclamation. The swap was pretty obvious.
Here are some changes I'm considering for the Creatures Matter Build:
As mentioned before, come Monday Organ Harvest is illegal once more in Commander. So it is swapped out for Pitiless Plunderer (I will definitely miss Organ Harvest). Also previously mentioned, World Shaper will be swapped in for Splendid Reclamation. Awakening Zone and From Beyond, although great cards, are pretty slow when compared to everything else I'm doing in the deck. They're great early game and with token duplicators in play, but beyond that they don't do anything else. Journey to Eternity is great as an aura attached to a creature and even better as a land that reanimates. Vona's Hunger is a card I've been wanting to test since it was spoiled. Testing remains to see just how effective these changes will be.
As far as the Artifacts Matter Build, Pitiless Plunderer makes Revel in Riches pretty viable as an alternate wincon. If anything, having so many treasure tokens would be great for sacrifice outlet and mana production. However, I wouldn't know what to consider cutting for testing them. For the moment, the only swap I'm considering is Splendid Reclamation for World Shaper.
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Hi DK, today I won a game going infinite with a combo that though easy to spot I did not see described in your synergy & combos section and wanted to point it out in case you want to add a comment about that. I had Mazirek and one other creature in play (both with a counter) as well as Animation Module. Therefore all I needed was to play a fetchland at the start of my turn, sac it, pay for 2 servos, sac 1, pay for 2 servos, etc. Sorry if I am being captain obvious
Hi DK, today I won a game going infinite with a combo that though easy to spot I did not see described in your synergy & combos section and wanted to point it out in case you want to add a comment about that. I had Mazirek and one other creature in play (both with a counter) as well as Animation Module. Therefore all I needed was to play a fetchland at the start of my turn, sac it, pay for 2 servos, sac 1, pay for 2 servos, etc. Sorry if I am being captain obvious
Cheers!
You’re right; it’s not mentioned in the primer. I don’t know if I mentioned it in the thread, though, being as I use it similarly. So it should definitely be included in the primer. Thanks for pointing it out! As to your setup, I imagine you’re using Ashnod's Altar for the to pay for the servos (and thus sac them).
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Hi DK, today I won a game going infinite with a combo that though easy to spot I did not see described in your synergy & combos section and wanted to point it out in case you want to add a comment about that. I had Mazirek and one other creature in play (both with a counter) as well as Animation Module. Therefore all I needed was to play a fetchland at the start of my turn, sac it, pay for 2 servos, sac 1, pay for 2 servos, etc. Sorry if I am being captain obvious
Cheers!
You’re right; it’s not mentioned in the primer. I don’t know if I mentioned it in the thread, though, being as I use it similarly. So it should definitely be included in the primer. Thanks for pointing it out! As to your setup, I imagine you’re using Ashnod’s Altar for the to pay for the servos (and thus sac them).
Yes, sorry. I forgot to include that Ashnod's Altar is in play, you are correct.
I haven't given that swap thought being as Inspiring Call isn't just used for the card draw; it also grants your creatures indestructible until end of turn. Mouth // Feed doesn't do that. Oh, and it costs 1 more and is slower for being a sorcery.
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They're both good in their own right, so it matters what you'd want them for. However, for this deck, I'd go with Catacomb Sifter over Life's Legacy. For one thing, Catacomb Sifter is a creature so it benefits from Mazirek giving out +1/+1 counters like Oprah. Not only that, but it has a net cost of BG if you count the Eldrazi Scion token it creates when entering the battlefield. Now that I mention it, that token is also another plus in its favor since it self-sacrifices for free, providing you with as well as a sacrifice trigger for Mazirek. Although the sifter doesn't draw you cards per se, it does let you sift through your deck with death triggers to at least leave the card you're looking for on the top of your library. So, granted, it doesn't draw you as many cards as Life's Legacy would, but its benefits highly outweigh the card draw. For drawing we could always use Harvester of Souls.
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I have a question that is a little off topic, so feel free to tell me to delete it
This weekend I am playing a 1v1 tournament and I am going to see if this deck works in that setting (I play the creatures version). I have 2 quick questions:
1) Sol Ring, Mana Vault and Strip Mine are banned (other cards like Gaea's Cradle and Mana Crypt are too, but I don't have them in my deck due to budget). Any recommendations as to what to replace them with? I was thinking Mind Stone, Fellwar Stone and Golgari Signet just FYI Dark Ritual and Misty Rainforest are already included in my deck)
2) Are there any other cards that you would replace being a 1v1 game instead of multiplayer?
I have a question that is a little off topic, so feel free to tell me to delete it
This weekend I am playing a 1v1 tournament and I am going to see if this deck works in that setting (I play the creatures version). I have 2 quick questions:
1) Sol Ring, Mana Vault and Strip Mine are banned (other cards like Gaea's Cradle and Mana Crypt are too, but I don't have them in my deck due to budget). Any recommendations as to what to replace them with? I was thinking Mind Stone, Fellwar Stone and Golgari Signet just FYI Dark Ritual and Misty Rainforest are already included in my deck)
2) Are there any other cards that you would replace being a 1v1 game instead of multiplayer?
Thanks!
Well, I've never considered this deck for 1v1 because the more opponents you have the better it is with cards like Barter in Blood and Innocent Blood. I think those rocks you mentioned are okay since they cost 2 and don't really slow you down as much. If you have the lettuce you could use Chrome Mox, Mox Diamond, and Mox Opal (they're not banned, I think).
As for any changes due to duel instead of multiplayer, I would have to look over the deck to see. As I mentioned before, the deck takes advantage of multiple opponents. Also, some of the very brutal cards are a bit steep in cost. Mazirek itself is also pretty expensive. However, the deck should do well against voltron strategies thanks to all the sacrifice spells. However, it may struggle a bit with generals like Kaalia, Brago, Uril, St. Traft, Zur, and other top tier 1v1 commanders.
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3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Dark Prophecy
7 Protean Hulk
1 Organ Harvest
3 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
3 Ruthless Knave
I also made some changes to the Budget Build. Here's what I want to test next:
1 Wild-Field Scarecrow
1 Squirrel Nest
1 Bloodbriar
1 Mortician Beetle
1 From Beyond
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Triskelion
1 Aerie Ouphes
1 Organ Harvest
1 Mycoloth
1 Worm Harvest
1 Elixir of Immortality
The reason for the first two swaps is that I didn't realize Triskelion had dropped so much in price. Also, with so much basic land ramping, Wild-Field Scarecrow is the most inefficient of all the ramp cards I have. So I'd much rather run Aerie Ouphes which can go infinite with Mazirek. Along the same reasoning ($-wise), From Beyond was just too slow for what it did; I'd rather run something faster than that. I didn't know Worm Harvest was so cheap! So the swap was very easy to do.
Bloodbriar and Mortician Beetle weren't too underpeforming because they'd get huge without the aid of Mazirek but would get even more huge with Mazirek in play. However, without any form of evasion, more often then not they'd be chump-blocked. I used them more as fodder for Korozda Guildmage and Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord more than anything. I could do that with any other creature. Organ Harvest is amazing so now that it's legal from 12/01/2017 until 01/15/18 I have jump on that opportunity. Mycoloth is great as a sacrifice outlet and token generator. So I feel these changes will be much better.
I ran enough mana dorks and mana rocks for the deck. Prismatic Lens doesn't have a built-in sacrifice condition and I have to pay 1 to get B or G. I didn't have any way to protect my graveyard from hate so I swapped it out for Elixir of Immortality.
I have no doubt these changes will be for the best. If they hold for after testing, I will make the appropriate changes in the OP. As for the Budget Build, I analyzed a couple of cards that are budget that would be great for the deck. So later on I may add an Honorable Mention section for that build. As of the current date, these changes have increased the cost of the Budget Build to $34.43. I don't think that I'll try to shave it back down to below $30; $34.43 is still a great price for what the deck does and I've seen people consider $200 to be budget. Then again, I am going extremely budget so there is that.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
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Would love to hear your thoughts on it: Mazirek 2DH
I haven't forgotten about checking out your deck. So far I only have internet at work and college; those kinds of websites are blocked in both. I will try to see if I can connect to somewhere else in order to see it. Fortunately, MTGSalvation bypasses my job's filters so I'm able to check it every now and again during my breaks.
So far the Rivals of Ixalan spoilers have presented me with this:
Let's just say I'm very looking forward to getting ascended.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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That card is sweet! Let's hope it's a cheap rare
It's definitely worth considering. Being able to have a creature with enter the battlefield trigger be enchanted by its aura side is amazing. Once it's transformed, it's even more amazing. I can see it being used in conjunction with creatures that sacrifice themselves for value, too.
Path to Discovery is another card that seems great for the deck. It's not an auto-include but warrants testing. Being able to "filter" the top of my deck with the offchance of getting a +1/+1 counter on the creature seems pretty good. This goes great with cards like Animation Module.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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First of all, I would like to thank you for this guide. I am new to EDH and put together your budget build and I am having a blast and I am currently upgrading cards to build the more competitive version (minus really expensive cards). I have a question about what I quoted above. I understand that when you create a token with a sacrifice such as Spawning Bed the tokens created won't get the counters from Mazirek. A judge told me that with the Emrakul's Evangel sacrifice above the same thing happens. He said you cannot place Mazirek before the token creation according to him. I also tested this in MTGO in solitaire and I sacrificed Emrakul's Evangel plus other creatures and the software did not allow me to place Mazirek on the stack before the token creation.
Have you had this happen online or a judge tell you that you could not resolve the order in this way? If the judge that told me this is wrong and you have any reference I can use to change his mind I would appreciate it. Thanks!
First the example with Emrakul's Evangel. In short, it doesn't work and here is why:
Spawning Bed works the same way so you will not get counters on the tokens created that way either. Now, let's get an example of something that does work well with Mazirek:
So, you put the Mazirek trigger on the Stack followed by the Germination trigger. The Stack now looks like this:
TOP
Germination Trigger
Mazirek Trigger
Seer Scry Ability
BOTTOM
Germination resolves to give you a token. Mazirek resolves to give that token and all your other creatures a counter. Seer ability resolves and you Scry 1. You can obviously activate Seer again in the middle of this to put another Seer ability on top followed by the Mazirek and Germination triggers. Your best bet with this line is to allow the Germination trigger to resolve above. Then when Mazirek and Seer's abilities are on the stack, Activate Seer again. This puts 3 more abilities on the Stack in the same order. Now the Stack looks like this:
TOP
Germination Trigger
Mazirek Trigger
Seer Scry Ability
Mazirek Trigger
Seer Scry Ability
BOTTOM
Again, you let the Germination trigger to resolve to create a token. You do this as much as you want. This ensures you get all the tokens you want before each Mazirek trigger resolves. Then, when each trigger resolves, every token will get a counter for each trigger.
That last explanation was pretty long but hopefully it helped explain it a little.
The important thing to keep in mind is that, basically, you can order triggers if they occur at the same time before anyone gets priority. However, if you are dealing with Activated abilities (even if that ability has a cost of sacrificing creatures), the activated ability will always be on the Stack first so there is nothing to order.
I'm really hoping this winds up being under $2 so I can use it in my deck! I love these flip cards, just added Thaumatic Compass to my deck and it saved me in a couple of games already.
I think Path might be an auto-include actually. As long as the top card isn't a land it allows us to get infinite death triggers with a persist creature and free sac outlet even without Mazirek on the board.
Thanks a lot for the help and the examples. It all makes sense now.
Thanks! I'm glad my primer was helpful! Welcome to MTGSalvation!
Yes, now that you mention it and WizardMN clears it up, I guess my timings are off; I misinterpreted the stack timings. Guess I'll have to go clear that up in the Primer when I have a bit more time to. Thanks!
What you say is very true. It becomes broken with creatures with persist. Very broken indeed. Now I have to find something to slot it in to test.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Finally have internet back in my apartment after 4 months so I was able to see your list. I'm not too keen on 2DH but I like what I see in your list. However, there are some cards that call out a bit to me, one of them being Wingrattle Scarecrow. I imagine you only run it due to the persist (which it may not always have). I feel that this is taking up a slot for a much better card.
Apart from that, just general questions on how it's been going for you. Have you played much with the deck? Remember that Organ Harvest is legal until the 15th of January and you can get a lot of mileage out of it even if you're playing 2DH. It's very cheap, as well.
Well, it's that time of the year again: the end of spoiler season! Once more, my criteria is not simply complying with mana identity but it's possibility of inclusion in the deck either by being synergistic or being broken. Here're my thoughts and opinions on the cards from Rivals of Ixalan:
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
I definitely plan on trying out Journey to Eternity and Path of Discovery if they're cheap enough. Pitiless Plunderer I'm hoping will be cheap due to being an uncommon, but I'm afraid Vona's Hunger might stay over the $2 mark.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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1 Organ Harvest
2 Seal of Primordium
4 Splendid Reclamation
4 Pitiless Plunderer
3 Thrashing Brontodon
4 World Shaper
Here are some changes I'm considering for the Creatures Matter Build:
1 Organ Harvest
4 Splendid Reclamation
4 From Beyond
3 Awakening Zone
4 Pitiless Plunderer
4 World Shaper
3 Journey to Eternity
3 Vona's Hunger
As far as the Artifacts Matter Build, Pitiless Plunderer makes Revel in Riches pretty viable as an alternate wincon. If anything, having so many treasure tokens would be great for sacrifice outlet and mana production. However, I wouldn't know what to consider cutting for testing them. For the moment, the only swap I'm considering is Splendid Reclamation for World Shaper.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
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Cheers!
You’re right; it’s not mentioned in the primer. I don’t know if I mentioned it in the thread, though, being as I use it similarly. So it should definitely be included in the primer. Thanks for pointing it out! As to your setup, I imagine you’re using Ashnod's Altar for the to pay for the servos (and thus sac them).
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Yes, sorry. I forgot to include that Ashnod's Altar is in play, you are correct.
Subtractions:
Has anyone experimented with Mouth // Feed instead of Inspiring Call?
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
This weekend I am playing a 1v1 tournament and I am going to see if this deck works in that setting (I play the creatures version). I have 2 quick questions:
1) Sol Ring, Mana Vault and Strip Mine are banned (other cards like Gaea's Cradle and Mana Crypt are too, but I don't have them in my deck due to budget). Any recommendations as to what to replace them with? I was thinking Mind Stone, Fellwar Stone and Golgari Signet just FYI Dark Ritual and Misty Rainforest are already included in my deck)
2) Are there any other cards that you would replace being a 1v1 game instead of multiplayer?
Thanks!
Well, I've never considered this deck for 1v1 because the more opponents you have the better it is with cards like Barter in Blood and Innocent Blood. I think those rocks you mentioned are okay since they cost 2 and don't really slow you down as much. If you have the lettuce you could use Chrome Mox, Mox Diamond, and Mox Opal (they're not banned, I think).
As for any changes due to duel instead of multiplayer, I would have to look over the deck to see. As I mentioned before, the deck takes advantage of multiple opponents. Also, some of the very brutal cards are a bit steep in cost. Mazirek itself is also pretty expensive. However, the deck should do well against voltron strategies thanks to all the sacrifice spells. However, it may struggle a bit with generals like Kaalia, Brago, Uril, St. Traft, Zur, and other top tier 1v1 commanders.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!