It's been a while since I've been as excited for a newly spoiled commander as I am for Queen Marchesa. While I love that her mechanic allows me to literally be queen of the table, I also like that she doesn't really lend her self to one specific strategy. She also provides something that's been somewhat lacking from previous Mardu Mardu commanders: strong card advantage. I think she has potential as a stax commander, but I already have a stax deck, so I've decided to go in a more pillow-fort direction. A lot of the card choice right now are a result of just starting with what cards I had lying around. Also, the mana base is very budget right now. So, without further ado, here's the decklist! I'd love some feedback from anyone else who's been brainstorming our new Queen! Let's make Queen Marchesa great!
I'm really in love with this card as a commander. But for me the hard part is focus. I'm having a hard time deciding where I want to take this deck.
Right now my list is a mishmash of Super Friends, Stax, Pillowfort, and Tokens, and it feels difficult to find a focus.
Since I plan on playing her IRL, another thing to consider is who I'll be playing her with. I already have a Daretti, and a Meren deck built, and those are both pretty competitive despite not having every last card I want due to money constraints. So I kinda want to keep the power level around there (Those decks usually have a good chance at winning without making everyone miserable or annoyed that my decks are too good).
I'm leaning more towards a Token deck with superfriends as a sub theme, but part of me doesn't want to commit to that. It's so frustrating and yet refreshing having a commander that lets you take the deck anywhere you want to. It's like standing on a mountain, looking around at everything around you, and trying to decide where to explore.
Once I come up with a rough draft I'll post it here.
I really look forward to seeing everyone's ideas.
Yeah, as with any commander that doesn't scream "build around me," it's easy for a list to be all over the place. My playgroup let me proxy her to start testing and I like where the list is going so far. I'm going in a more pillowfort direction and the card advantage she provides is really great. My group has a wide range of competitiveness, and I don't think the Queen will be tier 1, but she's got potential.
I wanted to try out this commander but couldn't think of a good way to build her. Luckily I already have a Daxos/Teysa deck built around enchantments and pillowfort that she could easily usurp. Plus I've always wanted to play Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs in that deck.
I'd I'll suggest Assemble the Legion and possibly War's Toll The latter seems like a good way to disincentivise attacking or at least make it easy to take the throne back if they do.
Kazuul is a lot of fun. It's nice having a Ghostly Prison effect in red, and the tokens are just an added bonus, especially in this deck. War's Toll looks really promising. I'll definitely try to find room for it in this list.
Assemble the Legion is a maybe. I've gone back and forth on whether or not to play up the token angle more. That's why I'm currently running things like Warstorm Surge (which really needs to be Purphoros, God of the Forge) and Cathars' Crusade (which is so bonkers if left unchecked that I really doubt I'll cut it, even if I move away completely from the token strategy). As of now, I'm focusing on the pillowfort angle a bit more, but I think the tokens are important. They help you become the monarch, plus we've got to win some how.
For some odd reason, I want to use Queen Marchesa more casually with dragons, knights, and soldiers. I keep thinking of her in a 'Daenerys Targaryen' role, she fights for her crown with dragons and an army. The knights and soldiers gum up the ground while the dragons fly over as offense. I know Pillowfort and Stax are preferred to keep the Monarch token, but I think it'd be fun to be proactive and have a 'best defense is a good offense' mentality.
Theme decks are a lot of fun! When I first started putting together a list for the Queen, I was sort of headed in a similar direction, with knights and soldiers and other flavorful cards. Eventually though, my more competitive side took over (though this list is still far from top tier). Again, I think that's what's so great about more open commanders like this one: they allow for so many different types of builds.
All of those cards look like they'd work quite well. I've actually been considering finding a spot for Skyline Despot. The big token production plus another way to get the crown back seems like it would work well in my list. I hadn't thought about Tyrant's Familiar or Bastion Protector, but I might try to test them at some point.
I don't think the bow is necessarily too cute, but I'm already running Thornbite Staff for the same reason and of the two, I prefer the staff, since it also has the untap clause, meaning I can take out multiple creatures in one turn. I'm not sold on Chandra's Ignition or Arcbond type effects. I don't like that they also kill my creatures and the Queen never gets big enough for the hit to players to really matter.
Im glad other people see some promises in the new Marchesa
My first thoughts were to make a aggro deck, because if you are the aggressor you have the means to gain control back of the monarch should you lose it, and the card draw fits in nicely to refill the hand. While this may not be the best strategy, i am looking forward to trying it out. I will have to put up my list soon, but as for now here is a very rough draft in case you get any ideas:
Im still toying around with ideas, and my list is pretty heavy on legendaries.
As for a pillowfort, i think it is another very viable direction for her. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben i think is better than Vryn Wingmare in this list as it is cheaper to play, helping you get online earlier. Since you arent running any attacking equipment, the flying doesnt matter too much. That being said, im not sure if its a card you want to run as it will hinder you from building up the fort. Maybe a Meekstone instead? Behind the Scenes feels subpar, Filth + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth seems a lot more consistent and also fixes mana. This also opens the possibilty for a Cabal Coffers for some awesome Debt to the Deathless Warstorm Surge also feels a little out of place, i dont think you will get a lot of value from it. I would consider Mimic Vat, Open the Vaults, or Magus of the Disk instead.
Thanks for sharing your list! How has Hanweir Battlements/Garrison served you? The cards seem like they have potential, I just haven't found room for both of them in any of my decks.
I was only running Wingmare over Thalia because of access for my first draft (I had a spare Wingmare, no spare Thalia). Though, I agree with you that it probably isn't best in this deck and it's definitely on the cutting board. I'm not sure I like Meekstone, since it keeps the Queen tapped. I might try its mono-white cousin, Crackdown, though I have so many things I want to test, I don't know if that will make the cut, either.
I also agree on Behind the Scenes. I originally included it thinking that it would help me become the monarch again but in practice, it's just felt like a dead draw. Filth and Urborg are definitely a possibility.
I mentioned in an earlier comment that Warstorm Surge should probably be Purphoros, God of the Forge instead, though I might just cut it all together and not add the mono-red God. I originally had it in there when I thought there'd be more of a token theme, but that doesn't seem to be where the deck is going now.
I havent used Hanweir Battlements/Hanweir Garrison yet, but i was hoping to try them out in this deck. On their own they are each pretty good, so I dont think i would ever morph them to be honest unless it represented lethal damage. Battlements is a faster but colorless Flamekin Village, and Garrison is a decent token producer, like Hero of Bladehold.
Cant say i have seen Crackdown before, I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of that for some other decks
I've used Battlements in a few decks already just for the haste and I really like it. Crackdown is really great: it's often an asymmetric Meekstone.
And yeah, the card advantage from becoming the monarch is big enough that I haven't been focusing on other card draw, but I should probably make room for something and you can't really go wrong with Arena.
I feel a pillowfort strategy is counterproductive with Marchesa, as becoming the Monarch paints a target on your head. At the same time you're trying to get people to not attack you...
Why not accept you won't be the monarch, and then focus on something else to win the game while everyone else is fighting over the crown?
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The secret to enjoyable Commander games is not winning first, but losing last.
If my post has no tags, then i posted from my phone.
Of course being the monarch paints a target on your head. However, I think it's completely worth trying to keep it. What's really great about the Queen is she gives you a benefit if you aren't the monarch, and one that makes it easier to get the crown back, as people don't want to trade their big creatures with your deathtouch assassin. That being said, I would rather prevent my opponents from drawing cards every turn than get a 1/1 token.
I think it's wrong to say that pillowfort decks can't "paint targets on their heads." That's inevitable if you have a deck that's capable of winning. A pillowfort deck just makes that target unreachable.
Have you thought/tested Citadel Siege for your deck? I think most of the time it'd be set to Dragons for this deck, and can combo with Crackdown to force a tap down. The best part is that it triggers on each opponents combat step, really good for multiplayer games.
I have. Someone suggested it in an earlier comment and it's on my list of things to test. Of course, as is usually the case when I build a deck, that list is getting longer and longer, haha. I agree that I'd pretty much only ever set it to Dragons. It helps me get a creature through to get the crown back and it helps prevent a creature from attacking and possibly losing the crown. The more I think about it, the better that card seems for this deck.
I see talk about Hanweir Battlements and I was curious if you considered Slayers' Stronghold at all. The way I see it for the addition of a W you get a bonus +2/+0 and vigilance.
I totally forgot that card existed. Thanks for the reminder! I'll try to find a copy of it (shouldn't be too hard) and add it to the list. As a land, there isn't really much reason not to run it. The vigilance is especially nice because it allows us to leave up the Queen or one the assassins as a deathtouch blocker, which is a huge deterrent to attacks.
I'm also building a Queen deck and I'm wondering if it's worth running both Slayers' Stronghold and the Hanweir Battlements to sorta double up on haste lands.
Unless you think you already have too many colorless lands, I think it could be worth running both. They serve similar, but slightly different purposes. Battlements is cheaper and there are times when you need the extra mana elsewhere and just need to give someone haste. Stronghold can be an extra boost when you have mana to spare.
I feel a pillowfort strategy is counterproductive with Marchesa, as becoming the Monarch paints a target on your head. At the same time you're trying to get people to not attack you...
Why not accept you won't be the monarch, and then focus on something else to win the game while everyone else is fighting over the crown?
I agree that avoiding the crown going to someone else shouldn't be priority #1, but that's a far cry from saying that pillowforting is counterproductive. Because what will probably happen is that the one person at the table that no one can attack productively will get the crown, then you have a general that spits out tokens rather than draw cards.
That, and you could always play Kami of the Crescent Moon, Seizan, Perverter of Truth or Nekusar, the Mindrazer if you really didn't care about everybody else getting a free draw off you. It is probably a lot easier to pull off some non-board-oriented win with either of those generals, if you have no interest in attacking or preventing attacks.
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1 Burnished Hart
1 Custodi Lich
1 Duplicant
1 Eldrazi Displacer
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Merciless Executioner
1 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Spelltithe Enforcer
1 Stonecloaker
1 Thalia, Heretic Cathar
1 Debt to the Deathless
1 Exsanguinate
1 Fumigate
1 Martial Coup
1 Merciless Eviction
1 Mizzium Mortars
1 Sign in Blood
1 Terminus
1 Tragic Arrogance
1 Vandalblast
1 Aura of Silence
1 Blind Obedience
1 Cathars' Crusade
1 Citadel Siege
1 Delaying Shield
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Island Sanctuary
1 Karmic Justice
1 Kismet
1 Martyr's Bond
1 No Mercy
1 Prison Term
1 Sigil of the Empty Throne
1 Solitary Confinement
1 Sphere of Safety
1 Suppression Field
1 True Conviction
1 War's Toll
1 Wound Reflection
1 Crawlspace
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Norn's Annex
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Quietus Spike
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Skullclamp
1 Sword of the Animist
1 Thornbite Staff
1 Whip of Erebos
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Return to Dust
1 Utter End
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Bloodfell Caves
1 Caves of Koilos
1 Command Tower
1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Kher Keep
1 Maze of Ith
2 Mountain
1 Nomad Outpost
15 Plains
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Rupture Spire
1 Shambling Vent
1 Slayers' Stronghold
6 Swamp
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Westvale Abbey
Added: Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs, Angel of Despair, Crawlspace, Solitary Confinement
Added: Knights of the Black Rose, Purphoros, God of the Forge, Selfless Spirit, Delaying Shield, Slayers' Stronghold
Added: Custodi Lich, War's Toll, Assemble the Legion, Westvale Abbey
Added: Island Sanctuary, Citadel Siege, Maze of Ith, Fumigate, 1 Swamp
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
I'm really in love with this card as a commander. But for me the hard part is focus. I'm having a hard time deciding where I want to take this deck.
Right now my list is a mishmash of Super Friends, Stax, Pillowfort, and Tokens, and it feels difficult to find a focus.
Since I plan on playing her IRL, another thing to consider is who I'll be playing her with. I already have a Daretti, and a Meren deck built, and those are both pretty competitive despite not having every last card I want due to money constraints. So I kinda want to keep the power level around there (Those decks usually have a good chance at winning without making everyone miserable or annoyed that my decks are too good).
I'm leaning more towards a Token deck with superfriends as a sub theme, but part of me doesn't want to commit to that. It's so frustrating and yet refreshing having a commander that lets you take the deck anywhere you want to. It's like standing on a mountain, looking around at everything around you, and trying to decide where to explore.
Once I come up with a rough draft I'll post it here.
I really look forward to seeing everyone's ideas.
I'd love to see your list once you have a draft!
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
I'd I'll suggest Assemble the Legion and possibly War's Toll The latter seems like a good way to disincentivise attacking or at least make it easy to take the throne back if they do.
Assemble the Legion is a maybe. I've gone back and forth on whether or not to play up the token angle more. That's why I'm currently running things like Warstorm Surge (which really needs to be Purphoros, God of the Forge) and Cathars' Crusade (which is so bonkers if left unchecked that I really doubt I'll cut it, even if I move away completely from the token strategy). As of now, I'm focusing on the pillowfort angle a bit more, but I think the tokens are important. They help you become the monarch, plus we've got to win some how.
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
Dragon cards I'm considering:
Utvara Hellkite
Skyline Despot
Tyrant's Familiar
Sarkhan's Triumph, Where are my Dragons?
Soldier cards:
Bastion Protector
Assemble the Legion
Mobilization
Martial Coup
Knight cards:
Hero of Bladehold
Knights of the Black Rose
Knight-Captain of Eos, repeatable fog to keep Monarch status
All of those cards look like they'd work quite well. I've actually been considering finding a spot for Skyline Despot. The big token production plus another way to get the crown back seems like it would work well in my list. I hadn't thought about Tyrant's Familiar or Bastion Protector, but I might try to test them at some point.
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
My first thoughts were to make a aggro deck, because if you are the aggressor you have the means to gain control back of the monarch should you lose it, and the card draw fits in nicely to refill the hand. While this may not be the best strategy, i am looking forward to trying it out. I will have to put up my list soon, but as for now here is a very rough draft in case you get any ideas:
1 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1 Anathemancer
1 Ankle Shanker
1 Anya, Merciless Angel
1 Archangel Avacyn Flip
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Bruna, the Fading Light
1 Filth
1 Gisela, the Broken Blade
1 Hanweir Garrison
1 Heliod, God of the Sun
1 Hero of Bladehold
1 Iroas, God of Victory
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Knights of the Black Rose
1 Legion Loyalist
1 Reassembling Skeleton
1 Restoration Angel
1 Tariel, Reckoner of Souls
1 Thalia's Lancers
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Zurgo Helmsmasher
1 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
1 Sorin, Grim Nemesis
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Elbrus, the Binding Blade
1 Expedition Map
1 Hero's Blade
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Mimic Vat
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Pyromancer's Goggles
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Sunforger
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Animate Dead
1 Fervent Charge
1 Goblin Assault
1 Land Tax
1 Mardu Ascendancy
1 Nahiri's Machinations
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Reconnaissance
1 Blasphemous Act
1 Insurrection
1 Vindicate
1 Contested War Zone
1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
1 Hanweir Battlements
8 Mountain
14 Plains
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
8 Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Vesuva
1 Westvale Abbey Flip
1 Anguished Unmaking
1 Boros Charm
1 Crackling Doom
1 Orzhov Charm
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Tithe
Im still toying around with ideas, and my list is pretty heavy on legendaries.
As for a pillowfort, i think it is another very viable direction for her.
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben i think is better than Vryn Wingmare in this list as it is cheaper to play, helping you get online earlier. Since you arent running any attacking equipment, the flying doesnt matter too much. That being said, im not sure if its a card you want to run as it will hinder you from building up the fort. Maybe a Meekstone instead?
Behind the Scenes feels subpar, Filth + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth seems a lot more consistent and also fixes mana. This also opens the possibilty for a Cabal Coffers for some awesome Debt to the Deathless
Warstorm Surge also feels a little out of place, i dont think you will get a lot of value from it. I would consider Mimic Vat, Open the Vaults, or Magus of the Disk instead.
[EDH In Development] Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Queen Marchesa | Ruhan of the Fomori | Yahenni, Undying Partisan
[EDH Retired] Ertai, The Corrupted | Sigarda, Host of Herons | Tariel, Reckoner of Souls | Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
[Modern] Stuffy Doll Combo Burn | Demigod of Revenge
I was only running Wingmare over Thalia because of access for my first draft (I had a spare Wingmare, no spare Thalia). Though, I agree with you that it probably isn't best in this deck and it's definitely on the cutting board. I'm not sure I like Meekstone, since it keeps the Queen tapped. I might try its mono-white cousin, Crackdown, though I have so many things I want to test, I don't know if that will make the cut, either.
I also agree on Behind the Scenes. I originally included it thinking that it would help me become the monarch again but in practice, it's just felt like a dead draw. Filth and Urborg are definitely a possibility.
I mentioned in an earlier comment that Warstorm Surge should probably be Purphoros, God of the Forge instead, though I might just cut it all together and not add the mono-red God. I originally had it in there when I thought there'd be more of a token theme, but that doesn't seem to be where the deck is going now.
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
Cant say i have seen Crackdown before, I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of that for some other decks
also, you should probably run a Phyrexian Arena as well.
[EDH In Development] Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Queen Marchesa | Ruhan of the Fomori | Yahenni, Undying Partisan
[EDH Retired] Ertai, The Corrupted | Sigarda, Host of Herons | Tariel, Reckoner of Souls | Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
[Modern] Stuffy Doll Combo Burn | Demigod of Revenge
And yeah, the card advantage from becoming the monarch is big enough that I haven't been focusing on other card draw, but I should probably make room for something and you can't really go wrong with Arena.
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
Why not accept you won't be the monarch, and then focus on something else to win the game while everyone else is fighting over the crown?
If my post has no tags, then i posted from my phone.
I think it's wrong to say that pillowfort decks can't "paint targets on their heads." That's inevitable if you have a deck that's capable of winning. A pillowfort deck just makes that target unreachable.
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
[Primer] Dralnu Control/Reanimator BU
[Primer] Jolrael, Empress of Beasts GG
Nath Stax BG | Borborygmos Enraged RG | Ladies of Magic UGW | Aminatou Control UWB | Enduring Ideal Zedruu UWR | Momir Vig Combo UG
Modern
Restore Balance RWUG
Kiki Chord RWG
I agree that avoiding the crown going to someone else shouldn't be priority #1, but that's a far cry from saying that pillowforting is counterproductive. Because what will probably happen is that the one person at the table that no one can attack productively will get the crown, then you have a general that spits out tokens rather than draw cards.
That, and you could always play Kami of the Crescent Moon, Seizan, Perverter of Truth or Nekusar, the Mindrazer if you really didn't care about everybody else getting a free draw off you. It is probably a lot easier to pull off some non-board-oriented win with either of those generals, if you have no interest in attacking or preventing attacks.