That little cartoon pretty much sums up my thought process in building this deck. Akiri wants you to have a lot of artifacts in play while Thrasios wants you to produce a lot of mana. Both of these are readily achieved by running copious numbers of mana rocks, so that's where the list starts.
There are a bunch of cards that were in my original list that had to be cut to bring it down to 100 cards. Here are some of them, which I feel are probably good enough for the deck:
If you've read many of my decklists then you'll know by now that I love to durdle. Oh, how I love to durdle, especially for incremental advantage. This deck plays a huge number of mana rocks in order to activate Thrasios many times, which in turn draws more mana rocks. Akiri is the main payoff for all that durdling around, but the deck also has cost reducers and untap effects so there could be some seriously explosive turns. I thought about making the mana rock base all artifact creatures, but there didn't seem to be enough of them and they don't fix mana like the non-creature rocks do. Playing artifact mana dorks, though, gives access to Intruder Alarm and a few other creature untappers, and it makes Jeskai Ascendancy even better. Also Gaea's Cradle. That may be a direction to take the deck, but then it'd be even more vulnerable to disruption as small artifact creatures are more fragile than non-creature artifacts.
Partnering is a brand new mechanic so I'm not really sure how to handle it. For instance, in a regular voltron deck (the Akiri side of this deck has a decidedly voltron feel) the protection equipment Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots are amazing, but what happens when you have two x/3's to protect? Are they still good enough? Fortunately there's a fair amount of mass-protection in URWG, with Privileged Position front and center.
The interaction section is a little bit small because I'm trying to do too many cool things at once with this deck. Torpor Orb and Spine of Ish Sah are good pieces of interaction that also happen to be artifacts for Akiri. Beast Within, Return to Dust and Arcane Denial are just plain good versatile interactive cards. If the protection equipment turn out to be underwhelming with two commanders to protect, they should probably become more good disruption like Chaos Warp, Decimate or more Counterspells.
The mana base has way more colorless utility lands then I'd ordinarily run in even a three-color deck. This is because I'm leaning heavily on the big stack of mana rocks to fix my colors. Not really sure if this gambit will pay off and I don't have the patience to run the stats on it. I do like having at least 3 lands that help push Akiri through, since she's otherwise pretty easy to chump block. Between those, Inventors' Fair and Yavimaya Hollow, Tolaria West is going to do some serious work in this list. No Cavern of Souls here because there are two commanders who don't share a creature type; it could well be right to just run the Cavern anyway as it does provide at least some measure of protection. I've played Eiganjo Castle before and while it looks decent it doesn't protect from very much. It might be better than average here, though, since both commanders have only 3 toughness and there are a decent number of playable damage-based sweepers (e.g.Fiery Confluence). The fetchlands and dual lands are pretty much just there to fill space, though of course they're fantastic color-fixers. I could easily see cutting them for more utility lands, especially ones that tap for a color.
So that's the concept. Could this deck be any good, or is it doomed to be an x/3 durdle-fest?
I can see it being quite effective and I doubt you really need to worry about protecting both commanders at the same time. Early game you just need to get out Thrasios to help ramp and keep the artifact count going up via card draw. Late game play Akiri and voltron to victory.
Edit: A couple more suggestions since I've thought of them:
Tezzeret the Seeker is great ramp/tutor in this deck. You can search up Artifact Lands for -0, or untap two Sol Rings. He even has a good chance of killing people with his ultimate.
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I think it's cool that although many people complained about a lack of synergy between the partner commanders I keep seeing cool new combinations! Working on a Tana, the bloodsower + Tymna the Weaver list myself.
I feel you really circumvent the awkwardness of a 4C manabase by going this route with manarocks as the main focus of the deck. I would like to see a larger "interaction" package though because although you can protect your own stuff you now have very little answers to someone elses...
I've done a bit of a breakdown of Thrasios, Triton Hero in this thread here.
I like the angle you're taking. I play Seedborn Muse and Unwinding clock in a 5 color artifact deck (Reaper King) so I can tell you that you're 100% going to want, Grim Monilith, Mana Vault, Basalt Monilith in this deck. Being able to play a turn 2 or 3 Unwinding Clock and use Thrasios each opponents turn is just going to feel unbelievable great and fits in with your rock theme. I know you took out Gilded Lotus, but its just so incredible with Seedborn and Unwinding Clock, and color fixing is a thing, that you need to put it back in.
I'd play Spellskite over Eight-and-a-Half-Tails. Holding up 3 mana is no joke, you're always going to tap out for getting maximum value from Thrasios and any artifact is just so much better in this deck.
Cards to take out:
Vanishing - commanders are cheap enough to replay.
Jeskai Ascendancy - is it me or is Palladium Myr the only mana creature in this deck?
Steelshaper's Gift - its ok
Edit: A couple more suggestions since I've thought of them:
Tezzeret the Seeker is great ramp/tutor in this deck. You can search up Artifact Lands for -0, or untap two Sol Rings. He even has a good chance of killing people with his ultimate.
Tez looks good an all but I worry about not being able to protect him. Mass artifact recursion probably is a good idea, to supplement the protection. Soul of New Phyrexia definitely does what I'm looking for but holding up 5 is a lot. I guess Training Grounds and Heartstone do help to reduce it, though.
I had but there are a few things holding me back. First, it's a crazy expensive card. Second, while it's got great synergy with some cards in the deck it does nothing on its own.
I'm curious as to Blinkmoth Urn's exclusion. It gives should be giving copious amounts of which is useful to pay for Thrasios's ability.
It was just a victim of only being able to play 98 cards. It probably does deserve a slot.
I think it's cool that although many people complained about a lack of synergy between the partner commanders I keep seeing cool new combinations!
Thanks!
...I would like to see a larger "interaction" package though because although you can protect your own stuff you now have very little answers to someone elses...
Hundred-percent agree. Thing about running a zillion rocks is that it leaves not much space for other things. I'll try to find some room.
I play Seedborn Muse and Unwinding clock in a 5 color artifact deck (Reaper King) so I can tell you that you're 100% going to want, Grim Monilith, Mana Vault, Basalt Monilith in this deck. Being able to play a turn 2 or 3 Unwinding Clock and use Thrasios each opponents turn is just going to feel unbelievable great and fits in with your rock theme. I know you took out Gilded Lotus, but its just so incredible with Seedborn and Unwinding Clock, and color fixing is a thing, that you need to put it back in.
For evasion plus card selection I'd go with Key to the City instead because it's an artifact.
I'd play Spellskite over Eight-and-a-Half-Tails. Holding up 3 mana is no joke, you're always going to tap out for getting maximum value from Thrasios and any artifact is just so much better in this deck.
I cut the one-shot untap effects because they felt like win-mores. Rediscovered Braid of Fire which should be pretty fantastic with Thrasios. Ghirapur Aether Grid gives me something productive to do with extra untapped artifacts. Made some room for more interaction; not sure if Cryptic Command really feasible, but we'll see. Also made the mana base a lot more interesting.
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But Mana Vault, Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith are pretty mopey without an untapping effect. Gilded Lotus, along with Blinkmoth Urn probably should be in the deck.
Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith with Rings of Brighthearth or Mana Reflection is infinite mana, which of course means that you draw your deck with Thrasios, but as you mention in your OP you like to durdle, so probably more into casual play
Open the Vaults as gelf pointed out. Knowing that you have that one card that can get you back into a game after a big board wipe is so much more fun to play a deck.
Depends what your play group is like, but not having any basic lands can really catch you out. I play Magic Online so the amount of incidental cards which have you searching for basics, means that you always want to at least run 1. A couple is even better.
But Mana Vault, Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith are pretty mopey without an untapping effect. Gilded Lotus, along with Blinkmoth Urn probably should be in the deck.
Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith with Rings of Brighthearth or Mana Reflection is infinite mana, which of course means that you draw your deck with Thrasios, but as you mention in your OP you like to durdle, so probably more into casual play
Open the Vaults as gelf pointed out. Knowing that you have that one card that can get you back into a game after a big board wipe is so much more fun to play a deck.
Definitely that or Scrap Mastery. Mass artifact removal is a very real threat.
Depends what your play group is like, but not having any basic lands can really catch you out. I play Magic Online so the amount of incidental cards which have you searching for basics, means that you always want to at least run 1. A couple is even better.
My play group doesn't seem to have many Ghost Quarters or Path to Exiles but the manabase can easily accommodate a few basics at the expense of some marginal utility lands.
Here's a growing list of awesome cards to add. What should I cut to make room? Which cards are worth making room for?
You've only got 11 creatures in the deck, and you have a bunch of creature protection. This just seems way off.
There are only 2 creatures that are ok with haste, Palladium Myr, Akiri, Line-Slinger but not even essential to the theme at all. So Swiftfoot Boots + Asceticism, seem over the top to me. Vanishing, you are always wanting to sink all your mana into Thrasios each turn, so there will always be a window for opponents to target. If you are holding up 2 blue each turn, then you're failing with Thrasios. Sylvan Reclamation, expensive and you don't run basics Herald of Kozilek, is a card that I added to my artifact decks and it was always underwhelming. The fact that its not an artifact and that it requires colored mana to cast it, puts it into the cutting zone. Cryptic Command, is a pipe dream with this mana base So many colorless lands! I think you have 18 blue mana sources in the deck, which is not enough to consistently get you the required 3 blue.
You've only got 11 creatures in the deck, and you have a bunch of creature protection. This just seems way off.
The idea is that most of the deck does very little without one or more of the Commanders on the battlefield. But maybe there is some slight overkill in the protection department.
...If you are holding up 2 blue each turn, then you're failing with Thrasios.
This part I disagree with. Thrasios takes 4 to activate (modulo Training Grounds, etc.) so if I happen to have an amount of mana available that's not a multiple of four, it doesn't fail Thrasios to leave some of it up. Vanishing in particular may be too U intensive for this deck, but having something productive to do with extra mana is a big part of the reason why I wrote down the manabase with all those utility lands.
Sylvan Reclamation, expensive and you don't run basics
Sylvan Reclamation is a better Return to Dust, which is itself a super-all-star-favorite piece of interaction of mine. Being able to landcycle would be nice (yet another reason to run a few basics) but I think the card is just straight up powerful enough on its own.
Herald of Kozilek, is a card that I added to my artifact decks and it was always underwhelming. The fact that its not an artifact and that it requires colored mana to cast it, puts it into the cutting zone.
Some fair points on this card. Maybe I'll try the deck without it at first and only add it back if I really need more cost reduction.
Cryptic Command, is a pipe dream with this mana base So many colorless lands! I think you have 18 blue mana sources in the deck, which is not enough to consistently get you the required 3 blue.
I know you're right but the card would be so good here! Oh well... The responsible thing to do is replace it with Repeal, I suppose, but Silent Arbiter is much more exciting.
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You would never guess, at the terrifying sight of the man, that Hunding was as charming a companion as one could wish for.
There is a lack of creature removal in this deck, I'd at least have a sweeper like Supreme Verdict or single target ones like Swords to Plowshares. I also notice the low number of creatures, which may or may not warrant the use of cards like Asceticism when a few equipment would suffice. (Stoneforge Mystic and/or Stonehewer Giant would be nice alternatives)
While Thrasios is a great card advantage, he needs to be alive, and I will not rely entirely on one source of card draws. I think Thoughtcast and Thirst for Knowledge should have spots here. Sensei's Divining Top seems like a good artifact to have alongside card search like Intuition and Long-Term Plan. With a few (aforementioned) ways to dump artifact into the grave, addition of Daretti, Scrap Savant or Argivian Find would be useful.
Akiri feels like she could hit for over 21 easily with this deck, but to be on the safe side, perhaps another wincon? Even one X spells like Fireball would suffice.
There is a lack of creature removal in this deck, I'd at least have a sweeper like Supreme Verdict or single target ones like Swords to Plowshares.
There's a serious lack of everything removal here. The problem with running so many mana rocks is that it doesn't leave many slots open for other stuff. I'm working on moving some numbers around to make the deck more balanced.
I also notice the low number of creatures, which may or may not warrant the use of cards like Asceticism when a few equipment would suffice. (Stoneforge Mystic and/or Stonehewer Giant would be nice alternatives)
Thing is that the two commanders are both extremely important to the deck's strategy so I want cards which protect both of them simultaneously. We'll see how this plays out in practice though; protecting two commanders is uncharted territory.
Agreed, but there's still the problem of card slots. I cut the small card drawers in favor of larger ones (e.g.Thoughtcast -> Recycle) to try and compensate for their small numbers.
Akiri feels like she could hit for over 21 easily with this deck, but to be on the safe side, perhaps another wincon? Even one X spells like Fireball would suffice.
Hi. I hope it's not too late for me to jump into the bandwagon - I've been itching to try out these partners and I'm hungry for ideas.
I've always been worried about artifact sweepers so I thought about adding Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise. Then I'm thinking of justifying these reactive cards with Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks to simulate the old sunny-side eggs archetype. I mean, it's protection and an infinite combo - probably worth looking into? Any thoughts?
I've always been worried about artifact sweepers so I thought about adding Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise. Then I'm thinking of justifying these reactive cards with Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks to simulate the old sunny-side eggs archetype. I mean, it's protection and an infinite combo - probably worth looking into? Any thoughts?
I think going with an Eggs theme that has a realistic chance of going off would require much more of a rework than simply adding in Faith's Reward, Second Sunrise, Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks. That's not to say it isn't a viable deck idea, though. Plan A: Voltron, Plan B: Combo sounds pretty nice, especially when all of the combo parts aid the Voltron plan. Akiri is obviously a partner you'd want for that deck, but I'm not so sure about Thrasios. His ability is only OK from a combo perspective and I think that version of the deck would gain a lot more from getting B involved (e.g.Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor and Yawgmoth's Will). Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise could easily make it into the deck if I add Sunforger, and in that case it'd only be KCI that's an awkward combo piece while not going off. Definitely something to think about, especially since the subject of alternate win conditions was recently raised.
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You would never guess, at the terrifying sight of the man, that Hunding was as charming a companion as one could wish for.
I've always been worried about artifact sweepers so I thought about adding Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise. Then I'm thinking of justifying these reactive cards with Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks to simulate the old sunny-side eggs archetype. I mean, it's protection and an infinite combo - probably worth looking into? Any thoughts?
I think going with an Eggs theme that has a realistic chance of going off would require much more of a rework than simply adding in Faith's Reward, Second Sunrise, Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks. That's not to say it isn't a viable deck idea, though. Plan A: Voltron, Plan B: Combo sounds pretty nice, especially when all of the combo parts aid the Voltron plan. Akiri is obviously a partner you'd want for that deck, but I'm not so sure about Thrasios. His ability is only OK from a combo perspective and I think that version of the deck would gain a lot more from getting B involved (e.g.Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor and Yawgmoth's Will). Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise could easily make it into the deck if I add Sunforger, and in that case it'd only be KCI that's an awkward combo piece while not going off. Definitely something to think about, especially since the subject of alternate win conditions was recently raised.
I concur. Akiri combined with a Golgari partner would be a great Eggs commander. The only one that would make sense is Reyhan since Ikra gives benefits due to toughness but Akiri only has power pumped.
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I've always been worried about artifact sweepers so I thought about adding Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise. Then I'm thinking of justifying these reactive cards with Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks to simulate the old sunny-side eggs archetype. I mean, it's protection and an infinite combo - probably worth looking into? Any thoughts?
I think going with an Eggs theme that has a realistic chance of going off would require much more of a rework than simply adding in Faith's Reward, Second Sunrise, Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks. That's not to say it isn't a viable deck idea, though. Plan A: Voltron, Plan B: Combo sounds pretty nice, especially when all of the combo parts aid the Voltron plan. Akiri is obviously a partner you'd want for that deck, but I'm not so sure about Thrasios. His ability is only OK from a combo perspective and I think that version of the deck would gain a lot more from getting B involved (e.g.Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor and Yawgmoth's Will). Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise could easily make it into the deck if I add Sunforger, and in that case it'd only be KCI that's an awkward combo piece while not going off. Definitely something to think about, especially since the subject of alternate win conditions was recently raised.
I concur. Akiri combined with a Golgari partner would be a great Eggs commander. The only one that would make sense is Reyhan since Ikra gives benefits due to toughness but Akiri only has power pumped.
Thanks for all the feedback. I kinda agree that black would be a better addition for eggs. It's really tempting to just use Silas but I really wanted a Nephilim-colored commander deck and Akiri offers more partner options.
Eggs wasn't really meant to be a goal - just a decent back up that happens to have the potential to close the game as well. I too wouldn't want to bend the deck list just to make sure the combo fires off consistently... but hey, Sunforger is looking really nice. It searches for and is searched by artifact tutors after all.
I concur. Akiri combined with a Golgari partner would be a great Eggs commander. The only one that would make sense is Reyhan since Ikra gives benefits due to toughness but Akiri only has power pumped.
Why a Golgari partner? I would think that an Eggs deck would need U.
Thanks for all the feedback. I kinda agree that black would be a better addition for eggs. It's really tempting to just use Silas but I really wanted a Nephilim-colored commander deck and Akiri offers more partner options.
Aikiri and Silas is UBRW which is some sort of Nephilim-color-combo.
Eggs wasn't really meant to be a goal - just a decent back up that happens to have the potential to close the game as well.
And it's a good idea. If we can find a way to do it that doesn't take up too much space in the deck, it'd be a good plan.
Honestly, I think Inkmoth Nexus is the best place to start for an alternate win condition. With lots of mana and Kessig Wolf Run it can one-shot people, and it incentivizes running Scroll of the Masters/Leering Emblem. Those latter two are already on my short list because pumping up a Voltron commander is useful to Plan A.
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You would never guess, at the terrifying sight of the man, that Hunding was as charming a companion as one could wish for.
I see that you have Spine of Ish Sah. Isn't that one more reason to include the Ironworks?
And speaking of artifact eaters, what are your thoughts on Pia Nalaar? She's cheap, she replaces herself with a Thopter, she can wield the Spine like a whip, and she can be an alternate Rogue's Passage.
Your list is so tight, I can't think of any cards to cut just to make room - I guess this is just for folks like me who don't have access to some of the older powerhouses that you included and are looking for alternatives for the meantime
I see that you have Spine of Ish Sah. Isn't that one more reason to include the Ironworks?
Yes, but I would say it's a rather small reason.
And speaking of artifact eaters, what are your thoughts on Pia Nalaar? She's cheap, she replaces herself with a Thopter, she can wield the Spine like a whip, and she can be an alternate Rogue's Passage.
It's an interesting idea. There are actually a fair number of cards which would be terrific here if Akiri were an artifact creature herself, and Pia is yet another. Maybe it'd be worth running Transmogrifying Licid and the like.
Your list is so tight, I can't think of any cards to cut just to make room - I guess this is just for folks like me who don't have access to some of the older powerhouses that you included and are looking for alternatives for the meantime
Let me just be clear about something: Right now this list is purely theoretical. I haven't even goldfished it yet. That means that all of the card choices are based on general knowledge of how EDH games play out. So while I agree with you that the list looks super tight, it could in reality end up being quite loose. Basically what I'm trying to say here is that this is a brand new idea with nothing set in stone (no pun intended).
Also, here are some of the cards which make me wish Akiri was an artifact creature, but might be good here even though she's not:
Just popping in to say I built a similar deck with these commanders, but leaning more on artifact mana and some high cost good stuff, and cascade. I've got to say, its so damn stupid. Akiri gets so big, so fast, and Thrasios gets you so much advantage. I've had her swinging for 6+ turn 4 and dropping CA with Thrasios turn 4. I've never hit a color screw because of all the artifact fixing, except the few times I literally had no lands even after a mulligan. Oh, and with all the artifact mana, it laughs at NBL hate, and runs Armageddon and Ravages of War (its online so its like 50 cents) to lock in early advantage. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I kind of like this idea. It's completely unique yet having such good working theory is generally a sign that this idea can probably work out in some manner.
Creature lockouts will be your bane, so plan to have ways to deal with them.
I finally got this deck built, with a few concessions to budget and a few other deviations from the list in the OP. Haven't had a chance to play any games with it yet, but I've been goldfishing like mad. Turns out that Paradox Engine is pretty bonkers here, which I'm sure anyone could have guessed. Speaking of things people could have guessed, the colored mana situation is somewhat sketchy here. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that Glimmervoid and Spire of Industry were casualties of cutting down the budget. The storage lands have been OK but not great so I'm thinking of cutting Mage-Ring Network and one other for some color-fixing lands. Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers is also on the block, again for a land that makes multiple colors. I'd really like to avoid doing a fetchland/dualland mana base, but I'm almost out of 4 color fixers. Forbidden Orchard is no good because it makes chump blockers for Akiri and I'm concerned about Grand Coliseum entering the battlefield tapped. What should I do about the colored mana in this deck? Prophetic Prism is actually starting to look good...
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You would never guess, at the terrifying sight of the man, that Hunding was as charming a companion as one could wish for.
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That little cartoon pretty much sums up my thought process in building this deck. Akiri wants you to have a lot of artifacts in play while Thrasios wants you to produce a lot of mana. Both of these are readily achieved by running copious numbers of mana rocks, so that's where the list starts.
1 Akiri, Line-Slinger
1 Thrasios, Triton Hero
Mana Rocks
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Opal
1 Paradise Mantle
1 Sol Ring
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Thran Turbine
1 Azorius Signet
1 Boros Signet
1 Simic Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Izzet Signet
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Talisman of Impulse
1 Talisman of Unity
1 Mind Stone
1 Copy Artifact
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Copy Artifact
1 Coalition Relic
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Honor-Worn Shaku
1 Metalworker
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Palladium Myr
1 Unstable Obelisk
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Blinkmoth Urn
1 Gilded Lotus
Cost Reduction
1 Etherium Sculptor
1 Foundry Inspector
1 Cloud Key
1 Training Grounds
1 Braid of Fire
1 Heartstone
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Mana Reflection
Protection
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Spellskite
1 Kira, Great Glass Spinner
1 Privileged Position
1 Asceticism
1 Scrap Mastery
1 Darksteel Forge
Tutors & Draw
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Jeskai Ascendancy
1 Vedalken Archmage
1 Recycle
Extra Untaps
1 Unwinding Clock
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Bear Umbra
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
Interaction
1 Dispeller's Capsule
1 Torpor Orb
1 Ghirapur Aether Grid
1 Null Brooch
1 Silent Arbiter
1 Scourglass
1 Argentum Armor
1 Spine of Ish Sah
Lands
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Calciform Pools
1 Fungal Reaches
1 Saltcrusted Steppe
1 Mage-Ring Network
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Great Furnace
1 Ancient Den
1 Tree of Tales
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
1 Hanweir Battlements
1 Yavimaya Hollow
1 Riptide Laboratory
1 Ally Encampment
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Kher Keep
1 Inkmoth Nexus
1 Inventors' Fair
1 Academy Ruins
1 Tolaria West
1 Command Tower
1 Glimmervoid
1 Exotic Orchard
1 City of Brass
1 Mana Confluence
1 Tarnished Citadel
1 Sungrass Prairie
1 Mossfire Valley
1 Skycloud Expanse
1 Akiri, Line-Slinger
1 Thrasios, Triton Hero
Mana Rocks
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Opal
1 Paradise Mantle
1 Sol Ring
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Thran Turbine
1 Azorius Signet
1 Boros Signet
1 Simic Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Izzet Signet
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Talisman of Impulse
1 Talisman of Unity
1 Mind Stone
1 Copy Artifact
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Coalition Relic
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Honor-Worn Shaku
1 Palladium Myr
1 Unstable Obelisk
1 Thran Dynamo
Cost Reduction
1 Etherium Sculptor
1 Foundry Inspector
1 Herald of Kozilek
1 Cloud Key
Protection
1 Vanishing
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Champion's Helm
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Privileged Position
1 Asceticism
1 Darksteel Forge
1 Training Grounds
1 Heartstone
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Mana Reflection
Untapping
1 Dramatic Reversal
1 Turnabout
1 Unwinding Clock
1 Intellectual Offering
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Blinkmoth Infusion
Draw & Tutors
1 Steelshaper's Gift
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Jeskai Ascendancy
1 Academy Rector
1 Vedalken Archmage
1 Recycle
Interaction
1 Arcane Denial
1 Torpor Orb
1 Beast Within
1 Return to Dust
1 Spine of Ish Sah
Lands
1 Command Tower
1 Glimmervoid
1 Exotic Orchard
1 City of Brass
1 Mana Confluence
1 Ancient Den
1 Great Furnace
1 Tree of Tales
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Yavimaya Hollow
1 High Market
1 Inventors' Fair
1 Tolaria West
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Windswept Heath
1 Polluted Delta
1 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Arid Mesa
1 Tundra
1 Volcanic Island
1 Tropical Island
1 Savannah
1 Taiga
1 Plateau
If you've read many of my decklists then you'll know by now that I love to durdle. Oh, how I love to durdle, especially for incremental advantage. This deck plays a huge number of mana rocks in order to activate Thrasios many times, which in turn draws more mana rocks. Akiri is the main payoff for all that durdling around, but the deck also has cost reducers and untap effects so there could be some seriously explosive turns. I thought about making the mana rock base all artifact creatures, but there didn't seem to be enough of them and they don't fix mana like the non-creature rocks do. Playing artifact mana dorks, though, gives access to Intruder Alarm and a few other creature untappers, and it makes Jeskai Ascendancy even better. Also Gaea's Cradle. That may be a direction to take the deck, but then it'd be even more vulnerable to disruption as small artifact creatures are more fragile than non-creature artifacts.
Partnering is a brand new mechanic so I'm not really sure how to handle it. For instance, in a regular voltron deck (the Akiri side of this deck has a decidedly voltron feel) the protection equipment Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots are amazing, but what happens when you have two x/3's to protect? Are they still good enough? Fortunately there's a fair amount of mass-protection in URWG, with Privileged Position front and center.
There are a couple of mana rocks that I'm especially proud of: Thran Turbine and Honor-Worn Shaku. The former is like another Sol Ring with Thrasios in play and the latter is going to be Worn Powerstone plus a lot of the time. Can't wait to untap it with Alhammarret's Archive and/or Kira and Eight-and-a-Half-Tails. Also, since Akiri has vigilance she can attack and then untap the Shaku. Thrasios will spend a lot of time working the paddle since he wasn't going to be attacking anyway. Similar for Paradise Mantle and Springleaf Drum, which would admittedly be awkward to draw in tandem.
The interaction section is a little bit small because I'm trying to do too many cool things at once with this deck. Torpor Orb and Spine of Ish Sah are good pieces of interaction that also happen to be artifacts for Akiri. Beast Within, Return to Dust and Arcane Denial are just plain good versatile interactive cards. If the protection equipment turn out to be underwhelming with two commanders to protect, they should probably become more good disruption like Chaos Warp, Decimate or more Counterspells.
The mana base has way more colorless utility lands then I'd ordinarily run in even a three-color deck. This is because I'm leaning heavily on the big stack of mana rocks to fix my colors. Not really sure if this gambit will pay off and I don't have the patience to run the stats on it. I do like having at least 3 lands that help push Akiri through, since she's otherwise pretty easy to chump block. Between those, Inventors' Fair and Yavimaya Hollow, Tolaria West is going to do some serious work in this list. No Cavern of Souls here because there are two commanders who don't share a creature type; it could well be right to just run the Cavern anyway as it does provide at least some measure of protection. I've played Eiganjo Castle before and while it looks decent it doesn't protect from very much. It might be better than average here, though, since both commanders have only 3 toughness and there are a decent number of playable damage-based sweepers (e.g. Fiery Confluence). The fetchlands and dual lands are pretty much just there to fill space, though of course they're fantastic color-fixers. I could easily see cutting them for more utility lands, especially ones that tap for a color.
So that's the concept. Could this deck be any good, or is it doomed to be an x/3 durdle-fest?
I can see it being quite effective and I doubt you really need to worry about protecting both commanders at the same time. Early game you just need to get out Thrasios to help ramp and keep the artifact count going up via card draw. Late game play Akiri and voltron to victory.
The big enemy will be artifact sweepers, but not only are there ways to protect them on board (Darksteel Forge is pretty good, Soul of New Phyrexia might be worth considering) you could also include ways to get them back (Open the Vaults, Praetor's Counsel work).
Edit: A couple more suggestions since I've thought of them:
Tezzeret the Seeker is great ramp/tutor in this deck. You can search up Artifact Lands for -0, or untap two Sol Rings. He even has a good chance of killing people with his ultimate.
Possibly worth including Crop Rotation and Expedition Map in addition to Tolaria West to find utility lands, since you have so many for all occasions.
Have you considered Mycosynth Lattice? It goes great with Akiri and even better with Darksteel Forge.
I concur with gelf towards including Tezzeret the Seeker. He can ramp an artifact land basically for free each turn.
I'm curious as to Blinkmoth Urn's exclusion. It gives should be giving copious amounts of
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I feel you really circumvent the awkwardness of a 4C manabase by going this route with manarocks as the main focus of the deck. I would like to see a larger "interaction" package though because although you can protect your own stuff you now have very little answers to someone elses...
BRGWTana and TymnaBRGW
RTeneb, the EternalR
UBRNekusar, Mind RazerUBR
BGWGhave, Guru of SporesBGW
BDrana, Kalastria BloodchiefB
WBROros, the AvengerWBR
I like the angle you're taking. I play Seedborn Muse and Unwinding clock in a 5 color artifact deck (Reaper King) so I can tell you that you're 100% going to want, Grim Monilith, Mana Vault, Basalt Monilith in this deck. Being able to play a turn 2 or 3 Unwinding Clock and use Thrasios each opponents turn is just going to feel unbelievable great and fits in with your rock theme. I know you took out Gilded Lotus, but its just so incredible with Seedborn and Unwinding Clock, and color fixing is a thing, that you need to put it back in.
Thassa, God of the Sea is a must for evasion for Akiri, Line-Slinger
I'd play Spellskite over Eight-and-a-Half-Tails. Holding up 3 mana is no joke, you're always going to tap out for getting maximum value from Thrasios and any artifact is just so much better in this deck.
Cards to take out:
Vanishing - commanders are cheap enough to replay.
Jeskai Ascendancy - is it me or is Palladium Myr the only mana creature in this deck?
Steelshaper's Gift - its ok
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
Thanks!
Tez looks good an all but I worry about not being able to protect him. Mass artifact recursion probably is a good idea, to supplement the protection. Soul of New Phyrexia definitely does what I'm looking for but holding up 5 is a lot. I guess Training Grounds and Heartstone do help to reduce it, though.
Thanks!
I had but there are a few things holding me back. First, it's a crazy expensive card. Second, while it's got great synergy with some cards in the deck it does nothing on its own.
It was just a victim of only being able to play 98 cards. It probably does deserve a slot.
Thanks!
Hundred-percent agree. Thing about running a zillion rocks is that it leaves not much space for other things. I'll try to find some room.
Thanks!
But Mana Vault, Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith are pretty mopey without an untapping effect. Gilded Lotus, along with Blinkmoth Urn probably should be in the deck.
For evasion plus card selection I'd go with Key to the City instead because it's an artifact.
Wow, agreed. Guess I blanked on Spellskite.
I guess this is a big mana deck but it feels wrong to let the commanders die.
Nope, that's correct. The deck has a whole lot of nonsense cards and Jeskai Ascendancy can help filter through them and pump Akiri at the same time.
It gets Paradise Mantle, Lightning Greaves and Illusionist's Bracers but I suppose that is only ok.
Here's an updated list:
1 Akiri, Line-Slinger
1 Thrasios, Triton Hero
Mana Rocks
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Opal
1 Paradise Mantle
1 Sol Ring
1 Springleaf Drum
1 Thran Turbine
1 Azorius Signet
1 Boros Signet
1 Simic Signet
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Izzet Signet
1 Talisman of Progress
1 Talisman of Impulse
1 Talisman of Unity
1 Copy Artifact
1 Fellwar Stone
1 Prismatic Lens
1 Coalition Relic
1 Worn Powerstone
1 Honor-Worn Shaku
1 Palladium Myr
1 Unstable Obelisk
1 Thran Dynamo
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Blinkmoth Urn
Cost Reduction
1 Etherium Sculptor
1 Foundry Inspector
1 Herald of Kozilek
1 Cloud Key
Protection
1 Vanishing
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Spellskite
1 Champion's Helm
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Privileged Position
1 Asceticism
1 Darksteel Forge
1 Training Grounds
1 Braid of Fire
1 Heartstone
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Mana Reflection
Untapping
1 Unwinding Clock
1 Seedborn Muse
Draw & Tutors
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Jeskai Ascendancy
1 Academy Rector
1 Vedalken Archmage
1 Recycle
Interaction
1 Arcane Denial
1 Torpor Orb
1 Beast Within
1 Ghirapur Æther Grid
1 Cryptic Command
1 Decimate
1 Sylvan Reclamation
1 Spine of Ish Sah
Lands
1 Command Tower
1 Glimmervoid
1 Exotic Orchard
1 City of Brass
1 Mana Confluence
1 Tarnished Citadel
1 Glimmervoid
1 Ancient Den
1 Great Furnace
1 Tree of Tales
1 Seat of the Synod
1 Darksteel Citadel
1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Skarrg, the Rage Pits
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Yavimaya Hollow
1 Ally Encampment
1 Riptide Laboratory
1 High Market
1 Inventors' Fair
1 Tolaria West
1 Calciform Pools
1 Fungal Reaches
1 Saltcrusted Steppe
1 Mage-Ring Network
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
1 Slayers' Stronghold
1 Hanweir Battlements
1 Kher Keep
1 Academy Ruins
1 Sungrass Prairie
1 Mossfire Valley
1 Skycloud Expanse
I cut the one-shot untap effects because they felt like win-mores. Rediscovered Braid of Fire which should be pretty fantastic with Thrasios. Ghirapur Aether Grid gives me something productive to do with extra untapped artifacts. Made some room for more interaction; not sure if Cryptic Command really feasible, but we'll see. Also made the mana base a lot more interesting.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
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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!
Open the Vaults as gelf pointed out. Knowing that you have that one card that can get you back into a game after a big board wipe is so much more fun to play a deck.
Depends what your play group is like, but not having any basic lands can really catch you out. I play Magic Online so the amount of incidental cards which have you searching for basics, means that you always want to at least run 1. A couple is even better.
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
Naw. There are some valuable artifacts in the deck, but not many are expensive. Also, I've only got one discard outlet.
I do enjoy a good infinite combo, too. My issue with Grim Monolith and Basalt Monolith is them underperforming when not paired with Rings, Reflection, Muse or Clock.
Definitely that or Scrap Mastery. Mass artifact removal is a very real threat.
My play group doesn't seem to have many Ghost Quarters or Path to Exiles but the manabase can easily accommodate a few basics at the expense of some marginal utility lands.
Here's a growing list of awesome cards to add. What should I cut to make room? Which cards are worth making room for?
There are only 2 creatures that are ok with haste, Palladium Myr, Akiri, Line-Slinger but not even essential to the theme at all. So Swiftfoot Boots + Asceticism, seem over the top to me.
Vanishing, you are always wanting to sink all your mana into Thrasios each turn, so there will always be a window for opponents to target. If you are holding up 2 blue each turn, then you're failing with Thrasios.
Sylvan Reclamation, expensive and you don't run basics
Herald of Kozilek, is a card that I added to my artifact decks and it was always underwhelming. The fact that its not an artifact and that it requires colored mana to cast it, puts it into the cutting zone.
Cryptic Command, is a pipe dream with this mana base
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
Feather, the Redeemed
Estrid, the Masked
Teshar
Tymna/Ravos
Najeela, Blade-Blossom
Firesong & Sunspeaker
Zur the Enchanter
Lazav, the Multifarious
Ishai+Reyhan
Click images for decks->
-Prime Speaker Vannifar
---------------------Will & Rowan Kenrith
The idea is that most of the deck does very little without one or more of the Commanders on the battlefield. But maybe there is some slight overkill in the protection department.
This part I disagree with. Thrasios takes 4 to activate (modulo Training Grounds, etc.) so if I happen to have an amount of mana available that's not a multiple of four, it doesn't fail Thrasios to leave some of it up. Vanishing in particular may be too U intensive for this deck, but having something productive to do with extra mana is a big part of the reason why I wrote down the manabase with all those utility lands.
Sylvan Reclamation is a better Return to Dust, which is itself a super-all-star-favorite piece of interaction of mine. Being able to landcycle would be nice (yet another reason to run a few basics) but I think the card is just straight up powerful enough on its own.
Some fair points on this card. Maybe I'll try the deck without it at first and only add it back if I really need more cost reduction.
I know you're right but the card would be so good here! Oh well... The responsible thing to do is replace it with Repeal, I suppose, but Silent Arbiter is much more exciting.
There is a lack of creature removal in this deck, I'd at least have a sweeper like Supreme Verdict or single target ones like Swords to Plowshares. I also notice the low number of creatures, which may or may not warrant the use of cards like Asceticism when a few equipment would suffice. (Stoneforge Mystic and/or Stonehewer Giant would be nice alternatives)
While Thrasios is a great card advantage, he needs to be alive, and I will not rely entirely on one source of card draws. I think Thoughtcast and Thirst for Knowledge should have spots here. Sensei's Divining Top seems like a good artifact to have alongside card search like Intuition and Long-Term Plan. With a few (aforementioned) ways to dump artifact into the grave, addition of Daretti, Scrap Savant or Argivian Find would be useful.
I'd use Thought Reflection over Alhammarret's Archive.
Akiri feels like she could hit for over 21 easily with this deck, but to be on the safe side, perhaps another wincon? Even one X spells like Fireball would suffice.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
I play an Eight-and-a-Half-Tails EDH deck and I can tell you for sure, that dude will always want more mana. Spellskite is the right choice.
- Rabid Wombat
Thanks! Glad the community's enjoying it.
There's a serious lack of everything removal here. The problem with running so many mana rocks is that it doesn't leave many slots open for other stuff. I'm working on moving some numbers around to make the deck more balanced.
Thing is that the two commanders are both extremely important to the deck's strategy so I want cards which protect both of them simultaneously. We'll see how this plays out in practice though; protecting two commanders is uncharted territory.
Agreed, but there's still the problem of card slots. I cut the small card drawers in favor of larger ones (e.g. Thoughtcast -> Recycle) to try and compensate for their small numbers.
I'd like to run both. Thought Reflection, though, costs UUU which is hard for this deck to produce. Moreover, Alhammarret's Archive pumps Akiri, can tap to ping stuff with Ghirapur Æther Grid and it can untap Honor-Worn Shaku.
I'd be more inclined to throw in an Inkmoth Nexus (to combine with Kessig Wolf Run) or a Scroll of the Masters to pump Thrasios but you're right, some kind of alternate win condition is called for.
Ooo, good point. Another fine card for consideration.
Yeah, that and the density of white mana symbols on the card is prohibitive in this four color deck.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I've got a new list that I'll post up soon. (Spoiler: Metalworker seems pretty good here...)
I've always been worried about artifact sweepers so I thought about adding Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise. Then I'm thinking of justifying these reactive cards with Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks to simulate the old sunny-side eggs archetype. I mean, it's protection and an infinite combo - probably worth looking into? Any thoughts?
I think going with an Eggs theme that has a realistic chance of going off would require much more of a rework than simply adding in Faith's Reward, Second Sunrise, Codex Shredder and Krark-Clan Ironworks. That's not to say it isn't a viable deck idea, though. Plan A: Voltron, Plan B: Combo sounds pretty nice, especially when all of the combo parts aid the Voltron plan. Akiri is obviously a partner you'd want for that deck, but I'm not so sure about Thrasios. His ability is only OK from a combo perspective and I think that version of the deck would gain a lot more from getting B involved (e.g. Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor and Yawgmoth's Will). Faith's Reward and Second Sunrise could easily make it into the deck if I add Sunforger, and in that case it'd only be KCI that's an awkward combo piece while not going off. Definitely something to think about, especially since the subject of alternate win conditions was recently raised.
I concur. Akiri combined with a Golgari partner would be a great Eggs commander. The only one that would make sense is Reyhan since Ikra gives benefits due to toughness but Akiri only has power pumped.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
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Thanks for all the feedback. I kinda agree that black would be a better addition for eggs. It's really tempting to just use Silas but I really wanted a Nephilim-colored commander deck and Akiri offers more partner options.
Eggs wasn't really meant to be a goal - just a decent back up that happens to have the potential to close the game as well. I too wouldn't want to bend the deck list just to make sure the combo fires off consistently... but hey, Sunforger is looking really nice. It searches for and is searched by artifact tutors after all.
Can I also know again why Helm of Awakening got cut?
Also on the topic of alternate win-cons: with all that junk mana, why not Memnarch?
Why a Golgari partner? I would think that an Eggs deck would need U.
Aikiri and Silas is UBRW which is some sort of Nephilim-color-combo.
And it's a good idea. If we can find a way to do it that doesn't take up too much space in the deck, it'd be a good plan.
That card always comes back to bite me. Your millage may vary.
Memnarch is a bit slow and U intensive, but I guess Training Grounds and Heartstone help with that.
Honestly, I think Inkmoth Nexus is the best place to start for an alternate win condition. With lots of mana and Kessig Wolf Run it can one-shot people, and it incentivizes running Scroll of the Masters/Leering Emblem. Those latter two are already on my short list because pumping up a Voltron commander is useful to Plan A.
And speaking of artifact eaters, what are your thoughts on Pia Nalaar? She's cheap, she replaces herself with a Thopter, she can wield the Spine like a whip, and she can be an alternate Rogue's Passage.
Your list is so tight, I can't think of any cards to cut just to make room - I guess this is just for folks like me who don't have access to some of the older powerhouses that you included and are looking for alternatives for the meantime
Yes, but I would say it's a rather small reason.
It's an interesting idea. There are actually a fair number of cards which would be terrific here if Akiri were an artifact creature herself, and Pia is yet another. Maybe it'd be worth running Transmogrifying Licid and the like.
Let me just be clear about something: Right now this list is purely theoretical. I haven't even goldfished it yet. That means that all of the card choices are based on general knowledge of how EDH games play out. So while I agree with you that the list looks super tight, it could in reality end up being quite loose. Basically what I'm trying to say here is that this is a brand new idea with nothing set in stone (no pun intended).
Also, here are some of the cards which make me wish Akiri was an artifact creature, but might be good here even though she's not:
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Creature lockouts will be your bane, so plan to have ways to deal with them.
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The Gitrog Monster: Oppressive Value.
Marchesa, Marionette Master - Undying Robots
Yuriko, the Hydra Omnivore
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Care to post a list? I'd love to see someone else's take on this.
What sort of stuff do you mean, in particular? A bazillion tokens, a sac outlet and Gravepact? Large amounts of spot- and mass-removal?
I went ahead and updated the list in the OP. Basically just trying to streamline things and turned a bunch of the interaction into artifacts.