Dragonlord Ojutai has been on my list of commanders to build for a long time, and I finally got a list put together. The first few games I got to play with the deck were a ton of fun. The main goal of the deck is voltron, though being WU, there are some control elements in here as well. Since the deck seems like one I'm gonna keep around for a while, I thought I'd reach out to any other Ojutai players out there and see how I can fine-tune this list.
I added Time Reversal just to fill slots for the first draft, but I think you're right that it'll probably do more harm than good.
I totally agree on Brave the Sands, I think I'll cut reversal for that. As for the aura, I'm not a big fan of auras, since they give your opponents 2 for 1s, so I only add them if they feel like a huge effect.
And to the last two points, you're probably right that the staff can be cut. And the only other benefit to the shield is giving Sword of Kaldra indestructible, so you're right that darksteel is probably better.
A lot of those changes reflect what was discussed in the above comments (Darksteel Plate vs. Shield of Kaldra, Time Reversal, etc.) I felt like Umezawa's Jitte was a good replacement for Proteus Staff since it can act as removal and also supports the Voltron plan. I really like Recurring Insight in some decks, but this one really doesn't struggle for card advantage and 6 mana is kind of a lot. Desertion is another card that I want to like, but just can't justify the mana cost, and Swan Song feels better here.
Its worth noting the last reply to this thread was back in January, but as I play Ojutai I have a ton of suggestions here. I actually used this decklist for inspiration. I ended up just using Ojutai as a efficient threat for a u/w control deck. It works very well for my area and I appreciate the ideas I got here. Using vigilance for permanent hexproof has been very useful.
Brave the Sands is strictly better and Always Watching is arguably better. Serra's Blessing does have the best art of all these options.
I totally agree on the Sword point. I would suggest either Sword of War and Peace or Sword of Light and Shadow for this deck as well. Protection from all colors is pretty useful for evasion. Some smart players might have some instant speed removal for him if you dont have some sort of protection and the swords can help with that.
1 Dragonlord Ojutai
Artifact
1 Azorius Signet
1 Batterskull
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Fireshrieker
1 Journeyer's Kite
1 Mind Stone
1 Portcullis
1 Sol Ring
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Kaldra
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Torpor Orb
1 Umezawa's Jitte
Instant
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
1 Brainstorm
1 Counterspell
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Dissolve
1 Dream Fracture
1 Forbid
1 Negate
1 Ojutai's Command
1 Redirect
1 Render Silent
1 Return to Dust
1 Rewind
1 Swan Song
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Always Watching
1 Blind Obedience
1 Brave the Sands
1 Frozen Aether
1 Future Sight
1 Ghostly Prison
1 Imprisoned in the Moon
1 Land Tax
1 Luminarch Ascension
1 Propaganda
1 Quiet Contemplation
1 Rhystic Study
1 True Conviction
Sorcery
1 Curse of the Swine
1 Kirtar's Wrath
1 Preordain
1 Supreme Verdict
Creature
1 Archaeomancer
1 Clever Impersonator
1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
1 Heliod, God of the Sun
1 Leonin Arbiter
1 Magus of the Moat
1 Prognostic Sphinx
1 Spirit of the Labyrinth
1 Steel Hellkite
1 Stonehewer Giant
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Thassa, God of the Sea
1 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Venser, the Sojourner
Land
1 Command Tower
1 Flooded Strand
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Halimar Depths
1 Hallowed Fountain
16 Island
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Mirrorpool
11 Plains
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Terramorphic Expanse
Change Log
1/16/2017 - Removed: Proteus Staff, Dissipate, Recurring Insight, Time Reversal, Shield of Kaldra, Desertion
Added: Umezawa's Jitte, Forbid, Ojutai's Command, Brave the Sands, Darksteel Plate, Swan Song
[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 totally agree on Brave the Sands, I think I'll cut reversal for that. As for the aura, I'm not a big fan of auras, since they give your opponents 2 for 1s, so I only add them if they feel like a huge effect.
And to the last two points, you're probably right that the staff can be cut. And the only other benefit to the shield is giving Sword of Kaldra indestructible, so you're right that darksteel is probably better.
[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
OUT
- Proteus Staff
- Dissipate
- Recurring Insight
- Time Reversal
- Shield of Kaldra
- Desertion
IN
+ Umezawa's Jitte
+ Forbid
+ Ojutai's Command
+ Brave the Sands
+ Darksteel Plate
+ Swan Song
A lot of those changes reflect what was discussed in the above comments (Darksteel Plate vs. Shield of Kaldra, Time Reversal, etc.) I felt like Umezawa's Jitte was a good replacement for Proteus Staff since it can act as removal and also supports the Voltron plan. I really like Recurring Insight in some decks, but this one really doesn't struggle for card advantage and 6 mana is kind of a lot. Desertion is another card that I want to like, but just can't justify the mana cost, and Swan Song feels better here.
[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
Serra's Blessing is a card that supports your commander well.
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Brave the Sands is strictly better and Always Watching is arguably better. Serra's Blessing does have the best art of all these options.
I totally agree on the Sword point. I would suggest either Sword of War and Peace or Sword of Light and Shadow for this deck as well. Protection from all colors is pretty useful for evasion. Some smart players might have some instant speed removal for him if you dont have some sort of protection and the swords can help with that.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG