Introduction
In my head-cannon Kraum is like a Pokémon in the sense that he can only say his own name. Glad we got that out of the way... So, this partner pair was inspired by the duel commander decks that are dominating that format. While my deck isn't tap-out control or very reactive, I knew they would be useful based on that decks success. Both Vial Smasher the Fierce and Kraum, Ludevic's Opus are excellent creatures on their own. They don't have any much synergy as a pair, but Kraum can draw you some more spells to cast which fuels Vial Smasher. I chose them to helm my Grixis reanimator deck instead of Sedris, the Traitor King for a few reasons. Sedris is the default general, he requires more niche cards to operate, and I was interested in trying partners for the first time. The pair makes your deck more versatile instead of more specific. So far they have been very impressive in games where they stay on board. In good games Vial Smasher has done upwards of 40 damage and Kraum has drawn 5-6 cards.
Thesis
My Grixis reanimator deck aims to cheat mana by getting larger creatures into play early in the game, use instants and sorceries to draw cards and setup our combos, and use our commanders to pressure life totals and finish out the game. This deck has the typical early game reanimation spells and setup cards to make use of the graveyard. Faithless Looting, Buried Alive, Reanimate and Animate Dead are some examples of these cards. The deck also has access to cards like Treasure Cruise and Living Death for later game use of the graveyard as well. These larger spells make music with the early game cantrips and filtering for explosive plays later on. Finally, our commanders give our deck an angel of attack that doesn't rely on the graveyard. Vial Smasher is an excellent source of damage while Kraum is a Rhystic Study of sorts.
The Deck
If you we're wondering, this deck is not trying to reanimate creatures that are horrible to play against, the reanimation targets are mostly casual. If you were interested in trying my deck almost all of the creatures could be substituted for anything else. Despite the casual build, I think there is room for improvement, let me know any suggestions you have.
I just came across this deck and think it's going in the right direction. I play with a pretty casual kitchen table too so I've been trying to figure out reanimator for their power levels. The one power card that I run is Void Winnower but outside of that I really like the reanimate targets you've chosen.
Also have you thought about replacing kraum and vial smasher with Kess?
Hey, please excuse my absence from this post. I see that it has been months.. but I will reply anyway. I think that Kess is an excellent upgrade for the build. The deck performed fairly well and managed to be fun to play with and against. I highly suggest it for casual metagames.
Introduction
In my head-cannon Kraum is like a Pokémon in the sense that he can only say his own name. Glad we got that out of the way... So, this partner pair was inspired by the duel commander decks that are dominating that format. While my deck isn't tap-out control or very reactive, I knew they would be useful based on that decks success. Both Vial Smasher the Fierce and Kraum, Ludevic's Opus are excellent creatures on their own. They don't have any much synergy as a pair, but Kraum can draw you some more spells to cast which fuels Vial Smasher. I chose them to helm my Grixis reanimator deck instead of Sedris, the Traitor King for a few reasons. Sedris is the default general, he requires more niche cards to operate, and I was interested in trying partners for the first time. The pair makes your deck more versatile instead of more specific. So far they have been very impressive in games where they stay on board. In good games Vial Smasher has done upwards of 40 damage and Kraum has drawn 5-6 cards.
Thesis
My Grixis reanimator deck aims to cheat mana by getting larger creatures into play early in the game, use instants and sorceries to draw cards and setup our combos, and use our commanders to pressure life totals and finish out the game. This deck has the typical early game reanimation spells and setup cards to make use of the graveyard. Faithless Looting, Buried Alive, Reanimate and Animate Dead are some examples of these cards. The deck also has access to cards like Treasure Cruise and Living Death for later game use of the graveyard as well. These larger spells make music with the early game cantrips and filtering for explosive plays later on. Finally, our commanders give our deck an angel of attack that doesn't rely on the graveyard. Vial Smasher is an excellent source of damage while Kraum is a Rhystic Study of sorts.
The Deck
If you we're wondering, this deck is not trying to reanimate creatures that are horrible to play against, the reanimation targets are mostly casual. If you were interested in trying my deck almost all of the creatures could be substituted for anything else. Despite the casual build, I think there is room for improvement, let me know any suggestions you have.
3 Vial Smasher the Fierce
5 Kraum, Ludevic's Opus
Ramp:
1 Dark Ritual
1 Sol Ring
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
2 Dimir Signet
2 Izzet Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Talisman of Indulgence
2 Talisman of Dominance
Card Quality:
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
2 Sign in Blood
2 Snapcaster Mage
3 Painful Truths
3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Read the Bones
8 Decree of Pain
8 Dig Through Time
8 Treasure Cruise
Removal:
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pongify
1 Rapid Hybridization
1 Shattering Spree
1 Vandalblast
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Terminate
3 Fleshbag Marauder
3 Merciless Executioner
3 Hero's Downfall
5 Treachery
8 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker
1 Careful Study
1 Entomb
1 Faithless Looting
2 Cathartic Reunion
3 Buried Alive
3 Compulsive Research
3 Forbidden Alchemy
3 Frantic Search
4 Fact or Fiction
Reanimation:
1 Reanimate
2 Animate Dead
2 Dance of the Dead
3 Necromancy
3 Victimize
4 Dread Return
4 Whip of Erebos
5 Living Death
9 Rise of the Dark Realms
Creatures to Zombify:
5 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
6 Arcanis the Omnipotent
6 Charmbreaker Devils
6 Dragonlord Silumgar
6 Grave Titan
6 Scourge of the Throne
7 Chancellor of the Spires
7 Lord of the Void
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
7 Sheoldred, Whispering One
7 Sphinx of Uthuun
8 Akroma, Angel of Fury
1 Ash Barrens
1 Command Tower
1 Crumbling Necropolis
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Temple of the False God
1 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Badlands
1 Watery Grave
1 Steam Vents
1 Blood Crypt
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Flooded Strand
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Drowned Catacomb
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Temple of Deceit
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Temple of Malice
1 Sunken Hollow
1 Smoldering Marsh
5 Island
4 Swamp
4 Mountain
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
Out: Body Double, Chainer, Dementia Master
In: Lord of the Void, Sphinx of Uthuun
I cut some more expensive reanimation spells for some extra threats in the hope to streamline the deck.
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
I just came across this deck and think it's going in the right direction. I play with a pretty casual kitchen table too so I've been trying to figure out reanimator for their power levels. The one power card that I run is Void Winnower but outside of that I really like the reanimate targets you've chosen.
Also have you thought about replacing kraum and vial smasher with Kess?
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG