MTG Salvation

The deck is currently sitting at 101 cards and will be slimmed down as I make the cuts. Any advice on what to cut would be really appreciated (more so than what cards to add )

I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone in EDH by playing mono-White. This deck is very interesting to me because it forces synergies that I would otherwise think are terrible. Suddenly, most arcane spells are looking great and Splice onto Arcane seems like great value. Soulshift creatures that seemed overpriced suddenly look a lot better.

I'm not sure how this deck is going to play out, honestly. I don't think it's going to be a full-on control deck, but maybe more of a tempo style? Selectively board wipe when needed (often at instant speed) while beating down with creatures of other CMCs? Seems like a really powerful idea. I'm honestly surprised I don't hear about this deck more.

For reference, number of Spirits/Arcane Spells at each CMC:
1= 4
2= 4
3= 4
4= 3
5= 4
6= 4
7= 4
8= 1
2-X= 1

I like the cards that can return themselves or other cards to my hand for reuse, as it means I can repeatedly wipe the board without the need for other cards of that CMC.

I'm not really planning on keeping a CMC devoid of spirits or arcane, preferring to play "on the fly". I think this will cover my bases a lot better.

Tallowisp is a strangely interesting card. It wants to be built around, but what could I include that would work with the deck?

I probably need some actual board wipes in there... I'll have to make room for them first.

Hi upkeep,

This deck looks fun to build. Maybe adding a Expedition Map to fetch Emeria should enhance CA/synergy.
Will take a more detailed look when I can

I run a 5-color spirits deck. Some white spirit cards that I really like that you don't already have listed are Kami of Ancient Law, Moonlit Strider, and Kirtar's Wrath. I think these three would be good additions to your list.

In terms of what I would cut:

• Eerie Interlude: it can save your dudes, but it's situational. With so many card options, I'd shy away from situational ones.
• Field of Souls/Promise of Bunrei: your creatures will be dying a lot, but these tokens aren't all that effective in EDH.
• Protector of the Crown: You have a healthy amount of 6 drops that would blow this guy up, and the chances of a significant amount of damage coming through such that this guy would save you is pretty low.

Thanks for the replies!

I took out Kami of Ancient Law as he seemed like the least powerful of the 2 drops I am currently running. Should it come back in?

How good is Moonlit Strider? He only Soulshifts for 3, which I thought was a bit weak, but saving a creature and getting something back from the graveyard is decent value for 4.

Kirtar's Wrath is definitely an interesting board wipe for the deck, thanks!

I'll try out Eerie Interlude as it's a way to avoid my own board wipes and also others. Definitely on the short list for cuts, I agree.

Field of Souls and Promise of Bunrei: I figure that the only CMC that is safe from my commander is 0, so tokens should be fairly sticky in my games (especially with flying). I think I will cut Field of Souls but keep the Promise for now. Thanks!

Protector of the Crown's main reason for being there is not only the Monarchy trigger, but also the fact that I can stick an Indestructible thing on him and then be immune to damage until they get rid of him (like Darksteel Plate or Shield of Kaldra, among many others). Maybe I should have explained that in the first post.

Teferi's Protection seems fitting for this deck, stack a few Kirin trigger first, then phase out all permanents to prevent them from destroyed.

Alright... I've played a few games with this deck now. The results are not at all what I expected.

I durdle so much. Sooo much. This deck is so slow, but when it gets going it feels like I can't be killed. And then I eventually die.

I need an actual win condition. Maybe I should bite the bullet and just get an avacyn, angel of hope for the top end (and end-all durdle). Or maybe Storm Herd? Maybe Eldrazi are the way to go? Any suggestions?

I’m liking your deck and ideas here, Upkeep!

Eldrazi are effective, but very unoriginal. Plus, once you play one, your deck is “marked” as having Eldrazi in it and some players like to kill those decks on sight because unanswered Eldrazi end games quickly.

Instead, maybe a more consistent win condition can be tokens (preferably of the spirit variety) supported by other spirit creatures and arcane spells like Chargr Across the Araba. Get enough token producers and you can include Anointed Procession and other stuff. Luckily there seems to be an assortment of spirit and arcane spells that create tokens and spirit tokens too, but also some good non-spirit and non-arcane that do so as well, so you can possibly mix and match depending on how often you’re trying to blast some stuff with Celestial Kirin out.

Avacyn, Angel of Hope certainly seems good, but I didn’t see Kindred Boon on the list.

The token focus would make Skullclamp, Mentor of the Meek, etc., more consistent card draw too, and could make Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens a more consistent win condition too, if protected well enough. I like that the tokens have built in “protection” in that their CMC is 0, so spirit and arcane spells aren’t blasting them away while Celestial Kirin is on the field, leaving a likelier clear path for the tokens to get through for damage, etc., plus they make easy sac fodder in games where that’s a thing *cough* Meren *cough*.

I didn’t go through your list super in depth, but those are my thoughts.

Apparently I can’t edit the post from my phone (?), but the card tag I messed up should be Charge Across the Araba.

Thanks so much for the great reply!

I agree with everything you said. I'll make room for Charge Across the Araba and try to focus more on token generating.

Kindred Boon! I didn't know this was a card! Handing out Divinity Counters sounds great, especially with Myojin of Cleansing Fire for repeatable instant-speed board wipes. Gotta find a spot for that.

I think I'll also include Enlightened Tutor, since I'm starting to have quite a few important artifacts and enchantments. Gives me an excuse to use my foil one, too.

I run some anthem effects spread out over different CMCs so they don't all get blown up at once. Gives the spirit tokens more punch.
Long-Forgotten Gohei, Celestial Crusader, and Vanquisher's Banner are the main ones. I Also run Call for Unity, Honor of the Pure, Adaptive Automaton, and Spear of Heliod

Not a lot of draw/filter options in white, but there's a few that help: Endless Atlas, Gift of Estates, Endless Horizons, Oreskos Explorer, Truce, Temporary Truce, Path of Ancestry, panoramas

Few other utility cards:
Aether Shockwave: If you need to do a final push without blowing up the board.
Kytheon, Hero of Akros: Gives you "free" targeted indestructible that doesn't get blown up by the Kirin
Mistveil Plains: If you run more shuffle effects
Hallowed Spiritkeeper
Thunder Totem: is an ok mana rock

Thanks for the great tips! I've been making some changes to the deck, but haven't edited the post. I'll edit when I can.

These are great suggestions! I in particular like Kytheon, since a flipped planeswalker doesn't die to the Kirin and contributes to the "Fog"-type plan I seem to have going on.

I think I'll play Coat of Arms for the 1-shot potential.