Introduction
This is my second pauper list, but the third I have posted in my Ravnica Block Guildmage series, the exact opposite of the Dimir Guildmage. After ISBPathfinder and others had started to engage pauper as a Commander format I was keen to try and have since managed to persuade my local games shop (Good Games) to support it a bit more. As a result there now at least 6 others who have all common, except the general, Commander decks!
As the first of my green guildmage decks I wanted to go for a token feel, while leaving the big fatties idea to another guildmage (most likely Gruul Guildmage), which green and white do very well fortunately. The deck has a low land count, but is geared towards a partial elf tribal subtheme (although there are non-elves), token or swarm theme and last of all enchantress. Now, there are no common enchantresses, but white and green do profit from them at times, so that idea was embraced. This deck is intended to not necessarily be quick, but be very resilient and operate on good card advantage and be threatening even when general isn't out. All up, if you choose to play him, I hope you find the Selesnya Guildmage fun.
What is Pauper Commander?
1. Same rules as Commander.
2. Commander is an uncommon. It can be any uncommon, not just a legend.
3. Rest of deck must be common in a non-Magic Online (Masters Editions come to mind) printing!
To be strong a Pauper Commander deck must use or have an answer to the 'Four Pillars':
1. Fireball and variants - Red and black have them, be able to survive it.
2. Capsize- Banned in some places, you need to be able to disrupt the buyback.
3. Pestilence and its variants - board sweepers, be ready.
4. Alabaster Potion and variants - Lifegain, the opposite of Fireball, reusable effects also count.
11/05/2013 Alabaster Potion -> Stream of Life - The lower cost makes Stream of Life a better choice when running only one. Growth Spasm -> Gleeful Sabotage - Further ramp was not needed and additional artifact and enchantment answers is certainly helpful. Viridian Emissary -> Ivy Lane Denizen - Free counters to buff my guys is more valuable than a mana ramp creature that may not die right away. Both are elves, so elf count is still same. Llanowar Empath -> Sun's Bounty - For the cost Empath is quite expensive, so additional life gain was added to buffer existing options.
New Inclusions Dark Ascension Gather the Townsfolk - A useful token generator at a fair cost, but can sometimes have greater benefit. Cut, was used previously. Haunted Fengraf - An excellent new utility land that is an auto-include for most pauper Commander decks.
Gatecrash Ivy Lane Denizen - Free +1/+1 counters increase the power passive and reduce my need to commit to the board as well as weakening black and red sweepers.
Modern Masters Moldervine Cloak - Effectively second Rancor in this deck, albeit with dredge.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
I have made a few small updates, once I get three cards as listed in OP I will be updating again. I hope people who do follow these find them interesting.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Good to see you're developing your list. I have a few suggestions:
1) Definetely include Nightshade Peddler like you consider. Wouldn't you want to add deathtouch to your tokens?
2) On that note, why not add reach and boost toughness with Spidersilk Armor too?
3) Broken Fall. It is at least as good as Fanatical Devotion that you're already running, but an argument could be made to run both.
4) Midnight Guard. You're already running Presence of Gond and other untap effects. Why not include a fun infinite combo?
5) Lignify is at least better than Pacifism, though I personally think it's on the same level as Faith's Fetters (it only targets creatures but also stops triggered or continous effects)
7) Night Soil. Yes, it's a common. Arguably the best GY hate in Pauper and fits right into your deck concept.
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Good to see you're developing your list. I have a few suggestions:
1) Definetely include Nightshade Peddler like you consider. Wouldn't you want to add deathtouch to your tokens?
I will pay closer attention to this one, it is pretty good, I'm unsure if metagame warrants deathtouch for me given sheer presence of Crypt Rats in so many decks, but I'll see what makes sense.
2) On that note, why not add reach and boost toughness with Spidersilk Armor too?
On above Crypt Rat point this makes sense
3) Broken Fall. It is at least as good as Fanatical Devotion that you're already running, but an argument could be made to run both.
I'm not sure I have room for both, tokens inherently favour devotion, but I'll consider this.
4) Midnight Guard. You're already running Presence of Gond and other untap effects. Why not include a fun infinite combo?
That is pretty cute, I'll run it.
5) Lignify is at least better than Pacifism, though I personally think it's on the same level as Faith's Fetters (it only targets creatures but also stops triggered or continous effects)
I'll consider this, it probably does outdo a simple Pacificism.
7) Night Soil. Yes, it's a common. Arguably the best GY hate in Pauper and fits right into your deck concept.
GY hate isn't necesarily needed in my metagame, but I'll keep an open mind regarding this.
Thanks for the response, I'll consider what you said, Midnight Guard should be a standut.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
I'd swap out Elvish Lyrist for Devout Harpist. Auras are probably the most-played type of Enchantments in Pauper EDH (since they're used for both Voltron+protection and as removal) except for staples Flood and Rhystic Study. Repeatable aura-destruction is super gravy.
Selesnya Guildmage
Introduction
This is my second pauper list, but the third I have posted in my Ravnica Block Guildmage series, the exact opposite of the Dimir Guildmage. After ISBPathfinder and others had started to engage pauper as a Commander format I was keen to try and have since managed to persuade my local games shop (Good Games) to support it a bit more. As a result there now at least 6 others who have all common, except the general, Commander decks!
As the first of my green guildmage decks I wanted to go for a token feel, while leaving the big fatties idea to another guildmage (most likely Gruul Guildmage), which green and white do very well fortunately. The deck has a low land count, but is geared towards a partial elf tribal subtheme (although there are non-elves), token or swarm theme and last of all enchantress. Now, there are no common enchantresses, but white and green do profit from them at times, so that idea was embraced. This deck is intended to not necessarily be quick, but be very resilient and operate on good card advantage and be threatening even when general isn't out. All up, if you choose to play him, I hope you find the Selesnya Guildmage fun.
What is Pauper Commander?
1. Same rules as Commander.
2. Commander is an uncommon. It can be any uncommon, not just a legend.
3. Rest of deck must be common in a non-Magic Online (Masters Editions come to mind) printing!
To be strong a Pauper Commander deck must use or have an answer to the 'Four Pillars':
1. Fireball and variants - Red and black have them, be able to survive it.
2. Capsize- Banned in some places, you need to be able to disrupt the buyback.
3. Pestilence and its variants - board sweepers, be ready.
4. Alabaster Potion and variants - Lifegain, the opposite of Fireball, reusable effects also count.
This deck runs one of the fourth pillar, Stream of Life and Sun's Bounty.
1 Selesnya Guildmage
Other (29)
1 Arbor Elf
1 Avacyn's Pilgrim
1 Auramancer
1 *****lore Rangers
1 Bramble Elemental
1 Citanul Woodreaders
1 Copperhorn Scout
1 Elvish Lyrist
1 Elvish Mystic
1 Elvish Visionary
1 Heart Warden
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Ivy Lane Denizen
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Kozilek's Predator
1 Krosan Tusker
1 Lys Alana Huntmaster
1 Midnight Guard
1 Nettle Sentinel
1 Priest of Titania
1 Sakura Tribe Elder
1 Selesnya Evangel
1 Sylvok Replica
1 Timberwatch Elf
1 Totem-Guide Hartebeest
1 Ulamog’s Crusher
1 Wellwisher
1 Wirewood Herald
1 Wood Elves
1 Whispersilk Cloak
Auras for Us (9)
1 Ancestral Mask
1 Armadillo Cloak
1 Fists of Ironwood
1 Moldervine Cloak
1 Presence of Gond
1 Rancor
1 Shield of the Oversoul
1 Sigil of the Nayan Gods
1 Snake Umbra
Auras for Them (5)
1 Arrest
1 Cage of Hands
1 Cessation
1 Faith's Fetters
1 Lignify
Other (3)
1 Fanatical Devotion
1 Journey to Nowhere
1 Oblivion Ring
Instants (8)
1 Gilt-Leaf Ambush
1 Master's Call
1 Raise the Alarm
1 Rootborn Defences
1 Scatter the Seeds
1 Second Thoughts
1 Sprout Swarm
1 Sun's Bounty
Land (35)
1 Bant Panorama
1 Command Tower
1 Desert
1 Evolving Wilds
12 Forest
1 Haunted Fengraf
1 Khalni Garden
1 Naya Panorama
8 Plains
1 Quicksand
1 Rupture Spire
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Selesnya Guildgate
1 Selesnya Sanctuary
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Tranquil Thicket
1 Transguild Promenade
1 Iona's Judgement
Token Generation (3)
1 Acorn Harvest
1 Cenn's Enlistment
1 Chatter of the Squirrel
Other (5)
1 Beast Hunt
1 Commune with the Gods
1 Gleeful Sabotage
1 Mine Excavation
1 Stream of Life
Change Log
Forest -> Command Tower - Direct upgrade.
1/07/2012
Nantuko Shaman -> Whispersilk Cloak - The cloak is a must to keep Commander a live.
22/11/2012
Commune with Nature -> Rootborn Defences - I would rather protect my creatures than try find a new one in a deck that is one third creatures.
Forest -> Selesnya Guildgate - This will improve, albeit slow the mana down.
Plains -> Transguild Promenade - As above, better colours, worse speed.
Skyshroud Claim -> Alabaster Potion - I need some lifegain and the deck is quick in pauper without further ramp that is non-creature based.
11/05/2013
Alabaster Potion -> Stream of Life - The lower cost makes Stream of Life a better choice when running only one.
Growth Spasm -> Gleeful Sabotage - Further ramp was not needed and additional artifact and enchantment answers is certainly helpful.
Viridian Emissary -> Ivy Lane Denizen - Free counters to buff my guys is more valuable than a mana ramp creature that may not die right away. Both are elves, so elf count is still same.
Llanowar Empath -> Sun's Bounty - For the cost Empath is quite expensive, so additional life gain was added to buffer existing options.
17/11/2013
Gather the Townsfolk -> Commune with the Gods - This was the weakest token generator remaining. Tokens are needed, but CWTG allows greater utility.
Icatian Crier -> Elvish Mystic - More Llanowar Elves is always useful.
Pacifism -> Lignify - Same cost, but has benefit of no abilities and being hard to kill with burn if they wish to kill their own general.
Resize -> Midnight Guard - Part of the Presence of Gond combo, will be difficult to achieve, but it helps that it is there.
Ronom Unicorn -> Elvish Lyrist - More elves, more synergy.
Seeker of Skybreak -> Moldervine Cloak - This may be mistake, but more strong, reusable auras allow for a shift in deck mode.
New Inclusions
Dark Ascension
Gather the Townsfolk - A useful token generator at a fair cost, but can sometimes have greater benefit. Cut, was used previously.
Haunted Fengraf - An excellent new utility land that is an auto-include for most pauper Commander decks.
Return to Ravnica
Rootborn Defences - Great way to preserve my token and elf hordes.
Selesnya Guildgate - More great common level mana fixing.
Transguild Promenade - Rupture Spire number two.
Gatecrash
Ivy Lane Denizen - Free +1/+1 counters increase the power passive and reduce my need to commit to the board as well as weakening black and red sweepers.
Modern Masters
Moldervine Cloak - Effectively second Rancor in this deck, albeit with dredge.
Magic 2014
Elvish Mystic - Llanowar Elves number two in every way. Redundancy is very strong.
Theros
Commune with the Gods - This deck has many enchantments and creatures.
Cards I need or am on fence about:
I will likely use once I get an additional one
1. Seal of Cleansing
Could maybe use
1. Dawntreader Elf
2. Woodland Sleuth
3. Nightshade Peddler
4. Seraph of Dawn
5. Call to Serve
6. Elvish Guidance
7. Spectral Gateguard
8. Cloudshift
9. Captain's Call
10. Spidersilk Armor
Cut cards, that are still very playable
2. Growth Spasm
3. Llanowar Emissary
4. Skyshroud Claim
5. Gather the Townsfolk
6. Seeker of Skybreak
I believe this deck is strong and can hold it's own, but I would welcome feedback.
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
1) Definetely include Nightshade Peddler like you consider. Wouldn't you want to add deathtouch to your tokens?
2) On that note, why not add reach and boost toughness with Spidersilk Armor too?
3) Broken Fall. It is at least as good as Fanatical Devotion that you're already running, but an argument could be made to run both.
4) Midnight Guard. You're already running Presence of Gond and other untap effects. Why not include a fun infinite combo?
5) Lignify is at least better than Pacifism, though I personally think it's on the same level as Faith's Fetters (it only targets creatures but also stops triggered or continous effects)
7) Night Soil. Yes, it's a common. Arguably the best GY hate in Pauper and fits right into your deck concept.
A series of seven articles using Magic to explore the very stuff of the Universe!
"At least for those who can play cards, their present incarnation is not quite wasted."
[Click here for the articles!]
Thanks for the response, I'll consider what you said, Midnight Guard should be a standut.
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
Spidersilk Armor may yet go in.
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
EDH Decks:
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Tajic, Blade of the Legion
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Ezuri, Renegade Leader 1v1
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher 1v1
Hythonia the Cruel
Trying to build:
Jenara, Asura of War
Designing a Custom Set:
Clash of the Cultures: 5 Wedges, 5 Cultures
Providing Artwork for:
Archester: Frontier of Steam