Now, with Theros Block Season underway, people have started to brew some amazing ideas! Anything from fast aggro to insane ramp. I would like to establish an archetype that has already been a presence in several metagames, already, but with a theros block spin. This deck has been around for a little while, and I felt it was time to create a developing thread for it.
First, the decklist!
This deck is quite a blast to play, but secondly… How does it work?
-First, you want to utilize your graveyard enablers (Commune with the Gods, Kruthephix’s Insight, Satyr Wayfinder) to start filling your graveyard up with creatures.
-Secondly, you want to then play undercosted beaters (Nighthowler, Nemesis of Mortals, Pharika) to take your opponent from 20 to 0.
Notable Interactions/Tips:
-Strength of the Fallen allows the deck to have a reusable “Nighthowler” which can turn even the lowliest Brain Maggot into a monstrous threat.
-Pharika, God of Affliction should be played with caution. This deck can become a game of math rather quickly when using the god. Why then are we playing her? Because she is that dang good. When you get 8+ creatures in the graveyard, she becomes an absolute blowout.
-Nighthowler should almost always be bestowed instead of playing out right. This gives the damage bonus “haste” as well as a more resilient threat.
Now, what’s the difference between this and traditional reanimator (Junk Reanimator)?
-There are no cards in the deck that have to meet certain requirements to be played.
-Instead of relying on discard outlets, this deck can play out normally and becomes increasingly more powerful when utilizing the GY enablers.
-It’s a lot more resilient that reanimator, as it doesn’t invest in a few win conditions to win the game. Every creature can be used to win one way or another.
-The manabase is more consistent due to the lack of a third color.
-Every major threat can be played naturally.
Reanimator is a strong deck, and has a well-earned slot in the block metagame, but these two decks should not be mistakenly placed together as being the same.
I’m currently hashing out my sideboard to present to you all soon, but as of now, any ideas that you could present would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Changelog:
-3 Pharika, God of Affliction
+2 Nyx Weaver
-2 Mana Confluece
+2 Hero's Downfall
I took your suggestions into major consideration and immediately went to testing. After several games, I found myself in a dire need of spot removal. 2x Hero's Downfall came in with the aid of 3x Nyx Weaver. Being able to continuously cast spot removal won me many games. Pharika, God of Affliction won me a few games as a late game finisher and ultimately became a singleton, with all of the card filtering I never wanted to see a second copy.
Now onto the matches I played against!
Naya Midrange
5-2
To be honest, I feared this matchup from the get go. Game 1 we played similar games with turn one temple lands into turn two mana dorks. He drops a Polukranos, World Eater on turn 3 and I responded with a Hero's Downfall. During my turn I doubled up on Commune with the Gods into a Nighthowler bestowed on a Voyaging Satyr the following turn. He couldn't keep up with a massive satyr turning sideways every turn, even after dropping an Arbor Colossus. Most of the games ended this way. The games he beat me were with Polukranos attacking with a Bow of Nylea on board. He would then, in response to declaring attackers, wipe my field by monstrousing his hydra to deathtouch my defense. Naya Midrange has a hard time dealing with early massive threats and that's exactly what dredge is trying to accomplish. I feel this is a favorable matchup for us.
Mono Black Devotion
3-3
This is a very difficult matchup for us, as they run several forms of removal maindeck. Thoughtseize doesn't bother us as much as Hero's Downfall. Games generally ended with him dropping and Abhorrent Overlord or me whipping back a monstrous sized Nighthowler or Nemesis of Mortals to swing the game in my favor. One stalemate ended up with us sitting on each other's Nighthowlers, not able to do anything. Nyx Weaver won me that game, by breaking the stalemate to grab me an earlier used Hero's Downfall to swing in for the win the following turn. Very close games. I feel Drown in Sorrow might be a strong sideboard card here, as it deals with the harpy tokens as well as Agent of Fates (in most cases). Still unsure here however.
Orzhov Aggro
2-1
This matchup is a little in our favor, as Brimaz, King of Oreska seemed to be his primary win condition. Brimaz has a very difficult time racing a 10/10 Nemesis of Mortals on turn 4, as well as the maindeck Hero's Downfall. He ran the BW God, but only saw him 1 game (which is the game he won). This could be a very scary matchup if in the hands of someone who understands what dredge is trying to do. I feel Silence the Believers could be a strong sideboard vs this matchup, but still unsure. More testing is needed for sure.
GW Midrange
1-3
This deck tore me apart. The only game I felt I was the aggressor, was the game I started first AND had "god" hands and draws. I top decked exactly what I needed while he seemed to draw very little pressure. Most games ended up with him turning monstroused Fleecemane Lions sideways or sitting on a Sylvan Caryatid with a Godsend equipped to it. Enchantment and artifact hate will need to come in for games 2 and 3 if we are to stand a chance vs this matchup.
Could really use your continued support as I feel we have a real contender here! The deck's consistency is absolutely amazing, as I only mulliganed 2x the entire time I was testing.
I took your suggestions into major consideration and immediately went to testing. After several games, I found myself in a dire need of spot removal. 2x Hero's Downfall came in with the aid of 3x Nyx Weaver. Being able to continuously cast spot removal won me many games. Pharika, God of Affliction won me a few games as a late game finisher and ultimately became a singleton, with all of the card filtering I never wanted to see a second copy.
Now onto the matches I played against!
Naya Midrange
5-2
To be honest, I feared this matchup from the get go. Game 1 we played similar games with turn one temple lands into turn two mana dorks. He drops a Polukranos, World Eater on turn 3 and I responded with a Hero's Downfall. During my turn I doubled up on Commune with the Gods into a Nighthowler bestowed on a Voyaging Satyr the following turn. He couldn't keep up with a massive satyr turning sideways every turn, even after dropping an Arbor Colossus. Most of the games ended this way. The games he beat me were with Polukranos attacking with a Bow of Nylea on board. He would then, in response to declaring attackers, wipe my field by monstrousing his hydra to deathtouch my defense. Naya Midrange has a hard time dealing with early massive threats and that's exactly what dredge is trying to accomplish. I feel this is a favorable matchup for us.
Mono Black Devotion
3-3
This is a very difficult matchup for us, as they run several forms of removal maindeck. Thoughtseize doesn't bother us as much as Hero's Downfall. Games generally ended with him dropping and Abhorrent Overlord or me whipping back a monstrous sized Nighthowler or Nemesis of Mortals to swing the game in my favor. One stalemate ended up with us sitting on each other's Nighthowlers, not able to do anything. Nyx Weaver won me that game, by breaking the stalemate to grab me an earlier used Hero's Downfall to swing in for the win the following turn. Very close games. I feel Drown in Sorrow might be a strong sideboard card here, as it deals with the harpy tokens as well as Agent of Fates (in most cases). Still unsure here however.
Orzhov Aggro
2-1
This matchup is a little in our favor, as Brimaz, King of Oreska seemed to be his primary win condition. Brimaz has a very difficult time racing a 10/10 Nemesis of Mortals on turn 4, as well as the maindeck Hero's Downfall. He ran the BW God, but only saw him 1 game (which is the game he won). This could be a very scary matchup if in the hands of someone who understands what dredge is trying to do. I feel Silence the Believers could be a strong sideboard vs this matchup, but still unsure. More testing is needed for sure.
GW Midrange
1-3
This deck tore me apart. The only game I felt I was the aggressor, was the game I started first AND had "god" hands and draws. I top decked exactly what I needed while he seemed to draw very little pressure. Most games ended up with him turning monstroused Fleecemane Lions sideways or sitting on a Sylvan Caryatid with a Godsend equipped to it. Enchantment and artifact hate will need to come in for games 2 and 3 if we are to stand a chance vs this matchup.
Could really use your continued support as I feel we have a real contender here! The deck's consistency is absolutely amazing, as I only mulliganed 2x the entire time I was testing.
This is what I figured reanimator would lean toward. A more threat dense build that doesn't rely so much on the grave but takes adv of it. I would recommend taking out the brain maggots for more threats like herald of torment. Also, 7 rampers doesn't seem needed when you are ramping into nothing. I would cut satyr and maybe even carytid as you have the wayfinders to fix for you. Another whip and more threats I would replace them with.
[qu
This is what I figured reanimator would lean toward. A more threat dense build that doesn't rely so much on the grave but takes adv of it. I would recommend taking out the brain maggots for more threats like herald of torment. Also, 7 rampers doesn't seem needed when you are ramping into nothing. I would cut satyr and maybe even carytid as you have the wayfinders to fix for you. Another whip and more threats I would replace them with.
I was thinking of Polukranos as another win condition. What other win conditions do you think this deck could benefit from? I'm not %100 cutting Sylvan Caryatid, as it has been a game changer vs some of the more aggressive decks, though Voyaging Satyr is a flex slot. I've been primarily using the ramp to cast numerous GY spells in one turn, giving the deck an overwhelming advantage the following turn, not necessarily to ramp into a higher CC spell.
Also, Brain Maggots has been a true allstar, often turning my opponents opening hands from keepable to absolute garbage. Also the only maindeck way to deal with SB GY hate as well as being an enchantment for Strength of the Fallen.
[qu
This is what I figured reanimator would lean toward. A more threat dense build that doesn't rely so much on the grave but takes adv of it. I would recommend taking out the brain maggots for more threats like herald of torment. Also, 7 rampers doesn't seem needed when you are ramping into nothing. I would cut satyr and maybe even carytid as you have the wayfinders to fix for you. Another whip and more threats I would replace them with.
I was thinking of Polukranos as another win condition. What other win conditions do you think this deck could benefit from? I'm not %100 cutting Sylvan Caryatid, as it has been a game changer vs some of the more aggressive decks, though Voyaging Satyr is a flex slot. I've been primarily using the ramp to cast numerous GY spells in one turn, giving the deck an overwhelming advantage the following turn, not necessarily to ramp into a higher CC spell.
Also, Brain Maggots has been a true allstar, often turning my opponents opening hands from keepable to absolute garbage. Also the only maindeck way to deal with SB GY hate as well as being an enchantment for Strength of the Fallen.
Yeah I can understand that. Brain maggot can be powerful but what does it do that thoughtseize doesn't guarantee? If you are running 21 lands and all your 2 drops are 1/1 bodies I feel like drown or anger is going to be powerful against you nor will you be that threatening. You don't really have to answer anything in that deck until the person drops nemesis of mortals or an enchantment. Against aggro or monsters decks you are going to get outclassed on the board very quickly. Reaper, polu, herald of torment and master of the feast all sound like options here. There is also more dig spells in this deck than current models of reanimator but less of a chance to abuse the grave well with only one whip and no rescue. But the creature base would still need to be changed for a better GY strat because there are few targets worthy of whipping in the deck. The best targets are evasion creatures like herald, master of the feast, abhorrent overlord, and ashen rider. If you whip back nemesis he gets chumped. Whipping back a 1/1 doesnt get anywhere either. Just some ideas. -3 satyr, -4 maggot, -3 nighthowler, -2 commune, +4 courser of kruphix, +3-4 abhorrent overlord (ETB effects too good), +2 whips, +3 master of the feast. I also think Ajani is great in this deck. There are a lot of options in general. The deck also needs some answers like downfall (which you have) and thoughtseize. I actually think silence the believers would be good for this deck because it ramps and silence can get value really well in the form of 2 for 1s or more (it happens). My only suggestion is to go hard at one strategy. Either put pressure on and reanimate ok targets at backup or go slow (like current models) and reanimate game winning targets. I don't think the latter is viable with agent of erebos around though. Good luck.
It more of a rock/dredge mixture. I designed my build with stronger creatures and a little less Dredge due to my meta, and currently my deck is running very well. Reaper of the Wilds and Master of the Feast are very hard to deal with. I've also found that Bow of Nylea is a great multitool; it has recursion, life gain, flying hate, and can help toughen your creatures with deathtouch and +1/+1s. The sideboard contains a lot of removal and disruption.
First, the decklist!
MainDeck 60cards
Creatures 27
4 Brain Maggot
4 Nemesis of Mortals
4 Nighthowler
3 Nyx Weaver
1 Pharika, God of Affliction
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Sylvan Caryatid
3 Voyaging Satyr
2 Hero's Downfall
Sorceries 8
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Kruphix’s Insight
Enchantments 2
1 Strength of the Fallen
1 Whip of Erebos
8 Forest
1 Mana Confluence
8 Swamp
4 Temple of Malady
This deck is quite a blast to play, but secondly… How does it work?
-First, you want to utilize your graveyard enablers (Commune with the Gods, Kruthephix’s Insight, Satyr Wayfinder) to start filling your graveyard up with creatures.
-Secondly, you want to then play undercosted beaters (Nighthowler, Nemesis of Mortals, Pharika) to take your opponent from 20 to 0.
Notable Interactions/Tips:
-Strength of the Fallen allows the deck to have a reusable “Nighthowler” which can turn even the lowliest Brain Maggot into a monstrous threat.
-Pharika, God of Affliction should be played with caution. This deck can become a game of math rather quickly when using the god. Why then are we playing her? Because she is that dang good. When you get 8+ creatures in the graveyard, she becomes an absolute blowout.
-Nighthowler should almost always be bestowed instead of playing out right. This gives the damage bonus “haste” as well as a more resilient threat.
Now, what’s the difference between this and traditional reanimator (Junk Reanimator)?
-There are no cards in the deck that have to meet certain requirements to be played.
-Instead of relying on discard outlets, this deck can play out normally and becomes increasingly more powerful when utilizing the GY enablers.
-It’s a lot more resilient that reanimator, as it doesn’t invest in a few win conditions to win the game. Every creature can be used to win one way or another.
-The manabase is more consistent due to the lack of a third color.
-Every major threat can be played naturally.
Reanimator is a strong deck, and has a well-earned slot in the block metagame, but these two decks should not be mistakenly placed together as being the same.
I’m currently hashing out my sideboard to present to you all soon, but as of now, any ideas that you could present would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!
Changelog:
-3 Pharika, God of Affliction
+2 Nyx Weaver
-2 Mana Confluece
+2 Hero's Downfall
Now onto the matches I played against!
Naya Midrange
5-2
To be honest, I feared this matchup from the get go. Game 1 we played similar games with turn one temple lands into turn two mana dorks. He drops a Polukranos, World Eater on turn 3 and I responded with a Hero's Downfall. During my turn I doubled up on Commune with the Gods into a Nighthowler bestowed on a Voyaging Satyr the following turn. He couldn't keep up with a massive satyr turning sideways every turn, even after dropping an Arbor Colossus. Most of the games ended this way. The games he beat me were with Polukranos attacking with a Bow of Nylea on board. He would then, in response to declaring attackers, wipe my field by monstrousing his hydra to deathtouch my defense. Naya Midrange has a hard time dealing with early massive threats and that's exactly what dredge is trying to accomplish. I feel this is a favorable matchup for us.
Mono Black Devotion
3-3
This is a very difficult matchup for us, as they run several forms of removal maindeck. Thoughtseize doesn't bother us as much as Hero's Downfall. Games generally ended with him dropping and Abhorrent Overlord or me whipping back a monstrous sized Nighthowler or Nemesis of Mortals to swing the game in my favor. One stalemate ended up with us sitting on each other's Nighthowlers, not able to do anything. Nyx Weaver won me that game, by breaking the stalemate to grab me an earlier used Hero's Downfall to swing in for the win the following turn. Very close games. I feel Drown in Sorrow might be a strong sideboard card here, as it deals with the harpy tokens as well as Agent of Fates (in most cases). Still unsure here however.
Orzhov Aggro
2-1
This matchup is a little in our favor, as Brimaz, King of Oreska seemed to be his primary win condition. Brimaz has a very difficult time racing a 10/10 Nemesis of Mortals on turn 4, as well as the maindeck Hero's Downfall. He ran the BW God, but only saw him 1 game (which is the game he won). This could be a very scary matchup if in the hands of someone who understands what dredge is trying to do. I feel Silence the Believers could be a strong sideboard vs this matchup, but still unsure. More testing is needed for sure.
GW Midrange
1-3
This deck tore me apart. The only game I felt I was the aggressor, was the game I started first AND had "god" hands and draws. I top decked exactly what I needed while he seemed to draw very little pressure. Most games ended up with him turning monstroused Fleecemane Lions sideways or sitting on a Sylvan Caryatid with a Godsend equipped to it. Enchantment and artifact hate will need to come in for games 2 and 3 if we are to stand a chance vs this matchup.
Could really use your continued support as I feel we have a real contender here! The deck's consistency is absolutely amazing, as I only mulliganed 2x the entire time I was testing.
This is what I figured reanimator would lean toward. A more threat dense build that doesn't rely so much on the grave but takes adv of it. I would recommend taking out the brain maggots for more threats like herald of torment. Also, 7 rampers doesn't seem needed when you are ramping into nothing. I would cut satyr and maybe even carytid as you have the wayfinders to fix for you. Another whip and more threats I would replace them with.
I was thinking of Polukranos as another win condition. What other win conditions do you think this deck could benefit from? I'm not %100 cutting Sylvan Caryatid, as it has been a game changer vs some of the more aggressive decks, though Voyaging Satyr is a flex slot. I've been primarily using the ramp to cast numerous GY spells in one turn, giving the deck an overwhelming advantage the following turn, not necessarily to ramp into a higher CC spell.
Also, Brain Maggots has been a true allstar, often turning my opponents opening hands from keepable to absolute garbage. Also the only maindeck way to deal with SB GY hate as well as being an enchantment for Strength of the Fallen.
Yeah I can understand that. Brain maggot can be powerful but what does it do that thoughtseize doesn't guarantee? If you are running 21 lands and all your 2 drops are 1/1 bodies I feel like drown or anger is going to be powerful against you nor will you be that threatening. You don't really have to answer anything in that deck until the person drops nemesis of mortals or an enchantment. Against aggro or monsters decks you are going to get outclassed on the board very quickly. Reaper, polu, herald of torment and master of the feast all sound like options here. There is also more dig spells in this deck than current models of reanimator but less of a chance to abuse the grave well with only one whip and no rescue. But the creature base would still need to be changed for a better GY strat because there are few targets worthy of whipping in the deck. The best targets are evasion creatures like herald, master of the feast, abhorrent overlord, and ashen rider. If you whip back nemesis he gets chumped. Whipping back a 1/1 doesnt get anywhere either. Just some ideas. -3 satyr, -4 maggot, -3 nighthowler, -2 commune, +4 courser of kruphix, +3-4 abhorrent overlord (ETB effects too good), +2 whips, +3 master of the feast. I also think Ajani is great in this deck. There are a lot of options in general. The deck also needs some answers like downfall (which you have) and thoughtseize. I actually think silence the believers would be good for this deck because it ramps and silence can get value really well in the form of 2 for 1s or more (it happens). My only suggestion is to go hard at one strategy. Either put pressure on and reanimate ok targets at backup or go slow (like current models) and reanimate game winning targets. I don't think the latter is viable with agent of erebos around though. Good luck.
4 Voyaging Satyr
4 Satyr Wayfinder
4 Herald of Torment
4 Nighthowler
4 Master of the Feast
4 Reaper of the Wilds
4 Nemesis of Mortals
4 Commune with the Gods
4 Kruphix's Insight
2 Bow of Nylea
2 Whip of Erebos
Lands 20
10 Swamp
10 Forest
4 Thoughtsieze
4 Bile Blight
3 Unravel the Aether
4 Hero's Downfall
It more of a rock/dredge mixture. I designed my build with stronger creatures and a little less Dredge due to my meta, and currently my deck is running very well. Reaper of the Wilds and Master of the Feast are very hard to deal with. I've also found that Bow of Nylea is a great multitool; it has recursion, life gain, flying hate, and can help toughen your creatures with deathtouch and +1/+1s. The sideboard contains a lot of removal and disruption.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries