Didn't know this card existed for sure. It could be nice in an unblockable ninja commander deck, like my Sygg, River Cutthroat deck. Put this on unblockable dudes and go to town on the opponent's board state. Unfortunately with all the come into play abilities that exists, bouncing just isn't what it used to be. Also of note is that this card forces you to return a creature to the hand, so you may have to bounce useful creatures of your opponent's that you didn't want to bounce.
I played it in an Azusa, lost but Seeking build before, Recycle can jump the deck into hyperspace, but you definitely have to play it right so you don't throw out all the cards you drew.
That's a real good point about Journey of Discovery. It definitely improved the card from how I saw it before. On the land front, have you considered Command Beacon? It's easily recurrable with Titania or Crucible of Worlds out. I know the deck can make a ton of mana to just replay Omnath, but at some point that mana cost can become oppressive to pay, and the beacon bypasses it nicely. Perhaps in place of Tectonic Edge or Ghost Quarter? I played those cards in my Titania deck to get more land death triggers, and I don't know if your meta has a lot of nasty lands to kill, but was just curious how you felt. Also Petrified Field can be nice to make decisions harder for your opponent when Realms Uncharted is played. Also helps make more landfall triggers. I know it cam be competitive for the nonbasic slots in this deck, though.
Very nice Angry Omnath build! I'm working on converting a mono-green Titania deck into an Omnath deck. I run a lot of similar pieces, but may I suggest: Nissa's Renewal over Journey of Discovery, since it costs less than the entwined version, gets 3 lands into play all at once, and gives you some life gain to boot! I run Fires of Yavimaya instead of Mass Hysteria to give just my guys haste, but the speediness of the latter can be nice sometimes. Blighted Woodland is a great explosive vegetation on a land. I've been back and forth on Boundless Realms, it can be like a second Scapeshift, but sometimes I have the very real fear that I wont have enough basics to search out in the late game.
Considerably worse I'd say, since tucking the enemy commander was one of the key uses for the card, so it is now just overcosted and better spells keep coming out all the time. For only 2 mana more you can have an Overloaded Cyclonic Rift.
It all depends on your playgroup. Each week I host a playgroup with the same 4-5 opponents, and all have been playing Commander since 2009/2010. They are all VERY good players, so there's no way I play a deck that's less than optimal in any way. I have currently 18 decks, and that's not to say all are the same strength, but I do think they are all fully optimized and built the way I want them with nothing held back. Fortunately, the people in this playgroup, while all very much playing to win, all agree on what makes the game unfun and we all avoid playing such cards (mass LD (esp. without an immediate win-con), hard locks, cheesey two card combo's that are easy to tutor up).
My LGS is trying to implement a regular commander night, and I discovered I was playing with novices and intermediaries. After destroying them in a 6-player game I immediately switched to a lower powered deck. Not that it wasn't optimized, but it's just less powerful, because it's not my intention to discourage newer/lesser players, ruin 5 other peoples fun, or feel some need to have my ego stroked by winning every game I play (I take no satisfaction in beating people who are basically playing the pre-constructed Commander decks with few mods made to them with my $5,000-cast-Kozilek-on-turn-3 deck). Fortunately, with 18 decks at my disposal, I have a variety of deck strengths and play styles at my fingertips to meet the demands of the circumstances.
Very nice response. I'm the same way in that I have a ton of decks, but will deliberately use lesser-powered ones when I want the games to be more level. For me, certain card choices are tough because of how unfun they can make a game. For instance, adding constant mists to my Titania EDH deck would be filthy good, but would make the game revolve around that interaction.
Rest in Peace is indeed a very powerful hate card, it is very polarizing. I personally don't prefer to run such insane hosing cards, since taking a player completely out of the game just isn't very sporting in a format designed around fun times. I'd prefer each player get the chance to play their best strategies, and may the best player win. Spot or one-shot graveyard removal and answer cards are certainly important and should be expected, but the simple set-it-and-forget-it hoser cards aren't very fun IMHO.
Citadel Siege is definitely the bee's knees. It just breaks ground stalemates wide open, and is a great curve topper. I for my own list, it would be great to get Scale Blessing in there someday. I would love to add two counters to my smallest creature and then add 2 more counters to all of the team (in most cases). Tough to find room though.
why do you only have 3 avatars? You should drop a beastcaller for a forth avatar because avatar
Yeah, I know the Avatar is very strong, just that space is tight in the deck, and was really wanting to consistently have access to the Beastcallers to help power out the 4 drops on turn 3. If I play Avatar on turn 2, it is usually gonna be a 3/2 only, (Since I'm not running Servant of the Scale), but if I can get the Beastcaller going on Turn 2, then I will have access to either a turn 3 Siege Rhino or Woodland Wanderer, the latter of which could potentially be a 7/7 if Hardened Scales is out.
Good that you have updated this primer for the new Standard. On the final day of the previous format, I went 3-1 at FNM with my GW build, beating out 2 Abzan midrange decks. I used 4 Honored Hierarch, but I am considering moving that card to the side for games that I know I am on the play, since the card is pretty damn bad on the draw and is also underwhelming in general sometimes. Here's the Abzan build I'm gonna try going forward. Trying to utilize Beastcaller Savant to help power out Siege Rhinos and Woodland Wanderers. One of my favorite aspects of this deck is that it can curve out so nicely. A turn 1 Scales into a turn 2 Hangarback Walker alone can make people sweat, this build in the future will be able to power out up to 7/7 Woodland Wanderers on turn 3 thanks to the Savants.
It was a perfect chance to reprint this stupid 10 dollar common since Scry is now evergreen. I can only imagine the speculation that is about to occur. Serum Visions is likely to do an insane spike soon. Glad I got my playset already.
On the other hand, if Wizards ends up reprinting Opt (unlikely), that would be hilarious.
Archer: Nylea, God of the Hunt, since her signature weapon is a Bow. Nahiri, the Lithomancer could be neat for either FZ or FSN Archer, since they like summoning/projecting weapons/equipment.
Lancer: Heliod, God of the Sun has a signature Spear of his very own. (Sensing a pattern here?)
Caster: Jhoira of the Ghitu or Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir are great just for being really iconic MTG Wizards. Too bad Liliana of the Veil can't be a Commander, but her MTG Origins version should do the trick when that comes out. Both Casters could certainly be seen as Black-aligned mages.
Berserker: Your suggestion was awesome, other good ones could be Borborygmos Enraged or Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury. The latter Commander really encourages going all out in attacking.
Assassin: This is a tough one, but Dimir really comes to mind. Lazav, Dimir Mastermind could be nice. For FSN Assassin, a samurai would do the best, so something from Kamigawa block, such as: Fumiko the Lowblood, Kentaro, the Smiling Cat (A terrible Commander since he wants to be in a multicolor Samurai deck, but he totally looks the part!), Konda, Lord of Eiganjo, and last but not least, Toshiro Umezawa (PROBABBLY THE MOST AMAZING OPTION FOR FSN ASSASSIN!)
Also, how do you feel about Warstorm Surge and Where Ancients Tread? Both are very potent with Mr. Omnath or Titania in play.
Hope those suggestions help!
Also, holy necromancy Batman.
Very nice response. I'm the same way in that I have a ton of decks, but will deliberately use lesser-powered ones when I want the games to be more level. For me, certain card choices are tough because of how unfun they can make a game. For instance, adding constant mists to my Titania EDH deck would be filthy good, but would make the game revolve around that interaction.
Yeah, I know the Avatar is very strong, just that space is tight in the deck, and was really wanting to consistently have access to the Beastcallers to help power out the 4 drops on turn 3. If I play Avatar on turn 2, it is usually gonna be a 3/2 only, (Since I'm not running Servant of the Scale), but if I can get the Beastcaller going on Turn 2, then I will have access to either a turn 3 Siege Rhino or Woodland Wanderer, the latter of which could potentially be a 7/7 if Hardened Scales is out.
Abzan Scales
Creatures:23
4 Hangarback Walker
4 Beastcaller Savant
3 Avatar of the Resolute
4 Managorger Hydra
2 Abzan Falconer
3 Woodland Wanderer
3 Siege Rhino
Spells:15
4 Hardened Scales
3 Dromoka's Command
3 Abzan Charm
3 Valorous Stance
2 Citadel Siege
Lands (22)
4 Windswept Heath
4 Canopy Vista
6 Forest
4 Llanowar Wastes
3 Caves of Koilos
1 Plains
It was a perfect chance to reprint this stupid 10 dollar common since Scry is now evergreen. I can only imagine the speculation that is about to occur. Serum Visions is likely to do an insane spike soon. Glad I got my playset already.
On the other hand, if Wizards ends up reprinting Opt (unlikely), that would be hilarious.
Archer: Nylea, God of the Hunt, since her signature weapon is a Bow. Nahiri, the Lithomancer could be neat for either FZ or FSN Archer, since they like summoning/projecting weapons/equipment.
Lancer: Heliod, God of the Sun has a signature Spear of his very own. (Sensing a pattern here?)
Rider: Hazezon Tamar is a good one, Sisters of Stone Death is a good one for FSN Rider. Darien, King of Kjeldor features a horse prominently and can provide a good theme for FZ Rider. Also Tajic, Blade of the Legion.
Caster: Jhoira of the Ghitu or Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir are great just for being really iconic MTG Wizards. Too bad Liliana of the Veil can't be a Commander, but her MTG Origins version should do the trick when that comes out. Both Casters could certainly be seen as Black-aligned mages.
Berserker: Your suggestion was awesome, other good ones could be Borborygmos Enraged or Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury. The latter Commander really encourages going all out in attacking.
Assassin: This is a tough one, but Dimir really comes to mind. Lazav, Dimir Mastermind could be nice. For FSN Assassin, a samurai would do the best, so something from Kamigawa block, such as: Fumiko the Lowblood, Kentaro, the Smiling Cat (A terrible Commander since he wants to be in a multicolor Samurai deck, but he totally looks the part!), Konda, Lord of Eiganjo, and last but not least, Toshiro Umezawa (PROBABBLY THE MOST AMAZING OPTION FOR FSN ASSASSIN!)
I love the Fate series, fun idea, sir!