I'm on board with this. I have been trying to find a EDH deck that fits me, and I really like this one.
I started with the budget build. I play in a casual environment, so I don't plan on going for the competitive build, but I may have my build head towards the zombie list. I saw the "With a little more budget" section in your OP, but some swaps are not accurate to the decklists anymore (I assume the lists updated, and that has not.)
I also added a Polluted Delta, Temple of Malady, and Temple of Deceit. Not sure if correct, but I took out Jungle Basin, Coral Atoll, and Everglades as I wasn't really a fan of how they work, but I feel like scrying was a bit better than getting the inability to bring down the land due to lack of the corresponding basic.
If you have more suggestions on how I should upgrade, I would really appreciate it! I ended up getting a Wildest Dream from pre-release, and curious where you think I should add that, if at all?
Can't wait to try out this deck. Thanks for the great write up.
There's definitely power here, but it lacks consistency. I think shifting it to four colors will really help with this, but what that is, I have no idea.
Can I see a decklist from Venich? I would say blue too, but the card draw is important.
Additionally, now that the full spoiler is out, how will this deck adapt to the new standard?
Lets be honest, with the revealing of 4 new planeswalkers, this deck is back and stronger then ever!
Chandra has two new planeswalkers and so does Nissa
Well, five new ones. The second chandra and nissa are weak and are meant for new players (They do have strong up ticks, and if players spend their time attacking them, they could be good distractions to save your life.) I really doubt they will see much play. Additionally, one Planeswalker kicks out another of the same name, so no point of having multiples of them in a deck or you risk having dead cards.
Hello fellow Zombie lovers. I am the creator of the other thread on this subject, Cryptbreaker Control. I created it because I have noticed the power the deck has at instant speed and was definitely not interested in any suggestions that involved cards that are unplayable in constructed like Wailing Ghoul. I am more invested in actually winning games than holding strictly to a zombie archetype or staying within an arbitrary budget. However since there are so many people on this thread I thought I would at least post a build and let you know some of my thoughts on zombies in constructed.
First and foremost, I would caution anyone not playing 4 Cryptbreakers and 4 Dark Salvations. I think that these additions are the core of the deck and the reason to play it.
I don't think some of the cards with the word "zombie" on them are actually good or have the right support. For example, Diregraf Colossus doesn't have enough self mill to enable it and half of the zombie creatures that are playable are token generators or use activated abilities instead of "cast".
Please let me know what you think. I have tested this deck a lot and would encourage you to do so as well. I won't post one of those outlandish claims like that it has an 80% win against Bant Coco but I do think the matchup is even to somewhat positive.
I like your list. Can you share your sideboard plan?
I agree with a lot of that, but neither whailing ghoul nor colossus are as bad as you think. Ghoul blocks forever slowing down aggro and mill 2 is not irrelevant, and colossus doesn't need milling to be good, I play him as a 2/2 most games and he still plays amazing. He just happens to come back later as a 5 or 6 scaling naturally as the game progresses.t hough I understand why he wouldn't be great in your list as you only run 12 zombie spells and are focused more on control and less on creature based synergy deck
I think what is meant to be said is that there are better turn three plays.
The only thing I have to complain about is the lands. I just seem to be having some consistency issues... but that may just be the variance. Please help me out if you see anything weird.
I wasn't originally on board with Arlinn Kord, but I think a 1 of is right. She synergizes well with Needle Spires, or Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, or any other bigger creatures we have. She also severs as a token generator, and if she lives, can be spot removal. Really helped me during mono white humans match.
Okay, I went to a IQ today. I ended up in 9th, 3-2. I believe I did poorly as I haven't had much practice with the deck. Near the end I definitely got the hang of it and it's awesome.
Decklist: (Yes, this is pretty much SaffronOlive's list.)
My sideboard is a little weird, but it worked for what I wanted. Display of Dominance is great vs those pesky black planeswalkers (Sorin and Ob Nix).
Match 1: B/W Control 0-2
I hate this match up. Game 1 was a grind fest, where he eventually just took over with card advantage and I had to scoop. The second game was pretty much the same. I brough in Hallowed Moonlight, Display of Dominance, and the other Chandra, Flamecaller for this matchup. I had some misplays, and I think it ultimately costed me the match. I am not used to playing against this deck, and I wasn't used to piloting the deck I was using. Better luck next time!
Match 2: G/W Tokens 1-2
Game 1 I won... I eventually out valued him with all my planeswalkers out. It was back and forth for a while.
Game 2 was very close, but he eventually took advantage of the board with Gideon. I sided in more Radiant Flames for this one.
Game 3 we sort of raced the clock and I made some poor decisions early game that led me to my defeat later during that game.
Match 3: R/U Mill 2-0
He forfeited the match. He had a card from khans in his deck. Though we did play a game, and he won. So.. got lucky there I guess. Not the best kind of feeling for a win, but I'll take it.
Match 4: G/R Ramp 2-1
Game 1: My planeswalkers really made this for me. He just could not keep up with card advantage from Nahiri, Gideon, and eventually Chandra.
Game 2: It was a grind fest, but he started to slam down World Breakers and I was pretty much stuck. Once he stuck an Ulamog, I wasn't able to get anywhere and conceded. I sided in Declaration in Stone and my other Chandra.
Game 3: Opened my hand with Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, and two Sylvan Advocates and a Tireless Tracker as well as the mana to cast them. To put it simply, it was a quick game.
Match 5: G/B Aristrocrats 2-1
Game 1: He got pretty lucky and got 3 Zulaport Cutthroats on the field. With not declaration in stone in sight, he finishes me off quickly.
Game 2: It was pretty tight, and Hallowed Moonlight saved me here. I also brought in the Hangarback Walkers, which won me the game as I had also emblemed a Gideon.
Game 3: Grind fest. He was spewing out lots of creatures, and so was I. Eventually I had all 4 Walkers on the field. I cluttered the board and eventually overwhelmed him by swinging out. I actually +1 Chandra, cast her again and +1 her again to help ensure the win. He Collected Company in response but he whiffed.
I plan to go to another IQ in June. Hopefully I will get more practice and better results.
Honestly, Ruinous Path is great. Casted it for awaken is one of the best moves you can do late game especially against control... since you still get the 4/4 land if it gets countered!
I will make some changes you suggested. My FNM meta is very... aggro creature heavy so it was a good move spell over say Tireless Tracker.
Ok so I plan to go to the NY thing this weekend and I'm kind of stumped right now about Jund. Sometimes it works great. Sometimes... It doesn't. I think the tap lands really hurt us, especially if we have a keepable hand but we have three etb tapped lands to start, I feel like it really slows us down.
But here's a question- why play Jund over say Bant Company or G/W tokens? What can we do that puts this deck choice over the others?
I personally go for a more Jund control list... Here is an example
Take out World Breaker and put in more removal. With 24 land and frog it will be hard for you to reach 7 lands. I would personally take out Arlin but that's your call to make. Ob nix is a good as a 1 of in her place.
I started with the budget build. I play in a casual environment, so I don't plan on going for the competitive build, but I may have my build head towards the zombie list. I saw the "With a little more budget" section in your OP, but some swaps are not accurate to the decklists anymore (I assume the lists updated, and that has not.)
Wasn't sure where to add my sol ring and urborg, tomb of yawgmoth.
I also added a Polluted Delta, Temple of Malady, and Temple of Deceit. Not sure if correct, but I took out Jungle Basin, Coral Atoll, and Everglades as I wasn't really a fan of how they work, but I feel like scrying was a bit better than getting the inability to bring down the land due to lack of the corresponding basic.
If you have more suggestions on how I should upgrade, I would really appreciate it! I ended up getting a Wildest Dream from pre-release, and curious where you think I should add that, if at all?
Can't wait to try out this deck. Thanks for the great write up.
There's definitely power here, but it lacks consistency. I think shifting it to four colors will really help with this, but what that is, I have no idea.
Can I see a decklist from Venich? I would say blue too, but the card draw is important.
Additionally, now that the full spoiler is out, how will this deck adapt to the new standard?
Well, five new ones. The second chandra and nissa are weak and are meant for new players (They do have strong up ticks, and if players spend their time attacking them, they could be good distractions to save your life.) I really doubt they will see much play. Additionally, one Planeswalker kicks out another of the same name, so no point of having multiples of them in a deck or you risk having dead cards.
I like your list. Can you share your sideboard plan?
I think what is meant to be said is that there are better turn three plays.
3x Matter Reshaper
2x Decimator of the Provinces
4x Primal Druid
4x Elder Deep-Fiend
4x Foul Emissary
2x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
3x Reality Smasher
4x Sylvan Advocate
4x Thought-Knot Seer
4x Eldritch Evolution
1x From Beyond
Lands (25)
6x Forest
5x Island
4x Lumbering Falls
1x Rogue's Passage
4x Sanctum of Ugin
1x Woodland Stream
4x Yavimaya Coast
3x Imprison in the Moon
3x Bounding Krasis
3x Dispel
4x Collected Company
2x Clip Wings
Eldritch Evolution, sacrificing Primal Druid, and fetching Thought-Knot Seer is a pretty good line of play.
Sideboard needs work, but so far the main list has been solid.
Here is my decklist:
4 Sylvan Advocate
2 Tireless Tracker
2 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2 Archangel Avacyn
1 Dragonlord Dromoka
1 Linvala, the Preserver
1 Dragonlord Atarka
Planeswalkers
3 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Arlinn Kord
2 Nahiri, the Harbinger
2 Chandra, Flamecaller
Spells
1 Oath of Chandra
1 Stasis Snare
2 Radiant Flames
3 Declaration in Stone
3 Oath of Nissa
1 Secure the Wastes
4 Forest
4 Evolving Wilds
3 Cinder Glade
4 Fortified Village
4 Needle Spires
3 Plains
1 Mountain
1 Canopy Vista
1 Game Trail
1 Westvale Abbey
2 Descend upon the Sinful
2 Hallowed Moonlight
1 Chandra, Flamecaller
2 Display of Dominance
2 Radiant Flames
2 Hangarback Walkers
2 Stasis Snare
2 Gaea's Revenge
The only thing I have to complain about is the lands. I just seem to be having some consistency issues... but that may just be the variance. Please help me out if you see anything weird.
I wasn't originally on board with Arlinn Kord, but I think a 1 of is right. She synergizes well with Needle Spires, or Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, or any other bigger creatures we have. She also severs as a token generator, and if she lives, can be spot removal. Really helped me during mono white humans match.
Decklist: (Yes, this is pretty much SaffronOlive's list.)
4 Sylvan Advocate
4 Tireless Tracker
2 Archangel Avacyn
Planeswalkers
3 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
2 Nahiri, the Harbinger
3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2 Chandra, Flamecaller
Spells
2 Radiant Flames
3 Declaration in Stone
2 Angelic Purge
Enchantments
4 Oath of Nissa
3 Oath of Chandra
1 Quarantine Field
1 Game Trail
1 Canopy Vista
1 Mountain
3 Plains
4 Evolving Wilds
4 Forest
4 Fortified Village
4 Needle Spires
3 Cinder Glade
2 Tears of Valakut
1 Pulse of Marusa
1 Display of Dominance
2 Radiant Flames
1 Sigarda, Heron's Grace
1 Chandra, Flamecaller
1 Declaration in Stone
2 Hallowed Moonlight
4 Hangarback Walker
My sideboard is a little weird, but it worked for what I wanted. Display of Dominance is great vs those pesky black planeswalkers (Sorin and Ob Nix).
Match 1: B/W Control 0-2
I hate this match up. Game 1 was a grind fest, where he eventually just took over with card advantage and I had to scoop. The second game was pretty much the same. I brough in Hallowed Moonlight, Display of Dominance, and the other Chandra, Flamecaller for this matchup. I had some misplays, and I think it ultimately costed me the match. I am not used to playing against this deck, and I wasn't used to piloting the deck I was using. Better luck next time!
Match 2: G/W Tokens 1-2
Game 1 I won... I eventually out valued him with all my planeswalkers out. It was back and forth for a while.
Game 2 was very close, but he eventually took advantage of the board with Gideon. I sided in more Radiant Flames for this one.
Game 3 we sort of raced the clock and I made some poor decisions early game that led me to my defeat later during that game.
Match 3: R/U Mill 2-0
He forfeited the match. He had a card from khans in his deck. Though we did play a game, and he won. So.. got lucky there I guess. Not the best kind of feeling for a win, but I'll take it.
Match 4: G/R Ramp 2-1
Game 1: My planeswalkers really made this for me. He just could not keep up with card advantage from Nahiri, Gideon, and eventually Chandra.
Game 2: It was a grind fest, but he started to slam down World Breakers and I was pretty much stuck. Once he stuck an Ulamog, I wasn't able to get anywhere and conceded. I sided in Declaration in Stone and my other Chandra.
Game 3: Opened my hand with Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, and two Sylvan Advocates and a Tireless Tracker as well as the mana to cast them. To put it simply, it was a quick game.
Match 5: G/B Aristrocrats 2-1
Game 1: He got pretty lucky and got 3 Zulaport Cutthroats on the field. With not declaration in stone in sight, he finishes me off quickly.
Game 2: It was pretty tight, and Hallowed Moonlight saved me here. I also brought in the Hangarback Walkers, which won me the game as I had also emblemed a Gideon.
Game 3: Grind fest. He was spewing out lots of creatures, and so was I. Eventually I had all 4 Walkers on the field. I cluttered the board and eventually overwhelmed him by swinging out. I actually +1 Chandra, cast her again and +1 her again to help ensure the win. He Collected Company in response but he whiffed.
I plan to go to another IQ in June. Hopefully I will get more practice and better results.
My current troubles is B/W Control.... everything else so far, I've been able to handle. Current list:
4 Sylvan Advocate
2 Den Protector
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
3 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
Planeswalkers
3 Chandra, Flamecaller
1 Ob Nixilis, Reignited
Spells
3 Fiery Impulse
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Transgress the Mind
1 Roast
2 Radiant Flames
2 Kolaghan's Command
3 Read the Bones
3 Ruinous Path
1 To the Slaughter
1 Forest
1 Forboding Ruins
2 Smoldering Marsh
3 Hissing Quagmire
5 Mountain
3 Evolving Wilds
4 Swamps
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Cinder Glade
1 Game Trail
1 Radiant Flames
2 Dark Petition
2 Ultimate Price
2 Languish
1 Roast
2 Virulent Plague
2 Clip Wings
2 Infinite Obliteration
1 Ob Nixilis, Reignited
I was thinking of some changes... perhaps Den Protector swap with Mindwrack Demon, and replace Ob, Nixilis for Arlinn Kord. Thoughts?
I will make some changes you suggested. My FNM meta is very... aggro creature heavy so it was a good move spell over say Tireless Tracker.
I will let you know of the results.
But here's a question- why play Jund over say Bant Company or G/W tokens? What can we do that puts this deck choice over the others?
I personally go for a more Jund control list... Here is an example
4 Sylvan Advocate
2 Den Protector
2 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
3 Chandra, Flamecaller
1 Ob nixilus, Reignited
3 Fiery Impulse
3 Radiant Flames
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Ultimate price
3 Ruinous Path
2 Kolaghan's Command
3 Read the bones
2 Forest
3 Mountain
4 Swamp
3 Evolving wilds
4 Smoldering marsh
3 Cinder Glade
1 Game trail
Sideboard I'm changing but it will have Languish, another Ob nix, ruinous path, dark petition and seasons past.