I have been running a deck with this. It can win games at like a 40% ratio. So it isnt necessarily a spike deck - if that is what you are looking for. But it involves these interactions:
Big combo:
1 Syndicate Trafficker (obviously) 1 Animation Module (for servo and counter loop which is good on its own) 1 Cryptolith Rites (for more mana to continue the cycle) 1 Olivia, Mobilized for War (to give everything haste and counter interaction) 1 Ovalchase Daredevil (to make this an infinite cycle )
Notice most these are good on their own and have synergy without every piece being there.
You could build this with a grixis package with Whirler Virtuoso combos as well or build it with Verdurous Gearhulk and mass pump token build like i did. Same is true for token pump mardu build as well. Its a fun deck. The best part is seeing you opponents face when you pull it off which is actually pretty often.
Deck tips if going jund:
1 Night Market Lookout (is awesome with the Rite) 1 Quicksmith Genius (is awesome for looting and finding your pieces especially with Ovalchase) 1 Flayer Drone (for extra beats) 1 Reckless Fireweaver (is also some extra synergy)
A few revisions are in place due to new errata text for Thought Lash. Backstory: The Thought Lash win condition did work as discussed with its text reading "Cumulative Upkeep: Remove top card of your library from the game. If you do not, remove your library from the game and bury Thought Lash. 0: Remove the top card of your library from the game to prevent 1 damage to you." So once the cumulative upkeep triggers, you would donate it via Zedruu the Greathearted and then choose not to pay the upkeep resulting in the penalty of "remove your library from the game" with your, being the controller of Thought Lash and no longer you. Therefore resulting in exiling your opponents library. Note: The original text was pretty terrible to begin with. The cumulative upkeep's colon was before the cost along with the 0: ability rather than what it should've been Remove the top card of your library:
Unfortunately, this is no longer true.
The new errata text is as such, "Cumulative Upkeep - Exile the top card of your library. When a player doesn't pay Thought Lash's cumulative upkeep, that player exiles all cards from his or her library. Exile the top card of your library: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to you this turn." This is very clear. The trick is no longer valid but it was correct before the text was changed.
Thank you for the comments! That was the feel I was going for - the traditional "bad christmas" zedruu deck with janky unexpected twists. There is quite a bit of synergy with the deck. I am still finding new quirks that I didn't see before.
1. Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind is more flexible considering the creature target ability. Psychosis Crawler being an artifact is its greatest asset for a win condition after an Open the Vaults or just as a large rattlesnake fatty. In that sense, it is more efficient having to draw ~40 cards instead of 120 but I will keep it in mind to add along with for twice the punch.
2. I am short an Arid Mesa in my collection to add to the deck but eventually will be there. Crucible of Worlds gets quite alot of unexpected use with Compulsion, Land Tax, Gift of Estates, and the exorbitant card draw ability.
3. Good Point! I definitely misread that interaction. The deck is better played as a reactive type approach for political reasons. Instead I am looking to add Starfield of Nyx due to its ability to recycle Illusions of Grandeur, Thought Lash, or any other lost piece. The creature aspect of the card should be delicately handled because it can make you more vulnerable as well. Thank you for the correction.
tstorm823, I like your deck construction. I have never seen the sacred ground and Price of Glory combo before and I think it's awesome. I added it to mine and referenced your deck. Feel free to check out my take on Zedruu and let me know what you think here.
This is my favorite deck by far. You have alot of bargaining chips for a controlled and political game with some explosive endings. Every time I play another deck in commander, I wish I were playing this one. If there any tips, tricks, and shenanigans you'd like to pitch-in, please feel free.
Why use Ole Saint Nick as your commander?
This is your commander if:
You enjoy playing politics.
You enjoy playing unorthodox decks and a piloting challenge.
You love passive aggressive janky wins!
This is NOT your commander if:
Creatures are the only reason you play magic.
You like to be the aggressor.
You like to play overly powerful, win at all cost, decks like infinite loops combos, land destruction, or lock out type decks.
Win Conditions
These combined with Mindmoil, Thought Reflection and all the other draw abilities make this accomplishment quite easy to achieve.
Not quite a win condition but a very healthy life swing, a traditional Zedruu staple. Then lather, rinse, and Starfield of Nyx repeat.
Now the MVP, Tunnel Vision is an awesome card with a variety of uses. Most frequently use it naming Open the Vaults, Replenish, or Recoup for a win, majority of the time. On occasion, it pairs well with Terminus, a Hinder-ed or Spell Crumple-ed card, or the any other possibilities for milling an opponent.
I am going to give credit to tstorm823 for this combo, which I love. This combo uses Sacred Ground and a donated Price of Glory to produce infinite mana on an opponent's turn. If Barren Glory is out, then you can donate everything you have at instant speed on your opponent's end step and win on your upkeep(assuming nothing is in your hand). Leyline of Anticipation adds another dimension of this creating an instant speed Omniscience in case your Barren Gloryous win isn't ready yet. It gets better though. Once Karmic Justice is in play, every land you control has Tap: Destroy target permanent controlled by Price of Glory's controller. Good, right? As a finale, this also provides the opportunity, if the stars align, to force the opponent to win via Barren Glory assuming no cards in their hand.
Synergies
Thieves' Auction + Zedruu the Greathearted: When playing theives' auction, no matter the outcome you always win. The objective is to force your opponents to grab as many goodies from your side as possible because of Zedruu the Greathearted. Ensure you have right land ratios by the end of the auction beyond that happy pickings!
Wild Research + Beacon of Immortality: With enough cards in hand, you have the potential to do this numerous times. You can also keep someone alive if needed.
Wild Research + Starfield of Nyx: When you have no hand, it becomes "Pay two: Search Library for enchantment and put it on the battlefield."
Stuffy Doll + Pariah + Guilty Conscience: Awesome defense and the ability to have a player on a "leash" before you kill him/her. You could donate your Pariah to the chosen player for Stuffy Doll while enchanting Stuffy Doll. Now it is "Tap: Game is a Draw" due to infinite triggers.
Possibility Storm + Future Sight: You can play cards from the top of library bypassing the Possibility Storm - a control players worst nightmare.
Land Tax + Scroll Rack: This "combo" is a classic and a must have in almost any white deck. Search your library for three lands to put in hand. Then Scroll Rack your unwanted cards away for new ones. The unwanted cards get shuffled on the next Land Tax trigger. This is by far the best turn one and turn two play in the deck.
Warning: This deck is fairly difficult to pilot effectively. I would recommend some practice tests and only to seasoned magic players. There are alot of timing and intricacies within this deck that might not be noticeable at first glance. After some familarity runs, this deck can be quite rewarding and hilariously funny! I hope you love it as much as me!
My "Sideboard" Alternative Change-outs
Mirror of Fate + Rest in Peace + Temporal Mastery + Helm of Obedience: RIP and Helm create an instant mill condition. RIP and Mirror of Fate create this awesome ability to recycle Mirror of Fate and stack your deck. It takes some finagling. Temporal Mastery makes a infinite turn loop if you can draw two cards a turn. Note: Mirror of Fate also auto wins with Laboratory Maniac.
Second Chance + Form of the Dragon: Combined with Starfield of Nyx, which is already in the deck, creates a infinite turn loop. By the way, Form of the Dragon is also a good but risky "gift" from Zedruu.
Leveler + Summoner's Egg: It is a little difficult to set-up but an imprinted Egg with Leveler donated to an opponent makes for quite a amusing trick. Then again Leveler and Lab Maniac pair well too. Best part about Summoner's Egg is you can bluff the combo. Leveler can also be replaced with Sky Swallower or Eater of Days. Clone Shell is a litte worse but same effect.
Honorable Mentions:(depending on your meta or playstyle)
1 Entreat the Angels - can be another win condition considering you can Mystical Tutor for it.
1 Paradox Haze - gets nuts with alot of Zedruu the Greathearted triggers and the other upkeep triggers but gets uncomfortable with cumulative upkeeps, peacekeeper, and solitary confinement.
1 Summoner's Egg - + Leveler is just funny. It's risky when considering Open the Vaults but Leveler synergizes with Mirror of Fate
1 Damping Matrix - depends on the meta you play with. It can shutdown decks but you also cannot donate via Zedruu.
1 Altar of the Brood - Sacred Ground + Price of Glory turns into infinite mana and mill.
1 Pithing Needle - "gift" and shuts down almost anything.
1 Grafdigger's Cage - If your meta has strong graveyard recursion and interaction, this is a good counterpart for your milling effects and it's a "gift" too.
Big combo:
1 Syndicate Trafficker (obviously) 1 Animation Module (for servo and counter loop which is good on its own) 1 Cryptolith Rites (for more mana to continue the cycle) 1 Olivia, Mobilized for War (to give everything haste and counter interaction) 1 Ovalchase Daredevil (to make this an infinite cycle )
Notice most these are good on their own and have synergy without every piece being there.
You could build this with a grixis package with Whirler Virtuoso combos as well or build it with Verdurous Gearhulk and mass pump token build like i did. Same is true for token pump mardu build as well. Its a fun deck. The best part is seeing you opponents face when you pull it off which is actually pretty often.
Deck tips if going jund:
1 Night Market Lookout (is awesome with the Rite) 1 Quicksmith Genius (is awesome for looting and finding your pieces especially with Ovalchase) 1 Flayer Drone (for extra beats) 1 Reckless Fireweaver (is also some extra synergy)
Backstory: The Thought Lash win condition did work as discussed with its text reading "Cumulative Upkeep: Remove top card of your library from the game. If you do not, remove your library from the game and bury Thought Lash. 0: Remove the top card of your library from the game to prevent 1 damage to you." So once the cumulative upkeep triggers, you would donate it via Zedruu the Greathearted and then choose not to pay the upkeep resulting in the penalty of "remove your library from the game" with your, being the controller of Thought Lash and no longer you. Therefore resulting in exiling your opponents library.
Note: The original text was pretty terrible to begin with. The cumulative upkeep's colon was before the cost along with the 0: ability rather than what it should've been Remove the top card of your library:
Unfortunately, this is no longer true.
The new errata text is as such, "Cumulative Upkeep - Exile the top card of your library. When a player doesn't pay Thought Lash's cumulative upkeep, that player exiles all cards from his or her library. Exile the top card of your library: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to you this turn." This is very clear. The trick is no longer valid but it was correct before the text was changed.
So in lieu of these changes, Thought Lash was removed and replaced by Teferi's Puzzle Box.
1. Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind is more flexible considering the creature target ability. Psychosis Crawler being an artifact is its greatest asset for a win condition after an Open the Vaults or just as a large rattlesnake fatty. In that sense, it is more efficient having to draw ~40 cards instead of 120 but I will keep it in mind to add along with for twice the punch.
2. I am short an Arid Mesa in my collection to add to the deck but eventually will be there. Crucible of Worlds gets quite alot of unexpected use with Compulsion, Land Tax, Gift of Estates, and the exorbitant card draw ability.
3. Good Point! I definitely misread that interaction. The deck is better played as a reactive type approach for political reasons. Instead I am looking to add Starfield of Nyx due to its ability to recycle Illusions of Grandeur, Thought Lash, or any other lost piece. The creature aspect of the card should be delicately handled because it can make you more vulnerable as well. Thank you for the correction.
This is my favorite deck by far. You have alot of bargaining chips for a controlled and political game with some explosive endings. Every time I play another deck in commander, I wish I were playing this one. If there any tips, tricks, and shenanigans you'd like to pitch-in, please feel free.
1 Illusions of Grandeur
1 Solitary Confinement
1 Test of Endurance
1 Possibility Storm
1 Sphere of Safety
1 Leyline of Anticipation
1 Mystic Barrier
1 Omniscience
1 Karmic Justice
1 Mystic Remora
1 Compulsion
1 Sphinx's Tutelage
1 Rhystic Study
1 Wild Research
1 Detention Sphere
1 Oath of Lieges
1 Future Sight
1 Mindmoil
1 Land Tax
1 Guilty Conscience
1 Thought Reflection
1 Pariah
1 Price of Glory
1 Barren Glory
1 Sacred Ground
1 Starfield of Nyx
1 Words of Wind
1 Words of Worship
1 Jeskai Ascendancy
1 Teferi's Puzzle Box
1 Alhammarret's Archive
1 Sol Ring
1 Scroll Rack
1 Psychosis Crawler
1 Well of Lost Dreams
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Stuffy Doll
1 Venser's Journal
1 Wayfarer's Bauble
Spells: Instants and Sorceries(17)
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Replenish
1 Austere Command
1 Gamble
1 Beacon of Immortality
1 Thieves' Auction
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Mystical tutor
1 Terminus
1 Gift of Estates
1 Rout
1 Tunnel Vision
1 Recoup
1 Open the Vaults
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Intuition
1 Felidar Sovereign
1 Academy Rector
1 Laboratory Maniac
1 Peacekeeper
1 Arjun, the Shifting Flame
Lands(37)
6 Islands
6 Plains
5 Mountains
1 Arid Mesa
1 Mystic Monastery
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Flooded Strand
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Command Tower
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Cephalid Coliseum
1 Prairie Stream
1 Temple of Enlightenment
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Nimbus Maze
1 Adarkar Wastes
1 Mystic Gate
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Cascade Bluffs
1 Temple of Triumph
Why use Ole Saint Nick as your commander?
This is your commander if:
You enjoy playing politics.
You enjoy playing unorthodox decks and a piloting challenge.
You love passive aggressive janky wins!
This is NOT your commander if:
Creatures are the only reason you play magic.
You like to be the aggressor.
You like to play overly powerful, win at all cost, decks like infinite loops combos, land destruction, or lock out type decks.
Win Conditions
These combined with Mindmoil, Thought Reflection and all the other draw abilities make this accomplishment quite easy to achieve.
Not quite a win condition but a very healthy life swing, a traditional Zedruu staple. Then lather, rinse, and Starfield of Nyx repeat.
This deck can gain some absurd amount of life if needed: Beacon of Immortality(including its potential with Wild Research), Illusions of Grandeur, Alhammarret's Archive, Venser's Journal, and your commander.
Now the MVP, Tunnel Vision is an awesome card with a variety of uses. Most frequently use it naming Open the Vaults, Replenish, or Recoup for a win, majority of the time. On occasion, it pairs well with Terminus, a Hinder-ed or Spell Crumple-ed card, or the any other possibilities for milling an opponent.
I am going to give credit to tstorm823 for this combo, which I love. This combo uses Sacred Ground and a donated Price of Glory to produce infinite mana on an opponent's turn. If Barren Glory is out, then you can donate everything you have at instant speed on your opponent's end step and win on your upkeep(assuming nothing is in your hand). Leyline of Anticipation adds another dimension of this creating an instant speed Omniscience in case your Barren Gloryous win isn't ready yet. It gets better though. Once Karmic Justice is in play, every land you control has Tap: Destroy target permanent controlled by Price of Glory's controller. Good, right? As a finale, this also provides the opportunity, if the stars align, to force the opponent to win via Barren Glory assuming no cards in their hand.
Synergies
Thieves' Auction + Zedruu the Greathearted: When playing theives' auction, no matter the outcome you always win. The objective is to force your opponents to grab as many goodies from your side as possible because of Zedruu the Greathearted. Ensure you have right land ratios by the end of the auction beyond that happy pickings!
Well of Lost Dreams + Words of Worship + Venser's Journal : Life and draw at very cheap price! Not to mention the many other life and draw synergies within the deck that correlate.
Mindmoil and/or Arjun, the Shifting Flame + Omniscience: You may now play your entire deck at will.
Wild Research + Beacon of Immortality: With enough cards in hand, you have the potential to do this numerous times. You can also keep someone alive if needed.
Wild Research + Starfield of Nyx: When you have no hand, it becomes "Pay two: Search Library for enchantment and put it on the battlefield."
Solitary Confinement + Zedruu the Greathearted: Very strong defense to buy you alot of time. Especially if they are mono black or red.
Stuffy Doll + Pariah + Guilty Conscience: Awesome defense and the ability to have a player on a "leash" before you kill him/her. You could donate your Pariah to the chosen player for Stuffy Doll while enchanting Stuffy Doll. Now it is "Tap: Game is a Draw" due to infinite triggers.
Possibility Storm + Future Sight: You can play cards from the top of library bypassing the Possibility Storm - a control players worst nightmare.
Possibility Storm + Rhystic Study + Mystic Remora: Every cast triggers the draw twice.
Land Tax + Scroll Rack: This "combo" is a classic and a must have in almost any white deck. Search your library for three lands to put in hand. Then Scroll Rack your unwanted cards away for new ones. The unwanted cards get shuffled on the next Land Tax trigger. This is by far the best turn one and turn two play in the deck.
Warning: This deck is fairly difficult to pilot effectively. I would recommend some practice tests and only to seasoned magic players. There are alot of timing and intricacies within this deck that might not be noticeable at first glance. After some familarity runs, this deck can be quite rewarding and hilariously funny! I hope you love it as much as me!
My "Sideboard" Alternative Change-outs
Mirror of Fate + Rest in Peace + Temporal Mastery + Helm of Obedience: RIP and Helm create an instant mill condition. RIP and Mirror of Fate create this awesome ability to recycle Mirror of Fate and stack your deck. It takes some finagling. Temporal Mastery makes a infinite turn loop if you can draw two cards a turn. Note: Mirror of Fate also auto wins with Laboratory Maniac.
Enduring Renewal + Blasting Station or Goblin Bombardment + Memnite: Infinite damage. A little boring to me.
Second Chance + Form of the Dragon: Combined with Starfield of Nyx, which is already in the deck, creates a infinite turn loop. By the way, Form of the Dragon is also a good but risky "gift" from Zedruu.
Sensei's Divining Top + Helm of Awakening: Combined with Future Sight and Laboratory Maniac, which are both already in the deck, is an additional win condition drawing out your deck.
Leveler + Summoner's Egg: It is a little difficult to set-up but an imprinted Egg with Leveler donated to an opponent makes for quite a amusing trick. Then again Leveler and Lab Maniac pair well too. Best part about Summoner's Egg is you can bluff the combo. Leveler can also be replaced with Sky Swallower or Eater of Days. Clone Shell is a litte worse but same effect.
Honorable Mentions:(depending on your meta or playstyle)
Changes:
9/17/2015: -Thought Lash +Teferi's Puzzle Box due to the new rule changes. TPB goes well in the deck with the synergy of card draws and answers.
8/31/2015: -Infinite Reflection, -Ixidron, +Starfield of Nyx, +Words of Wind
*Ixidron is a strong creature control card especially for annoying commanders. Dealing with creatures is well taken care of within this deck. Words of Wind was added for awkward instances of counter-intuitive interactions from mass enchantment recursion like Rest in Peace + Starfield of Nyx or Solitary Confinement + Beacon of Immortality among others. It also is a very strong reaction to board wipes or creating a board wipe of your own. It is quite strong in this deck. Consider Compulsion, Mindmoil, or others with the right stacking for Detention Sphere for recycled exile target permanent. You could add an Oblivion Ring as well.