You'll see that hitting Emrakul is a pretty common occurrence. Especially if you use Liliana to fetch him to the top of your deck right before you swing with Hellcarver.
I've tested this both with and without chalice and the problem I found was a matter of tempo.
Chalice allowed me to get Hellcarver out a little faster, but it did so while costing me board advantage and control. By removing chalice, I was able to add more discard/removal and draw, leading to a bit more consistency. Plus, I need to make sure when I get hellcarver out that he can actually HIT my opponent.
I have not tested with Sphere yet though.
you need some legendary eldrazi in here
Emrakul's the first creature I have listed. With 3, it's a pretty consistent drop...and if I can't tutor him before doing it, I usually end up with a Persecutor.
Liliana gives me the unique ability to pick what goes on the top of my deck RIGHT before I swing Hellcarver. So if I have my opening by the time he's swining and Liliana's on the table, it's a guaranteed Emrakul that no one can stop.
Yeah I've been mulling over the idea of using all the exalted card or cutting some of them for some more useful stuff. I'll have to peruse your deck to do some comparisons. I think I like the idea of taking the exalted theme and just running with it though.
Definitely look into stuff like Dueling Grounds and Crawlspace. I love the interaction those cards have with exalted as a mechanic. Then again I'm a johnny-control player at heart.
Some things that were suggested to me: Dueling Grounds and similar effects will work wonders if you're playing an exalted deck, since it makes everyone else play by your rules.
What I did from there is add a lot of "ith" effects for defense and tutors for Swords of X & Y.
Your post does point out the flaw of having Knight of the Reliquary though. I need to consider that.
Added Elspeth, Crucible of Worlds & Constant Mists for combos with Knight of the Reliquary, a ton of nonbasic land, Ith effects, and some adjustments with equipment and tutors to fetch things I need.
Okay, as promised I've logged the decklist and made some additions based on some suggestions.
Any suggestions on what to be removed and replaced will be appreciated. I'd like to keep all of the exalted cards in the deck if possible, as that's the main theme. I don't mind if it hurts efficiency a little, but arguments against doing so are welcome.
Crawlspace and Dueling Grounds fit well since you will only be attacking with one creature a turn, you may as well force the others to do the same. It can be a drawback though if you are hoping someone taps out attacking so you can get through.
If you have Maze of Ith or something else in play with those cards though, you are pretty protected from attackers, you just have to find a way to make your attackers unblockable (not hard).
I'm designing a Bant Exalted themed EDH deck with Rafiq of the Many as the general. I don't have the decklist on me at the moment as I'm at work, but I'll post it later.
Basically, I'm looking for support cards for the deck. I'm running basically every exalted card and a few things like Eldrazi Conscription, but I don't have much in the ways of defense aside from a few fogs.
I've added Lightmine Well and Stoic Angel to kind of tip the playing field onto my terms, and I suppose I could add Propaganda as well to do the same, but that doesn't protect me from someone swinging hard with a big fatty like Blightsteel Colossus.
Any ideas?
Edit: I think I may replace a fog with Reins of Power for combo'ing with Lightmine well. Could be pretty nasty.
Edit: Decklist. * indicates new additions based on suggestions. I haven't had the chance to review all suggestions yet, That cruicible of worlds one looks interesting.
"for fun"!
Phyrexians finish taking over Mirrodan. They decide to go after Zendikar next and end up with a face full of Eldrazi.
War of the Monsters, go!
Who wins?
Infracted for failure to read the rules.
I'm not sure I see the logic of adding Bloodthrone in. Why were you saying that?
Here's a link to test the deck out.
http://www.mtgdeckbuilder.net/Decks/EditDeck/67843
You'll see that hitting Emrakul is a pretty common occurrence. Especially if you use Liliana to fetch him to the top of your deck right before you swing with Hellcarver.
I'm still debating a variant design with G and summoning trap. I'll have to work on it a bit.
Curious why you said the opening hands don't seem viable?
Chalice allowed me to get Hellcarver out a little faster, but it did so while costing me board advantage and control. By removing chalice, I was able to add more discard/removal and draw, leading to a bit more consistency. Plus, I need to make sure when I get hellcarver out that he can actually HIT my opponent.
I have not tested with Sphere yet though.
Emrakul's the first creature I have listed. With 3, it's a pretty consistent drop...and if I can't tutor him before doing it, I usually end up with a Persecutor.
Liliana gives me the unique ability to pick what goes on the top of my deck RIGHT before I swing Hellcarver. So if I have my opening by the time he's swining and Liliana's on the table, it's a guaranteed Emrakul that no one can stop.
Deck should be fairly self explanatory.
3 Emrakul, the Aeon's Torn
3 Hellcarver Demon
4 Abyssal Persecutor
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Gatekeeper of Malakir
Spells
4 Sign in Blood
4 Doom Blade
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Duress
3 Liliana Vess
Land
21 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Vampire Hexmage
4 Memoricide
4 Grasp of Darkness
3 Marsh Casualties
Definitely look into stuff like Dueling Grounds and Crawlspace. I love the interaction those cards have with exalted as a mechanic. Then again I'm a johnny-control player at heart.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=305220
Some things that were suggested to me: Dueling Grounds and similar effects will work wonders if you're playing an exalted deck, since it makes everyone else play by your rules.
What I did from there is add a lot of "ith" effects for defense and tutors for Swords of X & Y.
Your post does point out the flaw of having Knight of the Reliquary though. I need to consider that.
Added Elspeth, Crucible of Worlds & Constant Mists for combos with Knight of the Reliquary, a ton of nonbasic land, Ith effects, and some adjustments with equipment and tutors to fetch things I need.
I think this is a more well rounded setup.
Any other advice is welcome.
Any suggestions on what to be removed and replaced will be appreciated. I'd like to keep all of the exalted cards in the deck if possible, as that's the main theme. I don't mind if it hurts efficiency a little, but arguments against doing so are welcome.
Thanks for the tips. Maze of Ith is an especially great idea! Ith, High Arcanist would work great too!
I'm using stuff like Jhessian Infiltrator and Lone Wolf to circumvent blockers at the moment.
Basically, I'm looking for support cards for the deck. I'm running basically every exalted card and a few things like Eldrazi Conscription, but I don't have much in the ways of defense aside from a few fogs.
I've added Lightmine Well and Stoic Angel to kind of tip the playing field onto my terms, and I suppose I could add Propaganda as well to do the same, but that doesn't protect me from someone swinging hard with a big fatty like Blightsteel Colossus.
Any ideas?
Edit: I think I may replace a fog with Reins of Power for combo'ing with Lightmine well. Could be pretty nasty.
1 Rafiq of the Many
Exalted Cards
Creatures
1 Waveskimmer Aven
1 Giltspire Avenger
1 Qasali Pridemage
1 Sigiled Behemoth
1 Rhox Bodyguard
1 Soverigns of Lost Alara
1 Ethercaste Knight
1 Court Archers
1 Noble Nierarch
1 Akrasan Squire
1 Aven Squire
1 Battlegrace Angel
1 Guardians of Akrasa
1 Sigiled Paladin
1 Sighted-Caste Sorcerer
1 Dawnray Archer
1 Frontline Sage
1 Outrider of Jhess
1 Rhox Charger
Exalted Enchantments
1 Finest Hour
1 Ardent Plea
1 Angelic Benediction
Other Creatures
1 Ith, High Arcanist *
1 Fauna Shaman *
1 Knotvine Paladin
1 Dauntless Escort
1 Knight of New Alara
1 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Stoneforge Mystic *
1 Steward of Valeron
1 Skyward Eye Prophets
1 Bant Sureblade
1 Rhox War Monk
1 Stoic Angel
1 Lone Wolf
1 Silent Arbiter *
1 Lightmine Field
1 Concerted Effort
1 Dueling Grounds *
1 Sigil of the Nayan Gods
1 Eldrazi Conscription
1 Shield of the Oversoul *
Planeswalkers
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Artifacts
1 Sword of Vengance
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Behemoth Sledge
1 Coalition Relic
1 Sol Ring
1 Crawlspace
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Whispersilk Cloth
Spells
1 Bant Charm
1 Supply // Demand
1 Reins of Power
1 Congregation at Dawn
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Constant Mists
1 Enlightened Tutor
Land
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Windswept Heath
1 Elfhame Palace
1 Bant Panorama
1 Selesnya Sanctuary
1 Simic Growth Chamber
1 Azorius Chancery
1 Rupture Spire
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Mystifying Maze *
1 Maze of Ith *
1 Kor Haven *
1 Prahv, Spires of Order*
1 Vesuva *
1 Celestial Colonnade *
1 Flooded Grove *
1 Graypelt Refuge *
1 Hallowed Fountain *
1 Mystic Gate *
1 Razorverge Thicket *
1 Reflecting Pool *
1 Seachrome Coast *
1 Seaside Citadel *
1 Sejiri Refuge *
1 Stirring Wildwood *
1 Sunpetal Grove *
1 Temple Garden *
1 Terramorphic Expanse *
1 Treva's Ruins *
1 Vivid Grove *
1 Vivid Creek *
1 Vivid Meadow *
1 Wooded Bastion *
1 Evolving Wilds *
2 Plains
2 Forest
2 Island
Edit: Decklist. * indicates new additions based on suggestions. I haven't had the chance to review all suggestions yet, That cruicible of worlds one looks interesting.
There is no way that someone doesn't end up painting Captain Falcon on that thing!