Your primer is still very good. I learned a lot of it. Yesterday evenening I won 3 games with a very similar deck. Transmute artifact is an expensive card but so strong. Won two times with Rest in peace out and searching for Helm of Obedience, but ok this combo is getting a bit boring. I never tought that I would ever play with Rishadan Cutpurse but the card is so good with Brago and the rest. I was thinking of Power Artifact (another expensive card). My meta now knows the dangers of the deck, so probably I will have to put in more counters or protection.
Ha glad youre having fun! Yeah helm and RIP arent super fun to use, but effective.
Alternatively before i chucked the deck, i was gonna incorporate Dramatic Reversal / Isochron Scepter as an infinite mana combo and combine it with Blind Obedience as a 3 card wincon. Real compact too.
Garta's list has always used infinite mana combos. I originally didnt think this was necessary or worthwhile. I realized my mistake recently after a dozen or so odd test games. That is that this deck really wants to draw into a combo that is less than six pieces, and I'm not totally exaggerating. So, after plenty of Vandalblast/Merciless Eviction blowouts, and a few wins here and there, I've come to the conclusion that these combos are necessary. I do still differ from his list a tiny bit and you can see that here: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/come-on-and-sram/
Without cultivator, the need for 3 power has been removed. Ghostfire is meh. Honed is standard and will probably come back in. I threw in infinite mana combos for the new equipment we are adding.
I am also planning to copy Garta's build more as I find this build stalls too hard trying to win unless I hit critical mass. He runs infinite mana combos and equipment that allow him to shoot folks to death
In working through figuring out this brew, I found that usually I'm low on cards. I also want to do janky Feldon/Izzet Chemister combos. So far, Sunbird's Invocation has been incredible.
I see that you retired the deck. I can definitely understand. I'd like to pick your brain on a few things if you don't mind as I've recently pushed my Brago to a more competitive level.
Sun Titan - Is this essentially just to fetch a countered Strionic Resonator? I have a hard time justifying expensive cards and at 6 CMC, Sun Titan would be the most expensive thing in my list.
With the amount of Winter Orb or Tsabo's Web effects, do you find that Command Beacon and Inventor's Fair are still good? I've recently cut anything that ETBT for my lands and I am very suspicious of anything that could be hit by it.
I can't figure out what you mean by Paradoxical Outcome 'reseting your mana'. Are you essentially just casting this to drawing cards and then recasting each of the rocks? Is that before or after combat? Perhaps on someone else's turn? This pick just makes me scratch my head.
I'm finding that my draw is inconsistent, is Windfall that much of a boost to draw? I was personally toying with Day's Undoing so that I can try again if my Resonator gets countered or destroyed.
Thank you for any help you could provide.
Pretty much on the money with Titan, though he was close on the cuts
I find if you need to go the route of locking down the board, Beacon and Fair are still worthwhile just due to being able to keep brago cheap by returning him to hand. I never really got to test Fair TBH.
Outcome was one of those flex slot cards that I was testing to draw cards after blinking permanents with Brago.
Windfall was incredible usually because you could drop half your hand, then windfall and force everyone to mulligan their hands essentially while at the same time refilling yours.
Greetings! Here's another brew from cobblepott that I've been tweaking to my own liking. I personally find playing eggs with Neheb much more fun than burn, and it doesnt suffer from the typical burn weaknesses (needing to deal 40 to each opponent, counterspells, being less fun), instead focusing on forcing concedes due to MLD/stax or through slow pinging due to eggs combos (KCI+Myr Retriever+Junk Diver/Genesis Chamber+pinger)(hurt due to graveyard/artifact hate). In all, I find it more fun and challenging, with decision trees rather than a straightforward gameplan.
I like brews that aren't predictable.
Right now this is in heavy brew mode with alot of consistency issues.
I haven't ran into infinite life gain decks yet, but I could easily see one completely hosing an unprepared Meren player. I think the best silver bullet cards are Sorin Markov and Tree of Perdition, but the problem is that if they have infinite life (or technically a way to gain as much life as they want via Archangel of Thune + Spike feeder), you have to make sure that combo is dead before using either answer. The real proactive answer to lifegain decks is to main deck Tainted Remedy and just get that onto the field before they combo. They basically can't use the combo while it is in play so they will have to answer it with an exile effect since most Meren decks run at least Eternal Witness + a decent amount of draw + tutors. Also, Tainted Remedy shuts down all life gain so they can't even stall and will likely burn themselves while just doing normal things.
Why run silver bullet cards against decks that would rather gain life than win? I'm playing this at competitive tables; there is no goofing around. You even admit to not playing against the decks, so why prepare for something that doesnt exist? How many slots are you dedicating toward this imaginary deck you've yet to play? Even so, I answered the above commenter
I dont face lifegain decks, but if I did, Mike+Trike does an infinite amount of damage.
In addition, you could Mike+Walking Balista+sac outlet and do the same. I repeat; if lifegain decks are beating Meren, you're doing it wrong. I apologize for the snark, but this is a combo list. There are three kill conditions, and two of them beat infinite life decks.
... are you having a bad day? I offered a suggestion against a deck that runs life gain. What they do with the life I don't honestly care in the above scenario, but there's a number of cards that let them utilize life as a win condition. Felidar Sovereign is one of them, Archangel of Thune becomes infinitely large if they can pull off the combo, Sanguine Bond will outright kill you, Bond of Agony, Fire Covenant, etc.
So yes, against meren life gain decks can potentially just outright end you. It doesn't matter if we have recursion if they can just smite the entire field with a single spell or drain for some insane amount.
I'm not having a bad day, I literally answered your exact question just in the post above yours, and you asked it again. Look at it from my point of view; I already explained it, it's explained in the primer, and you didnt read either and asked it again. It was just a little frustrating BTW I am the OP.
Its an interesting take on Sram. I guess my biggest fear would be if someone could keep you off of your commander. This deck really looks like a big glass cannon I guess and something like Imprisoned in the Moon / Nevermore / Theft sounds like a GG situation.
Hammer of Nazahn also seems potentially interesting for the resiliency + auto equip. I just noticed that nobody had mentioned it.
I went auras with my own build but its fun to see what others did.
Those are definite fears. Luckily I havent ran into much trouble besides general board wipes/targeted hate. If so, Erase, Path to ExileDispatch and Demystify all can be added in.
I got the idea for this from Garta on the competitive edh subreddit.
Hammer looks so costly, but it may end up being an inclusion just because it can help sram get equipped in a hurry. My worry is including too many 2+ CMC equipments. Ideally I wanna get a cost reducer and Sram down and just start hammering the Cantrip button. Anything 2cmc or greater tends to slow me down significantly and as such, needs to make a big impact. Generally, I'm not too concerned with him being equipped since hes just a draw engine, but I'll keep it in mind It's been added to the maybelist.
Shield -> Axe
Axe makes more sense here. It increases the power of Sram for crewing the Cultivator, it makes additional equipment which are useful for Clock of Omens and Krark-Clan Ironworks. Shield... doesnt do much that Blinding powder doesnt (but strictly worse in most situations), and Blinding Powder itself is pretty meh.
Plains -> Geier
Trying another colorless land out (fingers crossed I'm not going too deep on colorless) to help with draw.
I haven't ran into infinite life gain decks yet, but I could easily see one completely hosing an unprepared Meren player. I think the best silver bullet cards are Sorin Markov and Tree of Perdition, but the problem is that if they have infinite life (or technically a way to gain as much life as they want via Archangel of Thune + Spike feeder), you have to make sure that combo is dead before using either answer. The real proactive answer to lifegain decks is to main deck Tainted Remedy and just get that onto the field before they combo. They basically can't use the combo while it is in play so they will have to answer it with an exile effect since most Meren decks run at least Eternal Witness + a decent amount of draw + tutors. Also, Tainted Remedy shuts down all life gain so they can't even stall and will likely burn themselves while just doing normal things.
Why run silver bullet cards against decks that would rather gain life than win? I'm playing this at competitive tables; there is no goofing around. You even admit to not playing against the decks, so why prepare for something that doesnt exist? How many slots are you dedicating toward this imaginary deck you've yet to play? Even so, I answered the above commenter
I dont face lifegain decks, but if I did, Mike+Trike does an infinite amount of damage.
In addition, you could Mike+Walking Balista+sac outlet and do the same. I repeat; if lifegain decks are beating Meren, you're doing it wrong. I apologize for the snark, but this is a combo list. There are three kill conditions, and two of them beat infinite life decks.
What do you think about using Tree of Perdition to counter life gain deck? If you have Tree of Perdition + Phyrexian Devourer + Triskelion in the graveyard and Necrotic Ooze on the board you can tap Necrotic Ooze then ping for 13 for the win?
Obviously you also could just drop Tree of Perdition in your grave yard and use Necrotic Ooze on someone getting attacked or just not expecting it.
I dont face lifegain decks, but if I did, Mike+Trike does an infinite amount of damage.
I'm not sure how essential the edict creatures are except in situations, like with Selvala 2.0, where if shes the only creature on the field for that player, it's really good. Sphere helps slow down decks like Selvala and the occasional storm deck I face.
Crux was a budget choice, since I can't afford Damnation. And yea scapeshift->valakut should be one win con, but for me scapeshift -> Ob Nixilis, the Fallen also hits hard, or scapeshift -> Retreat to Hagra.
Oh for sure I getcha. I was running ideas for this list through my head again lately, wondering if a group slug-esque subtheme would help you get folks into kill range faster.
Ha glad youre having fun! Yeah helm and RIP arent super fun to use, but effective.
Alternatively before i chucked the deck, i was gonna incorporate Dramatic Reversal / Isochron Scepter as an infinite mana combo and combine it with Blind Obedience as a 3 card wincon. Real compact too.
Added:
Ok big changes, here's why.
Garta's list has always used infinite mana combos. I originally didnt think this was necessary or worthwhile. I realized my mistake recently after a dozen or so odd test games. That is that this deck really wants to draw into a combo that is less than six pieces, and I'm not totally exaggerating. So, after plenty of Vandalblast/Merciless Eviction blowouts, and a few wins here and there, I've come to the conclusion that these combos are necessary. I do still differ from his list a tiny bit and you can see that here: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/come-on-and-sram/
Honed Kopesh -> Rings of Brighthearth
Ghostfire Blade -> Auriok Salvagers
sai of the shinobi -> Basalt monolith
Cultivator's Caravan -> Lion's Eye Diamond
Without cultivator, the need for 3 power has been removed. Ghostfire is meh. Honed is standard and will probably come back in. I threw in infinite mana combos for the new equipment we are adding.
silver-inlaid dagger -> Viridian Longbow
Hedron Blade -> Razor Boomerang
Bladed Bracers -> Hankyu
Neglected Heirloom -> Truestrike Trident
And for our infinite mana combos... kill outlets.
Fragmentize -> Dispatch
Blinded Bracers -> Erase
I definitely wanted instant speed enchantment hate for both Stony Silence and Darksteel Mutation effects.
Secluded Steppe
Added:
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Urborg gives our fetchlands something to do when we have no Plains left in the deck. Steppe hurt coming into play tapped, and might return.
Sylvok Lifestaff
Added:
Witches' Eye
For the combos with Paradox Engine.
I am also planning to copy Garta's build more as I find this build stalls too hard trying to win unless I hit critical mass. He runs infinite mana combos and equipment that allow him to shoot folks to death
Yep I'm on the lookout for one (and a ring of three wishes)!
Yeah I really dig price of glory as a way to REALLY shut down folks trying for ad nauseam or interaction.
Mind sharing your list? I'd love more ideas!
Removed:
Added:
Shaman -> Path
Path is better and harder to remove
Gamble -> Feldon
I want to make room for gamble again, but I also want Feldon right now.
Wheel -> Winter Orb
Wheel is too slow and a terrible topdeck. Orb allows us to continue our "stax if we cant combo / until we can combo" gameplan
Devastation -> izzet chemister
Devastation is still a possibility... but again I like the way chemister works with the deck if it is allowed to stick.
Pretty much on the money with Titan, though he was close on the cuts
I find if you need to go the route of locking down the board, Beacon and Fair are still worthwhile just due to being able to keep brago cheap by returning him to hand. I never really got to test Fair TBH.
Outcome was one of those flex slot cards that I was testing to draw cards after blinking permanents with Brago.
Windfall was incredible usually because you could drop half your hand, then windfall and force everyone to mulligan their hands essentially while at the same time refilling yours.
Np man!
I like brews that aren't predictable.
Right now this is in heavy brew mode with alot of consistency issues.
1x Neheb, the Eternal
Artifact (28)
1x Ashnod's Altar
1x Chrome Mox
1x Codex Shredder
1x Dreamstone Hedron
1x Fellwar Stone
1x Genesis Chamber
1x Geth's Grimoire
1x Grim Monolith
1x Hedron Archive
1x Krark-Clan Ironworks
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Loreseeker's Stone
1x Lotus Petal
1x Mana Crypt
1x Mana Vault
1x Memory Jar
1x Mind Stone
1x Mind's Eye
1x Mox Diamond
1x Mox Opal
1x Orb of Dreams
1x Paradox Engine
1x Ruby Medallion
1x Sol Ring
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Tangle Wire
1x Voltaic Key
1x Winter Orb
1x Chandra, Flamecaller
1x Daretti, Scrap Savant
Sorcery (15)
1x Breath of Darigaaz
1x By Force
1x Cathartic Reunion
1x Chandra's Ignition
1x Collective Defiance
1x Flamebreak
1x Mana Geyser
1x Past in Flames
1x Recoup
1x Reforge the Soul
1x Ruination
1x Seize the Day
1x Vandalblast
1x Wheel of Fortune
1x Wildfire
Land (31)
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Buried Ruin
1x Command Beacon
1x Forgotten Cave
1x Geier Reach Sanitarium
1x Inventors' Fair
1x Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
19x Mountain
1x Sandstone Needle
1x Smoldering Crater
1x Strip Mine
1x Wooded Foothills
1x Feldon of the Third Path
1x Firebrand Archer
1x Goblin Welder
1x Gorilla Shaman
1x Izzet Chemister
1x Junk Diver
1x Magus of the Wheel
1x Myr Retriever
1x Purphoros, God of the Forge
1x Reckless Fireweaver
1x Runehorn Hellkite
1x Sandstone Oracle
1x Scrap Trawler
1x Thermo-Alchemist
Enchantment (5)
1x Blood Moon
1x Impending Disaster
1x Molten Nursery
1x Price of Glory
1x Sunbird's Invocation
Instant (4)
1x Commune with Lava
1x Pyroblast
1x Seething Song
1x Volcanic Fallout
I'm not having a bad day, I literally answered your exact question just in the post above yours, and you asked it again. Look at it from my point of view; I already explained it, it's explained in the primer, and you didnt read either and asked it again. It was just a little frustrating BTW I am the OP.
I think you should check out the following topic http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/646091-meren-of-clan-nel-toth-on-revenge-and-reanimation
It seems more in your wheelhouse.
Those are definite fears. Luckily I havent ran into much trouble besides general board wipes/targeted hate. If so, Erase, Path to Exile Dispatch and Demystify all can be added in.
I got the idea for this from Garta on the competitive edh subreddit.
Hammer looks so costly, but it may end up being an inclusion just because it can help sram get equipped in a hurry. My worry is including too many 2+ CMC equipments. Ideally I wanna get a cost reducer and Sram down and just start hammering the Cantrip button. Anything 2cmc or greater tends to slow me down significantly and as such, needs to make a big impact. Generally, I'm not too concerned with him being equipped since hes just a draw engine, but I'll keep it in mind It's been added to the maybelist.
That being said I do really like your aura build!
Added:
Shield -> Axe
Axe makes more sense here. It increases the power of Sram for crewing the Cultivator, it makes additional equipment which are useful for Clock of Omens and Krark-Clan Ironworks. Shield... doesnt do much that Blinding powder doesnt (but strictly worse in most situations), and Blinding Powder itself is pretty meh.
Plains -> Geier
Trying another colorless land out (fingers crossed I'm not going too deep on colorless) to help with draw.
Why run silver bullet cards against decks that would rather gain life than win? I'm playing this at competitive tables; there is no goofing around. You even admit to not playing against the decks, so why prepare for something that doesnt exist? How many slots are you dedicating toward this imaginary deck you've yet to play? Even so, I answered the above commenter
In addition, you could Mike+Walking Balista+sac outlet and do the same. I repeat; if lifegain decks are beating Meren, you're doing it wrong. I apologize for the snark, but this is a combo list. There are three kill conditions, and two of them beat infinite life decks.
I dont face lifegain decks, but if I did, Mike+Trike does an infinite amount of damage.
Merciless Executioner
Added:
Sphere of Resistance
I'm not sure how essential the edict creatures are except in situations, like with Selvala 2.0, where if shes the only creature on the field for that player, it's really good. Sphere helps slow down decks like Selvala and the occasional storm deck I face.
Oh for sure I getcha. I was running ideas for this list through my head again lately, wondering if a group slug-esque subtheme would help you get folks into kill range faster.