This is just made up on the spot, but my ideal version of Meloku, the Clouded Mirror would be GU, same convered mana cost and power/toughness/flying. And possibly have the token ability changed to, 2, return two lands you control to their owner's hand: Put a 1/1 blue and green illusion druid creature token with t: Put a land from your hand into play.
Probably simplifying the token's color/creature type to just being blue illusions, since that setup might be a tad overpowered.
I will probably make more suggestions later when I flesh out a decklist of my own, but here's some thoughts for now.
Perhaps what with all the topdeck manipulation, you could include cards like Counterbalance and Psychic Battle to get some awesome passive value.
Chandra, the Firebrand wants to be in this deck, given that she copies spells for 'free' with her -2. Echo Mage might be worth considering as well given the repeatable ability and being similar to Dual Casting which you already run. Spelltwine could be a fun option as well.
Eye of the Storm could be fun for a more casual version, which I might be aiming for (not sure yet). Combo it with Spellshift to play all the instants/sorceries in the deck.
I'm sooo excited for Beck//Call in my Phelddagrif deck. GUx : (you may only pay green mana for x) draw x cards.
Seems pretty powerful along with all the other cards that benefit from giving my opponents hippos :tongue:.
As for Melek, Izzet Paragon, I'm incredibly happy to see another izzet commander that isn't broken in half. Most of the time I think he will only be seen in the commander position, although he could fit in certain spell based RUG decks like Riku, of Two Reflections or especially Intet, the Dreamer.
Some synergies off the top of my head:
Obviously any topdeck manipulation Epic Experiment is an obvious one, super powerful. Galvanoth Spellshift to counter a copy of your own spell and get double value.
This would be a prime opportunity to run Arcum Dagsson fairly as a general, although you lose access to multicolor. I suppose he could be one of the 99first as well.
I end up running it in a large portion of my decks, although the ones I don't include it in I either don't care about their graveyard at all(Jacques le Vert, because of casting Wheel of Sun and Moon on myself regularly) or am too fast/don't run enough lands to care(Seton, Krosan Protector, but he doesn't even run Sol Ring). Everything else benefits greatly from it. Chances are that if I'm running it, Rings of Brighthearth will be in the same deck.
If I wanted this deck to be competetive, I would probably not play mono-white at all(except maybe Hokori, Dust Drinker). That said, Avacyn would be too slow for a competetive deck for my tastes, and is also much too boring(wrath.dec?). I am a Johnny through and through, and like making as powerful a deck I can out of more uncommon generals/strategies. If the strategy isn't interesting, takes little thought, or is very common then I see no point in building it.
As for Kentaro, the Smiling Cat, I said in the first post that a playgroup of mine would allow me to run all the off color samurai. Also his ability, as said, will synergize with cost reducers such as Urza's Incubator to make the samurai free-nearly free.
The lifegain Kiyomaro would either win off of general damage or cards like Felidar Sovereign, the lifegain is just being capitalized on for value. I am well aware that lifegain is typically not recognized as good at all, even sometimes in a casual format, but if utilized correctly it can serve quite a lot of utility.
I guess what I'm asking is, which of these would people be more interested in seeing/playing against? I've already looked through all the possibilities for my mono-white slot, and as such don't need different suggestions, as much as it is appreciated Greggy.
Edit* I might just have to alter my non-signed copy of Zuberi with a top hat and monocle now... Also I meant to mention that Kentaro synergizes with colorless mana rocks and armageddon to facilitate the aggro strategy. Although most people don't care for MLD, this is pretty fair usage.
I have 3 different shells for mono-white decks, but I only want to make 1-2 decks total. Hence I would like some input on what others think regarding the decision.
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - This deck will include a double-strike/pinging ability granting theme, to capitalize on kiyomaro's ability to gain life whenever any damage is dealt. A cmc 1 theme is also going to be included, notably Martyr of Sands, Order of Whiteclay, Proclamation of Rebirth. Then all of the typical life gain synergy cards and such heavily focusing on card advantage.
Kentaro, the Smiling Cat - I had this deck built awhile ago, but the lack of available samurai made me take it apart. However now I have the go-ahead from my group to make a deck including all colors of samurai, which makes the deck a bit more playable. I can also include mycosynth lattice/Celestial Dawn to be able to use the abilities on my off color samurai.
The basic idea for this deck is to play aggro-ey as much as possible, using cost reducers to make my samurai free-nearly free via kentaro's ability. Then, rarely, comboing out with sacrifice enablers and recursion/cloudstone curio. Oathkeeper, Takeno's Daisho is particularly noteworthy when combined with Puresteel Paladin.
Zuberi, Golden Feather - This guy doesn't need much explaining, I'd be running all the best griffins, and all the best global pumps/tribal support/recursion. Tribal griffins sound pretty awesome in my book!
So which deck would you rather play against/see created?
As a general, perhaps either Blind Seer for color shenanigans(my personal favorite) or Vela the Night-Clad because she works particularly well with color changing/colorless creatures. Especially the previously mentioned Thran Lens.
I've just had a thought after reading through the entire thread *sigh*, although I'm unsure if others have considered it already. Instead of one person/group making an alternate banlist and consequently possibly failing, perhaps we can make an organized house rules thread with some set parameters for the intended purpose(I.E. Probably more competitive in general). This will be voted on for changes periodically based on participating playgroups. This could culminate into a knowledge base of information on cards/rules that is varied enough for more unbiased judgment. It could also circumvent the issue of making a new format since it is simply a way of playing different rules in the current format. The RC would then have access to this information and would be able to alter the banlist based on it.
This also has potential to solve the root of the problem, which seems to be that everyone wants to have some say in the format but there isn't any organized form of input. I can see EDH eventually ending if we constantly split up on petty arguments, so perhaps this plan or something like it could work to make the player base more cohesive.
GUDexceleration, Master Cultivator
Legendary Creature - Human Druid
Whenever a land enters the battlefield, it's controller puts a 0/1 green plant creature token into play.
All creatures get -X/-0, where X is the number of plants in play.
1/2
If I were to base it off of my name then it'd be,
UR Dexceleration, the Expediter
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Whenever you cast a spell during an opponent's turn, Dexceleration deals damage to each player equal to that cards converted mana cost.
1/1
Some things might have to be altered for balancing reasons.
Probably simplifying the token's color/creature type to just being blue illusions, since that setup might be a tad overpowered.
Perhaps what with all the topdeck manipulation, you could include cards like Counterbalance and Psychic Battle to get some awesome passive value.
Chandra, the Firebrand wants to be in this deck, given that she copies spells for 'free' with her -2. Echo Mage might be worth considering as well given the repeatable ability and being similar to Dual Casting which you already run. Spelltwine could be a fun option as well.
Eye of the Storm could be fun for a more casual version, which I might be aiming for (not sure yet). Combo it with Spellshift to play all the instants/sorceries in the deck.
Ahh I missed that it says exile, still an auto-include what with all the topdeck manipulation and spells in this deck.
GUx : (you may only pay green mana for x) draw x cards.
Seems pretty powerful along with all the other cards that benefit from giving my opponents hippos :tongue:.
As for Melek, Izzet Paragon, I'm incredibly happy to see another izzet commander that isn't broken in half. Most of the time I think he will only be seen in the commander position, although he could fit in certain spell based RUG decks like Riku, of Two Reflections or especially Intet, the Dreamer.
Some synergies off the top of my head:
Obviously any topdeck manipulation
Epic Experiment is an obvious one, super powerful.
Galvanoth
Spellshift to counter a copy of your own spell and get double value.
Another favorite is Sprouting Phytohydra, Æther Flash, and any global toughness booster, usually my general Jacques le Vert. This allows for infinite defenders, which trigger etb abilities or can win the game with Vent Sentinel.
As for Kentaro, the Smiling Cat, I said in the first post that a playgroup of mine would allow me to run all the off color samurai. Also his ability, as said, will synergize with cost reducers such as Urza's Incubator to make the samurai free-nearly free.
The lifegain Kiyomaro would either win off of general damage or cards like Felidar Sovereign, the lifegain is just being capitalized on for value. I am well aware that lifegain is typically not recognized as good at all, even sometimes in a casual format, but if utilized correctly it can serve quite a lot of utility.
I guess what I'm asking is, which of these would people be more interested in seeing/playing against? I've already looked through all the possibilities for my mono-white slot, and as such don't need different suggestions, as much as it is appreciated Greggy.
Edit* I might just have to alter my non-signed copy of Zuberi with a top hat and monocle now... Also I meant to mention that Kentaro synergizes with colorless mana rocks and armageddon to facilitate the aggro strategy. Although most people don't care for MLD, this is pretty fair usage.
2. Not sure on a guide, but there are a ****ton of good voltron commanders in those colors.
RWG
Uril, the Miststalker
WR
Aurelia, the Warleader
Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
GW
Sigarda, Host of Herons
W
Kemba, Kha Regent
Commander Eesha
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Odric, Master Tactician
Radiant, Archangel
R
Godo, Bandit Warlord
Adamaro, First to Desire
Ashling the Pilgrim
Lu-Bu, Master-at-Arms
G
Thrun, the Last Troll
Autumn Willow - for an old school version of thrun!
Multani, Maro Sorcerer - Give global trample effects and win.
Omnath, Locus of Mana
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - This deck will include a double-strike/pinging ability granting theme, to capitalize on kiyomaro's ability to gain life whenever any damage is dealt. A cmc 1 theme is also going to be included, notably Martyr of Sands, Order of Whiteclay, Proclamation of Rebirth. Then all of the typical life gain synergy cards and such heavily focusing on card advantage.
Kentaro, the Smiling Cat - I had this deck built awhile ago, but the lack of available samurai made me take it apart. However now I have the go-ahead from my group to make a deck including all colors of samurai, which makes the deck a bit more playable. I can also include mycosynth lattice/Celestial Dawn to be able to use the abilities on my off color samurai.
The basic idea for this deck is to play aggro-ey as much as possible, using cost reducers to make my samurai free-nearly free via kentaro's ability. Then, rarely, comboing out with sacrifice enablers and recursion/cloudstone curio. Oathkeeper, Takeno's Daisho is particularly noteworthy when combined with Puresteel Paladin.
Zuberi, Golden Feather - This guy doesn't need much explaining, I'd be running all the best griffins, and all the best global pumps/tribal support/recursion. Tribal griffins sound pretty awesome in my book!
So which deck would you rather play against/see created?
This also has potential to solve the root of the problem, which seems to be that everyone wants to have some say in the format but there isn't any organized form of input. I can see EDH eventually ending if we constantly split up on petty arguments, so perhaps this plan or something like it could work to make the player base more cohesive.