Change Log- The Scarab God in for Phyrexian Delver Delver is awesome but is limited in his ability at a 3/2 5 drop that loses me life for bringing a creature back from the graveyard. The Scarab god is much more versatile and can be real nasty to opponents graveyards while creating creature advantage for myself in the process. First and only time I've played with him turn 5 he got exiled right away. I would like to get more play time with him on board but being one of the 99, it's not always super easy to get him in hand.
Caged Sun seems like a win more card and by the time I get it or cast it it's probably too late anyway. Once I get the tutors I'll be prepped for combo winning more and just don't see any further reason to have Caged Sun in this build.
Updated 5/23/17 with all present cards in deck, been having much better results with the new cards from Amonkhet. Though it plays more creatures that many of my other decks, I feel the zombies in this list do a great job of controlling opponents hands (Cackling Fiend, Siren of the Silent Song) are brutal if put out early. Plague Belcher, Lord of the Accursed, Liliana's Mastery help put zombies on the board, help get zombies in for damage (Menace), and Plague Belcher is the perfect tool when gravecrawler is on the board, combined him with vengeful dead + diregraf captain for some life swing in your favor. I'll be updating this going forward as I keep tuning it for my play style and strategy. Hope this helps!
Lord of the Accursed is too good to not keep in any zombie deck imo. I've been MIA for quite sometime but I'm about to update all my lists and I have a more creature heavy approach to Grim-grin which seems to be working quite well since all these new zombies came out. Not really sure what's so appealing about Graf Harvest to be honest. It's gives Menace and has an expensive second ability when you would most likely want to be using something else. Plague Belcher has been MVP for me in a few recent games big body that has a ridiculous ability. Have you considered Liliana's Mastery I know lord effects aren't you top thing but putting out 2 3/3 zombies for 5cmc is ridiculous plus bumping all your other zombies that are out is just icing on the cake. You've made some very interesting changes along the way, interested to see where you go after some play testing.
Kaalia is kind of a one trick pony that relies on land destruction to be optimal. She does lose much power if you don't run that type of strategy for a win con. Yes it is cheap but so is auto wins, looping to win, etc. I have a list in my signature that only has two land destruction cards in it and is semi geared towards a mid/longer game for of a more casual setting. There are also cards I am planning to receive so if you check the list a week from now it'll be a bit for optimal for myself. Either way this deck runs off efficiency to win and win it can if you hit what you need or you'll amass a huge army in no time to either meet a board wipe or what have you. It's hard to steer off this bath but if they want to play that long grindy game cathar's crusade could do some work for you.
My deck list is in my signature trying to find a spot for Vampiric Tutor I'm either thinking of ditching a land since I have so much ramp and the like. Everything else I try to decide seems like I don't want to cut it (which to me is a good thing as I know how I want my deck to operate and I'm at the point where taking a card out is very hard..) Have a group getting together for tomorrow so I'm excited to try Shizo, Death's Storehouse out as a way to gain "unblockable" pretty much. Broodmate Dragon and Tyrant's Familiar are probably the weakest creatures I have but they are still strong when they are used with haste or when Kresh is out. Not sure on this one lol.
Single Mind Ogre can be taken out for that card IMO, that card is not very strong in this deck for it's cost or effect. If you'd like you could throw up my current deck list in the primer too to get different ideas floating around. I can say that the success rate of mine as of late vs the field of competition I am playing is tried and true. It's completely up to you though. You have a long way to go though to get that current deck to par. Haven't seen much in terms of useful things in Dragons of Tarkir for this set. Dragonlord Atarka could be a powerhouse in the right situations.
There is a sacrifice version I play against and a sac/mill/zombie version that's equally as annoying. Dictate of Erebos is a sun of a gun! Played a round last night got second I was holding a slivers deck in check going up again Narset and Thrax (sac/mill/zombie version) and had them all real low on life and messed up a turn leaving myself open for lethal. I was keeping Sliver Queen in check with Ob Nixilus, Unshackled can't do anything when he loses 10 life and sacs a creature every time he searches. Deck played really well just didn't run into any draw spells surprisingly enough or tutors.
Hey glad to see another face chiming in on the conversation. I have not used or plan to use Momumentous Fall to me my deck isn't really designed for sacrificing creatures though the card draw and life gain could be useful at times for sure. Card draw hasn't been much of an issue for me as of late with the addition of Harmonize and Decree of Pain. I did swtich out Massacre Wurm for Archfiend of Depravity it helps Kresh becoming more powerful every turn. It also messes with token/clone shenanigans and making them sacrifice is huge. It's also evasion and a 5/4 body for 5 which is good. Going to test it out Massacre Wurm has been lackluster as we've spoke about before and now people barely play creatures that the -2/-2 applies to. He could come out for something else just going to test him tonight and see how it goes.
Last 5 times this deck has been piloted it has won. 3 by myself and 2 by others. Savage Twister came out for Blasphemous Act which now is a huge mana savings between them both. Fling has been a welcome addition killed a player targeting Kukusho and got 25 life back and dished out 25 which hurt everyone. The card draw additions and demonic tutor help in getting the cards I'm looking for in a tight spot. This deck has been twice as consistent as it use to be whilst playing.
After a lot of thought put into this here are some changes that are made from the last deck list.
Skullclamp out for Harmonize (Skullclamp though amazing isn't really suited for this deck since it doesn't have many sac outlets. Board wipe spot removal can draw me cards but it can't be abused as much as it can in a token deck or the like. Harmonize if landed will give me 3 cards that go a LONG way in any Kresh deck. I always tell the guys if you let me draw cards you'll most likely lose.
Painful Quandary out for Asceticism (Quandary is actually decent in this deck but I could use it more for my Obzedat build and not having my creatures be targets of spells and also have regenerate in a mana heavy deck is also very nice for my side of the board)
Ghor-clan Rampager out for Fling (Thought it's nice having a un-counterable ability a 4/4 for 4 in EDH is not ideal, I'm going to try Fling)
Violent Ultimatum our for Terastodon (Basically the same thing Terastodon cost a few more but I get a body and the same effect and it give me more bodies to kill to pump up Kresh!)
See the Unwritten I'm not a big fan of what I read on the card I could get some awesome creatures but having to put the rest in my graveyard is not quite the strategy this deck is going for currently. I think Tooth and Nail is 100x better card.
Savage Twister I can see your point about the instant vs sorcery speed but what is really nice with it is when Kresh is well above all the other creatures on board and I savage for like 10 and kill everything else on the table making Kresh an instant death for people. Blasphemous Act though I wouldn't mind trying over it since it will cost much less when I want to hit things for 13 damage.
Cards after changes that are still on the fence Whip of Erebos - Value is semi increased by Terastodon being added and it does combo with a lot of creatures I have (Artisan of Koz, Rune-Scarred, Terastodon, Broodmate Dragon, etc) plus lifelink.
Scavenging Ooze - With the addition recently of Bojuka Bog this card seems less valuable but it's still important to have a second way to interact with someones graveyard. I always hate seeing this card in my opening hand as it just gets killed sooner rather than later by players.
Massacre Wurm - Heavy hitter vs many decks as well as extra damage when I board wipe. He's good but he isn't elite.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled - Get this guy out turn 4 and watch your ramp opponents shutter. He's had his very good games as well as bad. He fits the theme of this deck and provides a flyer uncertain what I would switch this for.
Tyrant's Familiar - I've had this blow up my opponents many times before and it's an able body but he becomes quite weak if Kresh isn't out playing with him on the battlefield. I will look for a replacement that is better than this when I have time but he's been good compared to most decks I face on the constant. Plus he can instantly bump Kresh up when you attack.
Jarad's Orders is mostly for getting Anger in the graveyard correct but the other part of that spell put another creature in my hand is where the spell really shines. Most of the time it's for Rune-Scarred Demon or like a Solemn or fetch depending on what I need but obviously having a multitude of creatures I need to examine the board state to determine what I need at the time. I really have had nothing but positive experiences when it comes to that cards so for the time being I'm keeping it. Advantage to get haste creatues and CA.
Savage Twister is not the best and yeah it is a card that should be replaced by something better I can agree there another case of this is just what I am currently playing and just don't have the card laying around to put in but I'll work on getting something. I would rather have a card do damage to all creatures than non-flyer so I don't like magmaquake for that reason.
Phyrexian Arena is good when it's good but also hurts when you keep taking life. I do need some more card draw and I think Harmonize would be a great fit in this deck and will be something I plan on getting with my next card purchase.
Fling is a card I have ran in the past but never really enjoyed playing with it. I've seen it in many competitive decks just not my type of card though it can take out a single person if Kresh gets huge.
I'm also thinking about the possibility of dropping to 38 lands and putting some other things into the deck that come in handy. I'm still pondering said cards and reviewing the new set to see if anything fits in the strategy I want to take it. Tooth and Nail is another card I would love to get or Genesis Wave because with a deck like this either can become brutal to deal with. The deck has become much more consistent than it was previously and the fine tuning is the fun part. I'll definitely post any new findings I come across for use with this deck and thanks for the input on card choices to consider always a pleasure to read your posts!
Here's my updated list as I've been having much more success with this list than previous list and I'm playing very competitive pods and larger groups with Gernerals such as Prosh, Narset, Thraximunder, Riku, Marath, Marchesa, etc. Usual pod size as of late are from 4-6 people. One card not mentioned which has been an all star for my deck in the new Commander seet is Tyrant's Familiar who becomes a 7/7 flyer with haste who does 7 damage when Kresh is out. Gives immediate counters if there is an open target. Updated deck list as follows:
Cards that seem as though they could be replaced by something better: Xenagos, God of Revels (Semi win-more, pairs amazing when you have trample or a wurmcoil out.) Whip of Erebos (Lifelink if great and the ability is great when it's good.) Ghor-Clan Rampager (Gives Kresh trample but at the end of the day is also a 4/4 trample.) Painful Quandary (Makes you "the" target but has in many games, it does work great, great when good.) Violent Ultimatum (High cost and very effective with less player, thinking about switching this with Ugin the planeswalker.)
Clever Impersonator I added to my deck it's so nasty for Multiplayer EDH. Play test it once and you'll most likely agree! Also another nasty addition you could add is Helldozer bust up some good lands opponents control. Take a look at my list in my signature it's been really competitive as of late vs the likes of Marath, Narset, Thraximunder, and Zurgo plus others in my play group. I think ashnods alter will find a way into my deck soon enough I just don't have one available currently. Looking good otherwise though!
The Scarab God in for Phyrexian Delver Delver is awesome but is limited in his ability at a 3/2 5 drop that loses me life for bringing a creature back from the graveyard. The Scarab god is much more versatile and can be real nasty to opponents graveyards while creating creature advantage for myself in the process. First and only time I've played with him turn 5 he got exiled right away. I would like to get more play time with him on board but being one of the 99, it's not always super easy to get him in hand.
Caged Sun -> Exsanguinate
Caged Sun seems like a win more card and by the time I get it or cast it it's probably too late anyway. Once I get the tutors I'll be prepped for combo winning more and just don't see any further reason to have Caged Sun in this build.
Skullclamp out for Harmonize (Skullclamp though amazing isn't really suited for this deck since it doesn't have many sac outlets. Board wipe spot removal can draw me cards but it can't be abused as much as it can in a token deck or the like. Harmonize if landed will give me 3 cards that go a LONG way in any Kresh deck. I always tell the guys if you let me draw cards you'll most likely lose.
Painful Quandary out for Asceticism (Quandary is actually decent in this deck but I could use it more for my Obzedat build and not having my creatures be targets of spells and also have regenerate in a mana heavy deck is also very nice for my side of the board)
Ghor-clan Rampager out for Fling (Thought it's nice having a un-counterable ability a 4/4 for 4 in EDH is not ideal, I'm going to try Fling)
Violent Ultimatum our for Terastodon (Basically the same thing Terastodon cost a few more but I get a body and the same effect and it give me more bodies to kill to pump up Kresh!)
See the Unwritten I'm not a big fan of what I read on the card I could get some awesome creatures but having to put the rest in my graveyard is not quite the strategy this deck is going for currently. I think Tooth and Nail is 100x better card.
Savage Twister I can see your point about the instant vs sorcery speed but what is really nice with it is when Kresh is well above all the other creatures on board and I savage for like 10 and kill everything else on the table making Kresh an instant death for people. Blasphemous Act though I wouldn't mind trying over it since it will cost much less when I want to hit things for 13 damage.
New deck list will look like this:
1x Kresh the Bloodbraided
Creature (32)
1x Acidic Slime
1x Anger
1x Artisan of Kozilek
1x Balefire Dragon
1x Bloodgift Demon
1x Broodmate Dragon
1x Farhaven Elf
1x Grave Titan
1x Hydra Omnivore
1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
1x Lord of Extinction
1x Massacre Wurm
1x Master of Cruelties
1x Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
1x Olivia Voldaren
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Slum Reaper
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Spearbreaker Behemoth
1x Terastodon
1x Tyrant's Familiar
1x Urabrask the Hidden
1x Wood Elves
1x Woodfall Primus
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Xenagos, God of Revels
1x Yavimaya Elder
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Blackcleave Cliffs
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Command Tower
1x Copperline Gorge
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Evolving Wilds
6x Forest
1x Kessig Wolf Run
1x Lavaclaw Reaches
1x Mosswort Bridge
5x Mountain
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Rootbound Crag
1x Rugged Highlands
1x Savage Lands
1x Stomping Ground
6x Swamp
1x Temple of Abandon
1x Temple of Malady
1x Temple of Malice
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Woodland Cemetery
Artifact (5)
1x Darksteel Plate
1x Loxodon Warhammer
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Whip of Erebos
1x Whispersilk Cloak
1x Black Sun's Zenith
1x Cultivate
1x Decree of Pain
1x Explore
1x Gaze of Granite
1x Harmonize
1x In Garruk's Wake
1x Jarad's Orders
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Lavalanche
1x Savage Twister
Instant (8)
1x Ancient Grudge
1x Fling
1x Golgari Charm
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Krosan Grip
1x Putrefy
1x Terminate
1x Worldly Tutor
Enchantment (3)
1x Asceticism
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Warstorm Surge
Planeswalker (1)
1x Garruk, Primal Hunter
Cards after changes that are still on the fence
Whip of Erebos - Value is semi increased by Terastodon being added and it does combo with a lot of creatures I have (Artisan of Koz, Rune-Scarred, Terastodon, Broodmate Dragon, etc) plus lifelink.
Scavenging Ooze - With the addition recently of Bojuka Bog this card seems less valuable but it's still important to have a second way to interact with someones graveyard. I always hate seeing this card in my opening hand as it just gets killed sooner rather than later by players.
Savage Twister - Details above I might replace this with Blasphemous Act
Massacre Wurm - Heavy hitter vs many decks as well as extra damage when I board wipe. He's good but he isn't elite.
Ob Nixilis, Unshackled - Get this guy out turn 4 and watch your ramp opponents shutter. He's had his very good games as well as bad. He fits the theme of this deck and provides a flyer uncertain what I would switch this for.
Tyrant's Familiar - I've had this blow up my opponents many times before and it's an able body but he becomes quite weak if Kresh isn't out playing with him on the battlefield. I will look for a replacement that is better than this when I have time but he's been good compared to most decks I face on the constant. Plus he can instantly bump Kresh up when you attack.
Tutors as I get them are one things I want to put in the deck Vampiric Tutor and Demonic Tutor.
Savage Twister is not the best and yeah it is a card that should be replaced by something better I can agree there another case of this is just what I am currently playing and just don't have the card laying around to put in but I'll work on getting something. I would rather have a card do damage to all creatures than non-flyer so I don't like magmaquake for that reason.
Phyrexian Arena is good when it's good but also hurts when you keep taking life. I do need some more card draw and I think Harmonize would be a great fit in this deck and will be something I plan on getting with my next card purchase.
Fling is a card I have ran in the past but never really enjoyed playing with it. I've seen it in many competitive decks just not my type of card though it can take out a single person if Kresh gets huge.
I'm also thinking about the possibility of dropping to 38 lands and putting some other things into the deck that come in handy. I'm still pondering said cards and reviewing the new set to see if anything fits in the strategy I want to take it. Tooth and Nail is another card I would love to get or Genesis Wave because with a deck like this either can become brutal to deal with. The deck has become much more consistent than it was previously and the fine tuning is the fun part. I'll definitely post any new findings I come across for use with this deck and thanks for the input on card choices to consider always a pleasure to read your posts!
1x Acidic Slime
1x Anger
1x Artisan of Kozilek
1x Balefire Dragon
1x Bloodgift Demon
1x Broodmate Dragon
1x Farhaven Elf
1x Ghor-Clan Rampager
1x Grave Titan
1x Hydra Omnivore
1x Kokusho, the Evening Star
1x Kresh the Bloodbraided
1x Lord of Extinction
1x Massacre Wurm
1x Master of Cruelties
1x Ob Nixilis, Unshackled
1x Olivia Voldaren
1x Oracle of Mul Daya
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Slum Reaper
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Spearbreaker Behemoth
1x Tyrant's Familiar
1x Urabrask the Hidden
1x Wood Elves
1x Woodfall Primus
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Xenagos, God of Revels
1x Yavimaya Elder
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Blackcleave Cliffs
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Command Tower
1x Copperline Gorge
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Evolving Wilds
6x Forest
1x Kessig Wolf Run
1x Lavaclaw Reaches
1x Mosswort Bridge
5x Mountain
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Rootbound Crag
1x Rugged Highlands
1x Savage Lands
1x Stomping Ground
7x Swamp
1x Temple of Abandon
1x Temple of Malady
1x Temple of Malice
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Woodland Cemetery
Artifact (6)
1x Darksteel Plate
1x Loxodon Warhammer
1x Skullclamp
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Whip of Erebos
1x Whispersilk Cloak
1x Black Sun's Zenith
1x Cultivate
1x Decree of Pain
1x Explore
1x Gaze of Granite
1x In Garruk's Wake
1x Jarad's Orders
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Lavalanche
1x Savage Twister
1x Violent Ultimatum
Instant (7)
1x Ancient Grudge
1x Golgari Charm
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Krosan Grip
1x Putrefy
1x Terminate
1x Worldly Tutor
Enchantment (3)
1x Painful Quandary
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Warstorm Surge
Planeswalker (1)
1x Garruk, Primal Hunter
Cards that seem as though they could be replaced by something better:
Xenagos, God of Revels (Semi win-more, pairs amazing when you have trample or a wurmcoil out.)
Whip of Erebos (Lifelink if great and the ability is great when it's good.)
Ghor-Clan Rampager (Gives Kresh trample but at the end of the day is also a 4/4 trample.)
Painful Quandary (Makes you "the" target but has in many games, it does work great, great when good.)
Violent Ultimatum (High cost and very effective with less player, thinking about switching this with Ugin the planeswalker.)