MTG Salvation

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the reboot of the Bird-Themed Kangee deck i post some time ago, feature the awesome Derevi, the new Bant bird general from the Commander Precon 2013


Here's the new decklist:


(!) = Combo OK with the general
(!!!) = Powerful combo with the general

Adding the green to the mix give us acces to powerful cards, like Birds of Paradise, Chameleon Colossus (look at that bird guys!) and Flurry of Wings. Casting Derevi and attacking with a creature results in 2 additional Birthing Pod activation!

Let me know what you guys think of the new decklist!

If you think sol ring is a combo with derevi, you really ought to include mana vault.

and you might as well include coastal piracy. Swords wouldn't go amiss either. Also, azami is leagues better than crookclaw elder. really, any t: draw a card is nuts.

I guess what I'm saying is, make it more like my version

The deck is a sort of themed deck, the sinergy in the deck is purely accidental.

That's why Croocklaw Elder is better than Azami here. He is a bird. A BIG bird.

[CARD]
Coastal Piracy[/CARD] ----> Bident of Thassa

I really don't need two effect like this in this deck, one is enough.

Remember that Birthing Pod is sorcery speed, so you don't actually get 2 more activations.

Also, I'm running a bird tribal variant myself, except I don't run quite as many creatures as you. I'll post mine eventually, but probably not until the official release of the new Commander set.

Quote from Hapless Researcher

Remember that Birthing Pod is sorcery speed, so you don't actually get 2 more activations.

Also, I'm running a bird tribal variant myself, except I don't run quite as many creatures as you. I'll post mine eventually, but probably not until the official release of the new Commander set.

I get the two activations. Activate Pod. Cast General, untap Pod. Additional activation 1#. Combat, attack, untap Pod. Main 2, Additional activation 2#

Quote from Gabgabdevo

I get the two activations. Activate Pod. Cast General, untap Pod. Additional activation 1#. Combat, attack, untap Pod. Main 2, Additional activation 2#

Ah, that's fair was thinking you were referring to things responding in the combat step. Can I ask what your typical pod chains look like?

Also any consideration for something like Intruder Alarm?

Well, there's not a "typical" pod chain, but you can profit from the ETB of Mist Raven and Messenger Falcons, and you really want to see your Celestial Gatekeeper dying of a horrible death, getting a 6 drop and 2 birds back.

I am in the process of converting my Kangee deck to Derevi as well, mainly to accommodate the few ridiculous Bird synergies in green.

We went a tad bit differently in terms of theme. I decided on a proliferate/populate(tokens) route seeing as how that's what birds do.

Benefits from/helps to Proliferate:

• Phantom Flock
  
• Thrummingbird
  
• Inexorable Tide
  
• Contagion Engine
  
• Contagion Clasp
  
• Tezzeret's Gambit
  
• Steady Progress
  
• Fuel for the Cause
  
• Everflowing Chalcie
  
• Coalition Relic
  
• Pentad Prism
  
• Lux Cannon
  
• Cathars' Crusade
  
• Parallax Tide
  
• Parallax Wave
  
• Crescendo of War
  
• Door of Destinies
  
• Soulcatchers' Aerie
  
• Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Populate(generate tokens):

• Pride of the Clouds
  
• Emeria Angel
  
• Rite of Replication
  
• Battle Screech
  
• Eyes in the Skies

The addition of green helps to further that theme with cards like

• Beck//Call
  
• Doubling Season
  
• Flurry of Wings
  

I did not think of Birthing Pod before this, but that'll be a solid addition to help tutor for selected creatures and abuse Derevi's casting cost.

My old Kangee deck also had proliferation theme, just because it interacts with the general in an awesome way. Now that Kangee is just one of the 99, i don't feel proliferate being necessary in the deck.

Now you may want even Fable of Wolf and Owl as token spawner that get out of control quickly. And Parallel Lives seems to fit your theme too.

You should put in Bower Passage and watch as your opponents cringe at a card they didn't know existed.

I've had horrible run ins with Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite in my tokens matter deck. With so may steal effects in my playgroup, I changed her for Collective Blessing and have loved the change ever since. It also helps with your flavor and not throwing in too many creatures that don't fit the bird theme.

Thanks BigRiceMan for your suggestion, i really love both the cards, and i think i'm going to try to fit them in? What do you don't like in the decklist?

Elesh sadly is required. The downside of being stolen it's not even comparable to the possibility of getting her by Birthing Pod and Chord of Calling. For the moment, she will stay in.

EDIT: I want to fit Wargate, too. Such a powerful card.

I've yet to see a list with this guy and Food Chain
Why is this?

Quote from Dies_to_Doom_Blade

I've yet to see a list with this guy and Food Chain
Why is this?

His ability doesnt actually have you "cast" him so you cant use the mana from Food Chain to pull him back out. It would be a negative mana loss each cast if you actually went to cast him. Food Chain's mana can only be used for "casting" creatures and his ability for 1GWU does not involve casting.

Exactly what ISB said. Maybe in the list you saw they have some cards that can interact with food chain, but actually Derevi don't.

Quote from ISBPathfinder

His ability doesnt actually have you "cast" him so you cant use the mana from Food Chain to pull him back out. It would be a negative mana loss each cast if you actually went to cast him. Food Chain's mana can only be used for "casting" creatures and his ability for 1GWU does not involve casting.

That's good to hear. I'm glad I don't have to deal with those antics once he is released.

Edited the first post with the first two changes.
I don't feel myself including Bower Passage, it's kinda a meta call for me, not really a card that I always want to include in the MB.
I'm actually interested in adding True Conviction, but i really don't know what to pull out. Help?

Dove scape is miserable, in my experience. Typically I will cast it, then get stuck with a whole bunch of anthems that I draw afterward. I took it out after two miserable games with it.

I play Opposition in Kangee. It seems like this deck would be able to take full advantage of the effect. I didn't see it in your list but if it's there, great minds think alike

Awesome to see more bird enthusiasts!

You know I am so happy that you are running Seaside Haven. It is nice to know I am not the only one who will run that card.

Quote from nothingbutblue

You know I am so happy that you are running Seaside Haven. It is nice to know I am not the only one who will run that card.

Building a Bird themed deck without it is just madness, trust me. Such a useful card.

I've been interested in building a Derevi deck and focusing on a bird-theme. This deck is what I would imagine to be the perfect design for this.

Quote from Target Player

I've been interested in building a Derevi deck and focusing on a bird-theme. This deck is what I would imagine to be the perfect design for this.

Glad you like it!

Do you have any suggestion for the cards I don't play that are must-play?
If you're gonna test it, let us know your results

How is your mana?

I am still running all the mana rocks from the original precon to get going i guess you have the expensive lands I can't afford.

I feel like running all the high CMC cards runs the risk of having them stuck in your hand without the mana to get them out since you don't have any ramp.

I have vedalken aethermage.. because I find getting Keeper really important. then reveilak/karmic guide to get it back.

I am considering Tailwind rider to double up the effect.

I have the Prophet of kruprix that is really hard not to play.

there were a bunch of birds I forgot things for reminding me of a few I'll have to find a spot for.

I tend to play the deck in a casual metagame, so I usually keep a hand full of lands. The start is usually slow, but when you reach 3/4 mana you can start to drop your bombs.

I find the Keeper a important piece, too, but I think I have enough tutors for him in my list. It's important, but not necessary. So I don't think adding the Riders would be good for the deck.

Prophet of Kruphix is one of my favourites card, and I would play her in every deck with UG. Super strong. This said, my meta is kinda casual, so I don't want to pull out this kind of card for drawing all the hate toward me. If you play competitive, go for her. It's the right choice.