I'm not looking for anything budget, so feel free to suggest anything. (Although 2 and 1 color decks are definitely easier to foil out). I'm looking for a deck that A) Plays like a Puzzle, needs alot of though and consideration. I like playing strategically. B) something that won't get boring over time ... it's going to have to last years.
Sorry I'm so vauge, and no monoblue thanks.
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Thanks to DarkKnightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome signature!
I remember an article somewhere a ways back that talked about building a competitive Phelagriff group hug deck that sounded interesting. Is this for one v one, multiplayer, or both?
As a connoisseur of fun, interesting matches, I still to this day have not been able to craft that "perfect deck"; the deck that I can play and have fun over time, doesn't get boring, but simultaneously is fun to play against. I honestly don't think it exists. It's like a unicorn. A ninja unicorn.
Whenever I hear 'plays like a puzzle', I think Shirei. It's such an unusual deck, because it lets you play cards that would be absolutely terrible in any other EDH deck. And because there are so many possible combinations of cards you can use to control the game, it barely ever plays the same game twice. My only qualm is that it may not convert ideally to 1v1, although it certainly seems possible to take a more Stax-oriented route.
(Yes, I am biased. But the deck is just so much fun! :love:)
Whenever I hear 'plays like a puzzle', I think Shirei. It's such an unusual deck, because it lets you play cards that would be absolutely terrible in any other EDH deck. And because there are so many possible combinations of cards you can use to control the game, it barely ever plays the same game twice. My only qualm is that it may not convert ideally to 1v1, although it certainly seems possible to take a more Stax-oriented route.
(Yes, I am biased. But the deck is just so much fun! :love:)
QFT.
Though the deck really shines in multiplayer for its ability to consistently abuse Shirei's ability on each person's turn to generate card advantage, it does translate to 1v1 with proper tuning. Actually, 1v1 Shirei and multiplayer Shirei, I imagine, would be nearly two completely different decks... but that's just a testament to how much of a puzzle the deck is.
Also, from what I've noticed, there seems to be a strong correlation between the number of people who play Shirei, and the number of people who absolutely fall in love with playing Shirei. Just saying. Maybe we should start a club.
Blue decks that abuse what your opponents play also have a lot of replay value. Sakashima the Impostor and Thada Adel, Acquisitor really shine in my book. Thada Adel being the more intense one... though if you spend too much time looking through opponents' libraries to make a decision, you'll really piss people off. If you're as impulsive and susceptible to whimsy as I am, though, you can usually have a bit of fun, and save the intensive thought for tournaments.
Horobi, Death's Wail is another mono-black puzzle box that excels at removal and gives a lot of strategies the hose... big time. Actually, I think black offers the most in the way of puzzle-like generals... but maybe that's just me.
I suggest Wort, Boggart Auntie. It's not just a dumb tribal deck. It has so many tricks and weird synergies, and you usually don't even know they're there until you see it come up in a game.
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EDH Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video) Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video) Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video) BShirei (video) WURasputin (video) (retired) RUrabrask (video) WURZedruu (video) (retired) WIsamaru UBGrimgrin UMistform Ultimus (video) UBRGwendlyn (video) URGAnimar (video) RGThromok WBSelenia Standard WUGeist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired) WUB Battle of Wits!
I'm so picky, I don't know how I'll ever build another deck lol. I guess I'm just looking for something that is unique and powerful
Another project I've been working on that I haven't seen done yet (and still haven't properly done myself) Is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon voltron deck that's starting to take on a very puzzle-like feel, especially for a general that has tutoring built in. Rather than running 5-color hyper-combo or the usual Scion 187 Dragon Reanimator builds I'm just using recycle effects with dragons that have unique abilities to interact with unique auras and equipment to devastating effect. Rather than casting the dragons, of course, I'm going to play as though those dragons are more-or-less 1-shot, 1-per-turn activated abilities that Scion runs.
Also, from what I've noticed, there seems to be a strong correlation between the number of people who play Shirei, and the number of people who absolutely fall in love with playing Shirei. Just saying. Maybe we should start a club.
Did you not get the memo about that collaborative primer?
(Although writing on that seems to have slightly died.)
I'd also suggest Arcum Dagsson, but you said no mono-blue...hmm. Sliver Overlord? Combo Slivers are fun and powerful.
Did you not get the memo about that collaborative primer?
(Although writing on that seems to have slightly died.)
Gah! It seems I have. I just haven't been keeping up with my messages. Sorry, I've been without a comp for a lil' while now (sadface about Khymera's tourny) and I miss a lot of details on my phone's screen. I'll take a bit of a look through them tonight.
Traumatize + Keening Stone (+ Guiltfeeder)
Most of the time you want to cast Traumatize or use Keening Stone targeting yourself, but if you have both in your deck you can get a two-turn kill. I've done it before and it's pretty fun. But most of the time, you just hit yourself with the mill effect and hope you grab a genesis or something awesome in your graveyard.
Hermit Druid
I run about 5 basic lands in my deck, so using Hermit Druid's ability usually puts something super relevant in my graveyard.
Crypt of Agadeem
This is really, really, good when you tap it for 17 black mana.
@Shirei: I am still discovering legends from Kamigawa...never knew of this guy. I could do a gatherer search, but I'd rather have the random surprises.
I am making a Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer deck. With a lot of artifacts and an interesting ability, so far, it goldfishes for a lot of fun.
Actually, I am just about to post my rough draft of the deck!
I've always heard Stonebrow never makes you overextend. Tons of options for creatures and a good color combo. Every set will give you some more good card choices, so I think you can continually adapt it.
Other option? I think Doran has one of the best abilities (Disruptive!) and the best set of colors. You can do anything with that guy: Aggro, Staxxx, generic-Loam-engine. If only my buddy didn't have a Doran deck...hell, I may make one with a wall/enchantress focus anyway.
Let me cast a vote for Vhati il-Dal, going Golgari colours here. He's pretty obscure, and lends himself to a wither archetype on his own. Turns into a machine gun with Night of Souls' Betrayal and a Thornbite Staff. And, while he does (at least in mine) have a set of cards for the combo, he really can play a different game each time (leading to the puzzlebox theme you mentioned).
I can even go Infect with it with a Grafted Exoskeleton + Crypt Rats/Pestilence Demon. To go with the wither archetype you can play some nifty proliferate cards (which also play well well with the aforementioned exoskeleton). Speaking of that, I need to go find a Carnifex Demon for my list while I'm thinking about it...
Sorry I'm so vauge, and no monoblue thanks.
Thanks to DarkKnightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome signature!
Thanks to DarkKnightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome signature!
(Yes, I am biased. But the deck is just so much fun! :love:)
QFT.
Though the deck really shines in multiplayer for its ability to consistently abuse Shirei's ability on each person's turn to generate card advantage, it does translate to 1v1 with proper tuning. Actually, 1v1 Shirei and multiplayer Shirei, I imagine, would be nearly two completely different decks... but that's just a testament to how much of a puzzle the deck is.
Also, from what I've noticed, there seems to be a strong correlation between the number of people who play Shirei, and the number of people who absolutely fall in love with playing Shirei. Just saying. Maybe we should start a club.
Blue decks that abuse what your opponents play also have a lot of replay value. Sakashima the Impostor and Thada Adel, Acquisitor really shine in my book. Thada Adel being the more intense one... though if you spend too much time looking through opponents' libraries to make a decision, you'll really piss people off. If you're as impulsive and susceptible to whimsy as I am, though, you can usually have a bit of fun, and save the intensive thought for tournaments.Horobi, Death's Wail is another mono-black puzzle box that excels at removal and gives a lot of strategies the hose... big time. Actually, I think black offers the most in the way of puzzle-like generals... but maybe that's just me.
Experiment Kraj is another very puzzle-like general. Ulasht, the Hate Seed is a very unique puzzle general . Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker is a very unique general in white. Iname, Life Aspect is about as puzzle-like as green gets.
Glissa, the Traitor, Ulasht, the Hate Seed, The Mimeoplasm
EDH
Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video)
Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video)
Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video)
B Shirei (video)
WU Rasputin (video) (retired)
R Urabrask (video)
WUR Zedruu (video) (retired)
W Isamaru
UB Grimgrin
U Mistform Ultimus (video)
UBR Gwendlyn (video)
URG Animar (video)
RG Thromok
WB Selenia
Standard
WU Geist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired)
WUB Battle of Wits!
Thanks to DarkKnightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this awesome signature!
Another project I've been working on that I haven't seen done yet (and still haven't properly done myself) Is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon voltron deck that's starting to take on a very puzzle-like feel, especially for a general that has tutoring built in. Rather than running 5-color hyper-combo or the usual Scion 187 Dragon Reanimator builds I'm just using recycle effects with dragons that have unique abilities to interact with unique auras and equipment to devastating effect. Rather than casting the dragons, of course, I'm going to play as though those dragons are more-or-less 1-shot, 1-per-turn activated abilities that Scion runs.
Glissa, the Traitor, Ulasht, the Hate Seed, The Mimeoplasm
Did you not get the memo about that collaborative primer?
(Although writing on that seems to have slightly died.)
Gah! It seems I have. I just haven't been keeping up with my messages. Sorry, I've been without a comp for a lil' while now (sadface about Khymera's tourny) and I miss a lot of details on my phone's screen. I'll take a bit of a look through them tonight.
Glissa, the Traitor, Ulasht, the Hate Seed, The Mimeoplasm
Survival of the Fittest/Fauna Shaman + Genesis
Great combo that you can enable with Entomb, Buried Alive, or whatever else.
Traumatize + Keening Stone (+ Guiltfeeder)
Most of the time you want to cast Traumatize or use Keening Stone targeting yourself, but if you have both in your deck you can get a two-turn kill. I've done it before and it's pretty fun. But most of the time, you just hit yourself with the mill effect and hope you grab a genesis or something awesome in your graveyard.
Hermit Druid
I run about 5 basic lands in my deck, so using Hermit Druid's ability usually puts something super relevant in my graveyard.
Crypt of Agadeem
This is really, really, good when you tap it for 17 black mana.
I can put up the entire decklist if you want.
Fattycakes Zombie of Clan Limited
Sharuum the Hegemon
Mayael the Anima
Wort, Boggart Auntie
Sliver Overlord
Drana Kalastria Bloodchief
99 mountain Ashling
I am making a Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer deck. With a lot of artifacts and an interesting ability, so far, it goldfishes for a lot of fun.
Actually, I am just about to post my rough draft of the deck!
I've always heard Stonebrow never makes you overextend. Tons of options for creatures and a good color combo. Every set will give you some more good card choices, so I think you can continually adapt it.
Other option? I think Doran has one of the best abilities (Disruptive!) and the best set of colors. You can do anything with that guy: Aggro, Staxxx, generic-Loam-engine. If only my buddy didn't have a Doran deck...hell, I may make one with a wall/enchantress focus anyway.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
1800+ in Limited
3-0ing after drafting 17 non-basics in Cube
Prove to everyone how awesome you are by getting 2-for-1s all over the place
I can even go Infect with it with a Grafted Exoskeleton + Crypt Rats/Pestilence Demon. To go with the wither archetype you can play some nifty proliferate cards (which also play well well with the aforementioned exoskeleton). Speaking of that, I need to go find a Carnifex Demon for my list while I'm thinking about it...
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.