MTG Salvation

There are a few cards missing that I want in here, but do not currently have. They include Volrath's Stronghold, Vampiric Tutor, Norritt, and Liliana Vess. And some more removal, perhaps.

Maze of Ith may seem like an odd pick since I kind of want creatures attacking me in order to feed the vampires, but sometimes they're not ready to feed an need a little bit of extra defense.

Also, I am considering swapping the places of Kalitas and Mirri. Destroying and stealing is always fun, but it's a shame it is so incredibly hard to get generals with him. How many people ever let their generals go to the yard, especially when I would get a copy once it hits the graveyard. So the other option is a hasty first-striking general that gets bigger allowing for larger and larger amounts of possible general damage. Opinions?

So, with all that being said, post some suggestions. More land? More creatures? Get rid of some crap? Let me know.

Thanks.

wants more grappling hook, oversold cemetary, damnation, bloodchief Ascension.

mirri would make a better general, the other takes too long to come out and once its dead wont remain long. I'll think of more tomarrow... its an interesting concept as the vampire ability often enough has felt too weak, feels more like a psuedo fear.

I have a question in regards to all the discard you are running... is this deck intended for 2 player or 3+ player games. If it is for 2 player games, then by all means keep the Discard in the deck. However if it is for 3+ player games, then my advice is to drop the discard in favor of either more creatures, removal, mana ramp, or other good stuff that should make the deck run more smothly.

The reason I say this is because in 3+ player games, Discard simply is not your friend as it will make the player you use the Discard against into an enemy faster than you can say "1-2-3". Either way, if you must run discard, then run Discard such as Myojin of Night's Reach, or Syphon Mind. The only discard spells that only target one player that are really worth running are the ones that potentially drop an opponents entire hand (or most of it). So in that vein the only ones that are worth running are Persecute, Mind Sludge, and Mind Twist.

Hope that helps a bit?

Quote from Aryakin

wants more grappling hook, oversold cemetary, damnation, bloodchief Ascension.

mirri would make a better general, the other takes too long to come out and once its dead wont remain long. I'll think of more tomarrow... its an interesting concept as the vampire ability often enough has felt too weak, feels more like a psuedo fear.

The Ascension is already there, and I like the other suggestions... just don't feel like springing for the Damnation just yet. What would you suggest dropping for these cards?

Quote from DalkonCledwin

I have a question in regards to all the discard you are running... is this deck intended for 2 player or 3+ player games. If it is for 2 player games, then by all means keep the Discard in the deck. However if it is for 3+ player games, then my advice is to drop the discard in favor of either more creatures, removal, mana ramp, or other good stuff that should make the deck run more smothly.

The reason I say this is because in 3+ player games, Discard simply is not your friend as it will make the player you use the Discard against into an enemy faster than you can say "1-2-3". Either way, if you must run discard, then run Discard such as Myojin of Night's Reach, or Syphon Mind. The only discard spells that only target one player that are really worth running are the ones that potentially drop an opponents entire hand (or most of it). So in that vein the only ones that are worth running are Persecute, Mind Sludge, and Mind Twist.

Hope that helps a bit?

This is intended for 1 versus 1, so the discard has its place.
I know that people get whiney about discard, but they get whiney about LD and milling, too. Probably because they feel that it's "not fair," and that no one else should be running it, so they don't prepare for it. A constant slate of sweepers and pinpoint removal is equally annoying, but no one ever really seems to get their undies bunched over that one.
My plans for a multiplayer version would be to... leave it in. After all it's only 1/2 of 1% of the deck, not a dedicated strategy.

I disagree with the idea of putting Mirri as the General, if only because to fully use Mirri you kind of have to build around her (specifically she loves loves loves being the target of a well timed Hatred) where as Kalitas is more designed with Vampire EDH in general in mind. Though if you want one of the best Vampire EDH generals in existence, I would always recommend Baron Sengir as he serves a more protective roll. Kallitas and Mirri are both good in that they can both be really effective at pushing through General Damage in their own ways. But Baron Sengir is more designed to work with a pure Aggro Strategy in mind.

I'd prefer Kalitas or Baron Sengir cuz they are more "Vampire General flavored" than Mirri. But yeah, Mirri + Hatred is the best way to win. But not so funny I think... Oh, where is Hatred??? Hatred + Lifelink is funny. Whispersilk Cloak is better than Trailblazer's Boots
but Loxodon Warhammer is much better. And Lifelink is well flavored with Vampires.

Quote from Lilti

I'd prefer Kalitas or Baron Sengir cuz they are more "Vampire General flavored" than Mirri. But yeah, Mirri + Hatred is the best way to win. But not so funny I think... Oh, where is Hatred??? Hatred + Lifelink is funny. Whispersilk Cloak is better than Trailblazer's Boots
but Loxodon Warhammer is much better. And Lifelink is well flavored with Vampires.

Hatred isn't here because I don't own one. Same with the Warhammer. More lifelink is always welcome, though, so I might need one. I know there's a Whispersill Cloak around here somewhere that can go in... do you think it should be in addition to the Lightning Greaves and the Cloak and Dagger, or replace the Cloak and Dagger?

While the Baron is certainly my favorite vampire in the game, he just comes online so late at 8 mana. Mirri comes out twice as fast. But I may make the swap at some point for flavor reasoning.

Mirri is better, no doubt about that. I made this deck too and I chose Kalitas as general cuz 1) no Kalitas deck here 2) more flavoured. In fact, i've built my deck as more flavoured as possible.

Quote from Prince Tristan

Grim Discovery perhaps?

Thought about that one. But unless I'm going against someone with land destruction, I don't see me having the need to get back and lands from the graveyard. Would the Discovery be better than something simple, cheap, and straightforward like, say, Raise Dead?

Thoughts on Patriarch's Bidding? Right now it's in my Darigaaz/Karrthus Big Stomping Dragon EDH deck, but I was thinking it might be a better fit here.

Interestingly enough i had actually created my own vampire deck and though i havn't put it through any testing i did find a few uses of cards that you had, so i will post my own list in a spoiler just in case your interested in checking it out. My deck did use garza zol but thats really just because of colors, if only i could get some alternate art. One thing you NEED in the deck is Arena its just a house if you get it going early enough... all those utility creatures just become tastey morsels.

yep, but some people in the early game wont have a choice in what they choose if used at the right times, it also works wonders with death touching creatures.

For pure flavor reasons I put the Baron back in his rightful place as General.
I think Mirri is quicker and more powerful, but the Baron is, well, the Baron.
But the fact of the matter is that all three of them are equally interchangeable.

Cover of Darkness is in.

Still looking for Volrath's Stronghold, Vampiric Tutor, Damnation, and Liliana Vess.

In the meantime, any suggestions on three cards to cut? I want to add two more lands and an Expedition Map. I cannot decide what needs to go. Also, would Eldrazi Monument be worthwhile here, or not worth the space?

Quote from purple_pixie

A valid point.

A Gorgon Flail-equipped Commander Eesha would be undisputed king of the Arena.

(And no, Progenitus wouldn't get involved - he's got protection from the Arena itself)

And in classic Johnny fashion I'd probably Purelace the Arena so they couldn't enter pro-white creatures :-D

Aww now you made me want to make a new deck ...

Congrats dude...you just made me want to make a Commander Eesha EDH with Gorgon Flail and Arena. >_>

Why do I never see Patriarch's Bidding in these creature based theme EDH decks. I mean Mono Black with tutors is the simplest but I never see it in any Scion of the Ur-Dragon decks either. I mean name Vampires after a Damnation and watch your opponent(s) jaws drop.