Intro
Hi All, I would like to thank you for taking the time out out your busy day and looking at my deck. I would like to also say thanks to any one that took the time to post any thing that they thought was wrong or would help my deck become more successful. That being said I have only been playing Commander since early 2012 and if you see anything I can fix let me know, you wont hurt my feelings if your really trying to help my.
This is probably my favorite Commander. From what I have seen while playing Marchesa, she can bring the beat down and make it so the weaker players have a chance. Marchesa brings allot of unique abilities to the table as a general, lets start with her dethrone ability. Dethrone by itself gives your creature a +1/+1 counter just for attacking the player with highest HP's, but this is one of those the thing that makes Marchesa shine. She gives it to all your creatures on the battlefield when she is out turning all your creatures in to a real scary force. Now that you have those AWESOME +1/+1 counters her next ability come into play, when one of your creatures dies it comes back to the battlefield at the end of the turn.... Meaning your stuff has some type of wrath protection and it is a great time for any of your creatures that have ETB or LTB effects. But wait not does it bring back your creatures it also give you a way to get around the negatives of ability like Undying and Persist. The last thing about her is if you stole a buddies creature and got a +1/+1 counter on it and you can manage to sac it or get it killed, you get to keep it. If you think of any ideas to improve my deck I am all ears.
Reasons to play Marchesa
1. You like to play around with ETB/LTB effect.
2. you like to play with Persist/Undying abilities
3. you like to attack the player with the most HP
4. you like to use other ppl's creatures against them.
5. you like to have some sort of Warth protection
6. you like having a general that can do allot of things for you side of the table
Reasons Not to play Marchesa
1. You like to have a general that is more focused in one area.
2. You don'd like to build and play around your general.
3. You don't like to steal other players creatures.
4. You don't like to be considered the threat at the table.
5. You don't like to play around with stack effects
6. You don't like any sort of control deck
My Deck
Deck cost $883.69
This is in U.S. dollars not Euro the cards are cheaper on the EU side i will post the deck cost in euro when I get a chance.
Other Peoples decks
There are a Few decks out there for Marchesa take a look if you like.
I pulled allot of inspiration from theonecalledrune
Another theme I am looking forward to try is Infect, and Thundaklutch has a deck just for that.
Marchesa Staples!
These are just the cards i feel should be in all Marchesa decks if you fell other wise let me know and we can have a discussion on it.
Unspeakable Symbol is one of the best cards for any Marchesa deck it does two things for you 1. gives you your +1/+1 counters 2. it can be used to lower your life total and get you off the throne.
Flayer of the Hatebound is an excellent card for dishing out damage and getting around your enemy's defenses with very little threat to you.
/
Zealous Conscripts will allow you to steal your opponents creatures. Ashnod's Altar is a great sac outlet but any of the altars will do.
Recursion Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed / Archaeomancer are great card for getting your spells back. Xiahou is on of the best cards you can run in a Marchesa deck he can be used to recur any Black card.
Living death with XDH it's all creatures comeing back over and over and over again.
Yawgmoth's Will Played at the right time you can get any card back that you really need
Evasion Sun Quan, Lord of Wu / Vela the Night-Clad are great cards for providing your creatures evasion. I run Sun Quan instead of Vela because I am trying to somewhat of a theme.
Card Draw Mulldrifter / Sage of Fables / Baleful Strix for card draw I would love to Put a Skullclamp in there but I can't find the room. River Kelpie is another great card draw creature but in the right circumstances you can mill your self to death so be careful if you use it.
Token Producers Chasm Skulker Not only does it produce its own +1/+1 counters, when it die it makes them in to an army.
Goblin Rabblemaster not only does he constantly make tokens, he uses those to little monsters to do more damage
Myr Battlesphere you can quickly produce a 1/1 myr army and if done right you can go infinite turns and tokens with Time Sieve
Beaters Ignition Team/Academy Elite/Drakestown Forgotten these guys are scary late game and because they are so big when they come out to can sac them to allot of your sac outlets to do some real damage.
Blood Tyrant can become really huge in a game with allot of people just be careful you don't gain the throne with him
Thraximundar easy way to keep your enemies for having creatures and with him you don't have to keep attacking the player with the highest life total.
Mass Removal profaner of the dead this guy can keep the board clear for you slaughter your enemies.
Misc Phyrexian Obliterator does not have any synergy in the deck, but he acts as a great detour-ant from attacks no one want to damage and kill something that will make you sack you permanents when it will just come back at the end of the round.
Deadeye Navigator is great for protecting one of your guys when Marchesa is not out and when paired with Draining Whelk that is a cheap counter spell.
Chainer, Dementia Master is great for stealing your buddies creatures from their graveyard and for lowering your life to get you off the throne. the only reason I don't run it is that when it comes out I like to abuse it and I don't have enough life gain in this deck to keep me out of trouble.
Note: Just as a note my play group is huge 8-10 ppl so I have not had the chance to test it out on any smaller games.
this deck is made to adapt to most the situation you find your self in, so I try keep a tutor in hand just in case I need the help. Above all else you want to abuse Marchesa'a abilities with any ETB or LTB creatures that suit your play stile.
Early: try to get out all three colors of many in the first four turns along with some sort of haste generator so you can get Marchesa out and generating +1/+1 counters fast. Having a card draw ETB creature out soon all help so you don't have to rely on your tutors as much and us them for a the really important stuff.
Mid: this is when it get the hardest to play do to the resource war having cards like Mulldrifter / Baleful Strix and a tutor or two will help you come out on top. The big thing that seem to always put me in a bind is Group Hug decks because it take away your card advantage.
Sundial of the Infinite I can not say this enough If you see this card out KILL IT KILL IT. this thing will shut off Marchesa fast during other ppls turns.
Stonecloaker is a quick way for some one to shut down the Marchesa shenanigans.
Hello there! If you check out my list here, i've been keeping tabs on what works and what doesn't in the deck really. Hopefully you get some inspiration!
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
I love the the Cytoplast Manipulator idea i wish i would have thought of it earlier. Unfortunately Ob-Nixilis, Unshackled is frowned upon i my play group i would love to add it but i cant.I have Taurean Mauler on order now but i don't know what I am going to swap it with. RockSlide Elemental would work to but alas I don't have that card ether.
i had Sage of Fables in the deck earlier but it was not making the impact I wanted I swapped it for Mulldrifter. I did not think of Ashnod's Altar but I will look for a place in my deck for it. In most cases I don't like infinites so I wont be using Triskelion.
Gild or Tragic Slip are good choices but i don't know way I am going to take out.
I thing I am going to add Phyrexian Obliterator and see what I trouble I can stir up with it.
Does any one Know if there is a similar card to Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed no one around my area has one for trade and I don't feel like paying $100 for a cards. I am looking for a creature not a instant or sorcery.
XHD is available as a judge promo for much less than $100 last I checked (should be like $20 or so).
Not sure I see the point of draining whelk. Marchesa returns the creature at eot so it is literally impossible to counter a spell with it from marchesa. It'll just come back as a 1/1 flyer. Doesn't seem worth paying so much for a counterspell to me.
In general, your curve is painfully high. You've also got a lot of creatures that could be abused with marchesa's recursion, with few ways to actually sacrifice them. goblin bombardment, along with loads of other free sac outlets like ashnod's altar and phyrexian altar are excellent at enabling your engines.
cabal coffers looks bad with the number of swamps you have. The only way to use coffers is in monoblack and/or with urborg, tomb of yawgmoth. And if you're going the latter route, you'd better have enough tutors to get it reliably (and want to do so). On a similar note, phyrexian obliterator looks virtually uncastable with your manabase, and has no real synergy with marchesa. He's a decent beater for mono-black, or maybe 2-color with a good manabase (fetches, duals, shocks, etc), definitely not in 3-color with very little fixing.
Dude you are Awesome i just spent 3 hours looking of my Gravedigger to replace Warren Pilferers and you save me with 2 better cards. As for Demonic Tutor I currently have it on order. The judge promo Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed still runs 50$ and don't like spending that much on a card.
The alters are on order to I have them both but I don't want to pull apart my Oona deck for them. Draining Whelk just got pulled and Sage of Fables got put back in. As far as the curve I usually play in 8 to 10 ppl games so I have not had a problem with it so far.
phyrexian obliterator looks virtually uncastable with your manabase, and has no real synergy with marchesa
The last game i got phyrexian obliterator easy enough and ppl did not want to block him. With Machesa out he was a real beast that did not die and just kept getting bigger until someone exiled him. I might take it out do to some of the ppl in my play group getting butt hurt about his abilities. If I put a card in there to give him fly he would be an awesome wall ppl were afraid I would block with him so i did not get attacked allot while i had him out.
Does any one Know if there is a similar card to Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed no one around my area has one for trade and I don't feel like paying $100 for a cards. I am looking for a creature not a instant or sorcery.
YOu can get foils ones for under 100 bucks, and that guy pulls more weight than most of the other creatures in the deck. Living Death with him is disgusting.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Ok I just picked up Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed for 30 euros here in Germany far cheaper than any were i could find it in the U.S. but that being said what should I pull from the deck to put this B.A. MOFO in.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
I agree on the Dimir charm it has not been up to snuff. I was going to replace it with phyrexian altar when I get it in the mail, but i will switch these two now. Thanks for your help.
Hmmm the more I look at my deck the more I notice I need to have the ability to cheat monsters out. Any suggestions besidesSneak attackit cost to much for me I just found it for 25 euros here in Germany....I don't know if it is in english thou.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
I borrowed Dong Zhou, the Tyrant from a friend to see how he would do in this deck and I love him. The friend I borrowed it from managed to get a 64/64 Creature on the field and then I dropped Dong Zhou, the Tyrant on the field....He was so mad and I was ROTFLMAO for a good 5 min. So when I went ahead and ordered one.
Fulminator mage is the best land destruction dude for the deck I can think of, but is not cheap by any means. Ravenous baboons is a lot cheaper, and works a bit better than stingmoggie for sure. 8 mana for value is pretty bad I think. Jokulhops is always an option if your playgroup is a bit cutthroat. I cut it from my deck because I was tired of winning with it
The absolute best thing as far as land destruction besides a one time wipe isn't a dude, its Shivan Harvest. It's reusable, it's a sac outlet, and it's cheap. Should probably throw that in over stingmoggie.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
My group hates land destruction carda but I am tired of dealing with The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale unfortunately I don't have the money to get Fulminator mage right now and the only reason I was thinking of running stingmoggie was the two +1/+1 counters it ETB with and Avalanche Riders has built in haste so i can attack and get the +1/+1 counter right away and not have to worry about the echo cost so much, but yes Fulminator mage is on my list of cards to get right after i get a Imperial Recruiter.... if I can find one for under 100 bucks which means I will be stalking the German card markets and internet. I have to pull Shivan Harvest out of one of my other decks but it will work till i can get a Fulminator mage.
Ok I added a budget deck section. It is currently at $63.61 and I want to get it to two $40 or less and still be playable. The Current $63 deck is playable and still fun so any help would be awesome!!!
If I cut all the Nonbasic lands I can get the deck to $55, but I don't know if I will be doing the deck any favors if I do that.
OK so I got the budget deck to under $50 I will have to test the changes this weekend but i am still looking for ways to reduce the cost and keep the functionality of the deck.
Wow has any body tried Chainer, Dementia Master in the deck yet? I am currently running it in my budget version of this deck and he is a powerhouse. I am thinking of putting him in my main Marchesa deck. The only draw back is when he leaves play. But I don't see it being much of a problem.
Deck update
Fixed my land, got ride of allot of basic land bring total to 40. Added a few creatures.
Is there any way to get around Chainer, Dementia Master exile ability. I think i am going to drop Master Thief and put Chainer into my main deck after runing my budget version again and see how OP he really is.
My link coming along nicely any advice is welcome.
Modern: UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy: UWBMiracles
Edh: UUUThassa Control WWWHokori Stax GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy BBBGriselbrand French List RBGShattergang(Super Villians) RWGHazezon Flicker UBRMarchesa Aggro URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
sweet thanks I was wondering if sacrificing them would stop the exile affect. I have both stifle/trickbind set in my I want to try pile this might give me the chance I need.
Table of Content
Reasons to play Marchesa
Reasons Not to play Marchesa
My Deck
Other Peoples decks
Marchesa Staples!
Cards I run and why
Cards I don't run but you may want to
Fun combos
Game Play
Thing you want to kill as soon as you see them.
Change Log
Cards I want to try
Budget deck (WiP)
Intro
Hi All, I would like to thank you for taking the time out out your busy day and looking at my deck. I would like to also say thanks to any one that took the time to post any thing that they thought was wrong or would help my deck become more successful. That being said I have only been playing Commander since early 2012 and if you see anything I can fix let me know, you wont hurt my feelings if your really trying to help my.
Well here is my Marchesa, the Black Rose deck with her three OP generals Dong Zhou, the Tyrant / Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed / Sun Quan, Lord of Wu.
This is probably my favorite Commander. From what I have seen while playing Marchesa, she can bring the beat down and make it so the weaker players have a chance. Marchesa brings allot of unique abilities to the table as a general, lets start with her dethrone ability. Dethrone by itself gives your creature a +1/+1 counter just for attacking the player with highest HP's, but this is one of those the thing that makes Marchesa shine. She gives it to all your creatures on the battlefield when she is out turning all your creatures in to a real scary force. Now that you have those AWESOME +1/+1 counters her next ability come into play, when one of your creatures dies it comes back to the battlefield at the end of the turn.... Meaning your stuff has some type of wrath protection and it is a great time for any of your creatures that have ETB or LTB effects. But wait not does it bring back your creatures it also give you a way to get around the negatives of ability like Undying and Persist. The last thing about her is if you stole a buddies creature and got a +1/+1 counter on it and you can manage to sac it or get it killed, you get to keep it. If you think of any ideas to improve my deck I am all ears.
1. You like to play around with ETB/LTB effect.
2. you like to play with Persist/Undying abilities
3. you like to attack the player with the most HP
4. you like to use other ppl's creatures against them.
5. you like to have some sort of Warth protection
6. you like having a general that can do allot of things for you side of the table
1. You like to have a general that is more focused in one area.
2. You don'd like to build and play around your general.
3. You don't like to steal other players creatures.
4. You don't like to be considered the threat at the table.
5. You don't like to play around with stack effects
6. You don't like any sort of control deck
My Deck
Deck cost $883.69
This is in U.S. dollars not Euro the cards are cheaper on the EU side i will post the deck cost in euro when I get a chance.
4 Marchesa, the Black Rose
Creatures
1 Carrion Feeder
2 Baleful Strix
3 Feldon of the Third Path
3 Imperial Recruiter
3 Sage of Fables
3 Cadaver Imp
4 Anger
4 Aura Thief
4 Disciple of Bolas
4 Cytoplast Manipulator
4 Dack's Duplicate
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Fleshwrither
4 Glen Elendra Archmage
4 Master Thief
4 Phyrexian Obliterator
4 Profaner of the Dead
4 Sower of Temptation
4 Sakashima the Impostor
4 Vendilion Clique
4 Venser, Shaper Savant
4 Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
5 Dong Zhou, the Tyrant
5 Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
5 Helium Squirter
5 Ingot Chewer
5 Kiki-jiki, Mirror Breaker
5 Mindclaw Shaman
5 Mulldrifter
5 Puppeteer Clique
5 Ravaging horde
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
5 Urabrask the Hidden
5 Zealous Conscripts
6 Flayer of the Hatebound
6 Massacre Wurm
6 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
6 Sun Quan, Lord of Wu
7 Blood Tyrant
7 Ignition Team
7 Thraximundar
Sorcery
2 Demonic Tutor
3 Yawgmoth's Will
4 Damnation
5 Living Death
8 Insurrection
8 Overwhelming Forces
Instants
1 Vampiric Tutor
3 Soul Manipulation
Enchantments
2 Goblin Bombardment
3 Attrition
3 Unspeakable Symbol
4 Sneak Attack
4 Whip of Erebos
7 Grave Betrayal
Artifacts
1 Sol Ring
3 Ashnod's Altar
3 Chromatic Lantern
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Phyrexian Altar
Lands
1 Akoum Refuge
1 Arena
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Command Tower
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Crumbling Necropolis
1 Dimir Guildgate
1 Drowned Catacomb
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Mana Confluence
1 Maze of Ith
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Miren, the Moaning Well
1 Molten Slagheap
1 Opal Palace
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Rakdos Carnarium
1 Rakdos Guildgate
1 Reflecting pool
1 Riptide Laboratory
1 Rupture Spire
1 Shimmering Grotto
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1 Steam Vents
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vesuva
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Watery Grave
2 Swamp
3 Mountain
1 Island
Other Peoples decks
There are a Few decks out there for Marchesa take a look if you like.
I pulled allot of inspiration from theonecalledrune
Another theme I am looking forward to try is Infect, and Thundaklutch has a deck just for that.
Marchesa Staples!
These are just the cards i feel should be in all Marchesa decks if you fell other wise let me know and we can have a discussion on it.
Sage of Fables along with an Opal Palace to generate +1/+1 counters for Marchesa
Unspeakable Symbol is one of the best cards for any Marchesa deck it does two things for you 1. gives you your +1/+1 counters 2. it can be used to lower your life total and get you off the throne.
Flayer of the Hatebound is an excellent card for dishing out damage and getting around your enemy's defenses with very little threat to you.
/
Zealous Conscripts will allow you to steal your opponents creatures. Ashnod's Altar is a great sac outlet but any of the altars will do.
Cards I run and why
Recursion
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed / Archaeomancer are great card for getting your spells back. Xiahou is on of the best cards you can run in a Marchesa deck he can be used to recur any Black card.
Living death with XDH it's all creatures comeing back over and over and over again.
Yawgmoth's Will Played at the right time you can get any card back that you really need
Tutors
Vampiric Tutor / Demonic Tutor / Diabolic Intent / Beseech the Queen / Increasing Ambition / diabolic Revelation the more tutor the quicker you can set your board up.
Fleshwrither / Dimir House Guard are Great Tutors too but I run Fleshwrither because it is straight to the battlefield.
Imperial Recruiter super easy to bounce back and forth between the battlefield and graveyard
Sidisi, Undead Vizier lets you sac a creature to tutor I only wish he had flash.
Mass Removal
Profaner of the Dead if you spend time building those +1/+1 counters on a creature you can wipe the board with this guy
Damnation one of the best wrath cards for black
Overwhelming Forces you can take out those pesky blocker and you get cards for doing Sign me up
Theft
Aura Thief / Venser, Shaper Savant are GREAT cards for getting around those pesky enchantments like Stranglehold or Propaganda and with Aura Thief they become yours.
Master Thief is great for stealing all your friends cool artifacts I keep switch between him and Venser, Shaper Savant i love them both for this deck.
Cytoplast Manipulator / Sower of Temptation / Molten Primordial / Puppeteer Clique / Zealous Conscripts / Insurrection are great for stealing your buddies creatures if you can a a +1/+1 counter on them and then sac them you get them permanently. Helm of Possession is another scary card you can place with Marchesa, you can get a sac effect and steal a friends creature.
Evasion
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu / Vela the Night-Clad are great cards for providing your creatures evasion. I run Sun Quan instead of Vela because I am trying to somewhat of a theme.
Card Draw
Mulldrifter / Sage of Fables / Baleful Strix for card draw I would love to Put a Skullclamp in there but I can't find the room. River Kelpie is another great card draw creature but in the right circumstances you can mill your self to death so be careful if you use it.
Sac outlet
Carrion Feeder / Falkenrath Aristocrat / Phyrexian Altar / Ashnod's Altar sac outlets I want to add Phyrexian Plaguelord but I don't have the room.
Token Producers
Chasm Skulker Not only does it produce its own +1/+1 counters, when it die it makes them in to an army.
Goblin Rabblemaster not only does he constantly make tokens, he uses those to little monsters to do more damage
Myr Battlesphere you can quickly produce a 1/1 myr army and if done right you can go infinite turns and tokens with Time Sieve
Beaters
Ignition Team/Academy Elite/Drakestown Forgotten these guys are scary late game and because they are so big when they come out to can sac them to allot of your sac outlets to do some real damage.
Blood Tyrant can become really huge in a game with allot of people just be careful you don't gain the throne with him
Thraximundar easy way to keep your enemies for having creatures and with him you don't have to keep attacking the player with the highest life total.
Mass Removal
profaner of the dead this guy can keep the board clear for you slaughter your enemies.
Land destruction
Stingmoggie / Avalanche Riders / Fire Snake / Goblin Gardener / Ravaging Horde.All are great spot removals for those problem lands.
Fulminator mage one of the best land removal cards that has built in self sac.
Shivan Harvest enchantment that lets you sac a creature to kill a land. With enough Mana this card is something that force people to deal with it.
ETB Damage
Dong Zhou, the Tyrant / Flayer of the Hatebound are excellent cards for dishing out damage and getting around your enemy's defenses with very little threat to you.
Land Search
Solemn Simulacrum / Burnished Hart are great for when you need a land.
Haste
Anger / Urabrask the Hidden / Hammer of Purphoros / Fervor gets your creatures haste so they can get +1/+1 counters right off the bat.
Misc
Phyrexian Obliterator does not have any synergy in the deck, but he acts as a great detour-ant from attacks no one want to damage and kill something that will make you sack you permanents when it will just come back at the end of the round.
Cards I don't run but you may want to.
Deadeye Navigator is great for protecting one of your guys when Marchesa is not out and when paired with Draining Whelk that is a cheap counter spell.
Chainer, Dementia Master is great for stealing your buddies creatures from their graveyard and for lowering your life to get you off the throne. the only reason I don't run it is that when it comes out I like to abuse it and I don't have enough life gain in this deck to keep me out of trouble.
Triskelion great with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed as a win condition if you like infinite combos.
Chaos Imps / Carnival Hellsteed / Exava, Rakdos Blood witch / Hellhole Flailer all have Unleash so you get to start with +1/+1 counters.
Geralf's Messenger / Hound of Griselbrand both have Undying and with Geralf's Messenger you can go Infinite.
River Kelpie has persist and is great for card draw.
Thrummingbird is fun if you want to focus on +1/+1 counters.
Taurean Mauler / Rockslide Elemental are great for build a B.F.M. no want to fight.
Sage of Hours is great for getting an extra turn.
Hamletback Goliath can become a real threat fast especially if you have a board wipe with Marchesa out.
Helium Squirter can get your guys +1/+1 counter and give them flying if they need it.
Ogre Battledriver gets you haste and +2/+0 for the turn.
Helm of Possession is a great sac outlet and gets you a creature.
Dragon Blood is a slow but sure way to get +1/+1 counters on your creatures.
Fun combos
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed + Living Death = unending Graveyard recursion...good times to be had.
Flayer of the Hatebound + Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Marchesa + sac outlet = flayer haveing his way with your play group...and it's not pretty
Kiki-jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts + Marchesa + sac outlet = steal creatures permanently.
Game Play
Note: Just as a note my play group is huge 8-10 ppl so I have not had the chance to test it out on any smaller games.
this deck is made to adapt to most the situation you find your self in, so I try keep a tutor in hand just in case I need the help. Above all else you want to abuse Marchesa'a abilities with any ETB or LTB creatures that suit your play stile.
Early: try to get out all three colors of many in the first four turns along with some sort of haste generator so you can get Marchesa out and generating +1/+1 counters fast. Having a card draw ETB creature out soon all help so you don't have to rely on your tutors as much and us them for a the really important stuff.
Mid: this is when it get the hardest to play do to the resource war having cards like Mulldrifter / Baleful Strix and a tutor or two will help you come out on top. The big thing that seem to always put me in a bind is Group Hug decks because it take away your card advantage.
Late: now this is were you do the real destruction you want to drop cards like Dong Zhou, the Tyrant or Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed + Living Death to take out people quick. Insurrection with a sac outlet is too if you can kill the everyone.
Thing you want to kill as soon as you see them.
It that Betrays can bring down the deck real fast. I like to sac my stuff all the time.
Mindslaver if you don't have and answer for this and you have Unspeakable Symbol or Necropotence just scoop.
Geth, Lord of the Vault can shut down the you deck real fast if they have allot of mana and you cant get to you Living death.
Sundial of the Infinite I can not say this enough If you see this card out KILL IT KILL IT. this thing will shut off Marchesa fast during other ppls turns.
Stonecloaker is a quick way for some one to shut down the Marchesa shenanigans.
Linvala, Keeper of Silence stops your activated abilities.
Angel of Jubilation Shuts down your sac engines.
Iona, Shield of Emeria stop you form casting your general and your more fun spells.
Change Log
+ Sage of Fables gives Marchesa +1/+1 and some card draw
+ Cadaver Imp sac outlet
+ Baleful Strix more card draw
+ Command Tower mana boost
+ Ashnod's Altar sac affect
+ Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed Best card out there for recurring black cards
+ Whip of Erebos HP gain is need some times to stay alive
+ Ravenous Baboons Some lands need to die
+ Living Death recursion fun with XDH
+ Master Thief steal other peoples artifact
+ Zealous Conscripts Steal more creatures
+ Anger haste effect
+ Ravaging Horde targets any lands
+ Vendilion Clique currently testing
+ Imperial Recruiter BA tutor and easy to recur
+ Overwhelming Forces better than In Garruk's Wake and it come with card draw
+ Necropotence to improve my card draw
+ Bitterblossom go for fixing life and provide you with blockers
+ Feldon of the Third Path So many potentials
+ Triskelion i am just giving this a try for now
+ Sakashima the Impostor Two Marchesa's YES please
+ Mindclaw Shaman What you got there....Oh I think i will use that
+ Splinter Twin another good copy card for this deck
+ Goblin Bombardment i needed another sack outlet
+ Ingot Chewer better artifact removal
+ Helium Squirter works well in the deck for getting counter on creatures
+ Ignition Team OK this card needs to be added to all Marchesa, the Black decks!
+ Drakestown Forgotten another big hitter
+ Altar of Dementia mill affect
+ Disciple of Bolas Card draw and life gain
+ Sidisi, Undead Vizier love this card and how broken it is in this deck.
+ Profaner of the Dead it looks awesome i cant wait to see the efect on the game
+ Yawgmoth's Will let me play cards form my graveyard...if played with Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed or Archaeomancer I can get it back before it exiles it self.
- Rakdos Charm no impact on the game...I think i have only ever used this card once so out it goes
- Splinter Twin love this card but it did not do all i was hoping for.
- Drakestown Forgotten i miss it and will try to get it back in
- Obelisk of Grixis not using it
- Grave Betrayal love this card but it makes my play group hate me
- Necropotence there are a few people in my play group who run mindslaver so this card is death for me
- Triskelion I really don't like infinite combos.
- Bitterblossom not really working for me
- Master Thief I love this card but I need better artifact removal
- Scourge of the Throne generates WAY to much hate
- Murderous Redcap not really using it to its full potential
- Diabolic Intent trying to cut back on my tutors
- Beseech the Queen trying to cut back on my tutors
- Molten Primordial cost to much mana
- Rune-Scarred Demon I have never used
- Solemn Simulacrum is was not using it and it was providing no impact to my deck
- Increasing Ambition replaced for better card
- In Garruk's Wake upgraded
- diabolic Revelation traded out for the recruiter
- Dimir Cluestone not enough impact to my deck
- Ravenous Baboons AWESOME card but only targets nonbasic land
- Hinder never used it
- River Kelpie I dead to milling myself as funny as that was I still love the care but I need room for living death.
- Oona's Blackguard great card but was not impressed with it in this deck
- Dictate of Erebos
- Dimir Charm not enough impact
- Heat Stroke not enough impact
- Diluvian Primordial needed room for XHD but other than that i love this card
- Draining Whelk no impact without Deadeye Navigator
- Warren Pilferers up graded to a cheaper mana card
- Tymaret, the Murder King never got him out
- Mountain got better land
- Island brought my land down to 40
Cards I want to try
Dragon Blood / Power Conduit / Sage of Hours / Hurloon Shaman
Budget deck (WiP)
deck cost $48.97 Not counting the General and Basic land. I am trying to get the cost to under $40
Any advice is welcome
4 Marchesa, the Black Rose
Creatures
1 Carrion Feeder
2 Brine Shaman
2 Oona's Blackguard
2 Sage of Hours
3 Academy Elite
3 Burnished Hart
3 Cadaver Imp
3 Cephalid Constable
3 Sage of Fables
4 Anger
4 Archaeomancer
4 Aura Thief
4 Cytoplast Manipulator
4 Dack's Duplicate
4 Dimir House Guard
4 Evil Twin
4 Faceless Butcher
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Filth
4 Fleshwrither
4 Hellhole Rats
4 Murderous Redcap
4 Necrotic Ooze
4 Ravenous Baboons
5 Chainer, Dementia Master
5 Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
5 Mulldrifter
5 Helium Squirter
5 River Kelpie
6 Flayer of the Hatebound
6 Netherborn Phalanx
7 Molten Primordial
7 Thraximundar
7 Blood Tyrant
Sorcery
3 Black Sun's Zenith
4 Diabolic Tutor
4 Demonic Collusion
5 Increasing Ambition
5 diabolic Revelation
8 Insurrection
9 In Garruk's Wake
Instants
2 Rakdos Charm
2 Counterspell
3 Soul Manipulation
2 Feast on the Fallen
2 Goblin Bombardment
3 Attrition
3 Unspeakable Symbol
4 Whip of Erebos
6 Warstorm Surge
7 Grave Betrayal
Artifacts
2 Dimir Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
3 Ashnod's Altar
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Dimir Cluestone
3 Obelisk of Grixis
4 Quicksilver Amulet
Lands
14 Swamp
13 Mountain
13 Island
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Cytoplast Manipulator can do some really fun tricks
Ob-Nixilis, Unshackled does extreme work if it stays in play
Taurean Mauler can grow to crazy levels
Sage of Fables does double work as a +1/+1 generator and a draw engine when/if the board wipes come
Ashnod's Altar and its friends give you great advantage when Marchesa is in play, also stops people from taking your stuff
Triskelion might be a good win condition, unless your group doesn't like infinites
Gild or Tragic Slip are needed to deal with indestructible creatures
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
i had Sage of Fables in the deck earlier but it was not making the impact I wanted I swapped it for Mulldrifter. I did not think of Ashnod's Altar but I will look for a place in my deck for it. In most cases I don't like infinites so I wont be using Triskelion.
Gild or Tragic Slip are good choices but i don't know way I am going to take out.
I thing I am going to add Phyrexian Obliterator and see what I trouble I can stir up with it.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Does any one Know if there is a similar card to Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed no one around my area has one for trade and I don't feel like paying $100 for a cards. I am looking for a creature not a instant or sorcery.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Not sure I see the point of draining whelk. Marchesa returns the creature at eot so it is literally impossible to counter a spell with it from marchesa. It'll just come back as a 1/1 flyer. Doesn't seem worth paying so much for a counterspell to me.
Also, there's a certain lack of demonic tutor.
As you have few goblins, I think I'd run cadaver imp over warren pilferer, or better yet, phyrexian delver.
In general, your curve is painfully high. You've also got a lot of creatures that could be abused with marchesa's recursion, with few ways to actually sacrifice them. goblin bombardment, along with loads of other free sac outlets like ashnod's altar and phyrexian altar are excellent at enabling your engines.
cabal coffers looks bad with the number of swamps you have. The only way to use coffers is in monoblack and/or with urborg, tomb of yawgmoth. And if you're going the latter route, you'd better have enough tutors to get it reliably (and want to do so). On a similar note, phyrexian obliterator looks virtually uncastable with your manabase, and has no real synergy with marchesa. He's a decent beater for mono-black, or maybe 2-color with a good manabase (fetches, duals, shocks, etc), definitely not in 3-color with very little fixing.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Dude you are Awesome i just spent 3 hours looking of my Gravedigger to replace Warren Pilferers and you save me with 2 better cards. As for Demonic Tutor I currently have it on order. The judge promo Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed still runs 50$ and don't like spending that much on a card.
The alters are on order to I have them both but I don't want to pull apart my Oona deck for them.
Draining Whelk just got pulled and Sage of Fables got put back in. As far as the curve I usually play in 8 to 10 ppl games so I have not had a problem with it so far.
The last game i got phyrexian obliterator easy enough and ppl did not want to block him. With Machesa out he was a real beast that did not die and just kept getting bigger until someone exiled him. I might take it out do to some of the ppl in my play group getting butt hurt about his abilities. If I put a card in there to give him fly he would be an awesome wall ppl were afraid I would block with him so i did not get attacked allot while i had him out.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
YOu can get foils ones for under 100 bucks, and that guy pulls more weight than most of the other creatures in the deck. Living Death with him is disgusting.
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Also, warstorm surge should be replaced with flayer of the hatebound, that dude is nuts.
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Flayer of the Hatebound is already in the deck. Should I drop Warstorm surge completely?
I agree on the Dimir charm it has not been up to snuff. I was going to replace it with phyrexian altar when I get it in the mail, but i will switch these two now. Thanks for your help.
I have been digging thou all my old card and I found Hurloon Shaman / Blanket of Night / Cackling Fiend any opinions on these cards would be nice.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
besidesSneak attackit cost to much for meI just found it for 25 euros here in Germany....I don't know if it is in english thou.Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
- Venser, Shaper Savant
- Aura Thief (sac effect)
- Probably some other bounce options
Red and Black are notorious for their inability to deal with enchantments.
Btw fleshwrither can tutor for thief or Venser, and possibly return to tutor again.
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
I borrowed Dong Zhou, the Tyrant from a friend to see how he would do in this deck and I love him. The friend I borrowed it from managed to get a 64/64 Creature on the field and then I dropped Dong Zhou, the Tyrant on the field....He was so mad and I was ROTFLMAO for a good 5 min. So when I went ahead and ordered one.
And thanks for the info on Venser, Shaper Savant adn Aura Thief. I had to get ride of Master thief thou to fit on of them.
On a different note i am thinking of adding Sun Quan, Lord of Wu just to have the 3 generals of Marchesa theme...
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
I am currently leaning towards Stingmoggie / Avalanche Riders. Any ideas on witch one I should put in and/or is there a better choice?
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
The absolute best thing as far as land destruction besides a one time wipe isn't a dude, its Shivan Harvest. It's reusable, it's a sac outlet, and it's cheap. Should probably throw that in over stingmoggie.
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
If I cut all the Nonbasic lands I can get the deck to $55, but I don't know if I will be doing the deck any favors if I do that.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Fixed my land, got ride of allot of basic land bring total to 40. Added a few creatures.
Is there any way to get around Chainer, Dementia Master exile ability. I think i am going to drop Master Thief and put Chainer into my main deck after runing my budget version again and see how OP he really is.
My link coming along nicely any advice is welcome.
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae
Draft it Here!
UUUBlue Man Group
Legacy:
UWBMiracles
Edh:
UUUThassa Control
WWWHokori Stax
GGGJolrael, Empress of Land Stompy
BBBGriselbrand French List
RBGShattergang(Super Villians)
RWGHazezon Flicker
UBRMarchesa Aggro
URGMaelstom Wanderer (Maelstorm)
Karona, False God | Sliver King | Horde of Notions | Marchesa, the Black Rose | Rhys the Redeemed | Selvala, Explorer Returned | Angus Mackenale
Vela the Night-Clad | Kaalia of the Vast | Merieke Ri Berit | Jhoira of the Ghitu | Ashling the Pilgrim | Arcum Dagsson
Ertai, Wizard Adept | Glissa, the Traitor | Oona, Queen of the Fae