Protection is one of my favorite mechanics, I'd like to really unleash 8.5 Tails in a non-Voltron deck, still with an excellent supporting cast. There's a lot of protection granting, some color changing, some classic white redirect damage spells. There's a smallish element of combo/abuse fighting as well - Containment Priest, Hushwing Gryff, Angel of Jubilation, Rest in Peace, etc. There isn't a ton of extra card draw, because I'm hoping to even the field with Spirit of the Labyrinth.
My meta is reasonably competitive, so I'm not shying away from powerful cards, but I don't want to do a lot of tutoring. The only exception is a little bit of land tutoring, which I really only plan to use to find Arcane Lighthouse. I did just make the last cuts down to 100; however, if I'm missing some really good fits for this deck concept, I'm open to making room. Thanks in advance!
With limited draw and ramp, the first thing I'd be cutting are those high cost spells you have. If you can't get your spirit of the labyrinth out you may find yourself in trouble early. I play a mono-W Avacyn, Guardian Angel deck and have issues with the same thing. Your deck isn't as mana hungry as mine is, but since you're already reconsidering Endless Horizons I'd start there. Your Commander gives it the extra protection it often needs.
If you do eventually decide to try a little more searching Oreskos Explorer & Knight of the White Orchid would be my first two additions, due to low-mana cost and unlike the Land Tax they can chump-block for all eternity.
Thanks, I appreciate your input and this was definitely something I was concerned about - very helpful to hear from someone who plays a similar deck. Mine isn't a TurboFog like yours, obviously, but I'll still need to keep up a good amount of mana at all times. I cut two expensive things and added Endless Horizons back, and Burnished Hart. At 104 still, gotta keep looking for cuts.
The deck is finally down to 100 - would appreciate some fresh input! Any good inclusions that I'm missing? Thanks as always, I always appreciate the community's help on my decks.
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"The sword blazed bright as he held it high, filling him with righteous might." - Book 4, Tome of Kor-Nevan
Good point on Mystifying Maze giving another ETB - however, I don't think I want any lands that don't make mana. I think I'm just going to slash the Maze altogether.
Gideon Jura over Gideon, Champion of Justice is a neat idea - still can fill the beatstick role, while also having more utility with the +2 effect and the Vengeance effect. I'll give it a shot, although the lack of indestructible might be tough - looks like they must have realized that part was important since each other subsequent Gideon has it. Still, I can protect him with 8.5 Tails. Thanks for the input!
My meta is reasonably competitive, so I'm not shying away from powerful cards, but I don't want to do a lot of tutoring. The only exception is a little bit of land tutoring, which I really only plan to use to find Arcane Lighthouse. I did just make the last cuts down to 100; however, if I'm missing some really good fits for this deck concept, I'm open to making room. Thanks in advance!
2 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Creature (27)
1 Mother of Runes
1 Weathered Wayfarer
2 Containment Priest
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Spirit of the Labyrinth
3 Burnished Hart
3 Cloudchaser Kestrel
3 Hedron-Field Purists
3 Hushwing Gryff
3 Samite Elder
4 Angel of Jubilation
4 Heliod, God of the Sun
4 Selfless Squire
5 Avacyn, Guardian Angel
5 Blinding Angel
5 Glory
5 Guardian of the Gateless
5 Pentarch Paladin
5 Sunscorch Regent
6 Crovax, Ascendant Hero
6 Hand of Justice
6 Palisade Giant
6 Purity
6 Sun Titan
6 Twilight Shepherd
7 Emeria Shepherd
7 Vengeful Archon
1 Brave the Elements
2 Dawn Charm
3 Akroma's Blessing
3 Eerie Interlude
3 Make a Stand
4 Comeuppance
4 Faith's Reward
4 Return to Dust
5 Turn the Tables
6 Channel Harm
Sorcery (4)
2 Glare of Heresy
6 Descend upon the Sinful
6 Sudden Disappearance
7 Mass Calcify
Artifact (9)
1 Expedition Map
1 Glaring Spotlight
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
3 Commander's Sphere
3 Strata Scythe
4 Gemstone Array
5 Pariah's Shield
6 Caged Sun
Enchantment (9)
2 Circle of Protection: White
2 Earnest Fellowship
2 Luminarch Ascension
2 Mark of Asylum
2 Rest in Peace
2 Rune of Protection: White
3 Crackdown
4 Curse of Exhaustion
4 Light from Within
4 Ajani Steadfast
5 Gideon Jura
Land (38)
27 Plains
1 Arcane Lighthouse
1 Deserted Temple
1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
1 Fountain of Cho
1 Kor Haven
1 Myriad Landscape
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Opal Palace
1 Secluded Steppe
1 Temple of the False God
1 Terrain Generator
1/15/17: added Consulate Crackdown and Exquisite Archangel to Other cards considered list
Other cards considered:
- Aurora Griffin
- Guardian Seraph
- Kithkin Rabble
- Loxodon Gatekeeper
- Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
- Pristine Angel
- Subjugator Angel
- Sunblast Angel
- Angel of the Dire Hour
- Angelic Arbiter
- Eternal Dragon
- Exquisite Archangel
- Ivory Giant
- Quarry Colossus
- Swords to Plowshares
- Leave No Trace
- Shining Shoal
- Unexpectedly Absent
- Oblation
- Mirror Strike
- Patrician's Scorn
- Gaze of Justice
- Blinding Light
- Council's Judgment
- Hallowed Burial
- Rout
- Saltblast
- Paradise Plume
- Loreseeker's Stone
- Quarantine Field
- Armistice
- Cover of Winter
- Grasp of Fate
- Karmic Justice
- Prison Term
- Story Circle
- Citadel Siege
- Endless Horizons
- Harsh Judgment
- Reverence
- Sphere of Truth
- Consulate Crackdown
- Martyr's Bond
- True Conviction
- Ajani Goldmane
- Gideon, Champion of Justice
Current EDH decks:
WBG Doran, the Siege Tower (I Like Big Butts)
URG Surrak Dragonclaw (Guttural Response)
UG Ezuri, Claw of Progress (Phyrexia's Claw)
BR Kaervek the Merciless (Keep Kaervek Alive)
BG Ishkanah, Grafwidow (Descend into Delirium)
W Eight-and-a-Half-Tails (Mark 8.5)
U Thassa, God of the Sea (Here There Be Monsters)
Thanks, I appreciate your input and this was definitely something I was concerned about - very helpful to hear from someone who plays a similar deck. Mine isn't a TurboFog like yours, obviously, but I'll still need to keep up a good amount of mana at all times. I cut two expensive things and added Endless Horizons back, and Burnished Hart. At 104 still, gotta keep looking for cuts.
Current EDH decks:
WBG Doran, the Siege Tower (I Like Big Butts)
URG Surrak Dragonclaw (Guttural Response)
UG Ezuri, Claw of Progress (Phyrexia's Claw)
BR Kaervek the Merciless (Keep Kaervek Alive)
BG Ishkanah, Grafwidow (Descend into Delirium)
W Eight-and-a-Half-Tails (Mark 8.5)
U Thassa, God of the Sea (Here There Be Monsters)
Current EDH decks:
WBG Doran, the Siege Tower (I Like Big Butts)
URG Surrak Dragonclaw (Guttural Response)
UG Ezuri, Claw of Progress (Phyrexia's Claw)
BR Kaervek the Merciless (Keep Kaervek Alive)
BG Ishkanah, Grafwidow (Descend into Delirium)
W Eight-and-a-Half-Tails (Mark 8.5)
U Thassa, God of the Sea (Here There Be Monsters)
Gideon Jura over Gideon, Champion of Justice is a neat idea - still can fill the beatstick role, while also having more utility with the +2 effect and the Vengeance effect. I'll give it a shot, although the lack of indestructible might be tough - looks like they must have realized that part was important since each other subsequent Gideon has it. Still, I can protect him with 8.5 Tails. Thanks for the input!
Current EDH decks:
WBG Doran, the Siege Tower (I Like Big Butts)
URG Surrak Dragonclaw (Guttural Response)
UG Ezuri, Claw of Progress (Phyrexia's Claw)
BR Kaervek the Merciless (Keep Kaervek Alive)
BG Ishkanah, Grafwidow (Descend into Delirium)
W Eight-and-a-Half-Tails (Mark 8.5)
U Thassa, God of the Sea (Here There Be Monsters)