A little tribal, a little goodstuff, a lot of theme.
I've built a lot of EDH decks but most of them tend towards being heavily tuned and at least comparatively competitive (in a small, not always super competitive circuit). I wanted to do something very different, and finally decided a theme deck was about as far from my "norm" as I could get. The deck isn't entirely lacking power, and should still play well, but almost every single card is built to match something from the Harry Potter universe, specifically things that relate the to the primary antagonist the Dark Lord Voldemort (A.K.A. He Who Must Not Be Named).
Next, a list arranged by their flavorful placement in the deck. Spoilered for anyone who hasn't read the books or seen the movies. (Though you should totally go read the books. Right now. All seven of them. I'll wait.)
Finally, an explanation of each cards individual flavor and use in the deck:
Voldemort: Tasigur, The Golden Fang: The first creature in all three colors that represents power for powers sake, that also happens to actually be (more or less) human. The best Voldemort so far that isn't mono-black. He looks a bit more like a Tom Riddle or Malfoy (I.E. he isn't hard to look at), but the power of darkness can be quite seductive, right?
Voldemort's Forms: Master Biomancer: Another pretty face, could just as easily be either Malfor Sr. or Jr. with all that blond hair. His ability to pump up his followers feels a lot more like the young charismatic Tom Riddle. Helps the small counter sub-theme in the deck.
Overbeing of Myth: A mythic form for a mythic name, He Who Must Not Be Named.
Havengul Lich: Voldemort survived his time as a formless spirit by taking the bodies of other beings, drastically shortening their life spans, and moving on to the next host. Havengul Lich has a wonderful feeling in that regard, surmounted slightly perhaps by Kheru Lich Lord, but I prefer to be able to use the bodies for as long as possible.
Dread Return: This and Fated Return like to fight it out over who better represents Voldemort's second coming.
The Inner Circle: Sakura-tribe Elder: Poor Severus, more useful dead than alive in the end.
Nezumi Graverobber: Amazingly flavorful form for Peter. A weak rat of a man, but capable of scrounging around and doing truly powerful resurrection magic if given the right tools.
Azami, Lady of Scrolls: A prominent legendary Wizard for a wealthy woman. Azami, like Narcissa, is ultimately quite the greedy and selfish board presence.
Cabal Patriarch: Arguably Voldemort's most powerful associate. He will do anything for the Dark Lord, well, almost anything. His ability to clean out the graveyard to empower Tasigur's ability is quite helpful. If I were to build a mono-black Voldemort deck this would probably be the mono representation of the Dark Lord.
Damia, Sage of Stone: Embodies everything Voldemort in a fanatical package. Wild hair to match the woman in the books, only Vraska the Unseen rivals Damia for the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, and it quite the close race.
Minions: Baleful Strix: Owls serve wizards in the world of Harry Potter, and it seems only fitting that Voldemort have the most powerful of these birds at his disposal. Early card advantage and a good way to gum up the board.
Flesh Carver: The brother Carrow, when Voldemort temporarily controlled the wizarding world in his second coming he had this particularly sadistic man teach the children of Hogwarts the Dark Arts. Often by cruel example.
Eternal Witness: The sister Carrow, also assigned as a professor in Hogwarts by Voldemort. She was assigned the task of presenting anti-muggle propaganda as the schools muggle studies professor, taking the past and presenting it in the Dark Lords preferred manner. Who better to do that than an Eternal Witness?
Masked Admirers: As hard to kill and visually disquieting as the Death Eater's themselves.
Sakashima the Impostor: Bartemius Crouch Jr. used polyjuice potion to great effect in the Dark Lords name while impersonating Mad Eye Moody. Only Body Double offers any competition, though this is another close one. A re-usable clone is always fun.
Torrent Elemental: A flying black entity that weakens its foes while passing by overhead. I've never seen a card that sound more like a Dementor.
Sturmgeist: A purely visual card, nothing quite like a floating skull to make you think Dark Mark.
The Mimeoplasm: Three elements were used to revive Lord Voldemort. The blood of the enemy, the bone of the father, and the flesh of the servant. The Mimeoplasm can take two of those elements from either graveyard. Indeed, because of its flavorful similarity to the regeneration potion I almost made this guy the general.
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage: A solid representative for Voldemorts often surprisingly subtle servant, the Malfoy boy, Draco. A child of a great family who ultimately helps Voldemorts infiltrate and cause serious damage.
Prime Speaker Zegana: Though the card represents a demi-human (a merfolk in this case) the flavor of a woman who takes all of her power from those around her was just too perfect for the monster in pink Dolores Umbridge.
Grave Titan: When attacking Hogwarts Voldemort brings a lot of unpleasant allies into the fray. The giants are key among these, but Voldemort is well known to be able to summon the Wizarding Worlds version of zombies, or Inferi, as well.
Slytherin's Legacy:
The deck actually started as a Slytherin theme deck, but it was much more fun to build around Voldemort altogether. Still, some elements of Slyhterin's house (and Salazar himself) were kept since Voldemort was the most famous wizard to come from that house.
Ohran Viper: Acts an awful lot like a basilisk, but is a perfect representation of a power for power's sake card. Card draw or a dead opposing creature, it is all good.
Lorescale Coatl: The deck has a solid amount of card draw, so this card can quickly become a house (did you get it? House? House Slytherin? No? Okay, i'll stop.).
Patagia Viper: Slytherin's house spawns a lot of powerful witches and wizards. This card shows that virility amazingly, and helps to make the small snake tribal sub-theme stick.
Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro: The deck has a handful of shamans and snakes alike, so her tribal aspects do get some use. Merope Gaunt deserves some notice as one of the main formative elements of Voldemorts existence. She failed as a mother, and created poor Tom Riddle by putting his Father under the effects of a love potion. It is said that one born under a love potion's coupling will not be able to love, and that loveless existence both Voldemort's greatest asset and greatest weakness.
Nemesis of Mortals: A great snake that can only be summoned by Slytherin's Heir. Tom Riddle summoned it first, cementing his place as a truly remorseless entity.
Seshiro the Anointed: Nothing better represents the serpentine Slytherin than a tribal snake leader.
Sultai Banner: Hogwarts is studded with tapestries that represent each of its houses, this one easily works for House Slytherin.
Voldemort's Spell Suite: Hero's Downfall: There is no better kill spell to represent Avada Kadavra, the killing curse. In name and function alike, this is Avada Kadavra.
Grim Affliction: The cruciatus curse is surprisingly hard to match to a magic card. There are a few torture cards, but most of them are awful. Grim Affliction works as a card that harms a creature, but may not kill it, and brings some benefit to the one inflicting that harm.
Control Magic: The imperius curse forces the target to follow the users command. Control Magic is perfect for this, though both Ray of Command and Spinal Embrace work for how Voldemort most enjoys the imperius curse. Still, a permanent steal is preferred, for now.
Soul Manipulation: To make a horcrux you must kill another being, and stuff a part of your soul into an object. For as long as that horcrux survives unmolested you will not be able to truly die. No card better shows both parts of the process.
Villainous Wealth: When a wand is forced, after some conflict, to regurgitate in reverse order all of the spells it last cast. Voldemort lost this conflict in the book, but casting Villainous Wealth on your opponent is exactly how it would feel if Voldemort won.
Memory Plunder: Legilimancy is the art of working through an opponents mind, plundering their thoughts, and even being able to more or less "read" an individuals mind. Voldemort was a master of this, and Memory Plunder is a perfect representation.
Murderous Cut: Sectumsempra is a powerful form of severing charm that appears to inflict serious slashing damage to a target if enough will is put behind it. A favorite of Severus Snape, but presumptively a tool in Voldemort's arsenal.
Grave Pact: An unbreakable vow is a promise magically made, if a party breaks the vow than that person dies. A favorite way for Voldemort to enforce certain agreements.
Abrupt Decay: Reducto is a powerful curse that can destroy most objects.
Disdainful Stroke: Finite is a basic counterspell, though I imagine Voldemort only bothers if he can make a show of besting his opponents.
Spell Crumple: Finite Incantatem is the longer, and presumptively more powerful, form of the Finite counter spell.
Sultai Charm: Morsmordre summons the Dark Mark in the sky. It is cast when a Death Eater kills someone (and the kill spell will be the most common casting of this), but it can also incite panic (the kind of panic that can destroy particular places or objects), and either activity can benefit the caster (represented by card draw).
Putrefy: Deletrius is a particularly powerful destructive spell, best known for destroying most objects it is cast upon, but almost certainly capable of killing a human being as well.
Life's Finale: Fiendfyre destroys all in its path. Life's Finale really shows this all consumptive force, even dumping part of the oppositions mind (library) straight into the graveyard in the process.
Voldemorts Commands:
Each of these spells is representative of a Voldemort's power. His words carry great weight, individuals live or die on his whim. Dictate of Erebos: You either join Voldemort, or you die.
Profane Command: Not even death can stop Voldemort, and he will gladly harness all the darkest powers he can.
Cryptic Command: To work against the Dark Lord is to guarantee failure.
Decree of Pain: Voldemort rarely takes prisoners, and is guaranteed to benefit from death... even the deaths of his allies.
Voldemort's Horcruxes: Voidmage Prodigy: Voldemort unwittingly made Harry Potter into a Horcrux the day he failed to kill him. Harry Potter acts as a potent thorn in Voldemort's side, killing his following, but also all too often just acting as another pawn in Voldemort's plans.
Doomed Necromancer: Quirinus Quirrell acted as a temporary home for Voldemort's soul, but was in fact a Horcrux in this time period. Quirrell, however, was doomed to die the moment he offered to help the Dark Lord.
Mystic Snake: To survive Voldemort had to make a frail living entity into a Horcrux. Nagini served him faithfully, however, and was empowered by her magical existence as a Horcrux, proving surprisingly resilient to most forms of offensive magic.
Everflowing Chalice: Voldemort collected items from three of the four Hogwarts founders. He chose a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff.
Sol Ring: Marvolo Gaunt was Voldemorts maternal grandfather. Knowing he was a Gaunt solidified Voldemorts connection to the magical world, making this heirloom particularly important. So important, that he protected it with quite the lethal shriveling hex.
Grimoire of the Dead: Voldemort's first horcrux. He poured many of his thoughts into this journal, so it seemed only fitting that he put his soul into it. It exhibited the curious power to draw the life out of a living human being to try and revive elements of the young Tom Riddle.
Quicksilver Amulet: An amulet that belonged to Salazar Slytherin, if worn by an enemy it will work away their will and bring them to some harm. While worn by Harry Potter and his allies, they kept stumbling into Voldemort's minions.
Crown of Ascension: Ravenclaw's Diadem was renowned for its ability to clear the mind of its wearer, supposedly granting some intelligence. This is found mostly in the cards flavor text, though it does fit into the tribal themes of the deck.
The Deathly Hallows:
The items left to three brothers of myth by death itself. Each card is three mana, to further reflect this rule of threes.
Diviner's Wand: The Elder Wand was a truly powerful wand. It was well known to be fickle, changing hands from murderous wizard to murderous wizard.
Whispersilk Cloak: Nothing better represents the infamous Cloak of Invisibility. A fine tool to get in damage, and the easiest way to get to that 21 commander damage with Tasigur.
Mimic Vat: The Resurrection Stone revives a shadow of the deceased, but they are only that; a shadow. Mimic Vat, even if it is not a stone, is amazing at replicating the stones actual effect.
Tools of the Dark Lord: Golgari Signet, Dimir Signet, and Simic Signet: These represent the three forms of currency in the Wizarding World, as Voldemort and his followers were quite wealthy. I prefer these over green ramp spells as Tasigur's ability can recur them and then they stay on the battlefield, rather than giving the opponents an "easy" choice of just feeding ramp spells to his ability time and again.
Commander's Sphere: The spherical prophecy is the subject of much of the conflict in The Order of the Phoenix, it seems only fitting that the card be given a representative.
Unspeakable Symbol: Voldemort marks all of his minions with his symbol, this card is perfect for this and feeds into the decks counter sub-theme.
Treasure Cruise: Finally, one of the dredge spells that helps clean up options for Tasigur's activated ability. Harry and Dumbledore had to cross and Inferi-filled lake in an attempt to get one of his Horcruxes. This did not end well for Voldemort's enemies, and your opponents won't be much happier when you resolve this.
I'm sure you can figure out the mana situation, but in terms of flavor and utility, I suggest Volrath's Stronghold.
Thanks, I put a lot of work into it. Volrath's Stronghold is a must, just on name alone, and it is fairly easy to put a flavorful reason to include both Opulent Palace and Command Tower. Combing through lands to actually have them mesh with the flavor is a good bit harder than creatures and spells, but I'll have it figured out eventually.
Mimic Vat could also be the cauldron that Voldemort was resurrected into human form in. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw it before reading your flavour spoiler.
Mimic Vat could also be the cauldron that Voldemort was resurrected into human form in. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw it before reading your flavour spoiler.
Pretty awesome
Yeah, that was actually the visual that initially caught my eye, but it matched the stone so gloriously that I couldn't resist its inclusion in that role instead.
You could have Sphinx-Bone Wand as the Elder Wand instead. I think it fits more.
I don't disagree, in some respects. But the Sphinx-Bone Wand feels more like I (the player) am wielding the wand. I'm not Voldemort here, I'm just piloting the deck, and the quick-changing of hands that the Elder Wand goes through was a big part of the flavor that Diviner's Wand manages. Similarly, the Diviner's wand just looks like a plain old wand.
Just like how no one knew Dumbledore had the elder wand the whole time.
That, and its the third three mana card to fit into a three card cycle. I love me some symmetry.
I've been tinkering with a card for Draco for a little bit, there are a lot of interesting suggestions. As stated, confidant punches me in the face a little too much for my liking with the high curve of the deck, and Draco itself is a little too high on the mana cost end even for a flavorful deck like this.
Also, khuul, I thought long and hard about the different basilisks Stone-tongue Basilisk came closest), but in the end none of the Basilisks in magic are snakes. The HP Basilisk is plainly a serpent, and the big bad Nemesis of Mortals is exactly how I imagined it.
These are almost all power downgrades, but I think they represent flavor upgrades.
I like a lot of these, indeed you've hit the nail on the head for Opulent Palace's inclusion and Torture was the first cruciatus curse card, but I really wanted to help the small counter theme in the deck with a proliferate card. Hellfire is a lot of fun and that may indeed be the card that takes that slot. I'm a bit more iffy on the two Torturers, though Cruel Tutor could easily replace one or both of them (and is a tutor some silly opponents wouldn't mind feeding back to Voldemort's ability).
Part of why I run certain cards is for their implicative flavor as much as their actual flavor. Jinxed Ring works... for the first activation. After that my... opponents are making extra ring Horcruxes by sacrificing their creatures?
My opponents are having their own Dumbledore's throwing on the ring willy nilly and getting themselves killed?
They are passing my own Horcrux back to voldemort? As a board presence it just doesn't work. Sol Ring is representative of Voldemort's powerful heritage, and actually makes a ton of sense as an early presence on the board as his relation to the Gaunt family is an impressive part of Voldemort's early identity.
That said, the inspiration of his wizarding heritage is possibly even better represented by my original choice for the ring: Ring of Three Wishes.
Specifically, it gave him three things: a connection to the wizarding world, a piece of immortality (by being a Horcrux), and the death of his enemy Dumbledore.
He couldn't have asked for three better wishes if he had a genie.
I thought this thread was good and dead, sorry I missed this. I like your Harry Potter build, happy to see more fun theme decks (though obviously you seem the champion of such things).
Solid thoughts, and I'm definitely fond of Charmed Pendant, it is one of many of a long list to fall into consideration. I'm debating on a few origins updates, that I'll post shortly, along with finally hammering out the flavor for the lands.
Love the render, thought I'd responded to that well... a good long while back.
So, commander 2015 has dropped on our heads and offers a few potential new flavors, which of course means there are issues of what to change, pull, or alter.
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage feeds into both tribes, has a relevant ability, and is literally the granddaughter of Seshiro the Anointed, whom I have dubbed Slytherin for this deck. That is just downright uncanny. So do we pull Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro out for her? There are other ways to potentially reflavor Sachi, though she obviously doesn't fit quite as perfectly as Kaseto.
Arachnogenesis is a pretty interesting way to represent the spiders present in the battle of hogwarts, though Spider Spawning perhaps should have already gotten a place in here. Skullwinder is another snake and reminiscent of a number of elements in the stories, though still we have the problem of what to change.
Deadly Tempest, Wretched Confluence, and Dread Summons all also have potential applications, representing the gathering of Voldemort's power in various stages of his life, though a bit less potent flavorfully than some of the above.
Will be returning to this deck shortly, for now, pulled the now long-banned Prophet of Kruphix out for Kaseto, Orochi Archmage, who will be our tentative Draco representative. Kaseto solidly represents the combined motifs of a notably family's child, an emblematic Slytherin character, and someone who helps the dark lords minions sneak in to cause some real damage.
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I've built a lot of EDH decks but most of them tend towards being heavily tuned and at least comparatively competitive (in a small, not always super competitive circuit). I wanted to do something very different, and finally decided a theme deck was about as far from my "norm" as I could get. The deck isn't entirely lacking power, and should still play well, but almost every single card is built to match something from the Harry Potter universe, specifically things that relate the to the primary antagonist the Dark Lord Voldemort (A.K.A. He Who Must Not Be Named).
First, the list without any flavor or spoilers:
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Creatures:
2 Baleful Strix
3 Sakura-Tribe Elder
4 Nezumi Graverobber
5 Voidmage Prodigy
6 Ohran Viper
7 Lorescale Coatl
8 Flesh Carver
9 Eternal Witness
10 Doomed Necromancer
11 Masked Admirers
12 Sakashima the Impostor
13 Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro
14 Master Biomancer
15 Patagia Viper
16 Mystic Snake
17 Overbeing of Myth
18 Torrent Elemental
19 Sturmgeist
20 The Mimeoplasm
21 Havengul Lich
22 Kaseto, Orochi Archmage
23 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
24 Nemesis of Mortals
25 Cabal Patriarch
26 Prime Speaker Zegana
27 Seshiro the Anointed
28 Grave Titan
29 Damia, Sage of Stone
30 Everflowing Chalice
31 Sol Ring
32 Golgari Signet
33 Dimir Signet
34 Simic Signet
35 Commander's Sphere
36 Sultai Banner
37 Diviner's Wand
38 Whispersilk Cloak
39 Mimic Vat
40 Grimoire of the Dead
41 Quicksilver Amulet
Enchantments:
42 Crown of Ascension
43 Unspeakable Symbol
44 Control Magic
45 Grave Pact
46 Dictate of Erebos
Instants and Sorceries:
47 Abrupt Decay
48 Disdainful Stroke
49 Profane Command
50 Putrefy
51 Hero's Downfall
52 Soul Manipulation
53 Spell Crumple
54 Sultai Charm
55 Grim Affliction
56 Villainous Wealth
57 Memory Plunder
58 Dread Return
59 Cryptic Command
60 Murderous Cut
61 Life's Finale
62 Treasure Cruise
63 Decree of Pain
37 Lands (Still Tweaking)
Next, a list arranged by their flavorful placement in the deck. Spoilered for anyone who hasn't read the books or seen the movies. (Though you should totally go read the books. Right now. All seven of them. I'll wait.)
1 Tasigur, The Golden Fang
Voldemort's Many Faces:
2 Master Biomancer (Tom Riddle, a charismatic power magnet.)
3 Overbeing of Myth (He Who Must Not Be Named)
4 Havengul Lich (The Dark Lords undying spirit.)
5 Dread Return (Revival of the Dark Lord.)
Voldemort's Inner Circle:
6 Sakura-Tribe Elder (Severus Snape)
7 Nezumi Graverobber (Peter Pettigrew)
8 Azami, Lady of Scrolls (Narcissa Malfoy)
9 Cabal Patriarch (Lucius Malfoy)
10 Damia, Sage of Stone (Bellatrix Lestrange)
Minions of the Dark Lord:
11 Baleful Strix (A dark messenger for the Dark Lord)
12 Flesh Carver (Amycus Carrow, Professor of Dark Arts)
13 Eternal Witness (Alecto Carrow, Professor of Muggle Propaganda.)
14 Masked Admirers (Death Eaters)
15 Sakashima the Impostor (Bartemius Crouch Jr.)
16 Torrent Elemental (Dementors)
17 Sturmgeist (The Dark Mark in the sky.)
18 The Mimeoplasm (Blood of the Enemy, Bone of the Father.)
19 Kaseto, Orochi Archmage (The sometimes unwilling servant and child of the Malfoy family.)
20 Prime Speaker Zegana (Dolores Umbridge, minion in the Ministry of Magic.)
21 Grave Titan (The Dark Lord's giants and his Inferi army.)
22 Ohran Viper (Slytherin's Power)
23 Lorescale Coatl (Slytherin's Wit)
24 Patagia Viper (Slytherin's growing house.)
25 Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro (Merope Gaunt, granddaughter of Slytherin, Mother of Tom Riddle)
26 Nemesis of Mortals (The Basilisk)
27 Seshiro the Anointed (Slytherin Himself)
28 Sultai Banner (House Slytherin Tapestry)
Voldemort's Spell Suite:
29 Hero's Downfall (Avada Kadavra)
30 Grim Affliction (Cruciatus Curse)
31 Control Magic (Imperius Curse)
32 Soul Manipulation (Horcrux Curse)
33 Villainous Wealth (Priori Incantatem)
34 Memory Plunder (Legilimency)
35 Murderous Cut (Sectumsempra)
36 Grave Pact (Unbreakable Vow)
37 Abrupt Decay (Reducto)
38 Disdainful Stroke (Finite)
39 Spell Crumple (Finite Incantatem)
40 Sultai Charm (Morsmordre A.K.A. The Dark Mark)
41 Putrefy (Deletrius)
42 Life's Finale (Fiendfyre)
43 Dictate of Erebos (Join or die.)
44 Profane Command (Achieve power beyond death itself.)
45 Cryptic Command (Follow or fail.)
46 Decree of Pain (Leave no survivors.)
Voldemort's Horcruxes:
47 Voidmage Prodigy (Harry Potter)
48 Doomed Necromancer (Quirinus Quirrell)
49 Mystic Snake (Nagini)
50 Everflowing Chalice (Hufflepuff's Cup)
51 Sol Ring (Marvolo Gaunt's Ring)
52 Grimoire of the Dead (Tom Riddle's Diary)
53 Quicksilver Amulet (Slytherin's Locket)
54 Crown of Ascension (Ravenclaw's Diadem)
The Deathly Hallows:
55 Diviner's Wand (The Elder Wand)
56 Whispersilk Cloak (The Cloak of Invisibility)
57 Mimic Vat (Resurrection Stone)
Tools of the Dark Lord:
58 Golgari Signet (Galleon. Money speaks loud.)
59 Dimir Signet (Sickle. Money speaks, even to the proud.)
60 Simic Signet (Knut. Money speaks to all, no matter how small.)
61 Commander's Sphere (The Prophecy.)
62 Unspeakable Symbol (The Dark Mark Tattoo)
64 Treasure Cruise (A cursed boat to protect a Horcrux.)
37 Lands (Still Tweaking)
Finally, an explanation of each cards individual flavor and use in the deck:
Voldemort:
Tasigur, The Golden Fang: The first creature in all three colors that represents power for powers sake, that also happens to actually be (more or less) human. The best Voldemort so far that isn't mono-black. He looks a bit more like a Tom Riddle or Malfoy (I.E. he isn't hard to look at), but the power of darkness can be quite seductive, right?
Voldemort's Forms:
Master Biomancer: Another pretty face, could just as easily be either Malfor Sr. or Jr. with all that blond hair. His ability to pump up his followers feels a lot more like the young charismatic Tom Riddle. Helps the small counter sub-theme in the deck.
Overbeing of Myth: A mythic form for a mythic name, He Who Must Not Be Named.
Havengul Lich: Voldemort survived his time as a formless spirit by taking the bodies of other beings, drastically shortening their life spans, and moving on to the next host. Havengul Lich has a wonderful feeling in that regard, surmounted slightly perhaps by Kheru Lich Lord, but I prefer to be able to use the bodies for as long as possible.
Dread Return: This and Fated Return like to fight it out over who better represents Voldemort's second coming.
The Inner Circle:
Sakura-tribe Elder: Poor Severus, more useful dead than alive in the end.
Nezumi Graverobber: Amazingly flavorful form for Peter. A weak rat of a man, but capable of scrounging around and doing truly powerful resurrection magic if given the right tools.
Azami, Lady of Scrolls: A prominent legendary Wizard for a wealthy woman. Azami, like Narcissa, is ultimately quite the greedy and selfish board presence.
Cabal Patriarch: Arguably Voldemort's most powerful associate. He will do anything for the Dark Lord, well, almost anything. His ability to clean out the graveyard to empower Tasigur's ability is quite helpful. If I were to build a mono-black Voldemort deck this would probably be the mono representation of the Dark Lord.
Damia, Sage of Stone: Embodies everything Voldemort in a fanatical package. Wild hair to match the woman in the books, only Vraska the Unseen rivals Damia for the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, and it quite the close race.
Minions:
Baleful Strix: Owls serve wizards in the world of Harry Potter, and it seems only fitting that Voldemort have the most powerful of these birds at his disposal. Early card advantage and a good way to gum up the board.
Flesh Carver: The brother Carrow, when Voldemort temporarily controlled the wizarding world in his second coming he had this particularly sadistic man teach the children of Hogwarts the Dark Arts. Often by cruel example.
Eternal Witness: The sister Carrow, also assigned as a professor in Hogwarts by Voldemort. She was assigned the task of presenting anti-muggle propaganda as the schools muggle studies professor, taking the past and presenting it in the Dark Lords preferred manner. Who better to do that than an Eternal Witness?
Masked Admirers: As hard to kill and visually disquieting as the Death Eater's themselves.
Sakashima the Impostor: Bartemius Crouch Jr. used polyjuice potion to great effect in the Dark Lords name while impersonating Mad Eye Moody. Only Body Double offers any competition, though this is another close one. A re-usable clone is always fun.
Torrent Elemental: A flying black entity that weakens its foes while passing by overhead. I've never seen a card that sound more like a Dementor.
Sturmgeist: A purely visual card, nothing quite like a floating skull to make you think Dark Mark.
The Mimeoplasm: Three elements were used to revive Lord Voldemort. The blood of the enemy, the bone of the father, and the flesh of the servant. The Mimeoplasm can take two of those elements from either graveyard. Indeed, because of its flavorful similarity to the regeneration potion I almost made this guy the general.
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage: A solid representative for Voldemorts often surprisingly subtle servant, the Malfoy boy, Draco. A child of a great family who ultimately helps Voldemorts infiltrate and cause serious damage.
Prime Speaker Zegana: Though the card represents a demi-human (a merfolk in this case) the flavor of a woman who takes all of her power from those around her was just too perfect for the monster in pink Dolores Umbridge.
Grave Titan: When attacking Hogwarts Voldemort brings a lot of unpleasant allies into the fray. The giants are key among these, but Voldemort is well known to be able to summon the Wizarding Worlds version of zombies, or Inferi, as well.
Slytherin's Legacy:
The deck actually started as a Slytherin theme deck, but it was much more fun to build around Voldemort altogether. Still, some elements of Slyhterin's house (and Salazar himself) were kept since Voldemort was the most famous wizard to come from that house.
Ohran Viper: Acts an awful lot like a basilisk, but is a perfect representation of a power for power's sake card. Card draw or a dead opposing creature, it is all good.
Lorescale Coatl: The deck has a solid amount of card draw, so this card can quickly become a house (did you get it? House? House Slytherin? No? Okay, i'll stop.).
Patagia Viper: Slytherin's house spawns a lot of powerful witches and wizards. This card shows that virility amazingly, and helps to make the small snake tribal sub-theme stick.
Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro: The deck has a handful of shamans and snakes alike, so her tribal aspects do get some use. Merope Gaunt deserves some notice as one of the main formative elements of Voldemorts existence. She failed as a mother, and created poor Tom Riddle by putting his Father under the effects of a love potion. It is said that one born under a love potion's coupling will not be able to love, and that loveless existence both Voldemort's greatest asset and greatest weakness.
Nemesis of Mortals: A great snake that can only be summoned by Slytherin's Heir. Tom Riddle summoned it first, cementing his place as a truly remorseless entity.
Seshiro the Anointed: Nothing better represents the serpentine Slytherin than a tribal snake leader.
Sultai Banner: Hogwarts is studded with tapestries that represent each of its houses, this one easily works for House Slytherin.
Voldemort's Spell Suite:
Hero's Downfall: There is no better kill spell to represent Avada Kadavra, the killing curse. In name and function alike, this is Avada Kadavra.
Grim Affliction: The cruciatus curse is surprisingly hard to match to a magic card. There are a few torture cards, but most of them are awful. Grim Affliction works as a card that harms a creature, but may not kill it, and brings some benefit to the one inflicting that harm.
Control Magic: The imperius curse forces the target to follow the users command. Control Magic is perfect for this, though both Ray of Command and Spinal Embrace work for how Voldemort most enjoys the imperius curse. Still, a permanent steal is preferred, for now.
Soul Manipulation: To make a horcrux you must kill another being, and stuff a part of your soul into an object. For as long as that horcrux survives unmolested you will not be able to truly die. No card better shows both parts of the process.
Villainous Wealth: When a wand is forced, after some conflict, to regurgitate in reverse order all of the spells it last cast. Voldemort lost this conflict in the book, but casting Villainous Wealth on your opponent is exactly how it would feel if Voldemort won.
Memory Plunder: Legilimancy is the art of working through an opponents mind, plundering their thoughts, and even being able to more or less "read" an individuals mind. Voldemort was a master of this, and Memory Plunder is a perfect representation.
Murderous Cut: Sectumsempra is a powerful form of severing charm that appears to inflict serious slashing damage to a target if enough will is put behind it. A favorite of Severus Snape, but presumptively a tool in Voldemort's arsenal.
Grave Pact: An unbreakable vow is a promise magically made, if a party breaks the vow than that person dies. A favorite way for Voldemort to enforce certain agreements.
Abrupt Decay: Reducto is a powerful curse that can destroy most objects.
Disdainful Stroke: Finite is a basic counterspell, though I imagine Voldemort only bothers if he can make a show of besting his opponents.
Spell Crumple: Finite Incantatem is the longer, and presumptively more powerful, form of the Finite counter spell.
Sultai Charm: Morsmordre summons the Dark Mark in the sky. It is cast when a Death Eater kills someone (and the kill spell will be the most common casting of this), but it can also incite panic (the kind of panic that can destroy particular places or objects), and either activity can benefit the caster (represented by card draw).
Putrefy: Deletrius is a particularly powerful destructive spell, best known for destroying most objects it is cast upon, but almost certainly capable of killing a human being as well.
Life's Finale: Fiendfyre destroys all in its path. Life's Finale really shows this all consumptive force, even dumping part of the oppositions mind (library) straight into the graveyard in the process.
Voldemorts Commands:
Each of these spells is representative of a Voldemort's power. His words carry great weight, individuals live or die on his whim.
Dictate of Erebos: You either join Voldemort, or you die.
Profane Command: Not even death can stop Voldemort, and he will gladly harness all the darkest powers he can.
Cryptic Command: To work against the Dark Lord is to guarantee failure.
Decree of Pain: Voldemort rarely takes prisoners, and is guaranteed to benefit from death... even the deaths of his allies.
Voldemort's Horcruxes:
Voidmage Prodigy: Voldemort unwittingly made Harry Potter into a Horcrux the day he failed to kill him. Harry Potter acts as a potent thorn in Voldemort's side, killing his following, but also all too often just acting as another pawn in Voldemort's plans.
Doomed Necromancer: Quirinus Quirrell acted as a temporary home for Voldemort's soul, but was in fact a Horcrux in this time period. Quirrell, however, was doomed to die the moment he offered to help the Dark Lord.
Mystic Snake: To survive Voldemort had to make a frail living entity into a Horcrux. Nagini served him faithfully, however, and was empowered by her magical existence as a Horcrux, proving surprisingly resilient to most forms of offensive magic.
Everflowing Chalice: Voldemort collected items from three of the four Hogwarts founders. He chose a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff.
Sol Ring: Marvolo Gaunt was Voldemorts maternal grandfather. Knowing he was a Gaunt solidified Voldemorts connection to the magical world, making this heirloom particularly important. So important, that he protected it with quite the lethal shriveling hex.
Grimoire of the Dead: Voldemort's first horcrux. He poured many of his thoughts into this journal, so it seemed only fitting that he put his soul into it. It exhibited the curious power to draw the life out of a living human being to try and revive elements of the young Tom Riddle.
Quicksilver Amulet: An amulet that belonged to Salazar Slytherin, if worn by an enemy it will work away their will and bring them to some harm. While worn by Harry Potter and his allies, they kept stumbling into Voldemort's minions.
Crown of Ascension: Ravenclaw's Diadem was renowned for its ability to clear the mind of its wearer, supposedly granting some intelligence. This is found mostly in the cards flavor text, though it does fit into the tribal themes of the deck.
The Deathly Hallows:
The items left to three brothers of myth by death itself. Each card is three mana, to further reflect this rule of threes.
Diviner's Wand: The Elder Wand was a truly powerful wand. It was well known to be fickle, changing hands from murderous wizard to murderous wizard.
Whispersilk Cloak: Nothing better represents the infamous Cloak of Invisibility. A fine tool to get in damage, and the easiest way to get to that 21 commander damage with Tasigur.
Mimic Vat: The Resurrection Stone revives a shadow of the deceased, but they are only that; a shadow. Mimic Vat, even if it is not a stone, is amazing at replicating the stones actual effect.
Tools of the Dark Lord:
Golgari Signet, Dimir Signet, and Simic Signet: These represent the three forms of currency in the Wizarding World, as Voldemort and his followers were quite wealthy. I prefer these over green ramp spells as Tasigur's ability can recur them and then they stay on the battlefield, rather than giving the opponents an "easy" choice of just feeding ramp spells to his ability time and again.
Commander's Sphere: The spherical prophecy is the subject of much of the conflict in The Order of the Phoenix, it seems only fitting that the card be given a representative.
Unspeakable Symbol: Voldemort marks all of his minions with his symbol, this card is perfect for this and feeds into the decks counter sub-theme.
Treasure Cruise: Finally, one of the dredge spells that helps clean up options for Tasigur's activated ability. Harry and Dumbledore had to cross and Inferi-filled lake in an attempt to get one of his Horcruxes. This did not end well for Voldemort's enemies, and your opponents won't be much happier when you resolve this.
Thanks, I put a lot of work into it. Volrath's Stronghold is a must, just on name alone, and it is fairly easy to put a flavorful reason to include both Opulent Palace and Command Tower. Combing through lands to actually have them mesh with the flavor is a good bit harder than creatures and spells, but I'll have it figured out eventually.
Pretty awesome
Or Draco could be represented by Draco...
Yeah, that was actually the visual that initially caught my eye, but it matched the stone so gloriously that I couldn't resist its inclusion in that role instead.
I don't disagree, in some respects. But the Sphinx-Bone Wand feels more like I (the player) am wielding the wand. I'm not Voldemort here, I'm just piloting the deck, and the quick-changing of hands that the Elder Wand goes through was a big part of the flavor that Diviner's Wand manages. Similarly, the Diviner's wand just looks like a plain old wand.
I've been tinkering with a card for Draco for a little bit, there are a lot of interesting suggestions. As stated, confidant punches me in the face a little too much for my liking with the high curve of the deck, and Draco itself is a little too high on the mana cost end even for a flavorful deck like this.
Also, khuul, I thought long and hard about the different basilisks Stone-tongue Basilisk came closest), but in the end none of the Basilisks in magic are snakes. The HP Basilisk is plainly a serpent, and the big bad Nemesis of Mortals is exactly how I imagined it.
Opulent Palace = Malfoy Manor
Hellfire = Fiendfyre
Torture = Cruciatus Curse
Hired Torturer = Amycus Carrow
Cabal Torturer = Alecto Carrow
Cruel Tutor = Maybe a Carrow instead of the above
Jinxed Ring = Marvolo's ring
These are almost all power downgrades, but I think they represent flavor upgrades.
I like a lot of these, indeed you've hit the nail on the head for Opulent Palace's inclusion and Torture was the first cruciatus curse card, but I really wanted to help the small counter theme in the deck with a proliferate card. Hellfire is a lot of fun and that may indeed be the card that takes that slot. I'm a bit more iffy on the two Torturers, though Cruel Tutor could easily replace one or both of them (and is a tutor some silly opponents wouldn't mind feeding back to Voldemort's ability).
Part of why I run certain cards is for their implicative flavor as much as their actual flavor. Jinxed Ring works... for the first activation. After that my... opponents are making extra ring Horcruxes by sacrificing their creatures?
That said, the inspiration of his wizarding heritage is possibly even better represented by my original choice for the ring: Ring of Three Wishes.
A few thoughts:
- Slaughter (Avada Kedavra)
- Fanning the Flames (Crucio)
- Illusory Gains (Imperio)
- Forbid (Finite Incantatem)
Quicksilver Amulet is far more useful in your deck than mine, but I'm curious, what are your thoughts on Charmed Pendant?I thought this thread was good and dead, sorry I missed this. I like your Harry Potter build, happy to see more fun theme decks (though obviously you seem the champion of such things).
Solid thoughts, and I'm definitely fond of Charmed Pendant, it is one of many of a long list to fall into consideration. I'm debating on a few origins updates, that I'll post shortly, along with finally hammering out the flavor for the lands.
So, commander 2015 has dropped on our heads and offers a few potential new flavors, which of course means there are issues of what to change, pull, or alter.
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage feeds into both tribes, has a relevant ability, and is literally the granddaughter of Seshiro the Anointed, whom I have dubbed Slytherin for this deck. That is just downright uncanny. So do we pull Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro out for her? There are other ways to potentially reflavor Sachi, though she obviously doesn't fit quite as perfectly as Kaseto.
Arachnogenesis is a pretty interesting way to represent the spiders present in the battle of hogwarts, though Spider Spawning perhaps should have already gotten a place in here. Skullwinder is another snake and reminiscent of a number of elements in the stories, though still we have the problem of what to change.
Deadly Tempest, Wretched Confluence, and Dread Summons all also have potential applications, representing the gathering of Voldemort's power in various stages of his life, though a bit less potent flavorfully than some of the above.