This is my take on Teysa, Orzhoc Scion. Over the years I've been very leery about building a EDH deck around this particular General because of how quickly she becomes abusive/oppressive; and especially within our kitchen table meta - which tends to be more casual - I never wanted to build a deck where she's being targeted simply for who she is and not for what the deck can do.
Which brings me to my next card - when Priest of Forgotten Gods was spoiled, I knew the time has come for Teysa, Orzhoc Scion to finally see the spotlight. Building around the Cleric tribe, this deck is intended to bring out the clerics in the early game, sacrifice them to generate spirits in the mid game, and control my opponents board as I pay pump and finishers in the late game.
This build is intended to defeat my opponents through aggro and control. However, this deck has been specifically designed to strongly avoid combo - as it is so easy to achieve with Teysa at the helm. Therefore, no sacrifice effects unless it has a mana cost (Teysa herself obviously being the only exception, but you have to sacrifice 3 creatures....so hopefully that's the balance.) Also no oppressive sacrifice effects/triggers so that my opponents get to play the game too. I'm even avoiding the classic Blood Artist type effects in the interest of pressing other means to victory.
I call this deck "Church of Teysa"
All my decks adhere to these guidelines:
1) Be able to win.
2) Be mostly true to a flavor and a theme.
3) Be good against one or multiple opponents.
5) Be fun to pilot or to play against and interactive.
6) Have multiple paths to victory.
7) Have lots of cool interactions and synergy.
8) Play out differently every game to keep it fun over a long time.
9) Be streamlined and fast to play without excessive upkeep, time-consuming play or overcomplicated boardstates.
10) Integrate the Commanders abilities into the strategy at least a little, but be able to win without ever playing the commander.
The number in front of the card will denote CMC of the creature/spell.
This is my take on Teysa, Orzhoc Scion. Over the years I've been very leery about building a EDH deck around this particular General because of how quickly she becomes abusive/oppressive; and especially within our kitchen table meta - which tends to be more casual - I never wanted to build a deck where she's being targeted simply for who she is and not for what the deck can do.
Which brings me to my next card - when Priest of Forgotten Gods was spoiled, I knew the time has come for Teysa, Orzhoc Scion to finally see the spotlight. Building around the Cleric tribe, this deck is intended to bring out the clerics in the early game, sacrifice them to generate spirits in the mid game, and control my opponents board as I pay pump and finishers in the late game.
This build is intended to defeat my opponents through aggro and control. However, this deck has been specifically designed to strongly avoid combo - as it is so easy to achieve with Teysa at the helm. Therefore, no sacrifice effects unless it has a mana cost (Teysa herself obviously being the only exception, but you have to sacrifice 3 creatures....so hopefully that's the balance.) Also no oppressive sacrifice effects/triggers so that my opponents get to play the game too. I'm even avoiding the classic Blood Artist type effects in the interest of pressing other means to victory.
I call this deck "Church of Teysa"
All my decks adhere to these guidelines:
1) Be able to win.
2) Be mostly true to a flavor and a theme.
3) Be good against one or multiple opponents.
5) Be fun to pilot or to play against and interactive.
6) Have multiple paths to victory.
7) Have lots of cool interactions and synergy.
8) Play out differently every game to keep it fun over a long time.
9) Be streamlined and fast to play without excessive upkeep, time-consuming play or overcomplicated boardstates.
10) Integrate the Commanders abilities into the strategy at least a little, but be able to win without ever playing the commander.
The number in front of the card will denote CMC of the creature/spell.
3 Teysa, Orzhov Scion
//Planeswalker
4 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
//Clerics (19)
1 Soul’s Attendant
1 Soul Warden
2 Disciple of Griselbrand
2 Hanweir Militia Captain
2 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
2 Skirsdag High Priest
2 Priest of Forgotten Gods
2 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
2 Pitiless Pontiff
3 Edgewalker
3 Rotlung Reanimator
3 Pious Evangel
3 Sin Collector
3 Orzhov Pontiff
4 Goldnight Commander
4 Whisper, Blood Liturgist
4 False Prophet
5 Ravos, Soultender
6 Pontiff of Blight
//Non-Clerics (10)
3 Mentor of the Meek
3 Burnished Hart
3 Midnight Reaper
3 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
4 Smothering Abomination
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Deathbringer Liege
6 Sun Titan
6 Requiem Angel
7 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
2 Spirit Bonds
3 Sacred Mesa
4 Field of Souls
4 Rite of Belzenlok
4 Anointed Procession
8 Army of the Damned
//Card Advantage (8)
1 Skullclamp
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
2 Dawn of Hope
2 Arguel’s Blood Fast
3 Dark Prophecy
4 Dread Return
4 Minion’s Murmurs
4 Well of Lost Dreams
//Buff (5)
2 Blind Obedience
3 Rings of Brighthearth
3 Mirage Mirror
5 Cathars’ Crusade
6 Ethereal Absolution
//Control (7)
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Path to Exile
2 Despark
4 Utter End
4 Dusk // Dawn
5 March of Souls
6 Austere Command
6 Merciless Eviction
1 Sol Ring
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Darksteel Ingot
3 Commander’s Sphere
3 Orzhov Locket
4 Smothering Tithe
//Land (36)
0 Command Tower
0 Godless Shrine
0 Isolated Chapel
0 Orzhov Basilica
0 Scoured Barrens
0 Windbrisk Heights
0 Bojuka Bog
0 Memorial to Folly
0 Vault of the Archangel
0 Westvale Abbey
0 Starlit Sanctum
0 Arcane Lighthouse
0 Terramorphic Expanse
0 Evolving Wilds
0 Reliquary Tower
0 Temple of the False God
10 Plains
10 Swamp
March 2 2019:
Soul Warden >> Suture Priest
Reveillark >> Requiem Angel
Open the Graves >> Field of Souls
Hour of Reckoning >> Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Palace Siege >> Blind Obedience
March 11 2019:
Drana’s Emissary >> Edgewalker
Zulaport Cutthroat >> Disciple of Griselbrand
Xathrid Necromancer >> Rotlung Reanimator
Vindictive Vampire >> Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Belfry Spirit >> Devout Chaplain
Skeletal Vampire >> Hanweir Militia Captain
Barter in Blood >> Ravos, Soultender
Swamp >> Bojuka Bog
Plains >> Vault of the Archangel
April 23 2018:
Teysa Karlov >> Midnight Reaper
Intangible Virtue >> Dawn of Hope
Suture Priest >> Soul Warden
Ministrant of Obligation >> Sin Collector
Zealous Persecution >> Despark
Devout Chaplain >> Utter End
Vizkopa Guildmage >> Plains
Smokestack >> Merciless Eviction
| B Erebos, God of VampiresB | GYeva SmashG | RBosh ArtifactsR | GURAnimar +1 BeatsGUR | RBVial's Secret Hot SauceRB | UBRNekusar, Draw if you DareUBR | RGBDarigaaz'z DragonsRGB | GBSlimeFEETGB | UBOn-Hit LazavUB | URBrudiclad's Artificer InventionsUR | GUBMuldrotha's ElementalsGUB | WUGKestia's EnchantmentsWUG | GUTatyova - Draw, Land, Go!GU | WGArahbo's EquipmentWG | BUWVarina's ZOMBIE HORDESBUW | WLyra's Angelic SalvationW | WBChurch of TeysaWB | UAzami...WizardsU