I need some help... again. I've been playtesting my The Scarab God mill/zombie build and the mill part is just not working the way I need it to win. The one game I did win was by life drain. After some time with it, I just want to abandon the mill altogether. Someone recommended running Gisa and Geralfas my Commander, which I do like more as an option for the new build over Scarab God. I could swap the two and make Scarab God as one of the 99. But then I'd have to put MORE money into the build and wait on more cards to come in, etc. This is getting more expensive than I really need it to be even if I buy cheaper cards and then have to deal with $4+ shipping.
What can I do to salvage my build at this point and make it more competitive? Because Scarab God is just a body to throw at something and he's being targeted a lot and I'm constantly recasting him from my hand, which I do get. I obviously would need more draw too. I just don't know the best way to go about it at this point and I am just frustrated since the mill didn't work out and I just bought a bunch of upgrades. Sure they can be used, but I feel like here we go, spending more money again.
If your commander is being targeted a lot, maybe you run a few more cheap counters. The easiest one not already on your list is Stubborn Denial. Once it rotates out of Standard, I'll be investing in some Siren Stormtamers. You might not get SG onto the table quite as fast, but it'll stay there a little longer.
The way you have laid out your list is a bit hard to follow, but I don’t really see the hallmarks of a Mill deck. To dedicate to that you should be running Consuming Aberration and Altar of Dementia at the very least.
Plus you might consider switching to Lazav, Dimir Mastermind as a commander. Hexproof is gas, and he pays you off for milling opponents. The Scarab God would also just be fine in the 99.
If your commander is being targeted a lot, maybe you run a few more cheap counters. The easiest one not already on your list is Stubborn Denial. Once it rotates out of Standard, I'll be investing in some Siren Stormtamers. You might not get SG onto the table quite as fast, but it'll stay there a little longer.
The way you have laid out your list is a bit hard to follow, but I don’t really see the hallmarks of a Mill deck. To dedicate to that you should be running Consuming Aberration and Altar of Dementia at the very least.
Plus you might consider switching to Lazav, Dimir Mastermind as a commander. Hexproof is gas, and he pays you off for milling opponents. The Scarab God would also just be fine in the 99.
My biggest issue with Scarab God besides protecting him is not knowing what to dig for in opponent's graveyards since I am so new and there is a ton to learn with Commander. More often than not I am just afraid to ask what is in graveyards, and people will tell me I just don't like doing it because then they know what is coming. The other thing is people will play graveyard hate with me and not let me do graveyard play. Or they'll know it is coming and dig things out of their graveyard before I can use Scarab God. The 5 CMC cost of The Scarab God hurts me too but that is due to ramp.
My biggest issues from playing/testing are:
Draw
Graveyard play
Ramp
Zombies on the board
Graveyard hate
The scry from Scarab God is great when I have stuff on the board but getting stuff to the board is what is so hard. I have too much utility, IE: Ashnod's Altar, Eldrazi Monument, etc... and those are all great, do not get me wrong, but they've been very minimally useful and people can find ways to deal with them. Those types of cards need to be cut IMO.
I am sure I am forgetting some others I have or could get but money is tight. Between some previous bills and a small vacation coming up in early May plus the WAR prerelease, I have a lot going on. So budget is now a factor, especially after Star City this past weekend.
I love Scarab God and I like some of the counters prevented but do they really help me when I only have him on the board and have to keep using him to stop someone from going after me since I am usually taking
//creature
1 Geth, Lord of the Vault
1 Gisa and Geralf
1 Lich Lord of Unx
1 Liliana, Untouched by Death
1 Undead Alchemist
1 Lord of the Undead
1 Phyrexian Delver
1 Cemetery Reaper
1 Cryptbreaker
1 Gravecrawler
1 Relentless Dead
1 Diregraf Colossus
1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
1 Grave Titan
1 Noosegraf Mob
1 Death Baron
1 Diregraf Captain
1 Lord of the Accursed
1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1 Undead Warchief
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Plague Belcher
1 Shepherd of Rot
1 Nirkana Revenant
1 Razaketh, the Foulblooded
1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Unbreathing Horde
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Forgotten Creation
1 Noxious Ghoul
1 Risen Executioner
1 Zombie Master
1 Phyrexian Altar
1 Ponder
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Rhystic Study
1 Windfall
//manabase
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Cabal Coffers
1 City of Brass
1 Darkwater Catacombs
1 Command Tower
1 Drowned Catacomb
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Flooded Strand
1 High Market
7 Island
1 Mana Confluence
1 Morphic Pool
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Sunken Ruins
9 Swamp
1 Tainted Isle
1 Underground River
1 Unholy Grotto
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Watery Grave
1 Winding Canyons
//planeswalker
1 Liliana, Untouched by Death
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Dimir Signet
1 Expedition Map
1 Sol Ring
1 Talisman of Dominance
1 Thought Vessel
1 Ashnod's Altar
//removal
1 Decree of Pain
1 Counterspell
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Damnation
1 Negate
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Swan Song
//utility
1 Eldrazi Monument
1 Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
1 Rooftop Storm
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Buried Alive
1 Entomb
1 Stitch Together
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Grave Pact
1 Dictate of Erebos
Link to build: https://deckstats.net/decks/127340/1257704-where-is-your-scarab-god/en
What can I do to salvage my build at this point and make it more competitive? Because Scarab God is just a body to throw at something and he's being targeted a lot and I'm constantly recasting him from my hand, which I do get. I obviously would need more draw too. I just don't know the best way to go about it at this point and I am just frustrated since the mill didn't work out and I just bought a bunch of upgrades. Sure they can be used, but I feel like here we go, spending more money again.
You could also go for other ways to protect the God, like Dive Down, Undying Evil, Crystal Shard, etc.
Yeva (88/92 foils)
Raff
Scarab
Rakdos
Wort ($50 budget, 94/97 foils)
Trostani
Plus you might consider switching to Lazav, Dimir Mastermind as a commander. Hexproof is gas, and he pays you off for milling opponents. The Scarab God would also just be fine in the 99.
RBGLiving EndRBG
EDH
UFblthpU
BRXantchaRB
BGVarolzGB
URWZedruuWRU
My biggest issue with Scarab God besides protecting him is not knowing what to dig for in opponent's graveyards since I am so new and there is a ton to learn with Commander. More often than not I am just afraid to ask what is in graveyards, and people will tell me I just don't like doing it because then they know what is coming. The other thing is people will play graveyard hate with me and not let me do graveyard play. Or they'll know it is coming and dig things out of their graveyard before I can use Scarab God. The 5 CMC cost of The Scarab God hurts me too but that is due to ramp.
My biggest issues from playing/testing are:
The scry from Scarab God is great when I have stuff on the board but getting stuff to the board is what is so hard. I have too much utility, IE: Ashnod's Altar, Eldrazi Monument, etc... and those are all great, do not get me wrong, but they've been very minimally useful and people can find ways to deal with them. Those types of cards need to be cut IMO.
Here is what I need to take care of.
Ramp Additions:
I love Scarab God and I like some of the counters prevented but do they really help me when I only have him on the board and have to keep using him to stop someone from going after me since I am usually taking
RBGLiving EndRBG
EDH
UFblthpU
BRXantchaRB
BGVarolzGB
URWZedruuWRU