Spreading the Disease - heavy metal reference to Operation Mindcrime by Queensrÿche 100% intentional
For almost a decade, I’ve had a Golgari Evil Eye deck, and it’s been a fun ride. Not so long ago, friends started keying in on the eyes with spot removal, shutting me down. To add more threats, lower curve slots were given over to Vampire Nighthawk and Phyrexian Crusader as rattlesnakes. I quickly realized Rancor turns the Crusader into an almost unstoppable wrecking ball and the group has yet to field a response that doesn’t fundamentally change their deck composition (though Reflecting Palm is pretty funny giving me poison counters against myself.)
Phyrexian Crusader is cleaning house long before the eyes come out, and flatout outperforms the eyes. Getting out an eye only slows down the infect wincon. So to help the Crusader, two new creatures will replace the eyes: Chameleon Colossus and Rhonas the Indomitable. Both are lower in curve, and Rhonas can even help the Crusader out with damage or even mix it up himself with infect. The Colossus pumps itself, and its pump is more powerful when Rancor buffed. Finally, Glistening Oil will replace Wall of Blossoms.
The goal here is not to optimize to turn two kills, but to replace the no-longer functioning Evil Eye concept in a decidedly non-optimized meta, though quick decks are sprouting up. It takes too long for the eyes to come out on curve for Emperor’s games in both Emperor and wing slots and the deck has been slow versus aggro players in team games. I am curious, though, if Tainted Strike is actually a better option here when I need to kill two people in a game? I do have E.Witness to re-stock...hmm...
I really don't recommend splitting between poison and normal damage. Either go in on crusader and fill out with some other infect creatures, or drop crusader entirely. Glistening oil is an amazing card because of its versatility on debuffing your opponent's creatures, or giving your own infect, but I'd only run it with a few 5 and 6 power creatures in the deck. It's power really comes from threatening a one or two turn clock.
I have to admit, I'm more curious what the deck looked like before you dropped the evil eye's. I haven't seen that card used before, and it seems pretty awesome as a control finisher, especially with trample.
I really don't recommend splitting between poison and normal damage. Either go in on crusader and fill out with some other infect creatures, or drop crusader entirely. Glistening oil is an amazing card because of its versatility on debuffing your opponent's creatures, or giving your own infect, but I'd only run it with a few 5 and 6 power creatures in the deck. It's power really comes from threatening a one or two turn clock.
I have to admit, I'm more curious what the deck looked like before you dropped the evil eye's. I haven't seen that card used before, and it seems pretty awesome as a control finisher, especially with trample.
So this was the latest build with Glistening Oil. The deck has pulled off one hit kills with Evil Eye of Urborg, two Rancors, and a Glistening Oil, but it does more often now kill people with the infected vamps and Crusaders, which is why I am mulling over taking out the eyes.
The Colossusi can pump themselves pretty high with but one Rancor and Tainted Strike, but you think that’s not a good avenue?
One thought I had was taking out the crusaders and adding just the Colossi, making it a infectless deck. The Colossi can attack with the eyes since they are eyes themselves. I also thought of Moonglove Changeling to replace Wall of Blossoms. Trample with deathtouch is pretty effective. Then again, that was what led to Rhonas as a critter add.
I'd either keep the eyes and run more creatures that are effective without attacking (deathtouch blockers, pingers, assassins, tap for discard, or similar), or increase the infect count dramatically. Core Prowler is pretty good as an evasive beater, and in some cases it's death might just kill the opponent. Flesh-eater Imp is similar with an ability to pump itself. Hand of the Preators is just amazing even if it doesn't attack, and Phyrexian Swarmlord or Reaper of Sheoldred will close out games.
The Colossus is powerful, but mana intensive to make work. It is a turn 6 kill, but I feel like there are other decks that would use that combo better.
I'd either keep the eyes and run more creatures that are effective without attacking (deathtouch blockers, pingers, assassins, tap for discard, or similar), or increase the infect count dramatically. Core Prowler is pretty good as an evasive beater, and in some cases it's death might just kill the opponent. Flesh-eater Imp is similar with an ability to pump itself. Hand of the Preators is just amazing even if it doesn't attack, and Phyrexian Swarmlord or Reaper of Sheoldred will close out games.
The Colossus is powerful, but mana intensive to make work. It is a turn 6 kill, but I feel like there are other decks that would use that combo better.
Mostly because I already own them, but removed the Crusaders to put in Blistergrub. Why the grub, you might ask? First, there are a lot of decks with swamps, so a grub with Rancor = beatdown. Second, a chump blocker that hurts opponents while trading creatures. Last, if they use spot exile on it, to avoid up above, then they definitely wasted a spell. The Crusader is a better card in every respect, but he didn’t really fit with the deck identity, and this will allow me to put the eyes back into their spotlight while remaining relevant on attack or chump block.
Ooo-ooo-oooooooo!!!! It just hit me. This deck will hum so much better if I make the Nighthawks and Crusaders the kill cards. The larger cost creatures and spells then come out and power them through.
The N Gearhulks add lifegain to weather the storm of counterattacks and replaces creature removal that I previously lost by swapping Putrefy for Glistening Oil. And V Gearhulk? I don’t think I have to explain why he’s a good idea...lol. Plus, they both will act as ready bodies to receive some Glistening Oil and Rancor. Goombye eyes, hellooooo gearhulks. I really like this new adjustment because it allows me to resolve all of the problems I was having with this deck concept. And the gearhulks are reasonably budget, to boot. This really is having my cake and eating it, too.
Yeah, I know..as Kulemkar said, it's not a good idea to split between poison counters and normal damage...but Gary is such an advantage in multiplayer games.
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For almost a decade, I’ve had a Golgari Evil Eye deck, and it’s been a fun ride. Not so long ago, friends started keying in on the eyes with spot removal, shutting me down. To add more threats, lower curve slots were given over to Vampire Nighthawk and Phyrexian Crusader as rattlesnakes. I quickly realized Rancor turns the Crusader into an almost unstoppable wrecking ball and the group has yet to field a response that doesn’t fundamentally change their deck composition (though Reflecting Palm is pretty funny giving me poison counters against myself.)
Phyrexian Crusader is cleaning house long before the eyes come out, and flatout outperforms the eyes. Getting out an eye only slows down the infect wincon. So to help the Crusader, two new creatures will replace the eyes: Chameleon Colossus and Rhonas the Indomitable. Both are lower in curve, and Rhonas can even help the Crusader out with damage or even mix it up himself with infect. The Colossus pumps itself, and its pump is more powerful when Rancor buffed. Finally, Glistening Oil will replace Wall of Blossoms.
The goal here is not to optimize to turn two kills, but to replace the no-longer functioning Evil Eye concept in a decidedly non-optimized meta, though quick decks are sprouting up. It takes too long for the eyes to come out on curve for Emperor’s games in both Emperor and wing slots and the deck has been slow versus aggro players in team games. I am curious, though, if Tainted Strike is actually a better option here when I need to kill two people in a game? I do have E.Witness to re-stock...hmm...
4 Rancor
4 Glistening Oil (maybe Tainted Strike?)
4 Putrefy
4 Profane Command
4 Beast Within
1 Recurring Nightmare
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Phyrexian Crusader
4 Rhonas the Indomitable
4 Eternal Witness
4 Chameleon Colossus
Land:
4 Desert
4 Golgari Guildgate
4 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Strip Mine
1 Volrath’s Stronghold
5 Forest
5 Swamp
I have to admit, I'm more curious what the deck looked like before you dropped the evil eye's. I haven't seen that card used before, and it seems pretty awesome as a control finisher, especially with trample.
The Colossusi can pump themselves pretty high with but one Rancor and Tainted Strike, but you think that’s not a good avenue?
4 Rancor
4 Glistening Oil
4 Profane Command (or Putrefy in various iterations)
4 Beast Within
1 Recurring Nightmare
Critters:
4 Wall of Blossoms
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Phyrexian Crusader
4 Eternal Witness
4 Evil Eye of Orms-by-Gore
4 Evil Eye of Urborg
4 Desert
4 Golgari Guildgate
4 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Strip Mine
1 Volrath’s Stronghold
5 Forest
5 Swamp
One thought I had was taking out the crusaders and adding just the Colossi, making it a infectless deck. The Colossi can attack with the eyes since they are eyes themselves. I also thought of Moonglove Changeling to replace Wall of Blossoms. Trample with deathtouch is pretty effective. Then again, that was what led to Rhonas as a critter add.
The Colossus is powerful, but mana intensive to make work. It is a turn 6 kill, but I feel like there are other decks that would use that combo better.
Mostly because I already own them, but removed the Crusaders to put in Blistergrub. Why the grub, you might ask? First, there are a lot of decks with swamps, so a grub with Rancor = beatdown. Second, a chump blocker that hurts opponents while trading creatures. Last, if they use spot exile on it, to avoid up above, then they definitely wasted a spell. The Crusader is a better card in every respect, but he didn’t really fit with the deck identity, and this will allow me to put the eyes back into their spotlight while remaining relevant on attack or chump block.
4 Rancor
4 Glistening Oil
4 Profane Command
4 Beast Within
1 Recurring Nightmare
Critters:
4 Wall of Blossoms
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Phyrexian Crusader
4 Eternal Witness
4 Noxious Gearhulk
4 Verdurous Gearhulk
4 Desert
4 Golgari Guildgate
4 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Strip Mine
1 Volrath’s Stronghold
5 Forest
5 Swamp
The N Gearhulks add lifegain to weather the storm of counterattacks and replaces creature removal that I previously lost by swapping Putrefy for Glistening Oil. And V Gearhulk? I don’t think I have to explain why he’s a good idea...lol. Plus, they both will act as ready bodies to receive some Glistening Oil and Rancor. Goombye eyes, hellooooo gearhulks. I really like this new adjustment because it allows me to resolve all of the problems I was having with this deck concept. And the gearhulks are reasonably budget, to boot. This really is having my cake and eating it, too.
So many B mana cost symbols and no Gray Merchant of Asphodel in sight...such a shame !