MTG Salvation

Hey guys, first time poster looking for some help. I want to build a multiplayer commander deck that has no threats of it's own, but instead copies/steals/redirects opponents best spells to win the game. My playgroup is very casual, no fast combo, little control, and mostly big creature/agro decks.

Does this idea seem viable? And which commander would you suggest? I was thinking about using Nin, the pain artist because UR has some of the best "steal" cards, and with Nin, I'd be able to destroy my opponents stolen creatures for additional benefit.

I'm hoping to get a list of all the playable steal effects to get a better idea of if this kind of deck is even playable. Here's a list I have so far:

• Fork
  
• Reverberate
  
• Insurrection
  
• Reiterate
  
• Wild Ricochet
  
• Word of Seizing
  
• Acquire
  
• Blatant Thievery
  
• Bribery
  
• Commandeer
  
• Rite of Replication
  
• Treachery
  
• Mind control
  
• Zealous Conscripts
  
• Body Double
  
• Gilded Drake
  
• Phantasmal Image
  
• Phyrexian Metamorph
  
• sower of temptation
  
• dominus of fealty
  

Also, obviously Homeward Path will be a problem. I could include some select LD or some on-theme cards like Annex to help.

Other cards I could include are a couple sac outlets, draw spells, and counterspells. Any other ideas would be great, thank you!

I'd suggest not bothering with red. While it does have a fair few spells on this theme, blue has more than you have room for by itself, and going monoblue lets you run Sakashima as a commander, which is amazing. I don't have time to write an actual list of good cards, but the Sakashima deck linked to in my sig should give you some idea.

I also thought about building a similar Sakashima deck at one time. Here's the .dec if you're interested in seeing the steal and clones I decided to go with...

Alternatively, you could go RUG and use Riku to clone your clones, but I believe the only playable spell he adds to your theft list is Spitting Image.

I thought about making a deck like this running Grixis colors with Lord of Tresserhorn for a touch of fun and jankyness.

B/U with reanimate affects can work very well also. Maybe esper using Sen Triplets (to steal their spells from their hand) or Ertai, the Corrupted (to counter their spells with their own creatures). Having a few sac outlets like Fallen Angel can be useful also when you're based on stealing other people's stuff.

Quote from Crash218579

B/U with reanimate affects can work very well also. Maybe esper using Sen Triplets (to steal their spells from their hand) or Ertai, the Corrupted (to counter their spells with their own creatures). Having a few sac outlets like Fallen Angel can be useful also when you're based on stealing other people's stuff.

Or Grixis, using Sedris to recur your Sower of Temptation, Puppeteer Clique and Zealous Conscripts.

Here are the theft effects I run in my Thada Adel deck:

• Acquire
  
• Blatant Thievery
  
• Bribery
  
• Commandeer
  
• Confiscate
  
• Control Magic
  
• Desertion
  
• Empress Galina
  
• Gilded Drake
  
• Helm of Posession
  
• Keiga, the Tide Star
  
• Knowledge Exploitation
  
• Memnarch
  
• Reins of Power
  
• Sower of Temptation
  
• Spelljack
  
• Sphinx Ambassador
  
• Steal Artifact
  
• Steal Enchantment
  
• Stolen Goods
  
• Thada Adel, Acquisitor (obviously)
  
• Treachery
  
• Vedalken Shackles
  
• Volition Reins

You could always have the good ol "swaps"

cultural exchange
Juxtapose
Switcheroo
Gilded Drake
Puca's Mischief


Stolen Goods older cousin would be Telemin Performance

Quote from bfellow

You could always have the good ol "swaps"

Confusion in the Ranks!
[Insert obligatory comment about Norin eating your soul here]

I have a Blue/Black build using Wrexial, the Risen Deep as my General. Don't forget... you can steal cards from Graveyards too! Below are all of the cards I use for CLONE/COPY/STEAL Effects.

I also include a good deal of supporting creatures & spells that protect my Clones or their Creatures once I have copied/stolen them. For the full Wrexial decklist, use the link in my signature.

Creatures that COPY
Phantasmal Image
Dimir Doppelganger
Clone
Phyrexian Metamorph
Sakashima's Student
Sakashima the Impostor
Evil Twin
Vesuvan Shapeshifter
Body Double
Vesuvan Doppelganger

Creatures that STEAL
Thada Adel, Acquisitor
Phyrexian Infiltrator
Keiga, the Tide Star
Roil Elemental
Memnarch

PLANESWALKER To STEAL (from Graveyard)
Liliana Vess

Spells that COPY
Copy Artifact
Sculpting Steel
Mimic Vat
Copy Enchantment
Cackling Counterpart
Rite of Replication
Memory Plunder
Followed Footsteps

Spells that STEAL
Animate Dead
Vedalken Shackles
Bribery
Desertion
Treachery
Gather Specimens
Blatant Thievery

Hope this helps... Enjoy.

My personal clone list includes (blue only, sorry):

• Clone
  
• Phantasmal Image
  
• Phyrexian Metamorph
  
• Sakashima's Student
  
• Sakashima the Impostor
  
• Vesuvan Shapeshifter
  
• Body Double

Quicksilver Gargantuan (this can be hilarious)

I haven't used theft effects not attached to a body, so I can't be much help there...I love my clones though.

Enslave
The Wretched
Herald of Leshrac

Play mono black theft. Win major cool points.

So one of my favorites and the only one I play Gilded Drake.

Quote from Solemn Simulator

Confusion in the Ranks!
[Insert obligatory comment about Norin eating your soul here]

This reminds me of my Sedris anything goes deck.

Run Thieves' Auction and start the Magic battlefield Draft!.
Take the best permanent (1st pick), 4th best, etc.


Haha just thought of how great Omen Machine is, but such a final pick.

I have a UW Hanna, Ship's Navigator deck that runs a very heavy theft theme (sac their permanents and then recur the steal effects...). In addition to the ones already mentioned:

Mindslaver (it's like stealing their whole turn)
Helm of Obedience (mini-bribery and the heart of some pretty silly mill combos)
Aura Thief (so funny with Enchanted Evening)
Evangelize
Cloudshift etc (Steal a creature for a turn, then blink it to keep it forever)

There are also some fun black ones like:
[CARD]
Enslave[/CARD]
Shade's Form
The many many spells like Animate Dead that let you bring back your opponents dead creatures

And, if you decide to go UBW, you have a great general in the form of Merieke Ri Berit.

Quicksilver Gargantuan (this can be hilarious)

Arc000 - I would really love to hear how you were able to use Quicksilver Gargantuan effectively.

He didn't make it very long in my Wrexial build just because he was too expensive with the 7 converted mana cost. Simply a beefy clone... Even though I thought it would be hilarious to have a 7/7 Birds of Paradise, I just couldn't get this guy to work.

Anyway, curious to hear how you used him and maybe I could give him a second look.

Quote from wallyd2

Arc000 - I would really love to hear how you were able to use Quicksilver Gargantuan effectively.

He was removed from my deck for while, but I love him for Cold-Eyed Selkie effects for example and anything with Shroud/Hex proof (Invisible Stalker), Utility dudes and as an emergency general kill. It's not the best, but it can shine if protected and there is no such thing as too many clones. A 7/7 BoP is pretty useful though.

p.s: Cryptoplasm is another clone that is useful in certain situations.

Quote from arc000

A 7/7 BoP is pretty useful though.

A 7/7 Viridian Joiner or Spikeshot Elder is even better. I keep cutting Quicksilver Gargantuan from my Reaper King deck and then adding him back in. I'm never upset to draw him.

Quote from 256k

A 7/7 Viridian Joiner or Spikeshot Elder is even better. I keep cutting Quicksilver Gargantuan from my Reaper King deck and then adding him back in. I'm never upset to draw him.

Quite true, for some reason I was confusing Spikeshot Elder with Bloodshot Trainee. He can really be versatile and is almost always fun to use.

Hmm no one mentioned OG Dance of Many. Good for populating/doubling season

I was going to say dance of many but then I saw you just said it

locking this thread. Hopefully in six years they've found the answer to their question.