MTG Salvation

Of the C19 commanders, the two who excite me most are Marisi and Volrath, but as everyone seems to be doing Volrath, I want to brew Marisi.

Goad is a fun mechanic, and Disrupt Decorum is a hilarious card, so repeating it every turn seems even better. By forcing all of our opponents into a bloodbath, we can speed along the game and hopefully emerge victorious. In order to do this, we need to ensure that our creatures can get through. Once they do, though, it becomes easier to do a second time, as most of their creatures should be tapped from attacking.

So what cards do we want? Without blue, we don't have many unbloackables, but we have plenty of creatures that are hard to block - Shadow, Horsemanship, Flying, Trample, Landwalk, etc go a long way. We also want to maximize the damage that our opponents deal to each other. And we'll also want a few cards that remove an opponent's Ghostly Prison or other protection cards.

What are your suggestions?


Noteworthy cards:
Bedlam - Guarantees that you can get through, then guarantees that opponents hit each other for maximum damage.
Spirit en-Dal - Can grant Marisi shadow each turn and stays in hand, protected from board wipes.
Blade of Selves - Ensures each opponent gets hit by one of our evasive creatures.
Crescendo of War - Speeds up the clock.
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser - Doubles as backup for our commander and gives us potential card advantage/resources when our plan A is working.
Break Through the Line - Makes our smaller creatures/tokens unblockable and grants haste. Ensures they get through.
Berserk and Blood Frenzy - Can be used to pump and then remove a goaded creature for maximum value.
Beast Within and Generous Gift - Remove problem permanents (like Ghostly Prison) while giving them another creature that has to swing.

I like your approach with Shadow creatures. That's probably a lot easier than tramp and menace, and you don't need blocking anyway ones you hit them.

I'd include Mother of Runes And Giver of Runes which both serve as protection and unblockability.

Total war doesn’t really do anything if you’ve hit them with marisi from what I can tell. They already have to attack with everything anyway?

Quote from DirkGently »

Total war doesn’t really do anything if you’ve hit them with marisi from what I can tell. They already have to attack with everything anyway?

It'll keep them from flashing out creatures at the end of turn to have blockers and their mana still open when they pass the turn. Kind of a niche scenario, but more common than one would think.

I actually proxied up a Marisi list this weekend and played a few games with it. Two games it got locked out because, naturally, this was the week a buddy decided to try out Aboshan, Cephalid Emperor. It was a lot of fun to play though. My deck tries to give evasion with Swords of XandY, so it's a little different than yours, but one thing I think both our lists would enjoy is giving our opponents tokens. Things like the Hunted creatures and Forbidden Orchard, go along with Generous Gift and Beast Within.

Quote from cyberium_neo »

I'd include Mother of Runes And Giver of Runes which both serve as protection and unblockability.

Both great suggestions.

Quote from DirkGently »

Total war doesn’t really do anything if you’ve hit them with marisi from what I can tell. They already have to attack with everything anyway?

Somehow I missed the word "untapped" when reading it multiple times - I thought it would take out things they tapped to avoid attacking. It does kill any non-Wall creatures with Defender, and I suppose there are some corner cases for it, like if your final opponent can't afford the 2 for each creature when you have Windborn Muse in play, but it probably won't make the cut.

Quote from NerdSoda »

It'll keep them from flashing out creatures at the end of turn to have blockers and their mana still open when they pass the turn. Kind of a niche scenario, but more common than one would think.

I actually proxied up a Marisi list this weekend and played a few games with it. Two games it got locked out because, naturally, this was the week a buddy decided to try out Aboshan, Cephalid Emperor. It was a lot of fun to play though. My deck tries to give evasion with Swords of XandY, so it's a little different than yours, but one thing I think both our lists would enjoy is giving our opponents tokens. Things like the Hunted creatures and Forbidden Orchard, go along with Generous Gift and Beast Within.

Yeah, I should include Forbidden Orchard. And I considered swords, but then it started feeling like my Rafiq deck. I love that with enough shadow, horsemanship, and flying, this Naya deck starts feeling like an Edric or other blue deck, only meaner.

My biggest love of the Swords is that a single sword turns Marisi into a 3 turn clock with the right sword. Played against a mono-black deck on Saturday and after 2 swings with Marisi and Sword of Light and Shadow, they essentially worked for me for the rest of the game.

Just get a few unblockable creatures.

Surprisingly enough, Lone Wolf, Pride of lions, rhox, Tornado elemental, Thorn Elemental Wolf Pack, Spinebiter, Gurzigost and Deathcoil wurm are not horrible in this deck. They are not the best picks but they are not horrible.

Siege Behemoth is worth more as he grants all your creatures that ability. (And it still counts a combat damage)

Quote from NerdSoda »

My biggest love of the Swords is that a single sword turns Marisi into a 3 turn clock with the right sword. Played against a mono-black deck on Saturday and after 2 swings with Marisi and Sword of Light and Shadow, they essentially worked for me for the rest of the game.

True. I'm hoping I don't actually have to kill anyone through commander damage once everyone starts swinging, but it is a good backup plan. It also protects Marisi from various forma of removal.

Quote from Gashnaw II »

Just get a few unblockable creatures.

Surprisingly enough, Lone Wolf, Pride of lions, rhox, Tornado elemental, Thorn Elemental Wolf Pack, Spinebiter, Gurzigost and Deathcoil wurm are not horrible in this deck. They are not the best picks but they are not horrible.

Siege Behemoth is worth more as he grants all your creatures that ability. (And it still counts a combat damage)

I had considered Rhox in my early brainstorming because it can regenerate (though 2G is pretty high, especially on a creature that's already a 6-drop), but the only one I included in the original list is Siege Behemoth. Like you said, it grants the ability to all your creatures, including Marisi; Behemoth also has Hexproof. Unfortunately, this super-trample ability is often a one turn deal, as it doesn't actually protect the attacking creature from the blockers' damage. In the end, I opted for cheaper creatures (three mana or less when possible) that can keep hitting turn after turn and bypass blockers altogether.

Quote from FunkyDragon »

Quote from NerdSoda »

My biggest love of the Swords is that a single sword turns Marisi into a 3 turn clock with the right sword. Played against a mono-black deck on Saturday and after 2 swings with Marisi and Sword of Light and Shadow, they essentially worked for me for the rest of the game.

True. I'm hoping I don't actually have to kill anyone through commander damage once everyone starts swinging, but it is a good backup plan. It also protects Marisi from various forma of removal.

Quote from Gashnaw II »

Just get a few unblockable creatures.

Surprisingly enough, Lone Wolf, Pride of lions, rhox, Tornado elemental, Thorn Elemental Wolf Pack, Spinebiter, Gurzigost and Deathcoil wurm are not horrible in this deck. They are not the best picks but they are not horrible.

Siege Behemoth is worth more as he grants all your creatures that ability. (And it still counts a combat damage)

I had considered Rhox in my early brainstorming because it can regenerate (though 2G is pretty high, especially on a creature that's already a 6-drop), but the only one I included in the original list is Siege Behemoth. Like you said, it grants the ability to all your creatures, including Marisi; Behemoth also has Hexproof. Unfortunately, this super-trample ability is often a one turn deal, as it doesn't actually protect the attacking creature from the blockers' damage. In the end, I opted for cheaper creatures (three mana or less when possible) that can keep hitting turn after turn and bypass blockers altogether.

Without blue or black, the best unblockable creatures are not available to you.

Quote from Gashnaw II »

Without blue or black, the best unblockable creatures are not available to you.

Oh, I know. Honestly, that's probably a good thing, as Marisi would be absolutely broken with access to them. At the same time, when it really comes down to it, is there really that big a difference between Tormented Soul/Changeling Outcast and Soltari Foot Soldier? How often will your opponents be able to block it? Even Healer's Hawk will be able to get through on at least one opponent most of the time. And Bedlam makes all blocking a moot point.

I just want creatures that survive to attack again, but Lone Wolf and friends will often get in one hit and die.

Quote from FunkyDragon »

Quote from Gashnaw II »

Without blue or black, the best unblockable creatures are not available to you.

Oh, I know. Honestly, that's probably a good thing, as Marisi would be absolutely broken with access to them. At the same time, when it really comes down to it, is there really that big a difference between Tormented Soul/Changeling Outcast and Soltari Foot Soldier? How often will your opponents be able to block it? Even Healer's Hawk will be able to get through on at least one opponent most of the time. And Bedlam makes all blocking a moot point.

I just want creatures that survive to attack again, but Lone Wolf and friends will often get in one hit and die.

True, but you at least goaded them so you are not getting a swing back.

Then you can hit them with a 1/1 since they have no defenders.

Why I would focus on is hitting all opponents. So none can attack you.

(Also in my meta, even flying can often go unblocked)

What I see missing is card draws. I recommend PWs such as Elspeth and Nahiri who could provide tokens, and cards like Skullclamp and Infiltration Lens for card draw, the latter forces opponent to make extra choice on blocking (either block and die, or suffer mass goad).

Quote from cyberium_neo »

What I see missing is card draws. I recommend PWs such as Elspeth and Nahiri who could provide tokens, and cards like Skullclamp and Infiltration Lens for card draw, the latter forces opponent to make extra choice on blocking (either block and die, or suffer mass goad).

Skullclamp is definitely a good one, as I have multiple cards that produce 1/1 tokens. Infiltration Lens wouldn't work with my main creatures, but it definitely could again with those tokens.

For card draw, I would consider Beast Whisperer and Guardian Project.

I'm working on a more budget-oriented version of Marisi (no card other than Marisi more that $1 TCGplayer mid), and I had considered Horsemanship, until I realised that no Horsemanship creature in the appropriate colours falls outside my budget limitations. But on that note, what the hell happened to the price of Yellow Scarves Cavalry? I'm used to seeing prices spike over hype for a new commander card that suddenly makes them relevant, like Yuriko causing a spike in the price of a lot of ninjas and Arcades doing the same for certain walls, but going from $2 to $82 at its peak is insane. Is this all from Marisi? Or is this some sort of buyout? I know PK3 commons are in very short supply, but still.

Quote from NerdSoda »

For card draw, I would consider Beast Whisperer and Guardian Project.

Both good options, alongside Lifecrafter's Bestiary.

Also, I'm considering Skyline Despot. In theory, people shouldn't be able to take the monarch away from me very easily, and pumping out an extra 5/5 Dragon with flying every turn should certainly help keep it that way.

Recommend Cosmotronic Wave to help ensure your creatures get that first hit in.

I had Skyline Despot for a while in my list because I LOVE the Monarch as a mechanic, but for tomorrow Im trying a lower land count/lower CMC, more hatebears-y version.

A couple of observations from my hatebears-y games:

• Hatebears are a fun way to build the deck, but it lacks some reach; I had trouble closing out games. Skyline Despot seems like a perfect one to include.
• I had some "attacks each turn if able"effects that seemed kind of lackluster; If I needed my opponents to attack not me, I never really had a problem Goading them
• Always remember the read Master Warcraft very carefully; it doesn't do quite what you think it does.
• Sunforger is possibly the best equipment for the deck as it grabs all of our white protection spells.

Quote from SonofaBith75 »

Recommend Cosmotronic Wave to help ensure your creatures get that first hit in.

If you run many non-evasive creatures, cards like that certainly can be useful. I plan on having creatures that they simply can't block.

Quote from NerdSoda »

Hatebears are a fun way to build the deck, but it lacks some reach; I had trouble closing out games. Skyline Despot seems like a perfect one to include.

This is actually one of my main concers for the deck - it's great goading our opponents into bashing each other, but once I'm down to my last opponent, goad no longer offers protection, and I still need to end it. That's part of why I opted for token swarm, especially Dragonmaster Outcast and Skyline Despot - a small army of 5/5 flyers should be able to deal with whatever life my opponent has left.

Quote from NerdSoda »

Always remember the read Master Warcraft very carefully; it doesn't do quite what you think it does.

Yeah, Master Warcraft is an old favorite of mine, but it just doesn't offer enough control to go in many decks these days. You may choose which creatures attack, but you don't choose where they attack.

I didn't play Marisi this weekend since I had been going so hard with him the past two, but did make a few tweaks.

I'm starting to dislike the "All creatures must attack" effects; they just seem lackluster when we are goading our opponent's anyway.

One thing I added to give my creatures a little more evasion is Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa. I've always loved him and this is probably the best home for him. The upside is since his ability affects all all creatures with 2 or less power, not just yours, your opponents' little weenie creatures will be getting in for damage as well.

Played with Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa in the deck this weekend and it did so much work in tandem with Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor. I kept giving my opponent's tokens that they need to hit each other with, and since the tokens can't block, they would go basically unimpeded. Then they finally decided that Varchild had to go, I got all the tokens, GSZ'd for Sidar, and was able to swing with the tokens with impunity.

Quote from NerdSoda »

Played with Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa in the deck this weekend and it did so much work in tandem with Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor. I kept giving my opponent's tokens that they need to hit each other with, and since the tokens can't block, they would go basically unimpeded. Then they finally decided that Varchild had to go, I got all the tokens, GSZ'd for Sidar, and was able to swing with the tokens with impunity.

I never noticed before that Sidar stops them from blocking all creatures, not just yours. I should probably put him in my deck. I think I cut Varchild from my build, too, but I'm still trying things out and tweaking a lot, so it may go back in. This has been an interesting deck to work with because it really depends on the opponents' boards how effective it will be.

I did accidentally kill an opponent in one game, which is a shame because I could have used his army against the others. I goaded Opponent A, who then attacked Opponent B with his commander, Atraxa. I used Duelist's Heritage to give Atraxa double strike and then cast Berserk as a kill spell. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the two +1/+1 counters on Atraxa, and Opponent B took 24 commander damage to the face.

Quote from FunkyDragon »

I did accidentally kill an opponent in one game, which is a shame because I could have used his army against the others. I goaded Opponent A, who then attacked Opponent B with his commander, Atraxa. I used Duelist's Heritage to give Atraxa double strike and then cast Berserk as a kill spell. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the two +1/+1 counters on Atraxa, and Opponent B took 24 commander damage to the face.

I am confused, isn't that the idea? To have other players eliminate each other by using Goad tactics, so that you are the one going into heads up with another player?

Or are you saying that you wanted to use Player B's army?

I wanted to use their army and accidentally killed them too soon. If I had noticed the +1/+1 counters, I would have used Berserk alone for the removal and skipped the double strike. Then Opponent B could have swung back at the Atraxa player.