MTG Salvation

Thanks! The changes I made a month or two ago have really helped the deck perform much better and much more smoothly. I'm always half-tempted to add in Aetherflux Reservoir to the deck as a secondary, non-graveyard dependent win condition with Dramatic Scepter, but I feel like the deck is TIGHT as is. Sigh.

I really like the hard counter that Arcane Denial is, but the Reversal keeps popping up in cEDH forums and threads, so I'm probably going to be making the switch at some point. At the very least, I think I need to acquire a couple of copies to test out since it's received such positive feedback.

I’d probably switch out Muddle the Mixture instead tbh. Having multiple narrow counters isn’t great, and nRev is just sooo much better.

Good point. I originally added Muddle because I could Transmute it into Flash which is nice but not necessary with the number of tutors available in the deck already.

I have been experimenting with Mistcaller in my deck as a meta pick, and it's been effective at stalling combos. It doesn't have quite the same 'gotcha' as Containment Priest unfortunately.

That seems like a great meta card. It has synergies with the primary engine pieces of the deck and it is a deterrent to opposing Flash Hulk chains. I like it, and I'll try and add a blurb in the Card Choices section in regards to it.

Also, I've been heavily evaluating Life from the Loam and the Cycling lands in the deck and I think that the slot could be better filled by Dark Confidant. I add in an additional creature that draws cards, is Skullclamp-able, helps with Gaea's Cradle, can be Eldritch Evolutioned for profit, and can be used to Survival of the Fittest. Particularly since I'm not running Exploration in the deck, I can't get as much use out of Loam as other decks can.

So, I'll be updating the Primer list with these official changes:

• - Life from the Loam
• - Muddle the Mixture
• - Tranquil Thicket
• - Barren Moor
• + Dark Confidant
• + Narset's Reversal
• + Underground River
• + Llanowar Wastes

Updated the Primer by expanding on the Budget Decklist section and updated the Card Choices section.

After taking apart the Edric deck I had built, I now have a few pieces of interaction in creature form that are available to me now, namely Siren Stormtamer, Mausoleum Wanderer, and Cursecatcher.

I really like the idea of adding in Mausoleum Wanderer in the slot of Sylvan Safekeeper since I think it would essentially do the same thing that Safekeeper does while also being a hedge against instant speed 'yard removal a la Noxious Revival, Memory's Journey, or Ebony Charm. Unless I'm casting Flash Hulk into a ton of open mana, I haven't usually used Sylvan Safekeeper's ability all that much. The Wanderer is also better when drawn outside of the combo turn since it offers stack interaction. It also takes advantage of Mikaeus, the Unhallowed's pump ability, which is not insignificant, and also presents a flying blocker for my wife's Kaalia deck. I'll give it a test when I can and see if it performs better than the Safekeeper.

Enjoyed this primer, I still prefer Norin, but this is a fun commander for sure.

@TheRavenManIsSquee
Thank you very much! I've spent a lot of time making sure the Primer was useful and thorough and I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed reading it.

Sidenote: Yeah, who the hell is the Raven Man at this point? Squee sounds as reasonable as anything else at this point, honestly, although logic would indicate that it's probably Lim-Dul or some other Necromancer.

I had been using Voidmage Prodigy since I have a handful of wizards which I can sacrifice to it, but I'll try some of the other counter critters you've listed.

Voidmage Prodigy is pretty useful and does really well at stack control with another Wizard or two. I like Mausoleum Wanderer because I can put it into play via a Hulk activation alongside Body Snatcher and Carrion Feeder, ensuring that I have some interaction to protect my Flash Hulk combo line included within the line.

I also forgot to evaluate Neoform in my War of the Spark review. I think this card is actually really quite good. It acts as a sac outlet for an on-board Hulk that you need to die and it can find Hulk if you sac Tasigur to it. It can transform lame 1 CMC dorks into the better 2 CMC dorks to increase your mana output or into Dark Confidant if you need new cards. I think there's literally a valid target for it at every CMC level and it's also tutor-able via Spellseeker, allowing you to immediately find Notion Thief or Body Snatcher. I'm not certain that it will get a deck slot, but it's certainly an attractive option.

It also makes me wonder if Birthing Pod is worth exploring in this list.

Btw have you considered the Consult pile instead of MikeBall?
FlashHulk into Spellseeker x Labman, Spellseeker into Consult/Tainted, and then draw to win.
It’s still an instant speed win, allows you to run additional tutor in the form of Demonic Consultation and Tainted Pact, frees up cards since if any piece is in the wrong place you can just EWitt it back to your hand, and it slims down your deck quite a bit which makes Bob even better.

Edit: its also easier to pull off manually than assembling mike x ballista x seet

I haven't, but my initial thought is that I don't want to sacrifice the mana-less win Flash Hulk line that MikeBall is. After putting Spellseeker into play, you then have to cast the tutor effect in order to exile your library. Additionally, if someone were to remove your Lab Man in response to a draw trigger, you lose the game instead. I certainly concede that it's easier in deckspace constraints and also easier to manually assemble, but the sacrifice of a mana-less win line is too great a sacrifice. Additionally, the deck has been configured to synergize with Mikaeus and Walking Ballista is the real deal for board control when the game goes long. I recently lost a game to someone who had assembled Seedborn Muse + Ballista and no one was able to keep a creature in play. We eventually died to Ballista beats.

Great idea though! I'll include those cards in the Card Choices section so your suggestion doesn't go unremarked in the Primer.

EDIT: I'm keeping an eye on the Modern Horizons spoilers, but wow does Force of Negation look good for Commander.

Well, my friends and fellow MTGSal comrades...

It's been a great time being a member of this community. Truly, this site has been a lifeline for me in my lowest life moments and I've grown and developed as a player in direct response to the feedback I've received, the comments I've read, and the decklists I've perused on this site. MTGSal has been my online MTG home since 2009 and I have nothing but fond memories of this site.

However, in light of the closure announcement of MTGSal and its attendant 11th hour resurrection, I have personally decided to commit myself fully to the MTGNexus project that Feyd_Ruin has started. My reasoning, which I hope you'll respect and appreciate, is explained below.

1. First and foremost, the majority of the MTGSal staff that make this site work and function are leaving for MTGNexus. This wholesale migration of valuable and active members within the MTGSAl community that maintain its integrity and reputation leaves me uneasy as to the future direction of this site. Cryogen, Airithne, Wildfire, and many others that make this site tick are already active on MTGNexus and are, quite frankly, having a better experience with the new platform and have already established the basic infrastructure to make it successful in the same ways that MTGSal has been successful. I'm a strong supporter of these individuals and prefer to trust my online MTG experience to people that have been a part of the online MTG space for decades. I will be leaving this site to follow them in the new adventure that is Nexus, and I'm super happy to do so.
2. Next, the coding versatility and overall look and feel of MTGNexus is, quite simply, gorgeous. Check out the site here and explore if for a few minutes yourself. Then, check out these two Primers to get an idea of the coding versatility that exists on the new platform: darrenhabib's Will & Rowan Kenrith Primer and rumpy5897's Feather, the Redeemed Primer. In comparison to MTGSal, I think these Primers are far and away the visually superior product in comparing them to their respective MTGSal primers, and this kind of experience is one that I've personally always wanted from my online MTG experience. So, from a user standpoint, I find MTGNexus to offer a superior experience from a backend coding perspective that allows users to create visually complex and attractive posts that is unmatched by MTGSalvation.
3. Finally, there is a chance for myself, in my current Moderator position on MTGNexus, to be able to positively shape the way MTGNexus as a site performs. I'm an inherently creative person, and because of the personal relationship that I have with the site Admins and Owner, I feel confident that I will be able to influence the site in the ways that I think will increase MTGNexus' stature and reputation. In my current role on MTGSal, this is just not the case. It's like shouting into a void when it comes to real, concrete suggestions that the site Admins need to look over that never happens. I will have a chance to proactively introduce new content and new directions for the site that will actually be listened to and implemented by the MTGNexus staff, which will lead to a better user experience for me personally.

It's been a great adventure on MTGSal, and I'll be stepping down from all responsibilities on MTGSal by the end of 7/11/2019 at the official launch of MTGNexus and will be removing all of my content, with the exception of decklists from MTGSal as a site. I will NOT be updating the MTGSal threads and will not be actively contributing to MTGSal except on the rare occassion that my fancy is struck.

I wish you the best journey should you remain on MTGSal, but I would encourage you to give MTGNexus a try. It's already got a lot of participation and a large segment of the MTGSal community has already made the jump.

Why not you? It's your chance to start over fresh, contribute in a meaningful way to a new platform, and have a chance to positively shape what will become the premier MTG site on the internet.

Adieu, my friends!