I don't like the idea of matchups like Narset where his token generation ability does very little if anything. It will depend on what the the meta looks like but if there is a tier 1 or a few tier 2 decks that run low/no creatures I think I will stay away. He seems pretty vanilla outside of that ability triggering. I'm also kinda biased towards Lily.
I don't like the idea of matchups like Narset where his token generation ability does very little if anything... I'm also kinda biased towards Lily.
Kalitas seems a lot better suited against aggro because kill spells and lifelink and he becomes bigger. Both are mono black and have accesss to sac spells. Liliana also has lifelink but isn't that great by herself. She needs a lot more moving pieces imo
The bias shows.
Also kalitas doesn't die to most red wraths.
Kalitas is unquestionably amazing against aggro. I just think he's really bad against combo and control. Liliana does need more pieces for sure but I like that I get to control if she triggers, not my opponent.
I think bias aside looking a bit more objectively, Drana is probably going to be the best mono B aggro general.
I don't see Kalitas as a good aggro general, you want a solid two or 1 drop in order to keep your curve consistent. Anafenza can easily come down turn two and will be bigger than Kalitas who won't hit play for another two turns.
And Kalitas is no griselbrand, no card draw no comparison. You'll probably beat aggro, but his ability will not help you versus narset, the premier control queen. Whereas griselbrand could really bring the pain in that match-up by aggressively tutoring for cavern and just out-grinding with the 30 life buffer.
I think Kalitas is a great piece to have in the 99, just not in the general slot.
Don't we start at 20 life now? That brings Griselbrand down a notch, maybe enough to make it raceable.
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“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.” —Volrath
Maybe but if racing Narset is your strategy Drana is 100% better. Im not sure a 4cmc with 3 power can race very well.
Imo, being three mana with 20 life means Drana won't be viable as an aggro deck - she will be forced to go midrange. Need two or less for aggro...options are limited though, leaving you with River Cutthroat as your only option for this particular archetype.
You could probably make the same argument at 30 life. That's why I stopped playing her before at 30. Not really sure what the difference is now. 1 activation is huge and hard to race even for G imo. Anyway it doesn't really matter to me all that much, I'm sticking with Lily cause I love the playstyle.
You could probably make the same argument at 30 life. That's why I stopped playing her before at 30. Not really sure what the difference is now. 1 activation is huge and hard to race even for G imo. Anyway it doesn't really matter to me all that much, I'm sticking with Lily cause I love the playstyle.
With 30, the games were long enough to make the card matter for more than a swing. Additionally, Bellstriker & Kytheon were much less common. Neither of these are true @ 20. Sui Black as a whole also doesn't attack favourably into other creature decks (see also, Sligh, which is a terrible match for it), and if you're relying on a three drop 2/3 to save you, then you're not going to be saved.
I know that mono R burn (and also W/R too) has come back into the meta; has anyone tried testing Zo-Zu The Punisher again? I feel like that deck might chew up control and combo decks more so than say a Zurgo or the RR Grenzo. You would disrupt decks like Titania and Maelstrom while still having some favorable matchups against U control in general.
Thoughts? If anyone wants to build it with me, PM me
EDIT: Also, surprised that Radha isn't being talked about more. That deck is nuts and is super consistent with hitting T3 4-drops and putting on huge amounts of pressure...
French EDH BRGW Saskia the Unyielding BRGW GUWB Thrasios, Triton Hero // Tymna the Weaver GUWB B Braids, Cabal Minion B G Titania, Protector of Argoth G R Zurgo Bellstriker R
Founding Father of [Team Stepfathers]: We beat you and you hate us My Street Art
Surprised that Radha isn't being talked about more. That deck is nuts and is super consistent with hitting T3 4-drops and putting on huge amounts of pressure...
Yeah, I've been waiting to see if people remember just how consistent Radha was in thirty, let alone twenty now. Super duper scary.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Kalitas seems a lot better suited against aggro because kill spells and lifelink and he becomes bigger. Both are mono black and have accesss to sac spells. Liliana also has lifelink but isn't that great by herself. She needs a lot more moving pieces imo
The bias shows.
Also kalitas doesn't die to most red wraths.
I think bias aside looking a bit more objectively, Drana is probably going to be the best mono B aggro general.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Don't we start at 20 life now? That brings Griselbrand down a notch, maybe enough to make it raceable.
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Imo, being three mana with 20 life means Drana won't be viable as an aggro deck - she will be forced to go midrange. Need two or less for aggro...options are limited though, leaving you with River Cutthroat as your only option for this particular archetype.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
I imagine something that doesn't play Flesh Reaver
But realistically, that's probably where the deck that slots in Hangarback Walker, Dross Golem & other value-centric threats would be.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Because a three drop commander not in G doesn't make aggro. Drana would be too slow to make enough of a difference I'm afraid.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
With 30, the games were long enough to make the card matter for more than a swing. Additionally, Bellstriker & Kytheon were much less common. Neither of these are true @ 20. Sui Black as a whole also doesn't attack favourably into other creature decks (see also, Sligh, which is a terrible match for it), and if you're relying on a three drop 2/3 to save you, then you're not going to be saved.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I know that mono R burn (and also W/R too) has come back into the meta; has anyone tried testing Zo-Zu The Punisher again? I feel like that deck might chew up control and combo decks more so than say a Zurgo or the RR Grenzo. You would disrupt decks like Titania and Maelstrom while still having some favorable matchups against U control in general.
Thoughts? If anyone wants to build it with me, PM me
EDIT: Also, surprised that Radha isn't being talked about more. That deck is nuts and is super consistent with hitting T3 4-drops and putting on huge amounts of pressure...
BRGW Saskia the Unyielding BRGW
GUWB Thrasios, Triton Hero // Tymna the Weaver GUWB
B Braids, Cabal Minion B
G Titania, Protector of Argoth G
R Zurgo Bellstriker R
Founding Father of [Team Stepfathers]: We beat you and you hate us
My Street Art
Yeah, I've been waiting to see if people remember just how consistent Radha was in thirty, let alone twenty now. Super duper scary.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.