Have you tired Sadistic Hypnotist? That card is amazing vs control.. and that fact that Alesha can bring him back seems really good aswell..
Also I think Reveillark would be a all-star in a deck with such a low power curve. Not to mention with a sac-outlet and karmic guide it gets silly.
Hypnotist in the five slot means, usually, Control has time to prevent it from coming down. While Alesha can bring it back, it's not as high impact as other cards I could bring back. That said I've been looking for a few more sac outlets, and this isn't bad at all (shame it's sorcery speed, though understandable why). Maybe it would be better than cards that create a clock (such as Silverblade Pally). Speaking of "sac outlets" this reminds me I need a Mirror Entity.
And since you mentioned 'Llark and Karmic, and I want Mirror Entity in the deck...I can loop those together with an Avalanche or Fulminator to create a similar board state to the classic 'Llark combos with Acidic Slime. That's an option, though I don't want to bank on four card combos, and there's still the issue of 'Llark not having any direct synergy with the rest of the deck (more specifically, with the commander).
I know of all these good cards to make strong, potent lock decks...so why am I still building fair decks?
I know what you mean about Hypnotist seeming like he wouldn't work well vs control. At 5 mana he may seem harder to resolve... Right now you running discard and also having early/recurrable threats may make him a little easier then you think. Not to mention that cavern on human also hits Hypnotist.
I read thought the posts here and saw a few people talking about Lark.. Reveillark is amazing at coming down and punishing people for getting rid of it. Reading through the creatures in the deck it seems like a 4/3 flyer that can get back almost any two creatures in the deck would be a dream come true. Also you get a random 4 card combo with it in the deck.
If Mirror Entity "needs" to be in the deck... why? Is it better then a different black sac-outlet? Is it for the pump effect late game?
I know what you mean about Hypnotist seeming like he wouldn't work well vs control. At 5 mana he may seem harder to resolve... Right now you running discard and also having early/recurrable threats may make him a little easier then you think. Not to mention that cavern on human also hits Hypnotist.
I read thought the posts here and saw a few people talking about Lark.. Reveillark is amazing at coming down and punishing people for getting rid of it. Reading through the creatures in the deck it seems like a 4/3 flyer that can get back almost any two creatures in the deck would be a dream come true. Also you get a random 4 card combo with it in the deck.
If Mirror Entity "needs" to be in the deck... why? Is it better then a different black sac-outlet? Is it for the pump effect late game?
A combination of things. You can activate him for 0 to function as a sac outlet. You can turn your Blossom tokens into huge "block or dies". And it doesn't much care if it dies or is discarded as Alesha pulls it back out and can be activated on the same swing. Can also randomly pick up others' tribal synergies (such as making your guys elves to benefit from Eladamri, Lord of Leaves, or merfolk because of Islandwalk from Lord of Atlantis). Swings around Baneslayer's protections too (trollface). That may be niche, but...it happens?
Of these, I don't like Reliquary Monk at all - I tried it because I was searching for another copy of the Leonin Relic-Warder effect, and that guy and the Spellshaper were the best that came up. I figured I can sac it when needed to reap the benefits which works fine in theory, but in practice it's a liability as it isn't a may trigger and an opponent can force you to blow up your own card with a strategic removal. So I re-replaced it with Wear/Tear. During my searches, I came across Duergar Hedge-Mage, and I believe I can consistently meet the requirements to get the 2-for-1, (all it takes is a Sacred Foundry, Godless Shrine, & Blood Crypt, [or just Foundry with Plateau!] which I feel is quite basic for me to get). I think we're at a good place with removals.
Sadistic Hypnotist is a beating versus control, or any midrange deck really. Alesha brings him back, then post combat I Mind Rot people and set it up again for next turn. Or it just gets hideously disgusting with Blossom, Souls, Rabblemaster or etc (anything that doesn't care if it dies)...
Mind Slash is THE nuts. "The original Thoughtseize" and another crucial sac outlet that also provides me information. My only regret is it's sorcery speed...but it's targeted discard, it kinda has to be. Victimize was a good spot as a sac outlet with value, but not even it can hold a candle to Slash.
Stingscourger is quite exciting, and more useful than Thalia, who needs other tax effects to really break backs. I'd say [the Goblin] is better than Bone Shredder by far, and right at the top (sometimes edging out) Fiend Hunter. He's very good.
I finally made the call to run Siege-Gang Commander, and as an added bonus, I got the foil version from Elves vs Goblins. Not that I care a lot about foils, but the unique art and shininess is cool. I like SGC more so than the new R Legendary from Orgins because it makes one extra body, and has synergy with more cards in the deck (Goblin Rabblemaster).
Disciple of Bolas is a cute interaction and I'm open to returning him, possibly over Phyrexian Rager. This is not Disciple's swan song, IMHO. Grand Abolisher on the other hand...I just don't think I need him. Unlike Kaalia, this isn't a combo deck. I don't need to protect a certain game state, and I don't care about just a Grizzly Bear.
I don't think Reveillark's inclusion needs any justification here.
I'm coming to appreciate all the little incremental lifegain I've got going on as I apparently, am quite reckless with my own life. Far beyond the "life is a resource" mantra. This was made readily apparent during my r2 match vs Marath, where I kept Lava Axeing my face for three turns in a row. I kinda feel like I should add a Sun Droplet here just for the incremental lifegain to help me stay just a few points higher than I normally would.
As usual I feel I have a bit of an unfair advantage due to my own intimate familiarity with the Commander, which I even made a point of telling my opponent by referencing my Primer for his own sake. His deck...was very lacklustre, to say the least. G1 he didn't interact at all. only playing Kaalia on t4, to which I played Liliana of the Veil and -2'd her (I had instant answers in hand too). Next turn he full taps again for the Lieutenant demon guy, which I let resolve. I untap and +1 Liliana, discarding Master of Cruelties, and move to combat, returning the MoC. He sits and thinks for awhile about blocks - I'm more than willing to "give up" Alesha here in exchange for MoC to go unblocked, but he makes the smart call and blocks. We talk about the first strike + deathtouch interaction to clear him up on how that works, then he takes his turn and passes, being stuck with five mana and six drops. On my turn I -2 Liliana, targeting myself (clutch play incoming), and then move to combat, pay the (W/B)(W/B) to return MoC, and explain to him how the game just ended in the blink of an eye. Lots of neat interactions here, and I like that about this deck a lot.
The G2 was much less interesting as he learned first hand why I'm the "dick of Friday Nights". He leads with a swamp, then t2 Orzhov Basilica, which runs into my t2 Wasteland because I can't pass up the tempo play these cause so early. This would also prove to be his only W source all game. He replays his Swamp and passes. Next I play Brain Maggot to see his hand is dead with no removal, so I play Alesha next turn. He proceeds to top deck Mountains (and has four of them to his one Swamp) before I rip Sinkhole and kill his only B source to isolate him. A few turns of combat is enough to finish him off after.
Can I say first that I hate these kinds of midrange ramp decks? Marath esoecially because he rewards misplays by just being there as a catch-all play, while getting better and better the more you play him. Anyway...
G1 he's on the play but I start with some heavy disruption. He keeps making land drops and passing, but I proceed to flood out. he eventually replays Marath for 7, which is more than ample to stop my plan. Even after Blossom tokens, Souls tokens...after Cruci-fetching for like infinity turns. I still can't help but flood.
G2 goes a bit grindy, but after dealing with his dork, then Marath the first time, I get the Avalanche/Alesha combo online when he's on five mana. He plays Marath again, for five to block, but I've got a Path to Exile for that so I can keep him on six (my game plan here is literally "keep him off seven mana"). He's got a hand of land so he keeps playing, and eventually he is able to stabilize with a Divining Top into Day of Judgment, and a Chromatic Lantern so my combo isn't colour screwing him. I manage to replay Alesha next turn, with haste, and keep getting in for damage setting him in the single digits. His turn he's on seven and he drops Marath finally, full tapping for it. I think for a minute, untap, draw, and go to combat, again returning Avalanche. He's on five life so I attack with both - he [correctly] blocks Alesha, takes two from Avalanche...then I flash him the Lightning Bolt I've been sitting on all game for exactsies, and we move to G3.
Unfortunately G3 is not so eventful for me, we both mull to six and he has a land light hand with dorks. I play around here with Stingscourger, Karmic Guide, and Alesha triggers, but each turn I am tapping City of Brass, Mana Confluence, AND Hall of the Bandit Lord for mana because I only have these five lands and I needed the mana. This is my ultimate downfall as I took fifteen damage self-inflicted, plus my fetches. I made a misplay here with the first Stingscourger trigger, I bounced a token when I should have bounced a dork as that'd have prevented his Ajani Vengeant from coming down. Towards the end of extra turns, I hardcast the Master of Cruelties in my hand (Ajani is keeping Alesha tapped), which brings me down to six. I send my hasty demon to the red zone and he doesn't block, goes to one, untaps and -2's Ajani and swings with two dorks and a token FTW.
I wasn't expecting to face MBC, but I do think MBC is favoured vs decks with small creatures. Makes sense - but it's not unwinnable. Of note though, one of my locks is useless here (Contamination). Awkward.
G1 I completely blitzed him, including t2 Blossom < t3 Brain Maggot < t4 Alesha, and a t5 Braids sealed the deal. It also didn't help that he missed land drops too.
G2 I drew Sinkhole as my only removal/disruption, he played big dudes and crushed me. It was uneventful.
G3 we go a bit longer, I start with a t2 Brain Maggot to see a couple of removals. I take the Downfall and leave...idk, something situational. Feast of Blood? Anyway the he plays Vampire Nocturnus (reveals land) and gets Bolted, but I'm afraid of playing Alesha now as I don't have any value (anything at all) to return and him playing Drana is worse for me because Drana > my guys. He starts amassing power on the board, and I have to get to six mana - which means playing my Urborg - to drop Sun's Champion. Playing Urborg was an obv critical flaw b/c he had Coffers. But I needed a sixth land else I was dead anyway. Well, it turns out Drana having Coffers-Borg mana is a loss too (who'd have thunk it? >_>) I tried coming back with Souls + SoLaS but it ultimately just wasn't enough pressure (I never rally drew a clock component...I drew Contamination instead which is beyond useless here - I mean it stops Coffers, but that ship had sailed at that point). An unfortunate, sad end to an otherwise strong start.
Wow, thats a lot of info. Awesome dude. I like everything you added in except Mind Slash. I tried it and found it kinda meh. A) not a creature B) sorcery speed, your sac outlets should be instant speed that way if you opponent tries to exile one of your creatures you can just sac it and bring it back with Alesha later (at least thats why I use em in Marchesa).However, It might work better in your deck since your running stuff like SGC. Let me know how u end up liking it, im curious.
Wow, thats a lot of info. Awesome dude. I like everything you added in except Mind Slash. I tried it and found it kinda meh. A) not a creature B) sorcery speed, your sac outlets should be instant speed that way if you opponent tries to exile one of your creatures you can just sac it and bring it back with Alesha later (at least thats why I use em in Marchesa).However, It might work better in your deck since your running stuff like SGC. Let me know how u end up liking it, im curious.
It's not a creature, you're right. But it's also better than T-Seize because it can hit lands and doesn't shock me. Of course it'd be stronger as an instant, but I do have other instant sac outlets - this one is just so backbreaking. I'd never cut it (well, I guess if the meta shifted and everyone was on aggro? But that isn't happening...)
EDIT: If not Sun Droplet maybe something as simple (re: janky) as a Lone Missionary is more ideal. Sounds bad but maybe that's what I need to balance my recklessness.
So after checking this deck out last Friday, I decided that I would like to try Alesha for a bit. I would want to take it a more combo route, since I like the ability to win the game no matter how behind you may seem on board.
You might be able to tell I borrowed a lot from you list.... but also added in some things I have liked playing from other decks. Running a few nice little combos.
"Twin Combo"
Anafenza + Murderous Redcap + Sac Outlet
Reveillark + Karmic Guide + Sac Outet + Random Come into play ability.
Would love some insight to what people think about this kind of build... Thought I would throw it up before I start testing.
Yeah, I can certainly see the similarities. There's a few things, IMHO, look underwhelming because they're in there just to combo which I am unsure is correct. Things like Aristocrat is "just a sac outlet", but I think you'd be better off with a Mind Slash, despite it being sorcery speed because it is more relevant more often overall. Bell-Ringer being only Kiki-Jiki fodder is underwhelming without Kiki (just a minor combat trick). I think Sad Robot is just a durdle roadblock - that's fine if you're trying to durdle (as you've seen how I play, you know I don't go for durdles), but it's slot is likely better used by anything else. I could take Sin Collector or leave him, would prefer something that gives me a card like Wall of Omens, Phyrexian Rager, or Disciple of Bolas in that slot...maybe even Faceless Butcher. Pain Seer has interesting synergy here since Alesha returns him tapped.
Duplicant looks like the stone cold nuts (which was one of my initial reasons for building the deck), though it's still a six drop when Banisher Priest will (generally) do the same job for us. And I was all set on the Key & Peele (my nickname for Pia & Kiran) plan...until I saw their activation cost was three cmc. At two, I was excited for a 2nd Siege-Gang but three to sac is just uncool.
I don't see much in the way of over the top value in Recurring Nightmare in your list. Good value, but I find myself preferring to continue my game plan rather than Rec-Night a couple of times (having over six mana in play is quite late game). I think this slot should be Braids, Cabal Minion or...waitaminute, where is your Contamination?!
I still think your Resto. Angel should be Kor Skyfisher. It "blinks" more than just creatures, for example, you could -2 Liliana, Skyfisher it to your hand, then replay Liliana and +1/-2 her again in one turn.
I recognize a lot of these differences have to do with our own different play styles. But, it's still food for thought, IMHO. Especially as this deck is still quite young.
A few suggestions I really like right off the bat.
Faceless Butcher may just be a better Duplicant for what its trying to do.
Phyrexian Rager also is more then likely a card I'm under valuing.
I'll 100% concede that Village Bell-Ringer is trash, but I want as many Kiki targets as I can get (Bell-Ringer, Resto Angel and Conscripts)
Also with Cartel Aristocrat... you need her or a Bloodthrone Vampire type of free sacrifice effect for the loops with Anafenza or Lark + Karmic combos. I want a lot of these "free" sac outlets for redundancy purposes.
Recurring Nightmare is just in the deck as a value engine for late/mid game... We have have a lot of CITP abilities and I would like to cycle through them as many times as I can, even if I cant use my Commander.
Braids really isn't something that I wanted in the deck. I don't really have a good reason... its a 4 mana 2/2 with no CITP ability? With that being said, Braids is probably right for the deck.
Contamination is not right for our meta IMO... to any mana rocks and dorks to reliably lock. I would like my combos to really "win" me the game.
Speaking about Meta.. I think that Pia and Kiran Nalaar will be Crazy vs Sigarda/Ojutai 2 colorless artifact flyers. Its like double Fog that is recurrable!
Cards I want to try also Goblin Matron, Phyrexian Revoker, and maybe Buried Alive. Will wait to test Wednesday.
Well, I have been playing Alesha for a few months now and love it. Yesterday, I got to try out the new lilliana in her, and she worked great. I only used her plus and she still had the whole table scrambling to answer her. Using her as a discard outlet that also helped control my opponents hand was invaluable. If she hadn't eaten an O-ring, she might have won me the game because of how easy she is to flip and the fact that she recurs with Alesha.
I doubt I will ever take her out of my list and would suggest looking into her.
Are you playing multipmayer? Its really hard to compare cards good in multiplayer to cards good in duals imo.
That being said I do think she is worth looking into. She is more value then Phyrexian Rager imo. A 2/3 lifelink that gives you a 2/2 token if something else dies and then you get to Unearth something. Im gonna try her in both Marchesa and Karador.
A few suggestions I really like right off the bat.
Faceless Butcher may just be a better Duplicant for what its trying to do.
Phyrexian Rager also is more then likely a card I'm under valuing.
I'll 100% concede that Village Bell-Ringer is trash, but I want as many Kiki targets as I can get (Bell-Ringer, Resto Angel and Conscripts)
Also with Cartel Aristocrat... you need her or a Bloodthrone Vampire type of free sacrifice effect for the loops with Anafenza or Lark + Karmic combos. I want a lot of these "free" sac outlets for redundancy purposes.
Recurring Nightmare is just in the deck as a value engine for late/mid game... We have have a lot of CITP abilities and I would like to cycle through them as many times as I can, even if I cant use my Commander.
Braids really isn't something that I wanted in the deck. I don't really have a good reason... its a 4 mana 2/2 with no CITP ability? With that being said, Braids is probably right for the deck.
Contamination is not right for our meta IMO... to any mana rocks and dorks to reliably lock. I would like my combos to really "win" me the game.
Speaking about Meta.. I think that Pia and Kiran Nalaar will be Crazy vs Sigarda/Ojutai 2 colorless artifact flyers. Its like double Fog that is recurrable!
Cards I want to try also Goblin Matron, Phyrexian Revoker, and maybe Buried Alive. Will wait to test Wednesday.
Braids is definitely the slower of the Avalanche/Fulminator plan. But it's also more demoralizing to look at from across the board as it carries a certain inevitability with it.
You know what gives free fogs vs Sigarda every turn moreso than Key & Peele? Bitterblossom - and it puts your control match up over the top too.
You have a point about the rock/dork composition in our meta. Sigarda, Marath and these are top decks that show up every week. Then when we know there's that Drana guy who (I think) will be a regular...that's three decks Contam. isn't good against. I'll find some other lock or value card then. Buried Alive is interesting especially when I can go MoC/Avalanche/Braids or for you it's Bell-Ringer/Kiki/Llark.
Play Revoker man. It's so so good. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you don't play it. And I feel Entomber Exarch is one mana too much, and I'd feel awful playing that for four.
And I'd say Faceless is 100% better than Duplicanthere because it perma-exiles like Fiend Hunter.
I'm not really sold on the Anafenza/Llark combos myself, but then I'm on the MoC plan which you aren't big on either. I'll have to watch your deck go and see how I feel. However with all your sac outlets, you can justify Mangara of Corondor moreso than I could. I think it deserves a slot as at the minimum, a recurring Council's Judgment.
How exactly do the Revelark + Anafenza/Karmic Guide combo's work? I have never really understood them
Either of them can be down with any sac outlet (free is preferred to go infinite but nonfree is suitable too). Either can be sorcery speed to function.
Have a sac outlet on board, and the requisite pieces (in this case we'll say Karmic, Llark, & Redcap).
Sac Redcap to outlet. Resolve triggers. Persist back then sac again.
Redcap returns. Bolster triggers, negating the -1/-1 from Persist (Redcap is a 1/1 at this point, so Bolster should be hitting him).
Repeat as desired.
Woah. That one is pretty efficient, and Anafenza isn't bad on it's own. Think Anafenza can go in here too - enables value and a random combo for WW and is recurrable with my commander.
I made a ton of changes tonight (more than fifteen), a lot of which involving Origins cards. One was an older card that is precisely the tech I need to replaceElspeth, Sun's Champion. Got your attention?!
Retribution of the Meek. That's exactly the sweeper I want, and it's three mana even, and it clears the big dumb fatties away while my small dorks continue.
But I've got a couple of downright heinous shifts that are close together (less than five hours apart) over the next two days, so my report will have to wait. Quick results though;
L R1 vs Tasigur 0-2
W R2 vs Drana MBC 2-1 (in extra turns no less)
W R3 vs Marath 2-1 (g1 I got Alesha-Avalanche going early and he had no R. g2 I got stuck on two lands. g3 I had my Hexmage being looped to keep him off Marath, which put him even further on tilt than when he started [he had lost a really long game after a huge misplay right before our game].)
I am unsure if Greaves are the proper cut for a combo piece such as Anafenza, or if Anafenza is right for the deck. She combos with Persist (notably Redcap) and gets intrinsic value just by doing what the deck wants to do, and passes the "vanilla test". This leads me to believe she is acceptable. Greaves, while good, doesn't feel like I absolutely need it like I do in Kaalia, so it is perhaps a cut (I find I prefer Hall of the Bandit Lord for haste). But I'm not for sure here.
I'm replacing Toxic Deluge with Fire Covenant. Most of the time when I want to sweep, I don't want to cast Deluge because I have my own board and my creatures are relatively small. So I need the instant speed shapable at-will sweeper instead.
Agent of Erebos is a good card, and I'd like to slot it in - but it's a meta card. While it remains good against Tasigur, no self-respecting Tasigur pilot will let this resolve. Ever. So I haven't made the call to run this yet.
I want to get Wake the Dead in here. The value is too stronk with all the EtB I have.
I don't think Sword of the Animist is "good", but I've found I like that it can curve from Alesha into Sword, and bash for four 1st Strike - and Alesha bashing for four instead of three is super-relevant. Additionally it's so so good with Bitterblossom tokens or letting guys like Brain Maggot through. I guess it also helps recast Alesha for even seven or nine, should the game go that long. That's probably relevant in a non-zero number of games.
Lastly, I want to discuss the merits of Phyrexian Rager vs Abbot of Keral Keep. On the surface Rager looks better - it's a fine t3 play, replaces itself, and has better stats. It's very "cast and forget about it". Abbot offers more with it's Prowess effect, costs one mana less for the same power and CA, but isn't as good with the Commander as I have to use the card that turn (if they're both in the 'Yard, I feel like I'd bring Rager back in 98% of the situations I find myself in).
EDIT: Lol and I'm running Abbot of Keral Keep over Anafenza anyway. At least for one week, to see how it performs as a second Rager. Also giving Wake the Dead a trial run.
I made quite a few changes AGAIN (like Anafenza has been in and out more times than In-n-Out Burger) and I cut the Abbot before playtesting with it.
I did add in Recurring Nightmare, and while it doesn't have "overtly" broken interactions, the best I had was against Tasigur, I Rec-Night my Maggot for Pia & Kiran, which gives me fodder to Rec-Night almost every turn. I found myself using it just once/turn when I drew it, but some cards to bring back ('Llark comes to mind as redonkulous...) are way too good. I think it can stay. It's the epitome of "counter or lose".
I like how this deck hasn't had a really "stable, consistent" list since it's inception. That suggests its young age but also its adaptability, kind of like a blank canvas. Maybe that's why I keep finding myself wanting to play this deck more and more.
Lastly, I think Hall of the Bandit Lord is a CUT. Unlike Kaalia, having hasty Alesha is good, but hasty Kaalia is essential. Hasty Alesha means I need 2R(W/B)(W/B), which leaves me too vulnerable to any instant disruption. And it doesn't even (usually) end the game in one shot like Kaalia is renown for. The 3 life is a real cost here, and EBT [can be] harmful. This change leaves only one EBT land - Nomad Outpost - which is fine b/c leading Outpost into Reflecting Pool leaves you very, very satisfied. Think this slot will be best served by Shizo, Death's Storehouse (Alesha evasion).
Speaking of renown, I think Relic Seeker is a real thing here since Alesha works quite well with the Renown mechanic.
***
Cool play last night (I went 1-1-1). My rounds went L 0-2 vs Omnath (I drew just absolutely abysmal), Draw 1-1-1 vs Tasigur, and W 2-1 vs Riku.
r3 vs Riku, g3 (I stomped all over him g1 with t2 Sinkholeon the play, and g2 he went to top deck mode and drew like an effin bawse) I curve t2 Mesmeric Fiend, t3 Alesha, t4 rip Gamble off the top (with a Faithless Looting in hand), I count my colours to make sure I can make RR(W/B)(W/B), then Gamble to find Master of Cruelties, and pitch MoC off the random discard, swing with Alesha and pay the (W/B)(W/B) to recur MoC for the one shot kill.
Since I've made so many changes with MTG Origins, with cards in and out (sometimes repeatedly!) I took the time to reorganize the list in the OP to reflect what is currently sleeved up.
Yes I cut Council's Judgment b/c it doesn't hit lands. this may or may not be the correct call - I just know that hitting an early land drop, against a lot of players, is as good as a concession since it puts them on tilt all game. That's relevant.
I cut the Blood Rite Priest guy for the Hound since they fill the same role (resilient beater) but Hound offers a better clock and you have to kill it twice. It's also better with equipments. Wake the Dead has to be THE most awkward spell ever with it's "only during combat on an opponent's turn" clause. I replaced it with Relic Seeker, because it's an easy-to-exploit Stoneforge Mystic with Alesha (srsly, Renown is soooooo easy to get online with this deck. Why couldn't I get Honored Hierarch in my colours, besides the fact it isn't in my colour pie).
Not sure if this has been discussed earlier, but how's sword of the animist doing for you? Interesting pick to be honest.
Originally it was because the first game I played with it I had it plus Blossom tokens and together that did some serious work. But after the event I thought about it, and it curves beautifully off Alesha - t4 you can bash for four with first strike, which is so much more relevant than bashing for three first strike. Also since this deck doesn't want to 'Geddon (you need (W/B)(W/B) every turn), this card will allow us to get ahead on ramp while doing what we want to do. In our colours, this is not something we're allowed to have. Good question though.
Looks like it's been just over a month. Well, that was a fun month of Bellstriker AiR, so I decided to switch things up since the meta appears to be starting to catch on to that deck. I made twenty plus some-odd changes to the OP list, but I was quite pleased with the turnout.
R1 I get Marath and win 2-0. G1 he drops Marath for 7 into my Fiend Hunter and allows me to exile it. I've no idea why. G2 I almost get into some trouble when I misread the interaction with Marath and Hardened Scales, but luckily it wasn't infinite. I took a chunk of damage and noted he is stuck on three lands with two dorks, so I Toxic Deluge which puts him quite a ways back. Alesha then joins the fray with P&K backup and soon this one is over. Post-match he seemed confident he'd have won if he didn't let Marath get exiled, but I really am not sure; he was running low on steam and I was gaining more and more anyway.
R2 I get my good rival and our resident Sigarda player. G1 I mull to five and think it's all but done, but somehow miraculously almost turn it around with an Alesha into P&K, sac, recur, and make two more Thopters. Almost though - because he did have *** into Catastrophe and with myself at five life, I don't have enough time to get a flyer up. After the *** I put Alesha in the 'yard to circumvent cmdr tax (I have Volrath's), but he's got Mwonvuli Acid-Moss to target my Stronghold so that plan got derailed. G2 starts out with an explosive start from him, but no W for a couple turns. I've got Bob and Feeder, then land Hunter to perma-exile his Arbor but he hits his other W to land the Angel. I stick Alesha, then Retribution of the Meek to clear him out. Just as I'm gaining advantage, our good friends P&K show up to give me "Angel food" as long as I need it. He drops the Angel again, to which I respond with Alesha and he realizes he can't race and concedes. G3 we go to time, and I give him the win since winner gets to face Yisan and he said he's got the tools to fight it. So I went on to R3 and...
R3 vs Tasigur. This deck was not fully optimal, and I 2-0'd him. G1 was a bit grindy as expected, but I got him down to 12 when he was able to crack an O-Stone. Redcap persisted back and brought him to 11, then I Char'd his face to 7. My turn I recast Alesha and passed, and he dropped Tasigur the third time and equipped boots to swing at me...which was a critical flaw as I don't feel he was in a position to attack (he assumed I didn't have a combo ready because my Carrion Feeder was in the 'Yard). I untap, flashback the Faithless Looting in my 'Yard and discard a land and Master of Cruelties, attack, pay the (W/B)(W/B) and windmill slam MoC on the board, explaining to him the interaction. G2 he mulls to three looking for lands which is terrible as you'd imagine. It certainly didn't help when one of his lands was a Factory and I Bolted it when he tried to block. A couple turns later I ripped a Wasteland for his Watery Grave, and after that I had Fulminator Mage for his Faerie Conclave, which led to Alesha...you can see the waste-lock from here, which he conceded to. Of note, I saw Confidant both games on t2, and both games he went uncountered and unremoved.
P&K was putting in a ton of overtime tonight.
Both matches I won, I won 2-0. Here's the list I played, and man is it sweet.
The main philosophy I wanted was more removal that could also go to the dome as reach - Char, Collateral Damage (which also functions as a sac outlet) among B-Charm and Bolt, plus Ember Hauler proved quite burntastic for this goal. Agent of Erebos (and Kataki, War's Wage, which was in the deck tonight but isn't featured here) were to shore up the Daretti matchup...but Daretti played Standard this week so I had the "joy" of running a white Goblin Piker.
I quite liked him though his cmc can sometimes be annoying. This is mitigated by Alesha, and that he threatens 4 in one turn or the ability to kill walkers at instant speed.
Hypnotist in the five slot means, usually, Control has time to prevent it from coming down. While Alesha can bring it back, it's not as high impact as other cards I could bring back. That said I've been looking for a few more sac outlets, and this isn't bad at all (shame it's sorcery speed, though understandable why). Maybe it would be better than cards that create a clock (such as Silverblade Pally). Speaking of "sac outlets" this reminds me I need a Mirror Entity.
And since you mentioned 'Llark and Karmic, and I want Mirror Entity in the deck...I can loop those together with an Avalanche or Fulminator to create a similar board state to the classic 'Llark combos with Acidic Slime. That's an option, though I don't want to bank on four card combos, and there's still the issue of 'Llark not having any direct synergy with the rest of the deck (more specifically, with the commander).
I know of all these good cards to make strong, potent lock decks...so why am I still building fair decks?
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I read thought the posts here and saw a few people talking about Lark.. Reveillark is amazing at coming down and punishing people for getting rid of it. Reading through the creatures in the deck it seems like a 4/3 flyer that can get back almost any two creatures in the deck would be a dream come true. Also you get a random 4 card combo with it in the deck.
If Mirror Entity "needs" to be in the deck... why? Is it better then a different black sac-outlet? Is it for the pump effect late game?
A combination of things. You can activate him for 0 to function as a sac outlet. You can turn your Blossom tokens into huge "block or dies". And it doesn't much care if it dies or is discarded as Alesha pulls it back out and can be activated on the same swing. Can also randomly pick up others' tribal synergies (such as making your guys elves to benefit from Eladamri, Lord of Leaves, or merfolk because of Islandwalk from Lord of Atlantis). Swings around Baneslayer's protections too (trollface). That may be niche, but...it happens?
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Sadistic Hypnotist
1 Reveillark
1 Reliquary Monk
1 Mind Slash
1 Duergar Hedge-Mage
1 Stingscourger
1 Silverblade Paladin
1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1 Karn Liberated
1 Wear/Tear
1 Victimize
1 Disciple of Bolas
1 Grand Abolisher
1 Agent of Erebos (Tormod's Crypt on a body is good)
1 Kor Skyfisher (An Alesha-friendly Restoration Angel is quite playable)
1 Hound of Griselbrand (strong game finishing power)
1 Knight of the White Orchid (Value)
Of these, I don't like Reliquary Monk at all - I tried it because I was searching for another copy of the Leonin Relic-Warder effect, and that guy and the Spellshaper were the best that came up. I figured I can sac it when needed to reap the benefits which works fine in theory, but in practice it's a liability as it isn't a may trigger and an opponent can force you to blow up your own card with a strategic removal. So I re-replaced it with Wear/Tear. During my searches, I came across Duergar Hedge-Mage, and I believe I can consistently meet the requirements to get the 2-for-1, (all it takes is a Sacred Foundry, Godless Shrine, & Blood Crypt, [or just Foundry with Plateau!] which I feel is quite basic for me to get). I think we're at a good place with removals.
Sadistic Hypnotist is a beating versus control, or any midrange deck really. Alesha brings him back, then post combat I Mind Rot people and set it up again for next turn. Or it just gets hideously disgusting with Blossom, Souls, Rabblemaster or etc (anything that doesn't care if it dies)...
Mind Slash is THE nuts. "The original Thoughtseize" and another crucial sac outlet that also provides me information. My only regret is it's sorcery speed...but it's targeted discard, it kinda has to be. Victimize was a good spot as a sac outlet with value, but not even it can hold a candle to Slash.
Stingscourger is quite exciting, and more useful than Thalia, who needs other tax effects to really break backs. I'd say [the Goblin] is better than Bone Shredder by far, and right at the top (sometimes edging out) Fiend Hunter. He's very good.
I finally made the call to run Siege-Gang Commander, and as an added bonus, I got the foil version from Elves vs Goblins. Not that I care a lot about foils, but the unique art and shininess is cool. I like SGC more so than the new R Legendary from Orgins because it makes one extra body, and has synergy with more cards in the deck (Goblin Rabblemaster).
Disciple of Bolas is a cute interaction and I'm open to returning him, possibly over Phyrexian Rager. This is not Disciple's swan song, IMHO. Grand Abolisher on the other hand...I just don't think I need him. Unlike Kaalia, this isn't a combo deck. I don't need to protect a certain game state, and I don't care about just a Grizzly Bear.
I don't think Reveillark's inclusion needs any justification here.
I'm coming to appreciate all the little incremental lifegain I've got going on as I apparently, am quite reckless with my own life. Far beyond the "life is a resource" mantra. This was made readily apparent during my r2 match vs Marath, where I kept Lava Axeing my face for three turns in a row. I kinda feel like I should add a Sun Droplet here just for the incremental lifegain to help me stay just a few points higher than I normally would.
Event Report
The G2 was much less interesting as he learned first hand why I'm the "dick of Friday Nights". He leads with a swamp, then t2 Orzhov Basilica, which runs into my t2 Wasteland because I can't pass up the tempo play these cause so early. This would also prove to be his only W source all game. He replays his Swamp and passes. Next I play Brain Maggot to see his hand is dead with no removal, so I play Alesha next turn. He proceeds to top deck Mountains (and has four of them to his one Swamp) before I rip Sinkhole and kill his only B source to isolate him. A few turns of combat is enough to finish him off after.
Can I say first that I hate these kinds of midrange ramp decks? Marath esoecially because he rewards misplays by just being there as a catch-all play, while getting better and better the more you play him. Anyway...
G1 he's on the play but I start with some heavy disruption. He keeps making land drops and passing, but I proceed to flood out. he eventually replays Marath for 7, which is more than ample to stop my plan. Even after Blossom tokens, Souls tokens...after Cruci-fetching for like infinity turns. I still can't help but flood.
G2 goes a bit grindy, but after dealing with his dork, then Marath the first time, I get the Avalanche/Alesha combo online when he's on five mana. He plays Marath again, for five to block, but I've got a Path to Exile for that so I can keep him on six (my game plan here is literally "keep him off seven mana"). He's got a hand of land so he keeps playing, and eventually he is able to stabilize with a Divining Top into Day of Judgment, and a Chromatic Lantern so my combo isn't colour screwing him. I manage to replay Alesha next turn, with haste, and keep getting in for damage setting him in the single digits. His turn he's on seven and he drops Marath finally, full tapping for it. I think for a minute, untap, draw, and go to combat, again returning Avalanche. He's on five life so I attack with both - he [correctly] blocks Alesha, takes two from Avalanche...then I flash him the Lightning Bolt I've been sitting on all game for exactsies, and we move to G3.
Unfortunately G3 is not so eventful for me, we both mull to six and he has a land light hand with dorks. I play around here with Stingscourger, Karmic Guide, and Alesha triggers, but each turn I am tapping City of Brass, Mana Confluence, AND Hall of the Bandit Lord for mana because I only have these five lands and I needed the mana. This is my ultimate downfall as I took fifteen damage self-inflicted, plus my fetches. I made a misplay here with the first Stingscourger trigger, I bounced a token when I should have bounced a dork as that'd have prevented his Ajani Vengeant from coming down. Towards the end of extra turns, I hardcast the Master of Cruelties in my hand (Ajani is keeping Alesha tapped), which brings me down to six. I send my hasty demon to the red zone and he doesn't block, goes to one, untaps and -2's Ajani and swings with two dorks and a token FTW.
I wasn't expecting to face MBC, but I do think MBC is favoured vs decks with small creatures. Makes sense - but it's not unwinnable. Of note though, one of my locks is useless here (Contamination). Awkward.
G1 I completely blitzed him, including t2 Blossom < t3 Brain Maggot < t4 Alesha, and a t5 Braids sealed the deal. It also didn't help that he missed land drops too.
G2 I drew Sinkhole as my only removal/disruption, he played big dudes and crushed me. It was uneventful.
G3 we go a bit longer, I start with a t2 Brain Maggot to see a couple of removals. I take the Downfall and leave...idk, something situational. Feast of Blood? Anyway the he plays Vampire Nocturnus (reveals land) and gets Bolted, but I'm afraid of playing Alesha now as I don't have any value (anything at all) to return and him playing Drana is worse for me because Drana > my guys. He starts amassing power on the board, and I have to get to six mana - which means playing my Urborg - to drop Sun's Champion. Playing Urborg was an obv critical flaw b/c he had Coffers. But I needed a sixth land else I was dead anyway. Well, it turns out Drana having Coffers-Borg mana is a loss too (who'd have thunk it? >_>) I tried coming back with Souls + SoLaS but it ultimately just wasn't enough pressure (I never rally drew a clock component...I drew Contamination instead which is beyond useless here - I mean it stops Coffers, but that ship had sailed at that point). An unfortunate, sad end to an otherwise strong start.
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)
It's not a creature, you're right. But it's also better than T-Seize because it can hit lands and doesn't shock me. Of course it'd be stronger as an instant, but I do have other instant sac outlets - this one is just so backbreaking. I'd never cut it (well, I guess if the meta shifted and everyone was on aggro? But that isn't happening...)
I'd like to add Boros Charm to the deck.
EDIT: If not Sun Droplet maybe something as simple (re: janky) as a Lone Missionary is more ideal. Sounds bad but maybe that's what I need to balance my recklessness.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
1 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
Land (40)
1x Badlands
1x Plateau
1x Scrubland
1x Blood Crypt
1x Godless Shrine
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Mountain
2x Plains
1x Swamp
1x Arid Mesa
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Flooded Strand
1x Marsh Flats
1x Polluted Delta
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Windswept Heath
1x Wooded Foothills
1x Battlefield Forge
1x Caves of Koilos
1x Temple of Silence
1x Temple of Triumph
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Fetid Heath
1x Rugged Prairie
1x Lavaclaw Reaches
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Phyrexian Tower
1x Rishadan Port
1x Vault of the Archangel
1x Wasteland
1x Command Tower
1x Mana Confluence
1x Nomad Outpost
Creature (35)
1x Benevolent Bodyguard
1x Carrion Feeder
1x Mother of Runes
1x Viscera Seer
1x Weathered Wayfarer
1x Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
1x Brain Maggot
1x Cartel Aristocrat
1x Dark Confidant
1x Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
1x Mesmeric Fiend
1x Stingscourger
1x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Tidehollow Sculler
1x Aven Mindcensor
1x Duergar Hedge-Mage
1x Fiend Hunter
1x Fulminator Mage
1x Imperial Recruiter
1x Orzhov Pontiff
1x Sin Collector
1x Village Bell-Ringer
1x Avalanche Riders
1x Entomber Exarch
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1x Restoration Angel
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Karmic Guide
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Reveillark
1x Sadistic Hypnotist
1x Zealous Conscripts
1x Sun Titan
Artifact (4)
1x Skullclamp
1x Umezawa's Jitte
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Crucible of Worlds
Sorcery (11)
1x Faithless Looting
1x Gamble
1x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Reanimate
1x Thoughtseize
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Diabolic Intent
1x Night's Whisper
1x Tormenting Voice
1x Grim Tutor
1x Vindicate
Instant (5)
1x Enlightened Tutor
1x Path to Exile
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Dismember
1x Wear / Tear
Enchantment (3)
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Recurring Nightmare
1x Splinter Twin
Planeswalker (1)
1x Liliana of the Veil
You might be able to tell I borrowed a lot from you list.... but also added in some things I have liked playing from other decks. Running a few nice little combos.
"Twin Combo"
Anafenza + Murderous Redcap + Sac Outlet
Reveillark + Karmic Guide + Sac Outet + Random Come into play ability.
Would love some insight to what people think about this kind of build... Thought I would throw it up before I start testing.
Lack of Council's Judgment is disturbing...especially when you know Sigarda is in the meta man. Withering Boon?
Duplicant looks like the stone cold nuts (which was one of my initial reasons for building the deck), though it's still a six drop when Banisher Priest will (generally) do the same job for us. And I was all set on the Key & Peele (my nickname for Pia & Kiran) plan...until I saw their activation cost was three cmc. At two, I was excited for a 2nd Siege-Gang but three to sac is just uncool.
I don't see much in the way of over the top value in Recurring Nightmare in your list. Good value, but I find myself preferring to continue my game plan rather than Rec-Night a couple of times (having over six mana in play is quite late game). I think this slot should be Braids, Cabal Minion or...waitaminute, where is your Contamination?!
I still think your Resto. Angel should be Kor Skyfisher. It "blinks" more than just creatures, for example, you could -2 Liliana, Skyfisher it to your hand, then replay Liliana and +1/-2 her again in one turn.
I recognize a lot of these differences have to do with our own different play styles. But, it's still food for thought, IMHO. Especially as this deck is still quite young.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Faceless Butcher may just be a better Duplicant for what its trying to do.
Phyrexian Rager also is more then likely a card I'm under valuing.
I'll 100% concede that Village Bell-Ringer is trash, but I want as many Kiki targets as I can get (Bell-Ringer, Resto Angel and Conscripts)
Also with Cartel Aristocrat... you need her or a Bloodthrone Vampire type of free sacrifice effect for the loops with Anafenza or Lark + Karmic combos. I want a lot of these "free" sac outlets for redundancy purposes.
Recurring Nightmare is just in the deck as a value engine for late/mid game... We have have a lot of CITP abilities and I would like to cycle through them as many times as I can, even if I cant use my Commander.
Braids really isn't something that I wanted in the deck. I don't really have a good reason... its a 4 mana 2/2 with no CITP ability? With that being said, Braids is probably right for the deck.
Contamination is not right for our meta IMO... to any mana rocks and dorks to reliably lock. I would like my combos to really "win" me the game.
Speaking about Meta.. I think that Pia and Kiran Nalaar will be Crazy vs Sigarda/Ojutai 2 colorless artifact flyers. Its like double Fog that is recurrable!
Cards I want to try also Goblin Matron, Phyrexian Revoker, and maybe Buried Alive. Will wait to test Wednesday.
I doubt I will ever take her out of my list and would suggest looking into her.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
That being said I do think she is worth looking into. She is more value then Phyrexian Rager imo. A 2/3 lifelink that gives you a 2/2 token if something else dies and then you get to Unearth something. Im gonna try her in both Marchesa and Karador.
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'd say she is still worth a shot in 1v1 though
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
Braids is definitely the slower of the Avalanche/Fulminator plan. But it's also more demoralizing to look at from across the board as it carries a certain inevitability with it.
You know what gives free fogs vs Sigarda every turn moreso than Key & Peele? Bitterblossom - and it puts your control match up over the top too.
You have a point about the rock/dork composition in our meta. Sigarda, Marath and these are top decks that show up every week. Then when we know there's that Drana guy who (I think) will be a regular...that's three decks Contam. isn't good against. I'll find some other lock or value card then. Buried Alive is interesting especially when I can go MoC/Avalanche/Braids or for you it's Bell-Ringer/Kiki/Llark.
Play Revoker man. It's so so good. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you don't play it. And I feel Entomber Exarch is one mana too much, and I'd feel awful playing that for four.
And I'd say Faceless is 100% better than Duplicant here because it perma-exiles like Fiend Hunter.
I'm not really sold on the Anafenza/Llark combos myself, but then I'm on the MoC plan which you aren't big on either. I'll have to watch your deck go and see how I feel. However with all your sac outlets, you can justify Mangara of Corondor moreso than I could. I think it deserves a slot as at the minimum, a recurring Council's Judgment.
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)
Either of them can be down with any sac outlet (free is preferred to go infinite but nonfree is suitable too). Either can be sorcery speed to function.
The most famous iteration of this combo is Llark, Karmic, Mirror Entity, and Acidic Slime, a-typically seen in Saffi Ericksdotter decks.
Alternatively;
Woah. That one is pretty efficient, and Anafenza isn't bad on it's own. Think Anafenza can go in here too - enables value and a random combo for WW and is recurrable with my commander.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Retribution of the Meek. That's exactly the sweeper I want, and it's three mana even, and it clears the big dumb fatties away while my small dorks continue.
But I've got a couple of downright heinous shifts that are close together (less than five hours apart) over the next two days, so my report will have to wait. Quick results though;
L R1 vs Tasigur 0-2
W R2 vs Drana MBC 2-1 (in extra turns no less)
W R3 vs Marath 2-1 (g1 I got Alesha-Avalanche going early and he had no R. g2 I got stuck on two lands. g3 I had my Hexmage being looped to keep him off Marath, which put him even further on tilt than when he started [he had lost a really long game after a huge misplay right before our game].)
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
1 Retribution of the Meek
1 Mirran Crusader (Meta)
1 Sword of the Animist
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Priest of the Blood Rite
1 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Blade Splicer
1 Sin Collector
1 Banisher Priest
1 Flesh Carver
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Fire Covenant
I am unsure if Greaves are the proper cut for a combo piece such as Anafenza, or if Anafenza is right for the deck. She combos with Persist (notably Redcap) and gets intrinsic value just by doing what the deck wants to do, and passes the "vanilla test". This leads me to believe she is acceptable. Greaves, while good, doesn't feel like I absolutely need it like I do in Kaalia, so it is perhaps a cut (I find I prefer Hall of the Bandit Lord for haste). But I'm not for sure here.
I'm replacing Toxic Deluge with Fire Covenant. Most of the time when I want to sweep, I don't want to cast Deluge because I have my own board and my creatures are relatively small. So I need the instant speed shapable at-will sweeper instead.
Agent of Erebos is a good card, and I'd like to slot it in - but it's a meta card. While it remains good against Tasigur, no self-respecting Tasigur pilot will let this resolve. Ever. So I haven't made the call to run this yet.
I want to get Wake the Dead in here. The value is too stronk with all the EtB I have.
I don't think Sword of the Animist is "good", but I've found I like that it can curve from Alesha into Sword, and bash for four 1st Strike - and Alesha bashing for four instead of three is super-relevant. Additionally it's so so good with Bitterblossom tokens or letting guys like Brain Maggot through. I guess it also helps recast Alesha for even seven or nine, should the game go that long. That's probably relevant in a non-zero number of games.
Lastly, I want to discuss the merits of Phyrexian Rager vs Abbot of Keral Keep. On the surface Rager looks better - it's a fine t3 play, replaces itself, and has better stats. It's very "cast and forget about it". Abbot offers more with it's Prowess effect, costs one mana less for the same power and CA, but isn't as good with the Commander as I have to use the card that turn (if they're both in the 'Yard, I feel like I'd bring Rager back in 98% of the situations I find myself in).
EDIT: Lol and I'm running Abbot of Keral Keep over Anafenza anyway. At least for one week, to see how it performs as a second Rager. Also giving Wake the Dead a trial run.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
I did add in Recurring Nightmare, and while it doesn't have "overtly" broken interactions, the best I had was against Tasigur, I Rec-Night my Maggot for Pia & Kiran, which gives me fodder to Rec-Night almost every turn. I found myself using it just once/turn when I drew it, but some cards to bring back ('Llark comes to mind as redonkulous...) are way too good. I think it can stay. It's the epitome of "counter or lose".
I like how this deck hasn't had a really "stable, consistent" list since it's inception. That suggests its young age but also its adaptability, kind of like a blank canvas. Maybe that's why I keep finding myself wanting to play this deck more and more.
Lastly, I think Hall of the Bandit Lord is a CUT. Unlike Kaalia, having hasty Alesha is good, but hasty Kaalia is essential. Hasty Alesha means I need 2R(W/B)(W/B), which leaves me too vulnerable to any instant disruption. And it doesn't even (usually) end the game in one shot like Kaalia is renown for. The 3 life is a real cost here, and EBT [can be] harmful. This change leaves only one EBT land - Nomad Outpost - which is fine b/c leading Outpost into Reflecting Pool leaves you very, very satisfied. Think this slot will be best served by Shizo, Death's Storehouse (Alesha evasion).
Speaking of renown, I think Relic Seeker is a real thing here since Alesha works quite well with the Renown mechanic.
***
Cool play last night (I went 1-1-1). My rounds went L 0-2 vs Omnath (I drew just absolutely abysmal), Draw 1-1-1 vs Tasigur, and W 2-1 vs Riku.
r3 vs Riku, g3 (I stomped all over him g1 with t2 Sinkhole on the play, and g2 he went to top deck mode and drew like an effin bawse) I curve t2 Mesmeric Fiend, t3 Alesha, t4 rip Gamble off the top (with a Faithless Looting in hand), I count my colours to make sure I can make RR(W/B)(W/B), then Gamble to find Master of Cruelties, and pitch MoC off the random discard, swing with Alesha and pay the (W/B)(W/B) to recur MoC for the one shot kill.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Yes I cut Council's Judgment b/c it doesn't hit lands. this may or may not be the correct call - I just know that hitting an early land drop, against a lot of players, is as good as a concession since it puts them on tilt all game. That's relevant.
I cut the Blood Rite Priest guy for the Hound since they fill the same role (resilient beater) but Hound offers a better clock and you have to kill it twice. It's also better with equipments. Wake the Dead has to be THE most awkward spell ever with it's "only during combat on an opponent's turn" clause. I replaced it with Relic Seeker, because it's an easy-to-exploit Stoneforge Mystic with Alesha (srsly, Renown is soooooo easy to get online with this deck. Why couldn't I get Honored Hierarch in my colours, besides the fact it isn't in my colour pie).
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Originally it was because the first game I played with it I had it plus Blossom tokens and together that did some serious work. But after the event I thought about it, and it curves beautifully off Alesha - t4 you can bash for four with first strike, which is so much more relevant than bashing for three first strike. Also since this deck doesn't want to 'Geddon (you need (W/B)(W/B) every turn), this card will allow us to get ahead on ramp while doing what we want to do. In our colours, this is not something we're allowed to have. Good question though.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
R1 I get Marath and win 2-0. G1 he drops Marath for 7 into my Fiend Hunter and allows me to exile it. I've no idea why. G2 I almost get into some trouble when I misread the interaction with Marath and Hardened Scales, but luckily it wasn't infinite. I took a chunk of damage and noted he is stuck on three lands with two dorks, so I Toxic Deluge which puts him quite a ways back. Alesha then joins the fray with P&K backup and soon this one is over. Post-match he seemed confident he'd have won if he didn't let Marath get exiled, but I really am not sure; he was running low on steam and I was gaining more and more anyway.
R2 I get my good rival and our resident Sigarda player. G1 I mull to five and think it's all but done, but somehow miraculously almost turn it around with an Alesha into P&K, sac, recur, and make two more Thopters. Almost though - because he did have *** into Catastrophe and with myself at five life, I don't have enough time to get a flyer up. After the *** I put Alesha in the 'yard to circumvent cmdr tax (I have Volrath's), but he's got Mwonvuli Acid-Moss to target my Stronghold so that plan got derailed. G2 starts out with an explosive start from him, but no W for a couple turns. I've got Bob and Feeder, then land Hunter to perma-exile his Arbor but he hits his other W to land the Angel. I stick Alesha, then Retribution of the Meek to clear him out. Just as I'm gaining advantage, our good friends P&K show up to give me "Angel food" as long as I need it. He drops the Angel again, to which I respond with Alesha and he realizes he can't race and concedes. G3 we go to time, and I give him the win since winner gets to face Yisan and he said he's got the tools to fight it. So I went on to R3 and...
R3 vs Tasigur. This deck was not fully optimal, and I 2-0'd him. G1 was a bit grindy as expected, but I got him down to 12 when he was able to crack an O-Stone. Redcap persisted back and brought him to 11, then I Char'd his face to 7. My turn I recast Alesha and passed, and he dropped Tasigur the third time and equipped boots to swing at me...which was a critical flaw as I don't feel he was in a position to attack (he assumed I didn't have a combo ready because my Carrion Feeder was in the 'Yard). I untap, flashback the Faithless Looting in my 'Yard and discard a land and Master of Cruelties, attack, pay the (W/B)(W/B) and windmill slam MoC on the board, explaining to him the interaction. G2 he mulls to three looking for lands which is terrible as you'd imagine. It certainly didn't help when one of his lands was a Factory and I Bolted it when he tried to block. A couple turns later I ripped a Wasteland for his Watery Grave, and after that I had Fulminator Mage for his Faerie Conclave, which led to Alesha...you can see the waste-lock from here, which he conceded to. Of note, I saw Confidant both games on t2, and both games he went uncountered and unremoved.
P&K was putting in a ton of overtime tonight.
Both matches I won, I won 2-0. Here's the list I played, and man is it sweet.
1x Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1x Arcane Lighthouse
1x Arid Mesa
1x Badlands
1x Barbarian Ring
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Caves of Koilos
1x City of Brass
1x Clifftop Retreat
1x Command Tower
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Flooded Strand
1x Godless Shrine
1x Isolated Chapel
1x Mana Confluence
1x Marsh Flats
1x Maze of Ith
1x Mountain
1x Nomad Outpost
1x Phyrexian Tower
1x Plains
1x Plateau
1x Polluted Delta
1x Reflecting Pool
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Scalding Tarn
1x Scrubland
1x Snow-Covered Mountain
1x Snow-Covered Plains
1x Snow-Covered Swamp
1x Swamp
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Verdant Catacombs
1x Volrath's Stronghold
1x Wasteland
1x Windswept Heath
1x Wooded Foothills
1x Agent of Erebos
1x Aven Mindcensor
1x Blazing Specter
1x Brain Maggot
1x Carrion Feeder
1x Dark Confidant
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Duergar Hedge-Mage
1x Ember Hauler
1x Fiend Hunter
1x Fulminator Mage
1x Hypnotic Specter
1x Karmic Guide
1x Leonin Relic-Warder
1x Master of Cruelties
1x Mesmeric Fiend
1x Mother of Runes
1x Murderous Redcap
1x Phyrexian Revoker
1x Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1x Reveillark
1x Siege-Gang Commander
1x Stingscourger
1x Stoneforge Mystic
1x Tidehollow Sculler
1x Vampire Hexmage
1x Viscera Seer
1x Weathered Wayfarer
Enchantment (5)
1x Bitterblossom
1x Dystopia
1x Mind Slash
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Recurring Nightmare
1x Liliana of the Veil
Sorcery (13)
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Dreadbore
1x Faithless Looting
1x Gamble
1x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Rakdos's Return
1x Reanimate
1x Retribution of the Meek
1x Sinkhole
1x Thoughtseize
1x Tormenting Voice
1x Toxic Deluge
1x Vindicate
Instant (10)
1x Boros Charm
1x Char
1x Collateral Damage
1x Dismember
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Lightning Bolt
1x Path to Exile
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Wear / Tear
1x Withering Boon
Artifact (4)
1x Crucible of Worlds
1x Mask of Memory
1x Skullclamp
1x Umezawa's Jitte
The main philosophy I wanted was more removal that could also go to the dome as reach - Char, Collateral Damage (which also functions as a sac outlet) among B-Charm and Bolt, plus Ember Hauler proved quite burntastic for this goal. Agent of Erebos (and Kataki, War's Wage, which was in the deck tonight but isn't featured here) were to shore up the Daretti matchup...but Daretti played Standard this week so I had the "joy" of running a white Goblin Piker.
I removed Night's Whisper for Altar's Reap as another way to 1) protect my guys from exile, and 2) Keep guys in the 'yard and ready for Alesha. After the event I've replaced Altar's with Weathered Wayfarer because it finds Phyrexian Tower, Volrath's Stronghold, and Arcane Lighthouse, among others. But I don't know if I'll keep it.
I like that both of my sweepers cost three mana.
I opted for Rakdos's Return as my big "control breaker", and it's a pretty good way to burn someone out with late game mana.
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 quite liked him though his cmc can sometimes be annoying. This is mitigated by Alesha, and that he threatens 4 in one turn or the ability to kill walkers at instant speed.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.