Finally, after 3 years of Limited filler and niche utility, an Equipment worth playing! Great pump, makes combat one-sided, and offers devotion. Godsend does have bad synergy with Eight-and-a-Half-Tails' second ability, but it's not a reason to keep me from using it. Quietus Spike was dropped for Godsend. It's a nice Equipment, but high P/T pumps, indestructibility, and Sword triggers are just much more important.
Fated Retribution costs a bit too much. There are games where I don't get to 7 mana soon enough for it to matter and it sin't going to save me from any early game threats. To keep this slot for Planeswalker removal, I'm adding Banishing Light. I'm not a huge fan of 'removal that's answered by removal', but it can't hurt to use it for now. Worst case, it's a placeholder until something else comes up.
Ajani Steadfast has potential. His -2 ability isn't a great fit for this deck, but continuously ticking up to his amazing ultimate makes him worth trying out. Dropped Banishing Light for him. It was a placeholder anyway.
With the fantastic results I've been getting with Ghostly Prison, I've been trying for the past while to find a spot for Windborn Muse. Angel of Serenity was dropped for it, mainly to lower my curve a bit. More targets for Reveillark doesn't hurt either.
Gideon Jura got the boot. He was mainly added due to issues with a Sigarda, Host of Herons deck at the time. Players in my meta change decks frequently and I haven't played against Sigarda in the past while. Switched back to Ajani, Caller of the Pride.
No cards in Conspiracy made it in. Honourable Mention goes to Council's Judgment. Not a bad card, but it gives opponents too much power over what gets exiled.
Well, Khans of Tarkir was a complete bust. With it being a multicoloured set, there aren't that many potentially playable mono-White cards. Among what little is available, I feel none of them are worth using. The Equipment were slim pickings too: a Throne I can't use and two poor weapons...
...On the other hand, the White Commander 2014 deck is fantastic! Equipment decks finally have gotten some support after over three years of damn near nothing. Christmas has come early for Equipment Voltron players.
Masterwork of Ingenuity is a new staple for Equipment decks. A tutorable, one mana Equipment clone is way too good to pass up. The obvious drop for this card was Sculpting Steel. Trading the ability to clone any artifact for the ability to tutor into a second copy of a Sword, Argentum Armor, or whatever is worth it in my opinion.
Nahiri, the Lithomancer is my new favourite Planeswalker and is a fantastic support card for my deck. Her +2 ensures I always have an attacker to hold Equipment or blockers to help keep her alive or protect myself, her -2 offers recursion as well as cheating in Equipment from my hand. And that ultimate... purely game-winning. Ajani Steadfast got the boot. A great pump ability and a neat ultimate pales in comparison to a Planeswalker swimming in synergy.
Myriad Landscape has replaced Thawing Glaciers. Landscape can tap for mana if it needs to and grabbing two Plains at once is great for setting up early game.
I have added Knight of the White Orchid as another source of ramp into the deck. Mono-White needs all it can take to keep up. Mana screw isn't fun. Karmic Guide got cut as to downplay the amount of creature recursion I use. I have Sword of Light and Shadow for a reason.
Transcendent Master has found its way back into my deck again. It's one of my favourite cards and is one hell of a threat once it's leveled up. Steel Hellkite was dropped for the Master, mainly to smooth my curve a bit.
Another set, another pile of nothing. None of the cards in Fate Reforged I felt were usable in 8.5. The White cards don't have anything worthwhile and the only Equipment in the set is very subpar. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is a cool card, but I don't want to have another expensive card that may get stuck in my hand.
No other additions either. Commander games have been scarce since the holidays. Haven't got the chance to properly try out some cards.
I've made a deck inspired by primer. It's along the same lines as yours, but I've noticed that you have very little stax in yours. Is there any particular reason for this?
I don't use stax because:
Equipment are expensive. Don't want to mana-screw myself.
Most stax cards require too much set up for my liking to benefit from them.
Seriously, where's Ugin? All is Dust isn't another expensive card that may get stuck in your hand but Ugin is? With the synergy it provides with your general? Killing any land for 1?
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
All is dust gets rid of every creature on the field all at once for 7, guaranteed including artifact creatures for 1 each extra.
Ugin's effect is much, much more limited. Stronger conditionally by virtue of being a planeswalker, but both more expensive and more restricted.
Ugin can't get rid of a Blightsteel colossus on the turn he drops for 8 mana, or an Avenger of Zendikar or whatever other ridiculous expensive fattie. Definitely does not fill the same role.
How do you like Balan?
Im playing 8 1/2 Tails for quite some time and was thinking about switching Commanders.
Not sure if Sram, Balan or maybe some other colors.
What am I missing here?
Drifting Meadow -> Desert of the True
Haven't had a lot of games recently, but I love what Balan, Wandering Knight does. Dodging equip costs is a powerful effect and the built-in double strike makes her a scary, quick clock.
I'm in the process of foiling this deck out and Drifting Meadow isn't available in foil.
Quietus Spike -> Godsend
Fated Retribution -> Banishing Light
Other Additions:
None
--------------------
Finally, after 3 years of Limited filler and niche utility, an Equipment worth playing! Great pump, makes combat one-sided, and offers devotion. Godsend does have bad synergy with Eight-and-a-Half-Tails' second ability, but it's not a reason to keep me from using it. Quietus Spike was dropped for Godsend. It's a nice Equipment, but high P/T pumps, indestructibility, and Sword triggers are just much more important.
Fated Retribution costs a bit too much. There are games where I don't get to 7 mana soon enough for it to matter and it sin't going to save me from any early game threats. To keep this slot for Planeswalker removal, I'm adding Banishing Light. I'm not a huge fan of 'removal that's answered by removal', but it can't hurt to use it for now. Worst case, it's a placeholder until something else comes up.
Banishing Light -> Ajani Steadfast
Conspiracy Additions:
None
Other Additions:
Angel of Serenity -> Windborn Muse
Gideon Jura -> Ajani, Caller of the Pride
--------------------
Ajani Steadfast has potential. His -2 ability isn't a great fit for this deck, but continuously ticking up to his amazing ultimate makes him worth trying out. Dropped Banishing Light for him. It was a placeholder anyway.
With the fantastic results I've been getting with Ghostly Prison, I've been trying for the past while to find a spot for Windborn Muse. Angel of Serenity was dropped for it, mainly to lower my curve a bit. More targets for Reveillark doesn't hurt either.
Gideon Jura got the boot. He was mainly added due to issues with a Sigarda, Host of Herons deck at the time. Players in my meta change decks frequently and I haven't played against Sigarda in the past while. Switched back to Ajani, Caller of the Pride.
No cards in Conspiracy made it in. Honourable Mention goes to Council's Judgment. Not a bad card, but it gives opponents too much power over what gets exiled.
None
Commander 2014 Additions:
Sculpting Steel -> Masterwork of Ingenuity
Ajani Steadfast -> Nahiri, the Lithomancer
Thawing Glaciers -> Myriad Landscape
Other Additions:
Karmic Guide -> Knight of the White Orchid
Steel Hellkite -> Transcendent Master
--------------------
Well, Khans of Tarkir was a complete bust. With it being a multicoloured set, there aren't that many potentially playable mono-White cards. Among what little is available, I feel none of them are worth using. The Equipment were slim pickings too: a Throne I can't use and two poor weapons...
...On the other hand, the White Commander 2014 deck is fantastic! Equipment decks finally have gotten some support after over three years of damn near nothing. Christmas has come early for Equipment Voltron players.
Masterwork of Ingenuity is a new staple for Equipment decks. A tutorable, one mana Equipment clone is way too good to pass up. The obvious drop for this card was Sculpting Steel. Trading the ability to clone any artifact for the ability to tutor into a second copy of a Sword, Argentum Armor, or whatever is worth it in my opinion.
Nahiri, the Lithomancer is my new favourite Planeswalker and is a fantastic support card for my deck. Her +2 ensures I always have an attacker to hold Equipment or blockers to help keep her alive or protect myself, her -2 offers recursion as well as cheating in Equipment from my hand. And that ultimate... purely game-winning. Ajani Steadfast got the boot. A great pump ability and a neat ultimate pales in comparison to a Planeswalker swimming in synergy.
Myriad Landscape has replaced Thawing Glaciers. Landscape can tap for mana if it needs to and grabbing two Plains at once is great for setting up early game.
I have added Knight of the White Orchid as another source of ramp into the deck. Mono-White needs all it can take to keep up. Mana screw isn't fun. Karmic Guide got cut as to downplay the amount of creature recursion I use. I have Sword of Light and Shadow for a reason.
Transcendent Master has found its way back into my deck again. It's one of my favourite cards and is one hell of a threat once it's leveled up. Steel Hellkite was dropped for the Master, mainly to smooth my curve a bit.
None
Other Additions:
None
--------------------
Another set, another pile of nothing. None of the cards in Fate Reforged I felt were usable in 8.5. The White cards don't have anything worthwhile and the only Equipment in the set is very subpar. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is a cool card, but I don't want to have another expensive card that may get stuck in my hand.
No other additions either. Commander games have been scarce since the holidays. Haven't got the chance to properly try out some cards.
Dragons of Tarkir Additions:
Shield of Kaldra -- Profound Journey
Other Aditions:
Sword of Kaldra -- Strata Scythe
Helm of Kaldra -- Sword of Vengeance
I don't use stax because:
Rules Advisor
Pauper decks:
My own rules when building a Commander deck:
1) Underrated general that I can build around but the deck must work without him/her too.
2) Every card must be legal in both banlists.
3) No infinite combo that could win (and ruin) instantly a multiplayer game.
4) Synergy at all costs; stay on theme, avoid goodstuff.
Ugin's effect is much, much more limited. Stronger conditionally by virtue of being a planeswalker, but both more expensive and more restricted.
Ugin can't get rid of a Blightsteel colossus on the turn he drops for 8 mana, or an Avenger of Zendikar or whatever other ridiculous expensive fattie. Definitely does not fill the same role.
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall
Magic: Origins Additions:
Heliod, God of the Sun -- Relic Seeker
Trading Post -- Sword of the Animist
Other Aditions:
None
Battle for Zendikar Additions:
None
Commander 2015 Additions:
Burnished Hart -> Bastion Protector
Inkmoth Nexus -> Command Beacon
Other Additions:
None
Oath of the Gatewatch Additions:
None
Other Additions:
None
Shadows over Innistrad Additions:
Ajani, Caller of the Pride -> Open the Armory
Other Additions:
None
Eldritch Moon Additions:
Profound Journey -> Sigarda's Aid
Conspiracy: Take the Crown Additions:
Bastion Protector -> Recruiter of the Guard
Other Additions:
None
Kaladesh Additions:
Caged Sun -> Cataclysmic Gearhulk
Maze of Ith -> Inventors' Fair
Commander 2016 Additions:
Windborn Muse -> Armory Automaton
Strata Scythe -> Conqueror's Flail
Other Additions:
Ghostly Prison -> Grasp of Fate
Commander Change:
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails -> Sram, Senior Edificer
Aether Revolt Additions:
None
Other Additions:
Relic Seeker -> Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Scroll Rack -> Smuggler's Copter
Amonkhet Additions:
Avacyn, Angel of Hope -> Angel of Sanctions
Karmic Justice -> Forsake the Worldly
Other Additions:
Elspeth, Knight-Errant -> Flickering Ward
Hour of Devastation Additions:
All Is Dust -> Hour of Revelation
Drifting Meadow -> Desert of the True
Other Additions:
None
Commander Change:
Sram, Senior Edificer -> Balan, Wandering Knight
Ixalan Additions:
Flickering Ward -> Conqueror's Galleon
Strip Mine -> Field of Ruin
Commander 2017 Additions:
Darksteel Plate -> Hammer of Nazahn
Other Additions:
Silverblade Paladin -> Sram, Senior Edificer
Fireshrieker -> Inquisitor's Flail
Haven't had a lot of games recently, but I love what Balan, Wandering Knight does. Dodging equip costs is a powerful effect and the built-in double strike makes her a scary, quick clock.
I'm in the process of foiling this deck out and Drifting Meadow isn't available in foil.
Rivals of Ixalan Additions:
None
Other Additions:
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails ->Devoted Caretaker
Dominaria Additions:
Transcendent Master -> Danitha Capashen, Paragon
Godsend -> Blackblade Reforged
Conqueror's Galleon -> Karn, Scion of Urza
Terminus -> Urza's Ruinous Blast
Other Additions:
Angel of Sanctions -> Thalia's Lancers
Reveillark -> Teferi's Protection
Smuggler's Copter -> Mind Stone
Land Tax -> Tithe
Rest in Peace -> Crook of Condemnation
Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx -> Ancient Tomb
Core 2019 Additions:
Crook of Condemnation -> Remorseful Cleric
Day of Judgment -> Cleansing Nova
Battlebond Additions:
None
Commander 2018 Additions:
Thalia's Lancers -> Heavenly Blademaster
Other Additions:
Forsake the Worldly -> Key to the City
Ravnica Additions:
Karn, Scion of Urza -> Dawn of Hope
Other Additions:
Solemn Simulacrum -> Wayfarer's Bauble
Ravnica Allegiance Additions:
Wayfarer's Bauble -> Smothering Tithe
Other Additions:
Armory Automaton -> Restoration Specialist
Remorseful Cleric -> Stonecloaker
Masterwork of Ingenuity -> Basilisk Collar
Tithe -> Noble Templar
Petrified Field -> Scavenger Grounds
Urza's Ruinous Blast -> Single Combat
Other Additions:
None