Vampires are alive
The legends have to survive
We'll never come undone
And we will be forever young
~ DJ Bobo
My philosophy
I play Commander for its social and psychological aspects. I prefer games to last for a while and to be full of interesting interactions and surprising situations. Whenever I feel like playing to win, I play some other format instead. Multiplayer is all about having fun with your friends. My CMD decks tend to be slow and defensive and combos are coincidental (if any).
The deck's philosophy
My second oldest CMD deck, this has survived partially due to lack of overlap with other decks. It's also the only tribal deck I have. However, probably the most important reason for this deck to exist is its name which is just too spot on. The handsome general does account for some bonus points, too.
The gameplan is very simple: play some vampires, kill other players' creatures, gain life when needed and just be overall consistent. The deck is quite slow and doesn't do much in the early turns, which makes it weak against combo decks. It's also the least interactive of all my decks.
The numbers in front of nonlands are converted mana costs, which I think is a nice (and probably not too confusing) way of packing some extra information into singleton format deck lists.
This was where I started the whole convention of naming my CMD decks after Eurovision Song Contest entries. Vampires being alive doesn't sound completely right but that's just what Anowon does: kills everybody else. DJ Bobo was right (Switzerland 2007).
Cool decklist! Used to run Anowon myself until just recently where I did a swap out for Drana. It's still tribal vamps though.
ps. love how you sort your cards with the cmc on the left. Not many here do that.
- Guul Draz Assassin: I must completely underestimate this guy. When I see it, it reads "pay 9 mana for a vanilla 4/4 that is just too slow for an EDH format." Am I missing anything here?
- Kalastria Highborn: Never understood the logic behind this card. Why pay mana for only vampires you control to get the triggered effect when cards like Blood Artist and Falkenrath Noble exist and trigger for free.
- Vampire Outcasts: I want this card to be good...but it just isn't. Most of the time I couldn't get bloodthirst to trigger, and even if I did, it was just a vanilla 4/4. Ultimately lifelink isn't too impacting a mechanic.
- Fiend of the Shadows: Found to be too limiting for mono-black. While it does card advantage upon contact, rarely will you be able to cast the exiled card. In addition, with vampire tribal the second ability is useless. I recommend Bloodhusk Ritualist instead as that multikicker can leave an opponent in topdecking mode.
- Corrupt: Too expensive for not enough effect. I used to run this and was disappointed every time it was cast. Recommend Blood Tribute instead.
Other cards that you may wish to consider:
- Pawn of Ulamog: Really helps offset a boardwipe as you get a boost of mana to help reset your board position.
- Crypt Ghast: I know he's not a vampire....but he sure SHOULD be. Besides, awesome awesome abilities. Don't expect him to last long once he's dropped...
- Painful Quandary: Is truly a painful quandary. Players take the life option too many times and soon find themselves within range of your drain effects.
Nice decklist, I too actually have an Anowon deck that is quite similar to this one. (Now, at this point if I may ask you, in what part of Finland do you live? I haven't seen many other Anowons around here...)
GU Experiment Kraj- all your abilities belong to us WB Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts- battlecruiser GUB The Mimeoplasm- when graveyards are not safe RGW Mayael the Anima- i luv the fatties
ps. love how you sort your cards with the cmc on the left. Not many here do that.
Yeah, it makes use of the number column which can't be omitted but wouldn't otherwise carry any information in this format. It gives a more tangible glance to the deck's contents.
- Guul Draz Assassin: I must completely underestimate this guy. When I see it, it reads "pay 9 mana for a vanilla 4/4 that is just too slow for an EDH format." Am I missing anything here?
- Kalastria Highborn: Never understood the logic behind this card. Why pay mana for only vampires you control to get the triggered effect when cards like Blood Artist and Falkenrath Noble exist and trigger for free.
Ultimately lifelink isn't too impacting a mechanic.
I'm playing the lifelink vampires because they are both useful for surviving the early game and staging big comebacks later, e.g. with Lashwrithe. Previously, I also had Bonehoard.
- Fiend of the Shadows: Found to be too limiting for mono-black. While it does card advantage upon contact, rarely will you be able to cast the exiled card. In addition, with vampire tribal the second ability is useless.
- Living Death: I've never thought vampires to be that suicidal.
It's there mostly because it's a fun and dramatic card. True, it doesn't always do much, but sometimes it can single-handedly turn the whole game upside down.
- Crypt Ghast: I know he's not a vampire....but he sure SHOULD be.
I used to think the split mana symbol in the reminder text granted the card multicolored identity, so I didn't even consider this one. I'll think about it, whether it would be worth it to break the flavor. Except that I already have a non-vampire there... So much for that argument!
- Pristine Talisman: An underrated card. Great rock, and really gives your life total a boost for the long game.
That could work in a monocolored deck. However, I've been thinking about dropping the mana artifacts altogether in order to be able to include more spells that actually do something.
(Now, at this point if I may ask you, in what part of Finland do you live? I haven't seen many other Anowons around here...)
Helsinki, but I don't get out to play CMD very often because most opportunities coincide with other formats' events, like Standard, Modern, Legacy and Highlander, all of which I try to play actively
Like I explained above, I prefer mass effects in multiplayer formats. However, a few cheap instant-speed removal spells might be a good idea to increase the (lacking) interactivity of the deck...
Helsinki, but I don't get out to play CMD very often because most opportunities coincide with other formats' events, like Standard, Modern, Legacy and Highlander, all of which I try to play actively
Like I explained above, I prefer mass effects in multiplayer formats. However, a few cheap instant-speed removal spells might be a good idea to increase the (lacking) interactivity of the deck...
22 vampires might be enough to make it worthwhile... I'll think about it, especially if I can decide which non-creatures to cut.
Creepy. We play in same town and most likely in same play groups and still. (= I play in Helsinki too, altering between Safehaven and Poromagia.)
Anyways, I really suggest you to consider running at least a few spot-removals for creatures, since at times it is much easier to just remove that one creature instead of nuking the whole board...
Also, Karn and ilk would be good for your deck, since black really lacks when it comes to removing non-creatures. One Humility and this deck might end up in really big trouble... Same applies to many other similar cards, so at least you should consider it.
Oh, and I know it isn't the cheapest option, but The Abyss is really good with Anowon+Blood Artist (or something similar) assuming you have any token factory, like Pawn of Ulamog.
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Also modgaming Bur setups is kind of treading down a dark path
Creepy. We play in same town and most likely in same play groups and still. (= I play in Helsinki too, altering between Safehaven and Poromagia.)
I should probably ditch Legacy or something to make time to play on Wednesdays... Just this week, I was contemplating something along these lines while having my modern ass handed to me.
Anyways, I really suggest you to consider running at least a few spot-removals for creatures, since at times it is much easier to just remove that one creature instead of nuking the whole board...
Also, Karn and ilk would be good for your deck, since black really lacks when it comes to removing non-creatures. One Humility and this deck might end up in really big trouble... Same applies to many other similar cards, so at least you should consider it.
I'll consider both. The deck should perhaps first see more play to find out what it really needs.
Just wondering, is there any reason you run Snow-covered swamps instead of normal swamps besides Extraplanar Lens? I expected to see at least Scrying Sheets...
Just wondering, is there any reason you run Snow-covered swamps instead of normal swamps besides Extraplanar Lens? I expected to see at least Scrying Sheets...
That, and general cool factor (pun intended ). I probably haven't included Sheets in order to maximize the Swamp count, but I could give it a try.
The real reason to play snow lands with Extraplanar Lens is to prevent your opponents from getting advantage of this card too. Remember that the Lens imprint the card and only cards with the exact same name will produce 2 mana. All black decks have some Swamp, but a lot less of them play snow swamps...
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.
After years of service, I've decided to retire this deck and build a Xiahou Dun out of its remains. This means the list won't be updated in the near future, lest I decide to rebuild it at some point.
My philosophy
I play Commander for its social and psychological aspects. I prefer games to last for a while and to be full of interesting interactions and surprising situations. Whenever I feel like playing to win, I play some other format instead. Multiplayer is all about having fun with your friends. My CMD decks tend to be slow and defensive and combos are coincidental (if any).
The deck's philosophy
My second oldest CMD deck, this has survived partially due to lack of overlap with other decks. It's also the only tribal deck I have. However, probably the most important reason for this deck to exist is its name which is just too spot on. The handsome general does account for some bonus points, too.
The gameplan is very simple: play some vampires, kill other players' creatures, gain life when needed and just be overall consistent. The deck is quite slow and doesn't do much in the early turns, which makes it weak against combo decks. It's also the least interactive of all my decks.
The numbers in front of nonlands are converted mana costs, which I think is a nice (and probably not too confusing) way of packing some extra information into singleton format deck lists.
5 Anowon, the Ruin Sage
Creatures (24)
2 Blood Artist
2 Child of Night
2 Bloodghast
2 Vampire Hexmage
2 Gatekeeper of Malakir
3 Pawn of Ulamog
3 Dark Impostor
3 Markov Patrician
3 Captivating Vampire
3 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Falkenrath Noble
4 Vampire Outcasts
4 Mirri the Cursed
4 Sangromancer
4 Bloodline Keeper
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Bloodlord of Vaasgoth
5 Malakir Bloodwitch
5 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
6 Nirkana Revenant
6 Ascendant Evincar
6 Necropolis Regent
7 Butcher of Malakir
2 Doom Blade
2 Go for the Throat
2 Ultimate Price
4 Tendrils of Corruption
Sorceries (14)
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Drain Life
2 Night's Whisper
2 Sign in Blood
2 Consume Spirit
2 Black Sun's Zenith
2 Exsanguinate
3 Praetor's Grasp
4 Ambition's Cost
4 Syphon Mind
4 Barter in Blood
4 Damnation
4 Mutilate
5 Patriarch's Bidding
Enchantments (5)
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Necropotence
4 Grave Pact
5 Painful Quandary
1 Sol Ring
1 Basilisk Collar
2 Lightning Greaves
2 Swiftfoot Boots
3 Darksteel Plate
3 Extraplanar Lens
3 Loxodon Warhammer
4 Bonehoard
4 Lashwrithe
4 Door of Destinies
4 Nevinyrral's Disk
6 Staff of Nin
Lands (40)
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Strip Mine
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Leechridden Swamp
33 Snow-Covered Swamp
The name
This was where I started the whole convention of naming my CMD decks after Eurovision Song Contest entries. Vampires being alive doesn't sound completely right but that's just what Anowon does: kills everybody else. DJ Bobo was right (Switzerland 2007).
Changelog
Cool decklist! Used to run Anowon myself until just recently where I did a swap out for Drana. It's still tribal vamps though.
ps. love how you sort your cards with the cmc on the left. Not many here do that.
- Guul Draz Assassin: I must completely underestimate this guy. When I see it, it reads "pay 9 mana for a vanilla 4/4 that is just too slow for an EDH format." Am I missing anything here?
- Child of Night: Used to run, but cut as it never packed enough punch. Tossed in Quag Vampires and Shadow Alley Denizen instead which are much more effective on the aggro front.
- Kalastria Highborn: Never understood the logic behind this card. Why pay mana for only vampires you control to get the triggered effect when cards like Blood Artist and Falkenrath Noble exist and trigger for free.
- Vampire Outcasts: I want this card to be good...but it just isn't. Most of the time I couldn't get bloodthirst to trigger, and even if I did, it was just a vanilla 4/4. Ultimately lifelink isn't too impacting a mechanic.
- Fiend of the Shadows: Found to be too limiting for mono-black. While it does card advantage upon contact, rarely will you be able to cast the exiled card. In addition, with vampire tribal the second ability is useless. I recommend Bloodhusk Ritualist instead as that multikicker can leave an opponent in topdecking mode.
- Living Death: I've never thought vampires to be that suicidal. Perhaps Dread Return. I've also really had good fortune with Victimize. Combined with Butcher of Malakir and/or Grave Pact makes for some excellent board control.
- Corrupt: Too expensive for not enough effect. I used to run this and was disappointed every time it was cast. Recommend Blood Tribute instead.
Other cards that you may wish to consider:
- Pawn of Ulamog: Really helps offset a boardwipe as you get a boost of mana to help reset your board position.
- Crypt Ghast: I know he's not a vampire....but he sure SHOULD be. Besides, awesome awesome abilities. Don't expect him to last long once he's dropped...
- Painful Quandary: Is truly a painful quandary. Players take the life option too many times and soon find themselves within range of your drain effects.
- Pristine Talisman: An underrated card. Great rock, and really gives your life total a boost for the long game. Great synergy with cards like Sanguine Bond or Well of Lost Dreams.
- Dauthi Embrace: Awesome aggro card for pushing that damage through.
Why no spot removal? Feast of Blood, Go for the Throat, Murder, Rend Flesh ... all very tribal cards for vampires.
Hope this helps...
| B Erebos, God of VampiresB | GYeva SmashG | RBosh ArtifactsR | GURAnimar +1 BeatsGUR | RBVial's Secret Hot SauceRB | UBRNekusar, Draw if you DareUBR | RGBDarigaaz'z DragonsRGB | GBSlimeFEETGB | UBOn-Hit LazavUB | URBrudiclad's Artificer InventionsUR | GUBMuldrotha's ElementalsGUB | WUGKestia's EnchantmentsWUG | GUTatyova - Draw, Land, Go!GU | WGArahbo's EquipmentWG | BUWVarina's ZOMBIE HORDESBUW | WLyra's Angelic SalvationW | WBChurch of TeysaWB | UAzami...WizardsU
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Non-Staff Quasi-ModBut, I'd suggest you to run more spot-removal. Murder, Go for the Throat for creatures, and for non-creature, non-land permanents, you should consider things like Karn Liberated, Spine of Ish Sah and maybe Argentum Armor too...
EDH Decks:
WUBOloro, Combo ControlWUB
UBOona Reanimator ComboUB
BRGProssh, Eater of the Blue MageBRG
UBRGrixis StormUBR
Rebuilding Jenara (stealyourstuff.dec)
Pauper Deck:
UBInspired SirenUB
Expedition Map- sets up cabal/urborg combo quicker
Buried Alive- classic graveyard abuse
Victimize- use buried alive followed by this and u rock!
Phyrexian Reclamation- very underrated card that keeps a creature heavy deck moving
Dark Ritual- simple yet effective
GU Experiment Kraj- all your abilities belong to us
WB Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts- battlecruiser
GUB The Mimeoplasm- when graveyards are not safe
RGW Mayael the Anima- i luv the fatties
Yeah, it makes use of the number column which can't be omitted but wouldn't otherwise carry any information in this format. It gives a more tangible glance to the deck's contents.
I like the picture
I don't see this as an aggro deck. I'm also not an aggro player.
You're right. I'll replace that one.
I'm playing the lifelink vampires because they are both useful for surviving the early game and staging big comebacks later, e.g. with Lashwrithe. Previously, I also had Bonehoard.
You're probably right.
I had it previously but I cut it because it only affects one opponent. I may try it again it at some point.
It's there mostly because it's a fun and dramatic card. True, it doesn't always do much, but sometimes it can single-handedly turn the whole game upside down.
I used to have many reanimation effects in this deck but I cut them when Innistrad brought more playable vampires.
True. I'll cut it.
That one I hadn't even thought about. It could really work.
I used to think the split mana symbol in the reminder text granted the card multicolored identity, so I didn't even consider this one. I'll think about it, whether it would be worth it to break the flavor. Except that I already have a non-vampire there... So much for that argument!
Another card I hadn't thought about. I'll consider it for all of my black decks.
That could work in a monocolored deck. However, I've been thinking about dropping the mana artifacts altogether in order to be able to include more spells that actually do something.
That would also work with all the lifelink creatures.
Here as well, I try to avoid one-target effects. In long five-player games, they usually don't do enough.
Helsinki, but I don't get out to play CMD very often because most opportunities coincide with other formats' events, like Standard, Modern, Legacy and Highlander, all of which I try to play actively
Like I explained above, I prefer mass effects in multiplayer formats. However, a few cheap instant-speed removal spells might be a good idea to increase the (lacking) interactivity of the deck...
22 vampires might be enough to make it worthwhile... I'll think about it, especially if I can decide which non-creatures to cut.
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Non-Staff Quasi-ModCreepy. We play in same town and most likely in same play groups and still. (= I play in Helsinki too, altering between Safehaven and Poromagia.)
Anyways, I really suggest you to consider running at least a few spot-removals for creatures, since at times it is much easier to just remove that one creature instead of nuking the whole board...
Also, Karn and ilk would be good for your deck, since black really lacks when it comes to removing non-creatures. One Humility and this deck might end up in really big trouble... Same applies to many other similar cards, so at least you should consider it.
Oh, and I know it isn't the cheapest option, but The Abyss is really good with Anowon+Blood Artist (or something similar) assuming you have any token factory, like Pawn of Ulamog.
Is that a combo? I guess it is... I have a general dislike towards combos but that might be soft enough to consider.
This deck doesn't do much with the graveyard. Then again, I don't have that in my Karador deck, either, even though it does...
If I put the reanimation package back in at some point, this will be in it.
Definitely worth considering.
One-shot acceleration usually does more harm than good in this format.
I should probably ditch Legacy or something to make time to play on Wednesdays... Just this week, I was contemplating something along these lines while having my modern ass handed to me.
I'll consider both. The deck should perhaps first see more play to find out what it really needs.
I've been looking for an excuse to get one for several years. I don't know if this is it but it might be
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Non-Staff Quasi-ModIf you want, I can play a mirror match against it next time I see you at LGS.
That, and general cool factor (pun intended
Sounds like a plan. Do you play on other days than Wednesday? This week, I can only come on Friday but next week will be easier.
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.
That is the reason, yes.