MTG Salvation

Prossh, Skyraider of Kher
For When Hatred Isn't Enough
Food Chain/Commander Kill/Token Rush Hybrid Strategy



Why play THIS Version of Prossh, Skyraider of Kher?
It wasn't hard to deduce from the start of Commander 2013's release that Prossh, Skyraider of Kher would be substantially played and that he would be relatively predictable with many decks sharing similar attributes. This is due to the top down design that likely went into making this card as the Jund member of the 'Command Zone Matters' cycle of legendary creatures and it is unfortunate, but needs to be accepted. The versions of this Commander that stand out to me are:

1. Token Rush
2. Food Chain Combo
3. Other Jund Combos
3. Kobold Theme
4. Dragon Theme
5. General Kill

Please note: I imagine there are other variations, but these are ones I have already seen some attention focused on and are at least slightly intuitive, I am sure you could make anything you wanted with a commander like Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.

In my opinion option '4' and '5' are the least likely to be played or focused on, even when it is considered many Prossh decks will use elements that attempt to incorporate each mode of victory and despite the relative ease of a general kill in inexperienced or removal light playgroups. My version of Prossh has the 'token rush' option and the capacity for 'hardcore combo', but I also want a general kill to be a legitimate risk always, so that even if Food Chain is extracted, the deck still has multiple ways to win. I have heard Prossh described as the Jund Sharuum, the Hegemon and I believe this is an appropriate label. The sheer options for victory rival the Esper shard and my version takes advantage of this factor.

My Comment
Original Statement

Current Statement
Over time several intended difference between this list and other Prossh lists have been removed as I realised they were just inefficient. Instead, the focus has been narrowed further onto Food Chain consistency, while retaining some synergistic combos and the capacity to kill with the general without complete token reliance. This arose due to my belief of this commander having a reputation of being cutthroat and therefore an expectation of it. Accordingly, the deck is not for every playgroup, unless it is to be played subpar or the pilot 'holds back'.

Official Biography
Prossh dominates the Kher region of Dominaria. Each day at dawn, he takes to the skies, tracking his prey and monitoring the lands he claims as his own. The sound of dragon wings in the distance sends many of his subjects into a panic, scrambling for shelter that can withstand his dragon fire. He levels entire villages just to punish a single hunter who strayed into his territory. Those who don't pay tribute to him are burned alive. Prossh is worshipped by the kobolds of the region, and some offer themselves to His Mighty Overlordship in hopes that he spares their kin. Prossh is a predatory machine, and the death of his "allies" just makes him stronger.



Change Log
My Comments
I would include Imperial Seal if I had it.

I am considering upping the number of Berserk style effects to re-include Fatal Frenzy and add Psychotic Fury.

I don't really like Earthcraft and Squirrel's Nest in this deck. You don't have an easy way to tutor for either of them except for your general tutors, and while they are powerful in a generic way, they don't have synergy with the rest of your deck (although clearly having lots of generic tokens on the board with Earthcraft is never a bad thing). You'd probably be better off with either more tutors or answers in those two spots.

Also, for haste enablers, Concordant Crossroads is a nice card. While it affects everyone, you should still benefit from it more on the turn you combo out and you could always just hold onto it until that turn since it only costs 1 mana to play.

Quote from cheethorne

I don't really like Earthcraft and Squirrel's Nest in this deck. You don't have an easy way to tutor for either of them except for your general tutors, and while they are powerful in a generic way, they don't have synergy with the rest of your deck (although clearly having lots of generic tokens on the board with Earthcraft is never a bad thing). You'd probably be better off with either more tutors or answers in those two spots.

Also, for haste enablers, Concordant Crossroads is a nice card. While it affects everyone, you should still benefit from it more on the turn you combo out and you could always just hold onto it until that turn since it only costs 1 mana to play.

I don't feel either card is terrible in their own right, but I do perceive why they might be viewed exclusively in terms of their ability to appear. Earthcraft works well with general and several other cards, there are time when it will even allow you to go knock someone out a turn earlier than you rightfully should. Likewise, Squirrel Nest works very well with Natural Order, Diabolic Intent, it boosts Xenagos and in general while not allowing instant win can create a quick clock with Purphoros. I'll give it a go, but having a similar combo in Ulasht, the Hate Seed deck with even less tutors hasn't been bad when both parts of combo are useful.

By same token, Mass Hysteria, the red CC could work. I'll keep both of them in mind, thank you.

runes of the deus also makes prossh a 1 hit general for more than 1 swing. I like that it only needs 4 tokens to kill.

Quote from koloblicin

runes of the deus also makes prossh a 1 hit general for more than 1 swing. I like that it only needs 4 tokens to kill.

That's not a bad idea, although very telegraphed compared to Berserk. Thank you for the feedback, I'll have to work out what is needed least.

I've updated the mana ramp slightly to be faster with Three Visits (which a friend surprisingly had) and Farseek and added in Blood Artist to add that combo to deck, but not too heavily given extensive search in deck.. Once the Gaea's Cradle is achieved I'll look at a Mana Crypt, but still seeking Cradle and Wooded Foothills.

So far deck has done alright in casual 1v1, but that's not goal, I'll be attempting to play more once Food Chain arrives in mail (as I hate proxies for cards I don't have).

I decided against Runes of the Deus as I don't want people to expect to die, I want to surprise them, I recognise it is a good card however.

Armed (Armed/Dangerous) may be something you want to consider. It still gives you your general kill, but it has the added effect of being able to conveniently move a chump flyer out of the way while you do it.

Quote from Saxman2112

Armed (Armed/Dangerous) may be something you want to consider. It still gives you your general kill, but it has the added effect of being able to conveniently move a chump flyer out of the way while you do it.

Good call, thank you, double strike does help and it is as conditional as the non-Hatred options.

Looks like a really strong list!

There are three suggestions I have, that arise from my playing my own list for the first couple of times this past Saturday:

1. I highly recommend Hit//Run for a surprise Overrun-esque effect, that can be used as removal also.

2. Sarkhan Vol - I'd play him instead of Fervor, which I think is too vanilla. Sarkhan grants haste as well, but can also double up as removal or a win con (especially with Doubling Season out).

3. If you find yourself playing against counterspells a lot, I'd find a slot for Vexing Shusher - some protection is always nice. ;-)

Ardeyn

Quote from Ardeyn

Looks like a really strong list!

There are three suggestions I have, that arise from my playing my own list for the first couple of times this past Saturday:

1. I highly recommend Hit//Run for a surprise Overrun-esque effect, that can be used as removal also.

2. Sarkhan Vol - I'd play him instead of Fervor, which I think is too vanilla. Sarkhan grants haste as well, but can also double up as removal or a win con (especially with Doubling Season out).

3. If you find yourself playing against counterspells a lot, I'd find a slot for Vexing Shusher - some protection is always nice. ;-)

Ardeyn

Thanks a lot for the feedback.

How helpful do you find the Hit side of Hit // Run. I accept I run less removal than may be desirable, although it is intended to be cheap, instant speed and controlled, not that sacrificing is bad against hexproof or shrouded guys. The fact Run is instant is nice and certainly better than Tears of Rage, another card I really love. I'll keep the card on hand until I have the chance to see if I like it.

Sarkhan Vol never survives when I play it, my experience is taken from my Ulasht, the Hate Seed deck (which shares a lot of similarities to this, but without as much flexibility and tutoring). I'm unsure if my area is just hostile to planeswalkers or not, so while I like it, when people see my general SV isn't gonna survive the rotation when creatures can kill him. Doubling Season is the one exception where it is a knockout punch, but I'm not sure I want to aim for that over a consistent haste attack turn 4-6. Hammer of Purphoros is likely less generic, so knowing how little Ferver does, I should keep that in mind also.

I'll also keep Vexxing Shusher in mind, it is a greater tutorable card and uncounterable on her own, potentially very useful.

I actually like the Hit part of Hit//Run. It's killed early Serra Ascendants as well as Ulamog for me. Though it certainly depends how many (cheap) artifacts there are on the board. One of the reasons I like Creeping Corrosion and /or Shatterstorm.

Regarding Sarkhan Vol: Is the survival rate of Xenagos that much better? I really like the flexibility here; dropping him, gaining control of a creature attacking with it and saccing it to one of the various sac outlets has been very good. But I see how it might be different in your meta.

Also, a card I really enjoy playing in Prossh is Torrent of Souls, can be such a blowout. ;-)

Ardeyn

Quote from Ardeyn

I actually like the Hit part of Hit//Run. It's killed early Serra Ascendants as well as Ulamog for me. Though it certainly depends how many (cheap) artifacts there are on the board. One of the reasons I like Creeping Corrosion and /or Shatterstorm.

Regarding Sarkhan Vol: Is the survival rate of Xenagos that much better? I really like the flexibility here; dropping him, gaining control of a creature attacking with it and saccing it to one of the various sac outlets has been very good. But I see how it might be different in your meta.

Also, a card I really enjoy playing in Prossh is Torrent of Souls, can be such a blowout. ;-)

Ardeyn

Xenagos is effectly a Gaea's Cradle, so once it has done its work for even a turn it has done enough. Xenagos is also more an enabler than a threat in its own right, but also time by I play Xenagos I have blockers. Sarkhan ideally needs to be out before other creaturs to gain value, so they have different roles really.

Torrent of Souls is interesting, does your version run other removal or just that? I suspect my deck doesn't run enough creatures to gain full value in current form.

I'm really surprised at the lack of Goblin Sharpshooter. It seems like a perfect fit.

Just remember that you must resolve both halves of Torrent of Souls before putting any ETB effect of the revived creature on the stack. For example, if you reanimate Avenger of Zendikar, the tokens will not get +2/+0 and haste.

My version isn't as combo oriented, but plays a few more attrition cards, such as Grave Pact, Mind Slash, Damnation, Maelstrom Pulse, Deathrite Shaman, Hell's Caretaker and slower token generators, e.g. Mycoloth and Oviomancer. This gives me less of a glass cannon feel and more resilience. But I have to admit, it's not refined yet - all the more important to seek some discussion. ;-)
Speaking of discussion: why don't you run Maelstrom Pulse?
Also, do the one shot kills, e.g. Hatred work? It'd seem, that after you kill one opponent, the rest of the table will just murder you.

I'm aware that Torrent of Souls has to resolve completely first, so that Avenger's tokens won't get haste. But being able to reanimate Craterhoof Behemoth or any other good creature and giving the team +2/+0 is just awesome as it's usually quite a surprise.

Sharpshooter is just not needed - Blood Artist does its job better, I'd say.

Ardeyn

Quote from Ardeyn

My version isn't as combo oriented, but plays a few more attrition cards, such as Grave Pact, Mind Slash, Damnation, Maelstrom Pulse, Deathrite Shaman, Hell's Caretaker and slower token generators, e.g. Mycoloth and Oviomancer. This gives me less of a glass cannon feel and more resilience. But I have to admit, it's not refined yet - all the more important to seek some discussion. ;-)
Speaking of discussion: why don't you run Maelstrom Pulse?
Also, do the one shot kills, e.g. Hatred work? It'd seem, that after you kill one opponent, the rest of the table will just murder you.

I'm aware that Torrent of Souls has to resolve completely first, so that Avenger's tokens won't get haste. But being able to reanimate Craterhoof Behemoth or any other good creature and giving the team +2/+0 is just awesome as it's usually quite a surprise.

Sharpshooter is just not needed - Blood Artist does its job better, I'd say.

Ardeyn

Apologies on delay! I've kinda been busier.

I understand how Prossh can go attrition rather than glass canon, it's not a bad option either and might work better at times, just it's less consistent and blue may control you better. I find if I get wrathed early on as my mana ramp is often creatures it can be an issue, which means I need to consider more lands, but it is somewhat gratifying to always be considered a threat when Prossh is castable.

I realistically should run Maelstrom Pulse and will try include it, I was skimping on removal to try maximize tutoring, although frequency Prossh dies means some control wouldn't go astray.

I typically kill from Purphoros actually or Craterhoof Behemoth, even with combo capacity unless I can hold my nerve and get out combo first, there is temptation to get out general as 6 tokens works well with other parts of deck. Hatred hasn't actually appeared yet, I have used Berserk and Fatal Frenzy more as removal, which is kinda funny, but wasn't intention when put in. Table can't really turn on you when they are gunning for you from start.

Sharpshooter is alright and could provide some redundancy, although as Ardeyn stated Blood Artist does so without issue of summoning sickness (not that it will always be issue) and I will aim for the face more than creatures typically anyway. I recognise that the option for going for creatures could be nice against certain decks though, so once again, it is worth keeping in mind.

Torrent of souls really has few targets in my mind and while there are dream recurs as you stated, very often my guy will get exiled, bounced or it just won't hit GY. It's nice to know about the interaction though, that is a pretty neat way to get value.

Wow our lists look very similar. The main difference in mine is that I have inserted a few power plays outside of the standard Prossh plan (looking at Natural Order), as well as put in a few attrition effects. The goal is to maximize the use of Prossh's tokens instead of using him as a 1-shot griefer general.

Unlike most people, I actually don't like Food Chain unless the deck is purely dedicated towards it. What I mean is 10+ outlets for damage, every tutor 4CMC or less (including Demonic Consultation and Tainted Pact. The deck has the potential to be just as fast as the other top tier decks. The problem? It's not nearly as resilient. Imagine having your FC removed mid-combo, leaving you unable to cast Prossh again if he gets removed. Granted, I play in a meta with more spot removal, so YMMV.

The aggro + stax version of the deck I'm playing is much more fun anyways.

Have you tried considering Tainted Strike?

Now...question. Does Food Chain and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher work together the way that I think they do?

Here is what I think (more like hope because a big voice in my head says I am wrong)
Prossh costs 6...when he dies and goes to general zone, now he costs 8 so his new CMC is 8. Does that statistic stay on him with Food Chain?

If it does then what I see is:
Food Chain reads: Sacrifice Prossh and pay 1 to recast him (besides needing the 2 other colors of him).

So if you had out Mycosynth Lattice you could effectively just pay 1 and recast him.

I like everything you are doing here. My one questions is why Vicious Shadows has not come up in this thread? It's just bonkers.

Quote from EmrakulTheAeonTorn

Now...question. Does Food Chain and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher work together the way that I think they do?

Here is what I think (more like hope because a big voice in my head says I am wrong)
Prossh costs 6...when he dies and goes to general zone, now he costs 8 so his new CMC is 8. Does that statistic stay on him with Food Chain?

If it does then what I see is:
Food Chain reads: Sacrifice Prossh and pay 1 to recast him (besides needing the 2 other colors of him).

So if you had out Mycosynth Lattice you could effectively just pay 1 and recast him.

Sadly it does not.
BUT! You can just sac him for 6 red, then sac a token for 1 green and a token for 1 Black and recast.
Next time you just do the same Again. And sac two more tokens for colorless. You can do this infinitly.


For @OP, why don't you use Rush for blood as a fourth "berserk"?

How about tainted strike?

Our decks are pretty similar as well (though I haven't posted it yet). Have you considered Sadistic Glee and Blade of the Bloodchief? I find that both of them quickly pump Prossh to scary proportions. Also Vicious Shadows can win the game in 1v1 and take out an opponent in multiplayer. Regardless of whether you use it with a combo, it is still a powerful card. In my deck, I decided not to play a lot of combos because I feel it distracts from what Prossh does best: token rush and commander damage. I do like the idea of them (especially food chain), but the more the deck is built around them the weaker it gets. Especially since there are so many great cards vying for a position that really help the overall strategy.

Here's a link to my decklist: http://www.mtgdeckbuilder.net/Decks/ViewDeck/930699 (its still somewhat budget, but I will be upgrading it slowly)

I tried this prossh deck and i really enjoyed it so thanks for making it MiffedMoogle!

But I wonder if using jarad, Golgari Lich Lord Lord might be more useful then Mindslicer with jarad you get alot more out of the Earthcraft/Squirrel nest combo.
And I really did not find a good use for Mindslicer

I play Prossh in competitive pods and don't lose often. This deck need birthing pod and viscous shadows. Pod allows you to pod into avenger from prossh, then avenger into craterhoof, if you ran the pod package, Mikeaus, redcap, zealous conscripts, and optionally, Kiki-jiki, it's win percentage will go up highly. Summoner's pact allows for a tutor when you just food chained, and viscous shadows allows for an easy out against most control players or anyone when you go infinite. I really enjoy Xenagos god over frenzy as it allows for a turn 4-6 easy kill. Your removal is really conditional, why no beast within or maelstrom pulse? They're really good obviously. I run rakdos charm mainboard but I will probably switch it for hit//run. I like the idea of that card a lot.