MTG Salvation

Looking for help with this idea that has been running through my head recently...

The goal is a Manabarbs+Personal Sanctuary type deck. There are a lot of really cool cards that fit the theme. I really don't want to run any LD, but want to punish people for using lands. So the main gameplan is to stall with enchantment pillowfort, and let the damage over time kill off opponents. Any feedback is greatly appreciated sitting at 67 cards before lands, so i will need some cuts as well.

Originally I was going to have Rith, the Awakener at the helm, but the new Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis is really everything we want in a deck like this, getting everyone's lands out while providing us with card draw, acceleration, and low priority in many cases.

I've been toying with this idea myself with the Meletis Kings. You could also potentially ramp ridiculously hard with a deck like this. Cards like From the Ashes, Collective Voyage, New Frontiers, and Ghirapur Orrery potentially become one-sided in your favor.

Other cards I want to suggest are Primal Order and Price of Progress. Most EDH decks run their fair share of nonbasic lands. This really punishes them.

You will definitely be the archenemy for punishing players for using their lands. I know you want to avoid getting attacked, then what better way than to do so with combos like Stormtide Leviathan + Archetype of Imagination. Only your creatures can attack. Maybe add a Humility in there, as well? If price is not option then Moat; if it is, then Magus of the Moat. If you want to be even more dubious with forcing them to tap lands, then The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale. Again, if price is an option, Magus of the Tabernacle. You could also add Pendrell Mists. That way, if anyone wants to keep their creatures, they have to use mana, which probably means tapping lands.

If you do run Stormtide Leviathan, you could also add a dash of jank along the lines of Carpet of Flowers, Monsoon, Typhoon, and Walk the Aeons. That way it can be a bit more challenge and fun while not being too directly oppressive.

I would also take advantage of opponents drawing off of Meletis Kings by adding in Consecrated Sphinx and Mind's Eye.

I would avoid cards like Rising Waters (Hokori-type effects). They don't force tapping - just avoid them tapping, which is counterproductive to what the deck wants to achieve, which is making all lands into City of Brass.

If you really want some jank, add Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Karma .

Perfect deck for Tamanoa
Also alot of enchantments, yet no draw triggers when you play them. Would look at adding a couple enchantress cards for the draw power.

Quote from DementedKirby »

I've been toying with this idea myself with the Meletis Kings. You could also potentially ramp ridiculously hard with a deck like this. Cards like From the Ashes, Collective Voyage, New Frontiers, and Ghirapur Orrery potentially become one-sided in your favor.

Other cards I want to suggest are Primal Order and Price of Progress. Most EDH decks run their fair share of nonbasic lands. This really punishes them.

You will definitely be the archenemy for punishing players for using their lands. I know you want to avoid getting attacked, then what better way than to do so with combos like Stormtide Leviathan + Archetype of Imagination. Only your creatures can attack. Maybe add a Humility in there, as well? If price is not option then Moat; if it is, then Magus of the Moat. If you want to be even more dubious with forcing them to tap lands, then The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale. Again, if price is an option, Magus of the Tabernacle. You could also add Pendrell Mists. That way, if anyone wants to keep their creatures, they have to use mana, which probably means tapping lands.

If you do run Stormtide Leviathan, you could also add a dash of jank along the lines of Carpet of Flowers, Monsoon, Typhoon, and Walk the Aeons. That way it can be a bit more challenge and fun while not being too directly oppressive.

I would also take advantage of opponents drawing off of Meletis Kings by adding in Consecrated Sphinx and Mind's Eye.

I would avoid cards like Rising Waters (Hokori-type effects). They don't force tapping - just avoid them tapping, which is counterproductive to what the deck wants to achieve, which is making all lands into City of Brass.

If you really want some jank, add Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Karma .

wow thanks for the feedback!! lots of great suggestions, ill have to think about all of these in more detail later, but here are my initial thoughts:
From The Ashes/Collective Voyage/New Frontiers/Ghirapur Orrery: This is an awesome direction to head, but im a little concerned with running a lot of basics myself. For 4 colors, running a lot of basics to make these cards good may not be worth it in the long run. If Collective Voyage was instant speed i would definitely run it, but giving everyone else the value before you can untap might screw me over I think I would consider Ghirapur Orrery the most out of these. Maybe thats a good replacement for Rites of Flourishing.

I really like Primal Order and Price of Progress, those might find a spot.

You will definitely be the archenemy for punishing players for using their lands.

Yes and no, as I will also be ramping everyone so hopefully itll be more of a love/hate relationship

Stormtide Leviathan will find a slot, great idea. I don't think the Archetype of Imagination will though, there are very few things that I would even want to swing with. While it would be an awesome way to win, by itself it doesn't do too much to help the progression of the lockdown.

Humility should probably go in, or at least sideboard for certain matchups.

As this is still a work in progress I wouldnt be shelling out the money for Moat/The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, but both the magus' could find a spot. If i were to go that way, I think I would get rid of one or two of the Ghostly Prison effects, but I think I dont want to restrict players from attacking each other, only me.

Carpet of Flowers/Monsoon/Typhoon/Walk the Aeons/Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth/Karma: These are all very thematic and really neat comboes, but Im mostly afraid that on their own they dont warrant slots, and Im not running much tutoring to make it happen. I think that a different deck could be made for these where they fit in nicer, all about land manipulation and stuff.

You are right about Hokori, Dust Drinker-type cards, those will be the first to go.

And finally, Consecrated Sphinx/Mind's Eye should find a spot as well.

Thanks for all of the awesome suggestions, there are so many cards that fit with the theme that I havent seen in years!!

Quote from SlaveToPhage »

Perfect deck for Tamanoa
Also alot of enchantments, yet no draw triggers when you play them. Would look at adding a couple enchantress cards for the draw power.

Woah thats a card I completely forgot about. That's interesting, ill think about it and probably try and test it out. Im afraid that something like Dictate of the Twin Gods/Furnace of Rath will end up working out better, but maybe both will work. Cool card, thanks!!
And yes, I should probably run an enchantress or two. Just gotta finds cuts... hardest part.

Hi, nice list! This list looks like its heavily leaning towards enchantments, so you may wish to do lean towards the enchantresses that draw you cards such as Argothian Enchantress, Mesa Enchantress, and Enchantress's Presence. Herald of the Pantheon seems to fit in well here as it helps you offset any damage you are taking while reducing the cost of enchantments.

These cards will probably draw less ire from the table as opposed to running Consecrated Sphinx.

If you want to go down a more pillowfort route, you could look into Collective Restraint and Sphere of Safety.

Need protection for your enchantments? Sterling Grove and Greater Auramancy can help you in that department.

I see you have Open the Vaults, if it is in your budget, you should strongly consider Replenish, as the effect is asymmetrical and cheaper to cast.

I would probably cut Dirtcowl Wurm seeing as how it has no evasion, replace it with one of the enchantresses. Not sure what the function of Damping Engine and Howling Mine are; the former could hurt you since you will always be dropping lands and drawing a card, while the latter has no synergy with your overall strategy. Have similar feelings about Sands of Time, why not run Mana Web?

Of course, Serra's Sanctum would love a home here, but once again not sure what your budgetary restrictions for this deck are.

Happy brewing!

Quote from Astrog1 »

Happy brewing!

Thanks for all of the suggestions!!

The enchantresses will make it in, at least two of them. Herald of the Pantheon seems interesting, i didnt think about that card. I think that warrants a slot.

I already have a Sphere of Safety and Greater Auramancy in the list, but I forgot about Sterling Grove, good catch.

Sands of time was to force tapping of lands while stuff like Power Surge and Citadel of Pain are out, but it will be one of the first things to go i think. Mana Web is a lot better.

In regards to budget, I would rather not sink money into this deck as it is just a test and there are other decks that have priority. If the deck performs well enough, I may think about optimizing it but for now I probably wont.

Hopefully tonight I can update the list with all of the changes

Mana Web + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.

Tsk tsk tsk. There are three cards that want to be in here and they're all old school. First, you like them tapping lands, and you like making them pay for it one way or another (the power surge and citadel of pain say so, I think). Mana web will certainly help as it is another war's toll effect, but awakening makes that pain oh so exquisite.

Now, them having mana rocks is your bane, so why not do something about it? Titania's song says "no mana rocks for you!"

Now, while you're at it, no reason not to give them some extra incentive to start tapping out (and damaging themselves) with vernal equinox.

Not dying to your own pain seems a good idea, so a few things to consider would be:

battletide alchemist. Yes, it's only one, but strangely enough, all those painful enchantment triggers happen one at a time, sot his guy protects you quite well and lets you play the politics game.

If you have enough card draw, solitary confinement.

Urza's armor. Pretty self explanatory.

Gisela, blade of goldnight. self explanatory.

Ghosts of the innocent. half of the above

glacial chasm

Purity
[card]
sphere of law[/card]

The enchantresses would really be good here, so I too nominate them.

Quote from DementedKirby »

Mana Web + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.

this sparks my interest. nasty

Quote from weltkrieg »

Tsk tsk tsk. There are three cards that want to be in here and they're all old school. First, you like them tapping lands, and you like making them pay for it one way or another (the power surge and citadel of pain say so, I think). Mana web will certainly help as it is another war's toll effect, but awakening makes that pain oh so exquisite.

Now, them having mana rocks is your bane, so why not do something about it? Titania's song says "no mana rocks for you!"

Now, while you're at it, no reason not to give them some extra incentive to start tapping out (and damaging themselves) with vernal equinox.

Not dying to your own pain seems a good idea, so a few things to consider would be:

battletide alchemist. Yes, it's only one, but strangely enough, all those painful enchantment triggers happen one at a time, sot his guy protects you quite well and lets you play the politics game.

If you have enough card draw, solitary confinement.

Urza's armor. Pretty self explanatory.

Gisela, blade of goldnight. self explanatory.

Ghosts of the innocent. half of the above

glacial chasm

Purity
[card]
sphere of law[/card]

The enchantresses would really be good here, so I too nominate them.

that's why I post lists here, you guys always remind me what Im missing

Awakening looks awesome, but im afraid that it will enable others a lot more than it will help my plan. I like Vernal Equinox a lot more in this slot.

Titania's Song is another great suggestion, and speaking of mana rocks, I should probably run some more of my own.

Battletide Alchemist got me thinking about Sun Droplet/Living Artifact, i think those two will perform better over time.

Forgot about Solitary Confinement/Glacial Chasm. I would imagine both deserve a slot.

already running Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Purity don't like Ghosts of the Innocent, as it affect everyone it slows down my win con. Also, Sphere of Law or Circle of Protection: Red should get a spot as well.

Quote from pulli23 »

I feel to make more use of the effect, you'll want to have some more self-protective cards, which prevent damage to yourself.

what about platinum emperion?

or Platinum Angel for that matter. the problem is that I am running very little protection, and for something for such a high mana cost that can be killed relatively easily in EDH, im not sure it is worth it. I think I could get a lot more value out of a Circle of Protection: Red or something similar.



EDITS
will update the OP soon