So I'm building a holiday deck, and I'd like to refine it a bit before ordering my cards. I don't have Bog Humbugs in the list, because I couldn't find one for sale (I've ordered all the other holiday promos), but I do want the promos I have to stay in the list. It turned out token-heavy, so that I can ensure I have stuff to spend Mishra's Toy Workshop mana on, and some of the creature choices (like Atraxa, Darigaaz, Yennett, and Zacama) were to give better sacrifice choices for Some Disassembly Required.
Looking for any suggestions for substitutions to help the deck be not total rubbish. No particular budget, but it's intended more as a theme deck than a powerful one. It's just that a deck the sucks and dies every game is also no fun to play.
I would add more to the holiday theme and also spice it up with some combos. Although you're in last year's rules for silver-bordered cards, running a planeswalker commander that doesn't have the clause plus running Stocking Tiger when it has a wish effect might need to be cleared in your playgroup. But I love these kinds of decks so I'll help you out. Buying all the holiday promos is the epitome of pimp so the deck should at least win as much as it sparkles, right?
Keeping to the snow theme, you could add Dark Depths, which is a snow land (and tutorable with Into the North). Additionally, you could pay the 3 with Mishra's Toy Workshop, which gives you something to do with the mana from that land if nothing else is available. So if you don't want to include Thespian's Stage to just get an immediate Marit Lage, you can at least just Mishra's Toy Workshop. (I would still recommend putting Thespian's Stage in there to get some wincon if all else - Marit Lage could be Krampus .)
With all the tokens, I would add more token doublers and ways to make the tokens more dangerous. Divine Visitation makes chumpy 1/1 soldiers, etc. into 4/4 flying angels. Similarly, I would also add Brudicald, Telchior Engineer to make all tokens into the best of them all. This to add consistency. Additionally, these cards could all be cast with the mana from Mishra's Toy Workshop. Given all the different cards in EDH, it would be possible to obtain a ridiculous amount of tokens for just 2GG if you include Symbol Status. But, since you're running snow basics instead of normal basics (giving the possibility of increasing the variety of expansion symbols), you won't be able to abuse it as much. Even so, there're many different cards (not counting the Happy Holidays promos so if you have different versions of cards in such a way to take maximum advantage of the expansion symbols, Symbol Status becomes a truly broken token creation spell - especially in the late game.
With all the targeted spells (removal and copy) I would add Ink-Treader Nephilim. Casting a copy spell on it will create for you a copy of each creature on the battlefield. If an opponent uses this ability against you, you can simply sacrifice it to avoid that problem. In case of emergency, you could also target it with Crib Swap or Beast Within. Or, you can just add Zada, Hedron Grinder just for your own creatures and copy spells.
There are also better ramp choices and tokens choices than the ones you have, so maybe the swaps for more efficient things will make the deck more efficient. Along the vein of efficiency, you don't have many answers against opponents' things. Maybe add a Cyclonic Rift or something along those lines. Since you're in silver-bordered, you could add Uktabi Kong, which would also receive the bonus from Mishra's Toy Workshop and it destroys all artifacts. Also, along the same vein as Mishra's Toy Workshop, you could include Super Secret Tech. All Happy Holidays promos are shiny so they'll cost less and the creatures will get a buff (as will Atraxa, Praetors' Voice). Additionally, if you pimp out the rest of your deck, then you can get the bonus of it.
Here're the changes I suggest you do based on all my thoughts on your list:
Good luck! And hopefully you acquire Bog Humbug. If you manage to build this deck, please take pictures of it; it'll no doubt look as glorious as Xmas Morning!
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Keeping to the snow theme, you could add Dark Depths, which is a snow land (and tutorable with Into the North). Additionally, you could pay the 3 with Mishra's Toy Workshop, which gives you something to do with the mana from that land if nothing else is available.
Can't activate Dark Depths with Toy Workshop. The activated ability does not produce tokens.
With all the tokens, I would add more token doublers and ways to make the tokens more dangerous. Divine Visitation makes chumpy 1/1 soldiers, etc. into 4/4 flying angels. Similarly, I would also add Brudicald, Telchior Engineer to make all tokens into the best of them all. This to add consistency. Additionally, these cards could all be cast with the mana from Mishra's Toy Workshop. Given all the different cards in EDH, it would be possible to obtain a ridiculous amount of tokens for just 2GG if you include Symbol Status. But, since you're running snow basics instead of normal basics (giving the possibility of increasing the variety of expansion symbols), you won't be able to abuse it as much. Even so, there're many different cards (not counting the Happy Holidays promos so if you have different versions of cards in such a way to take maximum advantage of the expansion symbols, Symbol Status becomes a truly broken token creation spell - especially in the late game.
I did have Anointed Procession and Parallel Lives in the list earlier, but I had to make cuts somewhere. I kept Doubling Season because it also doubles Urza's loyalty when I cast him. Brudiclad seems like an interesting choice with my token copies of nontoken creatures, however Brudiclad and token doublers (outside Parallel Evolution, which was in the list until I cut it for space) can't be cast on Toy Workshop mana.
With all the targeted spells (removal and copy) I would add Ink-Treader Nephilim. Casting a copy spell on it will create for you a copy of each creature on the battlefield. If an opponent uses this ability against you, you can simply sacrifice it to avoid that problem. In case of emergency, you could also target it with Crib Swap or Beast Within. Or, you can just add Zada, Hedron Grinder just for your own creatures and copy spells.
Sacrificing Ink-Treader in response to an opponent's spell won't stop the spell from being copied. It's an intriguing idea, though.
There are also better ramp choices and tokens choices than the ones you have, so maybe the swaps for more efficient things will make the deck more efficient. Along the vein of efficiency, you don't have many answers against opponents' things. Maybe add a Cyclonic Rift or something along those lines. Since you're in silver-bordered, you could add Uktabi Kong, which would also receive the bonus from Mishra's Toy Workshop and it destroys all artifacts. Also, along the same vein as Mishra's Toy Workshop, you could include Super Secret Tech. All Happy Holidays promos are shiny so they'll cost less and the creatures will get a buff (as will Atraxa, Praetors' Voice). Additionally, if you pimp out the rest of your deck, then you can get the bonus of it.
Uktabi Kong can't be cast on Toy Workshop mana. Super Secret Tech might be a fun include, though!
Damn, all those lost interactions to Mishra's Toy Workshop... I'd still add most of those cards though, considering. Brudiclad is some sweet tech if you copy one of your better creatures because then all your derps become brutal. Just imagine creating a copy of Stocking Tiger and then have Brudiclad transform all your 1/1's into Stocking Tiger. You know how many Ultimate Masters boosters you'll be able to crack and fill your hand with? That's some Sparta level madness right there.
Ink-Treader Nephilim might make you shoot yourself in the foot but you could add Zada, Hedron Grinder in its place. Trust me, I run a Zada deck and making a copy of each of your creatures is no joke. You're literally duplicating your army. Also, if you do manage to increase the variation in expansion symbols, consider adding Symbol Status. Mishra's Toy Workshop does pay for that and it can make a crazy amount of tokens for 4 mana. And if you have Divine Visitation they'll be 4/4 flying angels instead.
The creatures with all those keywords are great regardless if you have to wait a while to cast them or not (which shouldn't be too much of an issue with all your ramping / rocks). Even if you manage to get one in play and have Odric, Lunarch Marshal on the battlefield things can get out of hand very quickly.
Also, even with the epicness of some of my suggestions, it's still janky enough to keep the spirit of the casualness of the deck, yet when pulled off it can make your deck a force to be reckoned with in a casual setting. You're still sticking to flavor and your holiday restrictions. And apart from some choice cards, you'll be able to bling out the entire deck. Now that's some silver tassels right there. You could only ever really be tutoring for the lands to make Marit Lage, but all else would be serendipitous. If you do manage to take out somebody with Phage + Evil Presents that'll be so glorious!
If you want to test your deck, I also have lots of janky decks as well as decks with silver-bordered cards in them (the ones that were legal last year - so no cards that even the RC wouldn't allow). So just seek me out on Cockatrice, which is where I do most of my decktesting myself. My user name is the same as here.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
Made some edits based on DementedKirby's feedback (and some offline friends). In particular, I've added a couple extra land tutors that can find Mishra's Toy Workshop, and a few Spirit Link triggers, because putting those on Fruitcake Elemental is hilarious.
Made some edits based on DementedKirby's feedback (and some offline friends). In particular, I've added a couple extra land tutors that can find Mishra's Toy Workshop, and a few Spirit Link triggers, because putting those on Fruitcake Elemental is hilarious.
My YouTube Channel: The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
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1x Urza, Academy Headmaster
Creatures (19)
1x Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
1x Aven Wind Guide
1x Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
1x Darigaaz Reincarnated
1x Fruitcake Elemental
1x Odric, Lunarch Marshal
1x Oketra the True
1x Phage the Untouchable
1x Purphoros, God of the Forge
1x Rhys the Redeemed
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1x Stocking Tiger
1x The Scarab God
1x Ulvenwald Hydra
1x Vizier of Many Faces
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Yule Ooze
1x Zacama, Primal Calamity
Enchantments (11)
1x Armadillo Cloak
1x Dawn of Hope
1x Doubling Season
1x Goblin Bombardment
1x Impact Tremors
1x Snow Mercy
1x Soul Link
1x Spirit Link
1x Some Disassembly Required
1x Thopter Pie Network
1x Vampiric Link
1x Clone Legion
1x Cultivate
1x Evil Presents
1x Farseek
1x Goblin Sleigh Ride
1x Growth Spasm
1x Into the North
1x Kirtar's Wrath
1x Kodama's Reach
1x Martial Coup
1x Naughty // Nice
1x Quasiduplicate
1x Rampant Growth
1x Rite of Replication
1x Season's Beatings
1x Spitting Image
1x Sylvan Scrying
Instants (11)
1x Beast Within
1x Cackling Counterpart
1x Crib Swap
1x Cyclonic Rift
1x Eyes in the Skies
1x Gifts Given
1x Heroic Intervention
1x March of the Multitudes
1x Secure the Wastes
1x Supplant Form
1x Wing Shards
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Expedition Map
1x Mimic Vat
1x Sol Ring
1x Super Secret Tech
Lands (36)
1x Arctic Flats
1x Boreal Shelf
1x Frost Marsh
1x Highland Weald
1x Mishra's Toy Workshop
1x Mouth of Ronom
1x Scrying Sheets
6x Snow-Covered Forest
6x Snow-Covered Island
4x Snow-Covered Mountain
6x Snow-Covered Plains
4x Snow-Covered Swamp
1x Tresserhorn Sinks
1x Urza's Factory
1x Westvale Abbey
So I'm building a holiday deck, and I'd like to refine it a bit before ordering my cards. I don't have Bog Humbugs in the list, because I couldn't find one for sale (I've ordered all the other holiday promos), but I do want the promos I have to stay in the list. It turned out token-heavy, so that I can ensure I have stuff to spend Mishra's Toy Workshop mana on, and some of the creature choices (like Atraxa, Darigaaz, Yennett, and Zacama) were to give better sacrifice choices for Some Disassembly Required.
Looking for any suggestions for substitutions to help the deck be not total rubbish. No particular budget, but it's intended more as a theme deck than a powerful one. It's just that a deck the sucks and dies every game is also no fun to play.
Removed:
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
1 Urza's Factory
1 Eyes in the Skies
1 Benevolent Offering
1 Grip of Phyresis
1 Zacama, Primal Calamity
1 Darigaaz Reincarnated
1 Vampire Nighthawk
1 Aven Wind Guide
1 Master Trinketeer
1 Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign
1 Faerie Artisans
1 The Scarab God
1 Oketra the True
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Adarkar Valkyrie
1 Echo Storm
1 Spoils of Victory
1 Land Aid
1 Sprout Swarm
1 Coldsteel Heart
1 Dark Depths
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Secure the Wastes
1 Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
1 Clone Legion
1 Spirit of the Night
1 Akroma, Angel of Fury
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
1 Divine Visitation
1 Parallel Lives
1 Anointed Procession
1 Primal Vigor
1 Ink-Treader Nephilim
1 Phage the Untouchable
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Cultivate
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Super Secret Tech
Good luck! And hopefully you acquire Bog Humbug. If you manage to build this deck, please take pictures of it; it'll no doubt look as glorious as Xmas Morning!
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
That's evil.
I considered adding more keyword-heavy creatures for Disassembly, but was already having trouble figuring out what cards to cut D:
And you can't cast Earl of Squirrel with Toy Workshop, for the same reason you can't activate Dark Depths with it.
I did have Anointed Procession and Parallel Lives in the list earlier, but I had to make cuts somewhere. I kept Doubling Season because it also doubles Urza's loyalty when I cast him. Brudiclad seems like an interesting choice with my token copies of nontoken creatures, however Brudiclad and token doublers (outside Parallel Evolution, which was in the list until I cut it for space) can't be cast on Toy Workshop mana.
Sacrificing Ink-Treader in response to an opponent's spell won't stop the spell from being copied. It's an intriguing idea, though.
Uktabi Kong can't be cast on Toy Workshop mana. Super Secret Tech might be a fun include, though!
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Ink-Treader Nephilim might make you shoot yourself in the foot but you could add Zada, Hedron Grinder in its place. Trust me, I run a Zada deck and making a copy of each of your creatures is no joke. You're literally duplicating your army. Also, if you do manage to increase the variation in expansion symbols, consider adding Symbol Status. Mishra's Toy Workshop does pay for that and it can make a crazy amount of tokens for 4 mana. And if you have Divine Visitation they'll be 4/4 flying angels instead.
The creatures with all those keywords are great regardless if you have to wait a while to cast them or not (which shouldn't be too much of an issue with all your ramping / rocks). Even if you manage to get one in play and have Odric, Lunarch Marshal on the battlefield things can get out of hand very quickly.
Also, even with the epicness of some of my suggestions, it's still janky enough to keep the spirit of the casualness of the deck, yet when pulled off it can make your deck a force to be reckoned with in a casual setting. You're still sticking to flavor and your holiday restrictions. And apart from some choice cards, you'll be able to bling out the entire deck. Now that's some silver tassels right there. You could only ever really be tutoring for the lands to make Marit Lage, but all else would be serendipitous. If you do manage to take out somebody with Phage + Evil Presents that'll be so glorious!
If you want to test your deck, I also have lots of janky decks as well as decks with silver-bordered cards in them (the ones that were legal last year - so no cards that even the RC wouldn't allow). So just seek me out on Cockatrice, which is where I do most of my decktesting myself. My user name is the same as here.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!
With the inclusion of Super Secret Tech, I've removed Arachnogenesis, Entrapment Maneuver, Mirror Match, and Teferi's Protection, as they have no foil printing.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Nice! Can't wait to see what changes you've made.
Have you been able to test it out or are you still waiting to get the cards?
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
The Commander Tavern - a channel I just started where I'll post deck techs and gameplays. Please support by checking it out. Maybe you'll like its content and subscribe! Thanks!