I know that the great majority of silver-bordered cards were legal only from 12/1/2017-1/15/2018 but that didn't stop me from wanting to build around the new legends from Unstable as well as other Commander players abound. Although no longer legal, you might still be lucky enough to find yourself in a playgroup that will at least allow you to play with a deck where Grusilda, Monster Masher if your commander if it's the only silver-bordered card in it. I'm already walking on eggshells and walking a thin line already as it is; so for the moment I'm under the assumption that only Grusilda will be allowable at your table. If not, then that's fine, respect the rules and legal cardpool and pull out another deck. If you are within a pod that allows silver-bordered cards, at least be cool about it and stick to the original banned list found here.
Although Grusilda has a hefty text box with many abilities, her allure comes mainly from the following ability: "3BR, T: Put two target creature cards from graveyards onto the battlefield combined into one creature under your control. (Its power is equal to their total power, its toughness is equal to their total toughness, and it has their names, mana costs, types, text boxes, etc.)" I'm sorry, what!? That's crazy, right? The amount of interactions this brings is ridiculous. To the point where I will do my very best to go through most of them in this post. If that weren't enough, she can mash creatures from other players' graveyards (this may create some odd situations which I will clarify in a compiled rules section for Grusilda later on). Not only that, but her first ability is crazy, too: "Combined, enchanted, and equipped creatures you control have menace." That means that whatever monstrosity you manage to mash will also have some form of evasion.
In order to clarify just what Grusilda considers to be a "combined" creature, these are melded creatures, creatures she has mashed with ability, and host creatures that have been augmented. This creates a grey area and leads to some very foggy and difficult to judge interactions but, wherever possible, I will try and clarify them with rulings straight from the madman himself, Mark Rosewater, aka, MaRo.
are against or just downright hate silver-bordered cards and/or all they stand for
don't want the potential headache-inducing interactions that might not be clarified in Oracle or by MaRo
would prefer a more streamlined reanimator deck
don't want a deck that's so graveyard dependent
feel there are better color combinations for reanimation than BR.
1.2 - Other Possible Commanders:
Alright, so assuming Grusilda caught your fancy but you're still not convinced she's the best commander for reanimation. Granted, there are a slew of reanimators in monoB which would be more consistent. Or, better commanders in more colors which allows for a greater access to the cardpool. Here are a list of potential reanimators that could be better for you than Grusila should you not like her for your reanimator strategy:
Meren of Clan Nel Toth is a trade of R for G. This limits your mana base since WotC still hasn't provided as many enemy-colored lands as they have ally-colored ones. That being said, Meren can potentially reanimate for free or at least return a creature to your hand. However, she's limited to only the end of your turn whereas Grusilda has an instant-speed activated ability. Sure, it requires 3BR and tapping, but it technically reanimates two creatures at once from any graveyard all while combining them for greater hijinxes. Favoring Grusilda means you're trading free but restrictive reanimation to instanteanous but costly reanimation of two creatures.
Feldon of the Third Path removes the black altogether to have a mono-colored deck. These decks have the potential of providing you with the cheapest mana base possible. That being said, Feldon is a unique reanimator in the sense that he doesn't technically reanimate a creature; he creates an artifact copy of that creature with haste that sacrifices itself at end of turn. This opens the door for way more interactions due to the tokens being sacrificed instead of exiled, etc. You can also abuse more enter the battlefield abilities, etc. That being said, Feldon is in the color pie so he has a home in Grusilda's deck. He's great because he's cheap to cast and cheap to use. Until you're able to reliably get Grusilda in play he can work wonders for reanimation in the mean time.
Sheoldred, Whispering One is similar to Meren of Clan Nel Toth in the sense that they both reanimate for free given timing restrictions. Sheoldred has the added bonus though of being a quasi-Braids each upkeep for your opponents' creatures. She's also similar to Feldon in the sense of being mono-colored. However, Sheoldred is very overcosted. I have considered her for Grusilda but I'd rather have creatures in the graveyard be reanimated as combined creatures rather than straight up reanimated. Also, the timing restriction is what we're trading in favor for Grusilda.
Karador, Ghost Chieftain becomes cheaper to cast the more creatures in your graveyard. However, if you want to reanimate a big creature you gotta actually pay its casting cost and only during your turn and only once. With Grusilda you can reanimate two creatures regardless their casting cost for a constant cost of 3BR. Having to tap her may seem like it's only once a round. However, there are ways around it like Rings of Brighthearth, Illusionist's Bracers, etc.; cards that don't even work with Karador. Also, Karador lacks R which is the best colors for wheeling and filling that graveyard (although he does have B and G for dredging)
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant is one of my favorite reanimators which is why I devoted so much of my time in building her and testing it and even wrote a primer for her (and some of the alternate ways of playing her). While Sidisi is an amazing commander for reanimation (as is The Mimeoplasm and Tasigur the Golden Fang both to a certain extent) she is not the way of reanimation; it's the cards you add to the deck to work around her. Grusilda is the reanimator and you build around her towards her ability. Sidisi on her own doesn't reanimate.
1.3 - What to expect:
Under construction . . . . . . . . . .
How well this deck fares against other EDH archetypes: Graveyard Hate
???? Mid-range
???? Aggro
???? Stax
???? Control
???? Milling
???? Pillow Fort
???? Creature Hate
???? Combo
Sometimes it's good to have a backup plan
* Control:
* Graveyard Hate:
* Mid-range:
* Aggro:
* Stax:
* Milling:
* Pillow Fort:
* Creature Hate:
* Combo:
2 - Deck History:
For the longest time I've been wanting a list of silver-bordered cards to be legal in the cardpool for EDH. Not all of them because some of them are really warping and will only serve to make games not as enjoyable due to rulings, etc. Then Unstable came out and the Rules Committee gave us but a taste of what it would be like if silver-bordered cards were legal. Although only temporary and in the spirit of casualness, many people treated this unbanning like the actual apocalypse of Commander while others celebrated with overflowing joy. It definitely created a schism in the community. Although the news created 6 weeks of silver-bordered goodness, there's no way you could fine tune a deck and then use it in those 6 weeks only to have to dismantle it afterwards. Wanting to build around so many of them I simply opted instead to add some silver-bordered cards to my already existing decks like Fowl Play and Clocknapper to Brago, King Eternal to much success without breaking the game too much; Organ Harvest to Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest which was amazing in two-headed giant and 5-point star; and Gleemax to Daretti, Scrap Savant which was kinda broken, to be honest - but at least it was legal!
I had just recently received internet and power after 107 straight days without electricity post hurricanes Irma and Maria so I wasn't really playing much MtG for the lack of communication or just overall sense of urgency. Priorities was food, gas, etc. I was also finishing my masters that year so it really wasn't in the cards (no pun intended) to try and build around a general I wouldn't be able to play with wherever I wanted. However, every now and again in Cockatrice I'm able to play in casual rooms that have allowed me to use Grimlock, Dinobot Leader and Grusilda since I would mention it ahead of time with the caveat that they'd be the only silver-bordered cards in the deck. Harmless enough, some players had no qualms about it.
My local playgroup was also significantly reduced to only me. But recently 2 more of my buddies resurfaced with more availability to play. Thanks to that I've been playing occasionally more so than usual. They're pretty flexible when it comes to playing so I figured I could at least build Grusilda in real life to play games with them.
2.1 - Current build:
No other silver-bordered cards:
This is the build I've been tinkering with for a while before I asked the fine community here for some help and suggestions. For the moment the deck is very centered around reanimation. It is a bit battlecruiser playing more reactively than proactively since it's answers are in the form of creatures with enter the battlefield triggers. It's safe to say that the deck is definitely midrange with the main source of victory via combat damage or combo. The game winning combo is easy to pull off and a bit degenerative, but more on that later.
Pimpage:
Unfortunately, not all of the cards in my current decklist are presently acquirable as foils.
Average CMC:
3.81 Average Cost (as of 1/02/19): $506.14
Budget Choices:
The most expensive card in the deck is clearly Wheel of Fortune and I'm not even considering Badlands for a deck that isn't even commander legal because of its commander. There are only a handful of cards costing over $20 as well as a handful of cards costing over $10. However, they do add up. Honestly, the deck isn't as expensive as I though it would be. Swapping out Wheel of Fortune for something like Wheel of Fate.
Updates:
I will eventually keep an updated version of this deck online. Every time I update the deck I will try to update it there. This is also a good tool for people to actually see the statistics of the deck (by type, CMC, color, etc.) so it's easier to visualize with the graphs and whatnot. Also, you can see the updated prices on the cards (though I can't guarantee that deckstats.net will always use the cheapest version of the cards (as far as expansion set goes). You'll soon find the deck there.
2.1.2 - Strategy:
The main theme of the deck is clearly reanimator. Grusilda isn't the only reanimator commander around which is why I think she's pretty tame in that aspect. She's also only 2 colors meaning that she's not the best reanimator legend either. What drives me to Grusilda though is her ability to mash two creatures together from any graveyard, essentially making a one-creature combo. In and of itself that's not so amazing unless you have the right combinations of creatures. My first crack at Grusilda went too deep into epic and broken two-creature combos and it wasn't good at all. Lots of times you're not reanimating anything waiting for the combo to hit the graveyard first. Also, sometimes opponents will have great creatures so you have to also have ways of getting them in their graveyards to reanimate them. So I decided to compromise by leaving only certain 2-creature combos in the deck while having other combos that can be assembled with various pieces. Also, there're ways of getting opponents' creatures in their graveyards via wheeling, discarding, or destroying in order to enlarge my selection of choices. I was also running way too many draw spells/effects and looters sacrificing quality for consistency.
Grusilda is a bit high on CMC so the deck runs some mana rocks. She is hefty though at 4 toughness so she can handle most wide damage spells. However, protecting her is vital since this is a commander-dependent deck. Thus there's lots of equipment to protect her as well. There's ways to draw deep into the deck because sometimes you can discard down to maximum handsize which is another way to discard creatures to the graveyard as well as looking for things. If you want to recycle creatures to reassemble other combinations, you can kill your own creatures or sacrifice them for value. The deck does to try balance things out but even as I play it I feel like it can do more. I've played it a couple of times in Cockatrice and have won most of the games, but I know it can do better.
Some key combos I am running that stayed off the chopping block are Goblin Sharpshooter + creature with deathtouch or creature killer = kill any and/or all creatures. There's some other great combos too that work in any combination of creatures. For example, Cinderhaze Wretch works great on its own but you can combo it with Wurmcoil Engine to get a huge stat buff allowing you to get lots of cards discarded for opponents and then get 2 3/3 wurms when the -1/-1 counters pile up. Another great combo is Sidisi, Undead Vizier with creatures like Meteor Golem, Duplicant, Solemn Simulacrum, or Wurmcoil Engine. That's a lot of value for just 3BR. Mashing a creature with a god is a great way to give a key creature indestructible. There's just lots to do that's kinda fun to figure out at you play and go along. One thing I love about the deck is just that, it's versatility. Since you can also take creatures from opponent's graveyards (again, nothing that hasn't been seen before in black- or white-bordered cards) you can pull off a lot of interesting things. So far, the best play I ever made with the deck was reanimating Grusilda with Necrotic Ooze; I mashed her with Hazoret the Fervent. I had an indestructible discard outlet that reanimated all in one - oh and with haste to boot.
Although dependent on the commander, the deck does run some forms of back-up reanimation like Feldon of the Third Path. I am thinking about potentially adding others such as Whisper, Blood Liturgist (which also works as a sacrifice outlet to reset creature combos), Apprentice Necromancer, Doomed Necromancer (although those last two might be too slow), Gravewalker (which could also serve as a mana sink although its ability and casting cost are way overcosted), Phyrexian Delver (which can also serve as a reanimation target itself), etc.
Again, any questions, comments, and suggestions are more than welcome! I'd really like to build this in real life but with a better starting point than what I have now. I want to try and have as much good synergy as possible. Mashing creatures like Rune-Scarred Demon with Gifted Aetherborn or Sire of Insanity with Vampire Nighthawk whenever possible really helped me seal lots of games. Mashing Feldon of the Third Path with Goblin Sharpshooter was also one spectacular mash up that I can recall. Another combination I was considering was Mycosynth Lattice with Unwinding Clock so that I can always have mana available during each turn and also be able to untap and tap utility creatures during each turn (and to also have blockers available) and maybe add Darksteel Forge just to guarantee the indestructibilty. It's just that these cards on their own don't really do much else within the deck except for Darksteel Forge protecting my mana rocks and equipment.
This is still a work in progress but with has been suggested so far I've been able to continuously tweak it for better. I hope to eventually provide a hub for this silver-bordered legendary creature where we can collect as many possible combos for her as well as synergies. I will also do my best to compile as many rulings as possible for interactions and situations she might create. Being silver-bordered means that there aren't many exact rulings dealings with the shenanigans she can do. So I will do my best in terms of a pseudo law researcher to group together and make a compendium addressing any legit rulings for Grusilda. And by legit I mean from MaRo or any updated rules.
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!
I'm gonna use this post to try and compile every possible combo for Grusilda, Monster Masher that could be worth doing. Some of these I've found or have heard of online or elsewhere. Most of them are of my own discovery. I will try and keep as many original combos here as possible. But if anyone has any suggestions then I'll add them, too!
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!
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!
What I like about Hammer of Nazahn is that if I cast it after Grusilda, it can equip itself to her for free.
What have you been tinkering for her? There's just so many ways to have fun with Grusilda but since uncards were only legal for a couple of weeks a little over a year ago I want to try and make the deck tame enough to be able to play it in a casual setting, since I obviously can't go to tournaments or more serious settings with it. So when I refer to "tameness" I mean having an actual deck that works within the realm of possibility for Commander and avoiding any situations that aren't cleared up by Oracle, Maro himself, or any official rules person at WotC.
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!
My wife has kept Grusilda around although she hasn't played her since the Silver Experiment of 2017. I won't share her whole list because effort and also she runs a fair amount of silver-bordered cards, but I will note a few cards that have been super powerful for her that you don't seem to be running:
Hound of Griselbrand: As you've found, Undying and Persist are insanely powerful when you mash 'em onto other creatures. I'll note that my research into MaRo rules manager rulings indicates they don't go infinite, however, as the two halves come back separately (which incidentally makes Persist significantly worse than Undying), but it is nevertheless ridiculous amounts of value. While Hound is obviously much worse than Flayer of the Hatebound, undying is so good that it has been worth it. She doesn't run Puppeteer Clique but I'd strongly consider that too.
Bog Witch: Ramp and stocking the graveyard are hugely important. Witch is no Skirge Familiar but it does work.
Ingot Chewer, Shriekmaw: These cards keep your answer quotient high while rapidly adding critters to your 'yard. They've been great.
Warchief Giant and Banshee of the Dread Choir: Myriad is another ability that has a strange but ludicrously strong interaction with other cards when you do the Monster Mash. Combined with a card with good EtB abilities or a sac outlet and good death triggers you get a lot of value and damage very quickly. You run Blade of Selves, but in Grusilda I'd rather just run myriad creatures straight-up.
Inferno Titan and Combustible Gearhulk: I mention them because they are also gross with Lifelink and/or Deathtouch. And it's gross with Undying/Persist. And with Myriad. Just workhorses for her deck.
Infect is also very, very good with Gru but my wife eschewed it and I think you're right to do so as well.
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Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G) RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B) WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Yeah, I'm already wary of the Flayer of the Hatebound + Murderous Redcap combo since that's an instant win. It's very easy to get both cards in the graveyard. On their own they work great but together is an instant win. And as for what occurs to a combined creature, they don't return separated. In fact, if you do this with creature from different controllers, Maro has suggested to roll dice to determine under which controller does the combined creature go if it returns.
I like Puppeteer Clique since I'm wheeling a lot (I also considered Sepulchral Primordial as well for similar abilities). Ingot Chewer and Shriekmaw are great spot removal that I can evoke for cheap and then reanimate later (with Grusilda or even Feldon) so they're definitely worth considering. There's just so many creatures with enter the battlefield triggers to abuse that it's hard to find which ones to add. A BR deck needs to be balanced between mana, removal, and draw so I don't want to take out too many cards and have the deck lopsided. But I do like Combustible Gearhulk because it can potentially self-mill and Inferno Titan pumps itself up all while sniping creatures (if it acquires deathtouch).
Infect would be brutal here (as was annihilator) which is why I took out a couple of the creatures with it. Myriad is good and the reason why I only have Blade of Selves and not the actual creatures with it is that I don't mash every creature. For example, maybe I hardcasted Wurmcoil Engine because I need a beater (or potential blocker) in that moment. Equipping it with Blade of Selves or Lightning Greaves, etc. gives it menace with Grusilda's other ability. So having a couple of equipment on standby could be handy. I'm still considering them because they'd be nuts with Meteor Golem, Duplicant, etc. But there are other cards I'd really wanna find space for first like Illusionist's Bracers and Vandalblast. Crucible of Worlds would be only due to all the wheeling so that I could recover some lands. But definitely the aforementioned two definitely need a place in the deck.
What changes do you suggest I make? (I'm gonna update the OP in a moment.)
I am going to eventually make an un-version of the deck where silver bordered cards are celebrated. It'll be using a lot of the more epic silver-bordered creatures like Three-Headed Goblin, both sides of B.F.M.(Big Furry Monster), the contraption assembling Garbage Elemental with undying, Some Disassembly Required, among others (that were deemed legal by the Rules Committee).
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!
What I like about Hammer of Nazahn is that if I cast it after Grusilda, it can equip itself to her for free.
What have you been tinkering for her? There's just so many ways to have fun with Grusilda but since uncards were only legal for a couple of weeks a little over a year ago I want to try and make the deck tame enough to be able to play it in a casual setting, since I obviously can't go to tournaments or more serious settings with it. So when I refer to "tameness" I mean having an actual deck that works within the realm of possibility for Commander and avoiding any situations that aren't cleared up by Oracle, Maro himself, or any official rules person at WotC.
I haven't done too much tinkering with her yet. I've got about 10 deck ideas floating around with Grusilda being one of them. I'll get the list finalized and post it later on today.
Another reason I might dismantle the Murderous Redcap + Flayer of the Hatebound mash is because it can also give you infinite mana with Phyrexian Altar and/or Ashnod's Altar similar to Mikaeus, the Unhallowed decks that give undying to creatures with persist. Depending on the pod I might not mash those creatures together. But in a more cutthroat setting I might do it. It's still a good way to close out the game so I guess it would be done depending on the player's style preferences.
With so many different ways to build Grusilda I'm gonna try and design different types of decks around her and post them all in my main post. If it goes well with testing and brewing I might spruce up the OP.
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!
Yeah, I'm already wary of the Flayer of the Hatebound + Murderous Redcap combo since that's an instant win. It's very easy to get both cards in the graveyard. On their own they work great but together is an instant win. And as for what occurs to a combined creature, they don't return separated. In fact, if you do this with creature from different controllers, Maro has suggested to roll dice to determine under which controller does the combined creature go if it returns.
I like Puppeteer Clique since I'm wheeling a lot (I also considered Sepulchral Primordial as well for similar abilities). Ingot Chewer and Shriekmaw are great spot removal that I can evoke for cheap and then reanimate later (with Grusilda or even Feldon) so they're definitely worth considering. There's just so many creatures with enter the battlefield triggers to abuse that it's hard to find which ones to add. A BR deck needs to be balanced between mana, removal, and draw so I don't want to take out too many cards and have the deck lopsided. But I do like Combustible Gearhulk because it can potentially self-mill and Inferno Titan pumps itself up all while sniping creatures (if it acquires deathtouch).
Infect would be brutal here (as was annihilator) which is why I took out a couple of the creatures with it. Myriad is good and the reason why I only have Blade of Selves and not the actual creatures with it is that I don't mash every creature. For example, maybe I hardcasted Wurmcoil Engine because I need a beater (or potential blocker) in that moment. Equipping it with Blade of Selves or Lightning Greaves, etc. gives it menace with Grusilda's other ability. So having a couple of equipment on standby could be handy. I'm still considering them because they'd be nuts with Meteor Golem, Duplicant, etc. But there are other cards I'd really wanna find space for first like Illusionist's Bracers and Vandalblast. Crucible of Worlds would be only due to all the wheeling so that I could recover some lands. But definitely the aforementioned two definitely need a place in the deck.
What changes do you suggest I make? (I'm gonna update the OP in a moment.)
I am going to eventually make an un-version of the deck where silver bordered cards are celebrated. It'll be using a lot of the more epic silver-bordered creatures like Three-Headed Goblin, both sides of B.F.M.(Big Furry Monster), the contraption assembling Garbage Elemental with undying, Some Disassembly Required, among others (that were deemed legal by the Rules Committee).
It seems like you are REALLY heavy on the draw. I count like 20+ draw/loot/wheel effects which feels like total overkill. If I were to rate all the reliable draw/loot/wheel available in rough order of power in this deck...
1. Wheel of Fortune - obviously insane.
2. Faithless Looting - Going 4 cards deep for 2RR is really good, especially in installments. Absolutely essential.
3. Dark Deal - A mini-wheel is good, as it also fills opposing 'yards.
4. Read the Bones - Getting to see 4 cards is really, really powerful.
5-6. Night's Whisper/Sign in Blood - Basically the same at 2 CMC. The best bang for your buck. Grusilda tends to be tight on mana as she is a 5 CMC commander that really wants to be activating her five mana ability every turn, so paying as little as possible for draw is crucial.
7. Reforge the Soul - Wheel is so good that it's worth an extra 1R.
8. Cathartic Reunion - The cost is steep, but this is a great filtering effect at a low mana investment, making it optimal setup.
9. Phyrexian Arena - Not actually in your list, but ought to be - recurring draw every turn is quite powerful.
10. Memory Jar - May be out of your price range, but seems amazing. Basically a slightly better Reforge when used correctly.
11. Magus of the Wheel - fragile but seems worthwhile, since you can recur him.
12. Wretched Confluence - Instant-speed Ambition's Cost with upside for one mana more.
13. Erebos, God of the Dead - Extreme slowness is countered by being a good "mash" target and hosing lifegain decks.
14. Toil // Trouble - An easier to cast Sign that can randomly get a Sudden Impact stapled on - decent.
15. Tormenting Voice - Since this barely puts you up a card, I don't love it. Gotta respect an easy 1R cost though.
16. Necropotence - Obviously very powerful, but also very hard on your manabase.
17. Greed - Can be quite strong but is quite slow. Despite being faster, I'd consider it just worse than running Erebos in this deck.
18. Underworld Connections - Phyrexian Arena that effectively costs 1 to activate (but can be turned off) is still good, but inferior to the original.
19. Incendiary Command - A very slow Dark Deal makes up for its cost with its flexibility. I typically find this card is too weak for its cost though.
20. Deal Broker/Mad Prophet - It's a tie - Deal Broker's lower colorless CMC is nice, but Prophet's immediacy has value. These creatures are generally quite weak though.
You can also assume I have no love of anything I didn't mention and think they should just get cut - Rummaging Goblin, Painful Lesson, Wild Guess, Live Fast, and Succumb to Temptation are all just worse than most things you can run instead, with Wild Guess being the closest to playable just because I'd found mana tends to be quite constrained for Grusilda.
Plus whatever two cards tickle you. If you can't afford some of those additions, and also don't want to go about obtaining Greed, Necropotence, or Underworld Connections you can consider keeping around some combination of Command, Broker, Tormenting Voice, and Mad Prophet.
Another silver-bordered "combo" to add is from the FAQ: if Grusilda combines two hosts (say Common Iguana and Bumbling Pangolin) and then augments them, you get to trigger both effects. It's been fun in my wife's build.
It seems like you are REALLY heavy on the draw. I count like 20+ draw/loot/wheel effects which feels like total overkill. If I were to rate all the reliable draw/loot/wheel available in rough order of power in this deck...
1. Wheel of Fortune - obviously insane.
2. Faithless Looting - Going 4 cards deep for 2RR is really good, especially in installments. Absolutely essential.
3. Dark Deal - A mini-wheel is good, as it also fills opposing 'yards.
4. Read the Bones - Getting to see 4 cards is really, really powerful.
5-6. Night's Whisper/Sign in Blood - Basically the same at 2 CMC. The best bang for your buck. Grusilda tends to be tight on mana as she is a 5 CMC commander that really wants to be activating her five mana ability every turn, so paying as little as possible for draw is crucial.
7. Reforge the Soul - Wheel is so good that it's worth an extra 1R.
8. Cathartic Reunion - The cost is steep, but this is a great filtering effect at a low mana investment, making it optimal setup.
9. Phyrexian Arena - Not actually in your list, but ought to be - recurring draw every turn is quite powerful.
10. Memory Jar - May be out of your price range, but seems amazing. Basically a slightly better Reforge when used correctly.
11. Magus of the Wheel - fragile but seems worthwhile, since you can recur him.
12. Wretched Confluence - Instant-speed Ambition's Cost with upside for one mana more.
13. Erebos, God of the Dead - Extreme slowness is countered by being a good "mash" target and hosing lifegain decks.
14. Toil // Trouble - An easier to cast Sign that can randomly get a Sudden Impact stapled on - decent.
15. Tormenting Voice - Since this barely puts you up a card, I don't love it. Gotta respect an easy 1R cost though.
16. Necropotence - Obviously very powerful, but also very hard on your manabase.
17. Greed - Can be quite strong but is quite slow. Despite being faster, I'd consider it just worse than running Erebos in this deck.
18. Underworld Connections - Phyrexian Arena that effectively costs 1 to activate (but can be turned off) is still good, but inferior to the original.
19. Incendiary Command - A very slow Dark Deal makes up for its cost with its flexibility. I typically find this card is too weak for its cost though.
20. Deal Broker/Mad Prophet - It's a tie - Deal Broker's lower colorless CMC is nice, but Prophet's immediacy has value. These creatures are generally quite weak though.
You can also assume I have no love of anything I didn't mention and think they should just get cut - Rummaging Goblin, Painful Lesson, Wild Guess, Live Fast, and Succumb to Temptation are all just worse than most things you can run instead, with Wild Guess being the closest to playable just because I'd found mana tends to be quite constrained for Grusilda.
Plus whatever two cards tickle you. If you can't afford some of those additions, and also don't want to go about obtaining Greed, Necropotence, or Underworld Connections you can consider keeping around some combination of Command, Broker, Tormenting Voice, and Mad Prophet.
Another silver-bordered "combo" to add is from the FAQ: if Grusilda combines two hosts (say Common Iguana and Bumbling Pangolin) and then augments them, you get to trigger both effects. It's been fun in my wife's build.
Thanks for the in-depth analysis of the core shell of my build. I did go a bit crazy with the draw options but you opened my eyes to lots of cards that totally went over my head (like Doom Whisperer, which would be amazing here). The only card I would be extremely worried about would be Necropotence and it's not because of its BBB casting cost; it's because it exiles any card I exile, essentially shutting off any of my wheels or discard outlets. I do like your other suggestions for swaps though, although they will undoubtedly increase the average CMC of the deck.
What I like about Solemn Simulacrum is that it can go crazy in the right mashup. For example, with Sidisi, Undead Vizier I can exploit itself essentially giving me a tutored card, a drawn card, and a ramped basic. Giving it myriad would also be great. Another good mashup with it would be with Pack Rat.
Memory Jar is a card I already have because I'm trying to complete the Kydele + Vial Smasher deck in my sig. It is a bit pricey though since being put on the Reserved List (don't know why since it was reprint in 2010 in From the Vault: Relics. Phyrexian Arena is good in that although slow, it's still better overall value than so many "draw 2 lose 2" sorceries I have. So I could definitely slot it in. Combustible Gearhulk is great on its own but combined with myriad or other ways of consistently recurring it will definitely give me value. Especially since the deck wants cards either in hand or in graveyard. So that'll be great.
Adding silver-bordered cards would be great and I could possibly run a version that includes them for the more "casual" crowd since I could just give a disclaimer that the deck includes some silver-bordered cards. But in other pods maybe showing the commander and just asking permission for that one would be okay. There are a couple of silver-bordered cards I'd love to play here. Since the deck is reanimator and has a graveyard full of creatures, cards like Over My Dead Bodies becomes epic. Running more creatures with multiple keywords makes Some Disassembly Required epic as well as not only a sac outlet but a way to give some abilities to creatures until end of turn. Giving a saboteur triple strike thanks to Three-Headed Goblin would be amazing. I could also run both halves of Big Furry Monster just for the fun of it. And, above all, as you mentioned multiple times, abusing host/augment. Having a mashup between something like Angelic Rocket + Three-Headed Goblin and then augment Ninja on it would be crazy; you'd basically blow up 3 nonland permanents. A mashup between a creature with augment and a host creature won't remove the host type. So you could potentially augment that mashup giving two different triggers for the same ability. It just opens up tons of crazy interactions which is what the spirit of EDH is about. Adding more silver-bordered cards would also allow me to play with contraptions.
Thanks to your suggestions I'll probably make the following changes:
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I"m gonna try and compile a list of all pertinent rulings for Grusilda. I would also like anyone who has twitter to see if they can find answers for some of the situations that haven't been clarified yet. If I ever build more upon this thread, I will add this compilation to the main post.
A host creature with an augment card attached to it is a combined creature. Also, the unholy abominations that Grusilda herself creates are combined creatures. You know what? Let's throw in melded creatures too.
Say you combine two creatures that each have an ability defining its power and toughness. What happens?
If that happens, figure out the result of each ability, then add them together. So a combined Maro and Knight of the Widget would have power and toughness each equal to the number of cards in your hand plus the number of Order of the Widget watermarks among permanents you control.
Can I use Grusilda's ability to put a host creature and a creature with augment onto the battlefield combined?
Yes, you can.
Can Grusilda combine an augment creature with a non-host creature?
She can, but it's probably not a great idea. The resulting creature will have augment and it won't be attached to a host. This will cause the creature (meaning both cards that comprise it) to go to the graveyard.
Say I use Grusilda to combine two host creatures. Can I attach an augment creature to the resulting combined creature?
Yeah, that sounds fun.
Taken from twitter:
If you combine two host creatures with Grusilda, you can only augment to one host creature. (link)
Basically, if you combine two hosts and then want to augment, you could only do it to one, thus losing the triggered ability of the unaugmented host.
*I've yet to find an answer on whether you could then augment to the other host and, if so, would you have a combined creature of two pairs of augment/host creatures.
It'd be great if someone can hit up MaRo on twitter and ask him that.
A combined creature that has both undying and persist will return to the battlefield combined if it dies. (link)
Although some cards in Unstable reference other games, Grusilda can only mash from graveyards in your current game. (link)
Augmenting a host doesn't count as a creature entering the battlefield. (link)
If you control a combined creature with different owners and a spell, ability, or effect were to return creatures to their owners' control, a challenge ensues to see who gets control; the creatures aren't separated. (link)
There are still some situations where I can't find an answer for (besides the combined host/augment pairs I mentioned earlier). These being:
What happens when you combine flip creatures? Do they both flip and stay combined? Does only one flip yet stay combined with the one that wouldn't've flipped? If you combine a flip creature with one that doesn't flip, does it flip and still stay attached to the combined creature?
What happens when you combine double-faced creatures? Do they both transform if one of them transforms? Does only one transform yet stayed combined with the other one that doesn't? What if the one transforming transforms into something that isn't a creature? What heppens then?
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!
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!
What I like about Hammer of Nazahn is that if I cast it after Grusilda, it can equip itself to her for free.
What have you been tinkering for her? There's just so many ways to have fun with Grusilda but since uncards were only legal for a couple of weeks a little over a year ago I want to try and make the deck tame enough to be able to play it in a casual setting, since I obviously can't go to tournaments or more serious settings with it. So when I refer to "tameness" I mean having an actual deck that works within the realm of possibility for Commander and avoiding any situations that aren't cleared up by Oracle, Maro himself, or any official rules person at WotC.
Here's my finalized deck list, probably still needs more work.
Here's the mash ups I've jotted down so far, I'll come back and edit/format this later on today.
Torment Soul + Master of Cruelties = Someones life total becomes 1 due to unblockable
Pili-Pala + Kozilek's Channeler = Infinite colorless mana (dump into Exsanguinate or Torment of Hailfire)
Goblin Sharpshooter + Harvester of Souls = Machine gun all creatures on the table and draw cards to boot
Myriad Creatures + Any of the Titans or Gray Merchant of Asphodel or Primordials or Gearhulks = lots of crazy ETBs
Phage the Untouchable + Platinum Angel = 1 shot someone and you can't lose.
Heartless hidetsugu + rakdos ragemutt = get rekt'd scrub
murderous redcap + malignus = get rekt'd scrub
Blackcleave golbin +
Tree of Perdition + Cinderhaze Witch = set life totals to 1 and discard lots of cards
Marionette Master + Devouring Strossus = Sac artifact tokens to Devouring Strossus and everyone loses 30 life.
Goblin Chainwhirler + Deathtoucher = kill all opponents creatures
Infect creature + Myriad creature = infect for everyone
Skrithiryx + Scourge of the Throne = Extra attach to take out someone with the highest life total
Emrakul, the Promised End + Avatar of Slaughter = 21/21 double strike, trample, protection from instants.
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
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!
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
I haven't had a chance to test the build in paper yet, maybe this weekend.
I'm sure it will need some tweaking but time will tell how it works.
I will likely change Tormented Soul for Nether Traitor.
Have been building and tuning Grusilda for a while now. There's honestly a few things I think people are overlooking, and this seems to be the right place to share my thoughts and experiences. Forgive me cos I'm on phone and rambling haha, will post my list when possible.
Firstly, a few all-stars, including some I didn't see mentioned (again, forgive me, am on phone). Grusilda is the only silver border card I use.
Primordial steals games.
Reverberate steals games. Diabolic Servitude is awesome with Persist/Undying.
Dark Dwellers generally for Wheel, Chaos Warp, tutor. Ferver imo over Hammer because enchant, but you do you.
I main Sire but its use depends on the table power level. Conversely I don't use Keldon Firebombers or Barbed Shocker type tech.
I designed and play like a MonoB deck splashing red, tutors and heavy artifact ramp. I want every card to be realistically relevant outside of Grusilda; if youre not setting up grave/artifacts or filtering, being reactive, you can simply tap out for a 6 drop and be happy with the value. No over-abundance of eldrazi or demons. It's a touch easier to play into board wipes with this general/colors but Grusilda activations can be few and far between. You want value from combining but without handcuffing yourself directly to your general's ability. Cards like It that Betrays and Vampire Nighthawk felt redundant to me given our other options, especially for combining, let alone individually hardcasting. I feel, again, you need to assess the table and determine how ruthless you decide to be during early game setup, before you reach that Grusilda activation point (and if you have choices). I run less equipment and SiB effects than most so am always looking for extra value in things like, disrupting someone's top-of-deck tutor whilst using Life's Finale, or playing into Homeward Path(s) with combined creatures for distracted opponents to fight over.
Buried Alive and Grusilda activation gives Flayer+Redcap win, alternate binned targets depend on the mood of the game and how wacky it can become imo. It's usually better to keep it simple than look for overwhelming optimal play, but again that depends on your group/table and time limitations. Always keep that in mind.
Outside of FlayerCap, usually I consider Anger, Dark Dwellers, Etched Champ as the 'utility pick' of Buried Alives' 3 creatures, with the other two being a fatty like Etali, Primordial or a Dragon, and maybe a combo piece; say, a Redcap/Delver to kill Anger or bouncing graveyard shenanigans from Living End; a keyword creature like Doom Whisperer, Puppeteer Clique, or Sidisi; or Recruiter (into Kiki into Dire Fleet Daredevil/ Feldon etc for a tied down game).
Etched Champion is a real gem of a card, and its true value comes from combining it with opponents utility like a seedborne muse or clone (I don't use Skittles), or something gamechanging ranging from Etali and Angels, Sphinxes and big Legends, to Sire or Avenger of Zendikar/Eldrazi.
I've found Phyrexian Delver uncombined is best used as sac food or Victimise value, the extra creature can mean a lot for Razaketh/Sidisi/Altar etc. There's simple synergy with Delver and Feldon/Primordial but unlike feldon it can't be grabbed by Recruiter, if you run him.
Bog Witch is a card some people like. It can be hit or miss as a 1/1 but can also win games with its simple value. For now, I've cut Bog Witch and Bloodghast because not using Skullclamp (using Kiki Recruiter instead, under Sire). Outside of potential Clamp abuse, Delver is somewhat fulfilling Bloodghast's function as sac fodder.
- Side note, imo Reassembling Skeleton is 90% the 'better' (stable) choice over Bloodghast if you also have both Skullclamp and Contamination sleeved.
Have been building and tuning Grusilda for a while now. There's honestly a few things I think people are overlooking, and this seems to be the right place to share my thoughts and experiences. Forgive me cos I'm on phone and rambling haha, will post my list when possible.
Thanks! I'm glad this thread is helpful to you. I would like it to be a hub for fellow Grusilda players. And, if I get enough games in with it and have a better grasp at using her, I'll try and format my original post in primer fashion.
Primordial steals games.
Reverberate steals games. Diabolic Servitude is awesome with Persist/Undying.
Dark Dwellers generally for Wheel, Chaos Warp, tutor. Ferver imo over Hammer because enchant, but you do you.
I main Sire but its use depends on the table power level. Conversely I don't use Keldon Firebombers or Barbed Shocker type tech.
From those cards you mentioned I already run Sire of Insanity, Anger, Vandalblast, and Doom Whisperer. I do agree on assessing the table power level which is why I haven't eliminated the FlayerCap combo. If things get too real then I combine them for the win.
I had Living Death originally in my list but when I started adding more wheel/discard effects I took it out because then I'd also be giving opponents access to reanimation. Sepulchral Primordial is a great card and it can steal a creature for each opponent from his/her graveyard - especially since I'm wheeling so much. The only reason I'm not running it is because I don't want to rely too heavily on what opponents are playing in their decks; I want to be as independent of them as possible. That being said, I'm not above combining creatures from opponent's graveyards if they have a great creature in there.
I prefer Anarchist over Goblin Dark Dwellers because I get immediate value for any sorcery in my graveyard. Sure, I still have to cast the spell, but hardcasting it is the same mana cost as using Grusilda's ability if it's in the graveyard. And I'm able to recover a spell like Vandablast (and cast it for overload) or All Is Dust. That being said, Goblin Dark Dwellers is a great card to run because equipping them with Blade of Selves with a couple of wheels in the graveyard can get pretty crazy. Save for All Is Dust, Reforge the Soul, and Toil // Trouble all my sorceries can be cheated from the graveyard with it.
I designed and play like a MonoB deck splashing red, tutors and heavy artifact ramp. I want every card to be realistically relevant outside of Grusilda; if youre not setting up grave/artifacts or filtering, being reactive, you can simply tap out for a 6 drop and be happy with the value. No over-abundance of eldrazi or demons. It's a touch easier to play into board wipes with this general/colors but Grusilda activations can be few and far between. You want value from combining but without handcuffing yourself directly to your general's ability. Cards like It that Betrays and Vampire Nighthawk felt redundant to me given our other options, especially for combining, let alone individually hardcasting. I feel, again, you need to assess the table and determine how ruthless you decide to be during early game setup, before you reach that Grusilda activation point (and if you have choices). I run less equipment and SiB effects than most so am always looking for extra value in things like, disrupting someone's top-of-deck tutor whilst using Life's Finale, or playing into Homeward Path(s) with combined creatures for distracted opponents to fight over.
I have considered my creatures to be hardcasted at some point. Some are pretty heavy but I could still use them summoned and uncombined if need be. However, some are still gonna be included just to be used with Grusilda because that is the point of having her. This deck is hugely dependent on Grusilda but it's not entirely inoperable without her.
I like It That Betrays because although huge, it's clearly not meant to be hardcasted. If something were to face the chopping block, it'd probably be it. If I end up adding more cards like Keldon Firebombers then I'll keep it. Either way, combining It That Betrays with an artifact creature at the end of a turn before mine and then casting All Is Dust during that following turn is in fact very glorious.
Buried Alive and Grusilda activation gives Flayer+Redcap win, alternate binned targets depend on the mood of the game and how wacky it can become imo. It's usually better to keep it simple than look for overwhelming optimal play, but again that depends on your group/table and time limitations. Always keep that in mind.
Outside of FlayerCap, usually I consider Anger, Dark Dwellers, Etched Champ as the 'utility pick' of Buried Alives' 3 creatures, with the other two being a fatty like Etali, Primordial or a Dragon, and maybe a combo piece; say, a Redcap/Delver to kill Anger or bouncing graveyard shenanigans from Living End; a keyword creature like Doom Whisperer, Puppeteer Clique, or Sidisi; or Recruiter (into Kiki into Dire Fleet Daredevil/ Feldon etc for a tied down game).
Etched Champion is a real gem of a card, and its true value comes from combining it with opponents utility like a seedborne muse or clone (I don't use Skittles), or something gamechanging ranging from Etali and Angels, Sphinxes and big Legends, to Sire or Avenger of Zendikar/Eldrazi.
I also want to avoid Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and any other sources of infect (although it's still a slower method of winning when compared to running the FlayerCap combination). Also, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to avoid centering my strategies on what I can steal from opponents' graveyards. If I can, great. If not, then I'll center on my own.
I've found Phyrexian Delver uncombined is best used as sac food or Victimise value, the extra creature can mean a lot for Razaketh/Sidisi/Altar etc. There's simple synergy with Delver and Feldon/Primordial but unlike feldon it can't be grabbed by Recruiter, if you run him.
Bog Witch is a card some people like. It can be hit or miss as a 1/1 but can also win games with its simple value. For now, I've cut Bog Witch and Bloodghast because not using Skullclamp (using Kiki Recruiter instead, under Sire). Outside of potential Clamp abuse, Delver is somewhat fulfilling Bloodghast's function as sac fodder.
- Side note, imo Reassembling Skeleton is 90% the 'better' (stable) choice over Bloodghast if you also have both Skullclamp and Contamination sleeved.
It'd be good to add some control elements to the deck but for the moment, as long as no one's exiling anything from my graveyard, I'm set. Only being in BR means that although it can be a great reanimator, there's still the threat of dealing with card like Rest in Peace, Bojuka Bog, etc. There few and far between cards that can deal with having your graveyard be exiled.
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!
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
I goldfished the deck a bit last night.
While it is certainly fun, it is also certainly slow but what do you expect 4.46 CMC (most of my decks are sub 3.5 CMC). I'll hold off any changes on till I play test the deck in an actual game. However I've made these observations:
- Dredge probably isn't great here without a discard outlet (if stuck in my hand). I may replace them with wheels instead.
- Altar of Dementia would be great to mill myself.
- I need more ways to fill the graveyard if I'm going to stay heavy on the creatures.
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
I goldfished the deck a bit last night.
While it is certainly fun, it is also certainly slow but what do you expect 4.46 CMC (most of my decks are sub 3.5 CMC). I'll hold off any changes on till I play test the deck in an actual game. However I've made these observations:
- Dredge probably isn't great here without a discard outlet (if stuck in my hand). I may replace them with wheels instead.
- Altar of Dementia would be great to mill myself.
- I need more ways to fill the graveyard if I'm going to stay heavy on the creatures.
I think a good happy medium is to run low-costed creatures with a couple of useful keywords in case you have to cast them. For instance, I run Vampire Nighthawk which is a great deterrent against attack due to its flying and deathtouch while also giving three very useful keywords to a combined creature. Also, lots of my utility creatures such as Feldon of the Third Path, Magus of the Wheel, Pack Rat, Hazoret the Fervent, Erebos, God of the Dead, Necrotic Ooze, and Solemn Simulacrum are relatively low-costed. The mana rocks, draw spells, and wheels are also relatively cheap in order to cast. I'm not usually doing nothing while playing the deck because although the average CMC count is high due to the creatures, it's only because most of them are there for reanimation. But there are spells being cast during my turn that either help me dig through the deck or help set up future plays. It might seem like we're a target for stompy decks to attack due to the lack of blockers and creatures in play in general, but I don't mind using utility creatures to chump block because I can always just reanimate them later with Grusilda. I've even been able to chump block with Grusilda and then combine her later with Necrotic Ooze copying her own ability, making an even better Grusilda in the end.
Yeah, I figured that dredge wouldn't be the best way to go about filling the yard. That's why I use lots of wheels and straight up discard effects to fill the yard (as well as necro-tutoring). I've found that the best way to fill the graveyard is wheeling and discarding since I don't want to just mill. I fear milling because BR aren't the best colors to recover cards from the graveyard. Artifacts and creatures, sure, but instants, sorceries, enchantments, lands, etc. not really. So I don't want to need a Vandalblast to then have it milled. Because then I need to wait to get Anarchist to recover it.
Goldfishing has made me confident enough to play the deck a bit. So far I've played it in casual rooms in Cockatrice to much success. I've played it in triple threat matches. A couple I can remember is playing it against Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and General Tazri ally tribal; Experiment Kraj and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.
The first one I remember, Tazri was obviously always building up a great boardstate. Since I'm reanimator and Mazirek was stax, we pretty much had to team up against Tazri's ally horde. I was then able to beat Mazirek with the Cinderhaze Wretch / Tree of Perdition combo. After getting Mazirek at 1 life, I cast Goblin Chainwhirler and won the match.
The Experiment Kraj game was crazy. Prossh wasn't a competitive cutthroat build; it was more Jund goodstuff with synergy pertaining to Prossh and tokens hijinxes. Threat assessment was difficult because Experiment Kraj could copy Grusilda's ability so I had to be careful of timing in order to not lose my reanimation targets in response to Kraj doing it. I had to also be careful of what to reanimate in order to not have Kraj also abuse the ability. Prossh is also nothing to scoff at. I had to wait until being able to give Grusilda shroud or hexproof before Kraj player would have the opportunity to put a +1/+1 counter on her. Luckily Kraj tapped to copy one of Prossh's creatures midgame so I was able to cast Grusilda and equip her with Lightning Greaves in the same turn. However, I still had to be careful about assembling a combo like Cinderhaze Wretch + Tree of Perdition. Fortunately, Kraj wasn't working with its own graveyard so I was able to at least use my Necrotic Ooze and Feldon so that Kraj wouldn't have too much advantage from their activated abilities. Prossh was wary of attacking me because I had a Vampire Nighthawk in the graveyard. The game was at an impasse most of the time with people building their boardstate and waiting to topdeck a key piece to break it. Kraj played a Cyclonic Rift at the end of the turn before it's own. Kraj decided to one-shot us one at a time after that and Prossh was the first target. In response, Prossh cast Sudden Spoiling (which was being saved for me but had to be used against Kraj). Only damage was given by +1/+1 counters and the creatures had no abilities. With everything tapped out, Kraj passed turn. Prossh cast it from hand as well as Fires of Yamivaya. It attacked Kraj, sacrificed all kobolds, then sacrificed Fires and it was enough to take out Kraj. On my turn I needed something to be able to block Prossh. So I cast Feldon and Lightning Greaves and had to leave mana open to use its ability. Prossh needed a trample enabler but didn't get it by the time I was able to cast Grusilda and use the Murderous Redcap / Flayer of the Hatebound combo. In this case I went with this method since the game had gone on long enough and I couldn't risk waiting for Prossh to get trample. Prossh understood and it was GG.
So far I have been able to fly low enough on the radar to not be a target the moment the games begin. I become a target once the graveyard starts getting interesting. Curiously enough, people are more wary of my own graveyard and not theirs. I was lucky in the Kraj & Prossh game because we were all waiting to topdeck answers. I don't feel like Prossh made a poor threat assessment of Kraj considering Kraj attacked him first and had a full board while I was empty as Prossh was. I was just lucky enough to have my graveyard intact the entirety of the match. Granted, having Prossh die continuously to Vampire Nighthawk would've been helpful in getting more kobolds out, but Prossh would've kept costing way more; and, without trample, my 2R vhawk token would always cost the same. I was drawing and wheeling frequently but knowing Kraj could copy any game-ending mashup creature, I had to be careful what to animate. My beaters could be dealt with by both opponents. So far, I've had success but I still need to play more with the deck to see what matchups are the poorest against it.
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!
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
I goldfished the deck a bit last night.
While it is certainly fun, it is also certainly slow but what do you expect 4.46 CMC (most of my decks are sub 3.5 CMC). I'll hold off any changes on till I play test the deck in an actual game. However I've made these observations:
- Dredge probably isn't great here without a discard outlet (if stuck in my hand). I may replace them with wheels instead.
- Altar of Dementia would be great to mill myself.
- I need more ways to fill the graveyard if I'm going to stay heavy on the creatures.
I think a good happy medium is to run low-costed creatures with a couple of useful keywords in case you have to cast them. For instance, I run Vampire Nighthawk which is a great deterrent against attack due to its flying and deathtouch while also giving three very useful keywords to a combined creature. Also, lots of my utility creatures such as Feldon of the Third Path, Magus of the Wheel, Pack Rat, Hazoret the Fervent, Erebos, God of the Dead, Necrotic Ooze, and Solemn Simulacrum are relatively low-costed. The mana rocks, draw spells, and wheels are also relatively cheap in order to cast. I'm not usually doing nothing while playing the deck because although the average CMC count is high due to the creatures, it's only because most of them are there for reanimation. But there are spells being cast during my turn that either help me dig through the deck or help set up future plays. It might seem like we're a target for stompy decks to attack due to the lack of blockers and creatures in play in general, but I don't mind using utility creatures to chump block because I can always just reanimate them later with Grusilda. I've even been able to chump block with Grusilda and then combine her later with Necrotic Ooze copying her own ability, making an even better Grusilda in the end.
Yeah, I figured that dredge wouldn't be the best way to go about filling the yard. That's why I use lots of wheels and straight up discard effects to fill the yard (as well as necro-tutoring). I've found that the best way to fill the graveyard is wheeling and discarding since I don't want to just mill. I fear milling because BR aren't the best colors to recover cards from the graveyard. Artifacts and creatures, sure, but instants, sorceries, enchantments, lands, etc. not really. So I don't want to need a Vandalblast to then have it milled. Because then I need to wait to get Anarchist to recover it.
Goldfishing has made me confident enough to play the deck a bit. So far I've played it in casual rooms in Cockatrice to much success. I've played it in triple threat matches. A couple I can remember is playing it against Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and General Tazri ally tribal; Experiment Kraj and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.
The first one I remember, Tazri was obviously always building up a great boardstate. Since I'm reanimator and Mazirek was stax, we pretty much had to team up against Tazri's ally horde. I was then able to beat Mazirek with the Cinderhaze Wretch / Tree of Perdition combo. After getting Mazirek at 1 life, I cast Goblin Chainwhirler and won the match.
The Experiment Kraj game was crazy. Prossh wasn't a competitive cutthroat build; it was more Jund goodstuff with synergy pertaining to Prossh and tokens hijinxes. Threat assessment was difficult because Experiment Kraj could copy Grusilda's ability so I had to be careful of timing in order to not lose my reanimation targets in response to Kraj doing it. I had to also be careful of what to reanimate in order to not have Kraj also abuse the ability. Prossh is also nothing to scoff at. I had to wait until being able to give Grusilda shroud or hexproof before Kraj player would have the opportunity to put a +1/+1 counter on her. Luckily Kraj tapped to copy one of Prossh's creatures midgame so I was able to cast Grusilda and equip her with Lightning Greaves in the same turn. However, I still had to be careful about assembling a combo like Cinderhaze Wretch + Tree of Perdition. Fortunately, Kraj wasn't working with its own graveyard so I was able to at least use my Necrotic Ooze and Feldon so that Kraj wouldn't have too much advantage from their activated abilities. Prossh was wary of attacking me because I had a Vampire Nighthawk in the graveyard. The game was at an impasse most of the time with people building their boardstate and waiting to topdeck a key piece to break it. Kraj played a Cyclonic Rift at the end of the turn before it's own. Kraj decided to one-shot us one at a time after that and Prossh was the first target. In response, Prossh cast Sudden Spoiling (which was being saved for me but had to be used against Kraj). Only damage was given by +1/+1 counters and the creatures had no abilities. With everything tapped out, Kraj passed turn. Prossh cast it from hand as well as Fires of Yamivaya. It attacked Kraj, sacrificed all kobolds, then sacrificed Fires and it was enough to take out Kraj. On my turn I needed something to be able to block Prossh. So I cast Feldon and Lightning Greaves and had to leave mana open to use its ability. Prossh needed a trample enabler but didn't get it by the time I was able to cast Grusilda and use the Murderous Redcap / Flayer of the Hatebound combo. In this case I went with this method since the game had gone on long enough and I couldn't risk waiting for Prossh to get trample. Prossh understood and it was GG.
So far I have been able to fly low enough on the radar to not be a target the moment the games begin. I become a target once the graveyard starts getting interesting. Curiously enough, people are more wary of my own graveyard and not theirs. I was lucky in the Kraj & Prossh game because we were all waiting to topdeck answers. I don't feel like Prossh made a poor threat assessment of Kraj considering Kraj attacked him first and had a full board while I was empty as Prossh was. I was just lucky enough to have my graveyard intact the entirety of the match. Granted, having Prossh die continuously to Vampire Nighthawk would've been helpful in getting more kobolds out, but Prossh would've kept costing way more; and, without trample, my 2R vhawk token would always cost the same. I was drawing and wheeling frequently but knowing Kraj could copy any game-ending mashup creature, I had to be careful what to animate. My beaters could be dealt with by both opponents. So far, I've had success but I still need to play more with the deck to see what matchups are the poorest against it.
Sounds like some fun matches.
I'll hold off on any changes until I play it in paper tomorrow but it will see some and I'll likely trim some of the creature combos.
I wish I had time to play on line but with 3 kids (2 only 4 months old), work and life in general I've got very little free time lol.
Sounds like some fun matches.
I'll hold off on any changes until I play it in paper tomorrow but it will see some and I'll likely trim some of the creature combos.
I wish I had time to play on line but with 3 kids (2 only 4 months old), work and life in general I've got very little free time lol.
Lol, I hear ya. Only had time to play as much as I did because I was on vacation. Don't have any kids but between work and my masters I have few and far between minutes of free time.
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Finally got to sit down with the deck last night and play 3-5 games, I cannot really remember and I was up to 3AM so...
The deck is certainly neat, the play group loved it. I only 1 game out of those and that was thanks to a couple activations of Heartless Hidetsugu + Rakdos Ragemutt to gain a ton of life plus Gray getting hard cast pull combining Flayer of the Hatebound with something to kill one player (I forget how I killed the player before him). Down to me and my buddy playing a Silver deck. All his Silvers had protection from black and Silver Legion was on the field. I killed Legion with something, he swung and got me down to 35 life from 62 and then I swung out at him to seal the deal. He thought the Silver gave him protection from black too!
All in all some fun games but the deck needs tweaking. Here's how it sits:
That creature list is crazy! You really aren't holding back any punches, are you?
I really like how my own list is turning out. I would like to be able to test it some more first. Heartless Hidetsugu + a creature with lifelink is definitely a combo I want to try since I'm very susceptible to get beat on while assembling my board state.
There are also a couple of cards from Ravnica Allegiance that interest me for this deck as well: Dagger Caster works similar to Goblin Chainwhirler (although it doesn't ping 'walkers and doesn't have first strike) and it might lower the cost of the deck because I doubt it'll be as expensive. Rix Maadi Reveler is pretty much a Dangerous Wager on a body (but you'd need to cast it for its spectacle cost and not reanimate it to have that effect). Hackrobat has deathtouch and flowstone. Rakdos, the Showstopper has trample and flying while also having a great ETB effect. Sure, it's 50/50 and might still hit our creatures, but indestructible creatures are safe.
Out of those three, Rakdos 3.0 is definitely the one that interests me the most. Relevant keywords and a useful ETB ability. However, when it comes to killing creatures upon entering the battlefield, nothing's better than a deathtouch Goblin Chainwhirler mashup.
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That creature list is crazy! You really aren't holding back any punches, are you?
I really like how my own list is turning out. I would like to be able to test it some more first. Heartless Hidetsugu + a creature with lifelink is definitely a combo I want to try since I'm very susceptible to get beat on while assembling my board state.
There are also a couple of cards from Ravnica Allegiance that interest me for this deck as well: Dagger Caster works similar to Goblin Chainwhirler (although it doesn't ping 'walkers and doesn't have first strike) and it might lower the cost of the deck because I doubt it'll be as expensive. Rix Maadi Reveler is pretty much a Dangerous Wager on a body (but you'd need to cast it for its spectacle cost and not reanimate it to have that effect). Hackrobat has deathtouch and flowstone. Rakdos, the Showstopper has trample and flying while also having a great ETB effect. Sure, it's 50/50 and might still hit our creatures, but indestructible creatures are safe.
Out of those three, Rakdos 3.0 is definitely the one that interests me the most. Relevant keywords and a useful ETB ability. However, when it comes to killing creatures upon entering the battlefield, nothing's better than a deathtouch Goblin Chainwhirler mashup.
I went all in on this version but it may be too much - I've got to decide what to keep and what to ditch, as I noted above some are gone already. The huge issue is getting stuff in the yard for me right now.
Rix Maadi Reveler looks decent but I'm not sure on the rest.
You're spot on about Goblin Chainwhirler and a deathtouch creature, that mowed down a threatening board last night.
"She did the mash! She did the monster mash!"
1 - Why play this commander?
"It was a graveyard smash!”
I know that the great majority of silver-bordered cards were legal only from 12/1/2017-1/15/2018 but that didn't stop me from wanting to build around the new legends from Unstable as well as other Commander players abound. Although no longer legal, you might still be lucky enough to find yourself in a playgroup that will at least allow you to play with a deck where Grusilda, Monster Masher if your commander if it's the only silver-bordered card in it. I'm already walking on eggshells and walking a thin line already as it is; so for the moment I'm under the assumption that only Grusilda will be allowable at your table. If not, then that's fine, respect the rules and legal cardpool and pull out another deck. If you are within a pod that allows silver-bordered cards, at least be cool about it and stick to the original banned list found here.
Although Grusilda has a hefty text box with many abilities, her allure comes mainly from the following ability: "3BR, T: Put two target creature cards from graveyards onto the battlefield combined into one creature under your control. (Its power is equal to their total power, its toughness is equal to their total toughness, and it has their names, mana costs, types, text boxes, etc.)" I'm sorry, what!? That's crazy, right? The amount of interactions this brings is ridiculous. To the point where I will do my very best to go through most of them in this post. If that weren't enough, she can mash creatures from other players' graveyards (this may create some odd situations which I will clarify in a compiled rules section for Grusilda later on). Not only that, but her first ability is crazy, too: "Combined, enchanted, and equipped creatures you control have menace." That means that whatever monstrosity you manage to mash will also have some form of evasion.
In order to clarify just what Grusilda considers to be a "combined" creature, these are melded creatures, creatures she has mashed with ability, and host creatures that have been augmented. This creates a grey area and leads to some very foggy and difficult to judge interactions but, wherever possible, I will try and clarify them with rulings straight from the madman himself, Mark Rosewater, aka, MaRo.
Thus, you’ll enjoy playing with Grusilda, Monster Masher if you:
- want a deck piloted by a silver-bordered commander
- like reanimating but with a twist
- like being able to perform some ridiculous and mind-blowing plays
- like a fun and janky deck with the potential of also being heinous
- like decks that could be linear or not so linear
- like having the flexibility of smashing face with huge creatures or simply going for combo
- like using your opponents' creatures against them.
However, you won’t enjoy playing with Grusilda, Monster Masher if you:Alright, so assuming Grusilda caught your fancy but you're still not convinced she's the best commander for reanimation. Granted, there are a slew of reanimators in monoB which would be more consistent. Or, better commanders in more colors which allows for a greater access to the cardpool. Here are a list of potential reanimators that could be better for you than Grusila should you not like her for your reanimator strategy:
Sorry, but I like my reanimation in doubles
Under construction . . . . . . . . . .
???? Mid-range
???? Aggro
???? Stax
???? Control
???? Milling
???? Pillow Fort
???? Creature Hate
???? Combo
Sometimes it's good to have a backup plan
* Graveyard Hate:
* Mid-range:
* Aggro:
* Stax:
* Milling:
* Pillow Fort:
* Creature Hate:
* Combo:
2 - Deck History:
For the longest time I've been wanting a list of silver-bordered cards to be legal in the cardpool for EDH. Not all of them because some of them are really warping and will only serve to make games not as enjoyable due to rulings, etc. Then Unstable came out and the Rules Committee gave us but a taste of what it would be like if silver-bordered cards were legal. Although only temporary and in the spirit of casualness, many people treated this unbanning like the actual apocalypse of Commander while others celebrated with overflowing joy. It definitely created a schism in the community. Although the news created 6 weeks of silver-bordered goodness, there's no way you could fine tune a deck and then use it in those 6 weeks only to have to dismantle it afterwards. Wanting to build around so many of them I simply opted instead to add some silver-bordered cards to my already existing decks like Fowl Play and Clocknapper to Brago, King Eternal to much success without breaking the game too much; Organ Harvest to Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest which was amazing in two-headed giant and 5-point star; and Gleemax to Daretti, Scrap Savant which was kinda broken, to be honest - but at least it was legal!
I had just recently received internet and power after 107 straight days without electricity post hurricanes Irma and Maria so I wasn't really playing much MtG for the lack of communication or just overall sense of urgency. Priorities was food, gas, etc. I was also finishing my masters that year so it really wasn't in the cards (no pun intended) to try and build around a general I wouldn't be able to play with wherever I wanted. However, every now and again in Cockatrice I'm able to play in casual rooms that have allowed me to use Grimlock, Dinobot Leader and Grusilda since I would mention it ahead of time with the caveat that they'd be the only silver-bordered cards in the deck. Harmless enough, some players had no qualms about it.
My local playgroup was also significantly reduced to only me. But recently 2 more of my buddies resurfaced with more availability to play. Thanks to that I've been playing occasionally more so than usual. They're pretty flexible when it comes to playing so I figured I could at least build Grusilda in real life to play games with them.
No other silver-bordered cards:
This is the build I've been tinkering with for a while before I asked the fine community here for some help and suggestions. For the moment the deck is very centered around reanimation. It is a bit battlecruiser playing more reactively than proactively since it's answers are in the form of creatures with enter the battlefield triggers. It's safe to say that the deck is definitely midrange with the main source of victory via combat damage or combo. The game winning combo is easy to pull off and a bit degenerative, but more on that later.
5 Grusilda, Monster Masher
Artifacts: 15
3 Ashnod's Altar
2 Blade of Selves
3 Crucible of Worlds
1 Elixir of Immortality
5 Gilded Lotus
4 Hammer of Nazahn
2 Illusionist's Bracers
2 Lightning Greaves
1 Mana Vault
5 Memory Jar
3 Phyrexian Altar
2 Rakdos Signet
1 Sol Ring
2 Swiftfoot Boots
2 Talisman of Indulgence
Creatures: 30
5 Anarchist
4 Anger
5 Cinderhaze Wretch
6 Combustible Gearhulk
5 Corpse Connoisseur
5 Doom Whisperer
7 Dragon Mage
6 Duplicant
4 Erebos, God of the Dead
3 Feldon of the Third Path
6 Flayer of the Hatebound
3 Goblin Chainwhirler
3 Goblin Sharpshooter
6 Harvester of Souls
4 Hazoret the Fervent
12 It That Betrays
3 Magus of the Wheel
6 Malfegor
7 Meteor Golem
4 Murderous Redcap
4 Necrotic Ooze
2 Pack Rat
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
6 Sire of Insanity
5 Skirge Familiar
4 Solemn Simulacrum
4 Tree of Perdition
3 Vampire Nighthawk
6 Wurmcoil Engine
3 Phyrexian Arena
Spells: 16
1 Entomb
5 Wretched Confluence
7 All Is Dust
3 Buried Alive
2 Cathartic Reunion
3 Dark Deal
1 Faithless Looting
2 Night's Whisper
3 Read the Bones
5 Reforge the Soul
2 Sign in Blood
3 Toil // Trouble
2 Tormenting Voice
3 Toxic Deluge
1 Vandalblast
3 Wheel of Fortune
Lands: 37
0 Ancient Tomb
0 Arcane Lighthouse
0 Auntie's Hovel
0 Blood Crypt
0 Command Tower
0 Dormant Volcano
0 Dragonskull Summit
0 Everglades
0 Foreboding Ruins
0 Graven Cairns
0 Luxury Suite
0 Mountain (×10)
0 Rakdos Carnarium
0 Shadowblood Ridge
0 Smoldering Marsh
0 Sulfurous Springs
0 Swamp (×10)
0 Tainted Peak
0 Temple of the False God
5 Grusilda, Monster Masher
Sacrifice Outlets:
3 Ashnod's Altar
3 Phyrexian Altar
EtB Enablers:
2 Blade of Selves
Recovery:
3 Crucible of Worlds
1 Elixir of Immortality
Mana Acceleration:
0 Ancient Tomb
0 Dormant Volcano
0 Everglades
0 Rakdos Carnarium
0 Temple of the False God
5 Gilded Lotus
1 Mana Vault
2 Rakdos Signet
1 Sol Ring
2 Talisman of Indulgence
Toolbox:
0 Arcane Lighthouse
2 Illusionist's Bracers
5 Anarchist
4 Anger
3 Feldon of the Third Path
4 Necrotic Ooze
4 Solemn Simulacrum
Protection:
4 Hammer of Nazahn
2 Lightning Greaves
2 Swiftfoot Boots
Wheels/Looting:
5 Memory Jar
7 Dragon Mage
2 Cathartic Reunion
3 Dark Deal
1 Faithless Looting
5 Reforge the Soul
2 Tormenting Voice
3 Wheel of Fortune
6 Combustible Gearhulk
5 Doom Whisperer
4 Hazoret the Fervent
3 Magus of the Wheel
6 Malfegor
2 Pack Rat
6 Sire of Insanity
5 Skirge Familiar
Draw Acceleration:
3 Phyrexian Arena
4 Erebos, God of the Dead
6 Harvester of Souls
5 Wretched Confluence
2 Night's Whisper
3 Read the Bones
2 Sign in Blood
3 Toil // Trouble
Disruption:
5 Cinderhaze Wretch
6 Duplicant
6 Flayer of the Hatebound
3 Goblin Chainwhirler
3 Goblin Sharpshooter
12 It That Betrays
7 Meteor Golem
4 Murderous Redcap
4 Tree of Perdition
7 All Is Dust
3 Toxic Deluge
5 Vandalblast
5 Corpse Connoisseur
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Entomb
3 Buried Alive
Beaters:
3 Vampire Nighthawk
6 Wurmcoil Engine
Nonutility Lands:
0 Auntie's Hovel
0 Blood Crypt
0 Command Tower
0 Dragonskull Summit
0 Foreboding Ruins
0 Graven Cairns
0 Luxury Suite
0 Shadowblood Ridge
0 Smoldering Marsh
0 Sulfurous Springs
0 Tainted Peak
Basics:
0 Mountain (×10)
0 Swamp (×10)
Now practically costs a fortune
Unfortunately, not all of the cards in my current decklist are presently acquirable as foils.
Average CMC:
3.81
Average Cost (as of 1/02/19):
$506.14
Budget Choices:
The most expensive card in the deck is clearly Wheel of Fortune and I'm not even considering Badlands for a deck that isn't even commander legal because of its commander. There are only a handful of cards costing over $20 as well as a handful of cards costing over $10. However, they do add up. Honestly, the deck isn't as expensive as I though it would be. Swapping out Wheel of Fortune for something like Wheel of Fate.
Updates:
I will eventually keep an updated version of this deck online. Every time I update the deck I will try to update it there. This is also a good tool for people to actually see the statistics of the deck (by type, CMC, color, etc.) so it's easier to visualize with the graphs and whatnot. Also, you can see the updated prices on the cards (though I can't guarantee that deckstats.net will always use the cheapest version of the cards (as far as expansion set goes). You'll soon find the deck there.
2.1.2 - Strategy:
The main theme of the deck is clearly reanimator. Grusilda isn't the only reanimator commander around which is why I think she's pretty tame in that aspect. She's also only 2 colors meaning that she's not the best reanimator legend either. What drives me to Grusilda though is her ability to mash two creatures together from any graveyard, essentially making a one-creature combo. In and of itself that's not so amazing unless you have the right combinations of creatures. My first crack at Grusilda went too deep into epic and broken two-creature combos and it wasn't good at all. Lots of times you're not reanimating anything waiting for the combo to hit the graveyard first. Also, sometimes opponents will have great creatures so you have to also have ways of getting them in their graveyards to reanimate them. So I decided to compromise by leaving only certain 2-creature combos in the deck while having other combos that can be assembled with various pieces. Also, there're ways of getting opponents' creatures in their graveyards via wheeling, discarding, or destroying in order to enlarge my selection of choices. I was also running way too many draw spells/effects and looters sacrificing quality for consistency.
Grusilda is a bit high on CMC so the deck runs some mana rocks. She is hefty though at 4 toughness so she can handle most wide damage spells. However, protecting her is vital since this is a commander-dependent deck. Thus there's lots of equipment to protect her as well. There's ways to draw deep into the deck because sometimes you can discard down to maximum handsize which is another way to discard creatures to the graveyard as well as looking for things. If you want to recycle creatures to reassemble other combinations, you can kill your own creatures or sacrifice them for value. The deck does to try balance things out but even as I play it I feel like it can do more. I've played it a couple of times in Cockatrice and have won most of the games, but I know it can do better.
Some key combos I am running that stayed off the chopping block are Goblin Sharpshooter + creature with deathtouch or creature killer = kill any and/or all creatures. There's some other great combos too that work in any combination of creatures. For example, Cinderhaze Wretch works great on its own but you can combo it with Wurmcoil Engine to get a huge stat buff allowing you to get lots of cards discarded for opponents and then get 2 3/3 wurms when the -1/-1 counters pile up. Another great combo is Sidisi, Undead Vizier with creatures like Meteor Golem, Duplicant, Solemn Simulacrum, or Wurmcoil Engine. That's a lot of value for just 3BR. Mashing a creature with a god is a great way to give a key creature indestructible. There's just lots to do that's kinda fun to figure out at you play and go along. One thing I love about the deck is just that, it's versatility. Since you can also take creatures from opponent's graveyards (again, nothing that hasn't been seen before in black- or white-bordered cards) you can pull off a lot of interesting things. So far, the best play I ever made with the deck was reanimating Grusilda with Necrotic Ooze; I mashed her with Hazoret the Fervent. I had an indestructible discard outlet that reanimated all in one - oh and with haste to boot.
Although dependent on the commander, the deck does run some forms of back-up reanimation like Feldon of the Third Path. I am thinking about potentially adding others such as Whisper, Blood Liturgist (which also works as a sacrifice outlet to reset creature combos), Apprentice Necromancer, Doomed Necromancer (although those last two might be too slow), Gravewalker (which could also serve as a mana sink although its ability and casting cost are way overcosted), Phyrexian Delver (which can also serve as a reanimation target itself), etc.
Again, any questions, comments, and suggestions are more than welcome! I'd really like to build this in real life but with a better starting point than what I have now. I want to try and have as much good synergy as possible. Mashing creatures like Rune-Scarred Demon with Gifted Aetherborn or Sire of Insanity with Vampire Nighthawk whenever possible really helped me seal lots of games. Mashing Feldon of the Third Path with Goblin Sharpshooter was also one spectacular mash up that I can recall. Another combination I was considering was Mycosynth Lattice with Unwinding Clock so that I can always have mana available during each turn and also be able to untap and tap utility creatures during each turn (and to also have blockers available) and maybe add Darksteel Forge just to guarantee the indestructibilty. It's just that these cards on their own don't really do much else within the deck except for Darksteel Forge protecting my mana rocks and equipment.
This is still a work in progress but with has been suggested so far I've been able to continuously tweak it for better. I hope to eventually provide a hub for this silver-bordered legendary creature where we can collect as many possible combos for her as well as synergies. I will also do my best to compile as many rulings as possible for interactions and situations she might create. Being silver-bordered means that there aren't many exact rulings dealings with the shenanigans she can do. So I will do my best in terms of a pseudo law researcher to group together and make a compendium addressing any legit rulings for Grusilda. And by legit I mean from MaRo or any updated rules.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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Specific two-creature combos:
- Tree of Perdition + Cinderhaze Wretch = opponents have no hands and are at 1 life
- It That Betrays + Keldon Firebombers = steal a bunch of lands
- It That Betrays + Malfegor = steal a bunch of creatures and discard your hand
- It That Betrays + Archfiend of Depravity = steal a bunch of creatures
- It That Betrays + Rakdos the Defiler = steal a bunch of non-Demon permanents upon successful combat damage to opponent
- Platinum Angel + Phage the Untouchable = get around Phage's "lose the game" clause
- Murderous Redcap + Flayer of the Hatebound = automatic win
- Murderous Redcap + Geralf's Messenger = automatic win
- Murderous Redcap + Garbage Elemental (the rigger one) = assemble all the contraptions
Generalized combos that depend on one specific creature:- Goblin Sharpshooter + creature with deathtouch = kill any amount of creatures
- Goblin Sharpshooter + creature with T to destroy a creature = kill any amount of creatures
- Goblin Chainwhirler + creature with deathtouch = kill all opponents' creatures
- Pack Rat + creature with ETB trigger = 2B, discard a card to copy the ETB trigger
- Master of Cruelties + creature with some form of unblockable = leave an opponent at 1 life
- Heartless Hidetsugu + creature with lifelink = gain a ridiculous amount of life and halve opponents' life
- Pili-Pala + creature that taps for two or more mana = infinite mana
- Barbed Shocker + pinger = one-player wheel with each activation
- Barbed Shocker + creature with Pestilence ability = global wheel each activation
- Phyrexian Obliterator + creature with Lure ability = defending player sacrifices a lot of permanents
- Stigma Lasher + creature that can damage all opponents = opponents can't gain life for the rest of the game
- Summoner's Egg imprinted with Phage the Untouchable + creature that goes to an opponent = destroy the egg to kill opponent
- Bronze Bombshell + creature that goes to an opponent = opponent takes 7 damage
- Three-Headed Goblin + saboteur = triple the triggers
- Predator Dragon + creature that creates a lot of tokens when entering the battlefield = huge beater
Generalized combos (easier to synergize for being nonspecific):- creature with myriad + creature with ETB trigger = multiple ETB triggers when attacking
- creature with myriad + creature with LTB trigger = multiple LTB triggers after combat
- creature with undying + creature with persist = creature that will always return to battlefield upon death
- creature with Pestilence ability + creature with indestructible = mass ping without losing the pinger
- creature with Pestilence ability + creature with enrage = easily get enrage trigger
- creature that goes to an opponent + creature with huge drawback = bad gift
Great bases for beaters (combine a creature with any of these):Something crazy:
If you have Corrosive Mentor, Pontiff of Blight, and Unholy Citadel in play and Cairn Wanderer, Spirit of the Night, Phyrexian Crusader, Lightning Runner, Vampire Nighthawk, Darksteel Sentinel, Zodiac Rat, Zodiac Goat, Boggart Arsonists, Boggart Loggers, Desert Nomads, Goblin Flotilla, Avatar of Woe, Arachnoid, Enemy of the Guildpact, Fallen Cleric, Nath's Buffoon, Needlebug, Dunerider Outlaw, Guma, and Tsabo Tavoc in your graveyard and then activate Grusilda, Monster Masher's ability in response to Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre entering your graveyard, targeting it and Cairn Wanderer, you'll get a 14/14 creature with indestructible, annihilator 4, flying, fear, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, lifelink, reach, trample, vigilance, protection from white & blue & black & red & green & multicolored & instants & artifacts & elves & clerics & legendary creature, plainswalk, islandwalk, swampwalk, mountainwalk, forestwalk, desertwalk, menace, wither, extort, and bands with other legendary creatures. Basically, a 14/14 with 34 keyword abilities that can't be destroyed, blocked, or targeted by any single card in the game except for Karn Liberated and Mystifying Maze, and it can only be dealt with by mass bounce, mass tuck, or mass tapping. Totally doable. If not for the protection from artifacts, you could equip this monstrosity with equipments to give it even more keywords.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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1 Gifted Aetherborn
1 Damnation
1 Living Death
1 Pathrazer of Ulamog
1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
1 Master of Cruelties
1 Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms
1 Whip of Erebos
1 Blackcleave Cliffs
1 Canyon Slough
1 Avatar of Woe
1 Visara the Dreadful
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Goblin Chainwhirler
1 Corpse Connoisseur
1 Malfegor
1 Tree of Perdition
1 Flayer of the Hatebound
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Magus of the Wheel
1 Luxury Suite
1 Terrain Generator
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Vandalblast
I would like to find some space for Crucible of Worlds, though.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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I'd cut the Hammer of Nazahn for Illusionist's Bracers.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
What have you been tinkering for her? There's just so many ways to have fun with Grusilda but since uncards were only legal for a couple of weeks a little over a year ago I want to try and make the deck tame enough to be able to play it in a casual setting, since I obviously can't go to tournaments or more serious settings with it. So when I refer to "tameness" I mean having an actual deck that works within the realm of possibility for Commander and avoiding any situations that aren't cleared up by Oracle, Maro himself, or any official rules person at WotC.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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Hound of Griselbrand: As you've found, Undying and Persist are insanely powerful when you mash 'em onto other creatures. I'll note that my research into MaRo rules manager rulings indicates they don't go infinite, however, as the two halves come back separately (which incidentally makes Persist significantly worse than Undying), but it is nevertheless ridiculous amounts of value. While Hound is obviously much worse than Flayer of the Hatebound, undying is so good that it has been worth it. She doesn't run Puppeteer Clique but I'd strongly consider that too.
Bog Witch: Ramp and stocking the graveyard are hugely important. Witch is no Skirge Familiar but it does work.
Ingot Chewer, Shriekmaw: These cards keep your answer quotient high while rapidly adding critters to your 'yard. They've been great.
Warchief Giant and Banshee of the Dread Choir: Myriad is another ability that has a strange but ludicrously strong interaction with other cards when you do the Monster Mash. Combined with a card with good EtB abilities or a sac outlet and good death triggers you get a lot of value and damage very quickly. You run Blade of Selves, but in Grusilda I'd rather just run myriad creatures straight-up.
Inferno Titan and Combustible Gearhulk: I mention them because they are also gross with Lifelink and/or Deathtouch. And it's gross with Undying/Persist. And with Myriad. Just workhorses for her deck.
Infect is also very, very good with Gru but my wife eschewed it and I think you're right to do so as well.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
I like Puppeteer Clique since I'm wheeling a lot (I also considered Sepulchral Primordial as well for similar abilities). Ingot Chewer and Shriekmaw are great spot removal that I can evoke for cheap and then reanimate later (with Grusilda or even Feldon) so they're definitely worth considering. There's just so many creatures with enter the battlefield triggers to abuse that it's hard to find which ones to add. A BR deck needs to be balanced between mana, removal, and draw so I don't want to take out too many cards and have the deck lopsided. But I do like Combustible Gearhulk because it can potentially self-mill and Inferno Titan pumps itself up all while sniping creatures (if it acquires deathtouch).
Infect would be brutal here (as was annihilator) which is why I took out a couple of the creatures with it. Myriad is good and the reason why I only have Blade of Selves and not the actual creatures with it is that I don't mash every creature. For example, maybe I hardcasted Wurmcoil Engine because I need a beater (or potential blocker) in that moment. Equipping it with Blade of Selves or Lightning Greaves, etc. gives it menace with Grusilda's other ability. So having a couple of equipment on standby could be handy. I'm still considering them because they'd be nuts with Meteor Golem, Duplicant, etc. But there are other cards I'd really wanna find space for first like Illusionist's Bracers and Vandalblast. Crucible of Worlds would be only due to all the wheeling so that I could recover some lands. But definitely the aforementioned two definitely need a place in the deck.
What changes do you suggest I make? (I'm gonna update the OP in a moment.)
I am going to eventually make an un-version of the deck where silver bordered cards are celebrated. It'll be using a lot of the more epic silver-bordered creatures like Three-Headed Goblin, both sides of B.F.M. (Big Furry Monster), the contraption assembling Garbage Elemental with undying, Some Disassembly Required, among others (that were deemed legal by the Rules Committee).
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!
I haven't done too much tinkering with her yet. I've got about 10 deck ideas floating around with Grusilda being one of them. I'll get the list finalized and post it later on today.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
With so many different ways to build Grusilda I'm gonna try and design different types of decks around her and post them all in my main post. If it goes well with testing and brewing I might spruce up the OP.
BGU [Primer] Sidisi, Brood Tyrant BGU | BG [Primer] Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest BG | G [Primer] Polukranos, World Eater G
My YouTube Channel:
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It seems like you are REALLY heavy on the draw. I count like 20+ draw/loot/wheel effects which feels like total overkill. If I were to rate all the reliable draw/loot/wheel available in rough order of power in this deck...
1. Wheel of Fortune - obviously insane.
2. Faithless Looting - Going 4 cards deep for 2RR is really good, especially in installments. Absolutely essential.
3. Dark Deal - A mini-wheel is good, as it also fills opposing 'yards.
4. Read the Bones - Getting to see 4 cards is really, really powerful.
5-6. Night's Whisper/Sign in Blood - Basically the same at 2 CMC. The best bang for your buck. Grusilda tends to be tight on mana as she is a 5 CMC commander that really wants to be activating her five mana ability every turn, so paying as little as possible for draw is crucial.
7. Reforge the Soul - Wheel is so good that it's worth an extra 1R.
8. Cathartic Reunion - The cost is steep, but this is a great filtering effect at a low mana investment, making it optimal setup.
9. Phyrexian Arena - Not actually in your list, but ought to be - recurring draw every turn is quite powerful.
10. Memory Jar - May be out of your price range, but seems amazing. Basically a slightly better Reforge when used correctly.
11. Magus of the Wheel - fragile but seems worthwhile, since you can recur him.
12. Wretched Confluence - Instant-speed Ambition's Cost with upside for one mana more.
13. Erebos, God of the Dead - Extreme slowness is countered by being a good "mash" target and hosing lifegain decks.
14. Toil // Trouble - An easier to cast Sign that can randomly get a Sudden Impact stapled on - decent.
15. Tormenting Voice - Since this barely puts you up a card, I don't love it. Gotta respect an easy 1R cost though.
16. Necropotence - Obviously very powerful, but also very hard on your manabase.
17. Greed - Can be quite strong but is quite slow. Despite being faster, I'd consider it just worse than running Erebos in this deck.
18. Underworld Connections - Phyrexian Arena that effectively costs 1 to activate (but can be turned off) is still good, but inferior to the original.
19. Incendiary Command - A very slow Dark Deal makes up for its cost with its flexibility. I typically find this card is too weak for its cost though.
20. Deal Broker/Mad Prophet - It's a tie - Deal Broker's lower colorless CMC is nice, but Prophet's immediacy has value. These creatures are generally quite weak though.
Note I'd personally only run 10-15 of these effects, as you'll also be ideally running some graveyard filling cards (Buried Alive, Entomb, Corpse Connoisseur, Doom Whisperer if you can afford one) and some cantrip-y/punsher-y creatures like Combustible Gearhulk, Rune-scarred Demon, and Solemn Simulacrum. I'd also put Rix Maadi Reveler in the upper half of those cards, once it is released.
You can also assume I have no love of anything I didn't mention and think they should just get cut - Rummaging Goblin, Painful Lesson, Wild Guess, Live Fast, and Succumb to Temptation are all just worse than most things you can run instead, with Wild Guess being the closest to playable just because I'd found mana tends to be quite constrained for Grusilda.
EDIT: TL;DR I'd:
2 Wild Guess
3 Deal Broker
3 Live Fast
3 Painful Lesson
3 Rummaging Goblin
3 Succumb to Temptation
4 Mad Prophet
5 Incendiary Command
3 Phyrexian Arena
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Doom Whisperer
5 Memory Jar
5 Wretched Confluence
6 Combustible Gearhulk
Plus whatever two cards tickle you. If you can't afford some of those additions, and also don't want to go about obtaining Greed, Necropotence, or Underworld Connections you can consider keeping around some combination of Command, Broker, Tormenting Voice, and Mad Prophet.
Another silver-bordered "combo" to add is from the FAQ: if Grusilda combines two hosts (say Common Iguana and Bumbling Pangolin) and then augments them, you get to trigger both effects. It's been fun in my wife's build.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Thanks for the in-depth analysis of the core shell of my build. I did go a bit crazy with the draw options but you opened my eyes to lots of cards that totally went over my head (like Doom Whisperer, which would be amazing here). The only card I would be extremely worried about would be Necropotence and it's not because of its BBB casting cost; it's because it exiles any card I exile, essentially shutting off any of my wheels or discard outlets. I do like your other suggestions for swaps though, although they will undoubtedly increase the average CMC of the deck.
What I like about Solemn Simulacrum is that it can go crazy in the right mashup. For example, with Sidisi, Undead Vizier I can exploit itself essentially giving me a tutored card, a drawn card, and a ramped basic. Giving it myriad would also be great. Another good mashup with it would be with Pack Rat.
Memory Jar is a card I already have because I'm trying to complete the Kydele + Vial Smasher deck in my sig. It is a bit pricey though since being put on the Reserved List (don't know why since it was reprint in 2010 in From the Vault: Relics. Phyrexian Arena is good in that although slow, it's still better overall value than so many "draw 2 lose 2" sorceries I have. So I could definitely slot it in. Combustible Gearhulk is great on its own but combined with myriad or other ways of consistently recurring it will definitely give me value. Especially since the deck wants cards either in hand or in graveyard. So that'll be great.
Adding silver-bordered cards would be great and I could possibly run a version that includes them for the more "casual" crowd since I could just give a disclaimer that the deck includes some silver-bordered cards. But in other pods maybe showing the commander and just asking permission for that one would be okay. There are a couple of silver-bordered cards I'd love to play here. Since the deck is reanimator and has a graveyard full of creatures, cards like Over My Dead Bodies becomes epic. Running more creatures with multiple keywords makes Some Disassembly Required epic as well as not only a sac outlet but a way to give some abilities to creatures until end of turn. Giving a saboteur triple strike thanks to Three-Headed Goblin would be amazing. I could also run both halves of Big Furry Monster just for the fun of it. And, above all, as you mentioned multiple times, abusing host/augment. Having a mashup between something like Angelic Rocket + Three-Headed Goblin and then augment Ninja on it would be crazy; you'd basically blow up 3 nonland permanents. A mashup between a creature with augment and a host creature won't remove the host type. So you could potentially augment that mashup giving two different triggers for the same ability. It just opens up tons of crazy interactions which is what the spirit of EDH is about. Adding more silver-bordered cards would also allow me to play with contraptions.
Thanks to your suggestions I'll probably make the following changes:
1 Wild Guess
1 Deal Broker
1 Live Fast
1 Painful Lesson
1 Rummaging Goblin
1 Succumb to Tempation
1 Mad Prophet
1 Incendiary Command
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Doom Whisperer
1 Memory Jar
1 Wretched Confluence
1 Combustible Gearhulk
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Anarchist
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!
Taken from the FAQ on Unstable:
Taken from twitter:
*I've yet to find an answer on whether you could then augment to the other host and, if so, would you have a combined creature of two pairs of augment/host creatures.
It'd be great if someone can hit up MaRo on twitter and ask him that.
There are still some situations where I can't find an answer for (besides the combined host/augment pairs I mentioned earlier). These being:
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!
If you have Corrosive Mentor, Pontiff of Blight, and Unholy Citadel in play and Cairn Wanderer, Spirit of the Night, Phyrexian Crusader, Lightning Runner, Vampire Nighthawk, Darksteel Sentinel, Zodiac Rat, Zodiac Goat, Boggart Arsonists, Boggart Loggers, Desert Nomads, Goblin Flotilla, Avatar of Woe, Arachnoid, Enemy of the Guildpact, Fallen Cleric, Nath's Buffoon, Needlebug, Dunerider Outlaw, Guma, and Tsabo Tavoc in your graveyard and then activate Grusilda, Monster Masher's ability in response to Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre entering your graveyard, targeting it and Cairn Wanderer, you'll get a 14/14 creature with indestructible, annihilator 4, flying, fear, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, lifelink, reach, trample, vigilance, protection from white & blue & black & red & green & multicolored & instants & artifacts & elves & clerics & legendary creatures, plainswalk, islandwalk, swampwalk, mountainwalk, forestwalk, desertwalk, menace, wither, extort, and bands with other legendary creatures. Basically, a 14/14 with 34 keyword abilities that can't be destroyed, blocked, or targeted by any single card in the game except for Karn Liberated and Mystifying Maze, and it can only be dealt with by mass bounce, mass tuck, or mass tapping. Totally doable. If not for the protection from artifacts, you could equip this monstrosity with equipments to give it even more keywords.
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!
Here's my finalized deck list, probably still needs more work.
1 Arcane Lighthouse
1 Arid Mesa
1 Badlands
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Command Tower
1 Detection Tower
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Luxury Suite
1 Marsh Flats
9 Mountain
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Smoldering Marsh
1 Strip Mine
9 Swamp
1 Tainted Peak
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Spells
1 Ashnod's Altar
1 Buried Alive
1 Delirium Skeins
1 Entomb
1 Faithless Looting
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Diamond
1 Phyrexian Altar
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Read the Bones
1 Reforge the Soul
1 Sign in Blood
1 Sol Ring
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Talisman of Indulgence
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Vandalblast
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Anger
1 Avatar of Slaughter
1 Banshee of the Dread Choir
1 Cinderhaze Wretch
1 Combustible Gearhulk
1 Devouring Strossus
1 Emrakul, the Promised End
1 Flayer of the Hatebound
1 Flesh-Eater Imp
1 Goblin Chainwhirler
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Golgari Thug
1 Grave Titan
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Heartless Hidetsugu
1 Hound of Griselbrand
1 It That Betrays
1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1 Lord of the Void
1 Malfegor
1 Malignus
1 Marionette Master
1 Master of Cruelties
1 Meteor Golem
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Necrotic Ooze
1 Noxious Gearhulk
1 Phage the Untouchable
1 Platinum Angel
1 Rakdos Ragemutt
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Scourge of the Throne
1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Sire of Insanity
1 Skirge Familiar
1 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
1 Stinkweed Imp
1 Tormented Soul
1 Tree of Perdition
1 Warchief Giant
Here's the mash ups I've jotted down so far, I'll come back and edit/format this later on today.
Torment Soul + Master of Cruelties = Someones life total becomes 1 due to unblockable
Pili-Pala + Kozilek's Channeler = Infinite colorless mana (dump into Exsanguinate or Torment of Hailfire)
Goblin Sharpshooter + Harvester of Souls = Machine gun all creatures on the table and draw cards to boot
Myriad Creatures + Any of the Titans or Gray Merchant of Asphodel or Primordials or Gearhulks = lots of crazy ETBs
Phage the Untouchable + Platinum Angel = 1 shot someone and you can't lose.
Heartless hidetsugu + rakdos ragemutt = get rekt'd scrub
murderous redcap + malignus = get rekt'd scrub
Blackcleave golbin +
Tree of Perdition + Cinderhaze Witch = set life totals to 1 and discard lots of cards
Marionette Master + Devouring Strossus = Sac artifact tokens to Devouring Strossus and everyone loses 30 life.
Goblin Chainwhirler + Deathtoucher = kill all opponents creatures
Infect creature + Myriad creature = infect for everyone
Skrithiryx + Scourge of the Throne = Extra attach to take out someone with the highest life total
Emrakul, the Promised End + Avatar of Slaughter = 21/21 double strike, trample, protection from instants.
This looks to be super fun!
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
I see you're running creatures for the dredge. How's that been working out for you? Is it consistent? What do you do if you dredge key cards that aren't creatures? That's why I ended up adding Anarchist so that if I need to recover a card like Vandalblast or All Is Dust. I also added Crucible of Worlds to not miss land drops after continuous wheeling and/or looting.
If you want to run Tormented Soul in order to have an unblockable creature (especially paired with Master of Cruelties), Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms would be a better choice over Tormented Soul since horsemanship is practically unblockable and Lu Bu also has haste. Another good swap for it is Nether Traitor because shadow is practically unblockable and it also has haste.
When you pilot it do you focus more on trying to combine creatures depending on their best mashup or do you combine as necessary?
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!
I haven't had a chance to test the build in paper yet, maybe this weekend.
I'm sure it will need some tweaking but time will tell how it works.
I will likely change Tormented Soul for Nether Traitor.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
Firstly, a few all-stars, including some I didn't see mentioned (again, forgive me, am on phone). Grusilda is the only silver border card I use.
Sepulchral Primordial
Etali, Primal Storm
Sire of Insanity
Goblin Dark Dwellers
Etched Champion
Anger
Living Death
Vandalblast
Reverberate
I wouldn't leave any of these out, personally; these creatures in particular due to my heavy use of Buried Alive.
Primordial steals games.
Reverberate steals games.
Diabolic Servitude is awesome with Persist/Undying.
Dark Dwellers generally for Wheel, Chaos Warp, tutor.
Ferver imo over Hammer because enchant, but you do you.
I main Sire but its use depends on the table power level. Conversely I don't use Keldon Firebombers or Barbed Shocker type tech.
I designed and play like a MonoB deck splashing red, tutors and heavy artifact ramp. I want every card to be realistically relevant outside of Grusilda; if youre not setting up grave/artifacts or filtering, being reactive, you can simply tap out for a 6 drop and be happy with the value. No over-abundance of eldrazi or demons. It's a touch easier to play into board wipes with this general/colors but Grusilda activations can be few and far between. You want value from combining but without handcuffing yourself directly to your general's ability. Cards like It that Betrays and Vampire Nighthawk felt redundant to me given our other options, especially for combining, let alone individually hardcasting. I feel, again, you need to assess the table and determine how ruthless you decide to be during early game setup, before you reach that Grusilda activation point (and if you have choices). I run less equipment and SiB effects than most so am always looking for extra value in things like, disrupting someone's top-of-deck tutor whilst using Life's Finale, or playing into Homeward Path(s) with combined creatures for distracted opponents to fight over.
Buried Alive and Grusilda activation gives Flayer+Redcap win, alternate binned targets depend on the mood of the game and how wacky it can become imo. It's usually better to keep it simple than look for overwhelming optimal play, but again that depends on your group/table and time limitations. Always keep that in mind.
Outside of FlayerCap, usually I consider Anger, Dark Dwellers, Etched Champ as the 'utility pick' of Buried Alives' 3 creatures, with the other two being a fatty like Etali, Primordial or a Dragon, and maybe a combo piece; say, a Redcap/Delver to kill Anger or bouncing graveyard shenanigans from Living End; a keyword creature like Doom Whisperer, Puppeteer Clique, or Sidisi; or Recruiter (into Kiki into Dire Fleet Daredevil/ Feldon etc for a tied down game).
Etched Champion is a real gem of a card, and its true value comes from combining it with opponents utility like a seedborne muse or clone (I don't use Skittles), or something gamechanging ranging from Etali and Angels, Sphinxes and big Legends, to Sire or Avenger of Zendikar/Eldrazi.
I've found Phyrexian Delver uncombined is best used as sac food or Victimise value, the extra creature can mean a lot for Razaketh/Sidisi/Altar etc. There's simple synergy with Delver and Feldon/Primordial but unlike feldon it can't be grabbed by Recruiter, if you run him.
Bog Witch is a card some people like. It can be hit or miss as a 1/1 but can also win games with its simple value. For now, I've cut Bog Witch and Bloodghast because not using Skullclamp (using Kiki Recruiter instead, under Sire). Outside of potential Clamp abuse, Delver is somewhat fulfilling Bloodghast's function as sac fodder.
- Side note, imo Reassembling Skeleton is 90% the 'better' (stable) choice over Bloodghast if you also have both Skullclamp and Contamination sleeved.
I've currently cut all variations of these below to test other things, but I highly recommend at least one of;
Imps Mischief
Withering Boon
Sudden Spoiling
Sudden Death
Veilstone Amulet
Thanks! I'm glad this thread is helpful to you. I would like it to be a hub for fellow Grusilda players. And, if I get enough games in with it and have a better grasp at using her, I'll try and format my original post in primer fashion.
Oh, and welcome to the forums!
From those cards you mentioned I already run Sire of Insanity, Anger, Vandalblast, and Doom Whisperer. I do agree on assessing the table power level which is why I haven't eliminated the FlayerCap combo. If things get too real then I combine them for the win.
I had Living Death originally in my list but when I started adding more wheel/discard effects I took it out because then I'd also be giving opponents access to reanimation. Sepulchral Primordial is a great card and it can steal a creature for each opponent from his/her graveyard - especially since I'm wheeling so much. The only reason I'm not running it is because I don't want to rely too heavily on what opponents are playing in their decks; I want to be as independent of them as possible. That being said, I'm not above combining creatures from opponent's graveyards if they have a great creature in there.
I prefer Anarchist over Goblin Dark Dwellers because I get immediate value for any sorcery in my graveyard. Sure, I still have to cast the spell, but hardcasting it is the same mana cost as using Grusilda's ability if it's in the graveyard. And I'm able to recover a spell like Vandablast (and cast it for overload) or All Is Dust. That being said, Goblin Dark Dwellers is a great card to run because equipping them with Blade of Selves with a couple of wheels in the graveyard can get pretty crazy. Save for All Is Dust, Reforge the Soul, and Toil // Trouble all my sorceries can be cheated from the graveyard with it.
I have considered my creatures to be hardcasted at some point. Some are pretty heavy but I could still use them summoned and uncombined if need be. However, some are still gonna be included just to be used with Grusilda because that is the point of having her. This deck is hugely dependent on Grusilda but it's not entirely inoperable without her.
I like It That Betrays because although huge, it's clearly not meant to be hardcasted. If something were to face the chopping block, it'd probably be it. If I end up adding more cards like Keldon Firebombers then I'll keep it. Either way, combining It That Betrays with an artifact creature at the end of a turn before mine and then casting All Is Dust during that following turn is in fact very glorious.
Buried Alive is easily one of the most important cards in the deck, hands down. Depending on the table I'll seek out Murderous Redcap, Flayer of the Hatebound, and any other creature; or Anger, Cinderhaze Wretch, and Tree of Perdition; or
Anger, It That Betrays, and Malfegor; or just Anger and a combination pertinent to the table level of difficulty.
I also want to avoid Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon and any other sources of infect (although it's still a slower method of winning when compared to running the FlayerCap combination). Also, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to avoid centering my strategies on what I can steal from opponents' graveyards. If I can, great. If not, then I'll center on my own.
I don't mind sacrificing combined creatures once they're reanimated with Grusilda. I love combining creatures with enter the battlefield or dying triggers with cards like Sidisi, Undead Vizier. Some great plays have come from mashing Solemn Simulacrum, Goblin Chainwhirler, Wurmcoil Engine, or Malfegor with Sidisi.
It'd be good to add some control elements to the deck but for the moment, as long as no one's exiling anything from my graveyard, I'm set. Only being in BR means that although it can be a great reanimator, there's still the threat of dealing with card like Rest in Peace, Bojuka Bog, etc. There few and far between cards that can deal with having your graveyard be exiled.
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!
I goldfished the deck a bit last night.
While it is certainly fun, it is also certainly slow but what do you expect 4.46 CMC (most of my decks are sub 3.5 CMC). I'll hold off any changes on till I play test the deck in an actual game. However I've made these observations:
- Dredge probably isn't great here without a discard outlet (if stuck in my hand). I may replace them with wheels instead.
- Altar of Dementia would be great to mill myself.
- I need more ways to fill the graveyard if I'm going to stay heavy on the creatures.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
I think a good happy medium is to run low-costed creatures with a couple of useful keywords in case you have to cast them. For instance, I run Vampire Nighthawk which is a great deterrent against attack due to its flying and deathtouch while also giving three very useful keywords to a combined creature. Also, lots of my utility creatures such as Feldon of the Third Path, Magus of the Wheel, Pack Rat, Hazoret the Fervent, Erebos, God of the Dead, Necrotic Ooze, and Solemn Simulacrum are relatively low-costed. The mana rocks, draw spells, and wheels are also relatively cheap in order to cast. I'm not usually doing nothing while playing the deck because although the average CMC count is high due to the creatures, it's only because most of them are there for reanimation. But there are spells being cast during my turn that either help me dig through the deck or help set up future plays. It might seem like we're a target for stompy decks to attack due to the lack of blockers and creatures in play in general, but I don't mind using utility creatures to chump block because I can always just reanimate them later with Grusilda. I've even been able to chump block with Grusilda and then combine her later with Necrotic Ooze copying her own ability, making an even better Grusilda in the end.
Yeah, I figured that dredge wouldn't be the best way to go about filling the yard. That's why I use lots of wheels and straight up discard effects to fill the yard (as well as necro-tutoring). I've found that the best way to fill the graveyard is wheeling and discarding since I don't want to just mill. I fear milling because BR aren't the best colors to recover cards from the graveyard. Artifacts and creatures, sure, but instants, sorceries, enchantments, lands, etc. not really. So I don't want to need a Vandalblast to then have it milled. Because then I need to wait to get Anarchist to recover it.
Goldfishing has made me confident enough to play the deck a bit. So far I've played it in casual rooms in Cockatrice to much success. I've played it in triple threat matches. A couple I can remember is playing it against Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and General Tazri ally tribal; Experiment Kraj and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.
The first one I remember, Tazri was obviously always building up a great boardstate. Since I'm reanimator and Mazirek was stax, we pretty much had to team up against Tazri's ally horde. I was then able to beat Mazirek with the Cinderhaze Wretch / Tree of Perdition combo. After getting Mazirek at 1 life, I cast Goblin Chainwhirler and won the match.
The Experiment Kraj game was crazy. Prossh wasn't a competitive cutthroat build; it was more Jund goodstuff with synergy pertaining to Prossh and tokens hijinxes. Threat assessment was difficult because Experiment Kraj could copy Grusilda's ability so I had to be careful of timing in order to not lose my reanimation targets in response to Kraj doing it. I had to also be careful of what to reanimate in order to not have Kraj also abuse the ability. Prossh is also nothing to scoff at. I had to wait until being able to give Grusilda shroud or hexproof before Kraj player would have the opportunity to put a +1/+1 counter on her. Luckily Kraj tapped to copy one of Prossh's creatures midgame so I was able to cast Grusilda and equip her with Lightning Greaves in the same turn. However, I still had to be careful about assembling a combo like Cinderhaze Wretch + Tree of Perdition. Fortunately, Kraj wasn't working with its own graveyard so I was able to at least use my Necrotic Ooze and Feldon so that Kraj wouldn't have too much advantage from their activated abilities. Prossh was wary of attacking me because I had a Vampire Nighthawk in the graveyard. The game was at an impasse most of the time with people building their boardstate and waiting to topdeck a key piece to break it. Kraj played a Cyclonic Rift at the end of the turn before it's own. Kraj decided to one-shot us one at a time after that and Prossh was the first target. In response, Prossh cast Sudden Spoiling (which was being saved for me but had to be used against Kraj). Only damage was given by +1/+1 counters and the creatures had no abilities. With everything tapped out, Kraj passed turn. Prossh cast it from hand as well as Fires of Yamivaya. It attacked Kraj, sacrificed all kobolds, then sacrificed Fires and it was enough to take out Kraj. On my turn I needed something to be able to block Prossh. So I cast Feldon and Lightning Greaves and had to leave mana open to use its ability. Prossh needed a trample enabler but didn't get it by the time I was able to cast Grusilda and use the Murderous Redcap / Flayer of the Hatebound combo. In this case I went with this method since the game had gone on long enough and I couldn't risk waiting for Prossh to get trample. Prossh understood and it was GG.
So far I have been able to fly low enough on the radar to not be a target the moment the games begin. I become a target once the graveyard starts getting interesting. Curiously enough, people are more wary of my own graveyard and not theirs. I was lucky in the Kraj & Prossh game because we were all waiting to topdeck answers. I don't feel like Prossh made a poor threat assessment of Kraj considering Kraj attacked him first and had a full board while I was empty as Prossh was. I was just lucky enough to have my graveyard intact the entirety of the match. Granted, having Prossh die continuously to Vampire Nighthawk would've been helpful in getting more kobolds out, but Prossh would've kept costing way more; and, without trample, my 2R vhawk token would always cost the same. I was drawing and wheeling frequently but knowing Kraj could copy any game-ending mashup creature, I had to be careful what to animate. My beaters could be dealt with by both opponents. So far, I've had success but I still need to play more with the deck to see what matchups are the poorest against it.
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!
Sounds like some fun matches.
I'll hold off on any changes until I play it in paper tomorrow but it will see some and I'll likely trim some of the creature combos.
I wish I had time to play on line but with 3 kids (2 only 4 months old), work and life in general I've got very little free time lol.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
Lol, I hear ya. Only had time to play as much as I did because I was on vacation. Don't have any kids but between work and my masters I have few and far between minutes of free time.
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!
The deck is certainly neat, the play group loved it. I only 1 game out of those and that was thanks to a couple activations of Heartless Hidetsugu + Rakdos Ragemutt to gain a ton of life plus Gray getting hard cast pull combining Flayer of the Hatebound with something to kill one player (I forget how I killed the player before him). Down to me and my buddy playing a Silver deck. All his Silvers had protection from black and Silver Legion was on the field. I killed Legion with something, he swung and got me down to 35 life from 62 and then I swung out at him to seal the deal. He thought the Silver gave him protection from black too!
All in all some fun games but the deck needs tweaking. Here's how it sits:
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Arid Mesa
1 Badlands
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Command Tower
1 Detection Tower
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Luxury Suite
1 Marsh Flats
9 Mountain
1 Polluted Delta
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Smoldering Marsh
1 Strip Mine
8 Swamp
1 Tainted Peak
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Verdant Catacombs
Artifacts
1 Ashnod's Altar
1 Illusionist's Bracers
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mox Diamond
1 Phyrexian Altar
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Sol Ring
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Talisman of Indulgence
1 Phyrexian Arena
Instants
1 Entomb
Sorceries
1 Buried Alive
1 Delirium Skeins
1 Faithless Looting
1 Read the Bones
1 Reforge the Soul
1 Sign in Blood
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Vandalblast
1 Wheel of Fortune
Creatures
1 Anger
1 Avatar of Slaughter
1 Banshee of the Dread Choir
1 Cinderhaze Wretch
1 Combustible Gearhulk
1 Devouring Strossus
1 Emrakul, the Promised End
1 Flayer of the Hatebound
1 Flesh-Eater Imp
1 Goblin Chainwhirler
1 Goblin Sharpshooter
1 Golgari Thug
1 Grave Titan
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Harvester of Souls
1 Hazoret the Fervent
1 Heartless Hidetsugu
1 Hound of Griselbrand
1 It That Betrays
1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1 Lord of the Void
1 Malfegor
1 Malignus
1 Marionette Master
1 Master of Cruelties
1 Meteor Golem
1 Murderous Redcap
1 Necrotic Ooze
1 Nether Traitor
1 Noxious Gearhulk
1 Phage the Untouchable
1 Platinum Angel
1 Rakdos Ragemutt
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
1 Scourge of the Throne
1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Sire of Insanity
1 Skirge Familiar
1 Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
1 Stinkweed Imp
1 Tree of Perdition
1 Warchief Giant
I know I want to cut the following:
Lord of the Void Hound of Griselbrand Kozilek, Butcher of Truth Golgari Thug Stinkweed Imp Phage the Untouchable Platinum Angel
There will likely be more but I've got to spend time looking at the list.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU
I really like how my own list is turning out. I would like to be able to test it some more first. Heartless Hidetsugu + a creature with lifelink is definitely a combo I want to try since I'm very susceptible to get beat on while assembling my board state.
There are also a couple of cards from Ravnica Allegiance that interest me for this deck as well:
Dagger Caster works similar to Goblin Chainwhirler (although it doesn't ping 'walkers and doesn't have first strike) and it might lower the cost of the deck because I doubt it'll be as expensive.
Rix Maadi Reveler is pretty much a Dangerous Wager on a body (but you'd need to cast it for its spectacle cost and not reanimate it to have that effect).
Hackrobat has deathtouch and flowstone.
Rakdos, the Showstopper has trample and flying while also having a great ETB effect. Sure, it's 50/50 and might still hit our creatures, but indestructible creatures are safe.
Out of those three, Rakdos 3.0 is definitely the one that interests me the most. Relevant keywords and a useful ETB ability. However, when it comes to killing creatures upon entering the battlefield, nothing's better than a deathtouch Goblin Chainwhirler mashup.
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!
I went all in on this version but it may be too much - I've got to decide what to keep and what to ditch, as I noted above some are gone already. The huge issue is getting stuff in the yard for me right now.
Rix Maadi Reveler looks decent but I'm not sure on the rest.
You're spot on about Goblin Chainwhirler and a deathtouch creature, that mowed down a threatening board last night.
Competitive
GUWB Thrasios/Tymna Breakfast Hulk GUWB - RGBW Tana/Tymna Blood Pod - URGAnimar, Soul of ElementsURG - UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU
Tuned
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant (Write Up) UBG-BG The Gitrog Monster BG-UG Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca UG - UBG Muldrota, the Gravetide UBG - UBW Varina, Lich Queen UBW - RB Xantcha, Sleeper Agent RB - UB Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow UB - GWURafiq of the Many GWU - WUB Oloro, Ageless Lich WUB - GUBRKydele, Chosen of Kruphix and Vial Smasher The Fierce GUBR - BG Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons GB - WB Athreos, God of Passage WB - UBThe Scarab God UB - UBRMarchesa, the Affinity RoseUBR - UBGTasigur, the Golden FangUBG - GSelvala, Heart of the WildsG - BRGrusilda, Monster MasherBR - BChainer, Dementia MasterB - WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG - URMizzix's Thousand Year StormUR - RGOmnath, Locust of RageRG - GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestGU - WUBrago, King EternalWU
Legecy Decks
W Death and Taxes W-C Eldrazi Stompy C-R Mono Red Prison R-U MerfolkU