I'm new to the forums but have been "lurking for some time haha. Happy to finally officially join the community. I need some advice on a Karador deck that I'm making as my first EDH deck.
Some background: - I've been playing Magic for a few years casually with my buddies, basically using their decks. I did eventually build a 60 card Modern deck but since then all my friends kind of moved to playing EDH, which is very fun! Recently, I played Chainer and Mayael (my friends decks) and enjoyed them quite a bit. I've been doing a lot of research and decided to construct my first EDH deck with Karador as my commander (I love his card!).
Essentially I started with the Karador reanimator route but eventually canned it for more of the Boonweaver combo route with a strong hate bear suite and tutors. I've been play testing it on Archidekt/Tapped Out, keeping track of my turns and trying to create realistic scenarios. It seems like it's pretty solid but could use some possible changes.
I've been using both the deck lists as kind of "prototypes" and trying to build something similar - though the most updated list is from 2017 - so I could use some suggestions if anything is "outdated" or if there is newer/better option to replace some my current cards. Please bare in mind that I'm not willing to shell out $$$ for the entire land base as I'm only trying to put in about $600 or so currently and we play more casual/somewhat competitive. Most of my buddies I play with I would say have anywhere from $150 - $500 in the decks they are playing, so I also want to make sure my deck isn't too powerful and doesn't simply make it not fun at all for everyone else.
So could you all please provide some feedback and things I could possibly update? I'm aware I have Hulk and Boonweaver both in my deck (I probably only need 1), but sometimes it seems useful in case one ends up in my hand or exiled. Also, please bare in mind I'm still relatively new - but am looking forward to your feedback
Your list looks good. The biggest issue I would note is that your deck is going to be strong. And while that’s not necessarily a problem, what kind of decks are your friends playing? I saw that you borrowed Myael and Chainer. Your Boonweaver combo deck with tutors would likely obliterate any Mayael or Chainer deck that I’ve ever seen.
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah, I usually play Chainer and Mayael when playing w/ the group.
However, some of the Commanders my buddies use are:
Zedruu
Yasova Dragonclaw
Varina Linch Queen
The Mimeoplasm
Xenagos
Jodah, Archmage Eternal
Mayael
I feel like Yasova could be annoying because it steals my creatures. I would say there decks are in the $200-$500 range. Well constructed and can do some work. Though, are games are naturally a bit longer due to all of our cheaper land bases (though my one buddy was able to win turn 5 with Mayael lol..).
I think I just need to understand better when to try to assemble my combo pieces (grab a sac outlet, Academy Rector, bring back boonweaver, etc) or when to go and get a hate bear instead.. which I imagine is when I start very slow. Basically just understanding when to grab what.. so more insight into that would help
Also - Any recommended updates to the list? I'm still not sure about Apprentice Necromancer (in Cobblepots list from 2015), Deathrite Shaman, Nature's Claim. I was thinking of adding back in Mindslicer or something else.
Regarding your list: it's pretty great, especially considering your budget. I enjoy the challenge of trying to use hatebears in multiplayer EDH - decks are generally so diverse that playing hatebears will slow down some of your opponents, but usually not all of them. And the hatebears that will affect all of your opponents will generally make you a big target. With that in mind, a few thoughts about possible additions or exclusions.
Coming soon in Ikoria, Drannith Magistrate is a killer hatebear as it will prevent your opponents from casting their commander from the command zone. It will also have a secondary effect of preventing them from casting from the graveyard, which is relevant in many EDH games.
Depending on your meta, Sanctum Prelate and Chalice of the Void are brutal hate cards. The benefit in multiplayer EDH that I see is that you can pick on the most dangerous player at the table by picking numbers of cards you know them to use.
Deathrite Shaman is an incredible card in nearly every EDH game - he serves multiple functions, including mana fixing, graveyard hate, and incremental life advantage. The only issue is that he's generally a useful mana dork because many EDH lists use fetch lands, which probably aren't in your budget. Depending on what cards you include, you can make some changes to your mana base that would make DRS a pretty reliable mana dork, and this is especially so if your opponents will have lands in their yard regularly. I might add Krosan Verge, Grasslands, Evolving Wilds, and Terramorphic Expanse if the original fetches are not in your budget.
What specific cards are you needing with Enlightened Tutor, Academy Rector, and Shred Memory? These limited tutors would be better as any of the pieces above, in my opinion, especially since you have plenty of other more broad tutors already in your list.
Shriekmaw is a pretty good card, but if you're only using it for its ETB ability, there are better cards that do it more consistently. I'd run Ravenous Chupacabra instead, unless you're taking advantage of the evoke ability.
Regarding your deck versus the others, definitely play what and how you want, just be mindful about some common theories of deckbuilding and playing in a casual/friendly meta: one popular thought is to build casually, but play competitively. The thinking behind this is that if you build your deck in a casual way, you won't then be forced to "pull punches" when playing your deck, which can come off as patronizing to your opponents. If you subscribe to this train of thought, then when you're pulling punches during a game (like, with your deck, doing anything with tutors besides assembling your combo as fast as possible), then not everyone is trying to win. And if that's a game that you and your opponents are OK to play, that's great. Just know there is a portion of people who would consider is rude/condescending to play a deck and not try to win.
Edit: post was made on mobile, corrected on desktop.
Thank you so much for the excellent feedback, Outcry!
Those hate bears you listed are all amazing! I think I may definitely swap in Drannith Magistrate for one of my other hate bears. Any suggestions on which of my current hate bears I could possibly swap out for Drannith or some of the others you have listed? I think I have a good balance of hate bears where I would have to swap our rather than just add in and remove another card. Linvala, Keep of Silence and Aura of Silence seems really good to me. I've seen Linvala on some Karador/Boonweaver lists.
Additionally, I think I will keep Deathrite Shaman in my deck. You're right that he is quite a powerful card. As for fetch lands, I think my mana base is fine for now and quite good based on the budget I have. There's not to many straight "enter tapped" lands in there.
For Shriekmaw, I am indeed only using him for his Evoke cost.
As far as our playstyle, I think we do like to get decently competitive...nothing to crazy. I would only be using these tutors to assemble my combo pieces. Would grabbing a hate bear with a tutor if I start slow be too much? As I stated earlier, our games do tend to last longer but our playgroup does have decks able to win by turn 5 (earlier is very rare). Based on my playtesting, I would say I'm able to assemble my win con by turn 5 (sometimes sooner) a decent-ish amount..lol, Though, often I can have some trouble so there will be hate bears in play, which will extend the game much longer. I think I just need to know how to pilot it, i.e. - when to grab a hate bear (appropriately), etc
I'm new to the forums but have been "lurking for some time haha. Happy to finally officially join the community. I need some advice on a Karador deck that I'm making as my first EDH deck.
My decklist: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/karador-boonweaver-hate-bears/
Some background: - I've been playing Magic for a few years casually with my buddies, basically using their decks. I did eventually build a 60 card Modern deck but since then all my friends kind of moved to playing EDH, which is very fun! Recently, I played Chainer and Mayael (my friends decks) and enjoyed them quite a bit. I've been doing a lot of research and decided to construct my first EDH deck with Karador as my commander (I love his card!).
Essentially I started with the Karador reanimator route but eventually canned it for more of the Boonweaver combo route with a strong hate bear suite and tutors. I've been play testing it on Archidekt/Tapped Out, keeping track of my turns and trying to create realistic scenarios. It seems like it's pretty solid but could use some possible changes.
What inspired me to make this deck was actually from a post on here by "Cobblepot" and a Karador + Boonweaver Combo Deck he had constructed. He explains it very in-depth which is awesome, feel free to give his post a read if you want the general understanding of what my Karador deck is trying to do. Here is a link to it: https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/621075-karador-boonweaver-combo
Cobblepot's deck build is from 2015 so I know many things have changed since then so I was able to find a more updated version someone had constructed on here: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/karador-ghost-chief-what-is-dead-may-never-die/
I've been using both the deck lists as kind of "prototypes" and trying to build something similar - though the most updated list is from 2017 - so I could use some suggestions if anything is "outdated" or if there is newer/better option to replace some my current cards. Please bare in mind that I'm not willing to shell out $$$ for the entire land base as I'm only trying to put in about $600 or so currently and we play more casual/somewhat competitive. Most of my buddies I play with I would say have anywhere from $150 - $500 in the decks they are playing, so I also want to make sure my deck isn't too powerful and doesn't simply make it not fun at all for everyone else.
So could you all please provide some feedback and things I could possibly update? I'm aware I have Hulk and Boonweaver both in my deck (I probably only need 1), but sometimes it seems useful in case one ends up in my hand or exiled. Also, please bare in mind I'm still relatively new - but am looking forward to your feedback
Thanks!!
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsHowever, some of the Commanders my buddies use are:
I feel like Yasova could be annoying because it steals my creatures. I would say there decks are in the $200-$500 range. Well constructed and can do some work. Though, are games are naturally a bit longer due to all of our cheaper land bases (though my one buddy was able to win turn 5 with Mayael lol..).
I think I just need to understand better when to try to assemble my combo pieces (grab a sac outlet, Academy Rector, bring back boonweaver, etc) or when to go and get a hate bear instead.. which I imagine is when I start very slow. Basically just understanding when to grab what.. so more insight into that would help
Also - Any recommended updates to the list? I'm still not sure about Apprentice Necromancer (in Cobblepots list from 2015), Deathrite Shaman, Nature's Claim. I was thinking of adding back in Mindslicer or something else.
Regarding your deck versus the others, definitely play what and how you want, just be mindful about some common theories of deckbuilding and playing in a casual/friendly meta: one popular thought is to build casually, but play competitively. The thinking behind this is that if you build your deck in a casual way, you won't then be forced to "pull punches" when playing your deck, which can come off as patronizing to your opponents. If you subscribe to this train of thought, then when you're pulling punches during a game (like, with your deck, doing anything with tutors besides assembling your combo as fast as possible), then not everyone is trying to win. And if that's a game that you and your opponents are OK to play, that's great. Just know there is a portion of people who would consider is rude/condescending to play a deck and not try to win.
Edit: post was made on mobile, corrected on desktop.
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsThose hate bears you listed are all amazing! I think I may definitely swap in Drannith Magistrate for one of my other hate bears. Any suggestions on which of my current hate bears I could possibly swap out for Drannith or some of the others you have listed? I think I have a good balance of hate bears where I would have to swap our rather than just add in and remove another card. Linvala, Keep of Silence and Aura of Silence seems really good to me. I've seen Linvala on some Karador/Boonweaver lists.
Additionally, I think I will keep Deathrite Shaman in my deck. You're right that he is quite a powerful card. As for fetch lands, I think my mana base is fine for now and quite good based on the budget I have. There's not to many straight "enter tapped" lands in there.
Enlightened Tutor, Academy Rector and Shred Memory are all pretty important staples in my deck. With Enlightened Tutor I usually grab Altar of Dementia, which is my most powerful sac outlet. Academy Rector, when sac'd, let's me quickly bring Pattern of Rebirth into play which usually let's me combo out for the win. Shred Memory was more of a recent addition but I use it for it's Transmute cost which lets me search up important cards like Animate Dead, Dance of Dead, Gaddock Teeg, Saffi Eriksdotter, etc.
For Shriekmaw, I am indeed only using him for his Evoke cost.
As far as our playstyle, I think we do like to get decently competitive...nothing to crazy. I would only be using these tutors to assemble my combo pieces. Would grabbing a hate bear with a tutor if I start slow be too much? As I stated earlier, our games do tend to last longer but our playgroup does have decks able to win by turn 5 (earlier is very rare). Based on my playtesting, I would say I'm able to assemble my win con by turn 5 (sometimes sooner) a decent-ish amount..lol, Though, often I can have some trouble so there will be hate bears in play, which will extend the game much longer. I think I just need to know how to pilot it, i.e. - when to grab a hate bear (appropriately), etc