Pretty straightforward build - as many spirits and arcane as possible, to reliably get whatever aura is best for neutralizing the enemy commanders. Hopefully that'll force them to use their own removal to recover their commanders, which with the protective auras should keep Tallowisp alive long enough to get it well protected with auras, and then drop some offensive auras - usually empyrial armor and/or ethereal armor, possibly with something to give the 'wisp flying if protection isn't enough to get it through.
Doubt it'll be as explosive as symbiote, but it has a lot more disruptive capabilities. Should be a fun addition to the old commander box.
Looks pretty similar to my list. I didn't think about mortal obstinacy, that one's actaully really handy to have since it gives you a whole different type of removal through tallowisp.
although there's a few cards in your list I'm curious about. Are the flagbearers worth it? I like spellskite, but the fact that they MUST target the flagbearer means that someone might HAVE to kill your flagbearer before targeting someone else's threat. So it could actually be a hindrance, unless you're the one with the most dangerous creatures.
I also have to say that I disagree with not including the other arcane/spirit instants. While they're not especially powerful (although quiet purity is fine), I think the ability to reliably tutor for an aura at instant speed (especially, say, cho-manno's blessing or temporal isolation) is worth it, and they're all cheap and instants, so for 3 mana you can protect your creature or neutralize theirs, and get the minor benefit of a defense boost or a token in addition.
1 Tallowisp
Spirits (24)
1 angelic page
1 custodi squire
1 chapel geist
1 ghost warden
1 guardian of the guildpact
1 hopeful eidolon
1 hundred-talon kami
1 kabuto moth
1 kami of ancient law
1 kami of false hope
1 keening apparition
1 lantern kami
1 moonlight geist
1 moonlit strider
1 niblis of the mist
1 noble vestige
1 phantom nomad
1 revered dead
1 voiceless spirit
1 waxmane baku
1 avian changeling
1 shields of velis vel
1 benevolent ancestor
1 heliod's pilgrim (close nuff)
1 blessed breath
1 ethereal haze
1 hundred-talon strike
1 otherworldly journey
1 plow through reito?
1 quiet purity?
1 spiritual visit
1 terashi's grasp
defensive auras (12)
1 arrest
1 pacifism
1 recumbent bliss
1 kirtar's desire
1 hobble
1 weight of conscience
1 temporal isolation
1 cessation
1 cage of hands
1 detainment spell
1 shackles
1 gelid shackles
offensive auras (5)
1 empyrial armor
1 ethereal armor
1 call to serve
1 nimbus wings
1 mageta's boon
1 hyena umbra
1 cho-manno's blessing
1 pentarch ward
1 eland umbra
1 chosen by heliod
other protection (2)
1 whispersilk cloak
1 shelter
other removal (3)
1 oblivion ring
1 reprisal
1 radiant's judgment
too good not to (2)
1 bonesplitter
1 ulamog's crusher
ramp
1 springleaf drum
1 mind stone
land (36)
1 opal palace
1 quicksand
1 haunted fengraf
1 radiant fountain
1 drifting meadow
1 secluded steppe
32 snow-covered plains
Pretty straightforward build - as many spirits and arcane as possible, to reliably get whatever aura is best for neutralizing the enemy commanders. Hopefully that'll force them to use their own removal to recover their commanders, which with the protective auras should keep Tallowisp alive long enough to get it well protected with auras, and then drop some offensive auras - usually empyrial armor and/or ethereal armor, possibly with something to give the 'wisp flying if protection isn't enough to get it through.
Doubt it'll be as explosive as symbiote, but it has a lot more disruptive capabilities. Should be a fun addition to the old commander box.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
EDH Decks:
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Tajic, Blade of the Legion
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Ezuri, Renegade Leader 1v1
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher 1v1
Hythonia the Cruel
Trying to build:
Jenara, Asura of War
Designing a Custom Set:
Clash of the Cultures: 5 Wedges, 5 Cultures
Providing Artwork for:
Archester: Frontier of Steam
although there's a few cards in your list I'm curious about. Are the flagbearers worth it? I like spellskite, but the fact that they MUST target the flagbearer means that someone might HAVE to kill your flagbearer before targeting someone else's threat. So it could actually be a hindrance, unless you're the one with the most dangerous creatures.
I also have to say that I disagree with not including the other arcane/spirit instants. While they're not especially powerful (although quiet purity is fine), I think the ability to reliably tutor for an aura at instant speed (especially, say, cho-manno's blessing or temporal isolation) is worth it, and they're all cheap and instants, so for 3 mana you can protect your creature or neutralize theirs, and get the minor benefit of a defense boost or a token in addition.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6