Hi, this started off as a for fun deck only.. but has been doing showing me some nice things so gave it a little budget.
Now, don't expect this anywhere near as fast as the legacy version. Legacy reanimator can bring out a large creature turn 2 or even turn 1. The earliest that my deck can bring out something huge is turn 4, slow right? Well, I thought that to compensate for the speed loss, let's just do some useful things while waiting to get to 4 mana!
The final build of the deck has a total of 10 reanimation targets. Three of these can actually be hard cast in tight situations, or when yard hate is present. Also, there is a main deck amulet to help bypass yard hate as well.
Reason for going Mardu instead of Esper:
It's true that esper is more consistent, because of the gifts rites combo.. however, I like the mardu build because it has the powerful Faithless Looting, and lightning axe - both red spells costing only one mana. Having red also allows the use of Rakdos Charm in the sideboard, which can surprise people not familiar with the deck. And last reason, which I think is an important one... because most of the enablers are R spells, the deck can keep fighting even when under a blood moon.
Sample lines of play:
T1: duress
T2: reunion discarding a large creature + rites
T3: axe + more discard // oblivion ring
T4: use rites or any reanimation spell in hand, although if there's a rites in the yard always use that first
T1: duress
T2: looting + discard
T3: axe + more discard // oblivion ring
T4: reanimation spell
Enablers:
Faithless Looting - 4 in the main, best enabler. Some one land opening hands are keepable if this card is in it.
Cathartic Reunion - 2 in the main.
Tormenting Voice - 1 in the main.
Bedlam Reveler - 2 in the main. With so many instants and sorceries in the deck, he is very easy to cast. Almost always sided out in game 2, as trying to resolve them when our yard is being attacked is almost impossible.
Lightning Axe - in my meta this says deal 5 damage to target noble hierrach, gurmag angler, scavenging ooze, hollow one, and llanowar elves. I know this card is normally a sideboard card, but my area has mostly creature decks so this is a powerful maindeck enabler that also doubles as creature removal. 2 in the main.
Protection:
Thoughtseize - 0 in the main, and it's not for budget reasons. Starting the game at 15 life makes aggro opponents happy.
Inquisition of Kozilek - with modern being very aggressive, this is better than thoughtseize. A playset.
Collective Brutality - best card in the deck. It both serves as protection and also as an enabler to bin our large threats into the yard via escalate. Currently using two.
Duress - useful for getting rid or things like rest in peace, relics, and some other things before they can cast it. 3 in the main.
Mortify - for getting rid of things like rest in peace, scavenging ooze, and leyline of the void. These bring the number of instants and sorceries in the deck to a total of 28, good enough to support Bedlam Reveler.
Reanimation:
Unburial Rites - reanimation spell 1-4. It has two uses if hardcast. Although usually this is another card to bin with faithless looting and voice. 5 lands in play are enough for us. If it is in the yard, always use this first even if we have a reanimation spell in hand.
Zombify - reanimation spell 5-8. Easier to cast than vigor mortis when under a moon effect.
Quicksilver Amulet - not really a reanimation spell, but one is in the main as it offers a way to sidestep grave hate and counterspells. 1 in the side.
Creatures:
Novablast Wurm - this huge wurm is surprisingly effective because modern is a creature format. Counting the turn he got revived, he's a 4 turn clock if not removed. And it's cool imagining him firing a hyper beam pokemon style against a group of Hollow Ones. 1 in the sideboard.
Iona, Shield of Emeria - finish off a mono color deck. 1 in the main, 1 in the side.
Ashen Rider - her inclusion is to help blocking things like Arclight Phoenix. 1 in the main.
Sphinx of the Steel Wind - robot Akroma is strong. 2 in the main.
Blazing Archon - ensnaring bridge with wings and legs. This lion guy wins games. 2 in the main.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - miss Norn is useful against tribal strategies. 1 in the main.
Bloodbaron of Vizkopa - he can actually be hardcast. Another way to sidestep grave hate. 1 in the main.
Currently using version 10:
will be posted here when I receive cards ordered from SCG
Alright after several playstests. Discovered that the addition of 4 faithless looting added velocity to the deck. Also, 7 reanimation targets are enough.
10 reanimation spells are needed.. so I added two unburial rites. Also improved the manabase with some more shock lands.
Thanks for that. I do plan on testing one tormenting voice or a cathartic reunion.
_________________________________
Another thing I will be testing tomorrow is replacing all zombie infestations with lightning axe. To give the deck the ability to interact more with opponent creatures.
And what do people name with Iona when playing against Grixis Shadow. Always name black?
Because my usual playtest partner is a shadow player, although he sometimes play elves.
Being able to choose which creature you reanimate is better than reanimating Iona against colorless deck or Elesh Norn against creatureless deck, thus the Gifts Ungiven + Unburial Rites combo, as lame as it is, ensures you'll try to reanimate the most suitable creature for every situation. You can improve the speed of the deck by playing mana rocks. Mirrodin talismans are the best ones, as they allow you to cast one mana spells the same turn you play them; then I'd rank Ravnica's signets. Thirst for Knowledge can be used to discard extra talismans but also as a loot effect, though not as efficient as Faithless Looting. Another blue card you can play is Taigam's Scheming to stack the top of your deck and send creatures you might like to reanimate and Unburial Rites to the graveyard. Blue also has Dispel as cheap protection, or Stubborn Denial if what worries you is removal after you reanimated your creatures. Having spare Polluted Deltas to build a casual deck, I'd play it with blue, definitely.
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Currently sleeved: WUR Copycat ft. Stoneforge Mystic
Ok, I appreciate the blue suggestion. Unfortunately, I have no gifts ungiven and thirst for knowledge in hand. Might try adding blue when I've finished exploring the red and white options. Have polluted deltas because bought some khans fetches when they were 8-10 dollars cheap years ago.
1. Lightning Axe over-performed. Axing a scavenging ooze feels good. Axe will now be a playset and Mortify just a 2-of.
2. Gemstone Mine has a problem of running out of counters. I was mana screwed a few games because Mine has limited use. Will be replacing all of them with Inspiring Vantage, since my deck uses both red and white as secondary colors.
3. With many red spells in the deck now.. will increase the number of bloodstained mire to 3, and will also add a basic mountain.
4. Rest in Peace totally destroys the deck. So will keep having 2 mortify in the main, and 2 more in the side. Will later upgrade to anguised unmaking if budget permits.
5. Enjoyed the deck, so buy two thoughtseize for it.
Hi, updated the first post with explanation on card choices and sample lines of play.
I'm currently working on the 21 land manabase. Suggestions are welcome. This is basically a mardu deck now.
Attempts to add green to be able to get a +1/+1 counter from vigor mortis has ended in disaster. Not worth going 4 colors.
Never Happened is a strictly worse Doomfall for the most part (unless you want to exile a card from the GY).
Have you considered adding Lingering Souls to have some blockers to stall the game and have some way to pressure opponents who hold countersmagic against your reanimation spells ?
I did not know about Doomfall. That's a good suggestion. Have added Doomfall on my SCG cart.
About lingering souls, I'm thinking two could take mainboard slots that Oblivion Ring is occupying right now. Could just move the rings to the sideboard, since rest in peace and leylines that the ring is for usually appears on game 2 anyway. Will test.
Found two lingering souls in trade binder. Too many fastlands cause problems when our important turn is turn 4, so also borrowed 2 more fetchlands from my other decks.
Also seriously considering Nahiri, the harbinger as a one-of sideboard card. She's another way to get rid of a rest in peace or leyline of the void. Her ultimate can call a Novablast Wurm from the deck to clear the field, or draw 7 from Jin ability.
What do you think about Doomed Necromancer as a reanimation option ?
If it isn't killed it offers an instant speed option to reanimate which plays around counterspells.
Also, what has been your experience with Sheoldred, Whispering One ?
It seems like a decent reaniamtion target which edicts opposing creatures and acts as a reanimation engine by itself though the downside of of no immediate value is certainly an issue.
Liliana, Death's Majesty is pretty high on the mana curve but offers a lot of upside over the typical 4-mana reanimation spell.
As far as reanimation targets, here are some decent options:
# Darigaaz Reincarnated - difficult to remove outside of exile effects and hits hard in the air with haste.
# Ashen Rider - lets you answer any permanent and if removed (unless exiled) gets another one.
# Razaketh, the Foulblooded - especailly good with sac'-fodder like Souls, a big flyer that tutors (and can potentially save other fatties from being exiled)..
# Sire of Insanity - good for fighting combo/control decks which require a critical mass of cards in hand or win through card advantage.
It is probably worse than Jin-Gitaxias for the most part but at least it is possibly to actually cast it.
I do have Ashen Rider in my SCG cart, and will probably be ordered next month along with a single Doomfall. It's not really possible to order anymore this month, because my money already got used up buying the two thoughtseize used in this deck.
Sheoldred is good against GDS decks and any decks that rely on few large creatures as finishers. She will find her way back to the sideboard once I sort it out.
______________________________
Liliana - sadly, no more room for her. 5 cmc is high for reanimating purposes. I don't usually cast rites for 5, most of the time cast it in the yard for 4.
Doomed Necromancer - this guy is not good enough.
1. he takes up our turn 3, which is better used for casting a souls or clearing the opponents hand with discard + setup the yard with reunion
2. it's easier to protect a turn 4 reanimation spell from counterspells than protecting this guy from removal.
3. The reanimation effect does not happen on the turn he is cast. Reanimation effect happens the turn I cast a zombify.
Razaketh is a trap, there isn't much souls tokens to sac for his ability to matter. Exile effects can be dealt with by discarding them from opponent's hand before reanimating something. And if someone does get hit by a path to exile, the deck has 8 large creatures so all hope is not lost.
Darigaaz is ok. Unfortunately, no more room for him.
Sire of Insanity - one copy of this guy might find it's way to the sideboard at some point.
Important things discovered after tests. Some things which look cut and dried when posting on the forum... are actually not as good when applied to real games.
Things that need to be changed from the main:
1. Terastodon - the main problem with mr elephant is he can't block arclight phoenix to protect me. removed form the deck
2. Novablast - very good with elves and hollow one, but bad againhst phoenix decks. moved to the side. replaced with 2 ashen rider
3. Obzedat, ghost Council - these greedy ghosts are strong. Will be added to main deck.
Discovered to be a good sideboard card:
1. Blood Baron of Vizkopa - right now, 2 in the sideboard. He is a house against midrange and mono white decks.
Removed from the sideboard:
1. Pelakka Wurm - this guy is decent, but he has the same problem as the elephant.. he cannot protect me from phoenix attacks.\
Performed well enough:
Resolute Archangel - restoring my life to 20 feels good. And she can stop the pain from phoenix because she flies.
_________________________
Have you considered Elderscale Wurm for the SB ?
It can act as a creature version of Worhip and stop random combo decks that dont interact with you and need to win through damage.
Also, isn't Exquisite Archangel better than Resolute Archangel ?
It is worse against exile effects but preventing a game loss seems like a strong ability to have.
Another creature which is good against Phoenix and aggro decks is Sphinx of the Steel Wind.
(basically Akroma with lifelink instead of trample + haste, and pro-green instead of pro-black).
Thanks. Have added all those to my next SCG shopping cart.
The elderscale actually looks good. I could swap out one novablast to give it a slot in the sideboard.
Have plenty of discard to clear removal spells from opponent's hand, before reanimating it. However, what looks good here might actually have different results in actual play, so need to test it first.
Exquisite is a 5/5 and prevents game loss, but the Resolute feels better because it gives the life upon coming into play, not later. However, I could be wrong. So will also test this in the Burn, Hollow One, and other fast aggro match ups when I order next month.
Sphinx is a staple in legacy reanimator. So this guy is probably good. Have to find a slot in the side for 1.
Only the Oblivion Rings and Amulet are sort of permanent.
The rest of the sideboard are flex slots that change depending on what decks I play against in our LGS.
Yeah, the most dangerous grave hate for me are the enchantments.. leyline of the void and rest in peace.
Wear // Tear has been considered and tested, but the reason I chose Oblivion Ring.. is because it also catches the popular scavenging ooze. As sometimes, GW decks here that have ooze tend to also have rest in peace in their side.
Against an unknown opponent, by "unknown" I mean it is unknown what grave hate they will bring in. My sideboarding for second game is -2 Zombify -2 Lingering souls, +3 Oblivion ring +1 Amulet.
____________________________________
Anguished unmaking is better in a sense, because it exiles permanently. However, the meta here right now is hostile to the card. With so many phoenix, the paying of 3 life is very bad. This is also the reason I only use two thoughtseize.
Hi, this started off as a for fun deck only.. but has been doing showing me some nice things so gave it a little budget.
Now, don't expect this anywhere near as fast as the legacy version. Legacy reanimator can bring out a large creature turn 2 or even turn 1. The earliest that my deck can bring out something huge is turn 4, slow right? Well, I thought that to compensate for the speed loss, let's just do some useful things while waiting to get to 4 mana!
The final build of the deck has a total of 10 reanimation targets. Three of these can actually be hard cast in tight situations, or when yard hate is present. Also, there is a main deck amulet to help bypass yard hate as well.
Reason for going Mardu instead of Esper:
It's true that esper is more consistent, because of the gifts rites combo.. however, I like the mardu build because it has the powerful Faithless Looting, and lightning axe - both red spells costing only one mana. Having red also allows the use of Rakdos Charm in the sideboard, which can surprise people not familiar with the deck. And last reason, which I think is an important one... because most of the enablers are R spells, the deck can keep fighting even when under a blood moon.
Sample lines of play:
T1: duress
T2: reunion discarding a large creature + rites
T3: axe + more discard // oblivion ring
T4: use rites or any reanimation spell in hand, although if there's a rites in the yard always use that first
T1: duress
T2: looting + discard
T3: axe + more discard // oblivion ring
T4: reanimation spell
Enablers:
Faithless Looting - 4 in the main, best enabler. Some one land opening hands are keepable if this card is in it.
Cathartic Reunion - 2 in the main.
Tormenting Voice - 1 in the main.
Bedlam Reveler - 2 in the main. With so many instants and sorceries in the deck, he is very easy to cast. Almost always sided out in game 2, as trying to resolve them when our yard is being attacked is almost impossible.
Lightning Axe - in my meta this says deal 5 damage to target noble hierrach, gurmag angler, scavenging ooze, hollow one, and llanowar elves. I know this card is normally a sideboard card, but my area has mostly creature decks so this is a powerful maindeck enabler that also doubles as creature removal. 2 in the main.
Protection:
Thoughtseize - 0 in the main, and it's not for budget reasons. Starting the game at 15 life makes aggro opponents happy.
Inquisition of Kozilek - with modern being very aggressive, this is better than thoughtseize. A playset.
Collective Brutality - best card in the deck. It both serves as protection and also as an enabler to bin our large threats into the yard via escalate. Currently using two.
Duress - useful for getting rid or things like rest in peace, relics, and some other things before they can cast it. 3 in the main.
Mortify - for getting rid of things like rest in peace, scavenging ooze, and leyline of the void. These bring the number of instants and sorceries in the deck to a total of 28, good enough to support Bedlam Reveler.
Reanimation:
Unburial Rites - reanimation spell 1-4. It has two uses if hardcast. Although usually this is another card to bin with faithless looting and voice. 5 lands in play are enough for us. If it is in the yard, always use this first even if we have a reanimation spell in hand.
Zombify - reanimation spell 5-8. Easier to cast than vigor mortis when under a moon effect.
Quicksilver Amulet - not really a reanimation spell, but one is in the main as it offers a way to sidestep grave hate and counterspells. 1 in the side.
Creatures:
Novablast Wurm - this huge wurm is surprisingly effective because modern is a creature format. Counting the turn he got revived, he's a 4 turn clock if not removed. And it's cool imagining him firing a hyper beam pokemon style against a group of Hollow Ones. 1 in the sideboard.
Iona, Shield of Emeria - finish off a mono color deck. 1 in the main, 1 in the side.
Ashen Rider - her inclusion is to help blocking things like Arclight Phoenix. 1 in the main.
Sphinx of the Steel Wind - robot Akroma is strong. 2 in the main.
Blazing Archon - ensnaring bridge with wings and legs. This lion guy wins games. 2 in the main.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - miss Norn is useful against tribal strategies. 1 in the main.
Bloodbaron of Vizkopa - he can actually be hardcast. Another way to sidestep grave hate. 1 in the main.
Currently using version 10:
will be posted here when I receive cards ordered from SCG
previous versions inside spoiler tag:
2 Iona, shield of emeria
1 Tidespout Tyrant
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
3 Jin Gitaxias, Core Augur
4 Vigor Mortis
4 Zombify
4 Duress
4 Kitesail Freebooter
4 Rotting Rats
4 Zombie Infestation
2 Night's whisper
9 Swamp
1 Godless Shrine
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
1 Novablast Wurm
12 free slots
version 2
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 sheoldred, whispering one
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
4 KitesailFreebooter
2 Sin Collector
3 zombie infestation
4 vigor mortis
4 zombify
2 Unburial Rites
4 mortify
6 Swamp
4 Gemstone mine
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
version 3
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 sheoldred, whispering one
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
4 Kitesail Freebooter
2 thoughtseize
3 Lightning Axe
1 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
4 zombify
2 Unburial Rites
3 mortify
4 Gemstone mine
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
2 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 4
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
4 KitesailFreebooter
2 thoughtseize
4 lightning axe
2 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
4 zombify
2 Unburial Rites
2 Mortify
6 Swamp
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Polluted Delta
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 5
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Sheldred, whispering one
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
1 Novablast Wurm
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
2 KitesailFreebooter
2 thoughtseize
4 lightning axe
1 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
2 zombify
4 Unburial Rites
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Mountain
5 Swamp
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Polluted Delta
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 6:
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Terastodon
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
2 Novablast Wurm
2 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Never Happened
2 thoughtseize
3 lightning axe
3 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
2 zombify
4 Unburial Rites
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Mountain
4 Swamp
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Concealed Courtyard
3 Polluted Delta
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 7:
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Terastodon
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
2 Novablast Wurm
2 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Never Happened
2 thoughtseize
3 lightning axe
3 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
2 zombify
4 Unburial Rites
2 Lingering Souls
1 Mountain
4 Swamp
3 Inspiring Vantage
3 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 8:
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
2 Ashen Rider
2 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 thoughtseize
3 lightning axe
3 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
2 zombify
4 Unburial Rites
2 Lingering Souls
1 Mountain
4 Swamp
2 Inspiring Vantage
3 Concealed Courtyard
1 Gemstone Mine
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
version 9:
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Obzedat, Ghost Council
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
1 Grave Titan
2 Ashen Rider
3 jin-gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 thoughtseize
3 lightning axe
3 Cathartic Reunion
2 vigor mortis
4 zombify
4 Unburial Rites
1 Mountain
4 Swamp
2 Inspiring Vantage
2 Concealed Courtyard
1 Mana Confluence
1 Gemstone Mine
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
Suggestions for large creatures to be reanimated for sideboard are welcome.
I'm also still working on the 21 land manabase. Suggestions are also welcome. Gemstone Mine is only a single because four was too much.
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10 reanimation spells are needed.. so I added two unburial rites. Also improved the manabase with some more shock lands.
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 sheoldred, whispering one
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
4 KitesailFreebooter
2 Sin Collector
3 zombie infestation
4 vigor mortis
4 zombify
2 Unburial Rites
4 mortify
6 Swamp
4 Gemstone mine
4 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Godless Shrine
Thinking if there would be a better protection card than sin collector. Something at cmc 1 or 2.. hmm..
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_________________________________
Another thing I will be testing tomorrow is replacing all zombie infestations with lightning axe. To give the deck the ability to interact more with opponent creatures.
And what do people name with Iona when playing against Grixis Shadow. Always name black?
Because my usual playtest partner is a shadow player, although he sometimes play elves.
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Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Currently sleeved:
WUR Copycat ft. Stoneforge Mystic
Ok, I appreciate the blue suggestion. Unfortunately, I have no gifts ungiven and thirst for knowledge in hand. Might try adding blue when I've finished exploring the red and white options. Have polluted deltas because bought some khans fetches when they were 8-10 dollars cheap years ago.
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Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
1. Lightning Axe over-performed. Axing a scavenging ooze feels good. Axe will now be a playset and Mortify just a 2-of.
2. Gemstone Mine has a problem of running out of counters. I was mana screwed a few games because Mine has limited use. Will be replacing all of them with Inspiring Vantage, since my deck uses both red and white as secondary colors.
3. With many red spells in the deck now.. will increase the number of bloodstained mire to 3, and will also add a basic mountain.
4. Rest in Peace totally destroys the deck. So will keep having 2 mortify in the main, and 2 more in the side. Will later upgrade to anguised unmaking if budget permits.
5. Enjoyed the deck, so buy two thoughtseize for it.
version 4
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 sheoldred, whispering one
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
3 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
4 KitesailFreebooter
2 thoughtseize
4 lightning axe
2 Cathartic Reunion
4 vigor mortis
4 zombify
2 Unburial Rites
2 mortify
6 Swamp
4 Inspiring Vantage
4 Concealed Courtyard
2 Polluted Delta
3 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
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I'm currently working on the 21 land manabase. Suggestions are welcome. This is basically a mardu deck now.
Attempts to add green to be able to get a +1/+1 counter from vigor mortis has ended in disaster. Not worth going 4 colors.
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Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Have you considered adding Lingering Souls to have some blockers to stall the game and have some way to pressure opponents who hold countersmagic against your reanimation spells ?
About lingering souls, I'm thinking two could take mainboard slots that Oblivion Ring is occupying right now. Could just move the rings to the sideboard, since rest in peace and leylines that the ring is for usually appears on game 2 anyway. Will test.
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Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Version 7:
1 iona, shield of emeria
1 Terastodon
1 elesh norn, grand cenobite
2 Novablast Wurm
2 jin gitaxias, core augur
4 duress
2 Collective Brutality
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Never Happened
2 thoughtseize
3 lightning axe
3 Cathartic Reunion
4 Vigor Mortis
2 Zombify
4 Unburial Rites
2 Lingering Souls
1 Mountain
3 Swamp
3 Inspiring Vantage
3 Concealed Courtyard
4 Polluted Delta
4 Bloodstained Mire
1 Blood Crypt
1 Godless Shrine
1 Vault of the Archangel
Sideboard:
1 Resolute Archangel
2 Quicksilver Amulet
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Extirpate
3 Rakdos Charm
1 Languish
2 Oblivion Ring
1 Anger of the Gods
2 free slot
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Also seriously considering Nahiri, the harbinger as a one-of sideboard card. She's another way to get rid of a rest in peace or leyline of the void. Her ultimate can call a Novablast Wurm from the deck to clear the field, or draw 7 from Jin ability.
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If it isn't killed it offers an instant speed option to reanimate which plays around counterspells.
Also, what has been your experience with Sheoldred, Whispering One ?
It seems like a decent reaniamtion target which edicts opposing creatures and acts as a reanimation engine by itself though the downside of of no immediate value is certainly an issue.
Liliana, Death's Majesty is pretty high on the mana curve but offers a lot of upside over the typical 4-mana reanimation spell.
As far as reanimation targets, here are some decent options:
# Darigaaz Reincarnated - difficult to remove outside of exile effects and hits hard in the air with haste.
# Ashen Rider - lets you answer any permanent and if removed (unless exiled) gets another one.
# Razaketh, the Foulblooded - especailly good with sac'-fodder like Souls, a big flyer that tutors (and can potentially save other fatties from being exiled)..
# Sire of Insanity - good for fighting combo/control decks which require a critical mass of cards in hand or win through card advantage.
It is probably worse than Jin-Gitaxias for the most part but at least it is possibly to actually cast it.
Sheoldred is good against GDS decks and any decks that rely on few large creatures as finishers. She will find her way back to the sideboard once I sort it out.
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Liliana - sadly, no more room for her. 5 cmc is high for reanimating purposes. I don't usually cast rites for 5, most of the time cast it in the yard for 4.
Doomed Necromancer - this guy is not good enough.
1. he takes up our turn 3, which is better used for casting a souls or clearing the opponents hand with discard + setup the yard with reunion
2. it's easier to protect a turn 4 reanimation spell from counterspells than protecting this guy from removal.
3. The reanimation effect does not happen on the turn he is cast. Reanimation effect happens the turn I cast a zombify.
Razaketh is a trap, there isn't much souls tokens to sac for his ability to matter. Exile effects can be dealt with by discarding them from opponent's hand before reanimating something. And if someone does get hit by a path to exile, the deck has 8 large creatures so all hope is not lost.
Darigaaz is ok. Unfortunately, no more room for him.
Sire of Insanity - one copy of this guy might find it's way to the sideboard at some point.
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Things that need to be changed from the main:
1. Terastodon - the main problem with mr elephant is he can't block arclight phoenix to protect me. removed form the deck
2. Novablast - very good with elves and hollow one, but bad againhst phoenix decks. moved to the side. replaced with 2 ashen rider
3. Obzedat, ghost Council - these greedy ghosts are strong. Will be added to main deck.
Discovered to be a good sideboard card:
1. Blood Baron of Vizkopa - right now, 2 in the sideboard. He is a house against midrange and mono white decks.
Removed from the sideboard:
1. Pelakka Wurm - this guy is decent, but he has the same problem as the elephant.. he cannot protect me from phoenix attacks.\
Performed well enough:
Resolute Archangel - restoring my life to 20 feels good. And she can stop the pain from phoenix because she flies.
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Hoping the cards I ordered would arrive soon.
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It can act as a creature version of Worhip and stop random combo decks that dont interact with you and need to win through damage.
Also, isn't Exquisite Archangel better than Resolute Archangel ?
It is worse against exile effects but preventing a game loss seems like a strong ability to have.
Another creature which is good against Phoenix and aggro decks is Sphinx of the Steel Wind.
(basically Akroma with lifelink instead of trample + haste, and pro-green instead of pro-black).
The elderscale actually looks good. I could swap out one novablast to give it a slot in the sideboard.
Have plenty of discard to clear removal spells from opponent's hand, before reanimating it. However, what looks good here might actually have different results in actual play, so need to test it first.
Exquisite is a 5/5 and prevents game loss, but the Resolute feels better because it gives the life upon coming into play, not later. However, I could be wrong. So will also test this in the Burn, Hollow One, and other fast aggro match ups when I order next month.
Sphinx is a staple in legacy reanimator. So this guy is probably good. Have to find a slot in the side for 1.
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Empyrial Archangel is a less committal Elderscale Wurm that I have used in the past in Dramatic Entrance decks. This is one of the old Gifts targets, and could be good in this deck.
Ruric Thar is a solid card against KCI, storm, and random other decks. They cast three spells, they are dead.
Well, thanks for the suggestions. Added to cart.
Would have to wait for next month before I can order again.
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Current sideboard:
1 Quicksilver Amulet
2 Novablast Wurm
2 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
3 Rakdos Charm
1 Extirpate
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Resolute Archangel
1 Anger of the Gods
Only the Oblivion Rings and Amulet are sort of permanent.
The rest of the sideboard are flex slots that change depending on what decks I play against in our LGS.
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If so Wear // Tear seems like a better option.
If it is a catch-all then I'd consider Anguished Unmaking/Utter End instead.
Wear // Tear has been considered and tested, but the reason I chose Oblivion Ring.. is because it also catches the popular scavenging ooze. As sometimes, GW decks here that have ooze tend to also have rest in peace in their side.
Against an unknown opponent, by "unknown" I mean it is unknown what grave hate they will bring in. My sideboarding for second game is -2 Zombify -2 Lingering souls, +3 Oblivion ring +1 Amulet.
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Anguished unmaking is better in a sense, because it exiles permanently. However, the meta here right now is hostile to the card. With so many phoenix, the paying of 3 life is very bad. This is also the reason I only use two thoughtseize.
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