I'm considering running card for card what Reid post on CFB recently. The SB seems light on answers vs Abzan Company though. I'm sort of stuck between playing this and Abzan Company.
Competively, these are probably your lowest imapact cards. It looks like you run Laboratory Maniac which requires a lot more card devotion. I think you need to decide how you want to win the game and focus on it. You have lots of expensive spells and a few different win conditions that could probably be cut to smooth out the deck. Looking at some of your tutors and JTMS you have the cash so I'd also look to fix lands. A land like Azorius Guildgate shouldn't be here. You want as few lands as possible entering tapped as possible, unless it's powerful utility.
Can you say which win con you like the most?
I'm not sure just yet to be honest. I'm building this as a deck that can play fair when the table isn't too degenerate or shift into high gear and close the game quickly if the combo decks are present.
Thanks for the feedback! I'll take a look at your list. It's funny, I actually had Magister Sphinx on the list earlier but took it off. I think you're right though, the sphinx and Sorin Markov should probably be back on the list. My land base is absolutely in need of work. I'm not the best at crafting a decent manabase, that's for sure.
So I recently moved and the meta I've moved to is quite competitive. I've been working on a stronger list than I'm used to running and would love to get some input on what I have so far. I'm 16 cards over and could really use some fresh eyes on what I have together up to this point. Any constructive input is appreciated! Here's the list:
I've always loved this list but never played in a meta competitive enough to warrant playing it...that's changed. What I'm posting is Sheldon's list verbatim. I'd like to see if anyone else had some insight or suggestions for changes to the deck in case it hasn't been updated in awhile.
I was thinking of adding a little graveyard hate in the form of Rest in Peace which also combos with Helm of Obedience so that's a bonus. I'll also be adding Stranglehold. Any other notable includes I should think about?
So my commander games lately have been consisting of everyone going : tutor, tutor, tutor, turn 4 combo kill you. So I'm at a bit of a crossroads here. I can build something to be the fun police, Sheldon's Ruhan with all the damage redirect and fog effects comes to mind. Another option is the old if you can't beat em join em routine. This isn't limited to a single store either, it's my area in general. Just not really sure what to do or build. Something broken or something like Ruhan or Gaddock Teeg?
I would play Bant. Linvala Keeper of Silence, Gaddock Teeg, Sigarda Host of Herons, countermagic, exiling removal, value cards and combos. If it's not Bant I'd go Esper as those colors offer silly good strategies coupled with disruption.
A Sydri, Galvanic Genius is one I'm considering but I imagine leaning so heavily on artifacts could lead to quite the blow out.
I guess when you say "goodstuff", you don't mean Battlecruiser Magic, but rather a deck/strategy that doesn't have a single critical bottleneck "make it or break it" point, that if your play gets dealt with you're pretty much out of it? If that is the case, I'd probably second the Tasigur recommendations.
This is exactly what I meant! Isn't Tasigur's ability pretty bad in EDH though?
Personally I'd recommend something smaller like Jori En. Its hard to make Riku of Two Reflections etc stick against strong decks and players who know what that guy is all about
That's a solid point. I find Jori En pretty lackluster though.
Goodstuff, or Battlecruiser Magic, doesn't usually do all that well in competitive metas. The closest thing is probably animar, soul of elements, which can both combo out by turn 4 consistently and play a few of the stronger Eldrazi for free.
I strongly considered Animar but I've played it before and really didn't like the lack of interaction. I was basically playing Solitare.
Thanks for all the input guys! I think Riku is the way I'll want to go. Maelstrom Wanderer will probably paint too big of a target on my head (like Riku won't? Lol).
I'm not sure just yet to be honest. I'm building this as a deck that can play fair when the table isn't too degenerate or shift into high gear and close the game quickly if the combo decks are present.
1x Ajani's Pridemate
1x Archangel of Thune
1x Ashen Rider
1x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
1x Bloodgift Demon
1x Burnished Hart
1x Clever Impersonator
1x Clone
1x Consecrated Sphinx
1x Crypt Ghast
1x Deadeye Navigator
1x Divinity of Pride
1x Draining Whelk
1x Drogskol Reaver
1x Duplicant
1x Felidar Sovereign
1x Karlov of the Ghost Council
1x Laboratory Maniac
1x Myojin of Cleansing Fire
1x Myojin of Night's Reach
1x Myojin of Seeing Winds
1x Palinchron
1x Phyrexian Metamorph
1x Sun Titan
1x Sunscorch Regent
1x Rhox Faithmender
1x Serra Ascendant
1x Solemn Simulacrum
Artifacts:19
1x Alhammarret's Archive
1x Venser's Journal
1x Well of Lost Dreams
1x Azorius Signet
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Coalition Relic
1x Commander's Sphere
1x Dimir Signet
1x Gilded Lotus
1x Jester's Cap
1x Mimic Vat
1x Mind Stone
1x Nevinyrral's Disk
1x Orzhov Signet
1x Thought Vessel
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sol Ring
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Arcane Sanctum
1x Azorius Guildgate
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Coastal Tower
1x Command Tower
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Dimir Guildgate
1x Glacial Fortress
1x Godless Shrine
4x Island
1x Hallowed Fountain
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Jwar Isle Refuge
1x Maze of Ith
1x Orzhov Basilica
4x Plains
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Scoured Barrens
1x Shimmering Grotto
1x Strip Mine
3x Swamp
1x Temple of Deceit
1x Temple of Enlightenment
1x Temple of Silence
1x Temple of the False God
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Tranquil Cove
Enchantments:8
1x Blind Obedience
1x Collective Restraint
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
1x Exquisite Blood
1x Greed
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Rest in Peace
1x Rhystic Study
1x Sanguine Bond
1x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sorcery:9
1x Armageddon
1x Austere Command
1x Supreme Verdict
1x Wrath of God
1x Merciless Eviction
1x Exsanguinate
1x Rite of Replication
1x Time Stretch
1x Diabolic Tutor
Instants:13
1x Mortify
1x Path to Exile
1x Return to Dust
1x Spell Crumple
1x Sphinx's Revelation
1x Swords to Plowshares
1x Utter End
1x Vampiric Tutor
1x Blue Sun's Zenith
1x Counterspell
1x Cyclonic Rift
1x Forbid
1x Hinder
Thanks for looking!
1 Phyrexian Metamorph
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Aura Thief
1 Boros Reckoner
1 Clone
1 Gilded Drake
1 Illusory Ambusher
1 Mischievous Quanar
1 Sun Titan
1 Viashino Heretic
1 Willbender
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
7 Island
6 Mountain
6 Plains
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Command Tower
1 Glacial Fortress
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Mistveil Plains
1 Mystic Monastery
1 Plateau
1 Prairie Stream
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Rogue's Passage
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Tundra
1 Vesuva
1 Academy Ruins
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Boros Signet
1 Coalition Relic
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Gilded Lotus
1 Hedron Archive
1 Helm of Obedience
1 Jeskai Banner
1 Mimic Vat
1 Mind Stone
1 Sol Ring
1 Sunforger
1 Thought Vessel
1 Aether Flash
1 Blind Obedience
1 Burning Earth
1 Copy Enchantment
1 Karmic Justice
1 Land Tax
1 Lightmine Field
1 Powerstone Minefield
1 Repercussion
1 Rhystic Study
1 Blue Sun's Zenith
1 Boros Fury-Shield
1 Cerebral Vortex
1 Comeuppance
1 Dawn Charm
1 Dazzling Reflection
1 Deflecting Palm
1 Desertion
1 Gather Specimens
1 Hibernation
1 Honorable Passage
1 Mirror Match
1 Mirror Strike
1 Parallectric Feedback
1 Radiate
1 Reflect Damage
1 Reins of Power
1 Reiterate
1 Reverse Damage
1 Turn the Tables
1 Acidic Soil
1 Blasphemous Act
1 Chain Reaction
1 Day's Undoing
1 Final Judgment
1 Incite Rebellion
1 Knowledge Exploitation
I was thinking of adding a little graveyard hate in the form of Rest in Peace which also combos with Helm of Obedience so that's a bonus. I'll also be adding Stranglehold. Any other notable includes I should think about?
Off the top of my head:Karador combo, Mizzix combo, infect and Borbor LD are what I've seen thus far.
I'm noticing a lot of my answers could be artifact based. I wonder if I can make Sydri, Galvanic Genius competitive enough?
A Sydri, Galvanic Genius is one I'm considering but I imagine leaning so heavily on artifacts could lead to quite the blow out.
This is exactly what I meant! Isn't Tasigur's ability pretty bad in EDH though?
That's a solid point. I find Jori En pretty lackluster though.
I strongly considered Animar but I've played it before and really didn't like the lack of interaction. I was basically playing Solitare.