Maybe its just a bad habit of mine but anytime I even think of using Heliod I automatically include Skullclamp. While you dont have a ton of targets for it, even giving it to bruna for 1 extra damage or life point isnt terrible since the first strike. just a thought, could replace Mask of Memory maybe.
also since you have a bunch of tutors maybe a Mistveil Plains could serve a purpose.
I think I like blood mist over true conviction. I know that true conviction affects everything and gives lifelink, but if you're blowing up the world anyways, 3R becomes a lot easier to cast than 3WWW and hits before zurgo does, making your clock that much quicker. It's also immune to obliterate unlike some of the equipment.
Blood mist is a card i often forget about... i think it should be tested and has good synergy with what you are trying to do here. But, that being said, I think that Boros Charm could easily replace either of those cards. Boros Charm really fits this deck, a way to protect Zurgo off your turn, or the double strike when you need it. I think its almost worth running Sunforger + Mistveil Plains, but thats just my opinion.
Also, maybe some manlands would be nice as well, so you have a way to plink people down after a board wipe if you cant cast Zurgo for whatever reason. All three of the dual colored arent bad, Lavaclaw Reaches, Shambling Vent, and Needle Spires
Juniper Order Ranger has definitely been on the chopping block for a while, but with all of the various human tokens entering the battlefield, I was thinking it may be worth it to keep him in. Melira can go because she's too narrow. Herald of War seems good because she makes my angels and humans a lot cheaper (assuming things like Gavony/Juniper Order Ranger are putting counters on her, I guess). Perhaps I should just slice off the parts that require putting counters on things.
I'm curious why you'd cut Odric; having an angel and Odric out means everything can have flying, which is pretty relevant; or having one of my many first-strikers out means everyone has first strike, which can be super relevant in combat. It also makes lifelink and vigilance spread to everyone.
Yisan seems pretty busted on paper; is he not that good in practice? He'll have hexproof with Sigarda out so he'll dodge a lot of spot removal that would otherwise happen if he's churning out a free (and increasingly potent) threat every turn.
My thoughts on Juniper were that if you draw him later in the game, he is going to be mostly a dead draw. He feels almost more like a win-more card to me, in order for him to stay relevant you need to keep pumping out tokens. He is not bad at all, but i feel like there could be better choices. Same with Herald of War, your CMC isnt too high, and if you spam everything you get out and get board wiped, you could be in a bad position. She doesnt make an impact when she hits the field.
I have just never personally gotten Odric to work, i guess people in my playgroup pretty much hate him. You need a field for him to work, but with Sigarda at the helm you might be right to include him.
My thoughts on Yisan was that most of your creatures are 3 CMC or less, so after the third activation you'll have less to pick from and once you get past 5 he will become virtually useless. I feel like generic card draw would be better, but that just my opinion haha
i know you play at a lot higher level than i do, but i am looking to test out some of the cards for sure. They may not warrent a spot over anything else, but i like trying new stuff out. I want to try Recruiter of the Guard, Sanctum Prelate and Covenant of Minds.
I do run some more utility creatures that Recruiter of the Guard can grab, and sanctum prelate looks interesting.
Covenant of the minds looks like a neat Fact or Fiction
I havent used Hanweir Battlements/Hanweir Garrison yet, but i was hoping to try them out in this deck. On their own they are each pretty good, so I dont think i would ever morph them to be honest unless it represented lethal damage. Battlements is a faster but colorless Flamekin Village, and Garrison is a decent token producer, like Hero of Bladehold.
Cant say i have seen Crackdown before, I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of that for some other decks
Im glad other people see some promises in the new Marchesa
My first thoughts were to make a aggro deck, because if you are the aggressor you have the means to gain control back of the monarch should you lose it, and the card draw fits in nicely to refill the hand. While this may not be the best strategy, i am looking forward to trying it out. I will have to put up my list soon, but as for now here is a very rough draft in case you get any ideas:
Im still toying around with ideas, and my list is pretty heavy on legendaries.
As for a pillowfort, i think it is another very viable direction for her. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben i think is better than Vryn Wingmare in this list as it is cheaper to play, helping you get online earlier. Since you arent running any attacking equipment, the flying doesnt matter too much. That being said, im not sure if its a card you want to run as it will hinder you from building up the fort. Maybe a Meekstone instead? Behind the Scenes feels subpar, Filth + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth seems a lot more consistent and also fixes mana. This also opens the possibilty for a Cabal Coffers for some awesome Debt to the Deathless Warstorm Surge also feels a little out of place, i dont think you will get a lot of value from it. I would consider Mimic Vat, Open the Vaults, or Magus of the Disk instead.
if you are looking for another orb to get all 7, there are a bunch of others that are actually quite useful. stuff like Mindlock Orb, Torpor Orb, Witchbane Orb, or Zuran Orb if you ever put in a land package. Winter orb seems like it would hurt you quite a bit.
i would think it would awesome if you could find space for one of the spirit dragons, like Fenrir Rex had mentioned. IMO Yosei, the Morning Star would fit the theme and playstyle well.
Hey! if you guys are still making awesome sigs, I would love to have one.
I would like to use Dakkon Blakblade(chronicles art), Kamahl Pitfighter(tenth edition), Puresteel Paladin, and Knight of the Reliquary(duel deck art). If you could fit in text like "All knights must bleed", that would be cool too. I don't have any other conditions, you are free to design it as you see fit. thanks in advance!!
so you need to find space for sigarda's aid, stonehewer Giant, assault suit, and reconnaissance, assuming you trade the batterskull for keranos, lancers for world queller, sunhome for desolate lighthouse and seize the day for relentless assault.
figuring out those last four to cut is gonna be tough... While I dont have any experience with the deck, my thoughts are that Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight are some of the weaker cards at the moment. I have had mixed results with Daxos of Meletis whenever i try to use him, not sure if he is reliable enough to warrant a spot over, say, reconnaissance.
also, i have been using Swiftfoot boots over Lightning greaves in a lot of builds lately because i hate having to unequip to target. While the extra mana sucks, curious to see if you have ever run into any problems.
also since you have a bunch of tutors maybe a Mistveil Plains could serve a purpose.
Blood mist is a card i often forget about... i think it should be tested and has good synergy with what you are trying to do here. But, that being said, I think that Boros Charm could easily replace either of those cards. Boros Charm really fits this deck, a way to protect Zurgo off your turn, or the double strike when you need it. I think its almost worth running Sunforger + Mistveil Plains, but thats just my opinion.
Also, maybe some manlands would be nice as well, so you have a way to plink people down after a board wipe if you cant cast Zurgo for whatever reason. All three of the dual colored arent bad, Lavaclaw Reaches, Shambling Vent, and Needle Spires
any room for Shizo, Death's Storehouse? just another way for him to get through
and Hatred can come out of nowhere sometimes, or Tainted Strike.
Guardian Beast could be very important for all of your artifacts as well, a pseudo-avacyn perhaps. Or Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer/Goblin Welder
My thoughts on Juniper were that if you draw him later in the game, he is going to be mostly a dead draw. He feels almost more like a win-more card to me, in order for him to stay relevant you need to keep pumping out tokens. He is not bad at all, but i feel like there could be better choices. Same with Herald of War, your CMC isnt too high, and if you spam everything you get out and get board wiped, you could be in a bad position. She doesnt make an impact when she hits the field.
I have just never personally gotten Odric to work, i guess people in my playgroup pretty much hate him. You need a field for him to work, but with Sigarda at the helm you might be right to include him.
My thoughts on Yisan was that most of your creatures are 3 CMC or less, so after the third activation you'll have less to pick from and once you get past 5 he will become virtually useless. I feel like generic card draw would be better, but that just my opinion haha
maybe think about Den Protector and Aura Shards? and if you like clues, then Tamiyo's Journal/Magnifying Glass/Bygone Bishop?
i would probably cut Herald of War, Juniper Order Ranger, Odric, Lunarch Marshal, Melira, Sylvok Outcast and Yisan, the Wanderer Bard
i know you play at a lot higher level than i do, but i am looking to test out some of the cards for sure. They may not warrent a spot over anything else, but i like trying new stuff out. I want to try Recruiter of the Guard, Sanctum Prelate and Covenant of Minds.
I do run some more utility creatures that Recruiter of the Guard can grab, and sanctum prelate looks interesting.
Covenant of the minds looks like a neat Fact or Fiction
Cant say i have seen Crackdown before, I definitely want to get my hands on a copy of that for some other decks
also, you should probably run a Phyrexian Arena as well.
My first thoughts were to make a aggro deck, because if you are the aggressor you have the means to gain control back of the monarch should you lose it, and the card draw fits in nicely to refill the hand. While this may not be the best strategy, i am looking forward to trying it out. I will have to put up my list soon, but as for now here is a very rough draft in case you get any ideas:
1 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1 Anathemancer
1 Ankle Shanker
1 Anya, Merciless Angel
1 Archangel Avacyn Flip
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Bruna, the Fading Light
1 Filth
1 Gisela, the Broken Blade
1 Hanweir Garrison
1 Heliod, God of the Sun
1 Hero of Bladehold
1 Iroas, God of Victory
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Knights of the Black Rose
1 Legion Loyalist
1 Reassembling Skeleton
1 Restoration Angel
1 Tariel, Reckoner of Souls
1 Thalia's Lancers
1 Weathered Wayfarer
1 Zurgo Helmsmasher
1 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
1 Sorin, Grim Nemesis
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Darksteel Plate
1 Elbrus, the Binding Blade
1 Expedition Map
1 Hero's Blade
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Mimic Vat
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Pyromancer's Goggles
1 Rakdos Signet
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Sunforger
1 Sword of Vengeance
1 Animate Dead
1 Fervent Charge
1 Goblin Assault
1 Land Tax
1 Mardu Ascendancy
1 Nahiri's Machinations
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Reconnaissance
1 Blasphemous Act
1 Insurrection
1 Vindicate
1 Contested War Zone
1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
1 Hanweir Battlements
8 Mountain
14 Plains
1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
8 Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Vesuva
1 Westvale Abbey Flip
1 Anguished Unmaking
1 Boros Charm
1 Crackling Doom
1 Orzhov Charm
1 Rakdos Charm
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Tithe
Im still toying around with ideas, and my list is pretty heavy on legendaries.
As for a pillowfort, i think it is another very viable direction for her.
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben i think is better than Vryn Wingmare in this list as it is cheaper to play, helping you get online earlier. Since you arent running any attacking equipment, the flying doesnt matter too much. That being said, im not sure if its a card you want to run as it will hinder you from building up the fort. Maybe a Meekstone instead?
Behind the Scenes feels subpar, Filth + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth seems a lot more consistent and also fixes mana. This also opens the possibilty for a Cabal Coffers for some awesome Debt to the Deathless
Warstorm Surge also feels a little out of place, i dont think you will get a lot of value from it. I would consider Mimic Vat, Open the Vaults, or Magus of the Disk instead.
Venser's Journal and Riptide Laboratory are a little bit more expensive but are solid cards for your deck. Training Grounds is interesting as well.
if you are looking for another orb to get all 7, there are a bunch of others that are actually quite useful. stuff like Mindlock Orb, Torpor Orb, Witchbane Orb, or Zuran Orb if you ever put in a land package. Winter orb seems like it would hurt you quite a bit.
i would think it would awesome if you could find space for one of the spirit dragons, like Fenrir Rex had mentioned. IMO Yosei, the Morning Star would fit the theme and playstyle well.
edit** Spirit Mantle looks cool too
also, goblin fireslinger might be a lot faster Prodigal Pyromancer, although you lose the ability to ping a creature.
very cool list!!
edit** it might be cool to add a Stuffy doll+Blasphemous Act combo, as it can help against people who can make themselves hexproof.
I would like to use Dakkon Blakblade(chronicles art), Kamahl Pitfighter(tenth edition), Puresteel Paladin, and Knight of the Reliquary(duel deck art). If you could fit in text like "All knights must bleed", that would be cool too. I don't have any other conditions, you are free to design it as you see fit. thanks in advance!!
so you need to find space for sigarda's aid, stonehewer Giant, assault suit, and reconnaissance, assuming you trade the batterskull for keranos, lancers for world queller, sunhome for desolate lighthouse and seize the day for relentless assault.
figuring out those last four to cut is gonna be tough... While I dont have any experience with the deck, my thoughts are that Elspeth, Knight-Errant and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight are some of the weaker cards at the moment. I have had mixed results with Daxos of Meletis whenever i try to use him, not sure if he is reliable enough to warrant a spot over, say, reconnaissance.
also, i have been using Swiftfoot boots over Lightning greaves in a lot of builds lately because i hate having to unequip to target. While the extra mana sucks, curious to see if you have ever run into any problems.