MTG Salvation

By itself does Painter's Servant enable any combo's in this deck? I get that it lets you recur your artifacts and lands but we already have Yawgmoth's Will/Buried Ruin for that (I don't know if the primer list is up to date but you've even got Shrouded Lore in there). Additionally, those cards are usually the ones you would want to recur the least, unless I need a combo piece back (why not just go for a different combo?) I usually want to recur tutors and draw spells the most.


Not saying it's not worth a slot, just trying to think about where it fits in the deck.

Edit: It's probably also worth considering that if you name black to improve Xiahou value then you blank your Snuff Out and Slaughter Pact.

By itself it might not be good enough but with Necro and Top already in the deck it's insane (you can shift lands off the top). Obvious synergies with it would be Aetherflux Reservoir and Tendrils of Agony. I'm thinking of shifting my deck a bit to include it, but I'm not sure what to cut...

You're right that it's expensive but with rituals it won't be that hard to get there. It might also need some support in the form of grim monolith and mana vault.

Thanks for the primer anyway, I've been playing Xiahou for a year or so now and used your primer a lot when I was first doing research. A lot of useful thoughts and information

Strixhaven Review:

Introduction to Annihilation isn't as relevant with no more Iona in the format, but it's still a cool card.

Baleful Mastery is a serious consideration for the removal suite. Not confident about what I'd cut for it though.

Oriq Loremage is cool, but I don't think I want it at higher than 3 mana.

Professor Onyx - 6 mana? Oof. It's cool but way too costly.

The Biblioplex - Probably not quite good enough but fun to theorycraft.

Commander 2021 Review:

Cunning Rhetoric - I wish this was a bit stronger, but I like the style of the card.

Keen Duelist - If only it fit better! It's so good but yet so painful. Consideration all the same.

Stinging Study - At 4 mana, I'd seriously consider snatching this up. At 5, it's not quite worth it to me.

Kaldheim Review:

Burning-Rune Demon - Interesting concept, not quite effective enough execution.

Draugr Necromancer - I'd consider a 3-drop version of this.

Dream Devourer - This seems really damn good. Setting up combo pieces and hiding them from people is solid, and playing, say, Painter's Servant, on turn 3 for 0 would be actually ridiculously good.

Replicating Ring - Too slow, but kinda cute.

Tyrite Sanctum - If the land slots weren't tight as is, I'd consider running this as a backup plan card. I might still consider it. Attacking with XHD is always fun.

i think you mite want to reconsider ur zendikar rising review, it gave you an out to a resolved rest in peace or leyline of the void, in feed the swarm + it also doubles as creature removal if you needed it. also you mite consider agadeem, the undercrypt, its a land if you need it to be & a spell for late game shenanigans.

also, not sure how up to date the list is on page 1 of the thread, but wouldnt hero's downfall be better than dismember? you've already got a few -x/-x effects w/ mutilate & toxic deluge & being able to hit planeswalkers is nice. besides, how often are you really needing to kill a creature in the 1st cpl of turns before you actually have the mana to cast dismember w/o losing life & @ that pt, you could just spend the 3 mana & cast hero's downfall.