A third creature is necessary. I found this out the hard way sometime last week. However, I don't think Phantasmal Image is it. Having it as an Oath target doesn't really give you the full value of the card. Trust me, it sucks flipping over Phantasmal Image targeting a Forbidden Orchard token.
i dont think taking out the "get an untapped forest" cards is a good idea. good tempo while not tapping you out. but rampant growth is bad though.
good call on sudden death i didnt play that card for YEARS
titan can get urborg/cabal for value or maze/treetop vs creatures. its a card i have alot of respect for. but i guess oath is a good jsutification.
Nature's Lore is probably worth keeping in that respect but Rampant Growth can probably go. "Protecting my investment" early on just seems better than tapping out in the early turns for fixing I rarely ever need. It being useless late game seems to seal the deal (for me at least).
When i saw Primeval Titan, Urborg and Coffers were usually my tutor targets and it goes without saying how good that card is (in a deck that can effectively abuse him). For what its worth, he was my last creature cut lol. However, i really only found myself using Coffers + Urborg to hardcast Eldrazi. Might as well just oath them into play. Just seemed win more to me after realizing i could cut out the middle man and just beat face with Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.
Another card i thought about trying out was Ghastly Demise. My graveyard is relatively full early on so it might be relevant. I feel like it might be a bit too cute though.
I played a few games the other night sans Primeval Titan and Eternal Witness (as well as a few other creatures) and I can't really say i miss them in this iteration of the deck. Primeval Titan doesn't really get me anything I need and it certainly doesn't win me the game. I usually go for Forbidden Orchard early on, making the Titan underwhelming.
Phantasmal Image is good. Its won me more than a few games for sure, but its less appealing in this deck with the lack of targets. Same goes for Snapcaster Mage. Oathing into it is not ideal. I think Regrowth and Gaea's Blessing are sufficient recursion for this version of Damia.
Great post, Evergreen. My fascination for Iname is definitely not as deep seeded as yours and as such I only have three comments:
Wow at Demonic Consultation. I ran this card for all of about 9 seconds. The first time I played it the named card was the 4th card and I promptly took it out.
Secondly, I'm sure this is mostly a metagame call and I'm answering my own question but how has Xenic Poltergeist been for you? I find myself using him all the time in conjunction with Horror/Ghast/Traitor for artifact removal.
Lastly, No need for Bojuka Bog? Outside of Lake of the Dead, this is my map target right before a mass reanimation.
List looks pretty damn good. My list has been going through a few months of playtesting and guidance from a few on here as well (Khymera and Evergreen). It seems you're missing a few cards that have been great for me.
Landbase
Axe 3 swamps and Cabal Coffers (its too slow in this deck. Everytime I've drawn it I wished it was a swamp) and add ...
The rest are more of a metagame call. I don't really play Kagemaro or Myojin. I play Midnight Banshee (Metagame has a good deal of token decks) and Akuta, Born of Ash instead.
Xenic Poltergeist is one of the very FEW ways (one of 3 possibly) to get rid of artifacts. It is also a spirit.
Other than that, your list looks really streamlined. Imperial Seal for me is Brainspoil since I don't want to shell out the money for one. My list isn't online
Removal looks good.
Dark Confidant has proven that its inclusion is warranted.
Drop Diabolic Intent. Its been terrible for me at least. I'd rather be saccing creatures for Clamp or Horror.
My artifact acceleration is a bit different than yours. I've tried to make sure I don't lock myself out with Null Rod. I have Extraplanar Lens and Jet Medallion. Lens is on the chopping block as I wouldn't want to get 2-for-1'd. But so far I haven't had that issue.
Edit: I'd also like to state that I won't go into any of the inherent synergies that I have not discovered myself unless I get the OK to do so. I assumed that anything else discussed with myself Khymera and Evergreen was in confidence and will remain as such until I get the all clear.
What about a card like Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician? Seems if they were going to die anyway a pseudo goblin grenade doesn't seem bad. I've found this card to be a beast in tribal goblins.
Null Rod and Plunge Into Darkness are two underrated cards in EDH (moreso the latter). Null Rod has locked out so many decks I've played against (Damping Matrix as well) and Plunge has won so many games by digging for combo pieces.
Also, Have to you tried substituting Persecute for Abandon Hope (or run alongside)? Abandon Hope lets you choose what cards to discard (as opposed to choosing a color), lower cost thats less taxing on the manabase, and acts as a discard outlet in itself.
Edit: The more I play Tectonic Edge, the more I don't like it. I'd play Rishadan Port over Tectonic Edge personally.
I've been playing and tuning this deck for the last 7 weeks or so. This general is an excellent choice if you really understand WHY Iname is so amazing.
Drop the Mortal Combat strategy. It just isn't effective. You could probably get away with axing 10 or those terrible spirits and use the empty slots to streamline your win condition (cast iname, dump spirits in the bin, reanimate).
Null Rod is amazing against some decks and good against most. I'd include it along with Pithing Needle. This does affect some of your mana acceleration but it might be worth taking some of it out.
Lastly, I second Kuro, Pitlord (or third). He's such a house in this deck. Removal, big swinger and a spirit. Can't ask for much more than that.
Iname is indeed a fine general. Probably one of the most underrated generals in the format in my opinion. But I digress.
I think this thread is exactly what the EDH community needs. EDH is fun. Its even more fun when you win. Its even MORE fun molding and tuning your decks to run like well-oiled machines (which is amazing to do with a bunch of singletons). I applaud the decklists posted thusfar. They are a real testament to the complexity of this format. Hopefully I'll feel comfortable enough to post a few decklists of my own soon. I really hope this thread blossoms into something great (moreso than it already has).
Counterbalance and Equilibrium come to mind. If you're playing Top it seems like it would be a worthwhile inclusion. Intuition might be a nice inclusion as well.
Maybe something like Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur/Woodfall Primus/Terastodon/or whatever other creature you see fit?
Nature's Lore is probably worth keeping in that respect but Rampant Growth can probably go. "Protecting my investment" early on just seems better than tapping out in the early turns for fixing I rarely ever need. It being useless late game seems to seal the deal (for me at least).
When i saw Primeval Titan, Urborg and Coffers were usually my tutor targets and it goes without saying how good that card is (in a deck that can effectively abuse him). For what its worth, he was my last creature cut lol. However, i really only found myself using Coffers + Urborg to hardcast Eldrazi. Might as well just oath them into play. Just seemed win more to me after realizing i could cut out the middle man and just beat face with Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.
Another card i thought about trying out was Ghastly Demise. My graveyard is relatively full early on so it might be relevant. I feel like it might be a bit too cute though.
Phantasmal Image is good. Its won me more than a few games for sure, but its less appealing in this deck with the lack of targets. Same goes for Snapcaster Mage. Oathing into it is not ideal. I think Regrowth and Gaea's Blessing are sufficient recursion for this version of Damia.
Tainted Pact is great when you get in a bind. It reminds me of Demonic Consultation without the caveat.
Lastly, more removal is worth consideration. I've never really been mana-screwed with Damia nor have I been locked out of a color in recent memory. Possibly take out Nature's Lore and Rampant Growth for some removal (Geth's Verdict/Snuff Out/Diabolic Edict/Doom Blade/Sudden Death) and Sylvan Scrying?
I'd have to agree that its worth consideration on the condition you add another game ender or two.
I also play Damia control (albeit in a different manner - more Master Transmuter/Tezzeret the Seeker/mana rocks etc.) and i can't remember ever losing after resolving this. Granted, I play three more fatties (Kozilek, Butcher of Truth/Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre/Emrakul, the Aeons Torn) than you do plus Primeval Titan.
If you can find the space for three more cards (for testing purposes) I don't think you'll be disappointed playing Tooth and Nail.
Edit: Minamo, School at Water's Edge might be better served as, say... Vesuva? Its a basic at worst but usually a Wasteland/Strip Mine in my experience.
Edit 2: Thoughts on Impulse? Served me well in Damia so far.
Wow at Demonic Consultation. I ran this card for all of about 9 seconds. The first time I played it the named card was the 4th card and I promptly took it out.
Secondly, I'm sure this is mostly a metagame call and I'm answering my own question but how has Xenic Poltergeist been for you? I find myself using him all the time in conjunction with Horror/Ghast/Traitor for artifact removal.
Lastly, No need for Bojuka Bog? Outside of Lake of the Dead, this is my map target right before a mass reanimation.
Landbase
Axe 3 swamps and Cabal Coffers (its too slow in this deck. Everytime I've drawn it I wished it was a swamp) and add ...
Volrath's Stronghold
Peat Bog
Ebon Stronghold
City of Traitors
There is also no reason to not run the fetches.
Bloodstained Mire
Polluted Delta
Verdant Catacombs
Marsh Flats
Creatures
You're pretty spot on save one creature that I have found (after being told and come to the realization that this is correct) to be underwhelming.
- Graveborn Muse
+ Dark Confidant or Xenic Poltergeist
The rest are more of a metagame call. I don't really play Kagemaro or Myojin. I play Midnight Banshee (Metagame has a good deal of token decks) and Akuta, Born of Ash instead.
Xenic Poltergeist is one of the very FEW ways (one of 3 possibly) to get rid of artifacts. It is also a spirit.
Other than that, your list looks really streamlined. Imperial Seal for me is Brainspoil since I don't want to shell out the money for one. My list isn't online
Removal looks good.
Dark Confidant has proven that its inclusion is warranted.
Drop Diabolic Intent. Its been terrible for me at least. I'd rather be saccing creatures for Clamp or Horror.
My artifact acceleration is a bit different than yours. I've tried to make sure I don't lock myself out with Null Rod. I have Extraplanar Lens and Jet Medallion. Lens is on the chopping block as I wouldn't want to get 2-for-1'd. But so far I haven't had that issue.
Edit: I'd also like to state that I won't go into any of the inherent synergies that I have not discovered myself unless I get the OK to do so. I assumed that anything else discussed with myself Khymera and Evergreen was in confidence and will remain as such until I get the all clear.
Also, Have to you tried substituting Persecute for Abandon Hope (or run alongside)? Abandon Hope lets you choose what cards to discard (as opposed to choosing a color), lower cost thats less taxing on the manabase, and acts as a discard outlet in itself.
Edit: The more I play Tectonic Edge, the more I don't like it. I'd play Rishadan Port over Tectonic Edge personally.
Drop the Mortal Combat strategy. It just isn't effective. You could probably get away with axing 10 or those terrible spirits and use the empty slots to streamline your win condition (cast iname, dump spirits in the bin, reanimate).
Null Rod is amazing against some decks and good against most. I'd include it along with Pithing Needle. This does affect some of your mana acceleration but it might be worth taking some of it out.
Lastly, I second Kuro, Pitlord (or third). He's such a house in this deck. Removal, big swinger and a spirit. Can't ask for much more than that.
I think this thread is exactly what the EDH community needs. EDH is fun. Its even more fun when you win. Its even MORE fun molding and tuning your decks to run like well-oiled machines (which is amazing to do with a bunch of singletons). I applaud the decklists posted thusfar. They are a real testament to the complexity of this format. Hopefully I'll feel comfortable enough to post a few decklists of my own soon. I really hope this thread blossoms into something great (moreso than it already has).