I know that you mentioned that you already recur creatures comfortably, but IMO you can't have too many of those... the best white creature recursion spells that you haven't mentioned are Resurrection and Breath of Life. the above suggestions are good for noncreatures, in addition there are:
Identity crisis is awesome, and will be one of your best answers to anyone playing blue (kinda hoses their card draw), especially if they are running crucible of worlds (pretty much hosed a friend of mine's Teferi / crucible deck when i hit him with it). Crucible + strip mine can be devastating, especially in a mono blue build, and IC is one of the best ways to kill it - especially if you use Boseiju, who shelter's All to cast it just my two cents, but IMO it's worth a spot in any BW build.
well because EDH is a casual format, I'd suggest asking your playgroup if they mind you running bosh as a mono-red general. I know most of the people I play with wouldn't mind.
It seems like white is capable of generating card advantage by maximizing your mana... Gauntlet of Power and Extraplanar Lens will both generate card advantage in any mono colored deck, and if you are running one or both of those, Planar Portal suddenly becomes worth the price. Also, it seems that any spell that makes your pricey spells cheaper, or makes your opponent's spells more expensive, will generate an advantage too - like quicksilver amulet or ghostly prison. I also agree with the aforementioned topdeck control cards like Rack and Top and Mind's Eye.
seems to me that one thing white does well is lock the board down. it's always a little fragile because it tends to come in the form of creatures or enchantments, but cards like Kismet in conjunction with Crackdown are very effective - and both are still pretty good alone. no they're not card advantage, but they generate huge board advantage and they will discourage your opponents from playing spells until they can get rid of those annoying enchantments...
just a thought. I play mono white quite a bit (love it!) and card advantage is much less of a goal than other things.
this is a pretty good list, I could make lots of suggestions but just one for the moment... I think Battlegrace is underwhelming as a beater, especially in a color full of them - Akroma, Angel of Wrath would be my first choice. I've been playing GCO for several months and love love love him. Grave Pact is a star in this deck
Sapio that makes a lot of sense. I guess part of my thinking is based on the kinds of decks I've run so far (mostly white, and some BW), which benefit greatly from cards like Top and Mind's Eye. Still, I can count numerous games where I've gotten Top out early and gained no real advantage from it.
I'm not arguing with you, I agree that the benefit is minimal. it's also not zero, and like I said, another upside to playing a fetch even if you're only running one of the colors (even if it's a small one).
Thanks, missed that thread (sorry if this thread is extraneous).
I guess, though, what I'm after are the cards you'd put in every deck. You wouldn't, for example, use Gauntlet of Power in your 5 color deck, or really anything except a mono colored deck. the gauntlet is still one of the best artifacts around, but not appropriate in every deck.
in that vein, is something like crucible of worlds every-deck-worthy? even if I don't run LD or Strip Mine or other such shenanigans?
I've been playing EDH now for about 6 months, and I really enjoy it. I've run a few different decks now and have found myself with the same "core" of artifact utility cards in every deck I run, and of course with another short list of cards I don't yet have which I'd like for every deck ... so I thought I'd solicit some opinions about just that.
what colorless / artifacts do you think should be in every (or almost every) EDH deck?
I've been playing Ghost Council for several months, he's a blast to play. Just an observation, but it seems like you have a deck without a purpose. you have some lifegain, some cards that you can abuse with GC's ability, a few token makers, a few beaters, but not a lot of synergy. GC is really fun and IMO should be built around so you want him in play as much as possible. to me that means making his ability costly to your opponents.
Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder is a house with GC, making lots of sac fodder. Grave Pact makes everything you sack to GC cost your opponents a creature. Teysa, Orzhov Scion gives you a white token every time you sack one of Endrek's Thrulls, and excellent removal... I think GC is best when you build around his ability and those are just a few suggestions.
suggested cuts: Serra Angel just a 4/4 vigilant body, you need more from your creatures. Deathgreeter and Soul Warden are very underwhelming in EDH. In fact, I think you have too much lifegain unless you're going to run Test of Endurance as a wincon, so cards like Cradle of Vitality seem out of place here. Also not sure if you have enough enchantments to justify Sigil... Also, you run a lot of white creatures, possibly making Reiver Demon a mediocre choice. Dread might work better in that spot.
cool choice Himetic. Not gonna derail the thread with Kokusho talk (I know it's fragile but IMO not fragile enough to outweigh the power.. and the spells I listed are not the only ways to keep him in play or recur him, just the most efficient, and I usually shroud the valkyrie when I have him in play, but I digress)... post your decklist when you have it, I'm curious
argivian archaeologist
argivian find
auramancer
junk diver
monk idealist
myr retriever
ritual of restoration
sanctum gargoyle
scarecrone
skull of orm
tragic poet
treasure hunter
some are better than others clearly, these are just suggestions..
seems to me that one thing white does well is lock the board down. it's always a little fragile because it tends to come in the form of creatures or enchantments, but cards like Kismet in conjunction with Crackdown are very effective - and both are still pretty good alone. no they're not card advantage, but they generate huge board advantage and they will discourage your opponents from playing spells until they can get rid of those annoying enchantments...
just a thought. I play mono white quite a bit (love it!) and card advantage is much less of a goal than other things.
and I'll second both Planar Portal and Return to Dust (best art/ench removal in the game IMO)
yeah sure but every little bit helps. just another upside, that's all.
I guess, though, what I'm after are the cards you'd put in every deck. You wouldn't, for example, use Gauntlet of Power in your 5 color deck, or really anything except a mono colored deck. the gauntlet is still one of the best artifacts around, but not appropriate in every deck.
in that vein, is something like crucible of worlds every-deck-worthy? even if I don't run LD or Strip Mine or other such shenanigans?
what colorless / artifacts do you think should be in every (or almost every) EDH deck?
Here is my short list:
Sol Ring
Sensei's Divining Top
Mind's Eye
Mind Stone
Darksteel Ingot
Planar Portal
Umezawa's Jitte
Loxodon Warhammer
Lightning Greaves
Crucible of Worlds
Kaldra
I am sure I'm missing some good ones, and I know that some of these really depend on your own deck plus your local meta, but what do you guys think?
Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder is a house with GC, making lots of sac fodder. Grave Pact makes everything you sack to GC cost your opponents a creature. Teysa, Orzhov Scion gives you a white token every time you sack one of Endrek's Thrulls, and excellent removal... I think GC is best when you build around his ability and those are just a few suggestions.
suggested cuts: Serra Angel just a 4/4 vigilant body, you need more from your creatures. Deathgreeter and Soul Warden are very underwhelming in EDH. In fact, I think you have too much lifegain unless you're going to run Test of Endurance as a wincon, so cards like Cradle of Vitality seem out of place here. Also not sure if you have enough enchantments to justify Sigil... Also, you run a lot of white creatures, possibly making Reiver Demon a mediocre choice. Dread might work better in that spot.
I think you need more removal. Some EDH staples:
Targeted:
Condemn
Swords to Plowshares
Vindicate
Mass:
Wrath of God
Hallowed Burial
Martial Coup (works really well with GC)
Catastrophe (love the flexibility)
and there are lots more. With GC's ability, you can always gain an advantage with sweepers, so I'd suggest you run plenty.
artifacts you might consider:
Sol Ring (if you can get it)
Sensei's Divining Top
Mind's Eye
Quicksilver Amulet (broken!)
Loxodon Warhammer
Lightning Greaves
oh and GC cries out for Debtors' Knell.
that's a start. GC is a blast but IMO should be built around.