Because she's honestly fun as hell. I love ramp. I love removal. I love durdling and looping Regrowths off each other. This is my pet project for being my "for fun" deck that I'm trying to convince my LGS to build; decks that are more fun than strictly competitive.
How does one play this deck?
I can't say it enough; if you're conspiring Regrowth, you're winning at life. Ramp until you're blue in the face and Overrun/X spell them to death. Remove everything else in the meantime with your hearth of double removal.
This is a deck that's still in prototype stage. I need to do some work on it, but that will come in time. I'm looking for feedback to help out with that.
I really wanted to make a more traditional Mardu deck. As much as I like the Stax version of Zurgo I currently have built, I very much like a deck that attacks with a ton of creatures and does a ton of damage without actually having to deal a ton of damage in combat. That's really it. Alesha just had a cutesy "build around me" vibe I liked.
How does one play this deck?
This is a pretty idiot-proof deck, as far as mine tend to go, anyway. You basically cast spells that do stuff, swing with dudes that do things, and make life totals 0. You also pray an Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite never hits the table.
I initially wanted a more creature-centric Sunforger-type approach to the strategy, but then a certain combo deck was on the rise in multiple formats, so I decided to port it to this one!
A lot of people really like the idea of Shu Yun being an insanely fast Voltron commander, killing someone as early as turn 2 with the right draw. While interesting, it's very fragile. The elements of that draw exist in this deck, but are less prevalent in favor of having a second, much more consistent win condition in Storm.
How does one play this deck?
It is not for the faint of heart. Storm is a metric ton of micro-management; you have to have a decent basic understanding of your deck, in addition to being able to keep count of Storm, mana and Prowess triggers. The latter is the least relevant because you have Laboratory Maniac to just win with, but you can have "The Turn" as early as turn 6. Melek, Izzet Paragon and Jeskai Ascendancy give you absolutely insane reach, and being able to rifle through your deck until you inevitably kill them with Ignite Memories is pretty great. The Ascendancy gives you another out in being able to make tokens with various token-makers and then kill them with levels of damage that would make a Craterhoof Behemoth blush.
That being said, you have to be pretty damn decent at the game to pilot this well and not ever get lost in your hand and get too greedy with your mana.
My thoughts on Scroll Rack is that it's a great card if you care about library manipulation or your hand's just a pile, but pretty overzealous otherwise (as it's quite expensive). Decks that care about your library's top card would want it far more than a deck like this, imo.
If my general didn't cost 5, I'd run both Winter Orb and Armageddon. The latter is still an option which I'll consider. Thanks.
I got tired of playing my only remaining control deck, Damia, Sage of Stone, but I liked the deck, so I decided to adapt a more creature- and aggro-oriented style for the color combination and arrived at Sidisi. She's a little overdone, but truthfully, I really enjoy her. You can play her as a combo deck or a control deck and use her as a finisher, but I really do like the idea of what she does.
I don't, however, like Mesmeric Orb. Please don't suggest it, thanks.
How does one play this deck?
Pretty typically. It has elements of aggro by utilizing powerful value creatures, control by means of really low-power utility dorks, and combo with reanimator spells. Your goal in the early stages of the game is to cast Sidisi and use her and her tokens to continuously attack. In the midgame, you can find your graveyard full of spells and creatures you can access. Lategame, your plan is to typically maintain a board state with Living Death or Victimize with Eternal Witness.
Dragons of Tarkir gave Sidisi...Sidisi? It's odd how that worked out. Sidisi can just fodder one of her original's Zombies to become a big-butt Demonic Tutor, which is really strong. Profaner of the Dead has some really interesting synergy with Sidisi's Zombies as well as Living Death, so I quite enjoy the possibilities and wanted to see if he was worth a slot. Time will tell.
I realize I haven't been as active in keeping my lists updated here as I have been on my TappedOut account. I'm going to fix that by posting the lists I've yet to post.
I was looking to rebuild my Karador, Ghost Chieftain deck around the time when C14 spoilers were happening, and Hallowed Spiritkeeper is a really good card for it, so I picked it up. In hindsight, tunneling on that was a good idea, as I got a Containment Priest out of the deal. Truthfully, though, out of the five, Nahiri appealed to my playstyle the most. I like tokens, I like Equipment, I like a good combat step, and I like recursion.
How does one play this deck?
Aggressively. Your early game plan is to either stick a solid threat and run it into someone (early beats with Serra Ascendant, Brimaz, King of Oreskos or Hero of Bladehold are key) or just cast Nahiri and threaten a lot of damage with the Stoneforged Blade. With the fewest overall tools at its disposal to take any other angle of approach, this deck doesn't have much choice to be aggressive.
Playing the aggro deck is all about good target selection, though; knowing what your bad matchups are is key, as eliminating them as early as possible should be your short-term goal. Always be mindful of who actually has the tools to stop you at all times, though, and plan your attacks accordingly. This deck has a barely above-average lategame, and you want to make sure you can handle combo at any time and control early.
Dragons of Tarkir brings the value with Ojutai Exemplars, an insanely strong creature who is a giant Swiss army knife. Since he grants himself lifelink, and trample and lifelink are two abilities I typically search for in other cards before the Warhammer, it seems obvious Warhammer gets the cut here.
With the changes to tuck, these two card just became absolutely useless, so I'm changing them around. You'll see this change happen with all my decks over the course of today; Nahiri was merely the first.
The deck has had enough free handouts from some of my more powerful tools. A deck has been made since that utilizes Sensei's Divining Top much better than it, so it's going there.
I will direct you to my signature and the Zurgo stax list I'm running if you haven't already looked at it. I'm missing some tutors and Crucible of Worlds, but I think I've done a half-decent job of cracking the code.
Probably one of the best Skittles lists I've seen in a long time. I really like the presentation and formatting, as well; it's obvious you've put a lot of effort into it. With all the cards that cost so much money, I want to assume that budget isn't an issue, so have you considered Grim Tutor and Imperial Seal?
Aether Flash would be wonderful and definitely something to consider if Braids, one of the deck's core creatures, didn't have 2 toughness. Rain of Gore is entirely a metagame call because I have a lot of Oloro in my meta, but I'll definitely consider subbing it out for the moment, because you're right, it doesn't particularly do a whole lot.
I like Bedlam, but I like my army of tokens being able to block threats. Usually, the attackers in my meta tend to be pretty large and lack trample, so having tokens to block with is extremely useful.
Tutors are nice but expensive, and just because my manabase looks nice, doesn't mean I'm not without a budget. First of all, finding any of those tutors is work in and of itself, and then affording them is another beast entirely. If I had those tutors, though, I'd probably run them.
Welder isn't particularly necessary, and while slow, Trading Post does what the Welder does just fine. All Welder would be doing in this deck is recurring Tangle Wire, anyway.
Nevermore is also not a problem card with an abundance of spot removal for it. If I need a win condition, I'll draw into Smokestack or Braids with Assemble the Legion and deny my opponents the ability to play the game.
Alesha - http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/601198-alesha-the-hordes-disdain
Wort, the Raidmother - http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/601202-wort-yo-dawg-i-herd-u-like-spells
6 Wort, the Raidmother
Creatures
1 Joraga Treespeaker
5 Seedborn Muse
7 Avenger of Zendikar
8 Craterhoof Behemoth
Sorceries
1 Banefire
1 Sudden Demise
1 Sylvan Offering
2 Clan Defiance
2 Explore
2 Hull Breach
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Molten Disaster
2 Nature's Lore
2 Nostalgic Dreams
2 Regrowth
2 Revive
2 Tormenting Voice
3 Cultivate
3 Far Wanderings
3 Growth Spasm
3 Kodama's Reach
3 Primal Growth
3 Recollect
4 Aftershock
4 Bramblecrush
4 Decimate
4 Harmonize
4 Skyshroud Claim
4 Tempt with Discovery
4 Triumph of the Hordes
5 Grizzly Fate
5 Restock
5 Shamanic Revelation
6 Collective Unconscious
6 Desert Twister
6 Rain of Thorns
7 Volcanic Vision
8 Insurrection
9 Blasphemous Act
1 Crop Rotation
2 Artifact Mutation
2 Comet Storm
2 Commune with Lava
2 Magmaquake
2 Sprout Swarm
3 Beast Within
3 Chaos Warp
3 Gilt-Leaf Ambush
3 Krosan Grip
4 Grab the Reins
4 Predator's Howl
4 Wild Ricochet
5 Volcanic Offering
5 Word of Seizing
Artifacts
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
2 Gruul Signet
4 Vedalken Orrery
Enchantments
6 Mana Reflection
Planeswalkers
4 Xenagos, the Reveler
5 Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury
Basic Lands
18 Forest
12 Mountain
0 Boseiju, who Shelters All
0 Kessig Wolf Run
0 Khalni Garden
0 Kher Keep
0 Reliquary Tower
0 Temple of the False God
0 Thespian's Stage
0 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Why Wort, the Raidmother?
How does one play this deck?
Changes Log
Blasphemous Act
Revive
Tormenting Voice
Bramblecrush
2 Mountains
-Removed:
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Fade into Antiquity
Unravel the Aether
Tempt with Vengeance
Reiterate
Plow Under
Lemme know what you think!
3 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
Creatures
1 Mother of Runes
1 Viscera Seer
2 Blood Artist
2 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
2 Pack Rat
2 Shrieking Mogg
3 Big Game Hunter
3 Burnished Hart
3 Duergar Hedge-Mage
3 Feldon of the Third Path
3 Goblin Sharpshooter
3 Mirror Entity
3 Pawn of Ulamog
3 Rummaging Goblin
4 Anger
4 Brutal Hordechief
4 Dimir House Guard
4 Falkenrath Noble
4 Hellrider
4 Hero of Bladehold
4 Iroas, God of Victory
4 Marton Stromgald
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
5 Ankle Shanker
5 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
5 Karmic Guide
5 Knight-Captain of Eos
5 Sadistic Hypnotist
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
5 Siege-Gang Commander
6 Aurelia, the Warleader
6 Palisade Giant
1 Faithless Looting
3 Buried Alive
3 Retribution of the Meek
3 Victimize
6 Austere Command
6 Mob Rule
9 Blasphemous Act
Instants
1 Swords to Plowshares
2 Boros Charm
2 Rakdos Charm
3 Backlash
3 Chaos Warp
3 Crackling Doom
3 Mortify
3 Orim's Thunder
4 Utter End
Artifacts
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
2 Dolmen Gate
2 Lightning Greaves
3 Sunforger
Enchantments
1 Reconnaissance
2 Goblin Bombardment
2 Impact Tremors
3 Attrition
3 Mardu Ascendancy
3 Raid Bombardment
3 Underworld Connections
4 Breath of Fury
4 Outpost Siege
5 Dictate of Erebos
4 Mountain
2 Plains
2 Swamp
Nonbasic Lands
0 Blood Crypt
0 Bloodfell Caves
0 Bojuka Bog
0 Boros Guildgate
0 Clifftop Retreat
0 Command Tower
0 Dragonskull Summit
0 Evolving Wilds
0 Flamekin Village
0 Godless Shrine
0 Graven Cairns
0 Kher Keep
0 Mistveil Plains
0 Nomad Outpost
0 Orzhov Guildgate
0 Rakdos Guildgate
0 Scoured Barrens
0 Shadowblood Ridge
0 Tainted Field
0 Tainted Peak
0 Temple of Malice
0 Temple of Silence
0 Temple of Triumph
0 Terramorphic Expanse
0 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
0 Vault of the Archangel
0 Wind-Scarred Crag
0 Windbrisk Heights
Why Alesha, Who Smiles at Death?
I really wanted to make a more traditional Mardu deck. As much as I like the Stax version of Zurgo I currently have built, I very much like a deck that attacks with a ton of creatures and does a ton of damage without actually having to deal a ton of damage in combat. That's really it. Alesha just had a cutesy "build around me" vibe I liked.
How does one play this deck?
Changes Log
Sunforger
Lightning Greaves
Backlash
Boros Charm
Chaos Warp
Orim's Thunder
Temple of Malice
-Removed:
Goblin Chirurgeon
Sensation Gorger
Krenko, Mob Boss
Marsh Flitter
Beetleback Chief
Urabrask the Hidden
Auntie's Hovel
Removing the Goblin subtheme to add a Sunforger package.
Lemme know what you guys think!
3 Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest
Creatures
2 Goblin Electromancer
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Silver Myr
2 Young Pyromancer
3 Guttersnipe
3 Laboratory Maniac
3 Monastery Mentor
4 Anger
4 Fatestitcher
4 Talrand, Sky Summoner
6 Melek, Izzet Paragon
Sorceries
1 Artful Dodge
1 Distortion Strike
1 Faithless Looting
1 Gamble
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
2 Merchant Scroll
2 See Beyond
3 Wheel of Fortune
3 Windfall
4 Past in Flames
5 Ignite Memories
5 Reforge the Soul
6 Mind's Desire
6 Time Spiral
8 Treasure Cruise
1 Brainstorm
1 High Tide
1 Leap
1 Mental Note
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Obsessive Search
1 Opt
1 Quicken
1 Shadow Rift
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Thought Scour
1 Visions of Beyond
2 Anticipate
2 Commune with Lava
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Impulse
2 Izzet Charm
2 Peer Through Depths
2 Snap
2 Words of Wisdom
3 Chaos Warp
3 Frantic Search
3 Long-Term Plans
3 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Fact or Fiction
4 Turnabout
8 Dig Through Time
Artifacts
0 Lotus Petal
0 Paradise Mantle
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
2 Azorius Signet
2 Isochron Scepter
2 Izzet Signet
5 Gilded Lotus
3 Jeskai Ascendancy
Basic Lands
12 Island
1 Mountain
Nonbasic Lands
0 Arid Mesa
0 Azorius Chancery
0 Calciform Pools
0 Cephalid Coliseum
0 Command Tower
0 Desolate Lighthouse
0 Faerie Conclave
0 Flooded Strand
0 Glacial Fortress
0 Hallowed Fountain
0 Izzet Boilerworks
0 Mystic Monastery
0 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
0 Reflecting Pool
0 Scalding Tarn
0 Skycloud Expanse
0 Steam Vents
0 Sulfur Falls
0 Temple of Enlightenment
0 Temple of Epiphany
0 Tolaria West
Why Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest?
A lot of people really like the idea of Shu Yun being an insanely fast Voltron commander, killing someone as early as turn 2 with the right draw. While interesting, it's very fragile. The elements of that draw exist in this deck, but are less prevalent in favor of having a second, much more consistent win condition in Storm.
How does one play this deck?
That being said, you have to be pretty damn decent at the game to pilot this well and not ever get lost in your hand and get too greedy with your mana.
Changes Log
Sensei's Divining Top
-Removed:
Ideas Unbound
4/9/2015:
Faerie Conclave
-Removed:
Island
Lemme know what you think!
If my general didn't cost 5, I'd run both Winter Orb and Armageddon. The latter is still an option which I'll consider. Thanks.
4 Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
Creatures
1 Deathrite Shaman
1 Viscera Seer
2 Blood Artist
2 Coiling Oracle
2 Fauna Shaman
2 Sakura-Tribe Elder
3 Eternal Witness
3 Fleshbag Marauder
3 Krosan Restorer
3 Nyx Weaver
3 Reclamation Sage
3 Splinterfright
3 Trygon Predator
4 Clever Impersonator
4 Graveborn Muse
4 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
4 Notion Thief
4 Profaner of the Dead
4 Wonder
5 Acidic Slime
5 Havengul Lich
5 Mulldrifter
5 Prophet of Kruphix
5 Shriekmaw
5 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
5 The Mimeoplasm
5 Torrent Elemental
6 Progenitor Mimic
6 Soul of Innistrad
6 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
7 Sheoldred, Whispering One
8 Avatar of Woe
8 Terastodon
2 Curse of the Swine
2 Life From the Loam
3 Ashes to Ashes
3 Buried Alive
3 Victimize
3 Villainous Wealth
4 Dread Return
5 Living Death
Instants
1 Nature's Claim
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Golgari Charm
3 Chord of Calling
3 Krosan Grip
3 Putrefy
3 Sultai Charm
Artifacts
1 Sol Ring
Enchantments
1 Burgeoning
2 Animate Dead
2 Oversold Cemetery
2 Pedantic Learning
3 Rhystic Study
3 Song of the Dryads
3 Sultai Ascendancy
5 Dictate of Erebos
Planeswalkers
4 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
5 Vraska the Unseen
Basic Lands
3 Forest
1 Island
3 Swamp
Nonbasic Lands
0 Barren Moor
0 Breeding Pool
0 Cabal Coffers
0 Command Tower
0 Darkwater Catacombs
0 Dimir Aqueduct
0 Drowned Catacomb
0 Exotic Orchard
0 Golgari Rot Farm
0 High Market
0 Hinterland Harbor
0 Maze of Ith
0 Misty Rainforest
0 Nephalia Drownyard
0 Opulent Palace
0 Overgrown Tomb
0 Polluted Delta
0 Secluded Steppe
0 Simic Growth Chamber
0 Tainted Isle
0 Tainted Wood
0 Temple of Deceit
0 Temple of Malady
0 Temple of Mystery
0 Tolaria West
0 Tranquil Thicket
0 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
0 Verdant Catacombs
0 Vesuva
0 Volrath's Stronghold
0 Watery Grave
0 Woodland Cemetery
Why Sidisi, Brood Tyrant?
I don't, however, like Mesmeric Orb. Please don't suggest it, thanks.
How does one play this deck?
Changes Log
Wonder
Chord of Calling
Torrent Elemental
-Removed:
Filth
Nullmage Shepherd
Whip of Erebos
2/10/2015:
Song of the Dryads
-Removed:
Beast Within
3/17/2015:
Profaner of the Dead
Sidisi, Undead Vizier
-Removed:
Vengeful Pharaoh
Tracker's Instincts
Dragons of Tarkir gave Sidisi...Sidisi? It's odd how that worked out. Sidisi can just fodder one of her original's Zombies to become a big-butt Demonic Tutor, which is really strong. Profaner of the Dead has some really interesting synergy with Sidisi's Zombies as well as Living Death, so I quite enjoy the possibilities and wanted to see if he was worth a slot. Time will tell.
3/31/2015:
Barren Moor
Lonely Sandbar
Tranquil Thicket
Dimir Aqueduct
Simic Growth Chamber
Golgari Rot Farm
-Removed:
Homeward Path
Alchemist's Refuge
2 Islands
Forest
Swamp
Adjusting the manabase to support Life From the Loam and Burgeoning better. Trying to get the maximum value out of the good cards I'm playing here.
4/9/2014:
Tasigur, the Golden Fang
-Removed:
Caustic Wasps
I made this edit a long time ago when I pulled a pack foil Tasigur, but I guess I forgot to make the update here. Fixing that now.
5/7/2015:
Pedantic Learning
-Removed:
Elves of Deep Shadow
LOVE ME
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant - http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/commander-edh/multiplayer-commander-decklists/581854-sidisi-snakes-on-a-plane
5 Nahiri, the Lithomancer
Creatures
1 Mother of Runes
1 Serra Ascendant
1 Weathered Wayfarer
2 Armament Master
2 Containment Priest
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Knight of the White Orchid
2 Leonin Shikari
2 Puresteel Paladin
2 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Aven Mindcensor
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
3 Burnished Hart
3 Intrepid Hero
3 Kemba, Kha Regent
3 Kor Sanctifiers
3 Mentor of the Meek
3 Mirran Crusader
3 Mirror Entity
3 Silverblade Paladin
4 Angel of Jubilation
4 Hero of Bladehold
4 Indomitable Archangel
4 Jazal Goldmane
4 Ojutai Exemplars
5 Stonehewer Giant
5 Sunscorch Regent
5 Wingmate Roc
6 Sun Titan
1 Steelshaper's Gift
2 Martial Coup
4 Wrath of God
6 Terminus
Instants
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Swords to Plowshares
2 Radiant Purge
3 Wing Shards
Artifacts
1 Mana Vault
1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
2 Mask of Memory
2 Mind Stone
2 Nim Deathmantle
2 Pearl Medallion
2 Swiftfoot Boots
2 Umezawa's Jitte
3 Darksteel Plate
3 Godsend
3 Sword of Fire and Ice
3 Sword of Feast and Famine
3 Sword of Light and Shadow
3 Sword of Vengeance
3 Sword of War and Peace
4 Thran Dynamo
5 Batterskull
5 Eldrazi Monument
1 Land Tax
2 Darksteel Mutation
2 Luminarch Ascension
3 Aura of Silence
3 Banishing Light
Planeswalkers
4 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
Basic Lands
27 Plains
Nonbasic Lands
0 Buried Ruin
0 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
0 Inkmoth Nexus
0 Myriad Landscape
0 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
0 Tectonic Edge
0 Terrain Generator
0 Thespian's Stage
0 Windbrisk Heights
Why Nahiri, the Lithomancer?
How does one play this deck?
Playing the aggro deck is all about good target selection, though; knowing what your bad matchups are is key, as eliminating them as early as possible should be your short-term goal. Always be mindful of who actually has the tools to stop you at all times, though, and plan your attacks accordingly. This deck has a barely above-average lategame, and you want to make sure you can handle combo at any time and control early.
Changes Log
Myriad Landscape
-Removed:
Arcane Lighthouse
Card's not supposed to be in the deck anymore, as it's in Marath.
I'll be doing my seasonal Dragons of Tarkir update as the set spoils more of itself.
3/17/2015:
Ojutai Exemplars
-Removed:
Loxodon Warhammer
Dragons of Tarkir brings the value with Ojutai Exemplars, an insanely strong creature who is a giant Swiss army knife. Since he grants himself lifelink, and trample and lifelink are two abilities I typically search for in other cards before the Warhammer, it seems obvious Warhammer gets the cut here.
3/24/2015:
Sunscorch Regent
Radiant Purge
-Removed:
Condemn
Oblation
With the changes to tuck, these two card just became absolutely useless, so I'm changing them around. You'll see this change happen with all my decks over the course of today; Nahiri was merely the first.
3/31/2015:
Mirran Crusader
Angel of Jubilation
-Removed:
Sensei's Divining Top
Spear of Heliod
The deck has had enough free handouts from some of my more powerful tools. A deck has been made since that utilizes Sensei's Divining Top much better than it, so it's going there.
4/9/2015:
Plains
-Removed:
Mistveil Plains
Lemme know what you think!
Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker is something else to consider, as well.
I like Bedlam, but I like my army of tokens being able to block threats. Usually, the attackers in my meta tend to be pretty large and lack trample, so having tokens to block with is extremely useful.
Tutors are nice but expensive, and just because my manabase looks nice, doesn't mean I'm not without a budget. First of all, finding any of those tutors is work in and of itself, and then affording them is another beast entirely. If I had those tutors, though, I'd probably run them.
Welder isn't particularly necessary, and while slow, Trading Post does what the Welder does just fine. All Welder would be doing in this deck is recurring Tangle Wire, anyway.
Nevermore is also not a problem card with an abundance of spot removal for it. If I need a win condition, I'll draw into Smokestack or Braids with Assemble the Legion and deny my opponents the ability to play the game.