I really liked how Mizzix of the Izmagnus was designed and can be pretty devastating if built correctly. I was thinking of trying to make a deck that takes out some of the shenanigans like extra turns, constant counter spells, and just your normal goodstuff deck to allow for all of those wonderful instants and sorceries that allow me to gain control of target creature. From them I would use it against the owner and have a sac outlet.
Looking at the SOI previews and only noticed a few cards that could be considered for a Tazri/Zada deck...
Essence Flux allows for flickering for a single U Survive the Night is probably my favorite of the new set, it can protect against damage and even a wrath effect. Plus as it is, it is not quite a cantrip card but it can leave around a whole lot of clues to be used later.
Altered Ego is the only creature from SOI that could work well in an Ally deck as it is a clone with a built in pump upon casting.
It seems like the players you are playing against are like me. We have a deck of 100 cards, we want the ability to play what we put in the deck because we have a huge deck. Should they consider changing things? sure, but you can't always expect them to cater to you. You seem to be the new person in the group, so these people have been playing EDH for X amount of time without you. Yes, you have been playing with them for almost a year now, but it seems like that you never really tried playing like them. They seem to want to be able to play cards and try to pull off something, and when they are trying to pull off something you play them find out what they are doing and change your deck slightly to change the match in your favor the next time you play that deck. But that's the player you are. There could also be other things that we do not know or something that I have not caught in past posts. Do these players have an extensive card library to delve into and create decks? How many decks do they have? Do you know why they built the decks with their general?
In short, from your side of the story it just seems like you are a different type of player.
I realized that I cannot pimp out the decks that I want due to the expense of foils or a lack of foils. Before the new Zendikar block I was considered pimped out for just having the Zendikar full art lands. That's now the norm. Instead, I try to get foils for basic lands, not too picky about if they are full art. I have been trying to get cards signed by the artists instead because that's a different way to pimp out a deck too. Same with creature tokens. Definitely wish there were foiled out creature tokens too but getting them signed is just fine with me and getting a chance to talk to the artists is also a special treat which adds a bit more to the pimping of the deck. Getting my Swords to Plowshares and Birds of Paradise signed by Menges and Poole respectively and talking to them was a dream come true.
I like Grenzo for a goblin deck, but that may seem to obvious, plus goblins can be good. I hear that there are decks with the focus on Moonfolk and a friend of mine has been working on a Naga deck unsuccessfully.
Halimar Excavator is the most surprising ally that I like to pull out because it mills my opponents, which is not always expected. Plus when it comes to creating clones I like to clone that one because it can be devastating. Example, you have only the excavator out, rite of replication for 5 more, that means that each excavator is going to mill for 6 each or 36 to one person. If you are able to slip another ally in that turn then it would be milling for 42. The problem is you can't blink all the tokens but milling for almost 80 cards in a single turn is fun and unexpected.
That was my standard deck at the time, ally mill. Worked pretty well. It could also work here if you just want to play around.
Since you don't have that many allies and a lot of clone spells Door of Destinies and Urza's Incubator may not work that well. At that point you will HAVE to have Conspiracy out to make them useful because they are triggered when the spell is cast. I would consider removing those two to make room. Also Eldrazi Monument needs to have creatures to be sacrificed. This is not a token deck and the tokens that you do make are there for a specific reason or there until the end of the turn, so I think the card would hurt you more than anything. I don't think you have enough card draw to warrant playing Dream Halls.
Other than Halimar Excavator, I would think about adding Mirari's Wake and any other ally that could make things interesting.
Lurking Predators is great if you want to cheat in expensive creatures. Unfortunately most of the creatures in this deck are not worth the 6 CMC Enchantment. That is at least my rationale. The equipment Captain's claws seems like it would be fun just need to get my hands on one.
What I would cut.
stoneforge mystic (not enough equipment/conspiracy may not be in play for Tazri tutor for it)
Munda, Ambush Leader, survival of the fittest, and Lurking predators (not enough creatures)
Deadeye navigator (not enough creatures have enough ETB effects to gain a benefit from this card)
There are ally creatures that provide lifelink, so I would start with those. I would take any of the cycling lands and replace them with basic lands. If you want ideas of allys to add to the deck just click on the link in my signature. I think I have most of them covered minus the cards from OGW.
I have 2 binders of all of my rares. Cards are in order of lands/colors/artifacts/all legendary creatures/all foils regardless of rarity. I try to keep the cards in order of set release. I have 7 fat pack boxes for all uncommons of all colors(-less) and 1 of them containing all the common/uncommon cards that have trade value. I am looking at you Serum Visions! I have a holiday box devoted to cards that are important to an EDH deck; cantrip cards, mana ramp/land tutors, dredge, transmute,or just cards that I took out of decks that I would think are useful to other builds. I have a 1000 card box that has nonbasic lands.
I have all my commons arranged by color. Every so often I take the time to ensure I have a playset of a common card and the rest will go to a store's take a card leave a card box.
Phantasmal Image does not work if you intend to use Zada the way you should. If you are playing Conspiracy then playing Mirror Match is a best scenario option especially if you are trying to attack a lot. Plus, it seems like you are running too few creatures.
Leap and Slip through Space are good cheap cantrips that can replace some of the more expensive ones you have.
Some of the cards you've posted don't actually work with Zada--Carom and Tail Slash both don't work with Zada because they have multiple targets, and Zada needs the spells that target her to have *only* one target.
Is it because they have you target one creature (Zada) and then target another creature? I thought that as long as Zada is the first target of the spell it would work because the second part was contingent on the first target being successful.
But maybe learning to read the rulings would help.
8/25/2015 The ability triggers whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets only Zada and no other object or player.
8/25/2015 If you cast an instant or sorcery spell that has multiple targets, but it’s targeting only Zada with all of them, Zada’s ability will trigger. The copies will similarly each be targeting only one of your other creatures. You can’t change any of the copy’s targets to other creatures.
I suggest cards that cantrip when you target Zada, other Arcane spells, Sunforger.
Look at the Zada thread for more ideas, you could use some of them.
I debated so much about using Sunforger. My problem is that I tried to make this an attack deck and I found that I needed the blue cantrips that would untap my creatures, give flying, or make unblockable more than the ones that gave haste or first strike. I definitely want to look over this combo again once I have play tested it more compared to my fish bowling.
I think, similarly to how I thought this in Tiny Leaders, that it's against the idea of the format, or deck in this case.
I just feel that this idea of restricting yourself to one-drops and being creative with it is antithetical to using the hydras. It's an idea that initially seems creative but I feel is more of a lazy way out than actually being creative. They are technically one cmc in your deck or hand but they are not being cast as one drops which just completely breaks the idea of one drops.
Thanks for the input that was my thoughts on it as well. Ya I think that the creature base is decent with the addition of a few a missed like Serra Ascendant. (which i think is "fixed" for EDH? If im not mistaken)
Now really just need help on non creature spells.
Any of the spells that have overload will work to your benefit. Blustersquall is probably one of the best. Don't suppose you have an Ancestral Recall laying around do you?
I don't like Maze's End in this deck. It requires the dedication of so many resources and deck slots to work that it's not really an "extra" win condition, unless you're just hoping that every once in a while you'll end up winning off it by accident. It's not viable unless you take the deck in a totally different direction (centred around something like Scapeshift, The Great Aurora, Warp World or Primal Surge)
I see what you mean. My deal is that if I have lands coming in to play tapped, which I hate, I would rather it contribute to an accidental win con. Sea Gate Loremaster is in my deck. I am not planning to add in any cohort cards because it involves tapping creatures and I was planning to making this more of an attacking deck but that could change. I have not gotten my OGW cards yet too. Angelic Captain made my cut list because its power only really benefits himself instead of all the other allies, which is not enough to take Lantern scout out of my deck.
4 Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Enchantment (2)
2 Goblin Bombardment
3 Rhystic Study
Artifacts (10)
1 Sol Ring
1 Expedition Map
1 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Carnage Altar
2 Altar of Dementia
2 Thought Vessel
2 Strionic Resonator
3 Junk Diver
5 Mirari
5 Pyromancer's Goggles
Instants (24)
1 Blustersquall
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Brainstorm
2 Twincast
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Reverberate
2 Increasing Vengeance
3 Reiterate
3 Capsize
3 Cackling Counterpart
3 Dominate
3 Disharmony
4 Ray of Command
4 Domineering Will
4 Grab the Reins
4 Reins of Power
4 Steam Augury
4 Fact or Fiction
4 Wild Ricochet
5 Desertion
5 Act of Aggression
5 Turn Against
5 Evacuation
6 Supplant Form
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Jeering Instigator
3 Dualcaster Mage
4 Sower of Temptation
4 Talrand, Sky Summoner
6 Melek, Izzet Paragon
6 Roil Elemental
7 Molten Primordial
Sorceries (17)
1 Vandalblast
2 Twinflame
3 Harness by Force
3 Fabricate
4 Lose Calm
4 Mizzix's Mastery
4 Mystic Retrieval
4 Rite of REplication
5 Ignite Memories
5 Bribery
5 Mass Mutiny
6 Mob Rule
6 Stolen Identity
7 Blatant Thievery
8 Insurrection
9 Clone Legion
9 Blasphemous Act
0 Mirrorpool
0 Academy Ruins
0 Miren, The Moaning Well
0 Myriad LAndscape
0 Reliquary Tower
0 Steam Vents
0 Shivan Reef
0 Temple of Epiphany
0 Sulfur Falls
0 Wandering Fumarole
0 Izzet Boilerworks
0 Command Tower
0 Scalding Tarn
13 Mountain
12 Island
A couple cards I want to get for my deck...
0 Trading Post
0 Phyrexian Altar
0 Helm of Possession
0 Gilded Drake
0 Vedalken Shackles
Change Log
- Chamber of Manipulation
- Inexorable Tide
- Solemn Simulacrum
- Remand
- Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded
- Mana Geyser
- Prophetic Bolt
- Commander's Sphere
- Portent of Betrayal
- Quicken
+ Twinflame
+ Stolen Identity
+ Wild Ricochet
+ Evacuation
+ Supplant Form
+ Bribery
+ Sower of Temptation
+ Disharmony
Anything I am forgetting? Let me know. Thanks!
Essence Flux allows for flickering for a single U
Survive the Night is probably my favorite of the new set, it can protect against damage and even a wrath effect. Plus as it is, it is not quite a cantrip card but it can leave around a whole lot of clues to be used later.
Altered Ego is the only creature from SOI that could work well in an Ally deck as it is a clone with a built in pump upon casting.
In short, from your side of the story it just seems like you are a different type of player.
That was my standard deck at the time, ally mill. Worked pretty well. It could also work here if you just want to play around.
Since you don't have that many allies and a lot of clone spells Door of Destinies and Urza's Incubator may not work that well. At that point you will HAVE to have Conspiracy out to make them useful because they are triggered when the spell is cast. I would consider removing those two to make room. Also Eldrazi Monument needs to have creatures to be sacrificed. This is not a token deck and the tokens that you do make are there for a specific reason or there until the end of the turn, so I think the card would hurt you more than anything. I don't think you have enough card draw to warrant playing Dream Halls.
Other than Halimar Excavator, I would think about adding Mirari's Wake and any other ally that could make things interesting.
stoneforge mystic (not enough equipment/conspiracy may not be in play for Tazri tutor for it)
Munda, Ambush Leader, survival of the fittest, and Lurking predators (not enough creatures)
Deadeye navigator (not enough creatures have enough ETB effects to gain a benefit from this card)
There are ally creatures that provide lifelink, so I would start with those. I would take any of the cycling lands and replace them with basic lands. If you want ideas of allys to add to the deck just click on the link in my signature. I think I have most of them covered minus the cards from OGW.
I have all my commons arranged by color. Every so often I take the time to ensure I have a playset of a common card and the rest will go to a store's take a card leave a card box.
Is it because they have you target one creature (Zada) and then target another creature? I thought that as long as Zada is the first target of the spell it would work because the second part was contingent on the first target being successful.
But maybe learning to read the rulings would help.
I debated so much about using Sunforger. My problem is that I tried to make this an attack deck and I found that I needed the blue cantrips that would untap my creatures, give flying, or make unblockable more than the ones that gave haste or first strike. I definitely want to look over this combo again once I have play tested it more compared to my fish bowling.
Thanks!
Any of the spells that have overload will work to your benefit. Blustersquall is probably one of the best. Don't suppose you have an Ancestral Recall laying around do you?
I see what you mean. My deal is that if I have lands coming in to play tapped, which I hate, I would rather it contribute to an accidental win con. Sea Gate Loremaster is in my deck. I am not planning to add in any cohort cards because it involves tapping creatures and I was planning to making this more of an attacking deck but that could change. I have not gotten my OGW cards yet too. Angelic Captain made my cut list because its power only really benefits himself instead of all the other allies, which is not enough to take Lantern scout out of my deck.