Reconnaissance I've had put in serious work... so much work it feels like cheating. You're right that it doesn't protect against removal (unless it's going after an 'attacking creature' or tapped creature) but what it does is very handy for attack triggers and it allows you to be super agressive safely.
It allows you to cheat in your creature safely against anyone and you can untap kaalia and/or the cheated in creature before combat damage is dealt to avoid unfavorable blockers, after first strike damage is dealt but before normal combat damage, and/or after normal combat damage is dealt but prior to the end of the end of combat step for pseudo vigilance. This allows you to swing all out safely and still have every creature available as a blocker. All I can say is make room for it to give it a try and you'll never want to cut it.
I'm very happy with the deck as it stands. The last upgrades this deck needs are Capture of Jingzhou and Ravages of War which are way out of my budget.
Anyways went 2/3 today and won 2x Fatal Push, both wins were on turn 3. Only game I lost was due to Stasis and me missing my own land untaps from Rising Waters due to not catching that the untap is on upkeep... lesson learned (RTFC) and it won't happen again. I also added Reconnaissance to combat my inability to untap Narset through stasis.
For what's it's worth my local Walmart and Target have both had clear plastic hard case "grab bags" with extra in inventory they couldn't move that included heavily printed boosters and prior commander products. I saw this a bunch with the 2014-2015 decks, but it's declined. Small sample size but I don't see these as often as I use to. It was a good buy and I was picked up 1-2 just to get some good cards here and there.
Maybe the retailers just had too much product on hand after the rush and they leveled off printing accordingly?
Be careful with those repacks. I bought one recently for the hell of it, and the "deck" was actually a land pack. Caveat emptor.
Weigh the deck cube in the produce section. If it's over 1 lb, it's a commander deck (I got Animar, Soul of Elements this way), if it's under 1 lb don't bother.
The main difference would be Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos but more sac outlets, more black devotion, mana doublers (Nirkana Revenant, Cabal Coffers, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, etc.), and I'd run Exsanguinate and Debt to the Deathless as finishers. I would also run Purphoros like you do and rely on combat a lot less.
Basically Edgar would never get cast, my tokens would be fuel/defense, and my tutors would be used on mana doublers and Exsanguinate/Debt but I still wouldn't consider Edgar competetitive in multiplayer. I've just built it easier to interact with and rely on combat currently.
At that point, what would be the point in playing Edgar? What would he bring that two dozen other commanders wouldn't do better?
/agreed. It's how I play Ghave and Marchesa and the colors and both commanders are much better for the strategy. Well other than I don't use mana doublers or exsanguinate...
The main difference would be Grave Pact/Dictate of Erebos but more sac outlets, more black devotion, mana doublers (Nirkana Revenant, Cabal Coffers, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, etc.), and I'd run Exsanguinate and Debt to the Deathless as finishers. I would also run Purphoros like you do and rely on combat a lot less.
Basically Edgar would never get cast, my tokens would be fuel/defense, and my tutors would be used on mana doublers and Exsanguinate/Debt but I still wouldn't consider Edgar competetitive in multiplayer. I've just built it easier to interact with and rely on combat currently.
Good thing you picked Sisay up at $5, she jumped to $60
I was going to say that but felt it more suitable for another thread hahahaha
But seriously - congrats on the haul!
~Lil Kalki
I know, I checked an unsorted but price marked stack at my lgs and found the ftv version and a japanese original.
I let the store owner know they'd gone up but he honored the marked price anyways. I was nice and pulled out the 2nd one so he could put a new pricetag on it (I went for the ftv foil).
I've been going to this store (Game Grid in Utah) for about 5 years because the owner and his son are AMAZING so I'm on a first name basis, have the son's cell number, and can literally step behind the counter to help myself or other customers if they're busy.
Toxic Deluge went away due to too much aggression with my life total. As I mentioned above, I have 22 cards that lower my life and only 10 that gain it back. I kept Austere Command in due to it's versatility. I've got several options in the boardwipe department and that slot will change around for testing several wipes. It also may change back to deluge once I get an Exquisite Blood.
Sudden Spoiling is a card I love but it wouldn't replace Teferis Protection. Teferis is here for anti-boardwipe along with Boros Charm. Also Sudden Spoiling doesn't remove +1+1 counters, they'd be 0/2 + their counters still. It's still a card I usually run in most black decks so it may find a spot. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
Have you considered Reconnaissance? This card is super broken and works amazingly well with commanders with attack triggers like kaalia, alesha, aurelia, narset etc. You can even untap after combat damage is dealt as the creture is considered an 'attacking creature' all the way until the end of the end of combat step.
Out: Vein Drinker
In: Malakir Bloodwitch
It allows you to cheat in your creature safely against anyone and you can untap kaalia and/or the cheated in creature before combat damage is dealt to avoid unfavorable blockers, after first strike damage is dealt but before normal combat damage, and/or after normal combat damage is dealt but prior to the end of the end of combat step for pseudo vigilance. This allows you to swing all out safely and still have every creature available as a blocker. All I can say is make room for it to give it a try and you'll never want to cut it.
In: Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper and Reconnaissance
I'm very happy with the deck as it stands. The last upgrades this deck needs are Capture of Jingzhou and Ravages of War which are way out of my budget.
Anyways went 2/3 today and won 2x Fatal Push, both wins were on turn 3. Only game I lost was due to Stasis and me missing my own land untaps from Rising Waters due to not catching that the untap is on upkeep... lesson learned (RTFC) and it won't happen again. I also added Reconnaissance to combat my inability to untap Narset through stasis.
Weigh the deck cube in the produce section. If it's over 1 lb, it's a commander deck (I got Animar, Soul of Elements this way), if it's under 1 lb don't bother.
/agreed. It's how I play Ghave and Marchesa and the colors and both commanders are much better for the strategy. Well other than I don't use mana doublers or exsanguinate...
Basically Edgar would never get cast, my tokens would be fuel/defense, and my tutors would be used on mana doublers and Exsanguinate/Debt but I still wouldn't consider Edgar competetitive in multiplayer. I've just built it easier to interact with and rely on combat currently.
6 Edgar Markov
Creatures: 34
1 Indulgent Aristocrat
2 Metallic Mimic
2 Blood Artist
2 Gifted Aetherborn
2 Vampire Hexmage
2 Bloodcrazed Paladin
2 Tithe Drinker
3 Adaptive Automaton
3 Mirror Entity
3 Rakish Heir
3 Yahenni Undying Partisan
3 Captivating Vampire
3 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3 Vampire Nighthawk
3 Pawn of Ulamog
3 Stromkirk Captain
3 Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
4 Sangromancer
4 Bloodline Keeper
4 Mirri the Cursed
4 Olivia Voldaren
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Vampire Nocturnus
4 Sanctum Seeker
5 Bishop of Rebirth
5 Bloodlord of Vaasgoth
5 Anowon, the Ruin Sage
5 Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
5 Blood Baron of Vizkopa
5 Malakir Bloodwitch
6 Patron of the Vein
6 Necropolis Regent
0 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
2 Talisman of Indulgence
2 Boros Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Orzhov Signet
3 Herald's Horn
3 Heirloom Blade
Instants: 7
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Path to Exile
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Enlightened Tutor
2 Boros Charm
3 Teferi's Protection
3 Anguished Unmaking
Enchantments: 8
1 Reconnaissance
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
2 Cover of Darkness
3 Shared Animosity
3 Dark Prophecy
3 Necropotence
4 Greed
5 Exquisite Blood
Planeswalker: 1
4 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Sorceries: 4
2 Demonic Tutor
2 Diabolic Intent
3 Harsh Mercy
6 Austere Command
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Marsh Flats
1 Arid Mesa
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 Flooded Strand
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Windswept Heath
1 Polluted Delta
1 Badlands
1 Plateau
1 Scrubland
1 Godless Shrine
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Blood Crypt
10 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Plains
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Mana Confluence
1 Command Tower
1 City of Brass
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vault of the Archangel
I know, I checked an unsorted but price marked stack at my lgs and found the ftv version and a japanese original.
I let the store owner know they'd gone up but he honored the marked price anyways. I was nice and pulled out the 2nd one so he could put a new pricetag on it (I went for the ftv foil).
I've been going to this store (Game Grid in Utah) for about 5 years because the owner and his son are AMAZING so I'm on a first name basis, have the son's cell number, and can literally step behind the counter to help myself or other customers if they're busy.
I figured I'd try one last time to see if anyone has any random hidden gems to suggest or feedback before fnm this week. Thanks in advance.
Sudden Spoiling is a card I love but it wouldn't replace Teferis Protection. Teferis is here for anti-boardwipe along with Boros Charm. Also Sudden Spoiling doesn't remove +1+1 counters, they'd be 0/2 + their counters still. It's still a card I usually run in most black decks so it may find a spot. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
So in: Harsh Mercy
And out: Tocic Deluge