Maybeboard


This is my new project: a +1/+1 counters themed combo deck incorporating a pseudo "modular" effect (see Arcbound Worker) and several favorite combos from past standard and commander decks.

Aside from giving access to four colors, the commanders are pure on-theme value. Reyhan, Last of the Abzan should be on the table as often as possible, as he makes the +1/+1 counters from creatures stick around even if the creature is removed or sacrificed. Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker provides additional +1/+1 counters for this engine.

There are several core categories of cards:

1) +1/+1 counter increasers: Corpsejack Menace, Hardened Scales, Winding Constrictor , and Doubling Season all increase the quantity of any +1/+1 counters added to my creatures. Archangel of Thune, Cathars' Crusade, Master Biomancer, Bloodspore Thrinax , and to some degree Inexorable Tide, Gavony Township, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit, and Juniper Order Ranger all add lots of +1/+1 counters to creatures in play.

2) +1/+1 counter abusers: creatures that benefit in ways other than power and toughness. Fathom Mage is great here, and Crystalline Crawler, Fertilid, Gyre Sage, Sage of Hours, Triskelion , and Walking Archive also add effects of varying significance. Retribution of the Ancients fits this role also.

3) sacrifice outlets: Reyhan does not trigger if the creature is unsummoned or exiled, so occasionally we will need to sacrifice our own creatures to be sure it gets to the graveyard. Sacrificing is also a key part in several of the combo wins. Varolz, the Scar-Striped, Yahenni, Undying Partisan, Greater Good , and Ashnod's Altar allow for sacrificing repeatedly at any time. High Market and Westvale Abbey   help to dodge removal.

A few cards can be mixed in with these to complete some nice combos/synergies:

Archangel of Thune + Fathom Mage + Horizon Chimera form an optional loop that combines the effects of Sphinx's Revelation and Overrun. The first two cards are in the core groups above, so Chimera is an easy addition.

While we're at it, Drogskol Reaver + Horizon Chimera form a not optional loop of card draw and life gain. We will definitely need one of the sacrifice outlets above to break this loop after we draw enough cards. This is really risky and only marginally improves the deck, but it's exactly the kind of crazy that Commander MTG is all about.

Kitchen Finks combos with any repeatable sacrifice outlet and one of the following Archangel of Thune, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit, Vizier of Remedies , Master Biomancer, Bloodspore Thrinax , Cathars' Crusade, or Juniper Order Ranger. This gains infinite life, and easily adds on the +1/+1 counter increasers and/or Reyhan for +1/+1 counters everywhere.

In a much less infinite way, Reyhan also works with the sacrifice outlets to dump +1/+1 counters on Triskelion or Walking Archive. Then you win by damage or milling (sort of) every remaining opponent. I'm dying to see the Walking Archive plan work out, but we'll have to wait and see if it is really feasible or not.

Sage of Hours can be a semi-infinite combo with Reyhan and Managorger Hydra, or with Forgotten Ancient. Or perhaps Cathars' Crusade. It really depends on how many increasers like Doubling Season are in play.

And then we get to Ghave, Guru of Spores, the king of accidental combos. With Cathars' Crusade + Crystalline Crawler he can make infinite tokens. With Ashnod's Altar and pretty much anything else, we get infinite mana and/or tokens. It is going to take a lot of puzzling out which arrangements of Hardened Scales and/or Reyhan, etc. make infinite loops with Ghave.

Unrelated to combos, we have several cards to prevent board wipes (Heroic Intervention and Inspiring Call) or power through them ( Chasm Skulker , Hangarback Walker, and Hooded Hydra).

The rest is a mix of ramp, tutors, card draw, counterspells, and spot removal. It needs a lot of tuning (as do the lands) and the "maybe-board" is long. Help is appreciated since this is a continual work in progress!

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Date added 7 years
Last updated 7 years
Key combos
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

8 - 0 Mythic Rares

49 - 0 Rares

23 - 0 Uncommons

8 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.00
Tokens Bird 2/2 U, Human Cleric 1/1 BW, Saproling 1/1 G, Squid 1/1 U, Thopter 1/1 C
Folders Current decks
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