All Will Be One

Commander / EDH* DemonDragonJ

SCORE: 12 | 97 COMMENTS | 1565 VIEWS | IN 2 FOLDERS


DemonDragonJ says... #1

multimedia, I appreciate some of your suggestions, but I am not certain that I can remove any cards to make room for them.

As for Grim Backwoods , I shall start a thread to ask the rest of the forum about it, and, if the majority of users say that it is not a worthwhile land, then I shall not use it.

May 16, 2019 3:35 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #2

I have removed the tri-lands from this deck and replaced them with "storage lands," since it will be very easy to use them to generate large amounts of mana with minimal investment.

May 17, 2019 3:12 p.m.

multimedia says... #3

Cards that give you one time proliferate effect are ones to consider cutting in favor of better support. In my opinion the only one time proliferate effect spell here that's worth playing is Tezzeret's Gambit ; three mana/2 life to draw two cards and proliferate is good. The rest are not worth playing because you just don't need them or there's better repeatable proliferate options ( Thrummingbird , Evolution Sage ).

You want to make some room for other color fixing; only having Cornucopia and Lantern is not enough. Don't just rely on the manabase when playing four colors especially when needing to cast Atraxa and playing 24 basic lands with no Fetch lands.

Cards to consider cutting:

  • Wanderer's Strike
  • Fuel for the Cause
  • Grim Affliction
  • Steady Progress
  • Plasm Capture
  • Privileged Position
  • True Conviction
  • Abzan Battle Priest
  • Mer-Ek Nightblade
  • Dovin Baan
May 18, 2019 5:10 a.m. Edited.

DemonDragonJ says... #4

multimedia, I shall address each card that you have mentioned.

Wanderer's Strike is a removal spell as well as a source of proliferation; it unconditionally exiles any creature and provides additional counters on permanents. I do feel that five mana is a high cost, and it really should have been an instant, but the fact that it provides two effects in one card makes it too useful to remove.

Fuel for the Cause is the same; it is a two-for-one card, so I prefer to keep it.

Grim Affliction can work as a removal spell, which any deck should have.

I will admit that I am having difficulty in deciding which card between Steady Progress and Tezzeret's Gambit to remove, but the fact that the former is an instant means that I shall likely keep it. Drawing two cards is obviously very nice, but the difference between an instant and sorcery can often mean the difference between victory and defeat (which is why I did not replace Grim Affliction with Courage in Crisis ).

I feel that Plasm Capture is too good to not have in any deck that contains blue and green, since it provides essentially free mana.

Privileged Position is too good to not include in any deck that supports its colors, for reasons that should be entirely self-explanatory.

I have True Conviction in every EDH deck of mine that contains white, and, in the case of this deck, it is an excellent combination with Archangel of Thune , since every additional creature shall provide an additional trigger for the angel's ability, and the same is true with Abzan Battle Priest , which is in this deck specifically to combo with the archangel.

Mer-Ek Nightblade should be entirely self-explanatory.

I have Dovin Baan in this deck specifically for his emblem; in fact, six out of the eight planeswalkers in this deck produce emblems, which was a choice that I made very deliberately, and the other two both have abilities that grant +1/+1 counters to all creatures, which was another very deliberate choice.

Out of all the cards that you mentioned, I actually had Thrummingbird in this deck, before I replaced it with Grateful Apparition , but, after considering your words, the redundancy would be nice, so I shall put that card in this deck, again, and I shall likely replace Tezzeret's gambit with it, which shall also allow me to replace Mortify with Utter End .

May 18, 2019 10:53 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #5

As I said I would do, I replaced Tezzeret's Gambit with Thrummingbird and Mortify with Utter End , which lowered the average converted mana cost of this deck from 3.72 to 3.70, which is definitely an improvement, in my mind.

I am considering replacing Steady Progress with either Evolution Sage or Flux Channeler , but I still require time to deliberate that decision.

May 18, 2019 11:08 p.m.

_Delta_ says... #6

I definitely would swap Steady Progress which isn't used all that much in Atraxa decks with Flux Channeler . But in any case Contentious Plan is a better version of that now anyways.

Then I don't think you need Countersquall , how about swap that for a Swords to Plowshares , Putrefy , Path to Exile , etc. I think you have a couple too many counterspells, in my Atraxa deck I don't play really any counterspells except for well Counterspell . I rely on Supreme Verdict , Damnation , Merciless Eviction , Swords to Plowshares , Assassin's Trophy , etc to remove threats rather than bother with trying to counter them. While, your not a control deck obviously, 1-2 boardwipes could nonetheless be useful. Then I figure there must be a reason that you don't have Cyclonic Rift in here right? Otherwise, Recoil is an easy swap.

I also feel that you can cut some of your other instant/sorceries that read … proliferate. Cards like Merciless Eviction , Supreme Verdict , might just serve you better. I think a little more ramp could be used here also, such as Simic Signet , Commander's Sphere , Fellwar Stone , Kodama's Reach / Cultivate and such (1-2 mana of these would help), So I think cutting a card like Contagion Clasp and or Temple Bell would be a good choice.

So, in summary I would cut some of these cards: Wanderer's Strike , Countersquall , Grim Affliction , Steady Progress , Juniper Order Ranger , Recoil , Temple Bell ( Otherworld Atlas could be more interesting, I use it in Nekusar, the Mindrazer :).

And add some of these, Scavenging Ooze , Flux Channeler , Winding Constrictor , Simic Signet , Orzhov Signet , Golgari Signet , Commander's Sphere (1-2 more mana rocks would help, Crystalline Crawler could also work maybe) Merciless Eviction , Cyclonic Rift , Putrefy , Swords to Plowshares , and Mortify .

Even though my list has been converted to superfriends now, you could have a look at it for some still possible ideas. I hope some of this helps.

May 18, 2019 11:56 p.m. Edited.

multimedia says... #7

You cut Tezzeret's Gambit out of spite? There's no other reason that you did that while keeping terrible Wanderer's Strike ?

There's mana efficient budget staple Commander cards that can replace many of the very cards you think you should keep. Start with staples that are within your budget, include them first, then add "two for ones". Your right two for ones are good, but the card must be worth the mana cost for the two for one to matter. None of the cards you're explaining to me about are worth the mana cost. Over mana costed cards that have proliferate slapped on them as a one time effect are not worth it when you can play many repeatable sources of proliferate and can also get the very same one time effect from much lower cost mana efficient cards.

Dovin has a good ultimate, but that's it. Best not to play Planeswalkers just for their ultimate because it's too likely that you will not get it. Dovin's other abilities are lackluster, not worth playing. In any game you would much rather play four drop Atraxa, Tamiyo, Field Researcher or Ajani Steadfast than Dovin. Dovin is just getting in the way of other much more powerful four drops. Can't count on having Doubling Season every game to ultimate your Planeswalkers especially since you're not playing any mana efficient tutors that can get Season.

Mer-Ek Nightblade and Abzan Battle Priest are more four drops and there's too many four drops here especially since Atraxa is the four drop you want to consistently cast or a Planeswalker. Nightblade and Priest are lackluster four drops compared to the rest of the four drops; they require other cards (creatures to have a counter on them) to be decent and that's not good compared to the other four drops.

True Conviction and Plasm Capture are fine cards, but the manabase here can't support them. Their difficult mana costs are not costs you want to have to worry about in a four color deck. They aren't powerful enough as singletons to want to change your manabase or mana sources to play them.

May 19, 2019 3:23 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #8

Delta, I have removed Steady Progress and replaced it with Flux Channeler , because you are correct that it is a much more useful card for the same mana cost. However, Countersquall is too good to remove, due to its low mana cost (not many cards in this deck have a converted mana cost of 2) and the fact that it also causes a player to lose 2 life; essentially, it is adding insult to injury, countering a spell and then punishing the player who cast it even further for their audacity.

I actually did have Putrefy in this deck, before I removed it in favor of Assassin's Trophy , which is a superior card in nearly every situation. I actually was considering replacing Recoil with Cyclonic Rift , but I then learned that it costs over $20.00, and I am not willing to spend such a great amount of money on a single card. Also, I have been on the receiving end of the card too many times, and know how painful it is to be affected by it, so I would feel guilty about subjecting other players to that same torment.

multimedia, after much consideration, I have decided that you are correct about Plasm Capture having too strict of a mana cost, which means that I will need to counter a spell with a mana cost of at least 4 for it to truly be worth casting, so I have replaced it with Dream Fracture , which another user recommended to me in another thread. That card may provide the controller of the countered spell with a new card, but it also replaces itself, effectively leaving both players in nearly the same situation as they were before. Also, doing that reduced the average converted mana cost of this deck from 3.70 to 3.68, which, again, is a very good thing.

Recoil is a nice card, but it will only truly be useful if the owner of the permanent that I target with it has no other cards in their hand, which shall force them to discard the card that I returned to their hand, having the same effect as forcing them to sacrifice that permanent. Therefore, I may wish to find a replacement for it, and I am considering Pernicious Deed , since that card is extremely powerful and has the same converted mana cost. It itself is an enchantment, but its ability can be used at instant speed, and can be activated in response to a player attempting to destroy it or return it to my hand, which means that it can act as a deterrent in tense situations. What does everyone think of that card?

May 19, 2019 4:07 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #9

Today, WotC revealed a card called Archmage's Charm , so I wonder if that card could replace Dream Fracture ? It does have a strict mana cost, but it sheer versatility is undeniable.

Also, WotC is printing an equipment with proliferate! I absolutely must have that card for this deck, without any question.

May 25, 2019 1:02 a.m.

lifemtg says... #10

Wondering if u could add Skittles the blight dragon. I know infect is no fun but still is a great choice.

May 26, 2019 10:45 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #11

lifemtg, this deck does not focus on infect; its primary goal is to multiply +1/+1 counters on creatures and loyalty counters on planeswalkers, which I stated in the original description.

May 27, 2019 12:19 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #12

I replaced Archmage's Charm and Wanderer's Strike with Sword of Truth and Justice and Tezzeret's Gambit , which lowered the average converted mana cost of this deck to 3.67, a minor decrease, but any decrease of that value is a good thing.

May 28, 2019 7:17 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #13

I removed Tezzeret's Gambit and re-inserted Steady Progress , because that card is an instant, and doing so also lowered the average converted mana cost of this deck to 3.65.

May 30, 2019 9:54 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #14

I am considering putting Evolution Sage in this deck, because it is a repeatable source of proliferation, and I would likely remove Steady Progress for it, as those two cards have the same converted mana cost. What does everyone else say about that?

June 4, 2019 9:02 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #15

Do I really need to have four storage lands in this deck? Mage-Ring Network is a great card, but, given that this is a four-colored deck, it may not be as useful as the other storage lands, and I really would like to put Gavony Township back in this deck.

Also, I am considering replacing Recoil with Generous Gift , since recoil is useful only if the owner of the permanent that it targets has no cards in their hand (because they could simply discard another card and re-summon that permanent), but white is already overwhelmingly the most prominent color in this deck, and I wish to have greater balance among the colors, and I do not wish to use Beast Within , because it is a blatant violation of the color pie. Does anyone have any feedback to offer regarding that issue?

June 8, 2019 10:51 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #16

In response to advice from other users, I have removed Mage-Ring Network from this deck and replaced it with Gavony Township .

June 30, 2019 2:19 p.m.

40 lands is far too many in my opinion. I would start by cutting any land that doesn't produce a colored mana because that slows your chances of playing your commander with her color hungry mana cost. I would suggest adding in Birds of Paradise , Fellwar Stone , Dimir Signet , Orzhov Signet , Golgari Signet , Selesnya Signet , Azorius Signet , Simic Signet . Probably put yourself closer to 34 lands and maybe cut some of your lower impact cards that cost 4 or more. I am also always a fan of mana dorks like Llanowar Elves , Deathrite Shaman , and Bloom Tender .

Doing these things will help you get out faster and start your atraxa beats and proliferation as soon as possible.

July 1, 2019 10:04 a.m.

lifemtg says... #18

Also Tamiyo's Journal , is good with the proliferate.

July 1, 2019 10:58 a.m.

lifemtg Tamiyo's Journal has no interaction with proliferate since it has no counters.

July 1, 2019 11:42 a.m.

lifemtg says... #20

GhostChieftain whoops sry my mistake was thinking of a different card

July 2, 2019 9:38 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #21

I have replaced Abzan Battle Priest with Crystalline Crawler , since the latter card is far better for a deck such as this one.

August 1, 2019 6:46 a.m.

bushido_man96 says... #22

I think you need more ramp. Birds of Paradise is a solid ramp creature. Rishkar, Peema Renegade provides ramp that will jive with your proliferation theme. Fertilid , Devoted Druid , and Wall of Roots fit that theme, too, but don't discount the usefulness of simple mana dorks like Llanowar Elves or Elvish Mystic . I read your explanation on lands, but I'd cut to about 37, but that's just me. Anyway, hopefully I helped. I really like Atraxa, too.

August 7, 2019 1:38 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #23

I have removed Steady Progress and replaced it with Guildpact Informant ; the former card is an instant, but the latter card has a repeatable effect, which is more significant, in my mind.

bushido_man96, those are some great cards, but I cannot make any room for them in this deck, unfortunately.

August 10, 2019 5:55 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #24

I would like to add Umezawa's Jitte to this deck, because I imagine that that card would be insane in it, but I cannot decide what card, if any, to remove for it.

October 22, 2019 10:30 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #25

I am considering replacing Viral Drake with Merfolk Skydiver to lower the mana curve of this deck even further, but I am not certain if I can justify the higher cost of the skydiver's activated ability, since the drake's higher casting cost is a one-time payment, whereas the higher cost of the skydiver's ability will accumulate over time.

October 24, 2019 10:40 p.m.

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