Cat Scratch Fever - Arahbo EDH
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 33 | 5 COMMENTS | 6011 VIEWS | IN 19 FOLDERS
Deck Update #2: Sticking around —Nov. 22, 2017
Out:
- Ajani's Presence
- Comeuppance
- Hour of Revelation
- Hungry Lynx
- Hunter's Prowess
- Fleetfeather Sandals
- Kemba's Skyguard
- Oreskos Explorer
- Silence
In:
- Drumhunter
- Farseek
- Karmic Guide
- Open the Armory
- Plains
- Reveillark
- Sacred Cat
- Smuggler's Copter
- Verdant Rebirth
It's been a while since my last update, as I've been thinking long and hard about how to get the most out of my deck. Spreading myself out thin with cat tribal for the sake of cat tribal meant I was sacrificing a lot of potential utility from my creatures. We've dropped a few cats here in favor of better ramp and flying options. Reveillark and Karmic Guide also serve as extra recursion to ensure that Lost Leonin stays a threat throughout the game. Instead of trying to force flying onto my creatures with the sandals (especially if I already have a flier on the board), Smuggler's Copter was included for extra pecks, chumps, and convenient draw.
There are some cards I'm sad to see go, such as Ajani's Presence, Comeuppance, and Hungry Lynx, but at this point I'd rather advance my main strategies than try to make some more situational pet cards work. Other adjustments I feel are solid upgrades, like Hour of Revelation being swapped for an Austere Command. It isn't coming down for 3, but being able to pick what I destroy is highly enticing to me.
Trying out Drumhunter as another draw option. The draw effect procs at the start of the end step, meaning a boosted cat from Arahbo will allow me to get the card before its power goes back down.
I also slotted another basic in the mix to reduce mana screwing. I may be looking into getting my land count up to 36-37 soon, but for now 35 has been working well with test hands recently, especially with lower on the curve ramp options like Farseek now included.
My next upgrades to the deck are going to focus on one of three categories: more tutors, more tokens, or more lifelink. I've kinda hit the last two by re-introducing Sacred Cat in the mix, but I really want this deck to focus on getting Lost Leonin out for the kill as much as possible. Just gotta get my hands on a Worldly Tutor or Eladamri's Call!
For now, I've updated my Maybeboard to reflect cards that I own and I am considering, and the Acquireboard to reflect cards that I do not own and am either considering, or are definite upgrades. Updates to the main description of my deck coming soon!
GoneWithLaw says... #2
Spirits thanks for the comment! I'll check your deck out shortly.
Rhonas is definitely on the acquire list. It's currently a little on the pricey side, so if I'm playing the long game I may wait for it to rotate out of Standard before picking it up. I'll have to see on when, but I definitely have my eye on it.
I think 33 lands can work if I can lower my curve below 3 average CMC. I may drop a spell or three for some extra lands, since I've found myself having to mulligan quite a bit in test hands in order to get the early aggression I'm aiming for, which isn't ideal with the lack of early card draw.
Steelshaper's Gift and Open the Armory I've been back and forth on. I think I'd want more equipment to include it, though worse comes to worse it's just a second/third copy of Exoskeleton.
Felidar Guardian is a remnant of the original version of this deck. I'm not really running any other combo pieces or ways to abuse ETB triggers, so it's been strong contender for cutting. Your comment convinced me to give it the axe!
Silence was only in here to start thanks to the Ajani flavor text! You're right, it's been a little underwhelming. I'd like to find a card lower on the curve to replace it with, though.
Brimaz is on my acquire list! Just a little on the pricey side, still. Hoping for a reprint in the next Masters set.
Thanks for the pointers! I'll be updating this deck soon enough. Do you have any more suggestions for cuts to get those pricier cards in, eventually?
Spirits says... #1
Hi GoneWithLaw, fellow Arahbo, Roar of the World player, Arahbo, Xenagos... for Cats
I am going to do a full card by card comparison, just offhand on visual review, your deck looks faster and runs similar combos to what I was thinking. Not slowed down by clunky artifacts.
I recommend Rhonas the Indomitable, he's 5/5 Deathtouch Indestructible for CMC3 and he can always attack with ANY cat and Eminence Trigger. He can also + and trample a cat if needed.
Does 33 land cause mulligan issues for you? I've been concerned on occasion at 34 lands, normally I would run 36.
Steelshaper's Gift is good if your looking for an equipment, like Grafted Exoskeleton but doesn't have the same modularity as Open the Armory.
What's Felidar Guardian for, dont see too much ETB worth his CMC4. Does he combo with something?
Silence is used the turn your going for the win? I assume. Seems too situational, and a dead draw in many cases. How do you know when to cast it is the issue, It doesn't stop most combos anyway, unless they have a Sorcery component to them, which most Combos won't.
Brimaz, King of Oreskos? I know he doesn't have great synergy, but he's a 3/4 vigilance, plus procs vigilance, can work well with Triumph of the Hordes and such. Cool build +1. Will do more research later.
October 31, 2017 5:41 p.m.