Hey!!

Belbe's Portal, Deathrender to help bring out creatures.

Very nice.

What would you say your key/game making cards are? And what are your finishing cards (by that I mean things like Overwhelming Stampede that come out of nowhere. You have low costing creatures).

I also see no cards that protect your creatures from being targeted (not much at least). And no various fog effects to protect from opponents using Overwhelming Stampede and the like. Cyclonic Rift or board wipes would also seemingly be a weakness here (Obviously Gaddock Teeg can help here). What do you do against that? Lastly, for those running commanders like Xenagos what do you do against constant large creatures?

Also, I am curious if you have tried the following cards and your thoughts. Several of these cards in my deck have helped.

1. Masako the Humorless
2. Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
3. Somberwald Sage
4. Overwhelming Stampede
5. Akroma's Memorial
6. Instill Energy
7. Luminarch Ascension
8. Mana Reflection
9. Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Alright, I do see some more protection from people playing spells on your turn, but I am just surprised to not see more mass protection. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong and all the various enchantment and artifacts serve to protect quite well on their own.

Hi RoddimusPrime, first of all thank you for reviewing my deck! It;s always much appreciated when people take a serious and thoughtful look at a deck. It can only help to improve things in the long run....

I will reply to your statements in a few moments :-)

RoddimusPrime, basically the first priority is that I want to be in control; I want to ramp/accelerate with mana as soon as possible. Closely followed by card draw engines. So that I end up with a smooth start at the beginning.

Second I want to have an answer for (nearly) every situation that could be happening. Basically I want to be in control while I build up forces for the fatal blow....

I figured that I had enough protection in my deck, but as you clearly state that fog like effect seem to be missing. What would you suggest?

There is a nice combo for aggressive endings like : Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite & Kamahl, Fist of Krosa , both tutorable. But I do agree that a few more wincons could be added. Choices choices..... :-)

Suggestions? As I don't like the infinite loops, so I leave those out.

Against blue decks with alot of counters and Cyclonic Rift I experience alot of troubles. In my sideboard I run Ghostway to avoid a Cyclonic Rift from sweeping through my battlefield....

Some of your cards seem really interesting additions to my game, but what to take out.... ?

My feedback about your suggested list, see behind the cards...

1. Masako the Humorless : A potent card that could be mindblowing for any opponent. I had it once in my deck, but was taken out due to the fact that I always tutored for something else. But I do agree that I should have second thoughts about this...

2. Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker : I once reviewed this and it didn't make the cut, but reading this card yet again makes me wonder if I should give her a new chance....

3. Somberwald Sage : It doenst ramp my Captain Sisay earlier into the game, but it gives more acceleratino when the commander is out. But which spot should this card take?

4. Overwhelming Stampede : It rocks, but playing more into control/tearing down battlefields this doens't suit the gameplan. Many times players gave up because they lost all hope, not just because their lives were gone :-)

5. Akroma's Memorial : Solid and fatal if not dealt with accordinly. A tutorable sweetness that should rotate in if you ask me now :-) Gheez.... what to get rid of.... xD

6. Instill Energy : I had it in my hand, but it seemed 'cheap'. Although on your commander it feels like you are in a candy store with a big budget. Downside is that I have to draw it, as no tutor will find it.

7. Luminarch Ascension : I had one copy which ended up in my "Who let the Cats out". Do you believe it adds that much that it deserves a spot in here?

8. Mana Reflection : Not sure if you need more mana at this point. Knowing that I can tutor Gaea's Cradle and Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger.

9. Elspeth, Sun's Champion : Good old Elspeth :-) A flying wincon. Do you believe I need it in here? It feels too weak compared to what is already present....

Thanks alot for all the thoughts you already put in here RoddimusPrime ! Much appreciated.

Having a look over your list, here are some cards I think you could easily cut:

• Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile - the effect feels seriously underwhelming

• Dosan the Falling Leaf - You already have Dragonlord Dromoka and dosan has the potential to backfire

• Hokori, Dust Drinker - I'm on the fence about this but other than Gaea's Cradle you can't really abuse it

• Omnath, Locus of Mana - there is bette rramp yo ucould be running

• Weathered Wayfarer - again, much better ramp, especially in green

• Yomiji, Who Bars the Way / Hua Tuo, Honored Physician / Reya Dawnbringer - you have too many of these effects, I would recommend cutting back on them

• Karametra, God of Harvests - in a vacuum, the card does not actually ramp. You're better off just playing a dedicated ramp card, especially for 5 mana

• Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant - this card feels really underwhelming. Like, its nice and all but you have Avacyn already

• Voice of Resurgence / Mimic Vat - not the right card for this deck build

• Mind's Eye - you're better off getting sisay down faster and using her for card draw

• Alpha Authority / Ranger's Guile / Aspect of Mongoose - WAY too much doubling up. Just run something like Mother of Runes who synergises better with the rest of your deck

• Consign to Dust / Dromoka's Command - You already have enough artifact / enchantment removal

• Sword of Light and Shadow - I think this feels underwhelming in the build

Cards I think you should be adding:

• More Lands! - 33 is not enough. Especially with how little ramp you run. 37+ is how many a mana intesive deck like this should be running.

• More ramp - Currently you only have a few ways to get Sisay down faster than turn 4: Ancient Tomb, Untaidake, the Cloud Keeper (which I'm not a fan of but that's another discussion), Sol Ring, Birds of Paradise and Chrome Mox (which I think you should replace). I think the deck could sorely use: Nature's Lore, Skyshroud Claim, Selesnya Signet and Sakura-Tribe Elder (who synergises with Survival of the Fittest late game) on top of the ramp you already have.

• Mother of Runes - this card is a beast. Not oly does it give you another one-drop for Yisan, the Wanderer Bard (since you only have BoP and wayfarer) but it works with Survival too.

• Kozilek, Butcher of Truth - Card draw and a beat stick all in one, what more could you ask for.

• Akroma's Memorial - you already can see the value of this card, just run it.

• Sun Titan - good recursion and keeps Loyal Retainers going for days.

On the whole, the biggest thing that needs addressing though is the mana base. Just becasue Sisay can tutor for lands doens't mean that you can run a slower mana base - remember you have a ctach 22 situation where you need Sisay down before she can get your lands. So lots of mana is good.

enpc :

Based upon your thoughtfull comments I made the following revisions:

• -1 Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant
• -1 Dosan the Falling Leaf
• -1 Hua Tuo, Honored Physician
• -1 Consign to Dust
• -1 Ranger's Guile
• -1 Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile
• -1 Karametra, God of Harvests
• -1 Voice of Resurgence

Added:

• +1 Razorverge Thicket
• +1 Selesnya Signet
• +1 Nature's Lore
• +1 Skyshroud Claim
• +1 Mother of Runes
• +1 Akroma's Memorial
• +1 Sun Titan
• +1 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth

I gave these suggestions a good thought and I agreed with your arguments for all related cards which were involved in this revision. Thanks!

Captain Sisay => Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero => Skyshroud Poacher => Elvish Piper

Then you can play legends for reliably.

Hi hellaminx , thanks for your comment.

The streak seems nice, but takes like 3 turns to get the Elvish Piper in place. Which takes a loong time.Don't you think it takes too much precious deck space and time for this to take place? If one gets nuked/countered its already over...

PartyJ I didn't even notice Yisan, the Wanderer Bard. Don't mind me. Just derpin'.

hellaminx : No problemo mate :) I always like it when ppl take the effort to contribute anything :)

And I learned about a card I never saw before. There is good in everything, perhaps for later use :)

I don't understand the choice regarding the inclusion of Yisan in the deck. This creature seems relly lacking compared to all the other great legendary creatures you could include here !

He comes in, does nothing, and gives you 1 creature (starting at 1cmc) per turn.

Not quite the kind of "toolbox" I would want in a Sisay deck ! Because he's not an "answer" to a certain threat your opponents could cast and his own "toolbox" is really scarce in your deck (maybe add something like Quirion Ranger that can be fetched with the first verse ?).

But since you're already packing a good amount of ramp in your deck, why not swap Yisan for something more impactful like Iona, Shield of Emeria, Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, even more ramp or Card Advantage like Fauna Shaman ?

Marenkai , thank you for your thoughfull comment.

The reason that I added Yisan, the Wanderer Bard so due to the fact that he offers direct access to more tools in this deck which are not accessible by Captain Sisay herself.

For example, I love to have this powerhouse on the table asap : Mother of Runes - which adds the desired protection for Sisay....

Each turn Yisan, the Wanderer Bard can fetch another creature, on top of what Captain Sisay is doing.

The creature ramp alone could add advantage, not to mention to ability to find the non-legendary creatures.

Don't you agree with this? I had Elvish Piper on the battlefield through this way.

Sure ! Yisan is a powerful fetch engine, and getting protection on board with it is an interesting maneuver ! :O

It's a faster way to get protection on board and bypass the legendary restriction Sisay has... not half bad ! :D

The "verse" restriction is a bit sad, so I'll still recommend Fauna Shaman for the second verse ! Verse 1 protection, verse 2 Shaman = full fetch board ! :)

+1, really thoughtful deckbuilding ;)

Marenkai : Thanks for your swift reaction :)

I do agree with you that Fauna Shaman could add something special to this deck. But now comes the tricky part to let something leave the deck for it :) And having Survival of the Fittest already in place might prove enough, or swap this enchantment for Fauna Shaman ?

I also had an Instill Energy in mind for Sisay. But what are the odds that you get it in your hand. Think it's not worth the spot.

No, Survival is better than Fauna Shaman in every aspect. But Shaman can be fetched on Yisan, which is nice ! And this could ensure that you'll see at least one Survival effect per game ! :)

Instill Energy is good, but a useless draw if Sisay isn't on board ;)

Where is your board wipe like a Myojin? Secondly, I see Karametra as a ramp in and of herself (and hard to remove). Maybe Karametra isn't necessary, but I'm just saying she is a good card. In regards to Instill Energy I don't play a single card for the odds per se. I play them because of good synergy much like many of your artifacts. That or it serves a key part like Swords to Plowshares.

With the Chrome Mox do you find you have anything in your hand you want to discard?

And when facing a swarm or an Overrun how are you dealing with that? Generally you want deterrents. For me, Masako and Michiko were nice little surprises as well as a deterrent. I also sometimes use Ghostly Prison, Windborn Muse, and Norns Annex as most people are always spending their mana. This process also lets you build up.

Probably my most curious question is whether you are playing with 4-5 people or 1v1? I can understand your deck list with 1v1, but against 2-3 other players it's hard to keep control. Not to mention a greater need for certain cards due to having to adjust how many people you are playing against.

What do you typically find the deck's biggest weaknesses to be? I would think swarms and select decks like Teysa that even have more control than you.

Heroes' Podium is too slow, I assume? It's a big boost, though, and can be tutored.

Honor-Worn Shaku is janky as hell, but if there was ever a deck for it...Haha.

Perhaps Time of Need for another Sisay use?

Just a few things off the top of my head, but it's probably too tuned for them. It's a really nice deck, though! +1 :)

Captain Sisay and Bow of Nylea are so good with each other. +1 from me.

I think that Myojin of Life's Web would work well with this deck. Tutor some big ticket legendary creatures with Captain Sisay and then apply: Remove a divinity counter from Myojin of Life's Web: Put any number of creature cards from your hand onto the battlefield. Though it costs significantly more mana than Elvish Piper it is a card you can find with Captain Sisay and it allows you to dump your entire hand onto the battlefield. It is also indestructible until you want to use its ability. And once you remove the divinity counter you still have an 8/8 creature.

This deck is sick. Good job.

Have you thought about a Rhys the Redeemed for a sort of mana-dump?

i think it would be good (I see it in your maybeboard now).

IzzetFanatic : Thanks :) It's fun (for me) to pilot this deck... Curious what Oath will bring for Captain Sisay

Bovine073 : It's not a bad thought, but I feel there is nothing that could be taken out compared to Rhys the Redeemed that will improve the overall build. For example, when I choose a 1 cmc creature with Yisan, the Wanderer Bard, then I will still choose Mother of Runes first. Do you agree or not?

I played a few games lately where I felt that Weathered Wayfarer was overall lacking. Too many games I was not able to activate him. Therefor I swapped him out for Exploration. Extra ramp in this build never hurts!