Hail Hydra and the (Asmira) Avenger

Commander / EDH Casual Counters GW (Selesnya) Midrange Multiplayer Theme/Gimmick

GobboE

Creature (35)

• 1x Abzan Battle Priest
• 1x Abzan Falconer
• 1x Archangel of Thune
• 1x Avatar of the Resolute
• 1x Bane of Progress
• 1x Borderland Ranger
• 1x Champion of Lambholt
• 1x Cytoplast Root-Kin
• 1x Dromoka, the Eternal
• 1x Enduring Scalelord
• 1x Fertilid
• 1x Forgotten Ancient
• 1x Fungal Behemoth
• 1x Genesis Hydra
• 1x Gladehart Cavalry
• 1x Gyre Sage
• 1x Hangarback Walker
• 1x Heroes' Bane
• 1x High Sentinels of Arashin
• 1x Krakilin
• 1x Managorger Hydra
• 1x Mikaeus, the Lunarch
• 1x Mistcutter Hydra
• 1x Oran-Rief Hydra
• 1x Pathbreaker Ibex
• 1x Phytohydra
• 1x Predator Ooze
• 1x Reclamation Sage
• 1x Renegade Krasis
• 1x Sandsteppe Mastodon
• 1x Scavenging Ooze
• 1x Seedborn MuseGC
• 1x Sporeback Troll
• 1x Sylvan Ranger
• 1x Tuskguard Captain

Land (36)

• 1x Canopy Vista
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Evolving Wilds
• 11x Forest
• 1x Gavony Township
• 1x Grove of the Guardian
• 1x Khalni Garden
• 1x Llanowar Reborn
• 1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
• 1x Opal Palace
• 9x Plains
• 1x Sapseep Forest
• 1x Temple Garden
• 1x Temple of the False God
• 1x Terramorphic Expanse
• 1x Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
• 1x Windswept Heath
• 1x Yavimaya Hollow

Enchantment (10)

• 1x Asceticism
• 1x Aura ShardsGC
• 1x Cathars' Crusade
• 1x Death's Presence
• 1x Doubling Season
• 1x Gift of Immortality
• 1x Hardened Scales
• 1x Mirari's Wake
• 1x Primal Vigor
• 1x Shield of the Oversoul

Artifact (9)

• 1x Armillary Sphere
• 1x Cauldron of Souls
• 1x Contagion Engine
• 1x Darksteel Plate
• 1x Horizon Spellbomb
• 1x Selesnya Cluestone
• 1x Selesnya Keyrune
• 1x Selesnya Signet
• 1x Sol Ring

Instant (3)

• 1x Hindervines
• 1x Inspiring Call
• 1x Return to Dust

Sorcery (6)

• 1x Overrun
• 1x Overwhelming Stampede
• 1x Phyrexian Rebirth
• 1x Rout
• 1x Sunbringer's Touch
• 1x Wrath of God

Commander (1)

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Sideboard

Creature (6)

• 1x Ainok Bond-Kin
• 1x Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
• 1x Custodi Soulbinders
• 1x Dragonscale General
• 1x Elite Scaleguard
• 1x Phantom Centaur

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Citadel Siege
• 1x Ooze Flux
• 1x Parallel Lives

Artifact (2)

• 1x Contagion Clasp
• 1x Vedalken Orrery

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Terashi's Grasp

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Ever since Mirage I wanted to do 'something' with Asmira, Holy Avenger . It took until now (too long I know)...

This deck only has a few Avengers (notably Asmira, Holy Avenger and Archangel of Thune), and as the name suggests a lot of hydras (and Krakilin , but that's just a hydra in disguise just like Renegade Krasis, that one even has multiple heads).

If you like it: please upvote +1.

Play style

In short: collect counters. Lots of them. Specifically +1 counters, and do not let them go to waste. Almost every creature either has a counter, or gives counters, or has synergy with +1 counters.

The General

I chose Asmira, Holy Avenger as general/commander for this deck, because I really wanted to. You could also play Dromoka, the Eternal , though this deck has very few dragons it will still function nicely.

Mana

Fertilid has a nice synergy, since you can replace the counters you've spend looking for land. Other mana rampers include: Armillary Sphere, Mirari's Wake, Borderland Ranger , Evolving Wilds, Gyre Sage, Sol Ring, etc...etc...

Synergy (and a combo or two)

The deck contains a lot of synergy, but only few combos.

A short summary:

• Asmira, Holy Avenger + Darksteel Plate seems a match made in heaven...or Asmira, Holy Avenger + Gift of Immortality , or Shield of the Oversoul (after a wipe, she returns...with counters...)

• Cauldron of Souls : the main combo piece. You give your creatures persists, which gives them a -1 counter, but since they have a +1 counter that cancels out and you can do it again (if the thing is untapped of course): Cauldron of Souls + Mikaeus, the Lunarch + Seedborn Muse or any other +1 counter provider.

• Seedborn Muse: I don't really need to explain this one, do I? Just think of all the possibilities with Mikaeus, the Lunarch + Seedborn Muse , Gavony Township + Seedborn Muse , or High Sentinels of Arashin, not to mention Contagion Engine if you have doubts

• And let me sing the song of the Forgotten Ancient or the Cytoplast Root-Kin

• Primal Vigor and Doubling Season: put not one but two counters on the hydras, I mean creatures :) (and the occasional tokens, hangerback walker ). Also deadly with Phyrexian Rebirth

• Death's Presence: Awesome!! Redistribute counters if your creatures die.

• Speaking of dying...you can also opt to regenerate them with Sporeback Troll or Asceticism

• Hardened Scales : Again, more counters

• Hindervines and Inspiring Call: Nice combat trick

• Speaking of combat: Abzan Battle Priest (lifegain), Abzan Falconer (flying hydras, yeah), Tuskguard Captain (not all hydras have trample)

• Champion of Lambholt: give her as much counters as possible to make your hydras (and occasional angel) unblockable

• Archangel of Thune: almost a combo onto itself. But just in case, there is some lifegain in the deck (such as Archangel of Thune + Gladehart Cavalry , Sapseep Forest ).

Finishers

Overrun, Overwhelming Stampede, Pathbreaker Ibex

Getting Rid of Stuff

Artifacts and enchantments

In case of enchantments or artifacts that bother you: Bane of Progress, Reclamation Sage, Aura Shards, or Return to Dust. Terashi's Grasp is in the side board in case more is needed (plus it has synergy with Archangel of Thune)

Creatures

If you need a wipe, look no further than: Wrath of God, Rout, Phyrexian Rebirth. Be sure to play Asmira, Holy Avenger after you play one of those.

Graveyard

Do not forget to exile stuff from a graveyard with Scavenging Ooze

Sideboard

Vedalken Orrery has some nice synergy with Asmira, Holy Avenger. Since it allows you to cast it in your opponent's turn, you can also play her after your opponent wipes the table (and giving her many +1's)...

Yes, dying is not really necessary for the - in this deck - extremely hard to kill Phantom Centaur (which also happens be extremely good in blocking black walking creatures.) But it is mainly a blocker, and hence lacks versatility.

Nice, but second choice: Ooze Flux and Custodi Soulbinders

Parallel Lives: awesome card, but I do not have enough token generation in this deck, at this point, to warrant its inclusion.

Contagion Clasp: Seems to have only little impact. Maybe test it?

Ainok Bond-Kin: can be nice, but I think I need trample more than first strike

Citadel Siege : I'll take advice about whether or not to include

Dragonscale General: Seems a bit underwhelming, get +1 counters equal to the number of tapped creatures...hmmm...I'll take advice on this

Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit: Would like to include, but the cards in the deck seem to have a good synergy as it is...I'll take ideas on this.

Date added	9 years
Last updated	9 years
Key combos	Gavony Township + Seedborn Muse Asmira, Holy Avenger + Darksteel Plate Asmira, Holy Avenger + Gift of Immortality Cauldron of Souls + Mikaeus, the Lunarch + Seedborn Muse Mikaeus, the Lunarch + Seedborn Muse Archangel of Thune + Gladehart Cavalry
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	5 - 0 Mythic Rares 43 - 6 Rares 16 - 4 Uncommons 16 - 2 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.72
Tokens	Elemental 8/8 GW, Ooze X/X G, Phyrexian Horror X/X C, Plant 0/1 G, Saproling 1/1 G, Spirit 1/1 W, Thopter 1/1 C
Folders	Top of the line...