SIBBBBHTSFHFTDOI
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 39 | 11 COMMENTS | 6394 VIEWS | IN 8 FOLDERS
another update... —March 11, 2020
Alright, so, trying some pretty experimental stuff this time around.
OUT > Gitaxian Probe // IN > Prismatic Strands
Defensive play. I added in Gitaxian with the idea that I'd be better equipped to go into burst turns, but that never ended up panning out whatsoever. I'm better off waiting for openings by watching for mana and by focusing on Grand Abolisher. Prismatic Strands is a potentially free source of blanket defense that works against hexproof creatures. Gonna see how it works in place.
OUT > Generous Gift // IN > Rite of Undoing
Blanket "removal" spot. I was getting very little use out of Generous Gift, and have more than enough space for a few dredge cards right now. Doubles as utility, doesn't give a 3/3 I guess...?
OUT > Dark Tutelage // IN > Shieldmage Advocate
I don't struggle with card advantage whatsoever due to how the graveyard works here. That said, Dark Tutelage is an inclusion I'm hesitant to remove. The advantage has come in clutch in many situations, but I feel as if it goes against what the deck wants to do. 3CMC, so turboing it out early is bad (I prefer to skip turn 3). Zur the Enchanter *f-etch* almost never wants to tutor it over Land Tax or Attunement. I've come to run higher CMC spells as time has gone on, and so the self-inflicted damage here is rough, since I'd want some of that health for Spatial Binding and Doom Whisperer. I believe that Shieldmage Advocate will aid in the mid/late game by giving me both another white creature that targets, while also being able to negate damage from hexproof sources. Not to mention the political implications, and how I can potentially deny cards for Open the Vaults and other symmetrical spells. Pretty wild card overall; little synergy with our own graveyard, but compliments everything else excellently. Did I mention that the "choose" part of their effect doesn't target?
I really want to add in Prismatic Vista in place of Evolving Wilds. Not sure if that's gonna be the next big buy or not; my budget's tight rn.
Also been considering Vizkopa Guildmage for its generally helpful ability (that also targets!!!) and its game-ending interaction with Resolute Archangel. I think I'm good on win-cons tho lol.
Hoping I don't regret these changes lol. I believe I'm in the business for a slow/steady card advantage engine, but I'm really not sure if I need that, considering how explosively this deck plays.
Edit: Very first game with these inclusions, they're churning out incredible results. Rite of Undoing played as a response to a Damnation was able to save an Animate Dead which lead to my win via Sun Titan and Second Chance. Prismatic Strands saved the entire table from a 20000/20000 Craterhoof Behemoth board; I will admit it was convenient to have drawn it and been able to discard it, but I was just playing my normal game and set it up with ease. Much of the time, half my deck is in the grave, and so I'm doubting this will be too rare of an occurrence.
I try not to let star-aligning moments like that define my deck build, but I'm really thinking I'm going to like these new inclusions. Looking forward to drawing Shieldmage Advocate.
3/14 update: I've managed to draw Shieldmage Advocate a few times. Absolute friend/enemy maker at all stages of the game. Even though I do not feel that they are the most powerful creature, they are a wonderful and fun toolbox card that has spiced up every casual game I've been able to play them in. I think this is one of those cases where I don't think I'll remove them unless something REALLY solid contends their spot.