SIBBBBHTSFHFTDOI
Commander / EDH
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improving isochron: mirrormade & teferi —Dec. 11, 2021
Isochron Scepter has breathed so much life into this deck for me since it's inclusion. Turning my biggest pet card Aboshan, Cephalid Emperor into a genuine win-con already cemented its place, but it has plenty of other uses that feel very unique and flavorful to the deck and I'd like to continue to improve these synergies. That said, a concern I've had is not being able to consistently produce enough mana to get the Dramatic Reversal infinite online since this list is fairly light on mana generation. It has always gotten its value out of cheat effects like Emeria Shepherd rather than large amounts of mana since the latter tends to collide with the list's diverse mana requirements, and this is something that I've kept in mind over the last year while making changes. The solution here is quite likely the old faithful; Mirrormade, which was swapped out for Thieving Skydiver to great success. I don't think I want to revert that change, but rather slot it in place of something else. I haven't figured out what yet, which is why I'm writing this; I'm incredibly scatterbrained (I have ADHD) and writing down thoughts helps a lot.
So, Mirrormade. My first thought is removing a reanimation enchantment for it, but past testing has proven that to always be a bad idea. So, without removing more interaction, what are my options? As I've said in previous posts (I think), the list is tuned to a razor's edge and finding "bad" cards to swap out is incredibly difficult by this point. And so, the first on the chopping block is... Rhystic Study. I've always been biased against it since it doesn't naturally synergize with anything (I don't even have "when you draw" effects in here), so why wouldn't it be? It's goodstuff at the end of the day; something to get out with Zur the Enchanter *f-etch* if they're played early. It just feels so lame though. Mirrormade can become Rhystic Study (though I dislike valuing it by its ceiling), but I think more often it will be another Sol Ring... which, much unlike Rhystic Study, instantly enables Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal. That is the huge selling point for me. I'm just wondering though if I'd have enough draw power left... I'll have to test it. Second card to be considered for a cut is Plains, because I think I have enough lands? Not sure. I've always been of the opinion that fewer lands with a strong core engine is better than more lands and a weak engine, since you trade an occasional extra mulligan for a killer late game.
The second card up is Teferi, Time Raveler. The idea is to get him out with Sun Titan after doing the usual Traumatize-scale mill, get Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal online, then tap down each other player's permanents infinitely during their upkeep. Teferi, Time Raveler prevents them from casting anything, so unless there's already a creature effect in play that can be used in response it's game over. Highly likely that Malevolent Hermit Flip will be cut for him. Teferi's a bit better in the early game anyways where Malevolent Hermit Flip would be ideally played to protect Zur the Enchanter *f-etch* since he doesn't require a blue to activate. Bouncing Animate Dead seems fun too!
Anyways yeah, those are my thoughts. I'll be trying out some different configurations with Mirrormade and see what works, then update this whenever I'm satisfied. Teferi, Time Raveler is like 99% going in though.
mlequesne I have... I think if I were to add it I'd need to make a lot of other changes to get good use of it. I think I'd probably want Maskwood Nexus over it too, despite Zur not being able to search it since the extra bodies would go a long way (more targets for Dread Return wouldn't hurt). The other option is Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal, since those two together combo with Aboshan to let him tap any number of permanents each turn, lands included. The result of that is each opponent can only being able to cast spells during their upkeep at instant speed, or never at all, which is pretty awesome, but infinite mana outlets are something I never built into the deck so I'm not sure how frequently the combo would be fully online even if I had the rocks to make infinite mana.
Thank you for the suggestion! It was good food for thought. I'm definitely interested in making space for the Isochron combo now and will be giving it some testing.
November 25, 2021 10:48 a.m.
mlequesne, hey, fair warning, big ol' blurb incoming. I really appreciated you getting my thought train going again since it's lead to a really fun night of brainstorming ways of getting the Isochron Scepter combo into the list and I wanted to talk about it a bit.
Initially I was skeptical about the combo since Dramatic Reversal didn't target anything or provide too much on it's own. That said, I still don't think it's the perfect new addition, but it's definitely not useless. In playtesting it usually ends up being used as a minor ritual to net 1 mana. On the other hand, Isochron Scepter is an AMAZING new addition. Like, I didn't realize how many solid targets I already had in the deck for it! In the realm of infinites, for 7 mana both Path to Exile and Tithe loop with Emeria Shepherd and Repository Skaab as long as any Plains remain in the deck, and I can replace Reanimate with Shallow Grave to loop Repository Skaab since it sacrificing itself gets around SG's EoT exile. For just solid value being able to cast Lim-Dul's Vault every turn for Axis of Mortality seems nice, being able to fill the graveyard with Entomb is a decent option as well, and of course there's always Swan Song. On the rare occasion that I do get Dramatic Reversal on the scepter, Cephalid Illusionist can actually mill the whole deck and win like that, Verity Circle can tap everything forever, Vilis, Broker of Blood gets silly, Magus of the Bazaar and Mirror-Mad Phantasm mill as much as needed... honestly the options are crazy.
Anyways just wanted to say thanks again for getting me back in the groove. I've already ordered in the new additions and can't wait to get them sleeved up.
mlequesne says... #1
Have you thought about Arcane Adaptation? it makes everyone in your deck a cephalid! if aboshan is your second commander at least it deserves testing it.
November 25, 2021 7:55 a.m.