@Shmizzerdrix: He's just a beefcake. Beef is fine, of course, but my 8-drop slot is pretty trim and there simply isn't room for a creature that's "just" a big body.

I really loved this primer! It taught me what I needed to make a Mayael the Anima deck of my own! Keep up your good work!

First of all, I love this deck! Mayael was the first commander I ever made, but that was back when I thought Nemesis of Mortals was my best card and I thought my crayon artwork was picasso... Anyway this deck inspired me to give my old girl mayael another shot! So thanks! I am sure the reason you aren't running him is because hes so nasty, but I didn't think I saw his name show up so Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger. He has always done work for me. I love Knight of the Reliquary as well. She really helps me thin my deck and when Crucible of Worlds is out all the better! Though I am sure you wanna keep your non fatties to a min. Just thought I would give her the honorable mention just in case! Either way +1, I'd +2 if I could!

I really, really, really like the idea of this deck. Using more not-5-power creatures for utility (Captain Sisay!) is brilliant and I need to use it asap. Do you have any thought about Oblivion Sower from Duel Decks: Eldrazi vs Zendikar?

@trness, Pookey13, & Ellusion: Thank you for the kind words! This deck has been my baby for many years and I'm glad to hear that people appreciate it.

Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger got the axe because I want this deck to encourage interactive play. I use it a lot to teach beginners and I want to make sure they don't feel shut out of the game. If your play group doesn't mind, though, definitely make a slot for him. He's one of the best creatures you could possibly run.

Knight of the Reliquary is a really great tutor, and I did run her for a while alongside Crucible of Worlds. It was a neat trick, but CoW doesn't really shine unless you're running all the fetch lands. I'm waiting for a reprint to acquire the Zendikar 5, so maybe once that happens I'll slot these two (very good) toys back in.

I do have thoughts about Oblivion Sower! Mainly that he sucks in this deck. Sweet stats, very splashable, but ultimately not very good unless you CAST him - a last resort for most Mayael builds. I'm sure this guy will have a home in EDH, just not here.

Very good points! I forgot one thing though! Have you put any consideration into Tyrant's Familiar? Personally i prefer him over inferno titan. Mayael is gonna be out there 90% of the time, 7 damage roasts alot of things, flying means he has a better chance of hitting. He does cost more but you're summoning your fatties with Mayael anyway. Just some more food for thought!

@Pookey13: Those are all valid point, and Tyrant's Familiar certainly isn't a bad card to run. But I like Inferno Titan better for two reasons. Number one, he deals damage when he hits the board. Yes, the Familiar has haste, but there is a window for the opponent to respond before he can swing and deal his damage. Number two, you can split the Titan's damage up. It's not hard to imagine a board state where you get to roast three chump blockers or some utility creatures. I think the more relevant question is this: do you run Tyrant's Familiar or Balefire Dragon?

Tyrant's Familiar has haste, but you can just save your mana and activate mayaels ability at the end of opponents turn when opponent has no mana open. So no need for hastes.

Would you run Reya Dawnbringer? Mayael can't pull her, but I personally run Piper and Amulet. Worst case, I have to hardcast her, it's not that bad (unless she becomes a lightning rod for hate before my next upkeep). Is that enough downside to dismiss her?

Also, do you have an updated list that you currently are running with all these questions/suggestions?

Did you ever consider Into the Wilds to keep lands off the top to improve those activations?

Oh I would totally run Mr.Balefire over the tyrant. Mostly cuz I also am running Siege Behemoth and I love the interaction those two have. If nothing else, they bait wrath so either way the opponents board is getting wiped which is usually why I call on our aforementioned bud Mr.Balefire. That and he looks cool!

I'll just drop a few quick recommendations. I'm short on time, I'm sorry I'm not able to give an explanation behind each card.

In: Swiftfoot Boots, Wheel of Fortune, Mana Crypt, Worn Powerstone, Three Visits, Somberwald Sage, Avacyn's Pilgrim, Birds of Paradise, Sylvan Caryatid, Elvish Mystic, Fyndhorn Elves, Llanowar Elves, Survival of the Fittest, Lotus Cobra, Three Visits, Nature's Lore, Worldly Tutor, Sylvan Tutor. Possibly Omnath, Locus of Rage just for style points (he's not amazing by himself.)

OUT: Eiganjo Castle, Miren, the Moaning Well, Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers, Slayers' Stronghold, Winding Canyons, Yavimaya Hollow, Wall of Omens, Wall of Blossoms, baneslayer angel, alley, crop rotation, chaos warp, hallowed oonlight (way too situational), nature's claim, realms uncharted, expedition map (green has access to dozens of better ramp cards), rout, sylvan scrying, wrath of god.

NarejED
You know that your recommendations totally change concept of deck?

Ellusion True, but A: The deck isn't listed as a gimmick, so it shouldn't be too concerned about keeping a specific theme or play style. And B: It IS listed as a primer, which usually indicates that you want the deck to be as good as physically possible. If it's meant to show other players how to build around a specific commander, it would be a bit terrible if it were deliberately built weaker than it could be.

@NarejED: Taken verbatim from the deck overview - "A few notes before we begin. This primer is designed to highlight how the pieces of a good Mayael deck intricately mesh together. It isn't designed to represent the fastest or most competitive build. And even though Mayael tends to be a "beginner's" commander, this primer is not tailored to that kind of experience either. So what are we dealing with here? Well, my intention is to highlight the key strategies and interactions that make a successful Mayael deck tick. This mostly boils down to tightly controlling your topdecks and mana flow. These more nuanced elements are often overshadowed by dragons, gods, and Eldrazi, but they are certainly the most indispensable cogs in the deck's machinery. Consider this, then, to be a Mayael deck optimized for a Melvin experience." Not saying your suggestions are without merit, but I do agree with Ellusion. I'd rather the primer demonstrate good fundamentals over maximum power.

@thewyzman: I would run Reya Dawnbringer if she didn't cost 9 mana. Without Piper/Amulet effects it's such a feel bad to get her in your opening hand.

I keep a private list that I playtest suggestions with. If I like how it plays, I'll update the primer accordingly. On a related note, I'm now playtesting Into the Wilds.

First of all, I'm building Mayael right now- all my other decks are too crazy. And maybe too blue. This guide is great, especially the odds table! Anyway, have you considered adding Reflecting Pool to further tidy up your mana base? Sure, you might not want it as your first or even your second land, but playing it any time after that would have you set.

Why no Arid Mesa?

Also, are any of the new lands or Eldrazi from BFZ making the cut?

@szechuan53: I playtested Reflecting Pool in here long ago, but the deck was much different back then. I would not be opposed to trying it out again.

@benwardlaw1: I intend to run the full suite of 9 fetches some day. But for the time being, the ZEN 5 remain beyond my budget. The only Eldrazi who will be making the cut (for now) is Void Winnower. Not that the others are bad, but I think most of them take a lot of investment to make function properly (as in, you have to build around them heavily). As for lands, I've been playtesting the tango lands and Blighted Woodland. I'm not sure I'm sold yet. Shrine of the Forsaken Gods and Conduit of Ruin both have potential if I wanted to push the colorless theme a little harder. I guess we'll have to wait and see what OGW has in store.

Warstorm Surge?

Glad im not the only one who just likes Void Winnower alone for mayael. Im still trying to find the spot for it though :/ what testing i did do with it while a friend borrowed my Dragonlord Atarka for standard just sold me on it. it didnt lock my opponents out (Cough cough Iona) But it stopped the one removal spell that would have done some damage to my board. also....no one could block...but i guess i just got lucky on their cmcs xD

@Flubby7: Check the (newly updated!) FAQ. You'll find the answer you're looking for.

@_SeriosSkies_: Ugh. Talk about a disappointing set. There's not a single other playable Eldrazi for this build. I did add Greenwarden of Murasa, which I really like. Also the tango lands, which are...er...playable? Yea. Probably.

I owed some people so the three Greenwarden of Murasa' i opened Went to pay those debts off otherwise i'd be trying to squeeze that in too..so did my tango lands ._. Im not going to have fond memories of this set.

do you really like Soul of New Phyrexia here? having to leave mana open all the time seems daunting. I tried Brave the Sands recently to much joy, kinda like having Heliod, God of the Sun, but with a great blocking clause.

@thewyzman: It's not so bad as you'd think. I'm often leaving mana open for Mayael's ability, so it tends not be be much of an issue. I've also been transitioning the deck to include more instants. Basically, I'm playing more and more of my game during my opponent's turn as the deck continues to develop.

Like your deck. Cards I recommend Worldly Tutor, Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, Lurking Predators, Conduit of Ruin Cards to take out 1 land Mother of Runes, Regrowth, Kozilek, Butcher of TruthHad arguments typed out for each card, but "preview your comment" would not work. Not typing it again. Let me know what you think.

Other than Sigarda, Host of Herons, how does this deck protect itself against Thraximundar? Thrax completely thrashes this deck as the early game is often too slow, and the more you attempt to defend against that (by putting in earlier spells or smaller creatures), the more you're effectively hurting Mayael. I'm thinking of dropping in Dragon Fodder or something like it, just to have tokens for the matchup.