Mikaeus, Extreme Sub $20 Budget EDH

Commander / EDH Sleazebag

SCORE: 3201 | 1154 COMMENTS | 538606 VIEWS | IN 1992 FOLDERS


Sleazebag says... #1

CanibalKaiser: I do! It depends on entirely which upgrades and how many, of course.

First the simple choices. Remove swamps for nonbasic lands, the bad manarocks for better manarocks, removal for better removal, card draw for better card draw, etc.

Next is the harder ones, this depends on how big an upgrade you are doing.

When upgrading this deck you want to gradually go from playing tons of potential combos, to less combos but only the very best ones.The first cards I'd cut when doing a "massive" upgrade is the evasion equipment (stuff like lightning greaves is still fine as it protects mikaeus) and all the "Sac a creature: Get +2/+2 until EOT" creatures. Keep all the noncombat based win conditions like Triskelion, Blasting Station, and the mill engines (Grinding Station, Altar of the Brood) if few people in your meta runs Eldrazi.

To replace the cards that you removed, you put in goodstuff. Like expensive draw aka Necropotence, effects that are broken when repeated like Rune-Scarred Demon and Kokusho, the Evening Star, TONS of tutors, all the expensive boardwipes we can't afford (Oblivion Stone, All is Dust, Damnation) etc. This way you become less reliant on the combo and harder to lock out of the game, but your best bet is still to combo out and win.

However, when doing small upgrades over time, you shouldn't cut out all your combo pieces as they are still your win-cons. Do as I first said and replace ramp with better ramp, draw with better draw etc. Eventually you will be able to cut down on the evasion / creatures as your deck becomes more consistent.

Hope that helped!

February 23, 2015 7:54 a.m.

Ayle says... #2

what about Cauldron of Souls, would this negate the +1/+1 counters?

February 23, 2015 11:03 a.m.

Sleazebag says... #3

Ayle: Unfortunately, it would only negate the +1/+1 counters a single time. When the creature dies and comes back it enters as a new creature, which doesn't have the temporary buffs of the previous one (Like the Persist buff form Cauldron of Souls).

It's good boardwipe protection though!

February 23, 2015 7:46 p.m.

Ayle says... #4

How do you feel about Carnifex Demon? loops with the commander and can remove the +1/+1 counters off other creatures while hurting your opponents creatures.

February 25, 2015 9:24 a.m.

Sleazebag says... #5

Ayle: Carnifex Demon is an awesome card! The only reason I don't run it is that it shares his manacost with Mikaeus. Definitely worth considering!

February 25, 2015 10:46 a.m.

Spencerbot15 says... #6

Why exactly is Grim Haruspex in the deck? It kills you if you can't kill everyone in one turn and it is a human so undying doesn't work for it.

February 26, 2015 11:06 a.m.

Grim Haruspex, in combination with an infinite sac combo, draws you exactly the number of cards you want. You don't have to draw your whole deck, trigger the ability over and over until you get an answer, then kill everyone. It's one of the most powerful cards in the deck.

February 26, 2015 11:48 a.m.

Sleazebag says... #8

Spencerbot15: As Squirrel_of_War said, it draws you exactly as many cards as you want. Sure, it's not a "may" trigger, but when you have drawn enough cards you simply sacrifice the Grim Haruspex itself!

February 26, 2015 12:38 p.m.

What's your opinion on Vow of Malice?

February 26, 2015 12:40 p.m.

Sleazebag says... #10

Squirrel_of_War: It's ok'ish I guess. It can be used both offensively (Evasion for your infinite power creature) and defensively (Opponents big beatstick can't attack you).

However, it's not unblockable, it can still be blocked by black and artifact creatures. And most creatures that you want to get rid of aren't scary because of their power, but because of strong ongoing effects.For example, playing against a Mikaeus and putting this on him will achieve absolutely nothing, while Murder would get rid of him.

So overall I wouldn't play it, but I can see why someone could justify it.

February 26, 2015 12:47 p.m.

Lithion says... #11

I want to build this deck and I do have some of the upgrades like Kokusho, the Evening Star I do have a sheaoldred as well and some others I just want make sure i replace the right cards so I don't mess it up

February 28, 2015 9:47 p.m.

Sleazebag says... #12

Lithion: You can try removing Leaden Myr for Kokusho (Dies a bit too easily when you want him to stick around). As for Sheoldred, I don't think she fits in this deck. Not unless you make many more edits (7 mana is too much!)

March 1, 2015 7:28 p.m.

Lithion says... #13

Well I also want put In a darksteel plate,magus of the coffers artisan of kozilek bloodgift demon black sun zenith grave titan reanimate thran dynamo mabey wurmcoil engine crypt of agadeem Im sorry if I'm bugging ya at this point these are just some good cards I have that I tought might work in it if not ill. Just make the one change and build the deck as you have it that is if you don't mind helping

March 1, 2015 8:25 p.m.

Lithion says... #14

Mabey a skullclamp to

March 1, 2015 8:29 p.m.

Lithion says... #15

Forgot profane command

March 1, 2015 8:39 p.m.

Farticuno says... #16

I love this deck so much I made a version of it with a $100 budget in mind, let me know what you think if possible :) Mikaeus, the Infinite

March 1, 2015 10:05 p.m.

Lithion says... #17

I do like the $100 budget one to but I think ima just build the 20 one though its a little more in my price range those where his extra cards I have in my binders

March 1, 2015 10:40 p.m.

Lithion says... #18

What would you take out for Altar of Dementia Cabal Ritual and Increasing Ambition ?

March 2, 2015 6:17 p.m.

Sleazebag says... #19

Lithion: I'd try removing some of the pump creatures (As you are adding more consistency)! Play with the deck a bit and tweak the cards you feel underperform in your meta. You will quickly figure out what is good and what isn't working out for you.

March 2, 2015 9:27 p.m.

Yomojo says... #20

Looks like Sol Ring and Nevinyrral's Disk are pushing you a bit higher in cost. Especially Sol Ring. May I recommend any of Skirsdag High Priest, Reiver Demon, Tragic Slip, Bloodgift Demon, Phthisis, Epochrasite, Endless Cockroaches, Decree of Pain or Tendrils of Corruption?

March 2, 2015 9:29 p.m.

Lithion says... #21

Ty sleazebag will do

March 3, 2015 12:13 a.m.

Sleazebag says... #22

Yomojo: The low on Nevinyrral's Disk is still $0.9! Sol Ring is $1.79. I might need to cut them eventually but for now I am still below $20.

They are awesome cards, totally worth the investment even for the biggest budget player.

Bloodgift Demon and Decree of Pain are awesome cards but Decree is still $0.75. A card I'd easily run with a less strict budget.

March 3, 2015 1:10 a.m.

BiGYrri says... #23

Hi Sleazebag, I really like your deck and the thought behind it! I have it build and it works like a charm, but I want to make it somewhat more expensive :D

So my question is somewhat similar as some questions above.

Can you post your list of the deck or just your "more expensive improvements and what you would swap" when you make it somewhat more expensive? Like near the $100? I think that allot of people (and me :D) can then make these proper swaps when they want to change some cards from this budget deck.

Thanks in advance!!

March 3, 2015 4:34 a.m.

BreadManDan says... #24

used this deck for my base and here is what I have.My deck:


Mikaeus, the Xmas Gift I Opened Early Playtest

Commander / EDH DSHoyt

SCORE: 2 | 5 COMMENTS | 442 VIEWS

March 3, 2015 5:23 a.m.

landowicked says... #25

Altar of the brood allows you to mill all opponents of their decks if your comboing off. its extremely cheap and doesnt require you to wipe out people one by one with a massive creature

March 4, 2015 3:41 a.m.

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