@Rusty_Shackleford: Thanks, mate. I'll consider putting Darksteel Plate back in because I really like that card. I'm not sure about the other though. I don't think I need another pair of boots since I usually tutor Lightning Greaves anyway rather than drawing it. As to the Paladin -it's worth consideration but I'm not sure if it's not simply just under the threshold.
January 29, 2017 8:51 a.m.
The boots are good to have - not just for haste but the added protection. I would rather have hexproof than have to spend 3 mana to stop a removal spell.
I was gonna point out servant & balance, then realizing you didn't have sol ring, I scroll up - Duel Commander! Right on. How's 8.5 fair? I'm always in 4-5 man games. Oh how I wish Balance wasn't banned! For a mono-white deck I don't feel it's broken whatsoever.
I like seeing the Konda. She's one I've forgotten about. I may see about bringing her in as a test. Saskia is a MFer to deal with. She could be a boon! "You attack, Saskia on board? Uhh, No blocks?"
Maybe in 1v1 it's different, but in my experience Caged Sun has not been so great. When it's a win, it's win-more. Most the time it's a waste of a turn, tapping out to play it, just to lose it before I can untap
February 2, 2017 7:36 p.m.
@Siq6Six: I do like the boots. They, as well as the Plate, used to be in the mainboard but I just needed the place for other cards. The Greaves I can just tutor, so I thought one pair is enough. The Plate just wasn't effective enough since guys here have more exiles than destroys on hand.
When I play duel the defence here is a big wall to climb and usually what kills me is the inability to finish the opponent before he wipes the board. Then I have to set everything back up and I'm getting killed. If I manage to build the wall high enough I usually win easily. Recently my favourite setup is just the Servant and the Circle. That lets me use my mana more efficiently having just one to two lands untapped during opponent's turn. Also, really helping with mana usage is Vedalken Orrery. I like to leave out some lands up straight, right? Doesn't matter if I cast my spells on my turn or just before it. I have them ready to fight on my main phase AND I have all the mana left up on opponent's turn!
You're right about Balance. It's not unfair at all. Usually when I'm mana-screwed or facing too big of a crowd I pay with discarding two to three cards. It's a double-edged sword but hey, those are the best kind, right?
When I play multiplayer I usually do really badly. This deck has one really fragile side: boardwipes. My multiplayer friends tend to have cheeky all-planeswalker decks with a ton of creature and artifact mass removals so usually I just sit there putting out plains and sipping tear-spiced tea. The other damned bastard is Avacyn, Angel of Hope deck which "accidentally" my girlfriend has assembled and ready.
Konda, Purity and other red hates are added specifically for a mono red and four (FOUR!) Vial Smasher the Fierce decks I play against on FNM.
The Sun really is a well-spotted weakness. I think the same way. I'll replace it with Enlightened Tutor I think. I've been wanting to add it for a long time.
Thanks for the comment, mate! I really appreciate the input.
February 2, 2017 8:17 p.m.
BlackWitch says... #5
Hi my favourite Kitsune player. First I wanted to tell you that I really like your deck. Its awesome! I playtested it a couple of times, played with and against it, and I honestly think it works great. I like how all the different artefacts work together really well. You dont run a simple voltron here, which is nice and makes game much more interesting. You have some deadly combos here and tutors to drag them out, yet I think your deck sometimes might be a bit slow, especially becouse of lack of mana. That is why I think you should cut out some cards and add different instead. Remove especially those:
Eldrazi Conscription I know it is OP. But it has extremely high CMC, can be countered so easily. You need 10-11 mana to cast it and keep it safe onto the battlefield.
Condemn to optional. Some real threats in yours opponents control wont attack you. Path to Exile would be a nice replacement.
Oblation unless you cast it on your creature, is too risky.
Hall of the Bandit Lord enters tapped. Gives you only neutral mana. For 3 life. NO NOPE.
Darksteel Citadel Eldrazi Temple there are better options.
New Benalia enters tapped but is a scry land. Thran Turbine for 1 CMC gives you each turn 2 additional mana for protection. Terrain Generator helps you with mana flood.
I think you also need some creatures. All the op equipments with so little creatures to equip. ESPECIALLY WITH FLYING
Stonecloaker is a nice surprise with flying for 3 CMC. Helps you protect something what is about to be destroyed.
Linvala, Keeper of Silence. I wander why you don't run her here. Gives You massive control and a flying creature fir 4 CMC!
Containment Priest against some sneak in and win cards like Kaalia of the Vast
Hushwing Gryff to shut down all the etb effects.
Now for some draw:
Mentor of the Meek is a nice creature
Scroll Rack gives you so much control
That is all I can think of riht now. Tell me what You think.
February 17, 2017 9:14 p.m.
Hello there, my favourite Kaalia player! I'm really glad you like my precious deck.
It is true my deck is sometimes too slow and you are right, it's because of Hall of the Bandit Lord but also the nature of the deck itself AND my style of playing it. I often like to have bigger board presence rather than actually doing anything with it. I like making possibilities and not attacking with all the aggro I can get.
Eldrazi Conscription is a card that made me think a lot but I came to a realisation: for me it's not an aura for 8. It's an equipment for 4 with equip 4. That is so since I'd cast and equip it on one turn anyway to minimise the risk of removal. If you look at it like this it suddenly stops being so overcosted, doesn't it?
Condemn is great because it has no drawback. Except it's very optional indeed. I am actually planning to upgrade it to the Path, but not until I get the promo series version with Rebecca Guay's art. :)
Oblation is a draw card as well as a removal if someone has something really terrifying like Avacyn, Angel of Hope on the field.
I am planning to get rid of some more gray lands, Darksteel Citadel included for Inkmoth Nexus for example, but currently I find it hard to acquire them. When i do though, they will replace these less valuable ones.
New Benalia, Thran Turbine and Terrain Generator are all really nice suggestions. I'm afraid that the first one will slow me down more than help with the scy. The Turbine looks great but gives me mana only for the upkeep. I hardly ever do anything on my upkeep. The Generator is nice if you are flooded, but it's not bad imo to put one land down each turn. I don't need to put all I have on the board. I'd rather not draw any more of them. And this is when Endless Horizons used to rescue me. It was a lot of searching and a lot of shuffling after the game though and I took it out.
Stonecloaker is a really nice one! I remember I've seen it before. Never gave it a second thought though. Looks really nice. I need to get one and playtest it!
I used to want Kemba on the team but after some time I realised the tokens aren't that great. Ok, some fire and block power. But nothing else except making it harder to protect the one equipped creature since the opponent will use a lot to get rid of her.
Hushwing Gryff is already in my "sideboard". I don't always want it in play because I have the Stoneforge Mystic and I like to blink it. (which I could do with the Stonecloaker too!)
Mentor of the Meek would be nice with Kemba. Without her I don't have a lot of creatures with 2 or less power. It's 17 -ok, but I'm not sure it's worth it. Well, maybe it requires more thought...
As for another suggestions: Linvala, Priest and the Rack: there is only one reason I don't use them: money. Containment Priest actually look like it's within my reach but it's only against Kaalia. Do you really want me to have it? :) Also, it would prevent me from blinking the Mystic or anything in fact.
Thank you very much for such an amazingly long and thoughtful comment with so much great stuff to think of! I do appreciate it a lot. Cheers!
February 18, 2017 6:27 a.m.
BlackWitch says... #7
The fact which makes me unable to think about Eldrazi Conscription as an equipment is that, IF Eldrazi Conscription won't be countered, it still will be the primary target for your opponent. It's almost impossible to keep something that terrifying safe on board. Believe me. I play Kaalia of the Vast. Of course it is also different situation since my opponent knows that I will finally try to cast her, so he keeps all his counter spells and damn removals especially for this occasion, while your opponent doesn't even know you have something like THAT in your deck. YET it is also extremely easy to get rid of an aura card.
If You won't leave that extra mana for protection while casting Eldrazi Conscription, either way someone will destroy this aura itself with enchantment removal, or worse, will just simply get rid of the creature, before or after Eldrazi Conscription hits the board. Either way your aura gets buried too. That is why, for me this is spell for 10-11 CMC, which is just too much, even for what it does. But if You can afford it and You love it that much, this is still OP card.
When it comes for Oblation. Recently I've been playing with my quite good friend. During our games, he used oblation 3 times I guess. One time I got my winning card with this additional draw Oblation gave me, and the other time I re-draw the removed card (plus an extra one thanks to Oblation). So I will say it again. This card is useless to me. There are better option for removal Path to Exile, Council's Judgment, and for draw Survival Cache, Truce or Acrobatic Maneuver. Especially the last one if you want to blink your creatures.
Creatures with flying like Dust Elemental, Eiganjo Free-Riders, Stormfront Riders, Galepowder Mage are also good cards if you want to re use some ETB effects from Stoneforge Mystic, Armory Automaton, Knight of the White Orchid, Relic Seeker or Sun Titan. Although if You want to go this way, I would add some more creatures with ETB.
Does mana from Thran Turbine disappear after the upkeep ? If yes, than this card is not as good as I thought, but still might be useful.
I like scry lands. If I would play mono coloured deck, I would miss them. I really underestimated them before, therefore I recommend them now.
Scrying Sheets is a nice land for Your snow covered collection.
February 21, 2017 5:49 p.m.
BlackWitch says... #9
Hi again Warxuaroz, long time no see ;)
I've got yet another propositions for You. Mostly I've been thinking about protecting Eldrazi Conscription
Fountain Watch would be a bit better than Leonin Abunas. It will help your Kitsune, so he wouldn't be that busy. AND it will protect your precious aura. I know it is 3, but you might consider it.
Lost Auramancers - You pay for this 3/3 creature 2, keep it safe for 3 turns with Eight-and-a-Half-Tails and c-mon ! Eldrazi Conscription hits the board! You don't have to worry for it to be countered.
Harsh Judgment as sideboard for red ?
Prison Term is nice.
Antler Skulkin is really, really nice against mass removals, but isn't it a bit expensive ?
February 23, 2017 4:34 p.m.
BlackWitch says... #10
@BlackWitch: Well, you made some great points there against the Conscription as well as for it. I'm definitely for just because of the raw power it gives me: +10/+10. Imagine it on the Inkmoth Nexus! Yes, it will be buried in my end step when the Moth becomes a land again, but, well, I don't need it anymore after my opp is dead. :)
Yeah, the Oblation was on its way out anyway. It got eventually kicked out and replaced by Path to Exile.
I am not interested in blinking by creatures too much. Sure, the Eldrazi Displacer can do that, but it's in the deck for extra protection and to tap opponent's creatures if needed.
Well, mana disappears after each phase so yes, it will last only during the upkeep.
I did playtest New Benalia and it didn't do much for me. Scrying Sheets on the other hand looks great. It is a little more on the pricey side, so it has to wait a while but I definitely want to try it out!
Fountain Watch, Lost Auramancers and Harsh Judgment all look nice! I will probably get myself a copy of each but they will probably be more of a 'sideboard' more than in the main because of their dependence on the situation. I got rid of the Leonin Abunas because of it too. most of the times it was just a 2/5 piece of wood.
Prison Term indeed is nice, but not really suiting the theme nor the requirements.
Thank you for yet another in-depth look at my foxie.
@HideyoshiYaoi: Antler Skulkin is a really interesting card. I really like all the deer, but it is just too expensive! I do get the 'immortality' for 2 instead of 3 with the Fox, but then, I have to pay 5 for this, so it would have to be used at least 5 times to equal the balance with using the Fox instead. Not really worth it, especially not worth the place in the deck.
Mass removals are another story. Here it will definitely help a lot, but then again: I did have Twilight Shepherd in the deck for most of the time but eventually I got rid of it because it wasn't worth to keep him. The Antler would be just a little worse version of him so ultimately -it fails.
Great thanks for the input anyway! I really appreciate the good will, mate. Cheers!
February 27, 2017 5:52 p.m.
Oops! BlackWitch forgot to log out after using my laptop. The comment above is written by me. :)
February 27, 2017 5:59 p.m.
Since Paladin en-Vec was underperforming, I took it out for Sword of Light and Shadow because I often needed these two colours of protection at one time. I'll see if the swords aren't too densely populating the deck now.
April 13, 2017 5:26 p.m.
Howdy! Been busy the past, uhh, hell i don't know. Missed a few FNM's, and have had a few I didn't even get to play 8. One of the guys in our group likes to play Sydri, Galvanic Genius which hoses my strategy.
How excited are you about seeing the banlist for duel? When I read it I thought about all the Vial Smasher decks you've had to contend with. I LOL'd pretty hard about it!
I'd say the Sword of Light and Shadow is an easy in. Especially now you've had an opening.
How has Pentarch Paladin worked out for you? Additional removal is always nice, but is it worth a slot over other options?
April 19, 2017 11:35 p.m. Edited.
Hey there, friend! Good to see you back and not so busy!
Sydri looks like she can stand in a way, definitely! Damn, detaching everything for just ... Good thing none of my locals use her!
I am VERY excited! In fact I was pretty sure it's inevitable but I'm not any less happy about it now. :) Even though the Smasher wasn't such a pain last couple of FNMs since my LGS started playing 2HG every week. Now we have more resilience playing in teams of two and aggro decks lost a little. Most of them except the Purphoros, God of the Forge. This hellborn deck burns everyone! But I guess every meta, every banlist and every game mode has that one deck that everyone just hates. It's certainly better now with just one bastard running Purphoros instead of five Vial Smashers. :D
Yeah, the Sword is pretty good but, sadly, more often than not, I fetch it only for its protections and don't find it any more useful. Well, maybe I just need to learn to fetch better.
Pentarch Paladin is a hard one! I've been fighting myself to take it out for some time now. I used it 2-3 times in last 8 months, since I started to play this deck and even if I draw it, I hardly ever use it (not enough mana, more necessary spells to cast etc.) BUT I lack ways to destroy stuff and I can't bear with the thought of depraving myself of such a nice piece! I mean it just stands there and kills stuff turn after turn. In theory -it's brilliantly useful and powerful, but in practice -I'd probably be better off with a Condemn, haha! What are your thoughts on that guy?
Also, how do you like the other knights I put in? (all info in the updates)
April 20, 2017 7:48 p.m.
Well, I've just got one on order, so I have no idea how Pentarch will play out in mine. I expect it'll be a flop, honestly. Triple white - i have a hard enough time finding double white. However I don't plan on 'exploiting' with white. My meta knows better than to let that kind of thing happen and they're quick to murder 8.5.
All Is Dust is an auto include, IMO. It may be costly, but it takes care of the board & gets around ALL protection outside of 'Can't be sacrificed'. Also the first time you wipe out your opponents artifact collection, or key lands, you'll realize why its a key piece in all 8.5 decks.
Fiendslayer was cool in standard. I had a deck that really loved taking advantage of him. In commander I doubt it'll be very good. It's 'protection' is also half-assed.
Do you often have multiple creatures attacking? Duelist's Heritage seems like it could be sketchy. I know for me it would fail to trigger more often than not.
I'm also going to try Divine Reckoning. It's not a complete wipe, as 1 creature survives per player, but it does have flashback. That's something you may consider. 4CMC for initial cast. Otherwise I still recommend Austere Command. Great modal-removal. Options are good.
April 20, 2017 8:08 p.m.
Sadly, I hardly ever get to keep my fox in play as well. I need the Cavern of Souls as well...
AiD IS an auto-include, of course, but my meta is very fast and I hardly ever get to 7 mana, not even dreaming of painting any lands. If I ever ramp the Fox up enough or the meta slows down, I will have it in definitely!
The Fiendslayer is just as good as any of the new additions just being resilient to point removals. The idea seems to work so far.
Duelist's Heritage doesn't need more than one creature to trigger. Moreover, we play 2HG now so I can always give the double strike to my teammate's creature.
Divine Reckoning looks good! I seem to never have noticed it before. Need to try it out as well! As to the Austere Command -it is pretty great, but not in my deck. I'd usually cast it only at creatures and that can be done with 2 less mana. I don't want to destroy my artifacts, nor do I want my enchants removed since I find them extremely useful and my opps don't use them usually.
What do you think of Containment Priest? I need it most against my girl's Kaalia, but it is very supportive against tokens and grave-recurring as well. Also I love the flash! Plus it nicely fits the Eldrazi Displacer.
Rusty_Shackleford says... #1
Darksteel Plate, Silverblade Paladin, Swiftfoot Boots, Masterwork of Ingenuity.
January 29, 2017 8:29 a.m. Edited.