Hey what about the new commander 19 card "Mandate of peace"? It seems like a pretty useful fog like effect but better... Opponents can't cast spells for the rest of the turn and has a split second kind of effect, no? It seems great for this deck.. At least worth testing out?

jamesschlegel I have been thinking about that one. The only hesitency I have is the 'cast only during the combat step" clause. Otherwise it would be a perfect card. As is, I am not sure what to think about it. Not many combat tricks in EDH to really stop. It can stop second main phase casting, which can be situationally good, but aside from the fog effect, it may not really add much. For metas that are very combat step dependent, it could be amszing, and may be a pretty strong for effect. Of combo centered metas, it is probably weak. I think I may try it out, but am not holding my breath that it is truly amazing. Probably just another decent fog option.

Hello! Longtime fan of your deck and I too am exploring the akido and political sphere of edh. I love the direction your deck has gone. I was wondering if you could take a look at my marchesa deck and give it your thoughts? Also I am having trouble dealing with mediocrity like 4 4/4s. Could you tell me if you could take a look at it (I didn't post it here because that would look like advertising) and how to deal with threats like that? People can get mad when they hit you and you kill their stuff.

Do you respond to comments anymore?

I do. Just not every day. I am a sub specialist surgeon with a busy clinical schedule, I have a wife, two kids, and I coach little league baseball. MTG has been a hobby for me since 1994, but occasionally, real life takes priority. I get to the comments, but not as quickly as I did as a trainee. Please forgive the delay. I will try to look at your deck, but honestly, I am a bit overstretched to review every deck I am asked to look at.

I am so sorry. I feel really bad now. Of course real life takes a priority. Thank you for your time. It's not always that someone of your fame would even consider taking a look so thank you for your time and dedication.

Hahahahaha... the fame comment is pretty funny. No problem. I’m just a dude on the internet. I am more famous for a card game essay than I am for my surgical skills. That’s life. I will try to get to it, right now getting my kids fed.

Thanks! I will put the list up right after I update it with the paper version. (Sorry I have a list of questions as you are possibly the most experienced in this zone of commander)

Let him first update his deck if necessary with the new cards before asking him to look at yours. "Arcane Signet" is the most obvious new implementation.

Agreed. There are sobre many pages and blog posts that are archived with great alternatives. I'd prefer him writing another of post with possible new inclusions than looking over a deck which upgrades are easily searchable from his earlier posts..

Eldraine comes with a new card that may find a spot in your deck, what do you think about it ?

http://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/irencrag-pyromancer/

Irencrag pyromancer: 0/4 for 3 manas (one red). Each time you draw your second card each turn, irencrag pyromancer deals 3 damage to any target.

That's a wall that turns the monarchy into a lightning bolt at the end of each of your turns. Also, all of you card draw becomes a kind of targeted removal.

That is a pretty spicy card. The repeatable removal is pretty nice. There are plenty of commanders who could be taken out with that and basically put out of casting range. I will probably need to test it.

Check out Hushbringer for another crazy card I may need to try.

https://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/hushbringer/

EarendelWow, this card is crazy in this deck. I need to test right away!!

If only Hushbringer had flash, it would have been one of the best white cards ever printed in magic history in my opinion. She's still awesome and i will play her for sure. Most of the creatures i play in my Marchesa do not have enter the battlefield effects.

You just have to be careful if you want to play Marchesa (and Sun Titan for my decklist. He gives me so many good targets for recursion).

Hey man,

Just following up regarding discussing Elsha as an Aikido Commander. I understand you're busy as we all are, so whenever/if you wanna chat about it, just swing me a message! I've played about 3 games with it, and it feels like it scales well to other decks. Only issue i've found is sometimes some pillow fort cards attract bad attention!

I was worried about finishing when it gets to 1v1, but i've found a few cute ways to finish games! Flinging (off the library) a serra ascendant after attacking feels great.

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/elsha-retaliate/

Thanks in advance

Elsha? ..... Man, you have a really good point.

Hope precious take a time to help you

I'm going to see your list now.

What do you guys think about Revenge of Ravens ? It seems like a nice pillow fort-esque effect that disencourages sending attacks your way, especially for swarming token decks and other decks that like to go wide.

MahBoi100 For use this it's better to run Marchesa's Decree , it's full flavor and also makes you monarch in case you have lost it.

I've picked up a couple of Hall of Heliod's Generosity. I think it's a sleeper card for commander; if this deck gets another couple of enhancements it's going to be a worthy addition - also provides mana for Warping Wail if that makes a comeback!

RobotCowhand I also picked up Hall of Heliod's Generosity for my version. I even got to use it last weekend and man did it feel good. When it is out, I feel secure putting my enchantments out with a viable way of getting them back. It definitely earned its spot in utility lands in my Queen Marchesa Aikido deck.

As the deck stands now, what % power level would you say it is?

I'm making a deck heavily based off of yours, but I think I would like it to be a little less powerful than I think yours is. However, I've not played your deck extensively (and the last time I did, it was a fairly different iteration). I've been thinking about removing the fast mana like Mana Crypt and Grim Monolith, Moxen, etc. Or am I misjudging? I also don't want to kill off the deck more than intended.

alexjustdoit it sounds like you're going to want a budget list then. I'm going to shamelessly put a link you my version:

https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/queen-marchesa-for-the-aikido-inclined/

I built it following this theme with a few other additions to replace some of the more expensive cards or cards that have worked in my meta. Check it out and let me know what you think! The power level is pretty good but not OP I think but the great thing is that is scales to the other decks at the table. If you know the deck well, in any regard, you will always do well I'm the game you're in with this deck.

There is both a budget list in the primer as well as the list that jamesschlegel linked that are decent interpretations of my list. I would say that currently, my list isn't even the most authentic of the Queen Marchesa lists, just the one I have to run in my current meta to have any real chance at participating. The power level question is complicated. I will likely lose to 100% cEDH decks, unless I play really well. I will blow almost every pod of non-cEDH decks out of the water, especially if they don't consider themselves "highest power", and are going for more 75% lists. Someone who doesn't know my list well may not fare as well when piloting it, but the potential is there. I think I get more out of the list than most because it has been my baby for years and matches my style really well, even if my style has evolved some. Currently, my most played deck is a Najeela that alternated between 5C goodstuff cEDH to 5C hatebears mostly-cEDH, and the ability to be adaptive to the table, create asymmetries in the power balance at the table through manipulating what other players can do to me or the board state combined with the ability to pivot to aggression or outgrind are common between my Marchesa and my Najeela. I like subtle control more that denial, and I am happy for other players to add to the board state or power balance when I can generally maintain parity with the lead and outpace those who are behind, without making it obvious. All of those factors have to be accounted for when asking about the "power level" in a percentage, along with an intimate knowledge of your meta. Complicated explanation to say that it is hard to put a % on this deck.