Recently Updated with info on new card inclusions 7/22/2016
This is my take on a very solid multiplayer Meren EDH Deck. I left out some of the more 1v1 related combo kills because this is mainly run in a 4-6 multiplayer format. I have tried to limit most of the dead draw cards the only exception being really Triskelion which is an early target combo piece to win early. If that gets stuffed there is plenty of synergy and back up combos for you to control the game and search for. Current cards I am looking for are Liliana, Heretical Healer
to replace Catacomb Sifter. Other than that Eldritch Moon has given us a few to look at in Grim Flayer and Eldritch Evolution. Thanks for the interest!
Card Choices:
Advantage:
Smothering Abomination - Can be a backup sacrifice outlet for your upkeep with some upside for having limitations of no instant speed. With a sac outlet already out he can let you draw lots of cards big upside. At worst he draws a card and hopefully gives a experience counter. Replaceable.
Disciple of Bolas - Strong card great ETB effect gains us life as well over the Corpse Augur. Downside is something has to be in play shouldn't be a problem in this deck though.
Grim Haruspex - Great card sac a non token and draw a card. A lot of added value when Meren is out.
Hermit Druid - Strong card the more non basic land the better he gets. He isn't the end all be all in this deck like he is in most we like to be more flexible also I don't own some of the expensive land and i try to avoid too many tapped lands. If he gets to tap at worst he hits our next land drop the upside is milling a lot of good cards to bring back later. Solid but replaceable in this build.
Necropotence - Insane card the best card draw black has to offer top notch. Very common to have 3 black sources by turn 3 in this deck.
Satyr Wayfinder - May seem like a weaker card, but I love him in this deck. Less of a dead draw late because he basically says draw 4 cards with Meren available.
Skullclamp - Not much to say here pretty broken card.
Fodder:
Awakening Zone - Solid gas card for the deck. It is better against board wipes also gives us a bit of ramp which is more relevant than some would think.
Bitterblossom - Solid aerial blockers for pesky flying commanders like Brago, King Eternal. Great for sniping some planeswalkers and tons of fodder for our sac outlets.
Bloodghast - Seems harmless enough however might be the best creature for Meren. Infinite value can sac twice a turn assuming you are playing lands and that is no joke with cards like Attrition, Grave Pact, and Ashnod's Altar. Combos well with Wood Elves and Skullclamp especially with Meren out. Just endless uses for this thing.
Catacomb Sifter - Solid work horse card and the scry is no joke. The other card I see in this slot is Ophiomancer if I am playing Savra, Queen of the Golgari since Sifter isn't a color.
Grave Titan - Its a Titan come on now. Tons of value and gas.
Hornet Queen - This can also be Rune-Scarred Demon I am trying out the queen though to give me better ways to hit possible planeswalkers and she is a better reanimate target early to stop attacks and wait for our big combos.
Sacrifice:
Altar of Dementia - Great sac outlet the mill is basically draw in this deck. Also is part of our win combo's with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed or Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest + Persist. Mills out all of our opponents.
Ashnod's Altar - Infinite sac outlet and great ramp potential.
Dimir House Guard - Tutors for important 4 drops like Birthing Pod and Grave Pact. Works as a infinite sac outlet that can survive a lot of board wipes.
Sadistic Hypnotist - Testing in place of Mindslicer gives me another sac outlet although not instant but is more targeted and more one sided. I found sometimes I needed to hit my opponents hand, but hitting my own lost me the game as well.
Viscera Seer - My favorite infinite sac outlet because it gives us extra value with the scry.
Control:
Acidic Slime - A way to hit whatever we need and be a strong blocker. Great recursion target for the mid game.
Attrition - Destroy any non black creature for one black mana and bring back that creature with Meren. Amazing card and this is an attrition deck so we have to play it i feel :D
Bane of Progress - The green version of a wrath. Hit those annoying artifact/stax commanders hard. Very solid performer.
Beast Within - Sometimes you need a catch all card at instant speed. Here is your option in green the 3/3 beast will almost never matter great utility.
Caustic Caterpillar - One drop so easy to bring back with Meren right away and is great removal.
Krosan Grip - Great to stop those artifacts like Tormod's Crypt.
Fleshbag Marauder - Great in this deck I would play more than this and Merciless Executioner if I could. Stacks amazing with Grave Pact.
Living Death - Oh man if you get a early Buried Alive or Hermit Druid this baby can close out the game fast. Solid board wipe as well.
Massacre Wurm - I play against an elves deck and a zombies deck and this bad boy can just kill them outright. Strong with recursions as well since it isn't hard to get his ETB twice in one turn bring it to -4/-4.
Merciless Executioner - And more Fleshbag Marauder's stacks great with almost everything in this deck.
Pernicious Deed - Kill whatever you want great card.
Scavenging Ooze - Great utility card stop a lot of infinite graveyard loops opponents may try as soon as they target it so they miss there trigger. Also can gain you life if you are in a pinch.
Shriekmaw - Best creature in the deck. For 2 kill a non black non artifact creature build a counter with meren out. Meren can then either bring it to the field for a second kill or to your hand to use again depending on counters.
Spore Frog - Oh this guy doesn't look like much but he stops attack phase beat down decks cold and Meren just keeps bringing him back. Also great against Brago, King Eternal types. At worst he builds counters for Meren for free since he comes back to the field after the first sac.
Toxic Deluge - My favorite black removal because it can get around indestructible for just 3. You start with 40 life as well it is w/e amount you need it to be.
Tutor:
Birthing Pod - Not much to say here turn a creature into whatever you need. Strong options at all our mana costs. Also with Meren grab the creature you sac'd anyway.
Buried Alive - Great to bring in your strong combos or gas early to grab with Meren. If you have Victimize it is a nasty little combo with Buried Alive.
Demonic Tutor - Top black commander card for obvious reasons w/e you need you get.
Diabolic Intent - Free sac as well? Sure!
Entomb - The instant speed is really great here to get around graveyard hate. Also you can use after you bring meren out then right before end phase put a creature in the graveyard and put it in hand.
Fauna Shaman - Survival of the Fittest that you can recur with Meren. Love it when I can throw Bloodghast away early.
Jarad's Orders - Grab the Combo you need bring one back with Meren and one in with mana.
Sidisi, Undead Vizier - Amazing card to grab with pod or mill. Demonic Tutor on a great blocking body.
Survival of the Fittest - Get this out early and your curve is going to be insane.
Ramp:
Cultivate - It can be a nice line to take especially when you have that high cost minion in hand early. Great fixer as well.
Farhaven Elf - Can grab swaps as well unlike Wood Elves. Great in Meren though for repeated use.
Sakura-Tribe Elder
- Our best creature ramp card with Meren you just keep going.. and going... and going...
Sol Ring - Best card in Commander.
Solemn Simulacrum - Value on a stick and why not bring him back.
Wood Elves - Grabs Overgrown Tomb.
Yavimaya Elder - Lets us hit our land drops consistently as well as sacing himself which is important.
Recursion:
Animate Dead - Great low cost recursion. Even though our commander does it for free a lot you will need a backup plan in case Meren is targeted early.
Eternal Witness - Get a non creature we may have milled or used back. Can loop itself with Victimize and 3 mana.
Reanimate - More backup plan if Meren gets knocked out early.
Sheoldred, Whispering One - It does everything we want. Amazing early reanimate target.
Victimize - Nutty card in this deck great after a Buried Alive. Can just win the game with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Triskelion.
Finisher:
Kokusho, the Evening Star - Turns a close game into a blowout. Strong early reanimate target. Great to sacrifice and to keep recurring. The more opponents the better. Can also deter early attackers.
Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest - Goes off with a persist creature and a sac outlet. Turns any minion into play including himself into a one hit kill. Altar of Dementia is the instant win sac with the persist creature. Just mill out all your opponents.
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed - They call him Magic Mike for a reason and it isn't because of his dancing skills. Its because he looks great with his shirt off. For what pertains to the game however he does it all for us. Goes infinite with persist creatures + infinite sac outlet like
Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and can help us from board wipes as well. Don't have a sac outlet? No problem pair him up with his classic buddy Triskelion
Puppeteer Clique - Great persist creature to go with our combos. Doubles as a decent utility creature to grab annoying opponents creatures that bit the dust early. Can grab 4 total sacrifice counters before dying for Meren.
Woodfall Primus - Best late game creature in this deck. With Mikaeus, the Unhallowed or Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest and an infinite sac destroy every non creature that isn't yours on the board. Probably gets a scoop after that.
I hope you enjoy my Meren build. There are certainly some lands you could add like the fetches and Bayou.
I enjoy all feedback given and if you like the deck please give the +1!
