Ruhan's Big Dumb Giants

Commander / EDH MarkBGH

SCORE: 29 | 45 COMMENTS | 18329 VIEWS | IN 12 FOLDERS


Dismay says... #1

With which to further beat face* ;)

December 22, 2011 12:42 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #2

:) Somehow that's how I was reading it in my head haha. Any thoughts on the deck?

December 22, 2011 1:59 p.m.

Dismay says... #3

+1 just for Brion Stoutarm .

December 22, 2011 2:02 p.m.

Zarum says... #4

i was thinking maybe a Gratuitous Violence for more beat face tactics

December 26, 2011 8:31 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #5

I swapped Furnace of Rath for Gratuitous Violence . This deck is particularly weak to fliers, so I'm willing to spend the 1 extra mana to not get boned.

December 27, 2011 11:18 a.m.

MarkBGH says... #6

Never mind, it would still screw me. I see that you were suggesting it for EXTRA beatdown, which is still a good suggestion.

December 27, 2011 3:04 p.m.

Zarum says... #7

the gratuitous violence only works for you though

December 27, 2011 3:09 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #8

You're right, I misread it again. I must be scatterbrained today. Thanks for the advice!

December 27, 2011 4:02 p.m.

I would capitalize on the draw that blue offers, otherwise you'll empty your hand into a boardwipe and have a very difficult time reestablishing your position. Tidings , Consecrated Sphinx , Invoke the Firemind , Mind Spring and Nin, the Pain Artist are worth considering.

I'm not certain I understand the purpose of Koth of the Hammer . Even with Blood Moon the number of mountains you have will be rather paltry, even supposing you manage to get the emblem. I don't see any x costing burn, so his -2 is kind of irrelevant, and his +1 is only so-so in EDH.

Homura, Human Ascendant is a boss.

card:Tenza, Godo's Maul is good.

I'd also add some more mana rocks to get a third turn Ruhan more consistently.

January 5, 2012 12:45 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #10

Koth is an easy sub for me, and I think Nin, the Pain Artist is a perfect fit in that slot because of how shock-resistant most of my creatures are and its recur-able via Sun Titan . Homura and Tenza look like shoe-ins too, I just need to find room.

January 5, 2012 3:18 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #11

I've made a few changes that help make Ruhan a bit less insane/unpredictable and further the overall purpose of the deck.

-1 Mimic VatMTG Card: Mimic Vat, -1 Kusari-GamaMTG Card: Kusari-Gama, -1 Urabrask the Hidden MTG Card: Urabrask the Hidden , -1 IslandMTG Card: Island

+1 Oathsworn GiantMTG Card: Oathsworn Giant, +1 Grappling HookMTG Card: Grappling Hook, +1 Sundial of the InfiniteMTG Card: Sundial of the Infinite, +1 Minamo, School at Water's EdgeMTG Card: Minamo, School at Water's Edge

Sundial of the InfiniteMTG Card: Sundial of the Infinite was an idea given to me by someone else with a more Voltron style Ruhan deck. Primarily, it functions as a way to get you out of bad attacks. Secondarily, it makes the tokens Kiki-Jiki makes stay around forever. It may be worth wedging Mimic VatMTG Card: Mimic Vat back in.

Grappling HookMTG Card: Grappling Hook serves a similar protective function, either steering him out of trouble or ramming him into a protected threat. I'm not sure if it'll prove too expensive or not yet.

January 23, 2012 10:20 a.m.

If you're worried about Ruhan, ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance, Maze of IthMTG Card: Maze of Ith, Ith, High ArcanistMTG Card: Ith, High Arcanist, and ArenaMTG Card: Arena are all good ways to pull him out of unfavorable attacks.

I'm really not a fan of Grappling HookMTG Card: Grappling Hook when Kusari-GamaMTG Card: Kusari-Gama does basically the same thing, just a little better. I s'pose it really depends on whether you want to go full Voltron or not.

Overall though I really do like the look of the deck.

January 23, 2012 10:30 a.m.

MarkBGH says... #13

Oh fine, you convinced me. That was easy :) (re: Kusari-GamaMTG Card: Kusari-Gama)

ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance sounds awesome (and cheap!), and I'd love to scare up a Maze of IthMTG Card: Maze of Ith somehow.

January 23, 2012 10:53 a.m.

Forgive me for asking, but doesn't Gratuitous ViolenceMTG Card: Gratuitous Violence + Heartless HidetsuguMTG Card: Heartless Hidetsugu kill you on the spot as well?

I guess if he's equipped with Basilisk CollarMTG Card: Basilisk Collar or Loxodon WarhammerMTG Card: Loxodon Warhammer it's solid. But it seems better to make a Heartless HidetsuguMTG Card: Heartless Hidetsugu EDH deck at that point.

Honestly I would cut him for removal or ways to make Ruhan unblockable. This is a Ruhan deck afterall. Plus he's not a giant or warrior.

With all the warriors you run Obsidian Battle-AxeMTG Card: Obsidian Battle-Axe is always good. I also don't see any ways to give haste aside from Lightning GreavesMTG Card: Lightning Greaves.

I would absolutely cut Oblivion RingMTG Card: Oblivion Ring. You have Austere CommandMTG Card: Austere Command and if you call enchantments, someone is getting a wiped board with whatever good thing you exiled back. Plus someone can always blow up the ring and get their THING back.

You could cut Champion's HelmMTG Card: Champion's Helm for a Darksteel PlateMTG Card: Darksteel Plate or Swiftfoot BootsMTG Card: Swiftfoot Boots. The helm only interacts with...like...5 creatures. Plus the boots give ANY creature hexproof. Costs less mana too. The +2/+2 is negligible.

PyrohemiaMTG Card: Pyrohemia seems a little weak in here. You can possibly wipe the board only to be forced to sac it. Plus it's a 3 color deck. I'd add in Hammerfist GiantMTG Card: Hammerfist Giant who is also another Giant Warrior and can attack/block or use his ability. He still works with Gratuitous ViolenceMTG Card: Gratuitous Violence.

While Sundial of the InfiniteMTG Card: Sundial of the Infinite can pull you out of a bad attack, ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance combos with the other titans and pulls you out of a bad attack.

Wall of DenialMTG Card: Wall of Denial can go as well. If Nin, the Pain ArtistMTG Card: Nin, the Pain Artist and the wall are your only creatures, you can't stab it. Plus it can't attack, you can throw it for 0 damage with Brian and Chuck, you can't keek-jeek it, it can't be equpped, doesn't give Hamletback GoliathMTG Card: Hamletback Goliath any counters, doesn't work with Door of DestiniesMTG Card: Door of Destinies, doesn't benefit from Gratuitous ViolenceMTG Card: Gratuitous Violence, Borderland BehemothMTG Card: Borderland Behemoth wishes it was another giant, etc.

It just does nothing for your deck.

January 25, 2012 2:51 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #15

That's a lot of suggestions! Some points/counterpoints:

  • I'm thinking of including ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance, but I don't think it works like you said with titans, because it's just "remove from combat", not "remove from play."
  • You are definitely right about Heartless HidetsuguMTG Card: Heartless Hidetsugu. I have a few ways of giving lifelink, but maybe not enough to warrant keeping it.
  • PyrohemiaMTG Card: Pyrohemia vs. Hammerfist GiantMTG Card: Hammerfist Giant -> the ability to activate the turn it comes into play has been very relevant for me, but I can see why Hammerfist GiantMTG Card: Hammerfist Giant + more haste-granters would be the way to go. I originally had PyrohemiaMTG Card: Pyrohemia as a way of waking up Deep-Slumber TitanMTG Card: Deep-Slumber Titan, but he's long since gone so maybe it's worth another look.
  • I see all of your points about Wall of DenialMTG Card: Wall of Denial, but it has kept me alive enough times for me to want to keep it around for now. Despite looking like a massive beatdown, this deck is actually pretty slow in its current form.
  • What do you think is a good sub for Oblivion RingMTG Card: Oblivion Ring? It's just so versatile that I cant see cutting it for one scenario that's very preventable.
  • As far as definite shoe-ins, Obsidian Battle-AxeMTG Card: Obsidian Battle-Axe and Swiftfoot BootsMTG Card: Swiftfoot Boots definitely have a place.
Overall, good suggestions! This deck is really fun so far so I'm trying to tune it as much as possible.
January 25, 2012 3:32 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #17

Also, to anyone that's commented: What are some good ways to protect against sweepers in these colors? Ruhan is easy to get back out but I have a more difficult time recovering from board wipes because of how expensive my dudes are.

January 25, 2012 3:40 p.m.

aloehart199 says... #18

I couldn't tell you how to refill the board after a wipe. Maybe ramp cards like manalith or myrs since you don't have much to do with your mana early.

As far as the deck goes I like it. I do strongly recommend putting in that mimic vat. The card is just too awesome. Its got great synergy with any creature that has an activated ability.

For example your Stonehewer GiantMTG Card: Stonehewer Giant. If he dies you can put him under the vat and each turn you can pay 5 mana. Youll get to swing 4 damage and attach an equipment from your deck to something.

You can also do it on an opponent's turn which lets you have a good blocker.

or a card like Giant HarbingerMTG Card: Giant Harbinger would let you pay 3 mana per turn and search up the giant of your choice to play next turn.

or make Hamletback GoliathMTG Card: Hamletback Goliath absolutely massive by paying 3 mana for the vat and bringing in a big creature.

The vat adds a lot of fun interactions with the cards in your deck

January 25, 2012 5:41 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #19

Colfenor's UrnMTG Card: Colfenor's Urn maybe? Seems janky.

But yeah, Mimic VatMTG Card: Mimic Vat needs to go back in, especially now that I'm running the sundial.

January 25, 2012 6:11 p.m.

aloehart199 says... #20

theres always black lotus :P

January 25, 2012 6:59 p.m.

Lhurgyof says... #21

Planar ChaosMTG Card: Planar Chaos to piss off everyone. :D

January 25, 2012 7:31 p.m.

Well, the best way to protect against a wipe is to counter it outright. NegateMTG Card: Negate and Arcane DenialMTG Card: Arcane Denial are 2 of my favorite counterspells.

I don't recommend the actual CounterspellMTG Card: Counterspell because you have a 3 color deck that is red heavy and finding 2 blue mana is pretty hard. I know Double NegativeMTG Card: Double Negative can be tutored with SunforgerMTG Card: Sunforger but it's up to you. I personally wouldn't use it. Maybe your group is more spell happy.

If you REALLY dislike counterspells, Cauldron of SoulsMTG Card: Cauldron of Souls stops everything outside of Final JudgmentMTG Card: Final Judgment. "Whoops, all my guys came back and re-trigger!"Also, Nim DeathmantleMTG Card: Nim Deathmantle is fantastic but really mana intensive. It also provides evasion. You could use Sigil of the New DawnMTG Card: Sigil of the New Dawn to some effect after a wipe.

Marshal's AnthemMTG Card: Marshal's Anthem is an underplayed white card I feel that not only pumps your guys, but brings them back to the battlefield as well.What's better than a 7/7 Ruhan?

An 8/8 Ruhan! buh dum TISS

I'd still replace Oblivion RingMTG Card: Oblivion Ring with a counterspell or something. Or Return to DustMTG Card: Return to Dust. I can't stress how good that card is and it's tutorable with SunforgerMTG Card: Sunforger.

When you use ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance, you untap your creature and remove it from combat. Removing it from play is irrelevant and not apart of the ability.

You attack with Inferno TitanMTG Card: Inferno Titan, his triggered ability goes on the stack, then you can stack Recon. He untaps and gets removed from combat and his triggered ability resolves. You get a free super-lightning bolt. Same with Sun TitanMTG Card: Sun Titan and Frost TitanMTG Card: Frost Titan. It stops Ruhan from walking into bigger creature or creatures with deathtouch. It can also 'force blockers'. After blockers are declared, you can still activate the ability and untap and remove from combat whatever creature you have that attacked.

The point is, all your creatures don't die or take damage and get a free triggered ability in the case of the titans. It's INCREDIBLY useful with Kaalia of the VastMTG Card: Kaalia of the Vast.

January 25, 2012 7:35 p.m.

I second all of Graybeard's advice; all really solid.

If you really want to protect Ruhan from sweepers I would recommend Darksteel PlateMTG Card: Darksteel Plate. It's obviously not a catch-all, but if someone has a wrath effect that's not Hallowed BurialMTG Card: Hallowed Burial or Plague WindMTG Card: Plague Wind it'll certainly give them pause. A one in however-many-people-are-playing-minus-one chance of getting hit in the face by Ruhan is nothing to scoff at.

If you're looking for room for more cards I would actually recommend dropping a few lands. Under no circumstances would I drop below 36, but with the signets and the like I feel like 38 would be entirely reasonable.

Another fun card you might want to consider is Dolmen GateMTG Card: Dolmen Gate. It's usually not that 'good' per se (people will just blow it up), but I find it's usually hilarious. For 2 mana it does its job admirably (it gets a turn or two of free attacks and then eats removal that could be used on something better). You just have to watch for that 'mid attack phase' destruction that's bound to happen, but since you have no choice in whether or not to attack with Ruhan, it's a pretty good investment.

January 25, 2012 11:08 p.m.

MarkBGH says... #24

Graybeard, thanks for clarifying. I misunderstood what you were originally saying about ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance. It makes much more sense now! I play multiplayer almost exclusively, so I'm thinking it's an auto-include at this point. To that point, Dolmen GateMTG Card: Dolmen Gate sounds AWESOME. This deck needs things to do in the first few turns, and that's exactly the kind of card I'm looking for. It's a role player that furthers my gameplan without turning people against me, so it's in!

In fact, all of your ideas are worth stealing/considering :) Here's what it amounts to (FOR NOW MUAHAHA)

-1 Oblivion RingMTG Card: Oblivion Ring, -1 Champion's HelmMTG Card: Champion's Helm, -1 Double NegativeMTG Card: Double Negative, -1 MountainMTG Card: Mountain, -1 PlainsMTG Card: Plains

+1 Return to DustMTG Card: Return to Dust, +1 Darksteel PlateMTG Card: Darksteel Plate, +1 Negate, +1 ReconnaissanceMTG Card: Reconnaissance, +1 Dolmen GateMTG Card: Dolmen Gate

Now onto other things, is there any reason why I shouldn't put in Akroma's MemorialMTG Card: Akroma's Memorial and take out True ConvictionMTG Card: True Conviction (other than the fact that I don't have one yet :D)?

January 26, 2012 12:28 p.m.

Lhurgyof says... #25

Rune-Tail, Kitsune AscendantMTG Card: Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant is much better than Dolmen GateMTG Card: Dolmen Gate in my opinion.

January 26, 2012 12:54 p.m.

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