That's true, ninnyz. I keep forgetting that your deck doesn't have the +1/+1 counters subtheme that mine does.

I've always felt that Gilder would just die I tried to use him, but Vorel will be fantastic in my deck. I especially cannot wait to use him on something like Master Biomancer .

Ditto, Timekeeper. My Animar deck has a definite +1/+1 counter theme that would be benefitted by both creatures (and probably Vorel more, since I don't have to figure out how to tap him first). But being able to double up a planeswalker with the Bairn is definitely nice. I wonder if I should procure one for my Reaper King deck.

@Timekeeper yea, i decided to try out the more aggro method than the +1/+1 counters matters path. both are great ways to run this commander. Gilder is a personal preference kind of creature. if you play +1/+1 counters but also care about if you have other permanents that care about counters gilder defiantly gives you more flexibility. Vorel is a solid choice and i want him to find a place in Animar should gilder not work to my advantage.

@Kogarashi Gilder Bairn with your Reaper King deck sounds good if you want more counters on planeswalkers. If you are going to use him, maximizing his potential would be key. i would suggest a combo package of Thousand-Year Elixir , Illusionist's Bracers or Rings of Brighthearth , and Paradise Mantle . that way you can use him the turn hes out, copy his ability, and tap him with the mantle to use the mana on him. this could make your planeswalkers ultimate's go off almost the turn they come out, or help them survive enemy threats.The little Ouphe wants to try so hard, why not let him :)

Good suggestion, ninnyz. I've already got Illusionist's Bracers , and had planned at one point to get Paradise Mantle since the Reaper King works best with colored mana. I'll have to try that with the Bairn.

Aggressive is definitely a fun plan of attack with Animar. If you're still casting enough creatures to raise his counters, you can get to the big threats in no time flat.

that's the goal. i want to find another place for Soul of the Harvest but untill i find a solid spot he remains on the sidelines

Great deck, +1. Gave me some ideas, most of which are currently reflected in the maybeboard on my Animar, Soul of Creation.

I would suggest putting back in Brutalizer Exarch . I find that he's easily abused and bounced repeatedly and can return everything besides their creatures to their library. And if you're in a bind, you can tutor for a creature.

I prefer Indrik Stomphowler over Acidic Slime in this deck. Same CMC but one less colored mana symbol in it. It can't destroy lands, but it's more easily bounceable and land destruction is no fun anyways. :)

I have found Bogardan Hellkite to be very effective in wiping people's fields and even burning them for the kill. Flametongue Kavu is in the same boat, minus the player damage.

Forgotten Ancient is a good way to get counters on Animar quickly, as well as Hunting Moa .

Maelstrom Wanderer has 3 colored symbols on it, but cascade counts as casting a creature, so you can get 3 creatures and 3 counters on Animar, as well as giving all your creatures haste.

Nullstone Gargoyle may be helpful as well. Perhaps Spellskite as well to protect Animar. Both are potentially free to play.

Vigor can protect all your creatures and let Animar swing freely.

Aluren can let you really abuse Animar, as well as recast him for free at instant speed if he gets killed, and Rhystic Study gets you cards very quickly.

I notice in your description that you have a Karador deck. I have one as well and recently changed the commander to Teneb, the Harvester . If you have time to check it out, please let me know what you think. Teneb's: The Walking Dead.

@Demyx, Biggest suggestion to date so i'll take it one at a time haha. First off glad you like the deck, it's been a long project that is only going to get more focused come Theores.

Brutalizer Exarch is an old friend and he's never to far out of reach, currently I have ways of playing Bounce-House with Man-o'-War or AEthersnipe so I'll keep him in mind but currently i can't see him returning soon.

Indrik Stomphowler is a beefcake for sure but deathtouch is a huge winner in my book, i have ways of making someone fight him via Ulvenwald Tracker to get rid of pesky utility creatures. While Land destruction can not be that fun it often is a resort some of my playgroup resolves too. Some lands truely need destruction and for that i run my Slime, Plus he's a sweet foil promo version so why not eh?

Bogardan Hellkite is someone i've seen but never really thought about. This guy is Definatly going on my maybeboard.

Forgotten Ancient and Hunting Moa , these are both good suggestions and one iv'e seen in various Animar decklists. I'll put these guys on the maybeboard so i don't forget them again.

Maelstrom Wanderer I do want this guy, I'll be taking out Etherium-Horn Sorcerer for him since Cascade 2x is far better.

Nullstone Gargoyle , my question is if Land Destruction is so bad, why run such a non-creature spell hoser? No offence intended my new friend just asking. Seriously though since i run Cloudstone Curio and dislike going Infinite with colorless or Morph creatures (as per that strategy) i try to limit my colorless creatures to a minimum, that said Spellskite would be a great replacement for Willbender

Vigor I want one, No comment, just a good card.

alluren I see this card quite a lot but it always brings up two questions. 1) how Aggressive and committed do i want my deck to be. and 2) i mainly play multiplayer and i feel that while having only one other person to manage this card with, having 2+ others can really make use out of my card as well. I feel the strength just not the application in my meta.

Rhystic Study already is a welcome part of my deck since day one, it's so good even you didn't see it XD

It's cool to see another person with a Reanimation-type deck and while i side with Karador V.s. Teneb both are good. I'd definatly like to trade ideas with you on those as well.

I notice you run a lot of creatures with two colored mana or more in their mana costs, that frankly aren't worth it. Another thing is your land card is probably a bit high for animar. 38 is generally the most land you want to be playing in any non-land based EDH deck. Animar is a general where top decking a land is usually a bad thing. A nice little trick that I enjoy is replacing 2 lands with Simian Spirit Guide and Elvish Spirit Guide . Of course they aren't a land drop late game, but then you can play them as a creature or exile for mana, whichever you need more. I'd suggest lowering the mana count to at least 33 (along with both guides), and throwing in some more creatures.

Aluren is well worth it. It wins far more than a Cloudstone Curio ever could. Honestly, it makes Cloudstone Curio not even worth the 3 mana, which is saying A LOT considering the synergy that Cloudstone Curio has with Animar, Soul of Elements . Even if your opponents are able to benefit from alluren, they generally won't have anything with relevant ETB effects or fast effects (sacrifice to do x, etc.). Let them do whatever they are going to do when you drop it, and drop close to your entire hand before your untap phase. This also lets you drop Animar, Soul of Elements fore FREE your first cast of him, so with two bounce creatures you can actually swing for the kill after you untap.

There's a whole lot of low mana cost creatures that do a lot for the deck (that aren't super expensive either), you should really consider dropping most of your cards with 2+ colored symbols for them.

If you need any suggestions beyond my animar list, let me know, as there's about 50 other cards I considered for the deck too, and decided against for "better" alternatives. My deck is below for your reference:

EDH - Animar the Archenemy

Feel free to ask for specifics or anything if you would like some help with whatever.

oh, Pilgrim's Eye is another viable replacement for a land card, since if animar has 3 or more counters on him, it is basically a land tutor and you get a free counter on animar.

I used to run Signal the Clans , simply because its all I had at the time (and it was by no means bad, ever). Try to get a Worldly Tutor , I'll think you'll enjoy it more.

I think I would if I had one. Perhaps next visit to the shop I'll pick it up. I do like the randomness involved with Signal the Clans but the selections are far from fair haha

the trick to animar decks is not just to play alot but to slow your opponent down. i do this with Vorinclex, Platinum Emperion, Platinum Angel, Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, and Tyrant of Discord. using these and then adding pressure with stuff like Krenko, Mob Boss, Blightsteel Colossus, Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs, and any elderazi spells. with all this big stuff i use Elvish Piper, Show and Tell, Tooth and Nail, etc. for draw i use Consecrated Sphinx, Shamanic Revelation, and Sylvan Library. i hope you find some of these cards useful.