Choosing Equipment-based Card Draw in Mono-White
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on May 28, 2024, 1:15 p.m. by AstroAA
Greetings folks of the forums.
I come to you today asking for opinions in regards to card draw in mono-white. In particular, for my Giada, Font of Hope tribal angel deck found here: [EDH] Giada's Angel Harem
Now, specifically, I'm trying to decide between an equipment-based piece of card draw that is tutorable with Steelshaper's Gift, Open the Armory, and Stoneforge Mystic. Currently my options are Sword of Fire and Ice, Mask of Memory, Rogue's Gloves, and Infiltration Lens. However, if others exist that do similar effects I'd be open to considering them.
I really like Sword of Fire and Ice due to the added protection it gives to whatever creature in two removal-heavy colors. It also gives an added ping which can be useful in taking out hatebears and dorks.
I like Infiltration Lens because we can attach it to large creatures and force our opponents to block. However, at the same time, it's dependent on our opponents actually blocking, and since most of the creatures in this deck have flying I'm not sure how often it'd actually draw us cards.
I like Mask of Memory due to it being able to draw two cards, however, you also lose a card by being forced to discard a card. You cycle through your deck faster, but at the same time you lose a bit of card advantage at the same time since you have to discard.
I like Rogue's Gloves because it's arguably the most simple of them all - deal combat damage to a player, draw a card. However, it's four mana for this effect, and for one more mana Sword of Fire and Ice adds a lot more utility.
Which card should I go with? In addition, what card should I cut?
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May 28, 2024 3:28 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #4
Your deck doesn't seem to play at instant speed much, have you considered Sword of Forge and Frontier? It draws 2, ramps you if you have lands in hand/exile, and gives the protection from most blockers with reach. If you mainly play at sorcery speed, it might be better than the other options listed.
May 28, 2024 5 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
One of my all-time favorite cards is Skeleton Key, but I don’t know if you’re willing to bend a little on your request for just-plain card draw, rather than draw/discard. Your options open WAY up if you go that route.
May 28, 2024 5:35 p.m.
RiotRunner789, I do agree Mask of Memory is better because it's cheaper mana-wise and draws more than Rogue's Gloves. That might just be the winner.
plakjekaas, I've never seen that sword before. It seams neat, but personally I'm not a fan of exiling cards and then trying to play them, as if you don't end up playing them you can't play them after that turn. Not that it's a bad card, I just don't like those type of effects.
FormOverFunction, I ran Skeleton Key in my Brimaz, King of Oreskos deck for a bit, but don't really remember it all that much. Personally I think Mask of Memory is better in that regard as it's the same mana-wise and draws one additional card. Plus, with my commander being Giada, Font of Hope and a vast majority of the creatures in the deck being angels, it's likely I'll have the highest power on board.
Thank you three for your comments! I appreciate the input!
May 28, 2024 6:36 p.m.
I think you hit the main ones for card advantage, and I really like Mask of Memory because you are running Karmic Guide and Bruna, the Fading Light Meld and you can sometimes pitch a big creature to get reanimated. I have a Bruna deck and it's very fun to reanimate in mono white : )
Other equips you might consider in general are: Dowsing Dagger Flip is great with flyers, and pays back 3 of it's 4 mana often on the turn it comes down.
Hedgewitch's Mask I really like this one, especially with flying creatures to limit who can block them even more.
Explorer's Scope might just be my all time favorite equip, but it might just be me : ) Most often it is just a more efficient Wayfarer's Bauble and even if it bricks, it's surprisingly valuable to know your next draw and plan your plays before you draw.
And one I really like in angels is Concerted Effort It can turn Mother of Runes into boardwipe protection, or give your whole team double strike, or just make your support creatures flyers.
Oh, and also, equip decks can have a lot of fun with Leonin Shikari that can give all creatures Lightning Greaves or add on more Sword of Fire and Ice triggers, more Sword of the Animist triggers, it's always pretty good.
RiotRunner789 says... #2
Fire and Ice is the best. The added evasion can also help it to get through (pro red being a bonus against the other flying heavy tribe, dragons). The Shock in commander doesn't always help a bunch but there are plenty of utility creatures to Murder.
Infiltration lens is terrible unless you have a slew of ways to force them to block.
The other two are solid budget options.
Edit: Mask of Memory is better than the gloves. White does have recursion but even without, the mask let's you sculpt your hand much more efficiently. Pitching a land in hand you don't need to draw two is better than just draw one. Plus, it uses less mana.
May 28, 2024 2:06 p.m. Edited.