Narset, Skithiryx, or Daretti for Duel Commander?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Jan. 12, 2016, 6:34 p.m. by MoJoMiXuP
I'm thinking about dismantling my Jhoira of the Ghitu to free up some cards and cash to build a new duel commander deck.
Top contenders right now are Narset, Enlightened Master in a voltron/extra turn build, Daretti, Scrap Savant in a control/bightsteel colossus type fatty build, and Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon in a hand disruption/voltron.
Has anyone played one of these commanders and turned away from them for some reason? Maybe they are too inconsistent, boring to play, etc? Rigth now I'm leaning towards Narset, Enlightened Master because she suits my playstyle the best of the bunch, but the price tag on the mana base has me wondering if I'd enjoy the others just as much...
Thoughts?
mathimus55 says... #3
I too have a Narset build and it's super fun for me, not so much for those playing against me though. A buddy has a Daretti deck himself and along with it being super consistent and reliable, Mindslaver locks are early as turn 4 are common occurrences if that's your sort of thing. Never done a Skittles build though, I hear Skittles infect is pretty gross too though.
In short, all are good options.
January 12, 2016 7:59 p.m.
jandrobard says... #4
I'm pretty sure Daretti is pretty good as "land destruction into combo", but I'm not sure. In red you don't have a lot of great control, and combo is your most viable wincon.
January 12, 2016 8:07 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #5
Narset is broken! I have played her before as a general and in my deck, I had all the extra turn effects, all the extra combat phase effects, and topped it off with all the planeswalkers I could fit in those colors. So there wasn't a single other creature in the deck, just to ensure I always hit something off of Narset. So basically, it was a deck that could go and take close to 5 extra turns, swing for a bunch of damage with Equipment (Sword of Fire and Ice, Sword of Feast and Famine, Godsend, etc...) along with the ability to get Omniscience in play for free. It also utilized Scroll Rack and Sensei's Divining Top to manipulate my top decks and Narset triggers. The best thing is to Top and draw that land off the top, then trigger Narset, play Top and whatever else for free, and still hit my land drop. Also, if you have some walkers in your hand and want to cast them for free, Scroll Rack for 4, then swing with Narset, trigger, cast all 4 walkers for free. It was a very fun deck to play with. But soon enough, your friends/playgroup will know what's up and hate you off the table by playing hate cards such as Nevermore naming Narset, and or also will just counter the crap out of Narset, so therefore, you need Cavern of Souls and cards like Wear / Tear to combat these issues, as well as counterspell back up in the deck.
So consist the deck with Counterspells, Card Draw, Extra Combat, Extra Turns, Equipments, and you can either go the planeswalker route, or the token generation route. I preferred the planeswalker route, but casting planeswalkers is just too good of a feeling.
January 12, 2016 8:24 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #6
Also, if you play enough Basic Lands, and just play the right dual lands, you could play Blood Moon and wreck other player's mana bases. Basically take 5 color decks out of contention.
January 12, 2016 8:24 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #7
Here's my Narset deck, it isn't as good as it could be, but here it is nonetheless: Narset's Posse
January 12, 2016 9:19 p.m.
Maybe I'll be the voice of reason. Or at the very least contrast. Blight dragon kills very consistently, he's good in voltron shell, or just on his own. Hand destruction seems a lite weird, but far from unplayable.
January 12, 2016 10:52 p.m.
Out of all of those I would not play Daretti unless you're willing to spend ALL the monies. Even if you do it's very easy to hate on.
January 12, 2016 11:23 p.m.
Thanks for the input all. Sounds like Narset, Enlightened Master is getting the nod, and since I'm not Mr. money bags, might just chince out on the lands for now and veer away from Daretti, Scrap Savant. I'm still curious about Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon though. NecroPony, in a Blight dragon build, what do you run on the lower end of your curve if not hand disruption? No hexproof on him, so I was thinking this would be a good use of early turns to make sure when he does hit, I've got a good chance of swinging with him as I've already weeded my opponent's destroy target stuff... Thoughts?
January 13, 2016 12:27 a.m.
I haven't played skittles in quite some time, but for the longest time I played monoblack control. With a reanimator subtheme.
Stuff like Slum Reaper and the like. Tutors to set up for the late game, and ramp.
January 13, 2016 12:34 a.m.
Skittles plus a lot of equipment that comes on for cheap. The rest should be ramp, removal, tutors and hand disruption. I had a hard time playing against a sell done skittles deck on xmage
January 13, 2016 1:12 a.m.
If this is dual commander you want the hand disruption like others said to make sure Skittles can hit. You also NEED to have some way of blowing up enchantments incase somebody top decks Nevermore, otherwise you must use either Praetor's Grasp or Bitter Ordeal.
Sample Cards For Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon
Show
Also Gate to Phyrexia and Phyrexian Tribute can blow up artifacts that sneak past your discard but it may be better just to power through whatever artifacts they have that get past you early.
Aztraeuz says... #2
I am a HUGE fan of Narset, Enlightened Master. She is just so good. I find that it is hard to not have fun playing her. The mana base can always be done cheap at first and upgraded over time.
Also, 'Merica
January 12, 2016 7:51 p.m.