EDH General: The Forgotten Soul

Custom Cards forum

Posted on May 20, 2015, 7:13 p.m. by KalvinHobbez

The Forgotten Soul

So I recently messed around with a concept of using Anafenza, the Foremost as a commander and actually ignore her +1/+1 counter part and more on her one sided graveyard exile. So I'd have stuff like Living Death and such to make one sided recoveries of creatures. While making this deck, I've noticed how many cards there are for exiling stuff from graveyards...but not much based on the LACK of a graveyard.

So a lot of cards are based off how much is in a graveyard, but there doesn't seem to be much support for this one sided graveyard recursion benefit. Yeah you could just play Dimir and have stuff like Beacon of Immortality, but when you are allowed to cast Exhume in its place then something pretty neat is going on.

Now with the Forgotten Soul, he's not exactly in this concept I wanted, as something as simple as "Gets -1/-1 for every card in each opponent's library" but I wanted to get a bit more subtle with his approach. With a bit of a group hug concept put on, I personally really like this result. You can purposely build him group hug of have graveyard exile to make his ability one sided.

So what do you guys think?

KalvinHobbez says... #2

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Some people usually check out custom card threads just to see the card and not really read the reasoning behind it, so I might as well just post the image right here.

May 20, 2015 7:14 p.m.

op AF. anafenza says hi.

May 20, 2015 7:34 p.m.

KalvinHobbez says... #4

I mentioned Anafenza in the original post as being a bit of inspiration for the design. I don't see how this would be OP compared to some other stuff I've seen. Also Anafenza wouldn't affect the lands or enchantments, so the ability would still trigger well with Anafenza out.

May 20, 2015 7:37 p.m.

well still. Reanimate every turn just 4 u?

May 20, 2015 7:38 p.m.

KalvinHobbez says... #6

Well reanimate is one mana for a reason, being you got the whole losing life thing. And you do know the card by itself doesn't do that, right? You'd need to have a specific card on the field for you to even have this combo become viable. But like in every EDH game ever, you'd become a target and people would aim to take out your combo.

May 20, 2015 7:41 p.m.

SimicPower says... #7

Reminds me of Karador, Ghost Chieftain. Without Anafenza on the field, suddenly it becomes a fun group hug card too. I like it.

May 20, 2015 7:43 p.m.

Well... hm... this is interesting. I'm not entirely sold about it being completely free and instant speed, so you might want to add an activation cost, but it's cool... I would however bring up the cost from 4 to 5, because it has quite the powerful ability. I'm guessing Vigilance is for flavor reasons?

May 20, 2015 7:47 p.m.

KalvinHobbez says... #9

Yeah I liked the alternate use of her being group hug. I did feel iffy on making the ability free, but I felt like it was alright. At least he isn't blue so he can untap like a mad man. The vigilance thing originally was a bit of flavor, but I honestly just like the idea of generals that have vigilance along with a tap ability. People probably would enjoy some Abzan cards messing with toughness and defensiveness anyways.

May 20, 2015 7:50 p.m.

jandrobard says... #10

I'm thinking a sorcery-speed restriction on her ability wouldn't hurt (or at least "only on your turn". That would enable combat shenanigans but still be fun) to tone down the power. This is a fairly strong card combined with gravehate, and "EOT reanimate" seems nasty.

May 20, 2015 8:33 p.m.

KalvinHobbez says... #11

Yeah instant speed reanimate can be scary to put on a card, but if it were just a sorcery speed ability I'd feel like he'd lose versatility in what he could do. I like generals that can do a lot if interesting things at once. I'll probably play test him to see if the instant speed reanimation is too much.

May 20, 2015 10:04 p.m.

Unforgivn_II says... #12

Gravestorm is great when their graves are empty

May 20, 2015 10:57 p.m.

SimicPower says... #13

I believe this card infinite combos with itself and Fervor. Though that isn't viable in commander because of singleton and color identity. I would still watch out for infinite combos with this card.

Ooh, or Deceiver Exarch and a sac-outlet.

Making the choice random would give it more of a Tasigur, the Golden Fangy feel, but it would also severely lower the power level of this card.

May 20, 2015 11 p.m.

KalvinHobbez says... #14

Well a lot of commanders kind of have their own infinite combos they can do. I like how the first two cards mentioned for combos were not in Abzan colors, heh. But still, I can see that graveyard reanimation is very iffy to try and mess with and not make it broken, that's why I went for that kind of group hug style for them.

May 20, 2015 11:30 p.m.

This discussion has been closed