Whenever people ask about the best political commanders, Queen Marchesa tends to come up. I've long held that Phelddagrif is the alpha and omega of politics in commander, but far be it from me to hold an opinion based on ignorance, so I figured I should try the Queen.
So this is a bit different from my normal decks, insofar as it has no intentional synergy. Basically, it's just a collection of cards that I like, cards that I've been curious to try out, and some glue to hold it together (not nearly enough, though, tbh - the curve is absolutely atrocious, it desperately needs more mana rocks).
It did surprisingly decently considering - a lot of the cards have a high ceiling and the deck can pull off some powerful stuff lategame despite a near total lack of synergy. It's dependent on the board taking care of itself for the first couple turns, since it really don't start doing much of anything until turn 4 usually.
There were a few cards that massively overperformed (orzhov advokist being the posterchild, I'd assumed that card would be kind of terrible but it was amazingly good in mid powered metas).
The queen herself? Well, tbh she sat in the command zone more than I would have liked, frequently just not having enough impact to justify over other cards that were more proactive. Politics-wise, she did almost nothing. She's an ok card draw engine, but the idea that people will kill each other to get the monarchy or whatever is mostly a pipe dream. Once someone avoided attacking me because they didn't want to give me assassin tokens, which was funny but definitely just a misplay on their part and not indicative of the actual strength of the card.
Queen Marchesa should count her lucky stars that Fiora isn't a democracy, or Phelddagrif would beat her in a landslide
So this is a bit different from my normal decks, insofar as it has no intentional synergy. Basically, it's just a collection of cards that I like, cards that I've been curious to try out, and some glue to hold it together (not nearly enough, though, tbh - the curve is absolutely atrocious, it desperately needs more mana rocks).
It did surprisingly decently considering - a lot of the cards have a high ceiling and the deck can pull off some powerful stuff lategame despite a near total lack of synergy. It's dependent on the board taking care of itself for the first couple turns, since it really don't start doing much of anything until turn 4 usually.
So here's the deck.
1 Queen Marchesa
Creatures (28)
1 Karplusan Minotaur
1 Oracle en-Vec
1 Cuombajj Witches
1 Kaervek the Merciless
1 Mathas, Fiend Seeker
1 Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
1 Diaochan, Artful Beauty
1 Dire Fleet Daredevil
1 Custodi Squire
1 Orzhov Advokist
1 Dawnbreak Reclaimer
1 Preacher
1 Sin Prodder
1 Pulsemage Advocate
1 Spurnmage Advocate
1 Adarkar Valkyrie
1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
1 Brutal Hordechief
1 Shieldmage Advocate
1 Custodi Lich
1 Xantcha, Sleeper Agent
1 Charging Cinderhorn
1 Athreos, God of Passage
1 Magister of Worth
1 Goblin Spymaster
1 Etali, Primal Storm
1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
1 Mana-Charged Dragon
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
Enchantments (11)
1 Act of Authority
1 Stolen Strategy
1 Path of Mettle
1 Deadly Designs
1 Curse of Disturbance
1 Profane Procession
1 Axis of Mortality
1 Pain Magnification
1 Frenzied Fugue
1 Rite of the Raging Storm
1 Ghostly Prison
Instants (6)
1 Volcanic Offering
1 Wild Ricochet
1 Word of Seizing
1 Benevolent Offering
1 Crackling Doom
1 Gang Up
Sorcery (8)
1 Fortunate Few
1 Tragic Arrogance
1 Play of the Game
1 Head Games
1 Council's Judgment
1 Virtus's Maneuver
1 Skull Storm
1 Capital Punishment
1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Kaya, Ghost Assassin
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Lands (39)
3 Dual lands
9 Fetches
3 Checklands
3 Dual Manlands
3 Shocklands
3 Filterlands
1 Command Tower
1 Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
1 Kor Haven
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Arch of Orazca
1 Scavenger Grounds
1 Myriad Landscape
3 Plains
3 Mountain
2 Swamp
As far as the conclusions -
There were a few cards that massively overperformed (orzhov advokist being the posterchild, I'd assumed that card would be kind of terrible but it was amazingly good in mid powered metas).
The queen herself? Well, tbh she sat in the command zone more than I would have liked, frequently just not having enough impact to justify over other cards that were more proactive. Politics-wise, she did almost nothing. She's an ok card draw engine, but the idea that people will kill each other to get the monarchy or whatever is mostly a pipe dream. Once someone avoided attacking me because they didn't want to give me assassin tokens, which was funny but definitely just a misplay on their part and not indicative of the actual strength of the card.
Queen Marchesa should count her lucky stars that Fiora isn't a democracy, or Phelddagrif would beat her in a landslide
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6