I assume the answer is no when talking about competitive decks, but I have had R/U/B Bolas deck that was built in the past and is currently disassembled that I wanted to rebuild. It is not a series deck by any means, just a fun (for me) grixis control with a heavy bolas theme. I was thinking however going over the Amonkhet/hour of devastation cards that I wanted to include some of that flavor when I get around to rebuilding the deck, and was wondering if deserts have any real use in EDH? I know that the effects are weak, but assuming including them will not cause mana problems (A big assumption, but humor me here) are the worth a look or are they really that bad?
Ifnir Deadlands and Scavenger grounds can be worthwhile. Scavenger grounds is my only graveyard hate in my mono-blue Kefnet, and I can tutor it with Tolaria West. I think Scavenger Grounds should go into most 1-2 colour decks, and probably some 3-colour decks.
Deadlands is rarely worse than a swamp, so I would play it in any 1 or 2 colour deck. Don't think the same holds true for the other deserts though.
Of course, these cards all get better if you play something like The Gitrog Monster.
Endless Sands can have utility in certain specific decks.
The Ifnir Deadlands cycle all have reasonable effects, come into play untapped and tap for colored mana so I could potentially see them in some decks. I think if you want to run Scavenger Grounds the deserts become worth considering.
You also have the dual land cycle and monocolor cycle that are deserts. If you want cycling those lands are almost auto include.
Honestly, without green where you get Shefet Monitor and Hour of Promise I don't think they'll be AS good. Still far from bad, but, ykno.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras. Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power. Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza. Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall. Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana. Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die. Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I play them in my Kresh the Bloodbraided vorthos deck for flavour, but they have uses. Honestly, most of them are better than guildgates simply by virtue of entering untapped and colour fixing at leisure. The abilities aren't nothing, and the cycle deserts are handy draw if I need it. There's definitely better lands out there, but for the theme I went for, nothing else fits better so I'm happy.
Honestly, without green where you get Shefet Monitor and Hour of Promise I don't think they'll be AS good. Still far from bad, but, ykno.
Hour of Promise is an interesting card. The two zombies are a nice bonus, but most people I know just run it in any deck with either a lot of nonbasic lands or where one particular land is nice (e.g., Gaea's Cradle).
Crucible of Worlds will help you get those deserts back after a sac or discard.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
I was thinking of specifically of including the following Deserts.
Cradle of the Accursed
Desert
Dunes of the Dead
Endless Sands
Grasping Dunes
Hostile Desert
Ifnir Deadlands
Ipnu Rivulet
Painted Bluffs
Ramunap Ruins
Scavenger Grounds
Sunscorched Desert
Survivors' Encampment
So what is the general opinion of such cards, and what do you guys think?
Deadlands is rarely worse than a swamp, so I would play it in any 1 or 2 colour deck. Don't think the same holds true for the other deserts though.
Of course, these cards all get better if you play something like The Gitrog Monster.
Endless Sands can have utility in certain specific decks.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
The Ifnir Deadlands cycle all have reasonable effects, come into play untapped and tap for colored mana so I could potentially see them in some decks. I think if you want to run Scavenger Grounds the deserts become worth considering.
You also have the dual land cycle and monocolor cycle that are deserts. If you want cycling those lands are almost auto include.
Hour of Promise is an interesting card. The two zombies are a nice bonus, but most people I know just run it in any deck with either a lot of nonbasic lands or where one particular land is nice (e.g., Gaea's Cradle).
Crucible of Worlds will help you get those deserts back after a sac or discard.
On phasing: