I wish an aggro version of Alesha could work in my meta, but unfortunately I don't see it competing with the faster combo decks. I'll have to get one to try out in Tiny Leaders Alesha, but I agree with you on it here.
In my past couple games DR has been used mostly to "tack on" tutors during a turn, but it's also great early game for explosive starts.
Just a quick heads up: Alesha cannot recur Spirit of the Labyrinth, as it has 3 power. Still a powerful hate effect, but it's pretty fragile without a reliable means of getting it back after it dies.
Just a quick heads up: Alesha cannot recur Spirit of the Labyrinth, as it has 3 power. Still a powerful hate effect, but it's pretty fragile without a reliable means of getting it back after it dies.
Thanks for mentioning this mistake, I'll correct it when I update the original post. It is indeed very fragile and doesn't live very long, but it is also as you say quite powerful so it has earned its spot although I couldn't recur it.
Let's say you have karmic guide and animate dead in your graveyard with an infinite sacrifice outlet in play and Sun Titan in hand.
1. You cast Sun Titan.
2. ETB ability triggers, you target Animate Dead and sacrifice Sun Titan in response to its ability.
3. Animate Dead enters play returning Karmic Guide . Because Karmic Guide has protection from black Animate Dead goes to the graveyard, Animate Dead's delayed trigger goes on the stack, as does Karmic Guide's ETB trigger, targeting Sun Titan.
4. Sacrifice the Karmic Guide, then the delayed trigger will resolve, doing nothing, followed by Guide's trigger, returning Sun Titan to play. By targeting Animate Dead with the ETB ability you can now infinitely loop steps 2-4 to win.
If you have Animate Dead in hand and Karmic Guide / Sun Titan in your graveyard you can start from step 3 in the above sequence. Il you have Karmic Guide in hand and the other two in the graveyard you can cast Karmic Guide, sacrifice it in response to its ETB ability targeting Sun Titan and then starting from step 1.
There's some more explanation on the other combos in the original post. I hope this helps, if you want me to explain any of the other combos let me know.
Ive been sitting here trying to figure out how just Sun Titan and animate dead dont just combo... I figured it out and welp ive been playing like it does work ><
SonofaBith - Wizards was so excited about making the packaging for Modern Masters 2 recyclable, they decided to make most of the rares and all but 1 of the UC's recycle-bin ready too. Convenient!
Sorry for taking a long time to respond. Yeah, some of the combos can be quite tricky. Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Murderous Redcap do combo, but Mikaeus is expensive to cast, and the bar for six cmc cards is very high. It's not a bad card but the list is very tight and outside of the combo I find it's a bit win more.
As the number of humans in the list has decreased a lot over time, perhaps it's time to give him another try though. Thanks for the reminder.
So far I have my eyes on two new cards, which isn't bad at all only half way through a core set: Archangel of Tithes looks like a more aggressive replacement of Iroas at the cost of durability and a more difficult mana cost. I'll test it and see how they compare and if I have trouble casting the angel. Liliana, Heretical Healer seems made for this deck as it synergizes beautifully, can be recurred by Alesha and just oozes value. It goes infinite with Loyal Retainers and Saffi Eriksdotter, I was only wondering if we could also do it in Mardu. Any ideas?
If Blazing Hellhound didn't need mana to activate it would have been a great sac outlet, but alas.
So another interesting card for Alesha spoiled today: Priest of the Blood Rite, a 2/2 for 3BB which produces a 5/5 flying demon token when it ETB. It causes you to lose 2 life per turn if it stays in play, but sacrificing it isn't an issue at all in this deck so the drawback is quite negligible. Although it's rather slow at 3BB, I think its board impact is substantial enough and larger than something like Siege-Gang Commander. The 5/5 does however have less synergies with other cards in the decklist than three 1/1 tokens. Not a staple by any means, but it seems worth trying.
On another note I'm also looking at retrying Nether Traitor again as it works very well with Phyrexian Altar as the altar generates graveyard triggers and the mana to pay for Nether Traitor 's trigger. It also forms an additional infinite combo with Phyrexian Altar, new Liliana and Loyal Retainers, while of course synergizing quite well in genera with the rest of the deck.
Im really looking forward to putting a Lili in this deck. I am usually pretty meh about walkers but that one has me so excited. Could you explain the combo with her and the loyal retainer? Im not understanding it.
Outside of that I dont really see anything in this set that helps combo alesha. Dark Petition can be ok for people like me who dont have all the cheap tutors they need. Agro alesha seems to get a few toys.
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SonofaBith - Wizards was so excited about making the packaging for Modern Masters 2 recyclable, they decided to make most of the rares and all but 1 of the UC's recycle-bin ready too. Convenient!
Dark Petition is a card that I can see in budget lists, but costing five initially is something that doesn't really fit the deck very well. I would consider things like Tainted Pact or Impulse to Darkness over it for their low mana costs.
The Liliana combo works like this from the starting point of having Liliana, Heretical Healer and Phyrexian Altar in play, with at least one of Nether Traitor or Gravecrawler as well as Loyal Retainers in play (they can both be in play or one of the two can be in the graveyard).
1 You sacrifice the one you had in play to Phyrexian Altar, adding black to your mana pool and flipping Liliana. If you had both in play you sacrifice both. This leaves you with a zombie token.
2 You use Liliana, Heretical Healer to return Loyal Retainers to play, causing Liliana to go to the graveyard.
3 You sacrifice Loyal Retainers to return Liliana to play, paying black to return Nether Traitor to play in response to the dies trigger of the Retainers or paying black to return Gravecrawler to play meeting the condition for having a zombie in play.
4 You can then sacrifice Nether Traitor or Gravecrawler to flip Liliana, Heretical Healer and then loop from step 2.
Result is infinite zombie creature tokens from Liliana flipping, infinite ETB and LTB triggers, and infinite mana of any combination of colors. Thus by adding a secondary sac outlet such as Goblin Bombardment you can kill the entire table, having a haste generator (Anger) and so forth you can kill the entire table.
It´s obviously not the most efficient combo, but since all of the pieces are quite solid on their own it´s an interesting additional one to have in the deck.
The combo also works similarly with Carnival of Souls and an infinite sac outlet instead of Phyrexian Altar, although you will only be able to loop the combo a limited number of times before your life total runs out. Purphoros, God of the Forge or Outpost Siege should however often offer enough damage to kill the table.
Full Origins Set Review: Liliana, Heretical Healer
This is the perfect value card for Alesha as it has two power, is versatile and produces additional board presence for dying. And it also has potential for infinite comboing with Nether Traitor and Phyrexian Altar. If you haven't added it yet I would highly recommend doing so. Priest of the Blood Rite: (as posted previously) a 2/2 for 3BB which produces a 5/5 flying demon token when it ETB. It causes you to lose 2 life per turn if it stays in play, but sacrificing it isn't an issue at all in this deck so the drawback is quite negligible. Although it's rather slow at 3BB, I think its board impact is substantial enough and larger than something like Siege-Gang Commander. The 5/5 does however have less synergies with other cards in the decklist than three 1/1 tokens. Not a staple by any means, but it seems worth trying. Avaricious Dragon - In this deck you try to keep cards in hand, the card advantage and the 4/4 flier aren't enough to compensate for the drawback here. Kytheon, Hero of Akros - Although he doesn't work in the aristocrats version of Alesha, I would imagine it is quite good in the aggro form. Pia and Kiran Nalaar - Pretty much the same story, in the combo list it doesn't do enough, but in the token list it should be a solid token producer (although tribal synergies of Beetleback Chief still make it better in most cases I think). Kothophed, Soul Hoarder - It has a powerful ability, but for six mana it needs to be at the level of Sun Titan, which this isn't because it relies on your opponents cards. Relic Seeker - It has two power and an effect which works quite well with Alesha's return to combat ability. That said, its much worse than Stoneforge Mystic as you need to actually deal combat damage to a player with it. If you feel you need more equipment tutors, feel free to try it out (and let me know how it plays!), but you might just be better off with Steelshaper's Gift. Flameshadow Conjuring - Although we have ETB abilities, a 3R down payment and an additional R per creature limits its usage. I think this fits better in G(W)x decks. Archangel of Tithes - I really like the card, and it fits well here as both a mini Propaganda effect and making it more difficult to block your creatures. Iroas gives greater protection however and is indestructible, which gives it the edge here. Graveblade Marauder - In the aggro version of the deck this can be a really solid card. Hallowed Moonlight - This is a card that can really hurt us, mostly just hope that this card doesn't come up to much. However, the deck does have a lot of redundant combo pieces, so you'll have other ways to combo off. It also has potential in the deck depending on your metagame. An instant speed cantripping answer to many combos can be worth playing. I will definitely try it out and see how it plays. Abbot of Keral Keep - A card I am still looking to try out, as it is low cost, creates card advantage that can be recurred with Alesha. Prowess doesn't happen too often, but is a nice bonus. It is risky however with the possibility to exile combo pieces, which makes me think it won't make the cut in the end. Scab-Clan Berserker - Another great card for the aggro list, they just keep on coming. Magmatic Insight - In a deck with black and not that many lands there are better options. Shadows of the Past - Scrying every time a creature dies is pretty good, it can be a good second Sensei's Divining Top. Its usefulness depends greatly on what kind of other decks you play against, if no creatures are dying from your opponents' sides it's not worth it. In general it should be pretty great and should make its way into my decklist once I figure out what the right cut is.
Unburial Rites was somewhat slow, and allow the deck now loses the ability to reanimate directly off of Entomb, Liliana is a better card which somewhat fulfills the same role while having greater versatility and creating a new combo. Although Outpost Siege was not bad, in an infinite combo Shadows of the Past can allow you to scry towards a win condition, and the lower mana cost and immense card quality it provides make it better than the one card a turn (which needs to be played right away) of Outpost Siege. Both changes also lower the average cmc which is also useful.
From the new spoilers the new BW man land Shambling Vents will likely make its way into the deck, as will a new RW man land. Otherwise Smothering Abomination could potentially replace Grim Haruspex because it hits tokens; however it has the drawback of requiring a sacrifice every turn. If it provided an infinite sac outlet it would obviously be a shoe in, but as is I'm not sure.
The new Drana also has some potential here as it's recurrable and provides a significant boost to your attacking creatures. I could see it replacing Brutal Hordechief.
Battle for Zendikar Review: Emeria Shepherd - It's a very powerful card, and with duals having sufficient plains in the deck is not really a problem. I think the main question is if it is better than Sun Titan, as that is the card it could replace. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - both the anthem and the token making ability are good, but I think it isn't as good as the two Sorins which aren't in the list or Elspeth, which is. Drana, Liberator of Malakir - pumping your team on every attack is great, and Drana does it for only 1BB and with a 2/3 body that Alesha can recur. Ob Nixilis Reignited - it's a good planeswalker, but five mana is too much too just be drawing cards and destroying creatures. Painful Truths - Ambition's Cost was always a bit too slow for me, as paying 4 mana without impacting the board is not really where you want to be. 3 cards for RWB is significantly better. In all likelihood this will find its way into the list. Smothering Abomination - It's a strong creature, but having to sacrifice a creature every turn is more of a disadvantage with the number of sac outlets in the deck. I think that Grim Haruspex and Dark Prophecy are both better. Vampiric Rites - Sacrificing creatures to draw cards is great, but having to pay 1B to do so makes this to weak here. Zulaport Cutthroat - having access to a second Blood Artist (with the difference of hitting each opponent and only triggering on your creatures) is not bad at all. That said I'm not sure the deck wants another Blood Artist (question of space) so the question is more whether Zulaport Cutthroat triggers more often. I'm thinking it will replace Blood Artist. Resolute Blademaster - as an Alesha target to push through damage it's one of the strongest ones, but Drana is stronger in general. Shambling Vents - This will replace Isolated Chapel, as having a manland is worth CIPT.
Hey I haven't posted here in a while, glad to see you're still playing it. I tried a few different combo builds and they were never able to race the BUx combo decks in my paper metagame. I'm now playing a stax build.
Shadows of the Past seems a little slow and durdly. While it's nice that it triggers on other player's creatures, you already have the effect in Viscera Seer. Why not run Diabolic Intent instead?
I like Sun Titan over Emeria Shephard. The titan recurs every turn and doesn't require a 2nd card to activate, and it's one cheaper. Getting lands in the edge case is also good, considering you run Cataclysm.
Why do you think you need a manland? If it's for combo purposes why not the cheaper (and no CIPT) Mutavault?
What kind of combo decks are you facing? The deck definitely gets less effective if there's a lot of fast combo, but I think there is so much flexibility in Alesha that you can tune the list to face any threat as you did with your stax list. I really like the look of your list, I'm wondering if I can integrate elements of it into the combo list; as most of the combos are creature-based it should be possible to adjust the deck in that direction as well. Diabolic Intent is the kind of card that seems very good in theory, but I have always found it lacking in practice. Sacrificing a creature early is very difficult in most decks (including this one) unless you have very specific early token producers (like Bitterblossom or Doomed Traveller). As the game goes on you're more likely to have fodder for it, but it being two mana is less relevant then. But not being useful until turn 4-5 usually I dislike the most about it. Shadows of the Past is like a Sensei's Divining Top that doesn't require mana investment but is a bit more constrained in when you get to see cards. In comparison to Outpost Siege it's a value engine and one which is also useful in infinite combos. I recommend you try it; it seems particularly effective in stax.
I agree with you on Sun Titan being better in most respects. My main reason for considering Emeria Shepherd is that it can recur combo pieces which cost more than 3 mana. Perhaps I was overoptimistic when first looking at Emeria Shepherd - it also doesn't have any infinite combo's.
The deck can't afford more colorless lands to be able to hit BBB for Necropotence, hence the choice over Mutavault. Otherwise lifelink is very relevant in black decks with a lot of life payments. I don't see it being an amazing card, and perhaps it will just replace Lavaclaw Reaches in the end if CIPT is too annoying.
Zur Doomsday, Jeleva Storm, Prossh Food Chain, Krenko Goblin combo, BUG Hermit Druid are the fastest decks I play against, and then there are a few slower ones. Sire of Insanity is for the first 2, Elesh Norn is for the last 3. Sire of Insanity is insane against everything but top-decked Ad Nauseaums, and is basically a free win if it resolves against combo decks. The dream turn 1 feels great too: Land, Dark Rit, Entomb, Renanimate. I was running some infinite sac cards for a little while, but they all felt bad by themselves which is why RIP/Helm are in the deck now. RIP is obviously antisynergistic with Alesha, but I need a solid answer to Hermit Druid and other reanimator decks. I plan on trying Yixlid Jailer if I cut the combo, and if that doesn't feel good, Containment Priest. On that note, I'm not sure about Shadows of the Past in my stax list. I have 14 creatures plus Alesha, and no ways of saccing them outside of Smokestacks and Tabernacle. There are a reasonable amount of *other* creatures dying in my meta, so it might be worth a try, but it won't be very effective in goldfishing. It also requires me to draw a card in order to take advantage of the Scrying, so I'll need another card to actually use the answer (If it finds one).
I do like the Shepard and considering what it gets in your list (and what Sun Titan doesn't) it's worth trying. But I would run it in addition to Sun Titan, not instead.
I would replace Lavaclaw Reaches with it, and turn the Isolated Chapel into a Caves of Koilos. But I'm also biased to my fast metagame, where a CIPT can throw games.
I can see how in your meta a manland would be less worthwhile. From your maybeboard I would definitely include Spirit of the Labyrinth, I have found it to be excellent in hindering a lot of combo decks from finding their combo. In your list I don't think Shadows of the Past would be good, it's good in my deck because I can reasonably expect to scry 5-10 for 1B over the course of the game just from my own sacrifices, at which point its great value. With few creatures and little control over the effect it becomes much less good.
Is there a reason why you didn't include Hushwing Gryff? You already have Torpor Orb and it's recurrable with Alesha.
Hello everyone! I have been only recently playing this style of Alesha and it has been an absolute blast to play! However, I would still like some feedback, please. I know I am missing some things from the OP's list, but feel free to suggest them if they are absolutely necessary or will vastly improve the deck.
Glad to hear you love playing the deck! Overall your list looks good and I wouldn't have too many changes to recommend.
Out of the cards that I think you could benefit a lot from adding are: Sneak Attack - It's an expensive card but it is absolutely worth it because of the sheer amount of utility it provides you: it accelerates, it can give flash, it can put creatures into the graveyard for you to recur with Alesha, it grants haste. Overall it's one of the best cards in the list so if you can get a hold of it I would definitely add it. Shadows of the Past - You play more token producers than I do, which should make this even better in digging deep. Ophiomancer - It's my favorite token producer as with a sac outlet it can produce a token each turn, which is amazing.
Some cards I think you can for these are Hell's Caretaker (slow and tap abilities don't synergize well with Alesha), Daretti (Shadows of the Past is better), Beetleback Chief (you already have Siege-Gang Commander).
Because you have a lot of WW/BB/RR mana costs, adding the filterlands (Fetid Heath, Rugged Prairie, Graven Cairns) can help out with that. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth can also be a good land to add. I would also reorient your mana a little bit more to WB with less red, for example taking out 3 mountains and Boros Signet to add the three filters + Urborg. With your number of basics and the ability for Alesha to recur it every turn and then sac it again, Magus of the Moon also starts looking attractive as a hate option.
Finally I really like Tithe here as a replacement for a land slot, as its the cheapest 2 for 1 in WBR. With the number of basics/plains you play you could also consider Land Tax, Gifted Estates and the new Commander card Oreskos Explorer.
How have you found Mangara of Corondor to be? I've often looked at it but felt it was too much work, so it would be great to hear of your experiences with it.
How have you found Mangara of Corondor to be? I've often looked at it but felt it was too much work, so it would be great to hear of your experiences with it.
So far it has been okay. If anything my friends will play around it or waste removal on it forcing me to use him. At best he has been able to buy me a turn or two.
Also, thanks for the recommendations! I will have to work on getting a couple of the expensive ones you suggested (Sneak Attack, Fetid Heath) How has Loyal Retainers been for you. Is it worth investing the money for?
How has Loyal Retainers been for you. Is it worth investing the money for?
It's quite a good card because it combos with both Kiki-Jiki and Liliana, Heretical Healer. It can also do nice tricks with Alesha as it forms a type of protection from spot removal for Alesha because if she gets hits you can just return her with Retainers, and Alesha can then return Loyal Retainers. It's nowhere near essential in the list however and you wont' notice a huge difference playing without it. Body Snatcher is a pretty good cheaper replacement as Alesha recurrable reanimation.
I have, it used to be in the list over Sword of Light and Shadow. It's obviously quite good, particularly if you have a lot of aggro decks in your meta. Overall though Sword of Light Shadow helps to negate on of the weaknesses of the deck in recurring creatures with greater than 2 power. It also provides life like Jitte and a permanent pump plus very relevant protections. I value the recursion more than the conditional removal, hence why Jitte was replaced.
@Capitacom So I do have a lot of creature heavy decks that I go up against (Marath Tokens, Kaalia Goodstuff, Karador reanimator, Grenzo Goblins) What are some recommendations to help combat this, beyon Umezawa's Jitte. More often than not, my creatures are getting "out-classed". Meaning, my friends will drop something bigger and more threatening than anything that I have on the board.
For bigger creatures Retribution of the Meek and Elspeth, Sun's Champion can be great additions. For smaller creatures Fire Covenant can be a great one-sided wrath (at the cost of a hefty chunk of life). Malicious Affliction can usually deal with two creatures for only two mana. Big-Game Hunter is an Alesha recurrable creature that can help deal with bigger creatures as well. In similar vein, Boneshredder can work as well. Neither is recurrable sadly with Alesha, but Fleshbag Marauder and Merciless Executioner can help deal with larger creatures too. Grave Pact or Dictate of Erebos can also do wonders against other creature decks.
On the protection side, I really like Iroas, God of Victory as a way to push damage through and protect your creatures. You could also consider playing Archangel of Tithes and Break through the Line as other ways to push damage through. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad are great at making your swarm bigger.
I think these are some of the best cards to use. Otherwise focusing more on building out the combo aspect of the deck could be an alternative, as you would thus be able to bypass your opponents larger creatures.
In my past couple games DR has been used mostly to "tack on" tutors during a turn, but it's also great early game for explosive starts.
Relaxed EDH: BROlivia VampiresRB
#FreeBraids
Thanks for mentioning this mistake, I'll correct it when I update the original post. It is indeed very fragile and doesn't live very long, but it is also as you say quite powerful so it has earned its spot although I couldn't recur it.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
Ive been sitting here trying to figure out how just Sun Titan and animate dead dont just combo... I figured it out and welp ive been playing like it does work ><
Edit: doesnt Murderous Redcap and Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + sac outlet infinite combo?
GW Rhys the Redeemed EDH
RUGAnimar, Soul of Elements EDH
WBRAlesha, Who Smiles at Death EDH
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Murderous Redcap do combo, but Mikaeus is expensive to cast, and the bar for six cmc cards is very high. It's not a bad card but the list is very tight and outside of the combo I find it's a bit win more.
As the number of humans in the list has decreased a lot over time, perhaps it's time to give him another try though. Thanks for the reminder.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
Archangel of Tithes looks like a more aggressive replacement of Iroas at the cost of durability and a more difficult mana cost. I'll test it and see how they compare and if I have trouble casting the angel.
Liliana, Heretical Healer seems made for this deck as it synergizes beautifully, can be recurred by Alesha and just oozes value. It goes infinite with Loyal Retainers and Saffi Eriksdotter, I was only wondering if we could also do it in Mardu. Any ideas?
If Blazing Hellhound didn't need mana to activate it would have been a great sac outlet, but alas.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
On another note I'm also looking at retrying Nether Traitor again as it works very well with Phyrexian Altar as the altar generates graveyard triggers and the mana to pay for Nether Traitor 's trigger. It also forms an additional infinite combo with Phyrexian Altar, new Liliana and Loyal Retainers, while of course synergizing quite well in genera with the rest of the deck.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
Outside of that I dont really see anything in this set that helps combo alesha. Dark Petition can be ok for people like me who dont have all the cheap tutors they need. Agro alesha seems to get a few toys.
GW Rhys the Redeemed EDH
RUGAnimar, Soul of Elements EDH
WBRAlesha, Who Smiles at Death EDH
The Liliana combo works like this from the starting point of having Liliana, Heretical Healer and Phyrexian Altar in play, with at least one of Nether Traitor or Gravecrawler as well as Loyal Retainers in play (they can both be in play or one of the two can be in the graveyard).
1 You sacrifice the one you had in play to Phyrexian Altar, adding black to your mana pool and flipping Liliana. If you had both in play you sacrifice both. This leaves you with a zombie token.
2 You use Liliana, Heretical Healer to return Loyal Retainers to play, causing Liliana to go to the graveyard.
3 You sacrifice Loyal Retainers to return Liliana to play, paying black to return Nether Traitor to play in response to the dies trigger of the Retainers or paying black to return Gravecrawler to play meeting the condition for having a zombie in play.
4 You can then sacrifice Nether Traitor or Gravecrawler to flip Liliana, Heretical Healer and then loop from step 2.
Result is infinite zombie creature tokens from Liliana flipping, infinite ETB and LTB triggers, and infinite mana of any combination of colors. Thus by adding a secondary sac outlet such as Goblin Bombardment you can kill the entire table, having a haste generator (Anger) and so forth you can kill the entire table.
It´s obviously not the most efficient combo, but since all of the pieces are quite solid on their own it´s an interesting additional one to have in the deck.
The combo also works similarly with Carnival of Souls and an infinite sac outlet instead of Phyrexian Altar, although you will only be able to loop the combo a limited number of times before your life total runs out. Purphoros, God of the Forge or Outpost Siege should however often offer enough damage to kill the table.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
Liliana, Heretical Healer
This is the perfect value card for Alesha as it has two power, is versatile and produces additional board presence for dying. And it also has potential for infinite comboing with Nether Traitor and Phyrexian Altar. If you haven't added it yet I would highly recommend doing so.
Priest of the Blood Rite: (as posted previously) a 2/2 for 3BB which produces a 5/5 flying demon token when it ETB. It causes you to lose 2 life per turn if it stays in play, but sacrificing it isn't an issue at all in this deck so the drawback is quite negligible. Although it's rather slow at 3BB, I think its board impact is substantial enough and larger than something like Siege-Gang Commander. The 5/5 does however have less synergies with other cards in the decklist than three 1/1 tokens. Not a staple by any means, but it seems worth trying.
Avaricious Dragon - In this deck you try to keep cards in hand, the card advantage and the 4/4 flier aren't enough to compensate for the drawback here.
Kytheon, Hero of Akros - Although he doesn't work in the aristocrats version of Alesha, I would imagine it is quite good in the aggro form.
Pia and Kiran Nalaar - Pretty much the same story, in the combo list it doesn't do enough, but in the token list it should be a solid token producer (although tribal synergies of Beetleback Chief still make it better in most cases I think).
Kothophed, Soul Hoarder - It has a powerful ability, but for six mana it needs to be at the level of Sun Titan, which this isn't because it relies on your opponents cards.
Relic Seeker - It has two power and an effect which works quite well with Alesha's return to combat ability. That said, its much worse than Stoneforge Mystic as you need to actually deal combat damage to a player with it. If you feel you need more equipment tutors, feel free to try it out (and let me know how it plays!), but you might just be better off with Steelshaper's Gift.
Flameshadow Conjuring - Although we have ETB abilities, a 3R down payment and an additional R per creature limits its usage. I think this fits better in G(W)x decks.
Archangel of Tithes - I really like the card, and it fits well here as both a mini Propaganda effect and making it more difficult to block your creatures. Iroas gives greater protection however and is indestructible, which gives it the edge here.
Graveblade Marauder - In the aggro version of the deck this can be a really solid card.
Hallowed Moonlight - This is a card that can really hurt us, mostly just hope that this card doesn't come up to much. However, the deck does have a lot of redundant combo pieces, so you'll have other ways to combo off. It also has potential in the deck depending on your metagame. An instant speed cantripping answer to many combos can be worth playing. I will definitely try it out and see how it plays.
Abbot of Keral Keep - A card I am still looking to try out, as it is low cost, creates card advantage that can be recurred with Alesha. Prowess doesn't happen too often, but is a nice bonus. It is risky however with the possibility to exile combo pieces, which makes me think it won't make the cut in the end.
Scab-Clan Berserker - Another great card for the aggro list, they just keep on coming.
Magmatic Insight - In a deck with black and not that many lands there are better options.
Shadows of the Past - Scrying every time a creature dies is pretty good, it can be a good second Sensei's Divining Top. Its usefulness depends greatly on what kind of other decks you play against, if no creatures are dying from your opponents' sides it's not worth it. In general it should be pretty great and should make its way into my decklist once I figure out what the right cut is.
BRWC Mardu Shops - Tymna and Akiri Artifacts BRWC
+ Liliana, Heretical Healer
+ Shadows of the Past
- Unburial Rites
- Outpost Siege
Unburial Rites was somewhat slow, and allow the deck now loses the ability to reanimate directly off of Entomb, Liliana is a better card which somewhat fulfills the same role while having greater versatility and creating a new combo. Although Outpost Siege was not bad, in an infinite combo Shadows of the Past can allow you to scry towards a win condition, and the lower mana cost and immense card quality it provides make it better than the one card a turn (which needs to be played right away) of Outpost Siege. Both changes also lower the average cmc which is also useful.
From the new spoilers the new BW man land Shambling Vents will likely make its way into the deck, as will a new RW man land. Otherwise Smothering Abomination could potentially replace Grim Haruspex because it hits tokens; however it has the drawback of requiring a sacrifice every turn. If it provided an infinite sac outlet it would obviously be a shoe in, but as is I'm not sure.
The new Drana also has some potential here as it's recurrable and provides a significant boost to your attacking creatures. I could see it replacing Brutal Hordechief.
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Emeria Shepherd - It's a very powerful card, and with duals having sufficient plains in the deck is not really a problem. I think the main question is if it is better than Sun Titan, as that is the card it could replace.
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar - both the anthem and the token making ability are good, but I think it isn't as good as the two Sorins which aren't in the list or Elspeth, which is.
Drana, Liberator of Malakir - pumping your team on every attack is great, and Drana does it for only 1BB and with a 2/3 body that Alesha can recur.
Ob Nixilis Reignited - it's a good planeswalker, but five mana is too much too just be drawing cards and destroying creatures.
Painful Truths - Ambition's Cost was always a bit too slow for me, as paying 4 mana without impacting the board is not really where you want to be. 3 cards for RWB is significantly better. In all likelihood this will find its way into the list.
Smothering Abomination - It's a strong creature, but having to sacrifice a creature every turn is more of a disadvantage with the number of sac outlets in the deck. I think that Grim Haruspex and Dark Prophecy are both better.
Vampiric Rites - Sacrificing creatures to draw cards is great, but having to pay 1B to do so makes this to weak here.
Zulaport Cutthroat - having access to a second Blood Artist (with the difference of hitting each opponent and only triggering on your creatures) is not bad at all. That said I'm not sure the deck wants another Blood Artist (question of space) so the question is more whether Zulaport Cutthroat triggers more often. I'm thinking it will replace Blood Artist.
Resolute Blademaster - as an Alesha target to push through damage it's one of the strongest ones, but Drana is stronger in general.
Shambling Vents - This will replace Isolated Chapel, as having a manland is worth CIPT.
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Shadows of the Past seems a little slow and durdly. While it's nice that it triggers on other player's creatures, you already have the effect in Viscera Seer. Why not run Diabolic Intent instead?
I like Sun Titan over Emeria Shephard. The titan recurs every turn and doesn't require a 2nd card to activate, and it's one cheaper. Getting lands in the edge case is also good, considering you run Cataclysm.
Why do you think you need a manland? If it's for combo purposes why not the cheaper (and no CIPT) Mutavault?
Relaxed EDH: BROlivia VampiresRB
#FreeBraids
Diabolic Intent is the kind of card that seems very good in theory, but I have always found it lacking in practice. Sacrificing a creature early is very difficult in most decks (including this one) unless you have very specific early token producers (like Bitterblossom or Doomed Traveller). As the game goes on you're more likely to have fodder for it, but it being two mana is less relevant then. But not being useful until turn 4-5 usually I dislike the most about it. Shadows of the Past is like a Sensei's Divining Top that doesn't require mana investment but is a bit more constrained in when you get to see cards. In comparison to Outpost Siege it's a value engine and one which is also useful in infinite combos. I recommend you try it; it seems particularly effective in stax.
I agree with you on Sun Titan being better in most respects. My main reason for considering Emeria Shepherd is that it can recur combo pieces which cost more than 3 mana. Perhaps I was overoptimistic when first looking at Emeria Shepherd - it also doesn't have any infinite combo's.
The deck can't afford more colorless lands to be able to hit BBB for Necropotence, hence the choice over Mutavault. Otherwise lifelink is very relevant in black decks with a lot of life payments. I don't see it being an amazing card, and perhaps it will just replace Lavaclaw Reaches in the end if CIPT is too annoying.
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I do like the Shepard and considering what it gets in your list (and what Sun Titan doesn't) it's worth trying. But I would run it in addition to Sun Titan, not instead.
I would replace Lavaclaw Reaches with it, and turn the Isolated Chapel into a Caves of Koilos. But I'm also biased to my fast metagame, where a CIPT can throw games.
Relaxed EDH: BROlivia VampiresRB
#FreeBraids
Is there a reason why you didn't include Hushwing Gryff? You already have Torpor Orb and it's recurrable with Alesha.
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I just forgot about Hushwing Gryff, thank you. I'm just going to swap it for the Orb, but I think they both belong here.
Relaxed EDH: BROlivia VampiresRB
#FreeBraids
Thanks in advance.
5 Swamp
6 Plains
6 Mountain
1 Blood Crypt
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Caves of Koilos
1 City of Brass
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Command Tower
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Flooded Strand
1 Godless Shrine
1 High Market
1 Isolated Chapel
1 Phyrexian Tower
1 Polluted Delta
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Smoldering Marsh
1 Strip Mine
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
Creature
3 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death
1 Mother of Runes
1 Weathered Wayfarer
2 Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
2 Blood Artist
2 Dark Confidant
2 Grand Abolisher
2 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
2 Phyrexian Revoker
2 Relic Seeker
2 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Suture Priest
2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
2 Zulaport Cutthroat
3 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3 Feldon of the Third Path
3 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Grim Haurspex
3 Liliana, Heretical Healer
3 Mangara of Corondor
3 Mentor of the Meek
3 Necrotic Sliver
3 Silverblade Paladin
3 Xathrid Necromancer
4 Beetleback Chief
4 Brutal Hordechief
4 Butcher of the Horde
4 Disciple of Bolas
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
4 Falkenrath Noble
4 Hell's Caretaker
4 Hellrider
4 Murderous Redcap
4 Purphoros, God of the Forge
4 Solemn Simulacrum
5 Archangel of Thune
5 Karmic Guide
5 Reveillark
5 Seige-Gang Commander
6 Sun Titan
1 Sol Ring
2 Boros Signet
2 Orzhov Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Talisman of Indulgence
Disruption
1 Swords to Plowshares
3 Toxic Deluge
3 Vindicate
4 Merciless Eviction
4 Utter End
6 Austere Command
Draw
1 Entomb
1 Faithless Looting
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Skullclamp
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Demonic Tutor
3 Phyrexian Arena
4 Deretti, Scrap Savant
Utility
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
2 Goblin Bombardment
3 Kolaghan's Command
5 Living Death
Out of the cards that I think you could benefit a lot from adding are:
Sneak Attack - It's an expensive card but it is absolutely worth it because of the sheer amount of utility it provides you: it accelerates, it can give flash, it can put creatures into the graveyard for you to recur with Alesha, it grants haste. Overall it's one of the best cards in the list so if you can get a hold of it I would definitely add it.
Shadows of the Past - You play more token producers than I do, which should make this even better in digging deep.
Ophiomancer - It's my favorite token producer as with a sac outlet it can produce a token each turn, which is amazing.
Some cards I think you can for these are Hell's Caretaker (slow and tap abilities don't synergize well with Alesha), Daretti (Shadows of the Past is better), Beetleback Chief (you already have Siege-Gang Commander).
Because you have a lot of WW/BB/RR mana costs, adding the filterlands (Fetid Heath, Rugged Prairie, Graven Cairns) can help out with that. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth can also be a good land to add. I would also reorient your mana a little bit more to WB with less red, for example taking out 3 mountains and Boros Signet to add the three filters + Urborg. With your number of basics and the ability for Alesha to recur it every turn and then sac it again, Magus of the Moon also starts looking attractive as a hate option.
Finally I really like Tithe here as a replacement for a land slot, as its the cheapest 2 for 1 in WBR. With the number of basics/plains you play you could also consider Land Tax, Gifted Estates and the new Commander card Oreskos Explorer.
How have you found Mangara of Corondor to be? I've often looked at it but felt it was too much work, so it would be great to hear of your experiences with it.
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So far it has been okay. If anything my friends will play around it or waste removal on it forcing me to use him. At best he has been able to buy me a turn or two.
Also, thanks for the recommendations! I will have to work on getting a couple of the expensive ones you suggested (Sneak Attack, Fetid Heath) How has Loyal Retainers been for you. Is it worth investing the money for?
It's quite a good card because it combos with both Kiki-Jiki and Liliana, Heretical Healer. It can also do nice tricks with Alesha as it forms a type of protection from spot removal for Alesha because if she gets hits you can just return her with Retainers, and Alesha can then return Loyal Retainers. It's nowhere near essential in the list however and you wont' notice a huge difference playing without it. Body Snatcher is a pretty good cheaper replacement as Alesha recurrable reanimation.
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On the protection side, I really like Iroas, God of Victory as a way to push damage through and protect your creatures. You could also consider playing Archangel of Tithes and Break through the Line as other ways to push damage through. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad are great at making your swarm bigger.
I think these are some of the best cards to use. Otherwise focusing more on building out the combo aspect of the deck could be an alternative, as you would thus be able to bypass your opponents larger creatures.
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