I've built a lot of EDH decks but most of them tend towards being heavily tuned and at least comparatively competitive (in a small, not always super competitive circuit). I wanted to do something very different, and finally decided a theme deck was about as far from my "norm" as I could get. The deck isn't entirely lacking power, and should still play well, but almost every single card is built to match something from the Harry Potter universe, specifically things that relate the to the primary antagonist the Dark Lord Voldemort (A.K.A. He Who Must Not Be Named).
First, the list without any flavor or spoilers:
Next, a list arranged by their flavorful placement in the deck. Spoilered for anyone who hasn't read the books or seen the movies. (Though you should totally go read the books. Right now. All seven of them. I'll wait.)
DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |||
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The Dark Lord Voldemort: 1 Tasigur, The Golden Fang Voldemort's Many Faces: 2 Master Biomancer (Tom Riddle, a charismatic power magnet.) 3 Overbeing of Myth (He Who Must Not Be Named) 4 Havengul Lich (The Dark Lords undying spirit.) 5 Dread Return (Revival of the Dark Lord.) Voldemort's Inner Circle: 6 Sakura-Tribe Elder (Severus Snape) 7 Nezumi Graverobber (Peter Pettigrew) 8 Azami, Lady of Scrolls (Narcissa Malfoy) 9 Cabal Patriarch (Lucius Malfoy) 10 Damia, Sage of Stone (Bellatrix Lestrange) Minions of the Dark Lord: 11 Baleful Strix (A dark messenger for the Dark Lord) 12 Flesh Carver (Amycus Carrow, Professor of Dark Arts) 13 Eternal Witness (Alecto Carrow, Professor of Muggle Propaganda.) 14 Masked Admirers (Death Eaters) 15 Sakashima the Impostor (Bartemius Crouch Jr.) 16 Torrent Elemental (Dementors) 17 Sturmgeist (The Dark Mark in the sky.) 18 The Mimeoplasm (Blood of the Enemy, Bone of the Father.) 19 Kaseto, Orochi Archmage (The sometimes unwilling servant and child of the Malfoy family.) 20 Prime Speaker Zegana (Dolores Umbridge, minion in the Ministry of Magic.) 21 Grave Titan (The Dark Lord's giants and his Inferi army.) | Slytherin's Legacy: 22 Ohran Viper (Slytherin's Power) 23 Lorescale Coatl (Slytherin's Wit) 24 Patagia Viper (Slytherin's growing house.) 25 Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro (Merope Gaunt, granddaughter of Slytherin, Mother of Tom Riddle) 26 Nemesis of Mortals (The Basilisk) 27 Seshiro the Anointed (Slytherin Himself) 28 Sultai Banner (House Slytherin Tapestry) Voldemort's Spell Suite: 29 Hero's Downfall (Avada Kadavra) 30 Grim Affliction (Cruciatus Curse) 31 Control Magic (Imperius Curse) 32 Soul Manipulation (Horcrux Curse) 33 Villainous Wealth (Priori Incantatem) 34 Memory Plunder (Legilimency) 35 Murderous Cut (Sectumsempra) 36 Grave Pact (Unbreakable Vow) 37 Abrupt Decay (Reducto) 38 Disdainful Stroke (Finite) 39 Spell Crumple (Finite Incantatem) 40 Sultai Charm (Morsmordre A.K.A. The Dark Mark) 41 Putrefy (Deletrius) 42 Life's Finale (Fiendfyre) | Voldemort's Commands: 43 Dictate of Erebos (Join or die.) 44 Profane Command (Achieve power beyond death itself.) 45 Cryptic Command (Follow or fail.) 46 Decree of Pain (Leave no survivors.) Voldemort's Horcruxes: 47 Voidmage Prodigy (Harry Potter) 48 Doomed Necromancer (Quirinus Quirrell) 49 Mystic Snake (Nagini) 50 Everflowing Chalice (Hufflepuff's Cup) 51 Sol Ring (Marvolo Gaunt's Ring) 52 Grimoire of the Dead (Tom Riddle's Diary) 53 Quicksilver Amulet (Slytherin's Locket) 54 Crown of Ascension (Ravenclaw's Diadem) The Deathly Hallows: 55 Diviner's Wand (The Elder Wand) 56 Whispersilk Cloak (The Cloak of Invisibility) 57 Mimic Vat (Resurrection Stone) Tools of the Dark Lord: 58 Golgari Signet (Galleon. Money speaks loud.) 59 Dimir Signet (Sickle. Money speaks, even to the proud.) 60 Simic Signet (Knut. Money speaks to all, no matter how small.) 61 Commander's Sphere (The Prophecy.) 62 Unspeakable Symbol (The Dark Mark Tattoo) 64 Treasure Cruise (A cursed boat to protect a Horcrux.) | Where Voldemort Rules: 37 Lands (Still Tweaking) |
Finally, an explanation of each cards individual flavor and use in the deck:
Voldemort:
Tasigur, The Golden Fang: The first creature in all three colors that represents power for powers sake, that also happens to actually be (more or less) human. The best Voldemort so far that isn't mono-black. He looks a bit more like a Tom Riddle or Malfoy (I.E. he isn't hard to look at), but the power of darkness can be quite seductive, right?
Voldemort's Forms:
Master Biomancer: Another pretty face, could just as easily be either Malfor Sr. or Jr. with all that blond hair. His ability to pump up his followers feels a lot more like the young charismatic Tom Riddle. Helps the small counter sub-theme in the deck.
Overbeing of Myth: A mythic form for a mythic name, He Who Must Not Be Named.
Havengul Lich: Voldemort survived his time as a formless spirit by taking the bodies of other beings, drastically shortening their life spans, and moving on to the next host. Havengul Lich has a wonderful feeling in that regard, surmounted slightly perhaps by Kheru Lich Lord, but I prefer to be able to use the bodies for as long as possible.
Dread Return: This and Fated Return like to fight it out over who better represents Voldemort's second coming.
The Inner Circle:
Sakura-tribe Elder: Poor Severus, more useful dead than alive in the end.
Nezumi Graverobber: Amazingly flavorful form for Peter. A weak rat of a man, but capable of scrounging around and doing truly powerful resurrection magic if given the right tools.
Azami, Lady of Scrolls: A prominent legendary Wizard for a wealthy woman. Azami, like Narcissa, is ultimately quite the greedy and selfish board presence.
Cabal Patriarch: Arguably Voldemort's most powerful associate. He will do anything for the Dark Lord, well, almost anything. His ability to clean out the graveyard to empower Tasigur's ability is quite helpful. If I were to build a mono-black Voldemort deck this would probably be the mono representation of the Dark Lord.
Damia, Sage of Stone: Embodies everything Voldemort in a fanatical package. Wild hair to match the woman in the books, only Vraska the Unseen rivals Damia for the role of Bellatrix Lestrange, and it quite the close race.
Minions:
Baleful Strix: Owls serve wizards in the world of Harry Potter, and it seems only fitting that Voldemort have the most powerful of these birds at his disposal. Early card advantage and a good way to gum up the board.
Flesh Carver: The brother Carrow, when Voldemort temporarily controlled the wizarding world in his second coming he had this particularly sadistic man teach the children of Hogwarts the Dark Arts. Often by cruel example.
Eternal Witness: The sister Carrow, also assigned as a professor in Hogwarts by Voldemort. She was assigned the task of presenting anti-muggle propaganda as the schools muggle studies professor, taking the past and presenting it in the Dark Lords preferred manner. Who better to do that than an Eternal Witness?
Masked Admirers: As hard to kill and visually disquieting as the Death Eater's themselves.
Sakashima the Impostor: Bartemius Crouch Jr. used polyjuice potion to great effect in the Dark Lords name while impersonating Mad Eye Moody. Only Body Double offers any competition, though this is another close one. A re-usable clone is always fun.
Torrent Elemental: A flying black entity that weakens its foes while passing by overhead. I've never seen a card that sound more like a Dementor.
Sturmgeist: A purely visual card, nothing quite like a floating skull to make you think Dark Mark.
The Mimeoplasm: Three elements were used to revive Lord Voldemort. The blood of the enemy, the bone of the father, and the flesh of the servant. The Mimeoplasm can take two of those elements from either graveyard. Indeed, because of its flavorful similarity to the regeneration potion I almost made this guy the general.
Kaseto, Orochi Archmage: A solid representative for Voldemorts often surprisingly subtle servant, the Malfoy boy, Draco. A child of a great family who ultimately helps Voldemorts infiltrate and cause serious damage.
Prime Speaker Zegana: Though the card represents a demi-human (a merfolk in this case) the flavor of a woman who takes all of her power from those around her was just too perfect for the monster in pink Dolores Umbridge.
Grave Titan: When attacking Hogwarts Voldemort brings a lot of unpleasant allies into the fray. The giants are key among these, but Voldemort is well known to be able to summon the Wizarding Worlds version of zombies, or Inferi, as well.
Slytherin's Legacy:
The deck actually started as a Slytherin theme deck, but it was much more fun to build around Voldemort altogether. Still, some elements of Slyhterin's house (and Salazar himself) were kept since Voldemort was the most famous wizard to come from that house.
Ohran Viper: Acts an awful lot like a basilisk, but is a perfect representation of a power for power's sake card. Card draw or a dead opposing creature, it is all good.
Lorescale Coatl: The deck has a solid amount of card draw, so this card can quickly become a house (did you get it? House? House Slytherin? No? Okay, i'll stop.).
Patagia Viper: Slytherin's house spawns a lot of powerful witches and wizards. This card shows that virility amazingly, and helps to make the small snake tribal sub-theme stick.
Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro: The deck has a handful of shamans and snakes alike, so her tribal aspects do get some use. Merope Gaunt deserves some notice as one of the main formative elements of Voldemorts existence. She failed as a mother, and created poor Tom Riddle by putting his Father under the effects of a love potion. It is said that one born under a love potion's coupling will not be able to love, and that loveless existence both Voldemort's greatest asset and greatest weakness.
Nemesis of Mortals: A great snake that can only be summoned by Slytherin's Heir. Tom Riddle summoned it first, cementing his place as a truly remorseless entity.
Seshiro the Anointed: Nothing better represents the serpentine Slytherin than a tribal snake leader.
Sultai Banner: Hogwarts is studded with tapestries that represent each of its houses, this one easily works for House Slytherin.
Voldemort's Spell Suite:
Hero's Downfall: There is no better kill spell to represent Avada Kadavra, the killing curse. In name and function alike, this is Avada Kadavra.
Grim Affliction: The cruciatus curse is surprisingly hard to match to a magic card. There are a few torture cards, but most of them are awful. Grim Affliction works as a card that harms a creature, but may not kill it, and brings some benefit to the one inflicting that harm.
Control Magic: The imperius curse forces the target to follow the users command. Control Magic is perfect for this, though both Ray of Command and Spinal Embrace work for how Voldemort most enjoys the imperius curse. Still, a permanent steal is preferred, for now.
Soul Manipulation: To make a horcrux you must kill another being, and stuff a part of your soul into an object. For as long as that horcrux survives unmolested you will not be able to truly die. No card better shows both parts of the process.
Villainous Wealth: When a wand is forced, after some conflict, to regurgitate in reverse order all of the spells it last cast. Voldemort lost this conflict in the book, but casting Villainous Wealth on your opponent is exactly how it would feel if Voldemort won.
Memory Plunder: Legilimancy is the art of working through an opponents mind, plundering their thoughts, and even being able to more or less "read" an individuals mind. Voldemort was a master of this, and Memory Plunder is a perfect representation.
Murderous Cut: Sectumsempra is a powerful form of severing charm that appears to inflict serious slashing damage to a target if enough will is put behind it. A favorite of Severus Snape, but presumptively a tool in Voldemort's arsenal.
Grave Pact: An unbreakable vow is a promise magically made, if a party breaks the vow than that person dies. A favorite way for Voldemort to enforce certain agreements.
Abrupt Decay: Reducto is a powerful curse that can destroy most objects.
Disdainful Stroke: Finite is a basic counterspell, though I imagine Voldemort only bothers if he can make a show of besting his opponents.
Spell Crumple: Finite Incantatem is the longer, and presumptively more powerful, form of the Finite counter spell.
Sultai Charm: Morsmordre summons the Dark Mark in the sky. It is cast when a Death Eater kills someone (and the kill spell will be the most common casting of this), but it can also incite panic (the kind of panic that can destroy particular places or objects), and either activity can benefit the caster (represented by card draw).
Putrefy: Deletrius is a particularly powerful destructive spell, best known for destroying most objects it is cast upon, but almost certainly capable of killing a human being as well.
Life's Finale: Fiendfyre destroys all in its path. Life's Finale really shows this all consumptive force, even dumping part of the oppositions mind (library) straight into the graveyard in the process.
Voldemorts Commands:
Each of these spells is representative of a Voldemort's power. His words carry great weight, individuals live or die on his whim.
Dictate of Erebos: You either join Voldemort, or you die.
Profane Command: Not even death can stop Voldemort, and he will gladly harness all the darkest powers he can.
Cryptic Command: To work against the Dark Lord is to guarantee failure.
Decree of Pain: Voldemort rarely takes prisoners, and is guaranteed to benefit from death... even the deaths of his allies.
Voldemort's Horcruxes:
Voidmage Prodigy: Voldemort unwittingly made Harry Potter into a Horcrux the day he failed to kill him. Harry Potter acts as a potent thorn in Voldemort's side, killing his following, but also all too often just acting as another pawn in Voldemort's plans.
Doomed Necromancer: Quirinus Quirrell acted as a temporary home for Voldemort's soul, but was in fact a Horcrux in this time period. Quirrell, however, was doomed to die the moment he offered to help the Dark Lord.
Mystic Snake: To survive Voldemort had to make a frail living entity into a Horcrux. Nagini served him faithfully, however, and was empowered by her magical existence as a Horcrux, proving surprisingly resilient to most forms of offensive magic.
Everflowing Chalice: Voldemort collected items from three of the four Hogwarts founders. He chose a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff.
Sol Ring: Marvolo Gaunt was Voldemorts maternal grandfather. Knowing he was a Gaunt solidified Voldemorts connection to the magical world, making this heirloom particularly important. So important, that he protected it with quite the lethal shriveling hex.
Grimoire of the Dead: Voldemort's first horcrux. He poured many of his thoughts into this journal, so it seemed only fitting that he put his soul into it. It exhibited the curious power to draw the life out of a living human being to try and revive elements of the young Tom Riddle.
Quicksilver Amulet: An amulet that belonged to Salazar Slytherin, if worn by an enemy it will work away their will and bring them to some harm. While worn by Harry Potter and his allies, they kept stumbling into Voldemort's minions.
Crown of Ascension: Ravenclaw's Diadem was renowned for its ability to clear the mind of its wearer, supposedly granting some intelligence. This is found mostly in the cards flavor text, though it does fit into the tribal themes of the deck.
The Deathly Hallows:
The items left to three brothers of myth by death itself. Each card is three mana, to further reflect this rule of threes.
Diviner's Wand: The Elder Wand was a truly powerful wand. It was well known to be fickle, changing hands from murderous wizard to murderous wizard.
Whispersilk Cloak: Nothing better represents the infamous Cloak of Invisibility. A fine tool to get in damage, and the easiest way to get to that 21 commander damage with Tasigur.
Mimic Vat: The Resurrection Stone revives a shadow of the deceased, but they are only that; a shadow. Mimic Vat, even if it is not a stone, is amazing at replicating the stones actual effect.
Tools of the Dark Lord:
Golgari Signet, Dimir Signet, and Simic Signet: These represent the three forms of currency in the Wizarding World, as Voldemort and his followers were quite wealthy. I prefer these over green ramp spells as Tasigur's ability can recur them and then they stay on the battlefield, rather than giving the opponents an "easy" choice of just feeding ramp spells to his ability time and again.
Commander's Sphere: The spherical prophecy is the subject of much of the conflict in The Order of the Phoenix, it seems only fitting that the card be given a representative.
Unspeakable Symbol: Voldemort marks all of his minions with his symbol, this card is perfect for this and feeds into the decks counter sub-theme.
Treasure Cruise: Finally, one of the dredge spells that helps clean up options for Tasigur's activated ability. Harry and Dumbledore had to cross and Inferi-filled lake in an attempt to get one of his Horcruxes. This did not end well for Voldemort's enemies, and your opponents won't be much happier when you resolve this.
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I recently picked it back up after a long hiatus, and just want to say thanks for the work you put into this deck! I'll carry on the legacy of it for awhile.
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Considering Dropping:
Doubling Season - For reasons above
Farseek - Lots of artifact ramp and also Nature's Lore and Skyshroud. This or Nature's Lore really. Not sure which.
Academy Ruins - Brings my land count to 39 (with Tabernacle and Maze) and just don't have too many wow artifacts which leads to my next two points
Crucible of Worlds - I'm very iffy about this, and the next one, but is this card really necessary? 10 fetchlands does give it an appeal, but I'm just not sure
Rings of Brighthearth - Another superfriends staple being cut? Trav_Ragnar has lost his mind! Yeah, I don't know. Maybe not. I'm just thinkign the deck might function better in a more streamlined fashion where I'm dropping walkers and gaining value, instead of trying to have explosive plays.
Chromatic Lantern - Helps ramp and fix, but I rarely find fixing to be an issue with the 10 fetches. I think I would honestly prefer Crucible of Worlds to this.
Treasured Find - Possibly. I always find myself enjoying the ability to "flashback" a Time Warp or get back my Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
Akroma's Vengeance - I rarely come across this card, to be honest. So it may be really good. Running Supreme Verdict and Austere Command, so it's a tough call.
Considering Adding:
Gideon of the Trials - This will be added one way or another.
Gideon Jura - Seems good with the other Gideon ultimate to have another Gideon to grab. Also, his minus effect works very well with the two Tamiyos and Ral Zarek. His abilities are fairly relevant, also.
Ajani Unyielding - Wanted to add him, then didn't. Still unsure because of his cost. But being able to occasionally Ancestral Recall on a plus is huge.
Jace, Unraveler of Secrets - Boring but value to be honest.
Garruk, Primal Hunter - Overall was a pretty good walker.
Jace, Architect of Thought - I don't remember if this Jace was useful at all. His minus seems alright, plus seems lacklaster but could be relevant, and ultimate is game winning.
Liliana of the Veil - Been back and forth on her for awhile now. Overall I'm pretty skeptical, but even 3-mana edict is not terrible.
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//Planeswalkers
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Gideon Jura
1 Jace Beleren
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
1 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter
1 Nissa, Vital Force
1 Narset Transcendent
1 Sarkhan Unbroken
1 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad
1 Dack Fayden
1 Ral Zarek
1 Vraska the Unseen
1 Ajani Vengeant
1 Karn Liberated
//Sorceries
1 Council's Judgment
1 Akroma's Vengeance
1 Terminus
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Capture of Jingzhou
1 Temporal Manipulation
1 Time Warp
1 Imperial Seal
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Jokulhaups
1 Regrowth
1 Farseek
1 Three Visits
1 Skyshroud Claim
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Vindicate
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Brainstorm
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Beast Within
1 Sphinx's Revelation
1 Utter End
//Enchantments
1 Humility
1 Moat
1 Oath of Jace
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 The Abyss
1 Sylvan Library
1 Doubling Season
1 Pernicious Deed
//Artifacts
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sol Ring
1 Torpor Orb
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Crucible of Worlds
//Lands
1 Tundra
1 Underground Sea
1 Badlands
1 Taiga
1 Savannah
1 Scrubland
1 Plateau
1 Volcanic Island
1 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Watery Grave
1 Stomping Ground
1 Temple Garden
1 Godless Shrine
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Steam Vents
1 Breeding Pool
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Windswept Heath
1 Marsh Flats
1 Arid Mesa
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Verdant Catacombs
1 City of Brass
1 Command Tower
1 Homeward Path
1 Kor Haven
1 Mana Confluence
1 Maze of Ith
1 Strip Mine
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
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Anyways, since I run (I don't know about you, but since they are decently cheap I would suggest it) Lethal Vapors and Humility I avoid creatures, plus it adds to the decks theme. Instead of running Silent Arbiter, check out Dueling Grounds. Same card, just an enchantment instead of an artifact creature. As for Mystic Barrier, it seems pretty good, something I have yet to consider! I'll look for a spot, because honestly it could be really, really good. It buys you time to find removal and then chose another player. I'm not quite sure what I would take out, but probably Akroma's Vengeance or Supreme Verdict.
I'm glad to have someone else adding discussion! Let me know if you have any other questions.