yea its generally cheap and easy but also in a balanced format the mono red deck should be the fastest deck. Its a strategic choice to say, "I'm going to play the fastest deck in the format and I'm going to win unless my opponent can slow me down significantly."
I used to run a Sasaya deck. It was super linear and after a while my playgroup no longer fell for the doing nothing for a few turns then ramping out something ridiculous and winning in one combat step. With that being said. Hydra Broodmaster was always the best thing to use all the mana for. [/card]Chord of calling[/card] and other creature to the battlefield tutors in green are good to have.
I think theres a huuuuge reason we didnt see Garruk in WAR. We're going to be seeing him soon and often after this set. Also the Phyrexians are ripe for reintroduction. Maybe a year or so away since we just did a huge artifact based set with Kaladesh. I could also see some story development around Aminatou.
Does this cycle of Bond cards hint at a 3 color future for Ravnica? I could see the next Ravnica story arc being a shard set based on the guilds that bonded in these cards. But then the second set, they split back into the original guilds due to power struggles for leadership within each newly bonded pair of guilds.
I also started with 99 mountain Ashling and built from there. Never put it down. Still my favorite EDH deck. I'm currently at close to 60 lands. Ive ran more spells but took a lot back out. I like to dump as much mana into Ashling as possible and only use mana otherwise for essential spells that increase how threatening Ashling is. I put pressure on players early with commander/combat damage from a large Ashling but always have mana open to threaten blowing up the board and doing a lot of damage to players if me or any of my essential permanents are targeted. I play very political. My build is currently more of a rattlesnake / voltron build than a controlling one. I try to finish the game with a big burn spell via comet storm or chandra's ignition.
I like the inclusion of Walking Ballista. Going to pick one up for my deck now. I would highly recommend extraplanar lens & heartstone for your build.
Garruk is into fighting planeswalkers. Garruk is from an unnamed plane. Garruk is not in WAR. Maro said along the lines of 'we have other plans for Garruk which is why he is not in WAR.' We might be going to wherever he is from or where he is currently. A set with lots of planeswalker hate after a planeswalker heavy set. Hmm...
Bolas doesn't die here. I think we will see Bolas around in some capacity until a member of Clan Umezawa finishes him off. If they kill off any of the Gatewatch, it's because they have created more likeable walkers thru market research to replace them.
- We would have hella mana rocks in play to sac to pull of the lose 10 life win-con part
- rip a big comet storm or exanguinate off the top of our library and pay lots of life to win (I think this works)
- its black future sight and has value during the game not just as a win con. Paired with divining top we can dig for removal or board wipes to rip of the top of our library paying life instead of mana.
Great explanations for why infect or Captive Audience aren't ideal. Makes sense. So with Sorin would it be more ideal to be looking to put the 1v1 opponent to 10 and burn or swing for the win or to control their turn and cast their spells into Kaervek triggers for the win?
praetor's grasp over Chaos Wand? What kind of spell would you be looking to hit with the wand?
Hey, glad you like the deck! Unfortunately, I think you misread Kaervek, though - he only counts enemy spells, so although I definitely hope my opponents cast spells like soul spike, it doesn't do me a lot of good to focus on high cmc spells. I wish, though, that'd make it way easier to abuse my commander.
Yea. I totally started thinking about Vial Smasher value cards. It was late at night.
Headgames - fill an opponents hand with answers that ultimately help you. I just personally love playing this in any black build
grafted exoskeleton - could be a viable win con. would limit your 1v1 opponents spell casting to 10 cmc tops. They have 10 cmc to answer it while you can also swing in with Kaervek. There's a decent voltron package here already. This may be how you get around life gain combos also.
runechanter's pike
I've used this in all of my commander-centered control decks (Talrand, Pheldagriff, Tasigur). Can usually turn any commander into a 2-3 turn clock
blazing shoal
helps speed up the clock if you gotta beat down with your commander for the win while also clearing out a blocker or goin to the dome
I like the inclusion of Walking Ballista. Going to pick one up for my deck now. I would highly recommend extraplanar lens & heartstone for your build.
What if the other planeswalkers dont stay out of his way? Every story has protagonist and antagonist walkers.
- We would have hella mana rocks in play to sac to pull of the lose 10 life win-con part
- rip a big comet storm or exanguinate off the top of our library and pay lots of life to win (I think this works)
- its black future sight and has value during the game not just as a win con. Paired with divining top we can dig for removal or board wipes to rip of the top of our library paying life instead of mana.
praetor's grasp over Chaos Wand? What kind of spell would you be looking to hit with the wand?
ps I love Avarice Totem & Soul Conduit in the new build
Yea. I totally started thinking about Vial Smasher value cards. It was late at night.
Captive Audience does look good here
Strionic Resonator - offering double triggers as a favor
Headgames - fill an opponents hand with answers that ultimately help you. I just personally love playing this in any black build
grafted exoskeleton - could be a viable win con. would limit your 1v1 opponents spell casting to 10 cmc tops. They have 10 cmc to answer it while you can also swing in with Kaervek. There's a decent voltron package here already. This may be how you get around life gain combos also.
edit. Somehow I mixed Kaervek's ability & Vial Smasher's together in my mind.
Some cards for consideration:
Evoke spells:
shriekmaw
ingot chewer
spitebellows
all cheap control pieces that can also do large chunks of damage
big damage value spells:
Flame Javelin
10 total damage for RRR
pyrokinesis
soul spike
10+ damage without paying any mana for each spell
runechanter's pike
I've used this in all of my commander-centered control decks (Talrand, Pheldagriff, Tasigur). Can usually turn any commander into a 2-3 turn clock
blazing shoalhelps speed up the clock if you gotta beat down with your commander for the win while also clearing out a blocker or goin to the dome
treasonous ogre
as ramp