I hear ya. I run Grave Pact like effects in my build because it turns the sacrifice outlets into free removal. Grave Betrayal pairs really well with those kind of cards. If I wasn't running the Grave Pact effects in the deck Grave Betrayal would get cut. I've looked at full boards, dictate or grave pact out, and just wrecked games by tapping out to play grave betrayal. Even if it gets removed the next turn I already stole as many creatures from players as I had sacs available. Pretty powerful under the right circumstances.
The whole deck curve is low enough that it supports it well as a end game bomb.
Ya I would never cut Flayer out of the deck. Imagine both out at the same time Played a game today where Living Death landed with a grave betrayal in play. Needless to say that was game over, such a fun deck!
Jeering instigator doesn't work because of the your turn clause. Which is too bad otherwise it'd be great. The thief sub theme works well when it has the versatility of being used as instant speed removal but usually isn't good enough otherwise. Treacherous urge on the other hand has been an all star as of late in my games
Hmm I guess I just don't see how Grim Haruspex is an attractive card for this deck. The obvious reason why I cast it is because I want to draw... but to draw I have to kill my own stuff... and I won't want to kill my own stuff unless I've already made sure they have a counter on them and Marchesa is on the battlefield. I'd rather run arena over him personally... At least arena is guaranteed card draw and it helps knock our life total down to activate Dethrone triggers.
Retribution of the Ancients won't be good in this deck. If we were running green then of course I'd consider it, but getting counters on our own guys is hard enough let alone expendable counters.
I have to agree with the proliferate sub theme. I think it is the only way this deck could have any real longevity as your creatures become severely overpowered by other late game plays. There are some hectic combos with throne of geth. It would give use to your artifact infect creatures after their low power makes them obsolete. A proliferate sub theme also allows for a pretty decent mana ramp package with cards like everflowing chalice. Heck a Contagion Engine with an Unwinding Clock will win games by the time its your turn again!
Faceless Butcher over Zealous Conscripts? With a sac outlet, Zealous Conscripts is essentially a more permanent version of the Butcher even without Marchesa, with the added benefit of being able to attack and steal noncreature permanents. That can also incidentally go infinite or permanently steal other creatures, while also having haste so that it can immediately get a counter from Marchesa. It only costs 1 more mana, and when you get 4 mana initially you're probably casting Marchesa anyways. The stipulation of needing a sac outlet isn't really even a downside, as a Marchesa deck wants to always have one out anyways.
I have to agree with this. With a sac outlet usually guaranteed, every steal spell can be thought of as a kill spell at the very least
So I was about to break down and buy Falkenrath Aristocrat when I found this little jewel Phyrexian Plaguelord. I know it does not create +1/+1 for it self but it can be used as sac engine and spot removal.
I considered the plaguelord for a long time in my original marchesa build and honestly just want sold on it. Seemed awfully expensive and in most edh scenarios you won't be able to kill real threats with it. Now if it made -1/-1 counters that'd be a different story! I'd love to know how it plays for you though. As for sac outlets I also run ashnod's altar which I know isn't ran in Drune's deck list
It's a kill spell with a sac outlet in play (plus the benefits of hitting someone else with their own creature), and it's permanent creature thievery with Marchesa out and a sac outlet in play.
And no Falkenrath Aristocrat? Is it the 4 mana cost that keeps you from running her? Its a free sac outlet that is nearly impossible to destroy with indestructible flying. At it's worse it deters flyers like a boss, and at it's best it can become a solid beater, Marchesa is a human after all!
One final suggestion. Helm of Possession with Marchesa can have some crazy interactions. Steal an opponents creature by sacing your own guy that will come back, get a +1/+1 counter on opponents creature, sac, and reuse helm.
I am running a majority of the decent creatures/spells that handle +1/+1 counters so they start out on the creature just in case I can't activate the dethrone. Grixis is very limited in this regard though. I am considering the possibility of running a group mill reanimate package. That way I am stealing creatures both from the battlefield and from the graveyard. I feel it is decently likely that at least one opponent will be running green and better creatures than I am. If I do run a mill package, I'd want it to be group mill so cards like traumatize are out of the question (I don't like just pissing one player off). Any thoughts on how to maybe best incorporate this?
I hadn't spent much time with Conspiracy. The other day I was drafting and came across this guy and immediately she made an impression. I realized right away, you can still creatures with her! And this whacky deck idea was formed. First the very very rough list.... made with stuff I had on hand.
So this is a creature control heavy deck. While kill spells work, the best way to deal with pesky creatures is thieve them with act of treason like effects, attack with the creature to activate dethrone, then sac it to gain permanent control. The goal of the deck is to pack some serious resiliance. Most of the utility creatures you'll notice, as you look over the list, are huge creatures (or have huge potential themselves) and will eventually swing through for the win one way or another. The deck came together just with what I had in my binder, so I know I have not seen nearly everything. I've listed a few cards I know would fit well with the deck in my wants list, but I would love suggestions! I will be play testing and posting results this weekend.
Vorinclex >> Worldspine Wurm: I know how good Vorinclex is, I just was tired of seeing it every time I play it. I'd switch it back in on days where I am feeling extremely must win competitive. Kalonian Hydra >> Hall of Gemstone: Just learned about this card. Awesome! Whispersilk Cloak >> Life's Legacy: Definitely my least favorite of the Omnath protection because it does not grant haste, even with the unblockable. Card draw is just too important not to include this wonderful card.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/sydri-artifact-animator-1/
The whole deck curve is low enough that it supports it well as a end game bomb.
Clever Impersonator will simply be good in any blue deck! Awesome card
Retribution of the Ancients won't be good in this deck. If we were running green then of course I'd consider it, but getting counters on our own guys is hard enough let alone expendable counters.
I have to agree with this. With a sac outlet usually guaranteed, every steal spell can be thought of as a kill spell at the very least
I considered the plaguelord for a long time in my original marchesa build and honestly just want sold on it. Seemed awfully expensive and in most edh scenarios you won't be able to kill real threats with it. Now if it made -1/-1 counters that'd be a different story! I'd love to know how it plays for you though. As for sac outlets I also run ashnod's altar which I know isn't ran in Drune's deck list
It's a kill spell with a sac outlet in play (plus the benefits of hitting someone else with their own creature), and it's permanent creature thievery with Marchesa out and a sac outlet in play.
And no Falkenrath Aristocrat? Is it the 4 mana cost that keeps you from running her? Its a free sac outlet that is nearly impossible to destroy with indestructible flying. At it's worse it deters flyers like a boss, and at it's best it can become a solid beater, Marchesa is a human after all!
Azami, Lady of Scrolls for card draw?
One final suggestion. Helm of Possession with Marchesa can have some crazy interactions. Steal an opponents creature by sacing your own guy that will come back, get a +1/+1 counter on opponents creature, sac, and reuse helm.
I am running a majority of the decent creatures/spells that handle +1/+1 counters so they start out on the creature just in case I can't activate the dethrone. Grixis is very limited in this regard though. I am considering the possibility of running a group mill reanimate package. That way I am stealing creatures both from the battlefield and from the graveyard. I feel it is decently likely that at least one opponent will be running green and better creatures than I am. If I do run a mill package, I'd want it to be group mill so cards like traumatize are out of the question (I don't like just pissing one player off). Any thoughts on how to maybe best incorporate this?
I hadn't spent much time with Conspiracy. The other day I was drafting and came across this guy and immediately she made an impression. I realized right away, you can still creatures with her! And this whacky deck idea was formed. First the very very rough list.... made with stuff I had on hand.
7 Butcher of Malakir
6 Deathbringer Thoctar
2 Devour in Shadow
5 Fumarole
5 Drakestown Forgotten
3 Fire Covenant
4 Snuff Out
3 Wall of Blood
4 Grave Pact
5 Dictate of Erebos
3 Attrition
3 Grixis Charm
3 Dark Impostor
2 Go for the Throat
2 Terminate
Card Draw/Tutors
3 Phyrexian Arena
3 Sage of Fables
2 Diabolic Intent
3 Beseech the Queen
4 Greed
4 Academy Elite
7 Rune-Scarred Demon
5 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
6 Sphinx of Magosi
4 Diabolic Tutor
4 Notion Thief
4 Dimir House Guard
6 Flayer of the Hatebound
7 Grave Betrayal
6 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
3 Geralf's Messenger
3 Unspeakable Symbol
Sac Outlets
3 Ashnod's Altar
1 Carrion Feeder
5 Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
4 Falkenrath Aristocrat
3 Phyrexian Altar
3 Bloodflow Connoiseur
2 Goblin Bombardment
Creature Thievery
5 Mass Mutiny
6 Spinal Embrace
4 Ray of Commmand
4 Thalakos Deceiver
4 Grab the Reins
4 Helm of Possession
5 Act of Aggression
5 Treacherous Urge
6 Hellkite Tyrant
4 Hound of Griselbrand
4 Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch
6 Chaos Imps
Mana Ramp
4 Treasonous Ogre
2 Izzet Signet
2 Rakdos Signet
2 Coldsteel Heart
3 Coalition Relic
2 Dimir Signet
3 Dimir Cluestone
3 Dimir Keyrune
1 Sol Ring
3 Rakdos Cluestone
Lands
38 Lands
So this is a creature control heavy deck. While kill spells work, the best way to deal with pesky creatures is thieve them with act of treason like effects, attack with the creature to activate dethrone, then sac it to gain permanent control. The goal of the deck is to pack some serious resiliance. Most of the utility creatures you'll notice, as you look over the list, are huge creatures (or have huge potential themselves) and will eventually swing through for the win one way or another. The deck came together just with what I had in my binder, so I know I have not seen nearly everything. I've listed a few cards I know would fit well with the deck in my wants list, but I would love suggestions! I will be play testing and posting results this weekend.
Vorinclex >> Worldspine Wurm: I know how good Vorinclex is, I just was tired of seeing it every time I play it. I'd switch it back in on days where I am feeling extremely must win competitive.
Kalonian Hydra >> Hall of Gemstone: Just learned about this card. Awesome!
Whispersilk Cloak >> Life's Legacy: Definitely my least favorite of the Omnath protection because it does not grant haste, even with the unblockable. Card draw is just too important not to include this wonderful card.