Magic the Gathering X: Deal X damage to target thread.

[BladeofOblivion]

You realize they banned the pieces to CawBlade, right?

It's still possible, just unreliable.

After all, Squadron Hawk and the swords are still legal.

[ZombyWoof]

You realize they banned the pieces to CawBlade, right?

Yes and those two pieces were the only reason blue and white have ever been a good combination!

U/W doesn't still have amazing tools like Mirran Crusader or Mana Leak, nor does it have finishers like Consecrated Sphinx or Sun Titan, and it definitely doesn't have the Gid Father who is probably the best planeswalker in the game now that BigJ is gone

(P.S. Batterskull? Still an amazing card. If you'd like we can test your monoblack vs my UW Aggro/control)

[Penguinizer]

Batterskull and the swords are still good. It's just that stoneforge mystic meant you could run 1 and have 5 virtual copies of each.

UW is still decent, but not as dominating.

[Suedars]

(P.S. Batterskull? Still an amazing card. If you'd like we can test your monoblack vs my UW Aggro/control)

Why would I ever play MBC? The deck is bad, and people only bring out the "Mono-Black Control is coming back this time" with every new set because they don't understand how decks have fundamentally changed since Onslaught. Plus running control in a fresh format is never a good idea.

Batterskull and the swords are still good. It's just that stoneforge mystic meant you could run 1 and have 5 virtual copies of each.

UW is still decent, but not as dominating.

Batterskull is still ok, but having to hardcast it really hurts it. The swords get a lot worse in any deck that doesn't want multiples (like UW) but are still fine in agro.

[Eon]

...

A 10 minute attempt at a Red/Black control deck...

Bad idea...


Next time... don't go through a small portion of cards to make a deck.

[tgva8889]

Last I checked 4/4 Lifelinking Vigilant creatures that, after dying, could either be added to another creature or simply re-bought weren't bad. Expensive, but not at all bad. Batterskull is still quite a house against the aggro decks. It's just not as "Hey look you absolutely positively must answer me or lose" as it was when Stoneforge was legal.

I'm not sure of current Standard. Valakut and ExarchTwin are certain, and I assume there will be a Red Deck and Vampires. Beyond those, I would venture a guess at some form of mono-White aggro deck (whether it be Tempered Steel or Soul Sisters or some other deck), something involving Fauna Shaman and Vengevine, and then someone will try to play a control deck, probably with Black (Consume the Meek, discard spells, and the best single-target removal; Also Grave Titan). Elves is also still viable. There's also various forms of Infect.

[Suedars]

The problem with Batterskull now is that it used to single-handedly give you a game plan against agro. Before agro decks had to kill a turn 2 mystic, because if they let you untap and vial out your Batterskull, they'd just lose. Just by being in your deck it'd preserve your life total, slow them from developing their board, and force them into mulligans.

But now that there isn't the threat of vialing it out, they can often just bury you before you get it out. Vampires can actually play a turn 2 guy, and is much more threatening because of it.

It's still fine, but it's no longer a miracle card that takes a mere 2 slots of your 75 to make you competitive vs. agro, letting you run 73 cards devoted to beating the mirror.

[tgva8889]

The problem with Batterskull now is that it used to single-handedly give you a game plan against agro. Before agro decks had to kill a turn 2 mystic, because if they let you untap and vial out your Batterskull, they'd just lose. Just by being in your deck it'd preserve your life total, slow them from developing their board, and force them into mulligans.

But now that there isn't the threat of vialing it out, they can often just bury you before you get it out. Vampires can actually play a turn 2 guy, and is much more threatening because of it.

It's still fine, but it's no longer a miracle card that takes a mere 2 slots of your 75 to make you competitive vs. agro, letting you run 73 cards devoted to beating the mirror.

Well, since there isn't much of a "mirror" anymore, that isn't as much of a deal, is it?

[Suedars]

No, but it still means you have less room to devote to beating whatever non agro decks will be played.

[tgva8889]

No, but it still means you have less room to devote to beating whatever non agro decks will be played.

Unless the rest of your deck happens to be good against said non-aggro decks. There's enough cards that are fine against many decks, and despite not being amazing Batterskull is a fine top-of-the-curve against many of those decks.

You are correct, it's no miracle card. Because the miracle card was always Stoneforge Mystic. Batterskull just gave it another tool in the shed. Sort of like how Blightsteel Colossus was just a better choice for Tinker.

[Lhurgyof]

Okedoke, I have a few EDH decks I made to put up.

These are currently needing a couple cards here or there, but work pretty good as-is.


Naughty Necromancy

Spoiler

Show

General: Lim-Dûl the Necromancer

Creatures
Zombie Master
Lord of the Undead
Cemetary Reaper
Gravespawn Sovereign
Ghastly Remains
Deathmark Prelate
Gristle Grinner
Soulless One
Stromgald CrusaderNoxious Ghoul
Corpse Harvester
Zombie TrailblazerTresserhorn SkyknightEscaped Null
Carnophage
Gutless Ghoul
Deathgreeter
Severed Legion
Bog Raiders
Twisted AbominationGravedigger
Deathspore ThallidFestering GoblinShepherd of RotCorpulent Corpse
Dross Prowler
Gempalm Polluter
Organ Grinder

Other Spells
Last Laugh
Pestilence
No Rest for the WickedHissing MiasmaNecromantic ThirstEnfeeblement
Shade's Form
Binding Agony
Tortured Existence

Barter in Blood
Rise from the GraveSever Soul
Smallpox
Deathmark
Premature Burial
PhthisisBrain Pry
Hand of Death
Sign in Blood
Duress
Stir the Grave
Disentomb
Call to the NetherworldRaise Dead
Consume Spirit
Mind Rot
Shrivel
Devour in Shadow
Terror
Cruel Revival
Burnt Offering
Chill to the Bone
Grim Harvest
Dark Banishing
Doom BladeStabbing Pain
Horobi's Whisper
Rend Flesh

Lands
Swamp x 32

The strategy here is to kill your enemies bigguns (and their generals!) for raising by Lim-Dûl. There's not much else, remove big threats, get zombies out to help bash your opponent in. Suicidal play is made fun with many spells to return your zombies from the grave... again.

And now it's 2 a.m., so I'll put my other two decks, Swiss Army Knife and Scrapyard Scavenge up later. :) If you want to put this deck up on the front page, feel free.

[tgva8889]

Immediate suggestion: Sort better. Check my post earlier in this thread where I resorted someone's list of cards for their EDH deck. It's totally useless to sort by card type, because cards of the same type all do different things. That'll really help you look at your deck and see if you need more cards in a certain section.

Cannot stress this enough for those of you with EDH decks.

[Lhurgyof]

Cannot stress this enough for those of you with EDH decks.

What post are we talking about?

I have my deck sorted by Card type and rarity, currently. (Mostly because that's how I've always sorted my decks)

[tgva8889]

This post is the one. There are also several posts earlier on in this thread you may be able to learn from where we were discussing Commander.

Also, my Commander decks just showed up! Awesome! I'm gonna take them for a spin sometime.

[Lhurgyof]

This post is the one. There are also several posts earlier on in this thread you may be able to learn from where we were discussing Commander.

Also, my Commander decks just showed up! Awesome! I'm gonna take them for a spin sometime.

Hot diggity damn.

Well, that is a venture for tomorrow/later in the week.

[IthilanorStPete]

tgva, that advice on sorting is really helpful. Could you possibly collect it, generalize it, and put it in the OP so we have it for reference?

[tgva8889]

tgva, that advice on sorting is really helpful. Could you possibly collect it, generalize it, and put it in the OP so we have it for reference?

Indeed. I'll write a little something in the OP (it's not Commander or Highlander-specific advice) and put that up tomorrow or Thursday (I may possibly be busy tomorrow and am going to go sleep now).

[Penguinizer]

I'm annoyed. I'm building a commander deck but have a quandary. I'm way over my 100 cards. I'm at 137 or so to be precise.

Here's the list of cards so far, could someone help me trim it down?

Spoiler

Show

General: Mimeoplasm

Lands:
5x Forest
4x Island
4x Swamp
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Wooded Foothills
Windswept Heath
Verdant Catacombs
Misty Rainforest
Jwar Isle Refuge
Llanowar Wastes
Overgrown Tomb
Temple of the False God
Rupture Spire
Command Tower
Bojuka Bog
Barren Moor
Lonely Sandbar
Tranquil Thicket
Tectonic Edge
Wasteland
Stripmine
Dustbowl
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Vesuva
Yavimaya Hollow
Mystifying Maze
Creeping Tarpit
Svogthos, the Restless Tomb
Mishra's Factory
Treetop Village

NOTE: I know the vivid lands are missing. I have no idea where mine went. Adding them once I reacquire some. UB and UG shocklands along with the UB fetchland will be added later.

Mana ramp:
Sol Ring
Thran Dynamo
Simic Signet
Dimir Signet
Golgari signet
Crucible of Worlds
Wall of Roots
Coalition Relic
Everflowing Chalice
Joraga Treespeaker
Birds of Paradise
Sylvan Ranger
Solemn Simulacrum
Khalni Heart Expedition
Reap and Sow
Expedition Map
Krosan Tusker
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Yavimaya Elder
Kodama's Reach
Cultivate


Mass removal:
Decree of Pain
Grave Pact
Butcher of Malakir
Damnation
Black Sun's Zenith
Oblivion Stone

Targeted creature removal:
Capsize
Avatar of Woe
Master of the Wild Hunt
Shriekmaw
Skinrender

Targeted permanent removal/genera hate cards:
Woodfall Primus
Acidic Slime
Mold Shambler
Maelstrom Pulse
Indrick Stomphowler
Wickerbough Elder
Krosan Grip
Relic of Progenitus

Planeswalker:
Garruk Wildspeaker

Reliability improving cards/tutors:
Sensei's Divining Top
Sylvan Library
Crystal Ball
Fauna Shaman
Trinket Mage
Demonic Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Worldly Tutor
Birthing Pod
Primal Command.
Buried Alive

NOTE: Survival of the Fittest is a card I'll add at some point.

General recursion:
Mimic Vat
Living Death
Stitch Together
Necromancy
Animate Dead
Artisan of Kozilek
Tortured Existence
Regrowth
Eternal Witness

Tokenspawners:
Worm Harvest
Bitterblossom

Creatures for the sake of creatures:
Rampaging Baloths
Wurmcoil Engine
Spiritmonger
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Inkwell Leviathan
Sundering Titan
Wrexial, the Risen Deep
Vulturous Zombie
Wonder
Vampire Nighthawk
Thrun, the Last Troll
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave

Equipment:
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Skullclamp
Umezawa's Jitte
Lightning Greaves
Bonehoard

Card Advantage:
Damia, Sage of Stone
Masked Admirers
Sphinx of Lost Truths
Windfall
Mulldrifter
Life from the Loam
Fact or Fiction
Phyrexian Arena

The combo:
Necrotic Ooze
Phyrexian Devourer
Triskelion

I have a lot of things and no idea what to cut out.

[Silviya]

Wow, guys. Alpha Beta Unlimited is selling Jace for $38.00. I remember when it was next to impossible to find a place selling Jace for under $90.00.


@Penguinizer: 137 cards is nothing . I've had EDH decks that had up to 126 non land cards before I went through the agonizing process of cutting them down to 60 non land cards.
The main advice I have for cutting the deck down is to leave it alone for a day and then come back to it, and then you'll maybe be able to cut around five cards. Then leave it alone for another day, come back again, cut some cards, etc. That's my process for cutting EDH decks.
I don't have time to look over your deck right now, but I'll try to find the time help you out some tomorrow.

[Suedars]

Following the 7x9 rule explained here: http://www.quietspeculation.com/2011...etro-depauper/ is a good way to build an EDH deck. Basically you pick 9 things you want your deck to do (such as ramp, removal, combo, etc.) and devote 7 cards to each of those, which is the equivalent of 4 cards in a 60 card deck. You can obviously mess with the numbers a little, like running 6 of one and 8 of another, or devoting two sections of 9 to one important thing, but it's a very useful framework for building the deck.

[Silviya]

Following the 7x9 rule explained here: http://www.quietspeculation.com/2011...etro-depauper/ is a good way to build an EDH deck. Basically you pick 9 things you want your deck to do (such as ramp, removal, combo, etc.) and devote 7 cards to each of those, which is the equivalent of 4 cards in a 60 card deck. You can obviously mess with the numbers a little, like running 6 of one and 8 of another, or devoting two sections of 9 to one important thing, but it's a very useful framework for building the deck.

Huh, that's interesting. I may have to try that for my next EDH deck.

[tgva8889]

Alright, can't sleep so I'll write up the sorting thing later.

@Penguinizer: Some of my comments.

21 Mana-related cards is a lot, especially with 41 lands. While I'm as much a fan of having a billion mana as anyone, unfortunately the General you've chosen (The Mimeoplasm) is actually not useful if he's the only card you can play, which means having over 50% of your deck tap for or find mana isn't amazing. Immediately, the Signets stand out to me. Signets are the weakest form of mana acceleration because they're weak to just getting randomly blown up by Nevinyrral's Disk, Oblivion Stone, and similar effects. Khalni Heart Expedition seems more "cute" than good to me: I'd rather just have Explosive Vegetation or Skyshroud claim as a surefire "I get 2 lands" rather than having to have my fetchlands.

Master of the Wild Hunt is a pretty slow "removal" card. Garruk is another Mana Accelerator most of the time, I'd think. Unless you plan to use him for Beast tokens more often (which seems unlikely). Rampaging Baloths is more there for the tokens than it is for the body, it looks like.

Your deck has very few sacrifice outlets. Don't know if that bothers you at all. Sure makes Butcher of Malakir and Grave Pact a lot less broken, though. I'm not sure your deck actually has any sacrifice outlets at all.

Token creation seems absolutely useless to this deck. While Rampaging Baloths is at least high-powered, Bitterblossom and Worm Harvest don't seem absolutely amazing or even necessary in this deck. Do you really want them that badly?

Cards that are just creatures are pretty weak in my opinion. Thrun, the Last Troll, Skullbriar, and Spiritmonger don't really do it for me. Vulturous Zombie also. Just a personal preference, but I'm not a fan for guys that are just there to be relatively big. You also probably don't want your mana tied up regenerating all that much, though I guess you might be able to regenerate off a bad Wrath effect every so often. Also, The Mimeoplasm and Skullbriar is not a combo if that's what you were thinking.

Not a fan of Windfall, but only because there are plenty of more one-sided options if you want to just draw a bunch of cards. Not a fan of Stitch Together as there are better choices in my opinion and I seem to always have trouble hitting Threshold. You don't have sacrifice outlets, so you may have some issue as well.

Do you need the equipment? I understand they're good, but they're not that good (Jitte isn't as good in this format as in others, for example). I don't really know what your deck is trying to do specifically, but if it's The Combo, some of your equipment don't really help you pull that off at all.

I'm not a fan of The Combo, but if that's the purpose of your deck you may want to drop some of the random cute stuff that is never going to help you get there (Inkwell Leviathan). Two of the parts of it are just fine, one of them (Phyrexian Devourer) is kinda... not that good. You also don't have that many ways to just put a card in the graveyard right now (I count 5 including Fact or Fiction)

Crystal Ball seems totally unnecessary. You're playing Blue. There are way, way better choices.

Just a note, there's another cycle of cycling lands you could play. If you're going to go that route.

Edit: Adding short write-up on sorting.

Edit2: Does anyone have objections to me removing their deck from the first post? As this is the Summer of Commander, I figured that I may as well make it a showcase for our Community's Commander decks instead. People do enjoy showing those off.

[Penguinizer]

Here's version 2 of the deck. The manabase will be completely overhauled when I get the relevant lands. I'll also try to get some more ways to get folks into the grave. Survival of the Fittest and Entomb pop to mind.

Also, to clarify, the plan of the deck is to build around to combo without going all-in. I still intend to be able to play normally without it.

Spoiler

Show

General: Mimeoplasm

Lands:
4x Forest
4x Island
3x Swamp
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Wooded Foothills
Windswept Heath
Verdant Catacombs
Misty Rainforest
Jwar Isle Refuge
Llanowar Wastes
Overgrown Tomb
Temple of the False God
Rupture Spire
Command Tower
Bojuka Bog
Barren Moor
Lonely Sandbar
Tranquil Thicket
Tectonic Edge
Wasteland
Stripmine
Dustbowl
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Vesuva
Yavimaya Hollow
Mystifying Maze
Creeping Tarpit
Mishra's Factory
Treetop Village

NOTE: I know the vivid lands are missing. I have no idea where mine went. Adding them once I reacquire some. UB and UG shocklands along with the UB fetchland will be added later.

Mana ramp:
Sol Ring
Thran Dynamo
Crucible of Worlds
Coalition Relic
Birds of Paradise
Solemn Simulacrum
Krosan Tusker
Yavimaya Elder
Kodama's Reach

Mass removal:
Decree of Pain
Damnation
Black Sun's Zenith
Oblivion Stone

Targeted creature removal:
Capsize
Avatar of Woe
Shriekmaw

Targeted permanent removal/genera hate cards:
Woodfall Primus
Acidic Slime
Mold Shambler
Maelstrom Pulse
Indrick Stomphowler
Wickerbough Elder
Krosan Grip
Relic of Progenitus

Planeswalker:
Garruk Wildspeaker

Reliability improving cards/tutors:
Sensei's Divining Top
Sylvan Library
Fauna Shaman
Trinket Mage
Demonic Tutor
Mystical Tutor
Vampiric Tutor
Worldly Tutor
Birthing Pod
Primal Command.
Buried Alive

NOTE: Survival of the Fittest is a card I'll add at some point.

General recursion:
Mimic Vat
Living Death
Necromancy
Animate Dead
Artisan of Kozilek
Tortured Existence
Regrowth
Eternal Witness

Tokenspawners:
Worm Harvest

Creatures for the sake of creatures:
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Sundering Titan
Wrexial, the Risen Deep
Wonder

Equipment:
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Lightning Greaves

Card Advantage:
Damia, Sage of Stone
Masked Admirers
Sphinx of Lost Truths
Mulldrifter
Life from the Loam
Fact or Fiction
Phyrexian Arena

The combo:
Necrotic Ooze
Phyrexian Devourer
Triskelion

[Lhurgyof]

Okay, so I sorted 'er up and heres what we've got.

Naughty Necromancy

Spoiler

Show

General: Lim-Dûl the Necromancer

Zombie Boosters
Zombie Master
Lord of the Undead
Cemetary Reaper
Zombie Trailblazer

The More, The Merrier
Gravespawn Sovereign
Ghastly Remains
Soulless One
Shepherd of Rot
Gempalm Polluter
Noxious Ghoul


Sacrafizzle
Deathmark Prelate
Corpse Harvester
Gutless Ghoul
Deathgreeter
Deathspore Thallid
Organ Grinder

Heavy Hitters and General Fodder
Gristle Grinner
Stromgald Crusader
Tresserhorn SkyknightEscaped Null
Carnophage
Severed Legion
Bog Raiders
Twisted AbominationGravedigger
Festering Goblin
Corpulent Corpse
Dross Prowler

Guess who's back...
No Rest for the Wicked
Shade's Form
Necromantic Thirst
Tortured Existence
Rise from the Grave
Stir the Grave
Disentomb
Call to the Netherworld
Raise Dead
Grim Harvest

Drawing and Discarding is fun!
Brain Pry
Duress

Death From Below
Last Laugh
Pestilence
Hissing Miasma
Enfeeblement
Binding Agony
Barter in Blood
Sever Soul
Smallpox
Deathmark
Premature Burial
Phthisis
Hand of Death
Sign in Blood
Consume Spirit
Mind Rot
Devour in Shadow
Terror
Cruel Revival
Burnt Offering
Chill to the Bone
Dark Banishing
Doom BladeStabbing Pain
Horobi's Whisper
Rend Flesh

Lands
Swamp x 32

The strategy here is to kill your enemies bigguns (and their generals!) for raising by Lim-Dûl. There's not much else, remove big threats, get zombies out to help bash your opponent in. Suicidal play is made fun with many spells to return your zombies from the grave... again.

Okay, how's that? :)

[Androgeus]

seeing as everyone else is putting their commander decks up, I may as well put mine up for perusal. It's nothing awesome but the few times I've played it I've had fun.

Intent to Intet

Spoiler

Show

General -
Intet, The Dreamer

Ramp - 15
Borderland Ranger
Coalition Relic
Cultivate
Everflowing Chalice
Expedition Map
Gruul Signet
Harrow
Horizon Spellbomb
Khalni Gem
Kodama's Reach
Pristine Talisman
Rampant Growth
Simic Signet
Sylvan Ranger
Yavimaya Elder

Card Draw/Library Manipulation - 12
Augury Owl
Brainstorm
Crystal Ball
Foresee
Guided Passage
Jace's Ingenuity
Mystic Speculation
Ponder
Preordain
Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Sylvan Library
Wordly Tutor

"Removal"- 8
Acidic Slime
Mold Shambler
Naturalize
Nature's Claim
Pyroclasm
Shatter
Sleep
Steel Hellkite

Big Creatures- 10
Artisan of Kozilek
Blightsteel Colossus
Duskdale wurm
Gaea's Revenge
Lorthos, The Tidemaker
Mitotic Slime
Pathrazer of Ulamog
Pelakka Wurm
Rorix Bladewing
Stormtide Leviathan

Evasion - 2
Bellowing Tanglewurm
Wonder

Mind Control - 4
Insurrection
Mind Control
Roil Elemental
Volition Reins

Creature copy - 2
Clone
Rite of Replication

Extra combat step - 2
Hellkite Charger
World at War

Other Big spells - 3
Knowledge Exploitation
Overrun
Summoning Trap

Equipment - 2
Lightning Greaves
Whispersilk Cloak

misc - 6
Bear Umbra
Elixir of Immortality
Garruk Wildspeaker
Leyline of Anticipation
Nature's spiral

Land - 34
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Rupture Spire
Kazandu Refuge
Shivan Oasis
Simic Growth Chamber
7x Forest
Khalni Garden
Turntimber Grove
9x Island
Halimar Depths
8x Mountain

[IthilanorStPete]

Question: why did none of the Tempered Steel decks in Nagoya play Porcelain Legionnaire? It seems like it'd be plenty efficient enough to be played.

[Chen]

Okay, so I sorted 'er up and heres what we've got.

Naughty Necromancy

Spoiler

Show

General: Lim-Dûl the Necromancer

Zombie Boosters
Zombie Master
Lord of the Undead
Cemetary Reaper
Zombie Trailblazer

The More, The Merrier
Gravespawn Sovereign
Ghastly Remains
Soulless One
Shepherd of Rot
Gempalm Polluter
Noxious Ghoul


Sacrafizzle
Deathmark Prelate
Corpse Harvester
Gutless Ghoul
Deathgreeter
Deathspore Thallid
Organ Grinder

Heavy Hitters and General Fodder
Gristle Grinner
Stromgald Crusader
Tresserhorn SkyknightEscaped Null
Carnophage
Severed Legion
Bog Raiders
Twisted AbominationGravedigger
Festering Goblin
Corpulent Corpse
Dross Prowler

Guess who's back...
No Rest for the Wicked
Shade's Form
Necromantic Thirst
Tortured Existence
Rise from the Grave
Stir the Grave
Disentomb
Call to the Netherworld
Raise Dead
Grim Harvest

Drawing and Discarding is fun!
Brain Pry
Duress

Death From Below
Last Laugh
Pestilence
Hissing Miasma
Enfeeblement
Binding Agony
Barter in Blood
Sever Soul
Smallpox
Deathmark
Premature Burial
Phthisis
Hand of Death
Sign in Blood
Consume Spirit
Mind Rot
Devour in Shadow
Terror
Cruel Revival
Burnt Offering
Chill to the Bone
Dark Banishing
Doom BladeStabbing Pain
Horobi's Whisper
Rend Flesh

Lands
Swamp x 32

The strategy here is to kill your enemies bigguns (and their generals!) for raising by Lim-Dûl. There's not much else, remove big threats, get zombies out to help bash your opponent in. Suicidal play is made fun with many spells to return your zombies from the grave... again.

Okay, how's that? :)

Very light on land and no ramp. That's probably not going to work well. I'd run at least 38 lands if you're not going to have any mana artifacts. I'd also run some better utility lands like Bojuka Bog, Cabal Coffers, Strip Mine, Wasteland and a maze or two (Mystifying is cheap, Maze of Ith if you have it is better). Utility artifacts could be useful too. There are some staples that fit most decks like Sensei's Divining Top and Sol Ring. This deck looks like it would be very very inconsistent since I don't really see much card draw/manipulation/tutoring. For a black deck there are definitely staples missing such as Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor, Necropotence etc. I personally like Beseech the Queen as another tutor which works very well.

If you're playing multiplayer Exsanguinate can be nice. In terms of bringing things back from the grave you're missing Patriarch's bidding which works great for a zombie theme. Living Death is very nice too as a way to clear a cluttered board and put a lot of your creatures into play. You need some way to deal with artifacts and enchantments so Oblivion stone or Nev's Disk would probably be worth including. Maybe a Lux Cannon or Spine of Ish Sah would be good too.

I'd also consider the planeswalkers. Sorin Markov is very strong and Liliana can be useful if for nothing else but her tutor effect. Karn of course would be great to shore up mono-black's weakness against non-creature permanents too.

seeing as everyone else is putting their commander decks up, I may as well put mine up for perusal. It's nothing awesome but the few times I've played it I've had fun.

Intent to Intet

Spoiler

Show

General -
Intet, The Dreamer

Ramp - 15
Borderland Ranger
Coalition Relic
Cultivate
Everflowing Chalice
Expedition Map
Gruul Signet
Harrow
Horizon Spellbomb
Khalni Gem
Kodama's Reach
Pristine Talisman
Rampant Growth
Simic Signet
Sylvan Ranger
Yavimaya Elder

Card Draw/Library Manipulation - 12
Augury Owl
Brainstorm
Crystal Ball
Foresee
Guided Passage
Jace's Ingenuity
Mystic Speculation
Ponder
Preordain
Sphinx of Jwar Isle
Sylvan Library
Wordly Tutor

"Removal"- 8
Acidic Slime
Mold Shambler
Naturalize
Nature's Claim
Pyroclasm
Shatter
Sleep
Steel Hellkite

Big Creatures- 10
Artisan of Kozilek
Blightsteel Colossus
Duskdale wurm
Gaea's Revenge
Lorthos, The Tidemaker
Mitotic Slime
Pathrazer of Ulamog
Pelakka Wurm
Rorix Bladewing
Stormtide Leviathan

Evasion - 2
Bellowing Tanglewurm
Wonder

Mind Control - 4
Insurrection
Mind Control
Roil Elemental
Volition Reins

Creature copy - 2
Clone
Rite of Replication

Extra combat step - 2
Hellkite Charger
World at War

Other Big spells - 3
Knowledge Exploitation
Overrun
Summoning Trap

Equipment - 2
Lightning Greaves
Whispersilk Cloak

misc - 6
Bear Umbra
Elixir of Immortality
Garruk Wildspeaker
Leyline of Anticipation
Nature's spiral

Land - 34
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Rupture Spire
Kazandu Refuge
Shivan Oasis
Simic Growth Chamber
7x Forest
Khalni Garden
Turntimber Grove
9x Island
Halimar Depths
8x Mountain

There are some cards here that seem strictly worse than others you could be using. Clone vs Phyrexian Metamorph for example. Or Mind Control instead of Control Magic (1 mana less) or even better Treachery (untap 5 lands when it comes into play). Also in terms of stealing things Memnarch is fantastic, though a bit blue heavy to use his ability multiple times. Still people MUST have an answer to him when he comes down or you're going to win.

I don't see Fact or Fiction in there which is one of the best blue card draw spell available in EDH. I'd consider Krosan Grip over some of your other artifact/enchantment removal. Its 1 more mana than naturalize but it can't be reacted to which is extremely strong. I also don't see many utility lands here. I'd recommend the usual Wasteland, Strip mine and mazes (Mystifying and/or Maze of Ith). As blue you can run Academy Ruins which is very strong. Minamo, School at the Water's Edge is very nice as well for blue. You have a fair bit of ramp but I'd still not be comfortable with only 34 land. With all the ramp you're running I think 36 is probably more appropriate.

[ZombyWoof]

Why would I ever play MBC? The deck is bad, and people only bring out the "Mono-Black Control is coming back this time" with every new set because they don't understand how decks have fundamentally changed since Onslaught. Plus running control in a fresh format is never a good idea.

It also houses Vamps pretty well. "Kelestria Highborn? Please report to the RFG pile."

Batterskull is still ok, but having to hardcast it really hurts it. The swords get a lot worse in any deck that doesn't want multiples (like UW) but are still fine in agro.

Batterskull is really good 4/4 Vigilance Lifelink for 5 is solid. 4/4 Vigilance Lifelink for 5 with a bounce clause is really good. 4/4 Vigilance Lifelink for 5 that is functionally immune to Wrath effects and can be attached to a flier for sweet beats is... insane.

I'd say that the only deck it doesn't hose is ExarchTwin, but then I remember to sticking it on that Inkmoth Nexus via Puresteel Paladin and swinging for 5 lifelink infect in the air.

[RetSpline]

I finally managed to find a Heavenly Inferno in my area. Apparently there were pretty big shortages around me, my FLGS didn't even get any of the commander decks, and isn't getting any until July 9th. So anyways, I tore apart my pre-existing Oros deck (I was on the wedge band-wagon long ago) and made some changes...

Spoiler

Show

General: Oros, the Avenger

Lands:
Command Tower
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Ghost Quarter
Boros Garrison
Naya Panorama
Ancient Amphitheater
6x Mountain
Molten Slagheap
Rakdos Carnarium
Dragonskull Summit
Jund Panorama
Auntie's Hovel
Blackcleave Cliffs
2x Swamp
Bojuka Bog
Orzhov Basilica
Kabira Crossroads
6x Plains

Mana Artifacts
Orzhov Signet
Boros Signet
Rakdos Signet
Khalni Gem
Armillary Sphere
Expedition Map
Prophetic Prism

Card Draw/Tutors:
Secluded Steppe
Barren Moor
Forgotten Cave
Crystal Ball
Hoarding Dragon
Sarkhan the Mad
Dark Tutelage
Phyrexian Arena
Liliana Vess
Diabolic Tutor
Praetor's Grasp

Recursion:
Tariel, Reckoner of Souls
Artisan of Kozilek
Bladewing the Risen
Rise from the Grave
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Marshal's Anthem
Sun Titan

Mass Removal:
Akroma's Vengeance
Chain Reaction
Comet Storm
Earthquake
Phyrexian Rebirth

Life Gain:
Tainted Sigil
Exsanguinate
Baneslayer Angel
True Conviction
Archon of Redemption

Single Removal:
Duergar Hedge-Mage
Orim's Thunder
Angel of Despair
Mortify
Din of the Fireherd
Wrecking Ball
Royal Assassin
Grasp of Darkness
Dispeller's Capsule
Crib Swap
Condemn
Oblivion Ring

RWAR DAGRONS:
Kaalia of the Vast
Angelic Arbiter
Mana-Charged Dragon
Akroma, Angel of Fury
Steel Hellkite
Kilnmouth Dragon
Hoard-Smelter Dragon
Hellkite Igniter
Shivan Hellkite
Ancient Hellkite
Lightning Reaver
Eternal Dragon

Creature Buffs:
Lightning Greaves
Vow of Malice
Whispersilk Cloak
Loxodon Warhammer
Dragon Breath
Demonspine Whip

Misc. Spells:
Death by Dragons
World at War
Reverberate

There's probably quite a few "wrong" (if not just weird) decisions I could spend a few paragraphs defending, but I'd rather just hear what people have to say first

[Fable Wright]

Hm... random question: What is the best set to draft/get a box from, from Ravnica or later blocks?