I start playing EDH 2 years ago and i spend a lot of time building this deck. This deck pass throught a lot of version but right now it's the best one I seen, It's near optimal. I still need some good card like Jace, the mind scuulptor, mana drain and wasteland but i'm waiting to buy it in foil version but it's damn expensive. But it's really in great condition right now. I win about 80% of the game in multiplayer with it and 85% in single player
The goal was to have the deck with the more foil possible and coming true i'm at 71% and counting.
Nice deck! I've got a Rafiq EDH too - though I run less creatures and more enchantments.
I would suggest the following:
Sovereigns of Lost Alara
Know the Bant Conscription concept? This time round though, it allows you to pull almost any enchant creature from your deck. Since it's Rafiq, I doubt you'll swing with everything, especially when you have Dueling Grounds around.
In my opinion, Knight of Reliquary would be a tremendous toss into the deck. For me it would be a must-play. It would help you fix lands, at the same time you could use it to get lands you need. Searching for Sejiri Steppe would be really good here, and it saved my rafiq lots of times.
Finally, Silent Arbiter would be a nice add, since it controls the game like Dueling Grounds, and it's another card to force your opponents to play at your rules, search-able by both Enlightened and Worldly Tutors.
Some stuff I'd take out:
[CARD]
Garruk Wildspeaker[/CARD] - he's good, but he doesn't help much in here. If I had 4 mana, my priority would be to cast Rafiq, not him. Elspeth Triel - I would rate this as a defensive card. Would rather play Venser, the Sojorner here Troll Ascetic - Doesn't really contribute to Rafiq. Main aim in a Rafiq IMO is to win fast, and it's faster if you kill opponents with damage from your general. Loxodon Heirarch - I'd play NOBLE Heirarch instead, which you already have. This elephant's pretty defensive to me, and doesn't really contribute to your deck overall other than Lifegain, which you wouldn't really need IMO. Enclave Cryptologist - You won't be spending mana to level it up would you? Sphinx of Jwar Isle - Unchantable, unequipable. The only problem it has is that it lacks trample, and it's quite hard to get around it because of its shroud.
yes it's realy help some cards i forgoy thatMs exist. The card you mention is about the card i want to get and the one i want cut from the deck.
thanks
In Rafiq I like playing a little less creatures.. and a lot of "RFG target creature then return it to play" to protect your rafiq and to make sure those arent dead cards w/o rafiq play creatures with CIP abilities. (which you actually already have a good amount of)
Cephalid constable is insane in my rafiq deck, i wouldnt cut him, he can be a reset on turn 4. and with sovereigns of lost alara/Eldrazi conscription he is awesome, better than hitting someone with Emrakul.
cards that are cuttable: Aven Midcensor--are you trying to run a control deck, if so where are your counterspells? this card will just piss people off and doesnt help you further your game. Baneslayer Angel seems good, but i would run sun titan over him with all the small stuff you have. Battlegrace Angel is not worth the mana to play him. exalted creatures in general are overrated in EDH as they dont stay around long enough to make a significant mark, i would run Loxodon Warhammer over this card as it gives rafiq the all important trample.
cards like Birds of paradise rarely stay long enough to add significant mana in the long run due to wrath etc. (at least in my playgroup)
really? Enclave cryptologist? This guy is a huge mana sink that might pay off.
Im not seeing any reason to run kitchen finks the life gain isnt worth it in edh and if you want a persist creature run Glen elendra archmage.
I've never played with Linvala but if she works for you, it seems like a card more likely to piss people off at me. same argument as for the aven mindcensor, control or agro? Serra Ascendant, i personally dont like cards that abuse the 40 life rule, but that is just me, no doubt it is powerful.
the simic sky swallower seems really expensive in a deck with not alot of ramp, powerful though.
Ponder seems bad, i dont think you need it at all. it does absolutely nothing with either your top or library out (aside from give you the option of shuffling, which is hardly worth it.) likewise with brainstorm, these are weak draw spells in edh, you want somethng that will draw you LOTS of cards. absorb seems ish in edh. the life gain isnt really worth the exra mana, i would run any number of counterspells over this. but mostly Force of will.
looking at your lands i think you have about 4 too many, your curve is low anyway (for edh) and you have ~5 ramp spells. i usually go by the rule that these count as half a land. The ravnica bouncelands likewise count for about 1.5 lands.
As far as targeted removal goes for Rafiq I've found it best to go Bant Charm obviously, Swords to Plowshares, Condemn, Path to Exile, and Oblivion Ring.
Giving someone 2 extra cards in EDH really isnt worth it, yeah its nice to shuffle a general away, but most decks dont rely strictly on the general and there is so much tutors in EDH if they really want their general back it wont be gone for long.
I like ORing is good because Emrakul is so damned splashable... Wing Shards isnt too shabby either even if theres no storm.
Steel of the Godhead is good because it will give you evasion, but I've found that I dont like Shield of the Oversoul.
Most of the creatures you want to toss through the redzone arent both green and white, unless its rafiq. Most removal that you fear is RFG anyhow.
I'd use Mythic Proportions or Yavimaya Embrace instead.
Also, Nature's Lore and Three Visits are better at mana fixing than Kodama's reach and its reprint. They come into play untapped, and since it just says to find a forest, you can grab a dual.
Thats a lot of equipment and enchantments youre running.
You dont need Sovereigns to trigger more than 1-2 times, really. Jitte, swords, and elephants are great and all, but making Rafiq HUGE and UNBLOCKABLE work best.
I'm interested in making a voltron rafiq deck. How has this one been playing compared to other decks you have or play against?
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EDH Decks:
Kaalia's Army of AnnhilationRWB
Obzedat, Ghost Council - Life Gain MattersWB
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - Fatty Reanimator ToolboxBG
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Marath, Will of the Wild - Token Pump and TapGWR
Roon of the Hidden Realm - Blink to BleedWBG
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The goal was to have the deck with the more foil possible and coming true i'm at 71% and counting.
1 Acidic slime Foil
1 Aven Mindcensor Foil
1 Cephalid Constable Foil
1 Cold-eyed Selkie
1 Consecrated sphinx
1 Edric, spymaster of Trest
1 Eternal Witness [foil promo]
1 gaddock teeg
1 genesis Foil
1 gilded drake
1 glen elendra archmage
1 Hydra omnivore
1 knight of the reliquary [foil dual deck]
1 Mother of runes [Foil promo]
1 Mulldrifter [foil promo]
1 Mystic Snake Foil
1 Noble Hierarch
1 Qasali Pridemage [foil promo]
1 primeval titan Foil
1 sakura-tribe elder [foil promo]
1 Scavenging ooze
1 seedborn muse Foil
1 Serra Ascendant Foil
1 solemn simulacrum
1 Stoneforge mystic
1 stonehewer giant Foil
1 Trygon predator
1 venser, shaper savant
1 Elspeth, knight-errant [foil dual deck]
1 Jace Beleren Foil
1 Garruk Wildspeaker [foil dual deck]
1 Selesnya Signet Foil
1 Simic signet Foil
1 Lightning greaves [foil promo]
1 Sensei's divining top
1 sol ring
1 Sword of fire and ice
1 Sword of light and shadow
1 talisman of progress Foil
1 talisman of unity Foil
1 Umezawa's jitte [foil grand prix]
1 aura shards
1 defense of the heart
1 Finest Hour Foil
1 Mirari's wake [foil promo]
1 Oblivion ring [foil promo]
1 Rancor [foil promo]
1 Sylvan library
1 austere command Foil
1 cultivate Foil
1 Wrath of god [foil promo]
1 Bant Charm Foil
1 condemn Foil
1 eladamri's call
1 Hinder [textless]
1 Krosan Grip [foil promo]
1 mystical tutor [foil FTV]
1 path to exile [foil promo]
1 Swords to plowshares
1 Voidslime Foil
1 worldly tutor
1 Yavimaya hollow
1 strip mine [foil FTV]
1 reliquary tower Foil
1 Sunpetal grove Foil
1 hinterland Harbor Foil
1 Glacial fortress Foil
1 celestial colonnade [foil promo]
1 sejiri steppe Foil
1 mosswort bridge Foil
1 Treetop village [foil promo]
1 Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers Foil
1 Seaside citadel Foil
1 Reflecting pool
1 Command tower
1 Flooded Grove Foil
1 Mystic gate Foil
1 Wooded bastion Foil
1 breeding pool
1 hallowed fountain
1 Temple garden
1 flooded strand
1 Misty rainforest
1 windswept heath
1 Savannah
1 Tropical Island
1 Tundra
4 Forest [4 foil]
3 Plains [3 foil]
3 Island [3 foil]
71% PIMP
65 out of 91
the cards that can be cut
The card i need the most for my edh deck
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
I would suggest the following:
Sovereigns of Lost Alara
Know the Bant Conscription concept? This time round though, it allows you to pull almost any enchant creature from your deck. Since it's Rafiq, I doubt you'll swing with everything, especially when you have Dueling Grounds around.
I would say play more fetches, since it would smooth out your mana easily. You've already got Misty Rainforest, get the others if you can - Windswept Hearth, Polluted Delta, Verdant Catacombs, Marsh Flats, Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn, Wooded Foothills, Flooded Strand. I'd try to play with a less number of lands that come into play tapped, since it slows down your deck. Normally I'd try to get Rafiq out by turn 3-4, depending on whether I draw my accel. You can try to fit in lands like Skycloud Expanse and Sungrass Prairie - they won't help in turn 1, but they'd be good to have compared to playing vivid lands in my opinion.
Another great way of looking for your equipments is using Stonehewer Giant. This guy has worked wonders for me (i.e, fetching a Sword of Light and Shadow in response for my Rafiq when my opponent does a Path to Exile or Condemn). I've also noticed that you did not play Whispersilk Cloak. Maybe you missed it. I'd say that you should also run more removals - Path to Exile, Oblivion Ring, Krosan Grip. These are to take care of annoying cards like Ligify, Platinum Angel etc.
If you decide to go with the Sovereigns idea, here are a few enchants I think would rock with it. Even if you don't, I'll suggest them because they have really worked wonders for me at times. Cards include Shield of the Oversoul, Steel of the Godhead, Armadillo Cloak and of course, Eldrazi Conscription.
In my opinion, Knight of Reliquary would be a tremendous toss into the deck. For me it would be a must-play. It would help you fix lands, at the same time you could use it to get lands you need. Searching for Sejiri Steppe would be really good here, and it saved my rafiq lots of times.
Finally, Silent Arbiter would be a nice add, since it controls the game like Dueling Grounds, and it's another card to force your opponents to play at your rules, search-able by both Enlightened and Worldly Tutors.
Some stuff I'd take out:
[CARD]
Garruk Wildspeaker[/CARD] - he's good, but he doesn't help much in here. If I had 4 mana, my priority would be to cast Rafiq, not him.
Elspeth Triel - I would rate this as a defensive card. Would rather play Venser, the Sojorner here
Troll Ascetic - Doesn't really contribute to Rafiq. Main aim in a Rafiq IMO is to win fast, and it's faster if you kill opponents with damage from your general.
Loxodon Heirarch - I'd play NOBLE Heirarch instead, which you already have. This elephant's pretty defensive to me, and doesn't really contribute to your deck overall other than Lifegain, which you wouldn't really need IMO.
Enclave Cryptologist - You won't be spending mana to level it up would you?
Sphinx of Jwar Isle - Unchantable, unequipable. The only problem it has is that it lacks trample, and it's quite hard to get around it because of its shroud.
Hope this helps.
Iwamori says "Just Bring It!"
Edric's Spiesssssssss (Snake Tribal) GU
Sliver Overlord (Slivers Galore!!) WUBRG
Ruhan of the Fomori RWU
Seton, Krosan ProtectorG
Intet, The Dreamer (Hive Mind + Scrambleverse anyone?) URG
Karona, False God the Goddess of Tribal - Samurai, P3K Horsemen, 5c MyrsWUBRG
Garza's Family UBR
Sygg, River Guide and his merry merrowmen UB
Sharuum, the Hedgemon Sphinx Tribal
thanks
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
Aaaand you have next to no card draw.
Get the basics in there Brainstorm, Ponder, Fact or Fiction, Frantic Search, Thirst for Knowledge.
In Rafiq I like playing a little less creatures.. and a lot of "RFG target creature then return it to play" to protect your rafiq and to make sure those arent dead cards w/o rafiq play creatures with CIP abilities. (which you actually already have a good amount of)
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
Might of Oaks
Sovereigns of lost alara with Eldrazi conscription in your deck
and even the new Grafted exoskeleton
other cards that are really great with rafiq are:
Shield of the oversoul
Wispersilk cloak
Sun Titan (with all of the tiny permanents and equipment)
Stonehewer giant--if you add him consider running Shield of kaldra but he is good without it.
Catastrophe a wrath and also a win if you can pop rafiq out with something on him and blow up all the lands.
Darksteel ingot
Coalition relic
Leyline of Anticipation
Bribery should be in any blue deck--punish them for playing Emrakul, its the only way they'll learn.
- troll ascetic
- jhessian infiltrator
- treva's ruins
+ stonehewer giant
+ silent arbiter
+ mosswort bridge
now i'm trying to get sovereigns of lost alara and three enchantement : eldrazi conscription, shield of the oversoul and steel of the godhead.
but i really don't know what to cut i'm thinking about garruk wildspeaker, cephalid constable and the other one i don't know
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
cards that are cuttable:
Aven Midcensor--are you trying to run a control deck, if so where are your counterspells? this card will just piss people off and doesnt help you further your game.
Baneslayer Angel seems good, but i would run sun titan over him with all the small stuff you have.
Battlegrace Angel is not worth the mana to play him. exalted creatures in general are overrated in EDH as they dont stay around long enough to make a significant mark, i would run Loxodon Warhammer over this card as it gives rafiq the all important trample.
cards like Birds of paradise rarely stay long enough to add significant mana in the long run due to wrath etc. (at least in my playgroup)
really? Enclave cryptologist? This guy is a huge mana sink that might pay off.
Im not seeing any reason to run kitchen finks the life gain isnt worth it in edh and if you want a persist creature run Glen elendra archmage.
I've never played with Linvala but if she works for you, it seems like a card more likely to piss people off at me. same argument as for the aven mindcensor, control or agro?
Serra Ascendant, i personally dont like cards that abuse the 40 life rule, but that is just me, no doubt it is powerful.
the simic sky swallower seems really expensive in a deck with not alot of ramp, powerful though.
Ponder seems bad, i dont think you need it at all. it does absolutely nothing with either your top or library out (aside from give you the option of shuffling, which is hardly worth it.) likewise with brainstorm, these are weak draw spells in edh, you want somethng that will draw you LOTS of cards.
absorb seems ish in edh. the life gain isnt really worth the exra mana, i would run any number of counterspells over this. but mostly Force of will.
looking at your lands i think you have about 4 too many, your curve is low anyway (for edh) and you have ~5 ramp spells. i usually go by the rule that these count as half a land. The ravnica bouncelands likewise count for about 1.5 lands.
i love bant charm, i also run it's cousins, Oblation, condemn, and hallowed burial.
Giving someone 2 extra cards in EDH really isnt worth it, yeah its nice to shuffle a general away, but most decks dont rely strictly on the general and there is so much tutors in EDH if they really want their general back it wont be gone for long.
I like ORing is good because Emrakul is so damned splashable... Wing Shards isnt too shabby either even if theres no storm.
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
+1 hinder
-1 absorb
the absord will go in my sideboard, and i wait to get my soveraign of lost alara and the aura i'll put edlrazi conscription, steel of the godhead and shield of the oversoul
i'll cut maybe one land and some other card to put them in my edh
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
Most of the creatures you want to toss through the redzone arent both green and white, unless its rafiq. Most removal that you fear is RFG anyhow.
I'd use Mythic Proportions or Yavimaya Embrace instead.
Also, Nature's Lore and Three Visits are better at mana fixing than Kodama's reach and its reprint. They come into play untapped, and since it just says to find a forest, you can grab a dual.
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
+1 sun titan
-1 elspeth tirel
i get a playset of force of will i don't know if i put one in my edh because i think i'll lack of blue cards to discards.
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
+1 path to exile
+1 sovereigns of lost alara
+1 shield of the oversoul
+1 steel of the godhead
+1 armadillo cloak
+1 behemoth sledge
+1 eldrazi conscription
+1 worldly tutor
-1 day of judgment
-1 cultivate
-1 sphinx of jwar isle
-1 kitchen finks
-1 coiling oraccle
-1 vivid meadow
-1 vivid grove
-1 enclave cryptologist
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
You dont need Sovereigns to trigger more than 1-2 times, really. Jitte, swords, and elephants are great and all, but making Rafiq HUGE and UNBLOCKABLE work best.
Stonewood Invocation
Might of oaks
Vines of Vastwood
Distortion Strike
Whispersilk Cloak
Lightning Greaves
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
+1 reveillark
-1 kodoma's reach
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
+ knight of the reliquary
+ sakure-tribe elder
+ grand arbiter augustin IV
+ dauntless escort
+ austere command
+ sol ring
+ flooded strand
+ windswepth heath
+ temple garden
+ breeding pool
+ hallowed fountain
- flood plain
- grasslands
- bant panorama
- vivd creek
- faerie conclave
- silent arbiter
- dueling grounds
- thada adel, acquisitor
- baneslayer angel
- loxodon hierarch
- battlegrace angel
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
+ hydra omnivore
+ edric, spymaster of trest
+ Command Tower
- Rhystic Study
- Yavimaya Elder
- Regrowth
- stirring wildwood
BUW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
GUW Roon of the hidden realm
Tiny Leaders
GW Selvala, Explorer Returned
BU Sygg, River Cutthroat
Kaalia's Army of Annhilation RWB
Obzedat, Ghost Council - Life Gain Matters WB
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord - Fatty Reanimator Toolbox BG
Nekusar, the Mindrazer - Draw to Die RBU
Marath, Will of the Wild - Token Pump and Tap GWR
Roon of the Hidden Realm - Blink to Bleed WBG