MTG Salvation

That is right I am making a Sharuum deck that's goal is to win via general damage. Voltron style. Here is my list so far. This is for a casual creature heavy non combo meta. So please keep that in mind when giving suggestions.



Total Artifacts: 36

I will say I am always edgy about doing voltron decks, they never seem to work out for me. So any suggestions are welcome. I just tossed this together after a few beers last night so I am sure I missed some obv thinks. I am also tempted to just add more artifact creatures and make a creature heavy beater deck with ramp/draw. But then I could be playing green...

Let me know what you think and anything you think I should add or cut. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Sharuum the Hegemon Stax



This should be a guildline for you, minus the land destruction. You need to add in more tutors and draw to consistently have creatures on the board for your equipment.

Quote from BaconoftheArk

Sharuum the Hegemon Stax

Psychomagus's DeckMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards
General 1x Sharuum the Hegemon Stax/Tokens/Land Destruction 1x Braids, Cabal Minion 1x In the Eye of Chaos 1x Lodestone Golem 1x Nether Void 1x Smokestack 1x Trinisphere Foil 1x Winter Orb 1x Bitterblossom 1x Sword of the Meek 1x Thopter Foundry Foil 1x Armageddon 1x Death Cloud 1x Sundering Titan Foil Mana Rocks 1x Azorius Signet 1x Basalt Monolith 1x Coalition Relic 1x Dimir Signet 1x Grim Monolith 1x Mana Vault 1x Mox Diamond 1x Sol Ring Foil 1x Talisman of Dominance Foil 1x Talisman of Progress Foil Draw/Tutors 1x Dark Confidant 1x Demonic Tutor 1x Enlightened Tutor 1x Entomb 1x Fact or Fiction 1x Intuition 1x Memory Jar Foil 1x Mystical Tutor Foil 1x Necropotence Foil 1x Praetor's Grasp Foil 1x Phyrexian Arena 1x Sensei's Divining Top 1x Stoneforge Mystic 1x Sword of Fire and Ice 1x Tezzeret the Seeker 1x Thirst for Knowledge Foil 1x Trinket Mage Foil 1x Vampiric Tutor 1x Windfall	Removal 1x Capsize 1x Chainer's Edict Foil 1x Death Cloud 1x Diabolic Edict 1x Dismember 1x Mind Twist 1x Nihil Spellbomb Foil 1x Path to Exile 1x Oblivion Stone 1x Steel Hellkite Foil 1x Swords to Plowshares 1x Tormod's Crypt 1x Vindicate Recursion 1x Crucible of Worlds 1x Reanimate 1x Scarecrone 1x Sun Titan Foil Utility 1x Magister Sphinx Foil 1x Phantasmal Image Foil 1x Phyrexian Metamorph Foil 1x Sculpting Steel 1x Serra Ascendant 1x Umezawa's Jitte Lands 1x Academy Ruins 1x Ancient Den 1x Ancient Tomb 1x Bloodstained Mire 1x Bojuka Bog Foil 1x Cephalid Coliseum 1x City of Brass [DCI] 1x Command Tower 1x Fetid Heath 1x Flooded Strand 1x Godless Shrine 1x Hallowed Fountain 1x Island 1x Marsh Flats 1x Maze of Ith 1x Misty Rainforest 1x Mystic Gate 1x Nimbus Maze 1x Phyrexian Tower 1x Polluted Delta 1x River of Tears 1x Scalding Tarn 1x Scrubland 1x Seat of the Synod 1x Snow-Covered Island Foil 1x Snow-Covered Swamp Foil 1x Strip Mine Foil 1x Sunken Ruins 1x Temple of the False God Foil 1x Underground Sea 1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 1x Vault of Whispers Foil 1x Verdant Catacombs 1x Watery Grave 1x Wasteland

This should be a guildline for you, minus the land destruction. You need to add in more tutors and draw to consistently have creatures on the board for your equipment.

How about grading what he put instead of posting a list that may or may not work for his meta. Also, who the hell cares if certain of the cards are foil. Never quite understood why people would indicate in parenthesis on deck lists which cards they have that are foil :p.

Quote from Psychomagus

How about grading what he put instead of posting a list that may or may not work for his meta. Also, who the hell cares if certain of the cards are foil. Never quite understood why people would indicate in parenthesis on deck lists which cards they have that are foil :p.

If it's on your own thread, it's probably fine as a means to keep track for yourself. He probably just copied his own thread (including the foil markers)and pasted it here.

@the original list: I understand the obvious synergy between Sharuum and equipment, but Sharuum really isn't all that good at playing Voltron. Your artifact count is pretty low (barely a quarter of the deck), so Sharuum is very likely to just be a 5/5 flyer for six mana, which is below average in a format defined by Elder Dragons. The minimum artifact count for a good Sharuum deck is 30-50% (including lands). Sharuum's strength lies in the ability to bring back other stuff from your yard, but if you can't/won't do that, you should play something else. Perhaps you would be better served by playing a different commander, like Dromar or Chromium?

If you really have your heart set on using Sharuum, you need to increase your artifact count. At the very least, you should get a Trinket Mage and the three on-color artifact lands from Mirrodin. Then, you should take a hard look at all of the non-artifact spells you have and ask yourself if they are doing anything to support your commander. For example, Opportunity is usually a fine card, but Sharuum probably prefers either Thirst for Knowledge, or better yet, Courier's Capsule.

Finally, no matter what commander you decide to play, Brilliant Ultimatum is just awful. Never, EVER exile your own stuff in a singleton format like EDH.

Quote from OCPunisher

@the original list: I understand the obvious synergy between Sharuum and equipment, but Sharuum really isn't all that good at playing Voltron. Your artifact count is pretty low (barely a quarter of the deck), so Sharuum is very likely to just be a 5/5 flyer for six mana, which is below average in a format defined by Elder Dragons. The minimum artifact count for a good Sharuum deck is 30-50% (including lands).

If you really have your heart set on using Sharuum, you need to increase your artifact count. At the very least, you should get a Trinket Mage and the three on-color artifact lands from Mirrodin. Then, you should take a hard look at all of the non-artifact spells you have and ask yourself if they are doing anything to support your commander. For example, Opportunity is usually a fine card, but Sharuum probably prefers either Thirst for Knowledge, or better yet, Courier's Capsule.

Hrm I like the thirst and capsule, I will have to add those, Also perhaps the other 2 capsules as well. I want to be kinda heavy on draw effects, What other spells do you think I should drop for more artifacts? I have 26 including creatures atm. I think you are right I should try and go up to 40+ alteast. I am always kinda scared to run the artifact lands and get screwed by a early artifact sweeper. But perhaps I will give them a try. Also I could probably use a duplicant and steel hellkite, I just feel like my curve is really high already.

It seems like I will start having to lose removal which I don't really want to do. I am trying to encourage people to play more spot removal so things like primeval titan and consecrated sphinx stop taking over our meta. Hence the omission of said sphinx.

Quote from Tantarus

Hrm I like the thirst and capsule, I will have to add those, Also perhaps the other 2 capsules as well. I want to be kinda heavy on draw effects, What other spells do you think I should drop for more artifacts? I have 26 including creatures atm. I think you are right I should try and go up to 40+ alteast. I am always kinda scared to run the artifact lands and get screwed by a early artifact sweeper. But perhaps I will give them a try. Also I could probably use a duplicant and steel hellkite, I just feel like my curve is really high already.

It seems like I will start having to lose removal which I don't really want to do. I am trying to encourage people to play more spot removal so things like primeval titan and consecrated sphinx stop taking over our meta. Hence the omission of said sphinx.

You really should change to either Dromar or Chromium or just any other Esper-colored guy. You mention that you want to run a lot more spot removal, and you don't want to run artifact lands, which is fine, but it just makes Sharuum so much weaker.

EDIT: Another possible general for you would be Dakkon Blackblade.

Quote from OCPunisher

You really should change to either Dromar or Chromium or just any other Esper-colored guy. You mention that you want to run a lot more spot removal, and you don't want to run artifact lands, which is fine, but it just makes Sharuum so much weaker.

EDIT: Another possible general for you would be Dakkon Blackblade.

Yeah, I could, but I made the deck to be Sharuum because I liked her (its?) new art. Also I wanted to show that sharuum could be fun and non combo. Yet still solid.

It's a women. I believe all but a few Sphinxs' in history have been known as female.

It works as non combo, take my advice. Dakkon Blackblade is meh, I've only seen the combo version of him. No fun to play against.

Voltron with card advantage/tons of spot removal should be good.

I wanted to play more control like always, so I made it Stax/Voltron-ish.

Yeah I am thinking of taking out one solas for Worldslayer as a win con, Also adding in a N. Disk.

I want to add 3 more artifact creatures but my curve is going up alot, I am thinking Steelwind Sphinx/Duplicant/Steel Hellkite.

Also trading out some instant speed removal for some capsules maybe? Not sure on that one.

Just not sure what to drop. I feel like I maybe sweeper light as well.

You only need 2/3 sweepers in most games. What creatures are you having issues with? Capsize will be needed, maybe Dismember to kill 90% of the popular EDH generals.

Sphinx of the Steel Wind is okay, every time it's been in play. It eats removal instantly because the protection from Red :P. I took it out a long time ago.

I feel like you have too much equipment. 4-7 is a good number.

I like these equipment...
- Sword of Fire and Ice
- Jitte
- Sword of Feast and Famine
- Sword of War and Peace
- Worldslayer
- Sword of Light and Shadow
- Darksteel Plate

Cards I am thinking of adding. (15)

• Sphinx Summoner
  
• Kuldotha Forgemaster
  
• Duplicant
  
• Enigma Sphinx
  
• Sphinx of the Steel Wind
  
• Sphinx of Uthuun
  
• Junk Diver
  
• Myr Retriever
  
• Thirst for Knowledge
  
• Courier's Capsule
  
• Dispeller's Capsule
  
• Executioner's Capsule
  
• Worldslayer
  
• Nevinyrral's Disk
  
• Tunnel Vision
  

Cards I am thinking of losing. (10)

• Opportunity
  
• Syphon Mind
  
• Shadowmage Infiltrator
  
• Mulldrifter
  
• All Is Dust
  
• Humility
  
• Oblation
  
• Steelshaper's Gift
  
• Fireshrieker
  
• Sword of Light and Shadow
  

I need to close the numbers a bit. But this is kinda where I am thinking. Any help and or suggestions would be keen. I worry my curve is going to be too high though.

Edit: Hey BaconoftheArk and Psychomagus could you put spoiler tags on those deck lists for me please. Make things a bit more clean.

Sorry, I've gotten use to not putting up tags. Too much effort on my part.

Your curve is high, but not as high as you think. A few bombs will all you need. Sharuum, Kuldotha Forgemaster (If you have 35+ artifacts), and Sphinx of the Steel Wind should be good.

Utility creatures are more important.

Quote from BaconoftheArk

Sorry, I've gotten use to not putting up tags. Too much effort on my part.

Your curve is high, but not as high as you think. A few bombs will all you need. Sharuum, Kuldotha Forgemaster (If you have 35+ artifacts), and Sphinx of the Steel Wind should be good.

Utility creatures are more important.

Going to make a few more changes before I run it, just sorting them out atm. But I wanted to discuss curve and mana rocks. Do you think I have too many? I have 9 atm. But I was hoping with the draw it would level out my higher curve, what are your thoughts?

You always need more mana, but don't go crazy. 7-12 mana rocks is a good amount without green support.

From the looks of it, your curve is around lower 3's. My bad, your fine for a non-combo Sharuum deck. My converted mana cost is 2.4~, but my list is "fun for the whole family" mwhahaha.

Test it out and tell us how it works. It should be fine. Sharuum with any sword can get scary if you have no blockers.

Okay some changes before the first run tomorrow.

-Sword of Light and Shadow
+WorldSlayer
Sword doesn't do enough, and Worldslayer is a nice win con (in theory),with darksteel forge/plate, that I want to test.

-All Is Dust
+Nevinyrral's Disk
Again Disk is another win con with Darksteel forge.

-Opportunity
+Thirst for Knowledge
Less mana, and lets me drop something in the yard to reanimate.

-Syphon Mind
+Courier's Capsule
Recurrable. Also trying to go with more artifacts.

-Oblation
+Dispeller's Caspule
Same as above.

-Path to Exile
+Executioner's Capsule
Same as above. But I am not sold on this change. I hate the limit of non black and it is not instant or exiling. Will see how it works.

-Mulldrifer
+Junk Diver
Trading draw for recursion. Also Artifact > non artifact.

-Shadowmage Infiltrator
+Myr Retriever
Same as above, though not as sold on this change.

-Fireshrieker
+Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Wanted to add a few more beaters and a few less equipment.

-Loxodon Hammer
+Sphinx Summoner
Same as above, plus adding a tutor.

-Etched Champion
+Master Transmuter
With less equipment he loses some appeal. Also master transmuter seems kinda sick.

-Steelshaper's Gift
+Kuldotha Forgemaster
Lose a equipment tutor in trade for a anything tutor right into play and a body. Seems worth a shot.

-Humility
+Tunnel Vision
Added a lot more creatures with effects so this would hurt me a lot more. Tunnel Vision added as a big play/win con. Cast it on yourself calling Open the Vaults.

Let me know what people think of changes. Will report on how it plays this weekend.

It seems good. Your sticking to a theme and actually thinking about the value of the card of the power.

I recently added Courier's Capsule to my Sharuum deck, it's soooo good! It baits Tormod's Crypt, and it can be recurred many ways via Sun Titan, Academy Ruins, Sharuum, Buried Ruins. If I don't get Crypt'd I draw 4-10 cards off it.

I'm making my list more Artifact-e as well, it's working out. Sure I lose to Shattering Pulse, but they can't kill everything mwhaha.

Well I played, it was a 6 player game that went 3+ hours and I was 2nd to last to die, with the other player at 8 hp. Capsize saved him. A good game over all. But I definitly felt I was lacking something. I had a darksteel forge in play for over 10 turns, with a disk for many of those. I even opened the vaults once. But i never really had many swords or beaters in play. I kept the field clear for mana turns with Disk/forge but could only swing for 5 with sharuum:/ With 5 other people it was not really doing much. I guess I could have gone for worldslayer but with 2 blue control decks and bounce I was kinda of afraid to attempt it. I did get semi blown out by a capsized darksteel and a O Stone going off. But I was not really much thread most the game, just durable.

So I probably need some more game enders, maybe a blightsteel or something. I am not sure this deck is a good fit for me, I prefer to go on the offensive. And I even with a indestructible board I never really got off for more then 7 damage a turn, in 6 player not really helping.

I would be open to any suggestions but I think I am going to scarp this for now. In favor of decks that can outright win without infinity combos, such as my Thraximunder Burning the world style. (V2.0) deck mid way down this post. Also After a later game when I was stuck on 4 lands around turn 6 or 7 and someone strip mined my basic plains, I think the gloves are going to come off and I am going to make my Doran Deck more cutthroat with things like Cataclysm and Death Cloud.

Cauldron of Souls with Steel Overseer has been pretty house for me (Using Sharuum to bring back the Overseer). Check my list, I am playing way more dudes that you are and upping your count could help.