The great thing about Balthor, is that his ability is repeatable in EDH, so killed, sac'ed, or discarded you can bring them back!
The deck has a zombie sub-theme which Gempalm Polluter, Soulless One, Death Baron and the Muse can take advantage of. Haakon rises from the grave himself and can bring thePaladins with him.
There's enough tutor and transmute to get the following win conditions/combos:
I used to have Phage in here, but she was more trouble than she was worth. I've been thinking of putting Altar of Dementia in here and I need a Cabal Ritual.
It's been a fun deck. Feel free to comment/critique.
Really cool general, good choice. I like he doesn't have to tap for the effect making him more aggressive and overall more playable.
Altar of dementia could work nicely though I really like the Bitter Ordeal move.
Props to the Morality Shift Swarm, I used this in a non highlander before with modulators onto Triskelion, Mortal Combat and Haunting Misery for the altwin, good fun.
When I first scaned the list I thought Lotus petal would not be as afective as a cabal ritual or even another land. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth? (filth)
No Demonic tutor? In some of my builds like my mono black I am already using my best stuff in other decks, is that it?
When I was posting my decklist, I actually thought about taking out the Lotus Petal at the time. The reason I put it in there was to get a free black mana to play Dark Ritual and accelerate after playing Yawgmoth's Will. It's been a good quick one time boost, but since I took all my storm out (except Gravestorm) I'm not all that interested in generating a count.
I don't actually have Demonic tutor (or Sol Ring and other good EDH staples) because I foolishly got rid of my cards years ago and masochistically haven't brought myself to get them again.
-I do have a few question/comments on the other cards suggested thus far:
Garza's Assassin - I don't see myself using the Recover ability. Isn't Shriekmaw strictly better?
i would like to hear more on how it plays, later,
Dr.KnowMaD
I've only played this deck in duels so far, but it has won in a variety of ways. Overall, I think it's pretty aggressive and resilient. Haakon and Balthor bring threats back, even after a board sweep. Of course, graveyard hate is a weakness, but there's not much black can do about that is there?
In multiplayer I wonder if this deck would become an early target, any ideas for making it more friendly or effective there?
-I do have a few question/comments on the other cards suggested thus far:
Garza's Assassin - I don't see myself using the Recover ability. Isn't Shriekmaw strictly better?
I mentioned what I think about the recover mechanic on my thread (garbage) but the creature itself is pretty cool. I like that it can hit artifact creatures. I like that if I don't use him immediately than I use him as an on board scare tactic/threat that has to be dealt with before playing whatever fatty. They are both good and I really am a fan of Shriekmaw too, either or both is cool to me.
I do think the deathspore should go for something else though.
Well, they are all pretty good so it is hard for me to say and think it will come down to personal preference. I did say I am not much of a Deathspore Thallid fan, nor am I of the oblivian crown but thats just me.
Updated the decklist as I realized I've had a few changes from my first post for a while. I was also recently inspired to use Extraplanar Lens and Vesuva from the Mono v. Multicolor thread.
The previous suggestions were helpful and I added Void Maw to stop my opponents from getting their red and black creatures come back with Balthor. (although Tormod's Crypt certainly would do the job too.)
ARB obviously has nothig to add, I haven't really thought about cards from Conflux for this deck. Would Nyxathid be any good? I'm not sure on Extractor Demon, could use it to mill myself or the oppenent if they aren't in black or red.
I think this is better than what I had before, but any other ideas or suggestions are welcome!
Looks awesome. My only suggestion is to add more card draw. Promise of power, ambitions cost, sign in blood would all be good additions. This will help you find either the cards you need to combo with, or tutors to find the cards.
You can't get back yawgmoth's will with Xiahou. Yawgmoth's will would exile itself since it goes to the graveyard after its effect starts
It fishes it out if it is in your graveyard. After a Morality Shift/Balthor activation you can grab it to play any of the other non-creature spells that were dumped.
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1 Balthor the Defiled
Creatures (42):
1 Basal Sliver
1 Cairn Wanderer
1 Corpse Connoisseur
1 Dauthi Slayer
1 Death Baron
1 Deathspore Thallid
1 Deepcavern Imp
1 Dimir House Guard
1 Dread
1 Eastern Paladin
1 Filth
1 Fleshwrither
1 Gempalm Polluter
1 Golgari Thug
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
1 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
1 Liege of the Pit
1 Lord of the Undead
1 Magus of the Abyss
1 Magus of the Coffers
1 Mindlash Sliver
1 Moonglove Changeling
1 Nantuko Husk
1 Nightmare
1 Nekrataal
1 Nether Traitor
1 Reiver Demon
1 Shriekmaw
1 Skeletal Changeling
1 Skirk Ridge Exhumer
1 Skirge Familiar
1 Soulless One
1 Spirit of the Night
1 Stronghold Overseer
1 Trespasser il-Vec
1 Umbra Stalker
1 Undead Warchief
1 Viscera Dragger
1 Western Paladin
1 Will-o'-the-Wisp
1 Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
1 Ad Nauseam
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Bitter Ordeal
1 Brainspoil
1 Buried Alive
1 Damnation
1 Dark Ritual
1 Darkblast
1 Demonic Collusion
1 Dimir Machinations
1 Morality Shift
1 Liliana Vess
1 Shred Memory
1 Traitor's Clutch
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Enchantments (3):
1 Grave Pact
1 Mortal Combat
1 Oblivion Crown
Artifacts (1):
1 Lotus Petal
Lands (37):
33 Swamp
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Dark Depths
1 Lake of the Dead
1 Phyrexian Tower
The great thing about Balthor, is that his ability is repeatable in EDH, so killed, sac'ed, or discarded you can bring them back!
The deck has a zombie sub-theme which Gempalm Polluter, Soulless One, Death Baron and the Muse can take advantage of.
Haakon rises from the grave himself and can bring the Paladins with him.
There's enough tutor and transmute to get the following win conditions/combos:
Morality Shift + Mortal Combat = you win
Moratlity Shift + Balthor the Defiled = all your creatures in play (minus Dread)
Haakon + Basal Sliver + Skeletal Changeling + Bitter Ordeal removes all libraries from the game.
Besides being a graveyard tutor, Xiahou Dun can fish out Yawgmoth's Will or to swap back, Morality Shift.
A Flashbacked Traitor's Clutch can get a huge Umbra Stalker or other big creature through for the kill.
I used to have Phage in here, but she was more trouble than she was worth. I've been thinking of putting Altar of Dementia in here and I need a Cabal Ritual.
It's been a fun deck. Feel free to comment/critique.
Altar of dementia could work nicely though I really like the Bitter Ordeal move.
Props to the Morality Shift Swarm, I used this in a non highlander before with modulators onto Triskelion, Mortal Combat and Haunting Misery for the altwin, good fun.
When I first scaned the list I thought Lotus petal would not be as afective as a cabal ritual or even another land. Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth? (filth)
No Demonic tutor? In some of my builds like my mono black I am already using my best stuff in other decks, is that it?
Also in black I have liked Garza's Assassin.
i would like to hear more on how it plays, later,
Dr.KnowMaD
When I was posting my decklist, I actually thought about taking out the Lotus Petal at the time. The reason I put it in there was to get a free black mana to play Dark Ritual and accelerate after playing Yawgmoth's Will. It's been a good quick one time boost, but since I took all my storm out (except Gravestorm) I'm not all that interested in generating a count.
I don't actually have Demonic tutor (or Sol Ring and other good EDH staples) because I foolishly got rid of my cards years ago and masochistically haven't brought myself to get them again.
-I do have a few question/comments on the other cards suggested thus far:
Garza's Assassin - I don't see myself using the Recover ability. Isn't Shriekmaw strictly better?
Necropotence - Would this conflict with some of my strategies to fill my graveyard? (Imp, Mindlash, Exhumer, the Familiar, Tresspasser, O-Crown) How would this card fit with the deck?
I like Scion of Darkness and Avatar of Woe and would like to pick up Phyrexian Arena and Haunting Misery.
-Does anyone have suggestions on cuts?
So far I'm thinking:
Deathspore Thallid
Filth (or should I add Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth)
Magus of the Abyss
Lotus Petal
- Is Mutilate worth putting in there? How about Entomb?
I've only played this deck in duels so far, but it has won in a variety of ways. Overall, I think it's pretty aggressive and resilient. Haakon and Balthor bring threats back, even after a board sweep. Of course, graveyard hate is a weakness, but there's not much black can do about that is there?
In multiplayer I wonder if this deck would become an early target, any ideas for making it more friendly or effective there?
Thanks again for the input.
I mentioned what I think about the recover mechanic on my thread (garbage) but the creature itself is pretty cool. I like that it can hit artifact creatures. I like that if I don't use him immediately than I use him as an on board scare tactic/threat that has to be dealt with before playing whatever fatty. They are both good and I really am a fan of Shriekmaw too, either or both is cool to me.
I do think the deathspore should go for something else though.
Yes I think it would. It is a great card but that does not mean it goes into everything it can. Though..
Phyrexian Arena is great and does fit.
Well, they are all pretty good so it is hard for me to say and think it will come down to personal preference. I did say I am not much of a Deathspore Thallid fan, nor am I of the oblivian crown but thats just me.
A lot will be just politics but you could butter up with something like Howling Mine or whatnot that gives favor of you hanging around long enough.
Later,
Dr.KnowMaD
1 Balthor the Defiled
Creatures (40):
1 Avatar of Woe
1 Basal Sliver
1 Cairn Wanderer
1 Corpse Connoisseur
1 Dauthi Slayer
1 Death Baron
1 Deepcavern Imp
1 Dimir House Guard
1 Dread
1 Eastern Paladin
1 Filth
1 Fleshwrither
1 Gempalm Polluter
1 Golgari Thug
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
1 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
1 Liege of the Pit
1 Liliana Vess
1 Lord of the Undead
1 Magus of the Coffers
1 Moonglove Changeling
1 Nantuko Husk
1 Nekrataal
1 Nightmare
1 Reiver Demon
1 Scion of Darkness
1 Shriekmaw
1 Skeletal Changeling
1 Skirge Familiar
1 Skirk Ridge Exhumer
1 Soulless One
1 Spirit of the Night
1 Stronghold Overseer
1 Trespasser il-Vec
1 Umbra Stalker
1 Undead Warchief
1 Void Maw
1 Western Paladin
1 Will-o'-the-Wisp
1 Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
1 Extraplanar Lens
1 Gauntlet of Power
Enchantments (3):
1 Blood Funnel
1 Grave Pact
1 Mortal Combat
Spells (17)
1 Ad Nauseam
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Bitter Ordeal
1 Brainspoil
1 Buried Alive
1 Damnation
1 Dark Ritual
1 Darkblast
1 Demonic Collusion
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Dimir Machinations
1 Moonlight Bargain
1 Morality Shift
1 Shred Memory
1 Traitor's Clutch
1 Yawgmoth's Will
Lands (36):
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Dark Depths
1 Lake of the Dead
1 Phyrexian Tower
30 Snow-Covered Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Vesuva
Updated the decklist as I realized I've had a few changes from my first post for a while. I was also recently inspired to use Extraplanar Lens and Vesuva from the Mono v. Multicolor thread.
The previous suggestions were helpful and I added Void Maw to stop my opponents from getting their red and black creatures come back with Balthor. (although Tormod's Crypt certainly would do the job too.)
ARB obviously has nothig to add, I haven't really thought about cards from Conflux for this deck. Would Nyxathid be any good? I'm not sure on Extractor Demon, could use it to mill myself or the oppenent if they aren't in black or red.
I think this is better than what I had before, but any other ideas or suggestions are welcome!
You can't get back yawgmoth's will with Xiahou. Yawgmoth's will would exile itself since it goes to the graveyard after its effect starts
I have a Balthor EDH which is mega fun.
It fishes it out if it is in your graveyard. After a Morality Shift/Balthor activation you can grab it to play any of the other non-creature spells that were dumped.