Okay, so the Article for this deck is currently in the works. However I have decided to post the updated deck list. This deck is currently primarily for MTGOnline's Commander format, even though I have a paper version of it. However the list below is made specifically for the MTGO Commander format with that in mind I Would appreciate it if all further comments were made with that in mind.
I hope to make improvements to the deck when and where possible, however this deck seems to be playing fairly consistently and quite nicely, so it seems to be almost at the top of its performance level for what I want.
I've also got a Brion Stoutarm deck and it's immensely fun. Of course, it's tough to work around the fact that W/R are the worst EDH colors with very little card draw and tutors. But I've been tinkering with it for awhile.
Some suggestions (in no particular order):
Return to Dust is very versatile and is great card advantage. Also, removing the targets rather than destroying them can come in handy.
Glory doesn't mind getting pitched by Brion. It can win a game if the opponent can't hit their GY hate.
Land Tax is insanely good, especially in a deck that simply cannot afford to miss a drop. Weathered Wayfarer is just as awesome, being able to fetch the ridiculously good Sunhome.
Avatar of Fury is one of my favourite fatties in this deck. The alternate casting cost can hose green decks, and the firebreathing is death with Brion.
Sunforger is absolutely, positively INSANE. Path, Condemn, Orim's Thunder, Grab the Reins, Enlightened Tutor. It is just nuts.
Stonehewer Giant is one of the best white EDH cards. You've only got four targets for him, but he still might be worth running, especially if you add Sunforger.
I have a few other suggestions, but those are just the most important, I think. If you want, I can post my decklist so you can take a look.
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EDH Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video) Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video) Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video) BShirei (video) WURasputin (video) (retired) RUrabrask (video) WURZedruu (video) (retired) WIsamaru UBGrimgrin UMistform Ultimus (video) UBRGwendlyn (video) URGAnimar (video) RGThromok WBSelenia Standard WUGeist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired) WUB Battle of Wits!
As far as Archon of Justice goes. While it is certainly potent to exile any permanent from the game. World Queller also has the benefit of affecting multiple players at one time. Alternatively Duplicant takes effect when it comes into play and can be utilized off of a Reveillark. However, Ultimately I think Archon would be an ideal card to utilize when taking this deck into 1v1 mode, where as World Queller and or Duplicant would be more suited to multiplayer.
As for Enlightened Tutor and Gamble, I might be willing to throw in the Enlightened. But Gamble is in my personal opinion to big of a risk to warrant inclusion. I don't really like cards with random effects that much personally.
I could definitely see myself getting Serra Avatar for the deck, but tend to agree, it is a bit of a deuchebag type of card. However certainly intriguing.
Tower of Fortunes' effect is too expensive. I don't like Memory Jar as this is not really a mill deck. Well of Lost Dreams certainly has an interesting Synergy with the deck, and is a very interesting idea. Likewise Skullclamp has an interesting Synergy with the deck and is a good idea. And I do have a Mind's Eye that I could use in the mean time in place of either the well or the skull clamp. I am kind of not really liking the Wheel of Fortune anyways, it is kind of a double edged sword in this deck. It can both ruin an opposing deck as well as help them, so I am not sold on using that card all that much.
I didn't include the Swords for two reasons. First in the case of both of the swords, if equiped to a creature it would prevent me from targeting a creature with my own spells should I need to for some reason. Second in the case of the Sword of Light and Shadows, it really does not have any particular synergy with my General unless I attack with him. Same goes with the Sword of Fire and Ice. I want all the cards in the deck to have synergies when and where possible with the deck.
I agree, Sunforger needs to replace the current primary tutor in this deck (namely Planar Portal) to that end I am planning on finding one tomorrow night if I am lucky. Hopefully everything goes as planned.
Stonehewer Giant is certainly interesting and worth considering.
These are all certainly good idea's. However currently, If I am to include any of these idea's I kind of need some tips on what may need cutting vs. what should stay in the deck.
I wouldn't cut Duplicant. It's really versatile in this deck. (Can remove any creature target, tutorable with Enlightened Tutor, recurrable with Reveillark and Karmic Guide) And it's a fatty, too.
Also I forgot to mention some of my favourite lands in this deck: Kor Haven and Spinerock Knoll. The Haven is just great, and you'll have no problems triggering the Knoll.
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EDH Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video) Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video) Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video) BShirei (video) WURasputin (video) (retired) RUrabrask (video) WURZedruu (video) (retired) WIsamaru UBGrimgrin UMistform Ultimus (video) UBRGwendlyn (video) URGAnimar (video) RGThromok WBSelenia Standard WUGeist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired) WUB Battle of Wits!
Also I forgot to mention some of my favourite lands in this deck: Kor Haven and Spinerock Knoll. The Haven is just great, and you'll have no problems triggering the Knoll.
Kor Haven and Spinerock Knoll are both wonderful cards, thanks for the advice. I will try to aquire those two cards ASAP, thank you
EDITS: Actually I think I can take Saltblast out of the deck in favor of Archon of Justice since Archon of Justice is universally speaking BETTER than Saltblast in every way for this deck!
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"As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." -- Varsuvius, Order of the Stick
Lastly, I'm using a way to help make sure I get a good mana base and it retroactively thins my deck out. Cards that search for land for me. Thawing GlaciersArmillary Sphere,Expedition Map
Mind Stone is also a good card to start then get another card back later.
Hope some of this helps!
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We prefer the silence of the blind.
Memories are miracles for those who have nothing else to show, nothing else to hold.
The problem with Thawing Glaciers is that it only searches for basic lands. Which while useful is kind of weak in this deck. You really want a good combination of both basic and non-basic lands. Same goes for Armillary Sphere. Meanwhile Expedition Map is useful, but I would contend that either Land Tax or Weathered Wayfarer would be better for this deck than the Map would be given the colors of the deck.
Cradle of Vitality is certainly interesting. It is worth consideration given that this deck aims to be gaining a great deal of life. However given the fact that most creatures are only going to be out for a few turns unless things go seriously awry, you are going to instead want cards that amplify damage more than you are going to want cards that increase a creatures power and toughness.
Hamletback Goliath, is severely underwhelming to say the least. It takes too long to get to any decent size, and there are just more efficient creatures that I would rather be running instead. Desolation Giant is not something I am particularly keen on. While it is certainly an interesting wrath effect, I think I would rather run Mageta the Lion due to his no-regen clause. But overall I would rather run neither of these as they are both seriously underpowered.
Mind Stone is underpowered for what it does. If it either cost 1 mana to play and activate or it provided 2 mana for the price that it currently comes into play for... then I might consider playing it. But as it is, I would rather have Sol Ring any day for that slot.
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"As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." -- Varsuvius, Order of the Stick
I would like to revisit your critique of the Swords of L+S and F+I. Your first reason for not including them was because they prevent you from targeting your creature, but on inspection of your list the only card in your deck that targets a creature that isn't spot removal is Dawn Charm, so this reason is mostly moot unless you're afraid of threaten effects. (You can just reequip to another creature if someone steals the first creature in a more permanent fashion).
The second reason you cited was a lack of synergy but in the case of SoLaS, it's one of the most synergistic cards in the deck. Red and White don't have a lot of ways to recur creatures so most of the time if you plan on sacrificing one, it's gone for good. Not so if you're running SoLaS. It lets you keep recurring and flinging the same creature every turn with no mana requirement. This is especially potent when you're recurring either Archon of Justice or Duplicant. I agree that the SoFI isn't the most synergistic card for the deck, but it's still a potent weapon that increases the power of every creature you draw. In my Brion deck I've found that I'm mostly playing out one or two creatures at a time, and having plenty of equipment makes sure that each and every one has a significant impact on the board when it arrives. I would recommend removing Thornbite Staff and Order//Chaos. (Exile is a much better card than Order.)
One creature that I've not seen mentioned that deserves a look is Hateflayer. Nothing quite dominates a board like a hasted Hateflayer, and if you can slap a Sword or Lightning Greaves on him he's going to annihilate someone very quickly. He's particularly amusing paired with Gratuitous Violence. Rimescale Dragon or Obsidian Fireheart would be my cut here.
I had Reveillark in my deck for awhile, but every time I drew him he just sat in my hand because I had no 2 power creatures in my graveyard to recur, and a 5 mana 4/3 vanilla flier is uninspiring to say the least. I suggest taking a long look at him, and if you do decide to keep him in at least add Siege-Gang Commander to go with him. Other fliers you could replace him with include Exalted Angel and Battlegrace Angel. Both are fat life-linked fliers which are always good in multiplayer.
I would like to underscore that Thawing Glaciers is not suited to this deck, but for a different reason. Every time I drew it I used it once and then never played it again, unless I was mana screwed, simply because I was tapping out every turn to cast a fatty or sweep the board. It's a good card but this is not the deck for it.
Kher Keep is a must. It might look laughable but I can't count how many times it's acted like a red Kor Haven by chumping some giant nontrampler. It also combos reasonably well with World Queller to provide an Innocent Blood every turn.
Cradle of Vitality is certainly interesting. It is worth consideration given that this deck aims to be gaining a great deal of life. However given the fact that most creatures are only going to be out for a few turns unless things go seriously awry, you are going to instead want cards that amplify damage more than you are going to want cards that increase a creatures power and toughness.
I don't really understand your reasoning on not running Cradle of Vitality...bumping a creature's p/t and then flinging with Brion is amplifying damage you didn't have before. At worst, you can put the +1/+1 counters on Brion.
I just made several of the changes. Most notably I changed the Rimescale Dragon for the Hateflayer due to the fact that I currently do not have the capacity to really fill out the Plains with the snow-covered variety, and because I really kind of like the idea of a wither-type creature in the EDH format where having an answer to things like Darksteel Colossus is really useful. So I will probably be sticking to the Hateflayer.
Additionally I added Sword of Light and Shadow due to it being able to recur creatures when the creature equiped with it attacks. I am going to give it a shot in the dark, but not sure if I will like it too much.
I also added Wrath of God in place of Order/Chaos due to the fact that I think Wrath is a better card all around for the mana cost. Finally I added Shining Shoal in place of Captain's Maneuver. While I like Captain's Maneuver due to the ability to help another player, I also like Shining Shoal for the surprise factor quite a bit.
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"As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." -- Varsuvius, Order of the Stick
I want to modify this deck list for use on MODO... what I have found with MODO is that many of the decks that play Commander on MODO happen to play with slightly lower mana curves than the typical EDH deck. So I was wondering if anyone would be willing to help me curve out this deck into a more reasonable deck list for MODO?
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"As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." -- Varsuvius, Order of the Stick
I have been playing EDH for some time now, but I'm just starting to build a deck with Brion as my general. Without looking at this forum, I built the deck how I saw it working best, which is to say that I wanted to push out huge critters and fling them with Brion for 21 damage as quickly as possible.
I realize, after looking through this list and others on the forum, that my deck looks much different from the one in this thread. I'd like to know your thoughts on the following cards:
Taurean Mauler- this gets HUGE, very quickly. Easily swings or gets tossed by Brion for big damage.
Quicksilver Amulet- I've checked lists to see if this badboy is banned, but I haven't seen anything to make me unsleeve it. This thing is dirty when coupled with Brion, for instant speed fatties and EOT Brion shenanigans. In test games, if this thing sticks around for one or two turns, it's usually game over with all the big bodies in this deck.
Boldwyr Heavyweights- an 8/8 trampler for 4, with a terrible side effect...which isn't so terrible when you consider how many Threaten spells this deck plays. I know that sounds situational, but how many times have you held that Threaten or Mark of Mutiny, waiting for someone to play a game changer? This card basically FORCES opponents to get something big. Even if it's an Angel of Despair or something that nukes your giants, you've drawn it out of their deck to be flung at their face the next turn.
Deep-Slumber Titan- again, an INSANELY well-costed fattie with a drawback. These are the types of creatures I was looking for in a Brion deck. A 7/7 turn four screams Brion Stoutarm to me, regardless of it not untapping.
Bloodshot Cyclops- basically an expensive Brion without the lifegain. I know, those are the exact reasons why Brion is so good, but having another one isn't really that bad.
Zektar Shrine Expedition- a free 7/1 creature to toss with Brion whenever you decide to sack the Expedition...seems solid.
Fatal Frenzy/Blazing Shoal/Soul's Fire- all or any of these make throwing things with Brion much more painful for your opponent. I personally run Soul's Fire and it is a BACK BREAKER.
Graveful Reprieve- probably the biggest F.U. card in this deck. Board sweeper? Sorry, got it covered. Gonna get rid of my Akroma? Whoops, not this turn. Wondering why I sacked my Bogarden Hellkite to Brion? Here's why: Graceful Reprieve.
Please LMK if this stuff makes sense to you. My deck plays pretty quickly, usually going lethal with Brion around turn 6. The problem that I've run into is that the deck is literally built on Brion staying in the game. As douchebaggy as Lightning Grieves is, it's the best way I've seen to keep him going, even making him faster. The other decks I've built for EDH have all had strong generals (Maga, Gerrard, Rafiq) but I could win games even when people were general hating most of the time. Brion is tough if people start gunning for him, especially in multiplayer. Any suggestions?
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Currently Playing: Standard: BG Cruel Ediction Extended: Tezzerator Legacy: Eva Green EDH: Mono-Black Maga Control // Rw Brion Stoutarm // UB Wrexial "Wrex 'N' Effects"
Brion's fling effect doesn't count towards general damage. Only combat damage counts towards the 21 general damage. For Brion to score a kill like that you have to pump him up and send him in himself. Which in turn makes things like Deep-Slumber Titan pretty bad, as they're essentially Soul Feasts.
Soul's Fire looks interesting. Right now I'm running Lightning Helix as the only burn I can tutor up with Soulforger. I might have to replace Demonfire with Soul's Fire and give it a whirl.
One card that could help out in multiplayer is Aurification. It's not that threatening and it definitely provides incentive to swing guys elsewhere.
I guess I have been under the wrong impression on the way general damage is applied for the kill. I assumed that your general had to be the source of the 21 damage, that's why Kokusho was banned so quickly. If in fact, your general has to do 21 points of COMBAT damage, I'll have to rethink some card choices.
I don't run any X burn spells in my build other than Banefire because they seem to "one note", like their effect is usually pretty underwhelming within the game. Demonfire might be nice, but I would almost look for another draw spell over something like that.
I actually had Aurification in my deck when I originally built it, but it ended up hitting the cutting room floor for another creature. I usually like to stay away from aggro heavy strategies, but this deck kind of fell that way after playtesting a little. Aurification was never a bad play, but I found it usually got hated on early and the counters don't stay. If the counters would have stayed, it would have kept it's spot in this deck.
I'm also not sold on cards like Rorix and Emeria Angel, especially when there are EDH staples that are missing from this list. Runed Halo, Disenchant/Abolish, Strip Mine + Crucible should all be here, IMO, because they're relevant in every single game. I wouldn't build an EDH deck without Crucible.
I'm also trying Countryisde Crusher as a little boost to the deck. Because drawing power is very weak in my build, I'm using him as a way to thin my deck and draw more spells rather than lands.
Has anyone used Mirror Entity? Seems like it would be pretty good.
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Currently Playing: Standard: BG Cruel Ediction Extended: Tezzerator Legacy: Eva Green EDH: Mono-Black Maga Control // Rw Brion Stoutarm // UB Wrexial "Wrex 'N' Effects"
I have updated the deck list in the Opening Post with what I am running on MTGOnline. Now for some responses.
Taurean Mauler at first seems awesome. However it's reliance on other decks for its size tends to make it weaker than say, Serra Avatar or other cards that are able to grow based on their own deck.
I don't really like the Heavyweights either. There are far better spells in existence than that one.
Interestingly enough, I have won several games without having to keep Brion in the game for very long. If you can focus the cards in the deck properly, Brion really isn't as necessary for the deck to opperate properly as a few of the other cards happen to be.
Aurafication is certainly an interesting card. And there are times that I wish I had such a card. I am definitely interested in the possibility of running such a card. However I personally think that making my opponents creatures into defensive walls is counterintuitive to what an aggro deck such as this wants to do with it's creatures.
The reason Kokusho was banned was not because she dealt general damage when she went to the graveyard. Rather it is because she caused 5 life loss to every single opponent and gave you life equal to the life lost this way. In huge multiplayer games this could cause serious life swings that tend to be insurmountable. Additionally once Kokusho hits the field it is often times a fight over that one card instead of an actual multiplayer game after that point.
I have found Rorix Bladewing to be incredibly valuable in this deck. a 6/5 Hastey flyer is nothing to shy away from. Especially when it only costs 3RRR. Additionally, when combined with cards that produce Tokens, such as Emeria Angel, one of the other Dragons in this deck (Predator Dragon) becomes incredibly potent. I find them all to be incredibly useful.
As for Runed Halo, Disenchant, Abolish, Strip Mine, and Crucible of Worlds. This deck is built on Magic the Gathering Online (MTGO), as such, things like Strip Mine are out of the question given that they cost a minimum of 10 U.S. Dollars at the more prominent stores. Additionally there are better options than Disenchant and Abolish, such as Return to Dust which has the potential to hit two artifacts at a time, and Oblivion Ring which can hit any non-land permanent. As far as Runed Halo goes, while that may be excellent for stopping a General in duels, it isn't so great in Multi-player games. And since all MTGO EDH games are 3 to 4 player games... Runed Halo is a no go. It should be noted that Crucible, can be relavant, however it is hardly necessary when next to no one in EDH on MTGO runs a Strip Mine Lock.
Mirror Entity is indeed something I had been considering. However I decided against it when I found out that the whole Lark Combo doesn't work on MTGO due to the Karmic Guide not being in circulation as of yet (and it probably won't be in circulation until sometime next year at the earliest, at which time I might consider it).
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I hope to make improvements to the deck when and where possible, however this deck seems to be playing fairly consistently and quite nicely, so it seems to be almost at the top of its performance level for what I want.
00 Brion Stoutarm
LEGENDARY CREATURES [3]
01 Akroma, Angel of Fury
02 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
03 Rorix Bladewing
ARTIFACT CREATURES [1]:
04 Duplicant
Creatures [22]:
05 Anger
06 Archon of Justice
07 Auriok Champion
08 Balefire Liege
09 Battlegrace Angel
10 Benalish Commander
11 Bogardan Hellkite
12 Emeria Angel
13 Felidar Sovereign
14 Firemane Angel
15 Greater Gargadon
16 Hateflayer
17 Hellkite Charger
18 Ingot Chewer
19 Obsidian Fireheart
20 Predator Dragon
21 Reveillark
22 Serra Avatar
23 Twilight Shepherd
24 Wall of Reverence
25 Weathered Wayfarer
26 World Queller
ENCHANTMENTS [5]
27 Gratuitous Violence
28 Luminarch Ascension
29 Oblivion Ring
30 Proper Burial
31 Vicious Shadows
INSTANTS [10]:
32 Condemn
33 Dawn Charm
34 Grab the Reins
35 Lightning Helix
36 Miraculous Recovery
37 Path to Exile
38 Return to Dust
39 Swords to Plowshares
40 Word of Seizing
41 Shining Shoal
42 Akroma's Vengeance
43 Austere Command
44 Decree of Justice
45 Evangelize
46 Hallowed Burial
47 Ruination
48 Wrath of God
PLANESWALKERS [2]:
49 Ajani Vengeant
50 Chandra Nalaar
ARTIFACTS [6]:
51 Boros Signet
52 Coalition Relic
53 Expedition Map
54 Mind's Eye
55 Relic of Progenitus
56 Sensei's Divining Top
LEGENDARY EQUIPMENT [1]
57 Umezawa's Jitte
EQUIPMENT [4]:
58 Lightning Greaves
59 Loxodon Warhammer
60 Sunforger
61 Sword of Light and Shadow
BASIC LANDS [27]:
62 Mountain
63 Mountain
64 Mountain
65 Mountain
66 Mountain
67 Mountain
68 Mountain
69 Mountain
70 Mountain
71 Mountain
72 Mountain
73 Mountain
74 Plains
75 Plains
76 Plains
77 Plains
78 Plains
79 Plains
80 Plains
81 Plains
82 Plains
83 Plains
84 Plains
85 Plains
86 Plains
87 Plains
88 Plains
89 Eiganjo Castle
90 Kher Keep
NON-BASIC LANDS []:
91 Arid Mesa
92 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
93 Naya Panorama
94 Rugged Prairie
95 Spinerock Knoll
96 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
97 Temple of the False God
98 Terramorphic Expanse
99 Sacred Foundry
Any Advice would be welcome
I have decided to reset the changelog for this deck.
Some suggestions (in no particular order):
Return to Dust is very versatile and is great card advantage. Also, removing the targets rather than destroying them can come in handy.
Glory doesn't mind getting pitched by Brion. It can win a game if the opponent can't hit their GY hate.
You're running some huge creatures and sorceries. With big casting costs like that, you can consider some of the large-scale accel, like Thran Dynamo, Gilded Lotus, Mana Valt, Grim Monolith, etc. Also, Solemn Simulacrum is always nice.
Land Tax is insanely good, especially in a deck that simply cannot afford to miss a drop. Weathered Wayfarer is just as awesome, being able to fetch the ridiculously good Sunhome.
Archon of Justice is nice utility in any white deck, and it works great with Brion. It can wreck a game with a way to recur it, like Adarkar Valkyrie, Twilight Shepherd, Karmic Guide, or Sword of Light and Shadow. On that note, Yosei, the Morning Star is also really nasty, especially when you can recur him.
The dwarves are incredibly effective. But they're kind of douchebaggy. Dwarven Miner, Dwarven Blastminer.
You might as well add the tutors you do have access to: Enlightened Tutor and especially Gamble, one of the best red EDH cards, IMO.
Serra Avatar and Phyrexian Processor are instant wins with Brion or even just a Lightning Greaves. Kind of db, too, though.
To address the poor card draw, (you can't always draw Wheel of Fortune), Mind's Eye, Tower of Fortunes, Memory Jar, Well of Lost Dreams, Skullclamp. The last two are meant to work with Brion.
I think Sword of Fire and Ice and Sword of Light and Shadow are worth a spot here.
Avatar of Fury is one of my favourite fatties in this deck. The alternate casting cost can hose green decks, and the firebreathing is death with Brion.
Sunforger is absolutely, positively INSANE. Path, Condemn, Orim's Thunder, Grab the Reins, Enlightened Tutor. It is just nuts.
Stonehewer Giant is one of the best white EDH cards. You've only got four targets for him, but he still might be worth running, especially if you add Sunforger.
I have a few other suggestions, but those are just the most important, I think. If you want, I can post my decklist so you can take a look.
EDH
Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video)
Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video)
Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video)
B Shirei (video)
WU Rasputin (video) (retired)
R Urabrask (video)
WUR Zedruu (video) (retired)
W Isamaru
UB Grimgrin
U Mistform Ultimus (video)
UBR Gwendlyn (video)
URG Animar (video)
RG Thromok
WB Selenia
Standard
WU Geist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired)
WUB Battle of Wits!
As far as Archon of Justice goes. While it is certainly potent to exile any permanent from the game. World Queller also has the benefit of affecting multiple players at one time. Alternatively Duplicant takes effect when it comes into play and can be utilized off of a Reveillark. However, Ultimately I think Archon would be an ideal card to utilize when taking this deck into 1v1 mode, where as World Queller and or Duplicant would be more suited to multiplayer.
As for Enlightened Tutor and Gamble, I might be willing to throw in the Enlightened. But Gamble is in my personal opinion to big of a risk to warrant inclusion. I don't really like cards with random effects that much personally.
I could definitely see myself getting Serra Avatar for the deck, but tend to agree, it is a bit of a deuchebag type of card. However certainly intriguing.
Tower of Fortunes' effect is too expensive. I don't like Memory Jar as this is not really a mill deck. Well of Lost Dreams certainly has an interesting Synergy with the deck, and is a very interesting idea. Likewise Skullclamp has an interesting Synergy with the deck and is a good idea. And I do have a Mind's Eye that I could use in the mean time in place of either the well or the skull clamp. I am kind of not really liking the Wheel of Fortune anyways, it is kind of a double edged sword in this deck. It can both ruin an opposing deck as well as help them, so I am not sold on using that card all that much.
I didn't include the Swords for two reasons. First in the case of both of the swords, if equiped to a creature it would prevent me from targeting a creature with my own spells should I need to for some reason. Second in the case of the Sword of Light and Shadows, it really does not have any particular synergy with my General unless I attack with him. Same goes with the Sword of Fire and Ice. I want all the cards in the deck to have synergies when and where possible with the deck.
I agree, Sunforger needs to replace the current primary tutor in this deck (namely Planar Portal) to that end I am planning on finding one tomorrow night if I am lucky. Hopefully everything goes as planned.
Stonehewer Giant is certainly interesting and worth considering.
These are all certainly good idea's. However currently, If I am to include any of these idea's I kind of need some tips on what may need cutting vs. what should stay in the deck.
Also I forgot to mention some of my favourite lands in this deck: Kor Haven and Spinerock Knoll. The Haven is just great, and you'll have no problems triggering the Knoll.
EDH
Azami (video)
:symw::symb::symg: Teneb (video)
Drana (video) (retired)
:symw::symr: Brion (video)
:symb::symr: Wort (video)
Arcum (video) (retired)
:symr::symg: Stonebrow (video)
B Shirei (video)
WU Rasputin (video) (retired)
R Urabrask (video)
WUR Zedruu (video) (retired)
W Isamaru
UB Grimgrin
U Mistform Ultimus (video)
UBR Gwendlyn (video)
URG Animar (video)
RG Thromok
WB Selenia
Standard
WU Geist of Saint Traft standard EDH (video) (retired)
WUB Battle of Wits!
Kor Haven and Spinerock Knoll are both wonderful cards, thanks for the advice. I will try to aquire those two cards ASAP, thank you
EDITS: Actually I think I can take Saltblast out of the deck in favor of Archon of Justice since Archon of Justice is universally speaking BETTER than Saltblast in every way for this deck!
I'm slowly building up a Brion deck too, and here are some cards I'm using. Maybe they can help.
Cradle of Vitality, Hamletback Goliath, Desolation Giant, and Darksteel Ingot are all solids.
Lastly, I'm using a way to help make sure I get a good mana base and it retroactively thins my deck out. Cards that search for land for me. Thawing Glaciers Armillary Sphere,Expedition Map
Mind Stone is also a good card to start then get another card back later.
Hope some of this helps!
Memories are miracles for those who have nothing else to show, nothing else to hold.
WUG
Cradle of Vitality is certainly interesting. It is worth consideration given that this deck aims to be gaining a great deal of life. However given the fact that most creatures are only going to be out for a few turns unless things go seriously awry, you are going to instead want cards that amplify damage more than you are going to want cards that increase a creatures power and toughness.
Hamletback Goliath, is severely underwhelming to say the least. It takes too long to get to any decent size, and there are just more efficient creatures that I would rather be running instead. Desolation Giant is not something I am particularly keen on. While it is certainly an interesting wrath effect, I think I would rather run Mageta the Lion due to his no-regen clause. But overall I would rather run neither of these as they are both seriously underpowered.
Mind Stone is underpowered for what it does. If it either cost 1 mana to play and activate or it provided 2 mana for the price that it currently comes into play for... then I might consider playing it. But as it is, I would rather have Sol Ring any day for that slot.
The second reason you cited was a lack of synergy but in the case of SoLaS, it's one of the most synergistic cards in the deck. Red and White don't have a lot of ways to recur creatures so most of the time if you plan on sacrificing one, it's gone for good. Not so if you're running SoLaS. It lets you keep recurring and flinging the same creature every turn with no mana requirement. This is especially potent when you're recurring either Archon of Justice or Duplicant. I agree that the SoFI isn't the most synergistic card for the deck, but it's still a potent weapon that increases the power of every creature you draw. In my Brion deck I've found that I'm mostly playing out one or two creatures at a time, and having plenty of equipment makes sure that each and every one has a significant impact on the board when it arrives. I would recommend removing Thornbite Staff and Order//Chaos. (Exile is a much better card than Order.)
One creature that I've not seen mentioned that deserves a look is Hateflayer. Nothing quite dominates a board like a hasted Hateflayer, and if you can slap a Sword or Lightning Greaves on him he's going to annihilate someone very quickly. He's particularly amusing paired with Gratuitous Violence. Rimescale Dragon or Obsidian Fireheart would be my cut here.
I had Reveillark in my deck for awhile, but every time I drew him he just sat in my hand because I had no 2 power creatures in my graveyard to recur, and a 5 mana 4/3 vanilla flier is uninspiring to say the least. I suggest taking a long look at him, and if you do decide to keep him in at least add Siege-Gang Commander to go with him. Other fliers you could replace him with include Exalted Angel and Battlegrace Angel. Both are fat life-linked fliers which are always good in multiplayer.
I would like to underscore that Thawing Glaciers is not suited to this deck, but for a different reason. Every time I drew it I used it once and then never played it again, unless I was mana screwed, simply because I was tapping out every turn to cast a fatty or sweep the board. It's a good card but this is not the deck for it.
Kher Keep is a must. It might look laughable but I can't count how many times it's acted like a red Kor Haven by chumping some giant nontrampler. It also combos reasonably well with World Queller to provide an Innocent Blood every turn.
Teneb, the Harvester: Let there be life!
Drafting Aggro in the Cube: A Primer for Beginners
I don't really understand your reasoning on not running Cradle of Vitality...bumping a creature's p/t and then flinging with Brion is amplifying damage you didn't have before. At worst, you can put the +1/+1 counters on Brion.
If you are looking for another damage amplifyer: Quest for Pure Flame
--Evil
Additionally I added Sword of Light and Shadow due to it being able to recur creatures when the creature equiped with it attacks. I am going to give it a shot in the dark, but not sure if I will like it too much.
I also added Wrath of God in place of Order/Chaos due to the fact that I think Wrath is a better card all around for the mana cost. Finally I added Shining Shoal in place of Captain's Maneuver. While I like Captain's Maneuver due to the ability to help another player, I also like Shining Shoal for the surprise factor quite a bit.
I realize, after looking through this list and others on the forum, that my deck looks much different from the one in this thread. I'd like to know your thoughts on the following cards:
Taurean Mauler- this gets HUGE, very quickly. Easily swings or gets tossed by Brion for big damage.
Quicksilver Amulet- I've checked lists to see if this badboy is banned, but I haven't seen anything to make me unsleeve it. This thing is dirty when coupled with Brion, for instant speed fatties and EOT Brion shenanigans. In test games, if this thing sticks around for one or two turns, it's usually game over with all the big bodies in this deck.
Boldwyr Heavyweights- an 8/8 trampler for 4, with a terrible side effect...which isn't so terrible when you consider how many Threaten spells this deck plays. I know that sounds situational, but how many times have you held that Threaten or Mark of Mutiny, waiting for someone to play a game changer? This card basically FORCES opponents to get something big. Even if it's an Angel of Despair or something that nukes your giants, you've drawn it out of their deck to be flung at their face the next turn.
Deep-Slumber Titan- again, an INSANELY well-costed fattie with a drawback. These are the types of creatures I was looking for in a Brion deck. A 7/7 turn four screams Brion Stoutarm to me, regardless of it not untapping.
Bloodshot Cyclops- basically an expensive Brion without the lifegain. I know, those are the exact reasons why Brion is so good, but having another one isn't really that bad.
Zektar Shrine Expedition- a free 7/1 creature to toss with Brion whenever you decide to sack the Expedition...seems solid.
Fatal Frenzy/Blazing Shoal/Soul's Fire- all or any of these make throwing things with Brion much more painful for your opponent. I personally run Soul's Fire and it is a BACK BREAKER.
Graveful Reprieve- probably the biggest F.U. card in this deck. Board sweeper? Sorry, got it covered. Gonna get rid of my Akroma? Whoops, not this turn. Wondering why I sacked my Bogarden Hellkite to Brion? Here's why: Graceful Reprieve.
Please LMK if this stuff makes sense to you. My deck plays pretty quickly, usually going lethal with Brion around turn 6. The problem that I've run into is that the deck is literally built on Brion staying in the game. As douchebaggy as Lightning Grieves is, it's the best way I've seen to keep him going, even making him faster. The other decks I've built for EDH have all had strong generals (Maga, Gerrard, Rafiq) but I could win games even when people were general hating most of the time. Brion is tough if people start gunning for him, especially in multiplayer. Any suggestions?
Standard: BG Cruel Ediction
Extended: Tezzerator
Legacy: Eva Green
EDH: Mono-Black Maga Control // Rw Brion Stoutarm // UB Wrexial "Wrex 'N' Effects"
Soul's Fire looks interesting. Right now I'm running Lightning Helix as the only burn I can tutor up with Soulforger. I might have to replace Demonfire with Soul's Fire and give it a whirl.
One card that could help out in multiplayer is Aurification. It's not that threatening and it definitely provides incentive to swing guys elsewhere.
Teneb, the Harvester: Let there be life!
Drafting Aggro in the Cube: A Primer for Beginners
I don't run any X burn spells in my build other than Banefire because they seem to "one note", like their effect is usually pretty underwhelming within the game. Demonfire might be nice, but I would almost look for another draw spell over something like that.
I actually had Aurification in my deck when I originally built it, but it ended up hitting the cutting room floor for another creature. I usually like to stay away from aggro heavy strategies, but this deck kind of fell that way after playtesting a little. Aurification was never a bad play, but I found it usually got hated on early and the counters don't stay. If the counters would have stayed, it would have kept it's spot in this deck.
I'm also not sold on cards like Rorix and Emeria Angel, especially when there are EDH staples that are missing from this list. Runed Halo, Disenchant/Abolish, Strip Mine + Crucible should all be here, IMO, because they're relevant in every single game. I wouldn't build an EDH deck without Crucible.
I'm also trying Countryisde Crusher as a little boost to the deck. Because drawing power is very weak in my build, I'm using him as a way to thin my deck and draw more spells rather than lands.
Has anyone used Mirror Entity? Seems like it would be pretty good.
Standard: BG Cruel Ediction
Extended: Tezzerator
Legacy: Eva Green
EDH: Mono-Black Maga Control // Rw Brion Stoutarm // UB Wrexial "Wrex 'N' Effects"
Taurean Mauler at first seems awesome. However it's reliance on other decks for its size tends to make it weaker than say, Serra Avatar or other cards that are able to grow based on their own deck.
I don't really like the Heavyweights either. There are far better spells in existence than that one.
Graceful Reprieve, while interesting, really isn't all that good overall. Especially when you could instead be running things like Miraculous Recovery and Resurrection instead.
Interestingly enough, I have won several games without having to keep Brion in the game for very long. If you can focus the cards in the deck properly, Brion really isn't as necessary for the deck to opperate properly as a few of the other cards happen to be.
Aurafication is certainly an interesting card. And there are times that I wish I had such a card. I am definitely interested in the possibility of running such a card. However I personally think that making my opponents creatures into defensive walls is counterintuitive to what an aggro deck such as this wants to do with it's creatures.
The reason Kokusho was banned was not because she dealt general damage when she went to the graveyard. Rather it is because she caused 5 life loss to every single opponent and gave you life equal to the life lost this way. In huge multiplayer games this could cause serious life swings that tend to be insurmountable. Additionally once Kokusho hits the field it is often times a fight over that one card instead of an actual multiplayer game after that point.
I have found Rorix Bladewing to be incredibly valuable in this deck. a 6/5 Hastey flyer is nothing to shy away from. Especially when it only costs 3RRR. Additionally, when combined with cards that produce Tokens, such as Emeria Angel, one of the other Dragons in this deck (Predator Dragon) becomes incredibly potent. I find them all to be incredibly useful.
As for Runed Halo, Disenchant, Abolish, Strip Mine, and Crucible of Worlds. This deck is built on Magic the Gathering Online (MTGO), as such, things like Strip Mine are out of the question given that they cost a minimum of 10 U.S. Dollars at the more prominent stores. Additionally there are better options than Disenchant and Abolish, such as Return to Dust which has the potential to hit two artifacts at a time, and Oblivion Ring which can hit any non-land permanent. As far as Runed Halo goes, while that may be excellent for stopping a General in duels, it isn't so great in Multi-player games. And since all MTGO EDH games are 3 to 4 player games... Runed Halo is a no go. It should be noted that Crucible, can be relavant, however it is hardly necessary when next to no one in EDH on MTGO runs a Strip Mine Lock.
As far as Countryside Crusher goes... if I did run him, I would be forced to run Crucible of Worlds due to also running Emeria, the Sky Ruin and various expensive spells that I couldn't cast if I landed an early crusher.
Mirror Entity is indeed something I had been considering. However I decided against it when I found out that the whole Lark Combo doesn't work on MTGO due to the Karmic Guide not being in circulation as of yet (and it probably won't be in circulation until sometime next year at the earliest, at which time I might consider it).