Hello all! This would be my first post in a very long time, but check it! The point of this deck is survival and to essentially win with Felidar Sovereign or just flat out beat down. I have tested this deck out at FNM and it works (almost) flawlessly! It needs tweeking here and there, but minor. So after much "blah" talking, here we go:
i know its expensive and thats why i dont run them but i think BSA would really help in this deck and behemoth sledge i think thats what its called
I like the way you think, but that only proposes one issue...all my creatures (beside Birds and Noble) have Lifelink already. I was thinking more Gorgon Flail or Magebane Armor for stall.
Here is all Life gain cards currently in standard.
m11/Zen
Ajani Goldmane
Archon of Redemption
Caravan Hurda
Lifelink
Kor Firewalker
Landbind Ritual
Lightkeeper of Emeria
Lone Missionary
Luminous Wake
Ondu Cleric
Narrow Escape
Perimeter Captain
Rest for the Weary
Solemn Offering
Soul Warden
Soul's Attendant
Sunspring Expedition
Survival Cache
Talus Paladin
Ajani's Mantra
Goldenglow moth
Serra Ascendant
Tireless Missionaries
Transcendent Master
M10/alara
Ajani Vengeant
Angel's mercy
Battlegrace Angel
Captured Sunlight
Cradle of Vitality
Etherwrought Page
Filigree Angel
Kiss of the Amesha
Marble Chalice
Offering to Asha
Punish Ignorance
Rhox Bodyguard
Soul's Grace
Sphinx Sovereign
Tainted Sigil
Thopter Foundry
Titanic Ultimatum
Wall of Reverence
Life link:
White
Baneslayer Angel
Caravan Hurda
Serra Ascendant
Transcendent Master
Felidar Sovereign
Other colors:
Child of Night
Escaped Null
Sejiri Merfolk
Vampire Nighthawk
Vampire's Bite... kinda
Rotating out
Cliffrunner Behemoth
Necromancer's Covenant
Paragon of the Amesha
Behemoth Sledge
Rhox War Monk
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Windwright Mage
Mvp's
Kor Skyfisher- bounces omens or lone for more life/CA Sun titan- a mini emeria Luminarch ascension- Agro angel attack after stilling with walls? Sign me up. Day Of Judgement- Swarming to over extend your walls? handle those pesky insects (and putrid leeches) with a can of board sweep. act now an cast baneslayer next turn! basilisk collar- your saying I can get deathtouch and life link for my pride mane for only 3 mana? Leyline of sanctity-well I didnt kill rdw enough I also want to take out any hopes discard, mill or plainswalkers have on me... Gideon Jura - Great for forcing futile attacks into walls gaining life. However, VERY situational and his 6/6 ability is not really a big gain for us. Emeria Angel - 4 CMC Landfalls into Baby 1/1 Angel Chump Blockers. Definitely worth consideration against decks that feature flying, however, will be targetted rather quickly by the primary deck it would be brought in for, Vamps. With no real way to pump the 1/1s without changing the deck (aside from the occasional Ajani bump) it brings little more to the table. Serra Angel - A poor man's Baneslayer essentially. Vigilience is cool and all, but the lack of lifelink keeps her from being worth playing in the deck unless you are unable to acquire BSAs. Elspeth - Makes a chump if you need it, makes your lone attacker fly or bigger, and if it gets to the last one you have unkillable walls, and unkillable threats. Leyline of vitality Its like a turn 0 soul warden and it gives you a defense buff. It also is stackable. can make chump blockers into... well real blockers. Emeria, the sky ruin Reoccur creatures like a pro. reoccur sun titan and reoccur another thing too.
What types of lifegain decks are there?
Types of lifegain/details/sample deck lists
More will be added as info comes in. However this will go into detail about how these different types of decks run. prepare for a read, however it is worth it. Slow life gain King so far.
A variation of my deck, created by Diz. This type of deck is a sister of mono white control and is built to easly slip into a longer game then any in standard can go with out running out of fuel. as you can see walls are built early (by turn 3 you can have out 4 walls) these walls can gain you life, deter attacking, stop them all together, and net you CA. From behind these walls you weather out attacks from your opponent. If your lucky... which usually you are with all the CA going around, you pop out a luminarch ascension. With this your start chargeing up while forcing your opponent to claw down your walls. You will gain life and prepare for late game during this time. As your walls start failing, simply Day of judgement and make your ememys wish they just left you alone. from there you can do a baneslayer, an online Serra A, or kill with angels babies from LA... and if that doesnt work... well guess what? Emeria is only a turn or 2 from being online. reoccuring fun.
Fun combos with this deck? Put out LA a cap and ajani gold mane. Ask your opponent what they prefer you gaining life with an attack to keep LA off line, or ajani go off and grab you some crazy avatar?
DoJ hoards of elfs, denying mana to your opponent, buy your self a turn for LA, and maybe putting out a baneslayer.
Doj when an eldrazi shows up.
Putting out Bane or Felidar, get doombladed then go "brave the elements, black" Proceed to smile.
Losing 6 life to a fattie, then double casting two lone missionaries.
Blocking an overrun hoard, gaining life, then using Brave so your walls feel no sting. Darn, plans foiled.
Reoccuring with emeria a early game dead Serra A from when you had 23 life and explain how it is now a 6/6 flying lifelinker now that you have 36 life.
reoccur suntitan with emeria, then reoccur something else.
[/Deck]
fast argo life gain princess, has a shot, demoted due to the speed/ stability of soulgain
The basic function of the deck is to stall out the game and gain life behind your walls, which allow you to draw with Wall of Omens and Survival Cache until you are able to drop large threats like Baneslayer Angel and Felidar Sovereign. Your removal suite also serves to control the board as well as gain you life while you continue to stall your opponent and force them to over-commit to your walls. Tech comes in the form of Gideon Jura, a single Grim Discovery, (maybe Sanguine Bond If you prefer), and Cradle of Vitality.
Controlling life gain Prince, its got a shot
Hold your horses. Check back in 20 it will be here
Green soul life gain Queen, Shown its worth and rose to second place
The Idea is simple. hope you get the leyline out (if you dont its ok) then get out soul's if you have it. Now everytime you drop a creature you'll gain 1 and then 1 more. token producers will start coming out and they will have a defense buff so your not open while you can attack with a pridemate, serra A, what have you. The ley lines stack too. lastly when sun titan comes out he brings back things like nest invader and only add to your life. The tokens are also mana sources so sun could come out quite early.
Play style of the deck?
Vitality Fatality
Much like Mono white control, this deck gives a vairty of answers for many situations. Built in with early playing walls, you spend your first turns preparing for the late game. If you manage to get off a luminarch ascension, you probably will win the game. If you dont draw into one you just set up creature walls, gain life and wait it out. As the opponent over extends to kill your walls let it happen and block. If your walls are removed its one less threat to you, if they shoot out all their creatures and tricks, let it, you've got the ace up your sleeve. And if they attack and you have permitter captain you gain life from it. Even if they manage to remove all your walls, you'll have a life buffer. Once you hit turn 5 you start throwing out baneslayers, gideon, sun titan, felidar sovereign, as well as any angel tokens if luminarch ascension is online. A few game turns can go like this:
{drawn card} (your life total) -opponents life total- +la counters+
Opening hand: Plains X3 baneslayer perimeter captain wall of omens, Serra Ascendent
T1: Plains, Perimeter Captain
T2: {Survival cache} Plains, Wall of Omens {Path to exile}
T3: {Lone missionary} Plains, Survival cache (22) {Day of Judgement}
T4: {Sun titan}(24) {plains} Plains, DoJ
T5: {Oblivion ring} Plains Baneslayer
T6: {Sun titan} attack with Bsa (29) -15- Lone missionary (32) Serra A
T7: {survival cache} attack Bsa/SA (43) -4- Emeria
T8: {Plains} Suntitan, reoccur WoO {emeria} attack Bsa/SA (54) - -7-
Opening hand: 2 plains Serra A Luminarch ascension, Sun Titan Path to exile Gideon Jura
T1: Plains, Serra A
T2: {Emeria} Plains LA
T3: {DoJ} +1+ Emeria Block with serra (21)
T4: {Wall of omens} +2+ WoO {Plains) plains Block with wall path
T5: {Perimeter capt} +3+ Perimeter capt block with both (25)
T6: {plains} +4+ Make 2 angels Plains
T7: {Lone missionary} Gideon +2 attack with angels -12-
T8: {path to exile} gideon +2 make 2 angels, attack -4-
T9: attack for the win
This section aims to help you make some tough choices about cards that could be powerful... but do they work with the rest of the deck?
Ajani Pridemate
The guy is strong. However he can get killed... By ANY removal... If your running a fast life gain deck you can make this guy a threat. with cards like Basilisk collar and soul's attendant as well as survival catch, this guy is sick. but you need to protect him as he will quickly have a bullseye on his head. If your running something slower he might not be the best choice. If you want to run sun titan or emeria, he reoccurs as a 2/2 so not the best idea. if you want to set a wall army up then DoJ, he is the worst idea to have.
Serra Ascendent
Can you relibaly get to 30 life? If your playing fast, then can you do it by turn 3, 4 latest reliably? If slow, can you get to 30 then stay there easily? test the deck, if you dont I'm sorry youd need to fix your deck to fit him or just cut him.
Ajani Goldmane
Is your deck argo enough to use him to its max potential? Here's an example. with pridemate he gets a 1/1 counter if you use ajani to get 2 life. He will also get a 1/1 counter if you use his -1 ability and have vigilance. If use use his last ability your likely to have a pridemate monster by then as well as a avatar monster. perfect synergy. if your trying to just use him as a wall and gain 2 life each turn, try perimeter captain, or a better life gaining card.
Rest for the Weary
Do you need 8 life fast (by turn 2 lets say?) then this card is perfect. if you want something to get to late game, this card is not. its better to have something slowly gaining you health and giving you a defense. But if your trying something like to get Serra A online by turn 3? then this is the card (t1 drop serra A, turn 2 this or lone missionary turn3 this or cross roads serra A online.
Felidar Sovereign
How dare you! Felidar sovereign is our Alternate win condition... He as life link and is the spirit of this deck. Look at him now hes mad at you, rawring in anger. Yep. that is one mad kitty for even me thinking he should be added in this. But hes in a bit of a rough spot. while its easy for us to get to 40 life its not too easy to keep him around til our upkeep. the guy has a crazy bulls eye on his head. And in our type of deck hes no laughing matter. In our best case senerio he can be killed as much as they like, well just reoccur him with emeria, keep beating face until they cant kill him anymore and well we win. But lets be serious Likely people have some removal waiting for him, He costs 6, and emeria is not a guaranteed thing. If that doesnt happen, hes just dead weight. and tests have show... life link gets us life... 40 is 20+20 we can take 20 from our opponents life... well thats all their life, end game anyways. However if you treat him like a late game threat (like baneslayer) whos got lifelink and vigilance with a extra tough toughness... and just happens to also have the win clause, then there you go. hes great. Id put him in as a 5th and 6th baneslayer. The key to making him work is that you should be able to have him as a creature threat more then his win the game threat. if you make him independent able to hold his own, then he works. although its nice to have ways to make him safe (brave or emeria)
Soul Warden/ soul's attendant -
Unless you're putting out a bunch of tokens, these just seem to be a worse choice than say, Lonesome Missionary. Gain 4 right now, or hope it lives long enough to provide 4+... you tell me. Maybe when paired with the Pridemate its a little more viable, but the Pridemate is going to be an immediate target meaning a large investment for essentially a Doom Blade to ruin.
Trancedent Master -
It's lifelink at 6 (for a total cost of 9 mana) but it doesn't fly. While it eventually lives through our own DoJ, I feel it's just too slow and the mana is better spent with an online LA. However has been used in soul gain to a degree of success. He uses colorless mana to level, perfect for multicolored decks and with awakening zone.
Honor the Pure -
In theory... 1/5 Walls, 5/5 instead of 4/4 Angels, 6/6 BSAs.. seems good, but doesn't really pack enough to be worth removing any of the cards currently in the deck unless you run a very weenish version
Angelsong -
We've already covered this, but the card just SCREAMS that it should be in this deck. Nevermind the fact we're essentially building a new age Angel deck... and it's ANGEL song... get it?... Oh yeah, and the LA Counter/LifeGain from walls/Draw Card joys and such make it worthwhile.
Narrow Escape -
Similar in concept to the Brave the Elements/Emerge Unscathed as both targetted removal blocking, as well as cheapshotting a free block. Sure, I block your 9/9 of doom with my Wall of Omens, blocker declared, attack halted, life gained, prior to damage phase he snaps back to my hand, I gain 4 more life, next turn I play him again, and draw another card. Seems good. I don't know that it's good enough though. At 3CMC it seems a bit pricey to be saving for on their turn whch would only slow us down.
Martial Coup -
Only in a tokenish version. 7CMC Day + 5 Creatures sounds good, but it's most likely use would be at 6 or less to put out numerous tokens w/ Soul Warden pumping a Pridemate. Again, huge investment for a vulnerable creature. In a Token version, Ajani Goldmane could make things get a little crazy, but that would be a seperate deck (Ajani + Coup + Honor the Pure + Emeria Angel, spam tokens, give them 1/1 Counters)
Wall of omens
CA is important. And a 0/4 body is good too. although its not bad to have a great blocker, it does take up space in a bit more agro decks. this is very rare cases, where in most times it really pays to have this card.
Removal
Path to exile is proven to be the best. Though it ramps up your opponent (or you if your in a pinch) it can take out 99% of creatures for only a single mana. Oblivion ring follows it since it is everything removal. yes more, and not instant speed, its worth having if only for planeswakers/leylines. condemn makes the list, only for instant speed however is conditional. everything else comes after that.
Color splashes
Blue
adds mana leak and drawing power as well as sejiri merfolk. Great for control.
Cards Made available when splashing blue:
Deprive- counters? yes please. can bounce a cross roads? yes please.
Mana leak- hmmm... DUH!
drawing cards- wont get into it but yeah, yay drawing
spreading seas- just a good card
Sejiri Merfolk-2/2 life link first stike, for 2 mana. Dont think too hard about it now. It might blow up your brain.
Black
adds discard as well as great spot removal. dont forget vampire nighthawk
Cards Made available when splashing:
Doom blade
Vendetta
Consuming vapors
a million other black removal
Night hawk- really good... its a mini baneslayer!
child of night
Bond- you gain life alot.. thats alot of damange.
Death mark- Green white defense
Red
burn and fast damage
Lightning bolt
stagger shock
collar combo- gains you life, kills things, happy days (dies)
ajani Verdant anyone?
combust- white blue defense
Cards Made available when splashing
green
new green layline, mana ramp momentous fall
Cards Made available when splashing:
Momentous fall- Ca and life?
Lay line- soul warden effect and buff to defense... Hmmm sounds good?
autumn veil- defense against blue and black
Side deck?
Pithing needle- shuts down planeswalkers and man lands ect
brittle elugy- rids of a soulcrushing iona or eldrazi in poly, great for spot removal (aka exile is better then destroy)
war monk-kills leylines for 2. fast and gives a body. see below
solemn offering- kills artifacts as well as enchantments costs 3, but gains you 4 life
celestial purge- A mono white must to rid of anything black or red.
O rings- exile anything? yes please.
Ley line of sanctity- Stops planeswalkers, red burn, discard, mill, ect.
Day of Judgement- probably should be mained unless this is your 4th...
Path to exile/condemn/journey to nowhere- theres your order of whats better removal
Wall of omens/perimeter captain- if your playing a fast deck, these might come in handy on the side hold off mono green. not the best thing to have sided, usually just in main or not in at all
devout lightcaster- pro black and exiles something black. depends on your meta, if you dont need to be extra black hate, purge fits enough.
safe passage- angel song is generally better...
angel song- need an extra turn for LA or just gain life? warm up first so your voice doesnt crack.
Questions life gain face/ good thoughts for your deck:
Can you gain life faster then your dealt?
How does it fare against the new red leyline? Or red in general?
Will the color splash help this deck to what you want?
Is it better to gain large life to get to 30 for serra attendant or gain lots of little life from different sources for pridemate?
how can you deal with control (EX: mana leaking felidar sovereign)
Do you want to go Emeria, the Sky Ruin route?
What other cards could add to it? (Ex: Sun titan to bring back your little guys who get big)
What is the best side-boarding for this deck to help cover weaknesses.
I think that life gain could be big, especially with control really taking hold. Life gain has never really been a huge idea and and the fact that life could now be linked to aggro (strong attackers by turn 3 or 4 by having a high life) is pretty cool. also it gives a defense by simply having more life.
pros and lifegain section
Conley Woods of channel fireball is piloted the first pro rouge lifegain deck in the US nationals. He didn't win the nationals, but has certainly showed that lifegain can be a pro thing. this is the current deck he is using, a mix, he says of control and agro. Essentually a mix between speedgain and vitality fatality. He says he has hard match ups with naya and W/U control. He calls it soul sisters.
Conley Woods went 6-2 at the us nationals finish 14.
Vitality fatality: a longer match up due to all the removal, but one your walls can hold up to mid game, if your lucky you win it by dropping a bane slayer. focus on going late game, let your walls die and gain life. DoJ and eventually a bane or some way to win will stick when they start running out of fuel. Side board in removal, take out lumi. Leyline if there using blightning, side in purges.
SpeedGain:
Harder here as they kill your threats and your hand gets emptyed by blighting heres here more then vitality. Walls and protection can help alot when added. As always, sideboarding in purges and leyline of sanctity is a good Idea here.
SpeedGain: Keep playing threats til they cant deal with it anymore. your life gain and numerous threats will win out.
Vitality fatality: Luminarch ascension is what you need to win right off the bat.
Soulgain: you got the advantage here. your faster, get more threats in faster, gain much more life, and once you side in knight of the R if Dforce is being used you auto win
Vitality fatality: This is a toughie for us. Mainly for ajani and elsthbeth. the only way to win this one is getting lumi online, which means game 2 pack in purges, o ring if you got it, and LAYLINE! its a must to keep some of the effects off you. spot removal over DoJ here (for walls and giedon)
Single:
Vitality fatality: Simple enough either kill them before they get it off, keep walls up and get lumi online, or gain life and baneslayer or serra A before the combo goes off. DoJ their creatures to prolong it
Mass:
Vitality fatality:This matchup is best answered with 2 questions.
#1 - Did Mass Poly go off on turn 4? If yes, game over you lose.
#2 - Did you start with a Luminarch and 2 lands in hand? - If #1 is untrue, and #2 is true, game over, you win.
Vitality fatality: Walls for the win. You can usually get lumi online (or serra A) before soverigns show up, and if it does, DoJ is a must. Side board in spot removal, maybe felidar
Spell based
Vitality fatality: easist win ever, just gain life, and eventually drop baneslayer or serra. they will run out of fuel, we wont. No need to even sideboard unless they have the leyline... so just grab purges
Creature based:
Vitality fatality: Getting out walls is pretty important here. this way you can block and gain and stall til something ticks through burn. when it does you win
Vitality fatality: cunning collar is deadly to us, so kill that guy. Wall it up and lumi and you will be completely fine. doj before lumi and good game. Sideboard in purges
Doj here is very relevant. makesure they dont recover after. dont be afraid to put o ring on just a simple ally
Vitality fatality: once a few walls go in it buys you time to gain. DoJ and throw in an angel. you win
Vitality fatality:holding back a bit helps here. drop one wall, hold back until they tap out, drop more stuff. Life gain is key here.
Vitality fatality: remove key creatures (lords) and let other damage go through. side out your Luminarch ascension if you run it, vampire hex mage kills it. Have artifact removal if they run monument.
Place Holder
Vitality fatality:DoJ at the first eldrazi. then win the game. they have to spend a while powering up, use it for you to power up. drop one wall, gain life get your doj, drop lumi turn 2 if you have it. then wait and keep powering up.
SpeedGain: Doj and walls em to death, then drop a bomb and smack them up before they recover. O ring gurrak.
Vitality fatality: Walls and gain life til they over extend, by then you should have lots of life, drop a doj, they cant recover
Soulgain: Get out soul's attendent and enjoy the free life. Doj works nicely. pridemate will be huge in this game. they have no flying defense.
Vitality fatality: Spot removal sideboard if their running glasshulk, or get some pithing needles for time sieve. if you dont you have nothing to stop the combo.
Vitality fatality:walls and life gain til bomb Siding in purges and leyline of sanctity
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Vitality fatality: Empty your hand as much as you can. focus on land. top deck anything that comes. eventually the game will drag out and emeria will go online, if you just dont flat out win. Side in purges and leyline of sanctity. Most will scoop from here on.
Speed gain: simply play threats until they run out of fuel. their creature defense is terrible, and yours is fine.
Mirror match up:
Be agressive and side in as much removal as you can. Here vitality fatality wins out over other archtypes. first one to get emeria online/luminarch wins. dont be afraid to path your own guys to get ahead.
mono white control:
Soulgain: You can race them and you have more threats then they can deal with. Best card so far has been A fully leved transcendent master. If you have an LA side or Felidar soverign, both are good to add in. beware enchantments dont stick too often.
Behold! My own post-M11 dumb-ass white lifegain deck, as hinted at in the Elixir of Immortality Rumour Mill thread (from which I have copied some of my commentary, for which I apologise):
Put this together last night with some jank in the slots where Elixir of Immortality and Serra Ascendant will go and it just shuts down aggro like nobody's business. Sure it will look even stoopider when you start shuffling Survival Caches, Day of Judgments and Narrow Escapes back into your deck and beating with 6/6 Lifelinkers. I'm serious, believe it or not. Played for a few hours last night with the sub-optimal pre-M11 shell and not one deck I played against could keep me under 30 consistently.
A few comments about individual cards:
The Gideon Juras were originally Ajani Goldmanes but he just didn't do enough. It could be that with the Ascendants in the deck he might have a bit more value for giving them Vigilance and pumping them beyond double-Bolt range but Gideon is a better finisher and a fine control card to boot.
Eternity Vessel is marginal but gives you a decent soft-lock until you can draw into a Sovereign.
Angelheart Vial absolutely shines against your bog-standard aggro deck dealing four or five points of damage a turn and is a decent draw engine. Helps getting people to over-commit into a DoJ too. It's generally derided as a junk rare ofc, but when my junk is padding my life total and giving me fresh gas every turn I don't care what all the nay-sayers think.
Elixir of Immortality may as well be called Elixir of Inevitability in a focussed lifegain deck like this. If it's anything as good as I think it is (and who knows it might be) it's a good candidate for dark horse card of the set. Not format-breaking or anything I mean, but slipping it's way quietly into all manner of decks. I think the deck actually wants three, but I'm going to start off at two and take it from there.
Baneslayer Angel is nice but I suspect she is actually weaker here than she is in almost any other deck you see her in, paradoxically. Serra Ascendant is considerably cheaper (a relevant consideration if you want to drop and keep Narrow Escape mana up) so I can see her getting moved to the sideboard or dropped entirely.
Serra Ascendant is not a one-drop (duh) but you already knew that. Getting above 30 is very easy to achieve in a deck where virtually every card gains you life. See also above the comments regarding Ajani, might be worth putting him back in if these prove to be a good beatdown wincon.
Narrow Escape is fundamental to so many of the things the deck wants to do, from protecting your wincons to fuelling landfall for Rests and Sunsprings recycled into your deck with Elixir. Narrow Escape->Kabira Crossroads->Vessel trigger->Rest for the Weary is sickness and lolz all in one. I think the deck actually wants four (especially against removal heavy decks) but they are a little on the expensive side.
The sideboard is just a first stab, I'll post a more considered and refined version once I've had a chance to think about matchups. Aggro (especially red) seems like an easy matchup on paper, control I'm not so sure about.
Possible Tier II rogue contender or just another bunch of stoopid jank? Only time will tell.
Oh, and btw don't even think about trying out a deck like this if you don't have any patience. I had any number of concessions last night from aggro decks who would get to turn 7 or 8, realise they were out of gas and still going backwards, and just give up. Which made me feel all warm and fuzzy, which was nice.
I'm going to go a head and use this space to put the current deck lists of people whom request them here. PM me with the decklist if you'd like yours up, as well as your changes. do me a favor and if you change it, give me a deck list so I can copy and paste it, rather then just changes.
I don't think ajani's pridemate is really needed in this deck as you already have plenty of beaters (Baneslayer, Serra Ascendant, etc..) and he doesn't help us achieve our main goal: to get to 40 life and win with felidar. All he does is provide a little more aggro. Now I would love to see some brave the elements in here to protect our Felidar Sovereign from a last minute terminate or path. Also what about that new leyline. It protects us from our archenemy: direct damage and mederatly protects our planeswlkers.
I also think ajani goldmane is an absolute must have. He can gain us a few life or better yet, pump our lifelink creatures and give them vigilance so we can gain life when they attack and protect it and gain some more when the can block too.
Edit: i was thinking about it and we dont really need the life gain cards that aren't creatures (aside from maybe rest for the weary) because even if only 1 or 2 of our creatures stick, thats enough with ajani to get to 40 life pretty quickly.
new players as they show up maybe twice with some budget deck they've spent the week designing and testing only to be beaten into oblivion by expensive decks they cannot hope to obtain and I think this is a tragedy.
So far, running beautifully via MWS. Also, I think that survival cache is ABSOLUTELY essential in this deck. There are no alternate ways beside splashing to draw, and it works wonders playing mono-white eldrazi control (my normal deck).
I have grown to appreciate this card as one of the best in white.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
:symg::symw:Green White Eldrazi Ramp/Control:symw::symg:
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
You could always splash green and run Captured Sunlight for some CA.
I did that originally and I have a feeling that I'll go back to trying that right now because with the zendikar refuges, you can gain a life, and you don't need much more to splash. The cascading is wonderful, especially when its into a survival cache or a wall of omens.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
:symg::symw:Green White Eldrazi Ramp/Control:symw::symg:
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
Its true. Although I really like the argo based life, slow life gain does seem a little more reliable
It doesnt have to be slow is the thing. consider:
t1: plains, serra ascendant 20 life
t2: plains, lone missionary swing 1 with ascendant 25 life
t3:plains, rest for the weary swing for 8 (6 lifelink) 39 life
then you have 1 more life to gain until you play felidor then you win. or you can continue to beat them with the ascendant then get into a baneslayer angel and win that way.
if your main purpose here is to gain life through lifelink than this deck will be fast and aggresive.
new players as they show up maybe twice with some budget deck they've spent the week designing and testing only to be beaten into oblivion by expensive decks they cannot hope to obtain and I think this is a tragedy.
the only problem i for see is jund. their ability to apply early pressure and keep it up scares me a little.
the idea is to keep lone missionary dieing then reoccuring again and again to gain massive life same with wall. if felidar gets countered we can bring him back next turn with emeria and win hopefully.
new players as they show up maybe twice with some budget deck they've spent the week designing and testing only to be beaten into oblivion by expensive decks they cannot hope to obtain and I think this is a tragedy.
I did that originally and I have a feeling that I'll go back to trying that right now because with the zendikar refuges, you can gain a life, and you don't need much more to splash. The cascading is wonderful, especially when its into a survival cache or a wall of omens.
True, I was making that a given I guess, its in my decklist that was above that quote.:D
Also, yes I've been testing all day, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I met another guy who was splitting soul's attendant and soul warden to 3 each in order to beef up the pridemage. It was working out really well for him.
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:symg::symw:Green White Eldrazi Ramp/Control:symw::symg:
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
i guess im still a little confused as to why, in a lifegain deck, someone would run ajani's pridemate over something that gains you life like lone missionary and it can be brought back to play as many times as you want by sun titan or emria for lots of life
new players as they show up maybe twice with some budget deck they've spent the week designing and testing only to be beaten into oblivion by expensive decks they cannot hope to obtain and I think this is a tragedy.
if your gonna play Sun Titan and Emeria Sky Ruin... its better if you add fetch lands...
It will almost ensure you that Sun Titan would always have a target...
Tech Edge could also go nice with Sun Titan... =]
also Sunspring Expedition is better with Sun Titan than Rest for the Weary...
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Currently Playing
TBA
Projects under construction:
Standard:
- Werewolves... O_o
i guess im still a little confused as to why, in a lifegain deck, someone would run ajani's pridemate over something that gains you life like lone missionary and it can be brought back to play as many times as you want by sun titan or emria for lots of life
I think its just a matter of wanting to capitalize on the lifegaining. But you may be right, I think its probably a matter of choosing lifegain to win via felidar or ajani ultimate or with lifelink attacks, or to take the rapid lifegain route in order to pump up the pridemage.
Personally, I don't like felidar as a win condition...there's way to much removal in the game in order to expect him to stay out that long.
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:symg::symw:Green White Eldrazi Ramp/Control:symw::symg:
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
I think its just a matter of wanting to capitalize on the lifegaining. But you may be right, I think its probably a matter of choosing lifegain to win via felidar or ajani ultimate or with lifelink attacks, or to take the rapid lifegain route in order to pump up the pridemage.
Personally, I don't like felidar as a win condition...there's way to much removal in the game in order to expect him to stay out that long.
thats my point. I think hes a little hard to win with when you can put this guy out way cheaper
I would never depend on the soverign as a win-con. 4 cards in your deck that win is never a good idea. With all the removal around, it will be all but to easy for your opp to save 4 removal/counter/w.e for that. And don't say "Emeria the sky ruin!" Because I will say "Tectonic Edge!"
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Quote from FutureDrafter »
Like I spend all this effort to come back in time, but like everyones like "take better pictures" like time travel isnt hard enough.
I hate when people change their avatar's. That's how I identify most people, not by names.
new players as they show up maybe twice with some budget deck they've spent the week designing and testing only to be beaten into oblivion by expensive decks they cannot hope to obtain and I think this is a tragedy.
4 Sunpetal Grove
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Misty Rainforest
5 Forest
2 Island
2 Plains
Creatures (24)
4 Birds of Paradise
4 Noble Hierarch
2 Wall of Denial
4 Rhox War Monk
3 Transcendent Master
2 Wall of Reverence
2 Felidar Sovereign
3 Enclave Cryptologist
1 Spell Pierce
4 Survival Cache
4 See Beyond
4 Ponder
2 Path to Exile
3 Unsummon
4 Meddling Mage
2 Path to Exile
4 Naturalize
1 Wall of Denial
2 Spell Pierce
Thank you for viewing, post your comments or advice/changes you can give! =]
The one and only standard deck I use:
Bant Aggro GWU
I like the way you think, but that only proposes one issue...all my creatures (beside Birds and Noble) have Lifelink already. I was thinking more Gorgon Flail or Magebane Armor for stall.
The one and only standard deck I use:
Bant Aggro GWU
Life Gain
vitality fatality
All Info updated Almost Daily8/20/10 9:00 pm
Resent changes:
Conley Woods section added
M11 has pushed a lot of life gain. Pre-M11 Life gain really only delayed the game. The only win cons were felidar sovereign and Ajani Goldmane's ultimate. Although there were always a ways to gain life, it was much too fragile to win through these means alone. But now with cards like Serra attendant and Ajani's pridemate the number of wincons goes up to 4. And don't forget Baneslayer Angel. White, also still has cards to defend itself from m11's condemn and pacifism to well known removal like path to exile, oblivion ring, journey to nowhere
Here is all Life gain cards currently in standard.
Ajani Goldmane
Archon of Redemption
Caravan Hurda
Lifelink
Kor Firewalker
Landbind Ritual
Lightkeeper of Emeria
Lone Missionary
Luminous Wake
Ondu Cleric
Narrow Escape
Perimeter Captain
Rest for the Weary
Solemn Offering
Soul Warden
Soul's Attendant
Sunspring Expedition
Survival Cache
Talus Paladin
Ajani's Mantra
Goldenglow moth
Serra Ascendant
Tireless Missionaries
Transcendent Master
M10/alara
Ajani Vengeant
Angel's mercy
Battlegrace Angel
Captured Sunlight
Cradle of Vitality
Etherwrought Page
Filigree Angel
Kiss of the Amesha
Marble Chalice
Offering to Asha
Punish Ignorance
Rhox Bodyguard
Soul's Grace
Sphinx Sovereign
Tainted Sigil
Thopter Foundry
Titanic Ultimatum
Wall of Reverence
Life link:
White
Baneslayer Angel
Caravan Hurda
Serra Ascendant
Transcendent Master
Felidar Sovereign
Other colors:
Child of Night
Escaped Null
Sejiri Merfolk
Vampire Nighthawk
Vampire's Bite... kinda
Rotating out
Cliffrunner Behemoth
Necromancer's Covenant
Paragon of the Amesha
Behemoth Sledge
Rhox War Monk
Sphinx of the Steel Wind
Windwright Mage
Mvp's
Kor Skyfisher- bounces omens or lone for more life/CA
Sun titan- a mini emeria
Luminarch ascension- Agro angel attack after stilling with walls? Sign me up.
Day Of Judgement- Swarming to over extend your walls? handle those pesky insects (and putrid leeches) with a can of board sweep. act now an cast baneslayer next turn!
basilisk collar- your saying I can get deathtouch and life link for my pride mane for only 3 mana?
Leyline of sanctity-well I didnt kill rdw enough I also want to take out any hopes discard, mill or plainswalkers have on me...
Gideon Jura - Great for forcing futile attacks into walls gaining life. However, VERY situational and his 6/6 ability is not really a big gain for us.
Emeria Angel - 4 CMC Landfalls into Baby 1/1 Angel Chump Blockers. Definitely worth consideration against decks that feature flying, however, will be targetted rather quickly by the primary deck it would be brought in for, Vamps. With no real way to pump the 1/1s without changing the deck (aside from the occasional Ajani bump) it brings little more to the table.
Serra Angel - A poor man's Baneslayer essentially. Vigilience is cool and all, but the lack of lifelink keeps her from being worth playing in the deck unless you are unable to acquire BSAs.
Elspeth - Makes a chump if you need it, makes your lone attacker fly or bigger, and if it gets to the last one you have unkillable walls, and unkillable threats.
Leyline of vitality Its like a turn 0 soul warden and it gives you a defense buff. It also is stackable. can make chump blockers into... well real blockers.
Emeria, the sky ruin Reoccur creatures like a pro. reoccur sun titan and reoccur another thing too.
What types of lifegain decks are there?
Types of lifegain/details/sample deck lists
Slow life gain King so far.
4 Baneslayer Angel
3 Serra Ascendant
4 Wall of Omens
4 Perimeter Captain
4 Lone Missionary
3 Day of Judgement
4 Luminarch Ascension
4 Survival Cache
2 path to exile
3 oblivion ring
2 Ajani Goldmane
Land
3 Emeria, The Sky Ruin
20 Plains
A variation of my deck, created by Diz. This type of deck is a sister of mono white control and is built to easly slip into a longer game then any in standard can go with out running out of fuel. as you can see walls are built early (by turn 3 you can have out 4 walls) these walls can gain you life, deter attacking, stop them all together, and net you CA. From behind these walls you weather out attacks from your opponent. If your lucky... which usually you are with all the CA going around, you pop out a luminarch ascension. With this your start chargeing up while forcing your opponent to claw down your walls. You will gain life and prepare for late game during this time. As your walls start failing, simply Day of judgement and make your ememys wish they just left you alone. from there you can do a baneslayer, an online Serra A, or kill with angels babies from LA... and if that doesnt work... well guess what? Emeria is only a turn or 2 from being online. reoccuring fun.
Fun combos with this deck? Put out LA a cap and ajani gold mane. Ask your opponent what they prefer you gaining life with an attack to keep LA off line, or ajani go off and grab you some crazy avatar?
DoJ hoards of elfs, denying mana to your opponent, buy your self a turn for LA, and maybe putting out a baneslayer.
Doj when an eldrazi shows up.
Putting out Bane or Felidar, get doombladed then go "brave the elements, black" Proceed to smile.
Losing 6 life to a fattie, then double casting two lone missionaries.
Blocking an overrun hoard, gaining life, then using Brave so your walls feel no sting. Darn, plans foiled.
Reoccuring with emeria a early game dead Serra A from when you had 23 life and explain how it is now a 6/6 flying lifelinker now that you have 36 life.
reoccur suntitan with emeria, then reoccur something else.
[/Deck]
10 plains
6 swamp
4 marsh flats
4 kabira crossroads
Creatures
3 lone missionary
3 escaped null
2 wall of omens
3 sun titan
3 serra ascendent
4 ajani pridemate
4 soul's attendant
3 doom blade
2 path to exile
3 oblivion ring
3 consuming vapors
3 survival catch
4 Baneslayer Angel
2 Felidar Sovereign
4 Perimeter Captain
4 Vampire Nighthawk
4 Wall of Omens
Other Spells (18)
2 Consuming Vapors
2 Cradle of Vitality
3 Day of Judgment
2 Gideon Jura
1 Grim Discovery
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Path to Exile
4 Survival Cache
2 Bojuka Bog
4 Marsh Flats
6 Plains
5 Swamp
3 Tectonic Edge
4 Terramorphic Expanse
The basic function of the deck is to stall out the game and gain life behind your walls, which allow you to draw with Wall of Omens and Survival Cache until you are able to drop large threats like Baneslayer Angel and Felidar Sovereign. Your removal suite also serves to control the board as well as gain you life while you continue to stall your opponent and force them to over-commit to your walls. Tech comes in the form of Gideon Jura, a single Grim Discovery, (maybe Sanguine Bond If you prefer), and Cradle of Vitality.
2 graypelt refuge
4 kabira crossroads
3 sunpetal grove
2 kahalni gardens
12 Plains
4 souls attendant
4 ajani pridemate
4 serra ascendent
3 lone missionary
3 sun titan
3 baneslayer angel
3 awaking zone
4 leyline of vitality
3 path to exile
3 oblivion ring
3 survival catch
The Idea is simple. hope you get the leyline out (if you dont its ok) then get out soul's if you have it. Now everytime you drop a creature you'll gain 1 and then 1 more. token producers will start coming out and they will have a defense buff so your not open while you can attack with a pridemate, serra A, what have you. The ley lines stack too. lastly when sun titan comes out he brings back things like nest invader and only add to your life. The tokens are also mana sources so sun could come out quite early.
Play style of the deck?
Vitality Fatality
Much like Mono white control, this deck gives a vairty of answers for many situations. Built in with early playing walls, you spend your first turns preparing for the late game. If you manage to get off a luminarch ascension, you probably will win the game. If you dont draw into one you just set up creature walls, gain life and wait it out. As the opponent over extends to kill your walls let it happen and block. If your walls are removed its one less threat to you, if they shoot out all their creatures and tricks, let it, you've got the ace up your sleeve. And if they attack and you have permitter captain you gain life from it. Even if they manage to remove all your walls, you'll have a life buffer. Once you hit turn 5 you start throwing out baneslayers, gideon, sun titan, felidar sovereign, as well as any angel tokens if luminarch ascension is online. A few game turns can go like this:
{drawn card} (your life total) -opponents life total- +la counters+
Opening hand: Plains X3 baneslayer perimeter captain wall of omens, Serra Ascendent
T1: Plains, Perimeter Captain
T2: {Survival cache} Plains, Wall of Omens {Path to exile}
T3: {Lone missionary} Plains, Survival cache (22) {Day of Judgement}
T4: {Sun titan}(24) {plains} Plains, DoJ
T5: {Oblivion ring} Plains Baneslayer
T6: {Sun titan} attack with Bsa (29) -15- Lone missionary (32) Serra A
T7: {survival cache} attack Bsa/SA (43) -4- Emeria
T8: {Plains} Suntitan, reoccur WoO {emeria} attack Bsa/SA (54) - -7-
Opening hand: 2 plains Serra A Luminarch ascension, Sun Titan Path to exile Gideon Jura
T1: Plains, Serra A
T2: {Emeria} Plains LA
T3: {DoJ} +1+ Emeria Block with serra (21)
T4: {Wall of omens} +2+ WoO {Plains) plains Block with wall path
T5: {Perimeter capt} +3+ Perimeter capt block with both (25)
T6: {plains} +4+ Make 2 angels Plains
T7: {Lone missionary} Gideon +2 attack with angels -12-
T8: {path to exile} gideon +2 make 2 angels, attack -4-
T9: attack for the win
Opening hand: Plains, wall of omens, emeria, 2 perimeter captain Path, survial catch
T1: Emeria
T2: {Plains} Plains, wall of omens {Gideon}
T3: {plains} Plains 2 perimeter captain Block (24)
T4: {O ring} Plains Survial Catche (26) {path}
T5: {Plains} plains Gideon +2 (36)
T6: {Feildar} Gideon +2 (38) Path capt
T7: {gideon} Plains felidar, gets killed
T8: {plains} emeria online, get back woo {sun titan} win enviable.
Will this card really help me?
This section aims to help you make some tough choices about cards that could be powerful... but do they work with the rest of the deck?
Ajani Pridemate
The guy is strong. However he can get killed... By ANY removal... If your running a fast life gain deck you can make this guy a threat. with cards like Basilisk collar and soul's attendant as well as survival catch, this guy is sick. but you need to protect him as he will quickly have a bullseye on his head. If your running something slower he might not be the best choice. If you want to run sun titan or emeria, he reoccurs as a 2/2 so not the best idea. if you want to set a wall army up then DoJ, he is the worst idea to have.
Trancedent Master -
Honor the Pure -
Angelsong -
Narrow Escape -
Martial Coup -
Wall of omens
Removal
Path to exile is proven to be the best. Though it ramps up your opponent (or you if your in a pinch) it can take out 99% of creatures for only a single mana. Oblivion ring follows it since it is everything removal. yes more, and not instant speed, its worth having if only for planeswakers/leylines. condemn makes the list, only for instant speed however is conditional. everything else comes after that.
Color splashes
Blue
adds mana leak and drawing power as well as sejiri merfolk. Great for control.
Cards Made available when splashing blue:
Deprive- counters? yes please. can bounce a cross roads? yes please.
Mana leak- hmmm... DUH!
drawing cards- wont get into it but yeah, yay drawing
spreading seas- just a good card
Sejiri Merfolk-2/2 life link first stike, for 2 mana. Dont think too hard about it now. It might blow up your brain.
Cards Made available when splashing:
Doom blade
Vendetta
Consuming vapors
a million other black removal
Night hawk- really good... its a mini baneslayer!
child of night
Bond- you gain life alot.. thats alot of damange.
Death mark- Green white defense
Lightning bolt
stagger shock
collar combo- gains you life, kills things, happy days (dies)
ajani Verdant anyone?
combust- white blue defense
Cards Made available when splashing
Cards Made available when splashing:
Momentous fall- Ca and life?
Lay line- soul warden effect and buff to defense... Hmmm sounds good?
autumn veil- defense against blue and black
Side deck?
Pithing needle- shuts down planeswalkers and man lands ect
brittle elugy- rids of a soulcrushing iona or eldrazi in poly, great for spot removal (aka exile is better then destroy)
war monk-kills leylines for 2. fast and gives a body. see below
solemn offering- kills artifacts as well as enchantments costs 3, but gains you 4 life
celestial purge- A mono white must to rid of anything black or red.
O rings- exile anything? yes please.
Ley line of sanctity- Stops planeswalkers, red burn, discard, mill, ect.
Day of Judgement- probably should be mained unless this is your 4th...
Path to exile/condemn/journey to nowhere- theres your order of whats better removal
Wall of omens/perimeter captain- if your playing a fast deck, these might come in handy on the side hold off mono green. not the best thing to have sided, usually just in main or not in at all
devout lightcaster- pro black and exiles something black. depends on your meta, if you dont need to be extra black hate, purge fits enough.
safe passage- angel song is generally better...
angel song- need an extra turn for LA or just gain life? warm up first so your voice doesnt crack.
Can you gain life faster then your dealt?
How does it fare against the new red leyline? Or red in general?
Will the color splash help this deck to what you want?
Is it better to gain large life to get to 30 for serra attendant or gain lots of little life from different sources for pridemate?
how can you deal with control (EX: mana leaking felidar sovereign)
Do you want to go Emeria, the Sky Ruin route?
What other cards could add to it? (Ex: Sun titan to bring back your little guys who get big)
What is the best side-boarding for this deck to help cover weaknesses.
I think that life gain could be big, especially with control really taking hold. Life gain has never really been a huge idea and and the fact that life could now be linked to aggro (strong attackers by turn 3 or 4 by having a high life) is pretty cool. also it gives a defense by simply having more life.
pros and lifegain section
Conley Woods of channel fireball is piloted the first pro rouge lifegain deck in the US nationals. He didn't win the nationals, but has certainly showed that lifegain can be a pro thing. this is the current deck he is using, a mix, he says of control and agro. Essentually a mix between speedgain and vitality fatality. He says he has hard match ups with naya and W/U control. He calls it soul sisters.
Conley Woods went 6-2 at the us nationals finish 14.
4 Soul Warden
4 Soul's Attendant
4 Serra Ascendant
4 Ajani's Pridemate
4 Kor Firewalker
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Brave the Elements
4 Survival Cache
2 Oblivion Ring
3 Elspeth Knight-Errant
Lands 23
4 Kabira Crossroads
4 Tectonic Edge
15 Plains
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Luminarch Ascension
1 War Priest of Thune
1 Sun Titan
3 Path to Exile
2 Celestial Purge
2 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
More info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXeDXcfLsGQ
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/eventcoverage/usnat10/welcome
8/24/10- souls sisters tops 8 at 5k denver, nabbing 6th place
More info: http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/deckshow.php?&t[C1]=std&start_date=2010-08-22&end_date=2010-08-22&event_type=SCSO
8/27/10- Featured in a daily Mtg Deck
More info: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/deck/525
8/28/10- Soul sisters talked about in Channel fireball
More info:
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/trading-nacatls-for-soul-wardens-–-playing-lifegain-at-nationals/
If you find anything that should be added, shoot me a Pm.
So what is everyones thoughts?
my current argo lifegain
My Current Deck:
Vitality fatality
20 plains
3 emeria, sky ruin
Creatures
3 Serra Acendent
3 perimeter captain
3 Wall of omens
3 lone missionary
4 baneslayer angel
3 sun titan
3 oblivion ring
3 Survival catch
2 gideon jura
3 Day of Judgement
4 Luminarch ascension
2 path to exile
3 solemn offering
2 Felidar sovereign
4 celestial purge
1 gideon jura
4 leyline of sanctity
1 Oblivion ring
Matchup Analysis:
Vitality fatality: a longer match up due to all the removal, but one your walls can hold up to mid game, if your lucky you win it by dropping a bane slayer. focus on going late game, let your walls die and gain life. DoJ and eventually a bane or some way to win will stick when they start running out of fuel. Side board in removal, take out lumi. Leyline if there using blightning, side in purges.
SpeedGain:
Harder here as they kill your threats and your hand gets emptyed by blighting heres here more then vitality. Walls and protection can help alot when added. As always, sideboarding in purges and leyline of sanctity is a good Idea here.
SpeedGain: Keep playing threats til they cant deal with it anymore. your life gain and numerous threats will win out.
Vitality fatality: Luminarch ascension is what you need to win right off the bat.
Soulgain: you got the advantage here. your faster, get more threats in faster, gain much more life, and once you side in knight of the R if Dforce is being used you auto win
Vitality fatality: This is a toughie for us. Mainly for ajani and elsthbeth. the only way to win this one is getting lumi online, which means game 2 pack in purges, o ring if you got it, and LAYLINE! its a must to keep some of the effects off you. spot removal over DoJ here (for walls and giedon)
Single:
Vitality fatality: Simple enough either kill them before they get it off, keep walls up and get lumi online, or gain life and baneslayer or serra A before the combo goes off. DoJ their creatures to prolong it
Mass:
Vitality fatality:This matchup is best answered with 2 questions.
#1 - Did Mass Poly go off on turn 4? If yes, game over you lose.
#2 - Did you start with a Luminarch and 2 lands in hand? - If #1 is untrue, and #2 is true, game over, you win.
Vitality fatality: Walls for the win. You can usually get lumi online (or serra A) before soverigns show up, and if it does, DoJ is a must. Side board in spot removal, maybe felidar
Spell based
Vitality fatality: easist win ever, just gain life, and eventually drop baneslayer or serra. they will run out of fuel, we wont. No need to even sideboard unless they have the leyline... so just grab purges
Creature based:
Vitality fatality: Getting out walls is pretty important here. this way you can block and gain and stall til something ticks through burn. when it does you win
Vitality fatality: cunning collar is deadly to us, so kill that guy. Wall it up and lumi and you will be completely fine. doj before lumi and good game. Sideboard in purges
Vitality fatality: once a few walls go in it buys you time to gain. DoJ and throw in an angel. you win
Vitality fatality:holding back a bit helps here. drop one wall, hold back until they tap out, drop more stuff. Life gain is key here.
Vitality fatality: remove key creatures (lords) and let other damage go through. side out your Luminarch ascension if you run it, vampire hex mage kills it. Have artifact removal if they run monument.
Vitality fatality:DoJ at the first eldrazi. then win the game. they have to spend a while powering up, use it for you to power up. drop one wall, gain life get your doj, drop lumi turn 2 if you have it. then wait and keep powering up.
SpeedGain: Doj and walls em to death, then drop a bomb and smack them up before they recover. O ring gurrak.
Vitality fatality: Walls and gain life til they over extend, by then you should have lots of life, drop a doj, they cant recover
Soulgain: Get out soul's attendent and enjoy the free life. Doj works nicely. pridemate will be huge in this game. they have no flying defense.
Vitality fatality:walls and life gain til bomb Siding in purges and leyline of sanctity
Vitality fatality: Empty your hand as much as you can. focus on land. top deck anything that comes. eventually the game will drag out and emeria will go online, if you just dont flat out win. Side in purges and leyline of sanctity. Most will scoop from here on.
Speed gain: simply play threats until they run out of fuel. their creature defense is terrible, and yours is fine.
2 Gideon Jura
Artifacts (5)
1 Eternity Vessel
2 Angelheart Vial
2 Elixir of Immortality
Creatures (12)
2 Felidar Sovereign
2 Baneslayer Angel
4 Lone Missionary
4 Serra Ascendant
Sorceries (10)
2 Day of Judgment
2 Solemn Offering
4 Survival Cache
2 Oust
3 Narrow Escape
4 Rest for the Weary
Enchantments (2)
2 Sunspring Expedition
Lands (22)
4 Tectonic Edge
4 Kabira Crossroads
14 Plains
2 All is Dust
2 Day of Judgment
2 Solemn Offering
2 Demystify
3 Silence
1 Narrow Escape
3 Pithing Needle
Put this together last night with some jank in the slots where Elixir of Immortality and Serra Ascendant will go and it just shuts down aggro like nobody's business. Sure it will look even stoopider when you start shuffling Survival Caches, Day of Judgments and Narrow Escapes back into your deck and beating with 6/6 Lifelinkers. I'm serious, believe it or not. Played for a few hours last night with the sub-optimal pre-M11 shell and not one deck I played against could keep me under 30 consistently.
A few comments about individual cards:
The Gideon Juras were originally Ajani Goldmanes but he just didn't do enough. It could be that with the Ascendants in the deck he might have a bit more value for giving them Vigilance and pumping them beyond double-Bolt range but Gideon is a better finisher and a fine control card to boot.
Eternity Vessel is marginal but gives you a decent soft-lock until you can draw into a Sovereign.
Angelheart Vial absolutely shines against your bog-standard aggro deck dealing four or five points of damage a turn and is a decent draw engine. Helps getting people to over-commit into a DoJ too. It's generally derided as a junk rare ofc, but when my junk is padding my life total and giving me fresh gas every turn I don't care what all the nay-sayers think.
Elixir of Immortality may as well be called Elixir of Inevitability in a focussed lifegain deck like this. If it's anything as good as I think it is (and who knows it might be) it's a good candidate for dark horse card of the set. Not format-breaking or anything I mean, but slipping it's way quietly into all manner of decks. I think the deck actually wants three, but I'm going to start off at two and take it from there.
Baneslayer Angel is nice but I suspect she is actually weaker here than she is in almost any other deck you see her in, paradoxically. Serra Ascendant is considerably cheaper (a relevant consideration if you want to drop and keep Narrow Escape mana up) so I can see her getting moved to the sideboard or dropped entirely.
Serra Ascendant is not a one-drop (duh) but you already knew that. Getting above 30 is very easy to achieve in a deck where virtually every card gains you life. See also above the comments regarding Ajani, might be worth putting him back in if these prove to be a good beatdown wincon.
Narrow Escape is fundamental to so many of the things the deck wants to do, from protecting your wincons to fuelling landfall for Rests and Sunsprings recycled into your deck with Elixir. Narrow Escape->Kabira Crossroads->Vessel trigger->Rest for the Weary is sickness and lolz all in one. I think the deck actually wants four (especially against removal heavy decks) but they are a little on the expensive side.
The sideboard is just a first stab, I'll post a more considered and refined version once I've had a chance to think about matchups. Aggro (especially red) seems like an easy matchup on paper, control I'm not so sure about.
Possible Tier II rogue contender or just another bunch of stoopid jank? Only time will tell.
Oh, and btw don't even think about trying out a deck like this if you don't have any patience. I had any number of concessions last night from aggro decks who would get to turn 7 or 8, realise they were out of gas and still going backwards, and just give up. Which made me feel all warm and fuzzy, which was nice.
4 Soul's Attendance
3 Blood Seeker
4 Ajani's Pridemate
3 Vampire Nighthawk
2 Emeria Angel
4 Serra Angel
3 Felidar Sovereign
4 Condemn
4 Doom Blade
2 Blood Tithe
I also do think that Survival Cache Narrow Escape and Rest for the Weary have legitimate places in this, but where?
Kidlantern:
Beyond-Soulgain
4 graypelt refuge
4 sunpetal grove
2 stirring vastwood
3 tectonic edge
8 Plains
Creatures (24)
4 souls attendant
4 ajani pridemate
4 serra ascendent
2 transcendent master
4 baneslayer angel
3 lone missionary
3 stoneforge mystic
3 awaking zone
4 leyline of vitality
3 survival catch
2 oblivion ring
1 sword of vengeance
1 basilisk collar
1 behemoth sedge
Side
1 kitesail
2 sun titan
2 oblivion ring
4 luminarch ascension
3 path to exile
3 celestial purge
14 plains
3 emeria, sky ruin
3 arid mesa
3 tectonic edge
Creatures
3 Serra Acendent
3 perimeter captain
3 Wall of omens
3 lone missionary
4 baneslayer angel
3 sun titan
3 oblivion ring
3 Survival catch
2 gideon jura
3 Day of Judgement
4 Luminarch ascension
2 path to exile
Side
1 war priest of tune
2 linvala keeper of silence
4 celestial purge
3 brave the elements
4 leyline of sanctity
1 Oblivion ring
20 Plains
3 emeria the sky ruin
creatures
4 serra ascendent
4 wall of omens
3 lone missionary
4 baneslayer angel
2 felidar sovereign
2 sun titan
4 oblivion ring
4 luminousent wake
3 sword of vengence
3 day of judgement
4 survival cache
Side
4 leyline of sanctity
4 celestial purge
3 path to exile
2 sun titan
2 felidar sovereign
Vitality fatality
4x Wall of Reverence
3x Serra Ascendent
3x Perimeter Captain
2x Sun Titan
3x Lone Missionary
1x Iona, Sheild of Emeria
4x Wall of Omens
3x Day of Judgement
4x Survival Cache
4x Luminarch Ascension
3x Path to Exile
2x Oblivion Ring
Planeswalkers
2x Ajani Goldmane
Land
3x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
20x Plains
3x Celestial Purge
2x Devout Lightcaster
1x Baneslayer Angel
2x Leyline of Sanctity
2x Martial Coup
2x Pithing Needle
3x War-Priest of Thune
Druthu
Speedgain
4x Kabria Crossroads
4x Baneslayer Angel
4x Soul's Attendant
4x Wall of Omens
3x Lone Missionary
3x Ajani's Pridemate
3x Serra Ascendant
2x Perimeter Captain
2x Sun Titan
2x Felidar Sovereign
2x Day of Judgement
2x Oblivion Ring
2x Safe Passage
2x Ajani Goldmane
Diz:
vitality fatality
4 Baneslayer Angel
3 Serra Ascendant
4 Wall of Omens
4 Perimeter Captain
2 Sun Titan
3 Lone Missionary
3 Day of Judgment
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Path to Exile
4 Luminarch Ascension
3 Brave the Elements
Land
3 Emeria, The Sky Ruin
21 Plains
1 Path to Exile
1 Day of Judgement
1 Oblivion Ring
3 Celestrial Purge
1 Felidar Soverign
2 Leyline of Sanctity
3 pithing needles
momentumlost
Burn and gain
13 Plains
6 Mountain
4 Arid Mesa
Spells
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Burst Lightning
4 Path to Exile
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Cradle of Vitality
Artifacts
2 Basilisk Collar
Creatures
4 Baneslayer Angel
3 Goblin Guide
4 Ajani's Pridemate
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Cunning Sparkmage
2 Ajani Goldmane
Rage Cage
vitality fatality
3x Serra Ascendant
4x Perimeter Captain
4x Lone Missionary
4x Wall of Omens
3x Baneslayer Angel
2x Felidar Sovereign
3x Path to Exile
3x Survival Cache
3x Oblivion Ring
3x Day of Judgment
2x Emeria the Sky Ruin
22x Plains
2x Gideon Jura
4x Pithing Needle
1x Path to Exile
1x Oblivion Ring
4x Celestial Purge
2x Sun Titan
jtbears
mycoloth soulgain
Sir Auros
speedgain
20 Plains
3 Emeria, The Sky Ruin
Creatures
3 Ajani's Pridemate
3 Baneslayer Angel
3 Soul's Attendant
3 Lone Missionary
4 Serra Ascendent
3 Sun Titan
4 Wall of Omens
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Luminous Wake
3 Day of Judgment
2 Eldrazi Monuments
2 Journey to Nowhere
2 Ajani Goldmane
1 Gideon Jura
1 Transcendent Master
2 Celestial Purge
1 Brave the Elements
2 Solemn Offering
2 War Priest of Thune
4 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Day of Judgment
2 Felidar Sovereign
I also think ajani goldmane is an absolute must have. He can gain us a few life or better yet, pump our lifelink creatures and give them vigilance so we can gain life when they attack and protect it and gain some more when the can block too.
Edit: i was thinking about it and we dont really need the life gain cards that aren't creatures (aside from maybe rest for the weary) because even if only 1 or 2 of our creatures stick, thats enough with ajani to get to 40 life pretty quickly.
:symu::symw: Control
:symr::symb: Aggro
Life Gain
Here's my build:
3 Ajani's Pridemate
2 Sun Titan
4 Serra Ascendant
4 Wall of Omens
4 Lone Missionary
4 Baneslayer Angel
Spells:
4 Rest for the Weary
4 Survival Cache
3 Path to Exile
2 Day of Judgment
2 Pithing Needle
4 Kabira Crossroads
2 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
2 Tectonic Edge
16 Plains
2 Felidar Sovereign
3 All is Dust
2 Kor Firewalker
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Celestial Purge
So far, running beautifully via MWS. Also, I think that survival cache is ABSOLUTELY essential in this deck. There are no alternate ways beside splashing to draw, and it works wonders playing mono-white eldrazi control (my normal deck).
I have grown to appreciate this card as one of the best in white.
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
I did that originally and I have a feeling that I'll go back to trying that right now because with the zendikar refuges, you can gain a life, and you don't need much more to splash. The cascading is wonderful, especially when its into a survival cache or a wall of omens.
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
It doesnt have to be slow is the thing. consider:
t1: plains, serra ascendant 20 life
t2: plains, lone missionary swing 1 with ascendant 25 life
t3:plains, rest for the weary swing for 8 (6 lifelink) 39 life
then you have 1 more life to gain until you play felidor then you win. or you can continue to beat them with the ascendant then get into a baneslayer angel and win that way.
if your main purpose here is to gain life through lifelink than this deck will be fast and aggresive.
wall of omens
:symu::symw: Control
:symr::symb: Aggro
Life Gain
3x Emeria, the sky ruin
21x Plains
Creatures 19
4x Baneslayer Angel
4x Serra Ascendant
4x Lone Missionary
4x Wall of Omens
3x Felidar Sovereign
2x Sun Titan
3x Day of judgement
4x Path to exile
3x Ajani Goldmane
4x Rest for the weary
3x Brave the Elements
3x Kor firewalker
3x Celestial Purge
1x Brave the elements
3x leyline of sanctity
4x Oblivion Ring
1x wall of reverence
the only problem i for see is jund. their ability to apply early pressure and keep it up scares me a little.
the idea is to keep lone missionary dieing then reoccuring again and again to gain massive life same with wall. if felidar gets countered we can bring him back next turn with emeria and win hopefully.
:symu::symw: Control
:symr::symb: Aggro
Life Gain
With green splash, you could also add in Leyline of Vatality.
True, I was making that a given I guess, its in my decklist that was above that quote.:D
Also, yes I've been testing all day, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I met another guy who was splitting soul's attendant and soul warden to 3 each in order to beef up the pridemage. It was working out really well for him.
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
:symu::symw: Control
:symr::symb: Aggro
Life Gain
It will almost ensure you that Sun Titan would always have a target...
Tech Edge could also go nice with Sun Titan... =]
also Sunspring Expedition is better with Sun Titan than Rest for the Weary...
TBA
Projects under construction:
Standard:
- Werewolves... O_o
Others
- Sliver Overlord EDH
- Riku
I think its just a matter of wanting to capitalize on the lifegaining. But you may be right, I think its probably a matter of choosing lifegain to win via felidar or ajani ultimate or with lifelink attacks, or to take the rapid lifegain route in order to pump up the pridemage.
Personally, I don't like felidar as a win condition...there's way to much removal in the game in order to expect him to stay out that long.
:symu::symw::symb:Esper Control:symb::symw::symu:
MTGO:
:symr::symg:Titan Valakut Ramp:symg::symr:
thats my point. I think hes a little hard to win with when you can put this guy out way cheaper
I hate when people change their avatar's. That's how I identify most people, not by names.
baneslayer angel
sun titan
serra ascendant
ways to protect soverign and other wincons:
Brave the elements
:symu::symw: Control
:symr::symb: Aggro
Life Gain