As a long time Korlash player, I'm really confused at what you're trying to accomplish with this list. It really seems all over the place. I understand the Zombie tribal theme however I think the your supporting cards need a lot of work.
First of all, you're missing some serious EDH staples.
Sol Ring
Sensei's Diving Top
Scroll Rack
Sculpting Steel
Mimic Vat
Nim Deathmantle
Grafted Exoskeleton
As far as I'm concerned these go in every EDH deck that doesn't seek to abuse Null Rod type effects. The simply dominate the game. The first group of three generate card advantage and tempo while the latter group of three create complex game states that with excellent rules knowledge can be abused for advantage.
Grafted Exoskeleton turns any creature into a serious threat. This is especially true with Korlash who, once suited up can commence one-shotting people.
The deck seems to also be missing many cards that are crucial to mono-black and more importantly Korlash's success. These are:
Yawgmoth's Will
Solemn Simularcrum
Wayfarer's Bauble
Vampiric Tutor
Sorin Markov
Yawgmoth's Will simply wins games and unless you're running an excess of Eldrazi titans, I can so no conceivable reason why one would not run it. Sad Robot and the Bauble both help accelerate your land count—a relatively difficult feat in mono-black. Not only does this make you're coffers tap for more but it boost's Korlash's natural beating potential as well. Vampiric Tutor demands to be in this deck. You're already running the transmute engine that I popularized on the official forums as well as a slew of other tutors. There's simply no excuses for this card to be missing from the deck.
While I understand that financial circumstance are such that not everyone can include them, Grim Tutor and Imperial Seal REALLY increase the power level of the deck. I highly recommend their inclusion to anyone who can afford them. They really do change the way the deck functions.
On the discussion of stable, you're mana base is really confusing and lacking. Every mono-black EDH deck should be running Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Shizo, Death's Storehouse, Volrath's Stronghold, Cabal Coffers and Phyrexian Tower. You're deck has only one of these. High Market is also crucial as far as my EDH experience has shown. The reasoning behind these card's inclusion should be self evident.
On top of this, your deck only sports a mere 33 land and three of those don't make mana by themselves. I suggest upping the number of land that make mana to 33. In other words, 33 lands plus your coffers, thawing glaciers, maze of ith, etc. In fact, given that your general's potency is directly tied to your ability to make land drops, I suggest you up the land count even more.
I also fail to understand the fetch lands in the mana base. The deck as is isn't even running Top and Scroll Rack to abuse the shuffle effects. Swamp is simply greater than in this case. If you do want to run fetches, the ones that cost no mana to activate are vastly superior—ie. The Zendikar & Onslaught cycle.
Now on to your card selection...
At first glance, this deck seems intended for 1vs1. There's an excess of spot removal and discard that are simply going to be underwhelming in a multiplayer. I can potentially understand something like Mind Sludge if there's enough space and you have your bases covered but Duress is so utterly meh that I can't understand the rational behind it getting a slot.
You seem conflicted between spot removal and sweepers. The issue is compounded by the fact that many of your choices on both sides of the spectrum are simply sub par. Disfigure? In EDH? Really? First choose a focus—either sweepers or targeted removal. Decree of Pain, for example, is potent but REALLY slow and more often than not, damnation would have served you better. If you opt for sweepers, then run some of the following:
Innocent Blood
Oblivion Stone
Nev's Disk
Damnation
Barter in Blood
All is Dust
Decree of Pain
Overwhelming Forces
On the other hand, if you're more interested in target spot removal look no further than Go for the Throat and Duplicant. Those cards really do go the distance. Shriekmaw is also a wonderfully easy to recur removal spell who has stupid synergy with Mimic Vat and Nim Deathmantle, much like the Flesh bag Marauder which you're already running. I'd also add in Spine of Ish Sah the deck has no ways to deal with artifacts.
You're running grave pact but no ways to abuse it and few recurrable creatures and/or token generators. If you're going to play the pact, play it but build to abuse it. Where's your Claws of Gix? The deck has horrifyingly few ways to sac stuff. In EDH sacrifice outlets are CRUCIAL!
I think the deck also needs more ways to get the fuel it needs. In addition to the already suggested Top and Scroll Rack, this deck is begging for Promise of Power. It really is the best draw spell in all of black for Multiplayer. A Twisted Abomination would help immensely early game in getting the land that the deck needs in addition to being a decent threat later.
I also think that the equipment package is utter rubbish. Darksteel Axe isn't going to end any games. Grafted Exoskeleton and Nim Deathmantle will. Also since Korlash is really sluggish. He really like a pair of boots. At the bare minimum I'd play
Nim Deathmantle
Lightning Greaves
Grafted Exoskeleton
However I'd also consider playing more especially considering how many creatures this deck runs. Specifically I'd look at running
Umezawa's Jitte
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of Fire and Ice
Finally while I understand that you're running a zombie tribal theme (which I think is cool by the way) I really question what the hell a lot of the zombies you've chosen are doing in the deck. Do you expect Carnophage to win you games? Phage the Untouchable would win you many more games and be a real serious threat. I'd consider her if I were you before anything else.
For a zombie tribal deck we obviously are going to run all of the lords. That means:
Zombie Master
Lord of the Undead
Death Baron
Cemetery Reaper
These alone will buff Korlash considerably.
Other than Phage and the lords however, the rest of the Zombies really pale compared to more efficient creatures in a 40 life format. Therefore, I'd take a look at the Zombies from Scars of Mirrodin block with infect.
Hand of the Praetors
Blackcleave Goblin
Contagious Nim
Phyrexian Crusader
Scourge Servant
Any of these with an equipment becomes a serious threat that can end someone quickly. In addition you can also run Tainted Strike and Phyresis in addition to the Grafted Exoskeleton to give Korlash himself infect which would allow you to win games quickly.
I have many more suggestions but I'll leave it at this for today. I hope that helps!
Terramorphic Expanse and Evolving Wilds are a waste. You aren't going to "thin" your mono-colored 99 card deck, you are just essentially playing a Swamp that comes in to play tapped. Either put in Swamps or use something like Subterranean Hanger or Volrath's Stronghold or Deserted Temple
While I posted this deck, I'm not the creator of them, however I do have my own comments.
For this deck I did forget to mention that this one runs on more of a budget, which may account for some of the lack of EDH staples.
While I agree with you, Rishana that your staple list is a good addition, monetary value must be looked over as well. I don't agree however with the addition of Wayfarer's Bauble and Sorin Markov. One being very weak in my opinion and the other being overly powerful. Any card that can reduce people to 10 on a whim is, to me, a dick move.
I also agree with livewireo, but again the deck is on a bit of a budget.
Also, Blackjack68, I'm sorry if you're not happy with the time it took to come back and comment on my decks. I do have to work on the speed of my commenting, and as these aren't my decks, I do feel a bit of apprehension in commenting on them as I am not the original creator.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my YouTube Channel for our Commander vids: MTGCommander
How is Sorin a dick move? Time Stretch is a dick move because it limits interactivity. Infinite mana is a dick move because you instant win. But come on..... SORIN?!?!
On top of that if you think that Bauble is weak in a deck that runs Cabal Coffers and a general who's power and toughness are linked to one's land count than I can definitively say that you've never played Korlash and don't understand how he works as as general.
I think he's a dick move because it changes game states so quickly. I agree with you that Time Stretch is also a dick move as it limits interactivity, in fact I'd say it's the worst when someone takes infinite turns. As for Infinite Mana, it is the least of the moves possible, because even with infinite mana it doesn't mean that they have game.
I think that Bauble is weak because it is not a recurable or reusable ability, should say he use Explorer's Scope on Korlash or on other attacking creatures, I think this would be more beneficial.
And no, I've never played a Korlash deck, or used him before. Perhaps Babule may be a good addition, but in my eyes it's a one use artifact that provides a +1/+1 to a creature and gets a tapped land that is in a deck with relatively low amount of artifact recursion.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my YouTube Channel for our Commander vids: MTGCommander
Bauble is played with the intention of it being a three mana sorcery. At four mana, solemn simularcrum is worth it even if it didn't draw a card when it went to the yard. People play Darksteel Ingot no? Essentially a bauble is a better darksteel ingot unless you're playing in Armageddon.playgroup. Korlash is not a general who comes out quick. You want to ramp and build resources then end the game with one or two swings.
Walking Atlas is another card that is stellar in Korlash.
The difference between Bauble and Darksteel Ingot is that, for one, the ingot produces mana right away instead of waiting for your land to untap. It is reusable, and even though it makes no difference in Korlash, it can produce any kind of mana. While Bauble can effectively net you a land of any color, the land can only tap for it's respective color for the rest of the game.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out my YouTube Channel for our Commander vids: MTGCommander
However this is a mono-colored deck. Bauble is possibly one of the best turn one plays a deck like this can make. Also, you don't play darksteel ingot in place of a land but you can safely drop down one land count for the bauble. Trust me, the sooner you get coffers going in MBC, the sooner you take control.
If also Building on a pauper style of budget, it seems you're building mostly out of Onslaught block and missing 3 MASSIVE commons. Corpse Feeder (common and still shocked as its not in here) Gempalm Polluter Twisted Abomination
These are suggestions that may assist you in this that don't break the bank and are rather strong.
Also add Phthisis you'll feel better.
You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling. Maga Traitor to Mortals
:symb:Drana Suicidal Control:symb:
:symr:Eron the Relentless Land Muncher:symr:
:symb::symg:Skullbriar's Plants Vs. Zombies :symb::symg:
:symu::symb:Wrexial, The No Win condition :symu::symb:
Always in Search of MBC Foils and Beta/Unlimited...
Tell me what you think, and I'm always open for comments. This deck is more budget then usual.
Version 2:
1x Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
Creatures:
1x Fleshwrither
1x Withered Wretch
1x Cabal Interrogator
1x Fleshbag Marauder
1x Undead Gladiator
1x Cemetery Reaper
1x Deathbaron
1x Lord of the Undead
1x Zombie Master
1x Zombie Trailblazer
1x Undead Warchief
1x Gravedigger
1x Graveborn Muse
1x Skinrender
1x Soulless One
1x Corpse Connoisseur
1x Corpse Harvester
1x Grave Titan
1x Gravespawn Sovereign
1x Geth, lord of the vault
1x Helldozer
1x Twisted Abomination
1x Dimir House Guard
1x Umbra Stalker
Sorceries:
1x Reanimate
1x Unearth
1x Profane Command
1x Animate Dead
1x Zombify
1x Rise from the grave
1x Living death
1x Beacon of Unrest
1x Exsanguinate
1x Black Sun's Zenith
1x Consume Spirit
1x Damnation
1x Mutilate
1x Thoughtseize
1x Mire's Toll
1x Addle
1x Distress
1x Mind Sludge
1x Grim Discovery
1x Buried Alive
1x Diabolic Intent
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Beseech the Queen
1x Diabolic Tutor
1x Shred Memory
1x Dimir Machinations
1x Brainspoil
1x All is Dust
1x Plague wind
1x Grasp of Darkness
1x Go for the Throat
1x Hero's Demise
1x Doom Blade
1x Hideous End
1x Consuming Vapors
Artifacts:
1x Expedition Map
1x Crystal Ball
1x Strata Scythe
1x Nightmare Lash
1x Eldrazi Monument
Enchantments:
1x Phyrexian Arena
Planeswalkers:
1x Liliana Vess
Lands:
22x Swamp
1x Tectonic edge
1x Unholy Grotto
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Dust Bowl
1x Crypt of Agadeem
1x Barren Moor
1x Strip Mine
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Vesuva
1x Mystifying Maze
Version 1:
1 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
Creatures:
1 Withered Wretch
1 Shepperd of the Rot
1 Zombie Trailblazer
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Undead Gladiator
1 Walking Desecration
1 Unliving Psychopath
1 Skinrender
1 Eastern Paladin
1 Gravedigger
1 Graveborn Muse
1 Corpse Connoisseur
1 Corpse Harvester
1 Noxious Ghoul
1 Helldozer
1 Nefashu
1 Lord of the Undead
1 Death Baron
1 Cemetery Reaper
1 Undead Warchief
1 Carnophage
1 Sangrophage
1 Phylactery Lich
1 Soulless One
1 Order of Yawgmoth
1 Grave Titan
1 Magus of the Coffers
1 Dimir House Guard
1 Netherborn Phalanx
1 Shred Memory
1 Sign in Blood
1 Disfigure
1 Hero's Demise
1 Smother
1 Grasp of Darkness
1 Doomblade
1 Hideous End
Sorceries:
1 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Beseech the Queen
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Demonic Collusion
1 Dimir Machinations
1 Brainspoil
1 Grim Discovery
1 Sadistic Sacrament
1 Damnation
1 Consuming Vapors
1 Mind Sludge
1 Corrupt
1 All Is Dust
1 Plague Wind
1 Duress
1 Mire's Toll
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Exsanguinate
1 Consume Spirit
1 Beacon of Unrest
1 Crystal Ball
1 Expedition Map
1 1 Eldrazi Monument
1 Strata Scythe
1 Darksteel Axe
Enchantments:
Phyrexian Arena
1 Grave pact
Planeswalkers:
1 Liliana Vess
Lands:
22 Swamps
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Teramorphic expanse
1 Bajouka bog
1 Cabal Coffers
1 Crypt of Agadeem
1 Vesuva
1 Unholy grotto
1 Mystifying Maze
1 Dust Bowl
1 Strip Mine
1 Tectonic edge
This deck is also available to view on MTGFanatic here.
First of all, you're missing some serious EDH staples.
Sol Ring
Sensei's Diving Top
Scroll Rack
Sculpting Steel
Mimic Vat
Nim Deathmantle
Grafted Exoskeleton
As far as I'm concerned these go in every EDH deck that doesn't seek to abuse Null Rod type effects. The simply dominate the game. The first group of three generate card advantage and tempo while the latter group of three create complex game states that with excellent rules knowledge can be abused for advantage.
Grafted Exoskeleton turns any creature into a serious threat. This is especially true with Korlash who, once suited up can commence one-shotting people.
The deck seems to also be missing many cards that are crucial to mono-black and more importantly Korlash's success. These are:
Yawgmoth's Will
Solemn Simularcrum
Wayfarer's Bauble
Vampiric Tutor
Sorin Markov
Yawgmoth's Will simply wins games and unless you're running an excess of Eldrazi titans, I can so no conceivable reason why one would not run it. Sad Robot and the Bauble both help accelerate your land count—a relatively difficult feat in mono-black. Not only does this make you're coffers tap for more but it boost's Korlash's natural beating potential as well. Vampiric Tutor demands to be in this deck. You're already running the transmute engine that I popularized on the official forums as well as a slew of other tutors. There's simply no excuses for this card to be missing from the deck.
While I understand that financial circumstance are such that not everyone can include them, Grim Tutor and Imperial Seal REALLY increase the power level of the deck. I highly recommend their inclusion to anyone who can afford them. They really do change the way the deck functions.
On the discussion of stable, you're mana base is really confusing and lacking. Every mono-black EDH deck should be running Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Shizo, Death's Storehouse, Volrath's Stronghold, Cabal Coffers and Phyrexian Tower. You're deck has only one of these. High Market is also crucial as far as my EDH experience has shown. The reasoning behind these card's inclusion should be self evident.
On top of this, your deck only sports a mere 33 land and three of those don't make mana by themselves. I suggest upping the number of land that make mana to 33. In other words, 33 lands plus your coffers, thawing glaciers, maze of ith, etc. In fact, given that your general's potency is directly tied to your ability to make land drops, I suggest you up the land count even more.
I also fail to understand the fetch lands in the mana base. The deck as is isn't even running Top and Scroll Rack to abuse the shuffle effects. Swamp is simply greater than in this case. If you do want to run fetches, the ones that cost no mana to activate are vastly superior—ie. The Zendikar & Onslaught cycle.
Now on to your card selection...
At first glance, this deck seems intended for 1vs1. There's an excess of spot removal and discard that are simply going to be underwhelming in a multiplayer. I can potentially understand something like Mind Sludge if there's enough space and you have your bases covered but Duress is so utterly meh that I can't understand the rational behind it getting a slot.
You seem conflicted between spot removal and sweepers. The issue is compounded by the fact that many of your choices on both sides of the spectrum are simply sub par. Disfigure? In EDH? Really? First choose a focus—either sweepers or targeted removal. Decree of Pain, for example, is potent but REALLY slow and more often than not, damnation would have served you better. If you opt for sweepers, then run some of the following:
Innocent Blood
Oblivion Stone
Nev's Disk
Damnation
Barter in Blood
All is Dust
Decree of Pain
Overwhelming Forces
On the other hand, if you're more interested in target spot removal look no further than Go for the Throat and Duplicant. Those cards really do go the distance. Shriekmaw is also a wonderfully easy to recur removal spell who has stupid synergy with Mimic Vat and Nim Deathmantle, much like the Flesh bag Marauder which you're already running. I'd also add in Spine of Ish Sah the deck has no ways to deal with artifacts.
You're running grave pact but no ways to abuse it and few recurrable creatures and/or token generators. If you're going to play the pact, play it but build to abuse it. Where's your Claws of Gix? The deck has horrifyingly few ways to sac stuff. In EDH sacrifice outlets are CRUCIAL!
I think the deck also needs more ways to get the fuel it needs. In addition to the already suggested Top and Scroll Rack, this deck is begging for Promise of Power. It really is the best draw spell in all of black for Multiplayer. A Twisted Abomination would help immensely early game in getting the land that the deck needs in addition to being a decent threat later.
I also think that the equipment package is utter rubbish. Darksteel Axe isn't going to end any games. Grafted Exoskeleton and Nim Deathmantle will. Also since Korlash is really sluggish. He really like a pair of boots. At the bare minimum I'd play
Nim Deathmantle
Lightning Greaves
Grafted Exoskeleton
However I'd also consider playing more especially considering how many creatures this deck runs. Specifically I'd look at running
Umezawa's Jitte
Sword of Light and Shadow
Sword of Fire and Ice
Finally while I understand that you're running a zombie tribal theme (which I think is cool by the way) I really question what the hell a lot of the zombies you've chosen are doing in the deck. Do you expect Carnophage to win you games? Phage the Untouchable would win you many more games and be a real serious threat. I'd consider her if I were you before anything else.
For a zombie tribal deck we obviously are going to run all of the lords. That means:
Zombie Master
Lord of the Undead
Death Baron
Cemetery Reaper
These alone will buff Korlash considerably.
Other than Phage and the lords however, the rest of the Zombies really pale compared to more efficient creatures in a 40 life format. Therefore, I'd take a look at the Zombies from Scars of Mirrodin block with infect.
Hand of the Praetors
Blackcleave Goblin
Contagious Nim
Phyrexian Crusader
Scourge Servant
Any of these with an equipment becomes a serious threat that can end someone quickly. In addition you can also run Tainted Strike and Phyresis in addition to the Grafted Exoskeleton to give Korlash himself infect which would allow you to win games quickly.
I have many more suggestions but I'll leave it at this for today. I hope that helps!
Banner by Nakamura, Thanks!
EDH Math
EDH Decks:
Ghost Council: The Magic Mafia of Orzhova
BB Drana: Down with the Sickness
Rasputin: Reality is Broken
Vish Kal Bleeder: Bloody Kisses
Teysa, Orzhov Dominatrix
Stonebrow: Breaking Things
BWR Kaalia Punisher: Heaven's on Fire
Grimgrin: Dead Reckoning
For this deck I did forget to mention that this one runs on more of a budget, which may account for some of the lack of EDH staples.
While I agree with you, Rishana that your staple list is a good addition, monetary value must be looked over as well. I don't agree however with the addition of Wayfarer's Bauble and Sorin Markov. One being very weak in my opinion and the other being overly powerful. Any card that can reduce people to 10 on a whim is, to me, a dick move.
I also agree with livewireo, but again the deck is on a bit of a budget.
Also, Blackjack68, I'm sorry if you're not happy with the time it took to come back and comment on my decks. I do have to work on the speed of my commenting, and as these aren't my decks, I do feel a bit of apprehension in commenting on them as I am not the original creator.
On top of that if you think that Bauble is weak in a deck that runs Cabal Coffers and a general who's power and toughness are linked to one's land count than I can definitively say that you've never played Korlash and don't understand how he works as as general.
I think that Bauble is weak because it is not a recurable or reusable ability, should say he use Explorer's Scope on Korlash or on other attacking creatures, I think this would be more beneficial.
And no, I've never played a Korlash deck, or used him before. Perhaps Babule may be a good addition, but in my eyes it's a one use artifact that provides a +1/+1 to a creature and gets a tapped land that is in a deck with relatively low amount of artifact recursion.
Walking Atlas is another card that is stellar in Korlash.
Then don't use him in that manner? There are no dick moves without dick players behind them. He does have more than just "Reap target life total"
Falling back on the budget idea is a mildly valid point, but there are so MANY nickel and dime rares that would infinitely work in this deck better.
To name a few:
Tombstone Stairwell
Call to the Grave
Cover of Darkness
Forced March
RINGS OF BRIGHTHEARTH
Wound Reflection
Nightmare Lash- Although this may have gone up in value, its a better than strata scythe and hits faster.
If also Building on a pauper style of budget, it seems you're building mostly out of Onslaught block and missing 3 MASSIVE commons.
Corpse Feeder (common and still shocked as its not in here)
Gempalm Polluter
Twisted Abomination
These are suggestions that may assist you in this that don't break the bank and are rather strong.
Also add Phthisis you'll feel better.
Maga Traitor to Mortals:symb:Drana Suicidal Control:symb:
:symr:Eron the Relentless Land Muncher:symr:
:symb::symg:Skullbriar's Plants Vs. Zombies :symb::symg:
:symu::symb:Wrexial, The No Win condition :symu::symb:
Always in Search of MBC Foils and Beta/Unlimited...