With every set that comes out, so do awesome cards. As we talked about last week, there are lots of goodies for your Commander decks in Gatecrash. The problem is that your decks are already pretty good. Finding room in them is ever more difficult, so hard choices will be made. Every now and again you might have an underperformer that you welcome tossing, but for the most part, you’re going to have to swap out cards that you really like in order to put in cards that you really like more.

The only solution is to build more decks, right? In the upcoming weeks I’m sure I’ll have some tech for decks with the new Commanders as I head toward the goal of having one of each color combination. For now, we’ll just talk about what I’m putting in and taking out for what’s already around. I’m currently sticking to the idea of adding only one copy of a card from new sets to my whole deck suite. We’ll see how long that lasts, as I’m sure that some GTC cards might become long-term favorites.

I’ll give you a short report from some action the last time I played Ruhan. I was playing Chris with Reaper King, Apple with Angus Mackenize, and Keith (from the Monday Night Gamers) with Oros, the Avenger. Apple came out of the gates pretty quickly with some ramp and Mimic Vat, which at some point, he got Avenger of Zendikar under. Once he got Seedborn Muse into play, things started getting a little silly. A board wipe or two, not to mention my War’s Toll, slowed him down, but right about the time that the rest of us started running out of steam, I peeled Knowledge Exploitation. I cast it on Chris, getting his Decree of Pain, getting rid of 20+ of Apple’s Plant tokens. I luckily got Vesuva in the cards I drew, doubly so because Apple already had Reliquary Tower in play. I got to keep my cards. I also had enough mana that turn to cast Aether Flash.

On his turn, Chris cast Bribery on me. I scratched my head a little until he grabbed Gisela, Blade of Goldnight. Apple couldn’t really start his token engine again, even with his 19 lands in play, because Aether Flash would deal 4 to any of his creatures. That stalled everyone for the turn I needed.

When it came back around to me, I cast Gilded Drake. Because both triggers were mine, I got to order them. I put Aether Flash on first and then the exchange, targeting Gisela. I made the swap, and the trigger afterward killed the Drake, which was just more cool than relevant to the board. I then cast Acidic Soil. It dealt only four to me but dropped both Chris and Keith to 10. It killed Apple dead, 38 damage way more than he could take.

I passed the turn to Chris, who decided to play Bringer of the Black Dawn. My clear response was Parallectric Feedback, doming him for 18. It got me a handshake and “Well, played sir,” from him. Keith cast his Commander, to which I responded with Gather Specimens, closing out another episode of “You Did This to Yourself.”

As an aside, lest you think that all I listen to is the heavy stuff, this was written while playing Moody Blues’ “Seventh Sojourn” and Elton John’s “Honky Chateau.” Sometimes the classics are just what you need.

ADUN OAKENSHIELD

Adun Okenshield and His Beasts

Sheldon Menery

0th Place at Test deck on 12-30-2012

Commander

Creatures (33)

Planeswalkers (1)

1 Garruk Wildspeaker

Lands (38)

In: Gruul Ragebeast, Ghor-Clan Rampager, Aether Snap

Out: Lotus Cobra, Puppeteer Clique, Vampire Hexmage

The Ragebeast is the only one that really jumped out at me, although I had to think a while about including Skarrg Goliath. At the last minute, I decided to put in Ghor-Clan Rampager, simply because I can give something trample on the cheap. Since it will pump up a guy to battle from a Ragebeast trigger or fight on the Contested Cliffs, it seemed worth the investment. Puppeteer Clique is one of the most useful creatures in the format, but it and Lotus Cobra are out as we drive toward all the creatures in the deck actually being Beasts. I finally decided on taking out Vampire Hexmage in favor of Aether Snap. The evolve creatures from Gatecrash are only the latest reason but a pretty good one.

ANIMAR

In: Bioshift, Crowned Ceratok, Fathom Mage, Gyre Sage, Master Biomancer, Prime Speaker Zegana, Urban Evolution, Zameck Guildmage

Out: Djinn of Wishes, Viral Drake, Fuel for the Cause, Darksteel Plate, Thrummingbird, Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, Simic Guildmage

I’m this close to taking out the little bit of red in the deck, making it a Prime Speaker Zegana deck, and then making a cool, new Animar. It would cost me only Bloodbraid Elf, Shivan Wurm, Stingmoggie, Maelstrom Wanderer, Warstorm Surge, and Chaos Warp. Yeah, that needs some serious thought. All of the cards coming in fit in the theme. I’m excited about every one of them. The removal were all cards that consistently underperformed or, in the case of Djinn of Wishes, just didn’t quite fit the theme. I’ve been on the verge of removing Simic Guildmage for a long time but kept hoping that it’d work out. It didn’t.

GEIST OF SAINT TRAFT

No changes at the moment. I’m still finding my feet with this deck. There’s nothing that’s begging to come in, since the deck is mostly about trying to get Geist Commander-damage kills and the laughs that Portcullis creates. We’ll see how it plays and if any Gatecrash cards that other people play excite me.

INTET

In: Sylvan Primordial, Diluvian Primordial

Out: Detritivore, Spelltwine

Lots of other cards could come into this deck, but I’m really happy with where it is right now. Detritivore was kind of janky anyway, and Diluvian Primordial at one more mana than Spelltwine just seems too good of an upgrade to pass up. The deck will maintain its difficulty to play.

JARAD

In: Dying Wish

Out: Bitterblossom

Bitterblossom was really only in there because I had a Judge Foil one. Dying Wish on Jarad seems like technology, but you have to let him go to the graveyard instead of the Command Zone. Oversold Cemetery can get him back into my hand, as can Genesis. If I want to get really techy, I can exile him with Necrogenesis, putting him in the Command Zone instead. I wonder if there’s a deck that seriously abuses the Commander that way. In the forums, Evan Lawrence Delahaye mentioned using Food Chain to exile Hazezon Tamar in order to keep his tokens from going away. Maybe there’s a similar trick to be played with Jarad.

KARADOR

In: Vizkopa Guildmage

Out: Wurmcoil Engine

I keep meaning to put Spore Frog into this deck, but that’s not really a Gatecrash change. The deck gains life with some regularity, so the Guildmage makes sense. The deck’s a little tight for the cut, but Wurmcoil Engine was simply never the card that I searched up with Birthing Pod. This might be the GTC change that I’m least confident about. If the Guildmage doesn’t work out, that’ll be the Spore Frog slot.

KARRTHUS

In: Hellkite Tyrant

Out: Invader Parasite

The only Dragon in the set is a good one. I think the win con will be pretty rare, but there’s serious value in stealing someone’s artifacts. That Invader Parasite will find a home somewhere else. Dragons raining fire from the sky care not about your lands.

KRESH

In: Rubblehulk

Out: Inferno Titan

I’d like to try putting both Domri Rade and Dying Wish into the deck, but there simply isn’t room. Dying Wish got into Jarad, so that’s cool. Domri Rade into Rith might make some sense.

LORD OF TRESSERHORN

In: Wight of Precinct Six

Out: Butcher of Malakir

Only one good Zombie, and he’s coming in for a Vampire.

MERIEKE

In: Merciless Eviction, Nightveil Specter, Treasury Thrull, Illusionist’s Bracers

Out: Vengeful Archon, Gruesome Encore, Sword of Fire and Ice, Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet

Merieke came to mind immediately when I saw the Bracers. There are enough good artifacts in the deck to get back with Treasury Thrull. I want to play around with Nightveil Specter and see if it’s worth anything. Merciless Eviction is there because I’m really low on board sweepers. Vengeful Archon and Kalitas have been just too mana-intensive. The latter will end up in a Vampire Tribal deck at some point. This isn’t the right deck for Sword of Fire and Ice. Gruesome Encore was just a victim of space.

MIMEOPLASM

In: Lord of the Void, Consuming Aberration, Duskmantle Guildmage, Lazav, Dimir Mastermind, Mind Grind, Sepulchral Primordial

Out: Shriekmaw, Mystic Snake, Spearbreaker Behemoth, Grave-Shell Scarab, Mischievous Quanar, Fact or Fiction

This is the deck that will get the most help from Gatecrash. Getting the deck focused a little more narrowly was the major point of these changes. It’s a mill deck that used The Mimeoplasm to try to take advantage of what got milled. Being able to have Lord of the Void and Lord of Extinction in the same deck is kind of crazy. While Lazav might be able to lead his own army, he’s also a great addition to this one. The Primordial could really go into any number of decks that I have, but I’m trying to limit myself to only playing one copy of new cards throughout all my decks. There will likely be changes to that down the road as I find a card that really inspires me.

NATH

Another of my decks that I haven’t played enough to make solid judgments on what needs to come out or in. It’s intended to be a budget deck with no CMC over 5 that can still play with the big boys. No changes at the moment, but Serene Remembrance, Experiment One, Ooze Flux, and Miming Slime would all get consideration.

OROS

In: Boros Charm, Aurelia, the Warleader, Homing Lightning, Five Alarm Fire, Deathpact Angel, Mycosynth Wellspring,

Out: Everlasting Torment, Spiteful Visions, Underworld Dreams, Painful Quandry, Contagion Engine, Contagion Clasp

This is another deck that I’m still working kinks out of. I don’t play it nearly enough. I’m going to take out the “mean deck” quartet of Painful Quandary, Everlasting Torment, Spiteful Visions, and Underworld Dreams for now. Contagion Engine and Contagion Clasp also get the boot, as they’re not quite right. Boros Charm and Homing Lightning in the Sunforger package seem like a good idea. Aurelia might not stay, going elsewhere instead, but for now, I’ll use her here. Five-Alarm Fire seems just interesting enough and relatively inexpensive to boot. I’m going to give Deathpact Angel a whirl. I think it’s a little spendy, but I confess that I could be wrong. The Wellspring is obviously not a Gatecrash card. I’m just using the card swap opportunity to get it in there because the deck needs some help getting lands.

PHELDDAGRIF

In: Unexpected Results, Luminate Primordial

Out: Shielding Plax, Mystic Melting

The deck is about the Maro-sorcerers and drawing cards, so Unexpected Results fits the theme. Luminate Primordial is just too good to not play somewhere, and there didn’t seem to be much room in other decks. Mystic Melting was in there just because I had a foil copy. The other cut was quite difficult. Eventually, Shielding Plax went as redundant, with Asceticism and Privileged Position already there.

RITH

In: Foundry Champion, Legion Loyalist, Massive Raid

Out: Veteran’s Armaments, Filigree Fracture, Changeling Hero

I’d like to find some room for a Cloudshift just for the Foundry Champion. Otherwise, I want to continue to be true to the Soldiers theme, even though Rith makes Saprolings. I imagine it might be worth running Boundless Realms to go with the Champion as well. If I decide to swap it in, I’ll probably take out Cathar’s Crusade: an awesome card whose bookkeeping gets really messy. I really like this deck; it’s pretty much fun to play, but I find that I don’t carry it with me that often. I’ll take 4 or 5 decks with me to the shop every week, and this one always seems to be left behind. Guess I’ll just have to change that.

RUHAN

In: Aurelia’s Fury, Molten Primordial, Blind Obedience, Boros Reckoner

Out: Treachery, Alpha Brawl, Tormod’s Crypt, Courtly Provocateur

Boros Reckoner simply must be played in this deck. Whether it’s the damage from Aether Flash or attacking into a Lightstone Minefield, or the obvious Blasphemous Act, it’s going to be awesome. Jeebus, I need to put Brightflame in here, too. Good on its own, Aurelia’s Fury gets even more amusing with Angel’s Trumpet around. There’s more “You did this to yourself” with Molten Primordial, so it was a natural fit. Blind Obedience also pairs well with Angel’s Trumpet and is just some sound self-protection. It doesn’t blow out anyone, but it can sure slow them down. I’m slightly squicky about putting an extort card in a non-black deck. While the ruling—actually, clarification—is clear, I know I go to extra flavor lengths. I won’t play off-color fetches. Hell, I won’t even put Phyrexian Processor in Trostani because the creature it creates is black.

The Primordial replaces Treachery quite nicely, freeing it up for another deck. Aurelia’s Fury is an acceptable substitute for Alpha Brawl, which was occasionally awesome but frequently lackluster. Tormod’s Crypt can go because I don’t actually care that much about other players’ graveyards. I want them to try to do broken stuff so I can use it against them. Courtly Provocateur hasn’t really carried its weight.

THRAXIMUNDAR

In: Crypt Ghast

Out: Doomed Necromancer

One of the ongoing issues with this deck and Grixis decks in general is that they can fall behind mana-wise. Putting a mana doubler or two in feels like a good idea. I might scare up a Nirkana Revenant as well. Like with Ruhan, I feel a little uncomfortable about playing an extort card in a non-white deck, so I might eventually take it back out. It’s just an aesthetics thing. There are plenty of decks with both black and white in them for all the extort cards I want to play.

TROSTANI

In: Angelic Skirmisher

Out: Elspeth Tirel

Trostani is pretty tight right now. Elspeth isn’t particularly thematic and was an easy cut. The Skirmisher is kind of insane. Guardian of the Gateless merits some consideration for the deck as well, but I haven’t pulled the trigger. There’s just nothing I want to take out at the moment.

Having a bunch of decks and updating them when new cards come out are big parts of the fun of this format. Adding the restriction of “only one copy for all decks” made it even more fun, a challenging little Tetris puzzle. Retiring good cards from decks isn’t always fun. It’s difficult to say good-bye to old friends. As we move forward, it’s going to get ever more difficult to find space in the decks we know we love for cards that we hope we’ll love. I’m sure we’re all up to the challenge.

Post-Gatecrash Changes