Behind the Scenes: Decklists Pt. 2

The Show-Runner

A couple more decklists, for those interested.

Kelsien Voltron

Winter’s deck is built around maximizing the ping ability of Kelsien, the Plague. The deck is filled in effects that give opponents vanilla 1/1s (like Varchild’s War-Riders) and equipment, most of which grant deathtouch (like Vorpal Sword) to turn that ping into instant death. It also runs a Sunforger package, the Godo / Helm of the Host combo, and Goblin Sharpshooter / Thornbite Staff nonsense.

As far as the games themselves, this was the first attempt to try the weird format I came up with to try to make my Commander decks function in a more 1v1 format. Game 1, Andromeda out-controlled the game. Game 2, Chromeshell Crab stole Kelsien, loaded up with the two equipment linked above, and Winter could not keep a creature on the board long enough to unattach the instant board-wipe combo.

Commander:

• Kelsien, the Plague

Creatures (22):

• Mother of Runes
• Giver of Runes
• Knight of the White Orchid
• Puresteel Paladin
• Stoneforge Mystic
• Grateful Apparition
• Blood Artist
• Varchild's War-Riders
• Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
• Verge Rangers
• Akiri, Fearless Voyager
• Welcoming Vampire
• Imperial Recruiter
• Goblin Sharpshooter
• Akroan Horse
• Queen Marchesa
• Firemane Commando
• Mangara, the Diplomat
• Goldspan Dragon
• Otharri, Suns' Glory
• Stonehewer Giant
• Godo, Bandit Warlord

Instants (11):

• Swords to Plowshares
• Terminate
• Boros Charm
• Rakdos Charm
• Crib Swap
• Flawless Maneuver
• Bedevil
• Risk Factor
• Wear // Tear
• Utter End
• Return to Dust

Sorceries (4):

• Steelshaper's Gift
• Gift of Estates
• Open the Armory
• Ruinous Ultimatum

Artifacts (21):

• Shadowspear
• Basilisk Collar
• Vorpal Sword
• Gorgon's Head
• Sol Ring
• Treasure Map // Treasure Cove
• Rakdos Signet
• Swiftfoot Boots
• Thornbite Staff
• Sword of the Animist
• Illusionist's Bracers
• Boros Signet
• Arcane Signet
• Orzhov Signet
• Sword of Truth and Justice
• Inspiring Statuary
• Quietus Spike
• Sunforger
• Thousand-Year Elixir
• Helm of the Host
• Kaldra Compleat

Enchantments (4):

• Sigarda's Aid
• Phyrexian Arena
• Smothering Tithe
• Revel in Riches

Lands (37):

• Vault of the Archangel
• Vault of Champions
• Temple of Triumph
• Temple of Silence
• Temple of Malice
• Swamp (3)
• Sundown Pass
• Smoldering Marsh
• Shattered Sanctum
• Savai Triome
• Sacred Foundry
• Plains (5)
• Myriad Landscape
• Mountain (3)
• Mistveil Plains
• Marsh Flats
• Karn's Bastion
• Isolated Chapel
• Godless Shrine
• Forbidden Orchard
• Field of Ruin
• Fabled Passage
• Dragonskull Summit
• Command Tower
• Clifftop Retreat
• Canyon Slough
• Buried Ruin
• Bojuka Bog
• Blood Crypt

Zethi Bogles

Tyalangan’s deck was inspired by a combination of opening the commander in a pack and a standard deck I built back back in Rivals of Ixalan standard. Both decks were an attempt to build Blue-White Bogles. The idea is to drop a creature that is hard to remove, protect it, pump it, and just repeatedly beat the opponent to death with it, preferably with ample card draw to keep the protect and pump plan going. In that Standard, it was River Sneak and Adanto Vanguard. Here, it’s Zethi herself.

As far as the games themselves, this was a more even match. Game 1, the beat down came too quick. Part of this deck’s ramp plan is stick a Snap (or a similar instant) under Zethi and tap lands that make multiple mana, which sort of backfired here. Game 2, Tyalangan was able to drop a boardwipe, then bogled away with a high storm count Show of Confidence. For Game 3, I may need to swap Single Combat out. That no creatures next turn thing always seems to bite me in the butt every time I cast it.

Commander:

• Zethi, Arcane Blademaster

Creatures (13):

• Ledger Shredder
• Deep Gnome Terramancer
• Knight of the White Orchid
• Leonin Lightscribe
• Haughty Djinn
• Vega, the Watcher
• Spellseeker
• Monastery Mentor
• Micromancer
• Niblis of Frost
• Soulblade Djinn
• Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
• Hullbreaker Horror

Instants (31):

• Enlightened Tutor
• Loran's Escape
• Wings of the Cosmos
• Gods Willing
• Mystical Tutor
• Swords to Plowshares
• Fading Hope
• Leap
• Shadow Rift
• Purify the Grave
• Light the Way
• Consider
• Opt
• Path to Exile
• Curate
• Geistwave
• Serum Snare
• Snap
• Cyclonic Rift
• Shelter
• You Come to a River
• Unauthorized Exit
• Dramatic Reversal
• Show of Confidence
• Thirst for Discovery
• Silundi Vision // Silundi Isle
• Supreme Will
• Frantic Search
• Astral Steel
• Forsake the Worldly
• Mystic Confluence

Sorceries (3):

• Divine Reckoning
• Single Combat
• Time Wipe

Artifacts (13):

• Wayfarer's Bauble
• Dowsing Dagger // Lost Vale
• Azorius Signet
• Thaumatic Compass // Spires of Orazca
• Scroll of the Masters
• Arcane Signet
• Key to the City
• Crystal Shard
• Decanter of Endless Water
• Coalition Relic
• Sentinel Tower
• Gilded Lotus
• Sphinx-Bone Wand

Enchantment (3):

• Jace's Sanctum
• Leyline of Anticipation
• Vesuvan Duplimancy

Lands (36):

• Seachrome Coast
• Sea of Clouds
• Sanctum of Eternity
• Rogue's Passage
• Reliquary Tower
• Prairie Stream
• Port Town
• Plains (3)
• Nimbus Maze
• Mystic Sanctuary
• Mystic Gate
• Myriad Landscape
• Minamo, School at Water's Edge
• Meticulous Archive
• Lotus Field
• Karoo
• Island (7)
• Irrigated Farmland
• Hallowed Fountain
• Glacial Fortress
• Flooded Strand
• Field of Ruin
• Fabled Passage
• Deserted Beach
• Coral Atoll
• Command Tower
• Calciform Pools
• Azorius Chancery