A few weeks back, when I featured Brian "ISBPathfinder" Hanson’s Marton Stromgald deck, it was the result of asking for some input in the MTGSalvation forums. I gave Brian’s deck the full treatment. This week I’d like to bring you a taste of several of the other decks that came up. We won’t talk about them in the same level of detail, but I thought they were cool and/or interesting enough to share with you.

First, a note from the Magic Players Championship: what an amazing event. Even on the heels of the outstanding World Magic Cup, the Players Championship exceeded all expectations. The Cube Draft was enough to inspire me to build one of my own (more on that in this space in the next few weeks), the innovation of Shouta "Showtime" Yasooka’s Modern deck was staggering, and the level of play was beyond belief. Congrats to Yuuya for taking down the whole thing in dramatic fashion, and congrats to the folks who dreamt up the whole event.

From behind the scenes, it was another great event for me. I thoroughly enjoyed both running the play-by-play and being at the News Desk for parts of two days, especially on Friday with Marshall Sutcliffe. We’ve developed a great chemistry, and I think it shows through on the air. I also had the opportunity to do a short interview with Hall of Famer Bob Maher, which was a nice treat. BDM was ill and unable to attend, which made the event less than it could have been. Speedy recovery to him (and commiserations on how terrible his Mets are this season—especially compared to those surprising Orioles!!!).

I didn’t have the opportunity to play much. I got in a game Friday morning (the structure of the tournament left us with relatively short days with late starting calls) with Scott Larabee, Nick Fang, Toby Elliott, and Jeff Morrow. JMo borrowed my Ruhan deck while I played Kresh. Scott played Olivia Voldaren, Toby Ghost Council, and Nick played his frustratingly chaotic Kaervek the Merciless (which he fortunately doesn’t cast much, just using it for the colors).

The game was humming along somewhat normally (as normal as five-player games can) until Nick resolved Timesifter. Then, of course, it got absurd, especially since Nick isn’t set up to abuse it himself; it really is there is just create insanity. Fortunately for me, the game started going long and I had to get over to wardrobe, so I got Adam Styborski to take over for me. When he brought back the decks, he just smiled and rolled his eyes, so I got a sense of how the game ended—chaotically.

MidoriRyu’s Elephants

Jason "MidoriRyu" from Atlanta sent a deck that was just the kind of thing I was looking for, and of the ones I’m featuring, the one I’d most likely sleeve up and play. The list that he sent me is a card short. I think I’d add an Overrun to keep going with the trample theme or some kind of Bird to represent the oxpecker (yep, that’s what they’re called), which rides on and cleans the elephant.

What I like about this deck is that while it’s a Toby Elliott-esque slave to the theme, it seems pretty functional. It gets out plenty of creatures and starts stomping down life totals. Simple, straightforward, and effective. I like particularly the Loxodons and have wanted to put most of them in decks for a while. We’ve seen how good the Hierarch can be in multiple formats.

The Gatekeeper will certainly slow down any haste strategies. The Warhammer is well known in Commander. I had to look up Metamorphic Wurm, and turns out that it’s an Elephant too! We’ve seen some art previews from Return to Ravnica that suggest the Loxodons are back, so there might be some cool additions for Jason to make. Too bad there’s not really an Elephant commander for the deck. I’ll do what I can to whisper in the right ears.

Tolsimir Wolfblood

MidoriRyu

Test deck on 09-09-2012

Commander

Creatures (38)

• 1 War Mammoth
• 1 War Elephant
• 1 Trumpeting Armodon
• 1 Loxodon Stalwart
• 1 Loxodon Anchorite
• 1 Loxodon Mystic
• 1 Loxodon Punisher
• 1 Loxodon Peacekeeper
• 1 Loxodon Mender
• 1 Trained Armodon
• 1 Southern Elephant
• 1 Woolly Mammoths
• 1 Wild Elephant
• 1 Noble Elephant
• 1 Iron Tusk Elephant
• 1 Rogue Elephant
• 1 Crazed Armodon
• 1 Bull Elephant
• 1 Endangered Armodon
• 1 Wild Mammoth
• 1 Vintara Elephant
• 1 Rampant Elephant
• 1 Rabid Elephant
• 1 Metamorphic Wurm
• 1 Brawn
• 1 Loxodon Gatekeeper
• 1 Loxodon Hierarch
• 1 Tolsimir Wolfblood
• 1 Spelltithe Enforcer
• 1 Mosstodon
• 1 Siege Mastodon
• 1 Terastodon
• 1 Kazandu Tuskcaller
• 1 Loxodon Wayfarer
• 1 Ghalma's Warden
• 1 Loxodon Partisan
• 1 Loxodon Convert
• 1 Prized Elephant

Lands (38)

• 10 Forest
• 10 Plains
• 1 Sungrass Prairie
• 1 Tranquil Thicket
• 1 Secluded Steppe
• 1 Elephant Graveyard
• 2 Snow-Covered Plains
• 1 Riftstone Portal
• 1 Krosan Verge
• 1 Selesnya Sanctuary
• 1 Arctic Flats
• 1 Mosswort Bridge
• 1 Windbrisk Heights
• 1 Wooded Bastion
• 1 Sunpetal Grove
• 1 Graypelt Refuge
• 1 Stirring Wildwood
• 1 Razorverge Thicket
• 1 Gavony Township

Spells (23)

• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Rampant Growth
• 1 Kodama's Reach
• 1 Call of the Herd
• 1 Mirari's Wake
• 1 Loxodon Warhammer
• 1 Dead-Iron Sledge
• 1 Power Matrix
• 1 Defense of the Heart
• 1 Skyshroud Claim
• 1 Aura Shards
• 1 Elephant Guide
• 1 Chord of Calling
• 1 Glare of Subdual
• 1 Behemoth Sledge
• 1 Lurking Predators
• 1 Marshal's Anthem
• 1 Quest for Renewal
• 1 Mammoth Umbra
• 1 Cultivate
• 1 Overwhelming Stampede
• 1 True Conviction
• 1 Ranger's Path

Gaka’s Norin the Wary

Apparently this deck has an absurd cult following on MTGS. There’s a primer and endless discussion about it. It’s all I can do to not go to my collection, find all the Norins, and put them in the shredder. YMMV.

It looks like the deck is strong without being over the top. I can imagine it’s annoying to play against, and I’d suggest if you run up against a version of it in your local group that the only chance you have is to kill the player right away. Otherwise, you’re going to want to kill yourself.

Norin the Wary

Gaka

Test deck on 09-09-2012

Commander

Creatures (25)

• 1 Goblin Recruiter
• 1 Goblin Matron
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Moggcatcher
• 1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
• 1 Siege-Gang Commander
• 1 Goblin Welder
• 1 Duplicant
• 1 Iron Myr
• 1 Goblin Assassin
• 1 Goblin Settler
• 1 Imperial Recruiter
• 1 Squee, Goblin Nabob
• 1 Mogg War Marshal
• 1 Norin the Wary
• 1 Stingscourger
• 1 Magus of the Moon
• 1 Outrage Shaman
• 1 Tuktuk Scrapper
• 1 Manic Vandal
• 1 Zealous Conscripts
• 1 Mad Prophet
• 1 Beetleback Chief
• 1 Rummaging Goblin
• 1 Mindclaw Shaman

Planeswalkers (1)

• 1 Chandra Ablaze

Lands (34)

• 1 Strip Mine
• 1 Wooded Foothills
• 1 Wasteland
• 1 Bloodstained Mire
• 1 Great Furnace
• 20 Snow-Covered Mountain
• 1 Darksteel Citadel
• 1 Scrying Sheets
• 1 Kher Keep
• 1 Arid Mesa
• 1 Scalding Tarn
• 1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
• 1 Buried Ruin
• 1 Haunted Fengraf
• 1 Cavern of Souls

Spells (40)

• 1 Sensei's Divining Top
• 1 Wheel of Fortune
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Fork
• 1 Mana Crypt
• 1 Mogg Infestation
• 1 Gauntlet of Might
• 1 Honor-Worn Shaku
• 1 Crucible of Worlds
• 1 Skullclamp
• 1 Memory Jar
• 1 Blood Moon
• 1 Gamble
• 1 Sculpting Steel
• 1 Genesis Chamber
• 1 Mind's Eye
• 1 Confusion in the Ranks
• 1 Teferi's Puzzle Box
• 1 Grip of Chaos
• 1 Insurrection
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Helm of Possession
• 1 Aftershock
• 1 Ruination
• 1 Pandemonium
• 1 Planar Chaos
• 1 Cloudstone Curio
• 1 Warp World
• 1 Shattering Spree
• 1 Reiterate
• 1 Springleaf Drum
• 1 Relic of Progenitus
• 1 Reverberate
• 1 Caged Sun
• 1 Chaos Warp
• 1 Stranglehold
• 1 Warstorm Surge
• 1 Faithless Looting
• 1 Reforge the Soul
• 1 Conjurer's Closet

Limdul945’s Michiko Konda

For those of you who like mono-white, from the snowy reaches of Vermont LimDul945 has created a nice rattlesnake deck with Michiko Konda. What I like are a few of the outside-the-box choices like Culling Dais and Ronom Unicorn. The decklist is below, and I’m adding a link to his detailed guide to playing the deck.

Michiko Konda, Truth-Seeker

Limdul945

Test deck on 09-09-2012

Commander

Creatures (23)

• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Glory
• 1 Weathered Wayfarer
• 1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
• 1 Eternal Dragon
• 1 Argivian Archaeologist
• 1 Soltari Visionary
• 1 Academy Rector
• 1 Reya Dawnbringer
• 1 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
• 1 Blazing Archon
• 1 Ronom Unicorn
• 1 Crovax, Ascendant Hero
• 1 Stonecloaker
• 1 Aven Mindcensor
• 1 Mirror Entity
• 1 Archon of Justice
• 1 Knight of the White Orchid
• 1 Baneslayer Angel
• 1 Guardian Seraph
• 1 Stoneforge Mystic
• 1 Sun Titan
• 1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Planeswalkers (1)

• 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant

Lands (37)

• 1 Strip Mine
• 1 Thawing Glaciers
• 1 Kor Haven
• 1 Drifting Meadow
• 1 Secluded Steppe
• 1 Kjeldoran Outpost
• 23 Snow-Covered Plains
• 1 Karoo
• 1 Dust Bowl
• 1 Mouth of Ronom
• 1 Scrying Sheets
• 1 Vesuva
• 1 Mistveil Plains
• 1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
• 1 Mystifying Maze

Spells (39)

• 1 Sensei's Divining Top
• 1 Ghostly Prison
• 1 Sacred Mesa
• 1 Wrath of God
• 1 Enlightened Tutor
• 1 Scroll Rack
• 1 Humility
• 1 Swords to Plowshares
• 1 Land Tax
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Forcefield
• 1 Aura of Silence
• 1 Catastrophe
• 1 Seal of Cleansing
• 1 Crucible of Worlds
• 1 Sword of Fire and Ice
• 1 Skullclamp
• 1 Lightning Greaves
• 1 Extraplanar Lens
• 1 Thunderstaff
• 1 Argivian Find
• 1 Cataclysm
• 1 Crackdown
• 1 Rout
• 1 Karmic Justice
• 1 Condemn
• 1 Gauntlet of Power
• 1 Return to Dust
• 1 Saltblast
• 1 Austere Command
• 1 Oblivion Ring
• 1 Idyllic Tutor
• 1 Martial Coup
• 1 Path to Exile
• 1 Crystal Ball
• 1 Culling Dais
• 1 Mimic Vat
• 1 Phyrexian Rebirth
• 1 White Sun's Zenith

Raikou Rider’s Basandra, Battle Seraph

Perhaps it’s the similarities to my Ruhan deck that caught me on this one. Its intention is to obviously make everyone attack, make combat miserable for them, and watch the fireworks ensue. I might tweak the Sunforger package a little, but I’d have to remember that Bassandra means not playing things like Mirror Strike. I’m also not quite sure about the Humility, but I suppose that Humility and Aether Flash is a combo.

I love the idea of Bullwhip and have been thinking of how to get it into my aforementioned Ruhan deck. I at first thought it could a replacement for Courtly Provocateur, but that guy’s just too spicy too keep out. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m not the biggest fan of Howling Mine effects. I think even with the extra cards I get, they hurt me more than the advantage I get. Sure, they’ll make you popular, but they’ll also give your opponents the fuel they need to light you on fire.

Basandra, Battle Seraph

Raikou Rider

Test deck on 09-09-2012

Commander

Creatures (15)

• 1 Fumiko the Lowblood
• 1 Solemn Simulacrum
• 1 Wall of Nets
• 1 Windborn Muse
• 1 Varchild's War-Riders
• 1 Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant
• 1 Hunted Dragon
• 1 Stuffy Doll
• 1 Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile
• 1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
• 1 Rage Nimbus
• 1 Sun Titan
• 1 Basandra, Battle Seraph
• 1 Avatar of Slaughter
• 1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight

Planeswalkers (1)

• 1 Gideon Jura

Lands (37)

• 1 Forbidden Orchard
• 12 Plains
• 13 Mountain
• 1 Plateau
• 1 Desert
• 1 Terrain Generator
• 1 Battlefield Forge
• 1 Boros Garrison
• 1 Sacred Foundry
• 1 Ancient Amphitheater
• 1 Mistveil Plains
• 1 Reliquary Tower
• 1 Arid Mesa
• 1 Clifftop Retreat

Spells (47)

• 1 Sensei's Divining Top
• 1 Ghostly Prison
• 1 Replenish
• 1 Enlightened Tutor
• 1 Humility
• 1 Furnace of Rath
• 1 Howling Mine
• 1 Wheel of Fortune
• 1 Sol Ring
• 1 Earthquake
• 1 Island Sanctuary
• 1 Inferno
• 1 Starstorm
• 1 Repercussion
• 1 Retaliate
• 1 Tower of Fortunes
• 1 Mind's Eye
• 1 Oblation
• 1 Grand Melee
• 1 Aurification
• 1 Marble Diamond
• 1 Aether Flash
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Bullwhip
• 1 Caltrops
• 1 Powerstone Minefield
• 1 Orim's Thunder
• 1 Master Warcraft
• 1 Sunforger
• 1 War's Toll
• 1 Reiterate
• 1 Pyrohemia
• 1 Wild Ricochet
• 1 Idyllic Tutor
• 1 Greater Auramancy
• 1 Mark of Asylum
• 1 Path to Exile
• 1 Font of Mythos
• 1 Chain Reaction
• 1 Lightmine Field
• 1 Temple Bell
• 1 Chaos Warp
• 1 Circle of Flame
• 1 Blasphemous Act
• 1 Curse of the Nightly Hunt
• 1 Reforge the Soul
• 1 Staff of Nin

bobthefunny’s Ramirez DePietro

Okay, I’m a sucker for themes. Northern Virginia’s bobthefunny has themed out a Pirate deck led by Ramirez DePietro. The only thing missing is a parrot. I might suggest Skeleton Ship, Stolen Goods, and Larceny, but he’s not missing a beat sticking to theme. Stormtide Leviathan might also fit.

Ramirez DePietro

bobthefunny

Test deck on 09-09-2012

Commander

Creatures (14)

• 1 Sindbad
• 1 Pirate Ship
• 1 Ramirez DePietro
• 1 Merfolk Assassin
• 1 Kukemssa Pirates
• 1 Sand Squid
• 1 Sakashima the Impostor
• 1 Shoreline Salvager
• 1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
• 1 Walking Atlas
• 1 Wrexial, the Risen Deep
• 1 Master Thief
• 1 Nephalia Smuggler
• 1 Deadeye Navigator

Lands (40)

• 16 Swamp
• 18 Island
• 1 Remote Isle
• 1 Safe Haven
• 1 Dimir Aqueduct
• 1 Dreadship Reef
• 1 Jwar Isle Refuge
• 1 Bojuka Bog

Spells (46)

• 1 Treachery
• 1 Control Magic
• 1 Steal Artifact
• 1 Greed
• 1 Piracy
• 1 Capsize
• 1 Compulsion
• 1 Skull of Orm
• 1 Vedalken Shackles
• 1 Desertion
• 1 Skullclamp
• 1 Turnabout
• 1 Bribery
• 1 Awesome Presence
• 1 High Tide
• 1 War Barge
• 1 Murderous Spoils
• 1 Carry Away
• 1 Treasure Trove
• 1 Larceny
• 1 Confiscate
• 1 Coastal Piracy
• 1 Blatant Thievery
• 1 Mystic Compass
• 1 Mind Harness
• 1 Abduction
• 1 Steal Enchantment
• 1 Mogg Cannon
• 1 Helm of Possession
• 1 Submerge
• 1 Dominate
• 1 Persuasion
• 1 Sudden Death
• 1 Enslave
• 1 Take Possession
• 1 Mask of Riddles
• 1 Mind Control
• 1 Expedition Map
• 1 Leyline of Anticipation
• 1 Volition Reins
• 1 Corrupted Conscience
• 1 Tragic Slip
• 1 Undying Evil
• 1 Spirit Away
• 1 Stolen Goods
• 1 Murder

ChimericPisces’s Judgment Day

Lark "ChimericPisces" from Seattle has created the mother of all theme decks. In his own words:  "My deck is based on the end of the world as foretold in Revelations and includes John of Patmos (the author of Revelation); the seven Archangels; the four horsemen of the Apocalypse; the seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls; the great red Dragon; the Beast; the Resurrection; and, of course, Armageddon, the Last Battle."

This is a jaw-dropping amount of research combined with a great eye towards the theme. There’s just not much I can do but let the thing speak for itself. It’s not in the traditional decklist format, but Lark’s arrangement captures the essence of what the deck is trying to create.

COMMANDER

Gisela, Blade of Goldnight

PROPHETIC VISIONS

Sensei’s Divining Top
Mind’s Eye

"AND I, JOHN, SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN"

Weathered Wayfarer

STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD

Arid Mesa
Forge[/author]“]Battlefield [author name="Forge"]Forge[/author]
Boros Garrison
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Cavern of Souls
Clifftop Retreat
Command Tower
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Flagstones of Trokair
Kor Haven
Miren, the Moaning Well
Mistveil Plains
Plateau
Rugged Prairie
Sacred Foundry
Slayers’ Stronghold
Spinerock Knoll
Strip Mine
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
10 Plains
7 Mountains

"BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD"

Expedition Map

TITHING

Land Tax

HOLY RELICS

Coalition Relic
Everflowing Chalice
Gilded Lotus
Mana Vault
Sol Ring

"THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR, IT IS NEAR AND EXCEEDING SWIFT"

Anger

THE SON OF MAN

Sun Titan

"THE SUN SHINETH IN HIS STRENGTH"

Caged Sun

"HIS WORD IS LIKE FIRE, LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK"

Sunforger

ANGELIC RAIMENTS

Lightning Greaves
Swiftfoot Boots

FLAMING SWORDS

Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Feast and Famine

THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS

St. Michael, Dragonslayer:  Baneslayer Angel
Gabriel, Angel of Resurrection:  Adarkar Valkyrie
Raphael, Angel of Healing:  Deathless Angel
Seraphiel, the Silent:  Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Ramiel, Angel of Hope:  Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Uriel, Angel of Death:  Sunblast Angel
Raguel, God’s Vengeance:  Akroma, Angel of Fury

BORN AGAIN

Reforge the Soul

SIGNS AND WONDERS

Enlightened Tutor
Return to Dust

"BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH"

Ajani, Caller of the Pride

THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE

Conquest:  Stonehewer Giant
War:  Nobilis of War
Famine:  Hokori, Dust Drinker
Death:  Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

"A SCROLL, SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS"

Scroll Rack

THE SEVEN SEALS

Austere Command
Fault Line
Inferno
Molten Disaster
Rolling Earthquake
Rout
Wrath of God

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

Chaos Warp
Comet Storm
Orim’s Thunder
Path to Exile
Swords to Plowshares
Wild Ricochet
Word of Seizing

THE SEVEN BOWLS

Armageddon
Catastrophe
Decree of Annihilation
Devastation
Global Ruin
Razia’s Purification
Wake of Destruction

"THEY ARE CHOKED BY LIFE’S WORRIES, AND THEY DO NOT MATURE"

Stranglehold

GOG, OF THE LAND OF MAGOG:  CHIEF PRINCE OF ROSH, MESHECH, AND TUBAL

Godo, Bandit Warlord

"BEHOLD! A GREAT RED DRAGON"

Knollspine Dragon

"THE BEAST THAT ASCENDETH OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT SHALL MAKE WAR AGAINST THEM, AND SHALL OVERCOME THEM, AND SHALL KILL THEM"

Greater Gargadon

"THE GRAVE SHALL GIVE UP HER DEAD"

Relic of Progenitus
Faith’s Reward

ARMAGEDDON, THE LAST BATTLE

Insurrection

"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED AWAY"

Crucible of Worlds

I’m not quite sure how the deck plays and I might try to find replacements for some of the mass land destruction, but otherwise, the effort is incredible. I wouldn’t mind seeing more literature turned into playable decks (Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven" comes to mind).

Huge thanks to all the folks at MTGS for the lists they sent me and for helping capture some of the spirit of the format, Embracing proper amounts of Chaos. This isn’t the end of treats from the fertile minds over there. Expect more features from them in the future.