I've been testing Mirran Crusader for the last few weeks, and I have to admit that I've been hugely impressed by the guy. On paper I wasn't exactly blown away, but on the table, the knight is nuts:
- Double-strike is a mechanic that is usually overcosted because it quickly becomes unfair. First strike is valuable, but it also doubles the value of Hierararch/Pridemage exalted triggers. Any playable sword gives him +4/+4, and more importantly, any equipment that triggers during combat triggers twice. This means that he, in most cases, becomes a one- or two-turn clock. If you have one Noble Hierarch, a Jitte means he's swinging for 10 damage this turn and 18 damage the next turn (or 6 damage and 26 damage). A SoFI means he's hitting for 14 damage and you're drawing 2 cards each turn.
- Pro-green and pro-black are incredibly relevant in our format. It stops Vindicate/Pulse/Smother/Go For The Throat/random Black removal. I'd say it out-fights most relevant threats you'll find, including the likes of 'more efficient' beaters like KotR and 'Goyf.
With the prevalence of SFM, I'm convinced that more people should be giving some attention to the guy.
Here's a sample list that I've been playing for reference. It's not optimal, but it's a starting point. In most games, I'd rather topdeck a Crusader than a KofR.
// Lands
4 [A] Savannah
1 [ZEN] Marsh Flats
1 [ST] Forest (1)
2 [ZEN] Verdant Catacombs
1 [U] Scrubland
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
1 [FUT] Dryad Arbor
4 [TE] Wasteland
1 [LG] Karakas
2 [FUT] Horizon Canopy
1 [U] Bayou
// Creatures
1 [MBS] Glissa, the Traitor
4 [FUT] Tarmogoyf
4 [MBS] Mirran Crusader
4 [WWK] Stoneforge Mystic
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
1 [ARB] Qasali Pridemage
4 [UL] Mother of Runes
2 [CFX] Knight of the Reliquary
1 [R] Birds of Paradise
// Spells
4 [R] Swords to Plowshares
2 [FD] Engineered Explosives
1 [DS] Sword of Fire and Ice
3 [MBS] Green Sun's Zenith
1 [BOK] Umezawa's Jitte
1 [NPH] Batterskull
1 [DS] Sword of Light and Shadow
// Sideboard
SB: 3 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 4 [ALA] Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 4 [TE] Choke
SB: 4 [HOP] Relic of Progenitus
Crusader is pretty nuts. The fact that he can equip and attack past a tarmogoyf makes him pretty great.
This guy made Eva Green and The Gate obsolete.
It can chump block or even kill Knight of the Reliquary, Tarmogoyf, and even swing past Progenitus.
It's utterly insane with equipment.
Untrue. Gatekeeper and Edict effects combined with Go for the Throat targeting your other creatures still beat this. Not to mention Thoughtseize pulling it out of your hand. I had the displeasure of seeing this first hand. Black decks like The Gate own creature decks.
Asylum EDH: Foil or go home.
The only thing I dislike about Mirran Crusader is the fact that he isn't green.
This looks like a job for me.
Most of my posts will be written from my phone, so please excuse the eventual lack of proper typing.
Mirran Crusader's insane with Jitte and/or SOFI (Pro Red/Blue/Green/Black swing for 12 draw two seems amazing), and given how strong Stoneforge is right now, the pair of them in the same deck is absolutely ludicrous.
I've been playing White Chalice Aggro for awhile now, adding Blade Splicer, Flickerwisp, and Elspeth, Knight-Errant in there. Flickerwisp makes more Golems and hunts more equipment, Elspeth makes Mirran Crusader with SOFI swing for 18, etc. The deck is just absolutely fucking bonkers.
She's also amazing against every deck doing the Stoneforge/Batterskull trick, as protection from the black germ token is beautiful.
Also, the one time I managed to get Batterskull attached to Mirran Crusader, the result was fun.
I think when that event deck comes out that has the two SFM and MC in it, I'll buy two.
Care to post your list? :PI've been playing White Chalice Aggro for awhile now, adding Blade Splicer, Flickerwisp, and Elspeth, Knight-Errant in there. Flickerwisp makes more Golems and hunts more equipment, Elspeth makes Mirran Crusader with SOFI swing for 18, etc. The deck is just absolutely fucking bonkers.
My current one I just started testing. Blanks Mental Misstep completely.
14 Plains
4 Ancient Tomb
2 Wasteland
4 Chrome Mox
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Mirran Crusader
4 Flickerwisp
4 Blade Splicer
3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
2 Aven Mindcensor
3 Chalice of the Void
4 Oblivion Ring
2 Journey to Nowhere
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Batterskull
SB:
4 Tormod's Crypt
2 Journey to Nowhere
3 Leonin Relic-Warder
1 Aven Mindcensor
2 Trinisphere
2 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Umezawa's Jitte
What are your matchups like? That's a very cool list. Also, I know you're avoiding 1 CMC because of Mental Misstep but how do you feel about not having Swords to Plowshares?
Bravo for messing with Chalice of the Void. Every designer around should be looking at that card to bring the format back into shape. It's hard to look at that deck and not yearn for Aether Vial and STP though.
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This looks like a job for me.
Most of my posts will be written from my phone, so please excuse the eventual lack of proper typing.
Pro Green also means he's immune to Firespout.
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