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Thread: [EDH] Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed (formerly Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon)

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    [EDH] Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed (formerly Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon)



    Lands (36):

    Cabal Coffers
    Bloodstained Mire
    Deserted Temple
    Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
    26 Snow-Covered Swamp
    Verdant Catacombs
    Marsh Flats
    Polluted Delta
    Vesuva
    Buried Ruin
    Thespian's Stage

    Acceleration (17):

    Sol Ring
    Mana Crypt
    Gauntlet of Power
    Basalt Monolith
    Candelabra of Tawnos
    Nirkana Revenant
    Caged Sun
    Mana Vault
    Worn Powerstone
    Thran Dynamo
    Gilded Lotus
    Crypt Ghast
    Black Market
    Everflowing Chalice
    Magus of the Coffers
    Grim Monolith
    Burnished Hart

    Card Draw/Selection (4):

    Sensei's Divining Top
    Memory Jar
    Promise of Power
    Necropotence

    Tutors (13):

    Diabolic Tutor
    Demonic Tutor
    Vampiric Tutor
    Expedition Map
    Beseech the Queen
    Shred Memory
    Praetor's Grasp
    Grim Tutor
    Demonic Collusion
    Cruel Tutor
    Imperial Seal
    Increasing Ambition
    Diabolic Revelation

    Removal/Sweepers (15):

    Damnation
    Barter in Blood
    Ashes to Ashes
    Innocent Blood
    Oblivion Stone
    All is Dust
    Karn Liberated
    Decree of Pain
    The Abyss
    Spreading Plague
    Toxic Deluge
    No Mercy
    Infest
    Withering Wisps
    Dread

    Graveyard Recursion (3):

    Yawgmoth's Will
    Crucible of Worlds
    Mimic Vat

    Miscellaneous (11):

    Leyline of the Void
    Helm of Obedience
    Rings of Brighthearth
    Exsanguinate
    Infernal Darkness
    Silent Arbiter
    Ensnaring Bridge
    Sculpting Steel
    Staff of Domination
    Ward of Bones
    Crawlspace

    It's a pretty straightforward deck. Punish people who attack you, and control the game until you're ready to kill with:

    Basalt Monolith + Rings of Brighthearth + Sensei's Divining Top/Exsanguinate
    Helm of Obedience + Leyline of the Void
    Cabal Coffers + Deserted Temple + Rings of Brighthearth + Sensei's Divining Top/Exsanguinate
    Magus of the Coffers + Staff of Domination

    Your best tutor target is usually Cabal Coffers, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, Deserted Temple, Vesuva, or Candelabra of Tawnos, as these cards combine to generate an insane amount of mana in this deck. Later in the game, Yawgmoth's Will is your best bet.

    Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed is a deck that relies on subtlety and your opponents being more afraid of each other than of you. There's a saying in my EDH group: "The third player to be scary wins the game." Basically, the first person who does something insanely powerful gets hated out by the other players, the second player to do so gets whatever is left of the counters/removal, but by the third time someone tries to win the game no one has enough cards left to stop them. Your goal with Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed is to be the third player who tries to win the game.

    The best way to play is to sit back while building up cards and mana for the first six to eight turns of the game. Try not to do anything overtly threatening until your opponents have blown their loads. Tutor for cards like Cabal Coffers that set you up for the long game without drawing attention to yourself. Let your opponents over-commit to building up their board state then blow an Oblivion Stone or cast All is Dust. All those extra cards you drew and all that extra mana from Cabal Coffers should leave you better off than everyone else. If you're going for an instant kill like Helm of Obedience + Leyline of the Void, play and use it in a single turn whenever possible. Leaving half of a kill out there will draw attention to yourself and make your opponents target you every time you play a tutor.

    As the speed in which your playgroup kills varies, you're going to have to adjust the deck to continue being the third scary person.
    Last edited by Kuma; 11-16-2013 at 06:36 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  2. #2
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Looks very solid, I love decks with minimal creatures.

    Any reason Maze of ith didn't make the list?

    Some kind of GY hate should probably get fit in their somewhere, maybe Bojuka Bog?

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by TheArchitect View Post
    Any reason Maze of ith didn't make the list?
    If a land isn't a Snow-Covered Swamp I need a really good reason to run it. This deck uses Cabal Coffers a lot and needs a critical mass of swamps to work properly.

    I run so many ways to kill creatures. Why settle for untapping them?

    Quote Originally Posted by TheArchitect View Post
    Some kind of GY hate should probably get fit in their somewhere, maybe Bojuka Bog?
    I run Leyline of the Void and Shred Memory. I could run more, but my metagame has kind of moved away from graveyard decks.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  4. #4
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Ya true about the maze of ith. Caged Sun will be a nice 2nd gauntlet after NPH.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kuma View Post
    I run Leyline of the Void and Shred Memory. I could run more, but my metagame has kind of moved away from graveyard decks.
    I am an idiot. I didn't even think of using them for that effect effect haha! I was just looking at them as a combo piece and a tutor.

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by TheArchitect View Post
    Caged Sun will be a nice 2nd gauntlet after NPH.
    True dat.

    After New Phyrexia, I'm going to make the following changes:

    - Strata Scythe
    - Extraplanar Lens
    - No Mercy
    - Crystal Ball

    + Lashwrithe
    + Praetor's Grasp
    + Karn Liberated
    + Caged Sun

    EDIT:

    More changes:

    - Necrologia
    - Temporal Aperture
    - Prototype Portal
    - Venser's Journal

    + All is Dust
    + Nirkana Revenant
    + Solemn Simulacrum
    + Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
    Last edited by Kuma; 04-26-2011 at 11:51 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  6. #6
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    + Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
    + Beacon of Unrest

    - Nevinyrral's Disk
    - Sigil of Distinction

    I want a way to get back a counterspelled Yawgmoth's Will, and Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed is about my only option. Since people keep destroying my Cabal Coffers, I want more ways to get it back besides Yawgmoth's Will and Crucible of Worlds. Beacon of Unrest lets me get back a destroyed Crucible of Worlds, while giving me lots of other options. Also considered were Ill-Gotten Gains and Grim Discovery.

    After adding All is Dust, Nevinyrral's Disk was slow and redundant. I don't like cutting the Sigil of Distinction, but it's been a long time since I used it to kill someone. Anyone have another suggestion for something I could cut?
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  7. #7
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    It's a little pricey, but Life's Finale can really screw someone over. I play it in my Vorosh deck and it works like a charm. It also has good synergy with Beacon of Unrest.

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Bignasty197 View Post
    It's a little pricey, but Life's Finale can really screw someone over. I play it in my Vorosh deck and it works like a charm. It also has good synergy with Beacon of Unrest.
    I don't think the deck needs more sweepers right now, but if it did, Life's Finale would be in the running with Overwhelming Forces, Decree of Pain, and Black Sun's Zenith. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. I like that Life's Finale only costs six and has the potential to do cool things, but I like the card draw from Overwhelming Forces and Decree of Pain.

    Life's Finale is the definite front-runner should I decide to add another sweeper.

    Any thoughts on a better cut than Sigil of Distinction?
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  9. #9
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Kuma View Post
    I don't think the deck needs more sweepers right now, but if it did, Life's Finale would be in the running with Overwhelming Forces, Decree of Pain, and Black Sun's Zenith. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. I like that Life's Finale only costs six and has the potential to do cool things, but I like the card draw from Overwhelming Forces and Decree of Pain.

    Life's Finale is the definite front-runner should I decide to add another sweeper.

    Any thoughts on a better cut than Sigil of Distinction?
    You should read the Oracle text on Overwhelming Forces...they hit it pretty hard for multiplayer magic.

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Davran View Post
    You should read the Oracle text on Overwhelming Forces...they hit it pretty hard for multiplayer magic.
    Yikes! Good point.

    - Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet

    + Sheoldred, Whispering One

    There was too much overlap between Avatar of Woe and Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet. I stuck with Avatar of Woe because it could potentially cost two mana, had evasion, and doesn't cost mana to activate. Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet's ability to make creatures wasn't relevant in my testing, because the deck almost always kills with poison counters, Helm of Obedience/Leyline of the Void combo, or a huge Exsanguinate.

    Sheoldred, Whispering One lets me attack creatures from a different angle, and also does potentially ridiculous things with Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  11. #11

    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Hi! Very nice deck! Do you think it's playable without Candelabra of Tawnos?

  12. #12

    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    @BorntoGrill: It sure is.

    @Kuma: I'd definitely add Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Ambition's Cost and Unspeakable Symbol. Also, I'm not sure if Praetor's Grasp worth it in MP Games.[/cards]

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Kage View Post
    @BorntoGrill: It sure is.

    @Kuma: I'd definitely add Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Ambition's Cost and Unspeakable Symbol. Also, I'm not sure if Praetor's Grasp worth it in MP Games.[/cards]
    Be careful with Eldrazi titans. I know this is a black deck and most mono-black EDH tends to be very board controlling, but make sure that if you run any huge fat in your deck that it's something you can handle. I'm convinced that with the printing of more and more rediculous fat creatures that the golden rule of EDH should be:

    Thou shall not put any creature in your deck that you can't deal with when your opponent casts Bribery on you.

    I'm actually removing Blightsteel from my Sharuum deck because I hate having to waste tutors to find bounce or Duplicant my own Blightsteel.
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    With Xiahuo, you can easily playout Fleshbag Marauder to prevent such shenanigans from occuring. Since they're both in the deck, Corpse Dance also becomes much more attractive as an alternate to Yawgmoth's Will. It especially combos well with 187 creatures and sacrifice effects.
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by BornToGrill View Post
    Hi! Very nice deck! Do you think it's playable without Candelabra of Tawnos?
    Absolutely. The deck's main mana engine is Cabal Coffers, and I'd say that's the only card the deck isn't playable without. I wouldn't have Candelabra of Tawnos in here except that I picked one up cheap from a LGS for $81.

    Quote Originally Posted by Kage View Post
    @Kuma: I'd definitely add Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, Ambition's Cost and Unspeakable Symbol. Also, I'm not sure if Praetor's Grasp worth it in MP Games.
    I've thought about adding Kozilek, Butcher of Truth, but I'm not sure what to cut, and I'm not sure the deck needs more than one Eldrazi titan. If you can suggest a reasonable cut, I'm open to trying him out.

    The reason I run Sign in Blood and Night's Whisper but don't run Ambition's Cost and Ancient Craving is mana cost. This deck doesn't do much on the first few turns of the game, so Sign in Blood and Night's Whisper give me something to do on what would otherwise be a wasted turn. Lots of cards in my deck cost four or more mana, which means Ambition's Cost and Ancient Craving are competing with business spells for my time. I know it's a good idea mathematically speaking to run Ambition's Cost and Ancient Craving, but I'm not sure where they fit and they'd probably sit in my hand until the late game most of the time.

    Unspeakable Symbol is too costly and too risky. Compare it to Nightmare Lash and Lashwrithe. To turn Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon into a one-hit kill, Unspeakable Symbol costs three mana and eighteen life. Nightmare Lash costs four mana and three life, Lashwrithe costs four to six mana and zero to four life. Also, if they kill Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon after you make him huge, you paid half your life for nothing and you almost certainly won't be able to pay that much life again. My equipment doesn't have that problem.

    What do you mean Praetor's Grasp isn't worth it in multi-player? At worst it's a Mana Crypt or Sol Ring. At best it could be a Cabal Coffers, Yawgmoth's Will, Oblivion Stone, etc.

    Quote Originally Posted by rukcus View Post
    With Xiahuo, you can easily playout Fleshbag Marauder to prevent such shenanigans from occuring. Since they're both in the deck, Corpse Dance also becomes much more attractive as an alternate to Yawgmoth's Will. It especially combos well with 187 creatures and sacrifice effects.
    I don't think I run enough creatures to make Corpse Dance worth it, and I'm definitely not cutting Yawgmoth's Will for it. I like the idea, but it's going to be a dead card most of the time.
    Last edited by Kuma; 06-23-2011 at 02:03 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  16. #16
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    I want to make the following changes:

    - Mana Vault
    - Thran Dynamo
    - Consuming Vapors
    - Mind Shatter

    + Grim Tutor
    + Buried Ruin
    + Petrified Field
    + Bojuka Bog
    + Demonic Collusion

    You'll notice that that's five adds but only four cuts. I'm looking for suggestions for a fifth cut. Does anyone have any ideas?
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  17. #17
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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    In a deck packed with tutors, is a combo win really that fun? Helm/Void seems like a pretty boring way to win.

    On a side note, for a deck that need to meet it's land drop every turn, I really like Armillary Sphere and Journeyer's Kite.

    Is Memory Jar that good? I understand that it's a draw seven but when I used to play it, I typically had to throw it out there unprotected and hope it didn't get blown up for a turn in order to have mana to use the new cards.

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Kuma View Post
    You'll notice that that's five adds but only four cuts. I'm looking for suggestions for a fifth cut. Does anyone have any ideas?
    Dimir Machinations since you're putting in two more tutor effects? Maybe Karn?

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    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    Quote Originally Posted by Tog View Post
    In a deck packed with tutors, is a combo win really that fun? Helm/Void seems like a pretty boring way to win.
    Winning is boring?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tog View Post
    On a side note, for a deck that need to meet it's land drop every turn, I really like Armillary Sphere and Journeyer's Kite.
    I've given those cards lots of consideration in the past, because it's important for this deck to hit its land drops. The problem with Journeyer's Kite is that spending that much mana to hit your land drops stops you from doing anything for a long time. Once you get seven or eight mana, i.e. with Cabal Coffers, land drops become less important. My most tutored for card is Cabal Coffers followed by Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, which mitigates the need for land drops somewhat. It's not like I'm lacking cards that help me hit land drops in the first place.

    Armillary Sphere might be worth a look, but right now I need to cut a card not add another one. I'll worry about trying it later.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tog View Post
    Is Memory Jar that good? I understand that it's a draw seven but when I used to play it, I typically had to throw it out there unprotected and hope it didn't get blown up for a turn in order to have mana to use the new cards.
    With the absurd amount of mana this deck can make, you often don't have to wait a turn to pop your Memory Jar. Even if you do and they destroy it, that's still one less piece of hate for your other cards. I like running things my opponents have to destroy.

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexAI View Post
    Dimir Machinations since you're putting in two more tutor effects? Maybe Karn?
    Tutors are the best cards in the deck. They're all pretty much untouchable. You can't have too many tutors in EDH. That's why Dimir Machinations and Dimir House Guard are in the deck. Karn Liberated might get cut, but one of my biggest problems is not being able to answer problem artifacts and enchantments. There are only so many ways to do that in mono-black.

    EDIT:

    I decided that the last cut is going to be Gilded Lotus. Opening post updated.
    Last edited by Kuma; 07-20-2011 at 01:21 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    How would Nitewolf have said this?... P_R went over the line. But it was about naming cats. Also, Anus Mittens is a good name for a cat.
    Quote Originally Posted by MMogg View Post
    "Casual sex, NO Touching/Licking/Sucking/Groping/Fondling/Riding/Tickling/Binding/Quitters/Italians. Play Fast, Be Polite, Have Fun."

    Sure as hell sounds like fun.

  20. #20

    Re: [EDH] Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon

    I'd recommend fitting an Infernal Darkness into your list somewhere (maybe in place of Mind Slaver?). It can buy you the time needed for a few General kills, particularly if you drop it immediately after a Wrath effect. What is the poison counter limit in Commander anyway?

    Also in the offhand chance that you actually own one and overlooked it, Imperial Seal should be in the deck.

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