GW Eureka Annihilator (A Post Rise of the Eldrazi deck)

Well, I recently purchased a playset of Eureka at SCG.com when I caught a glimpse of the new creatures with the Annihilator mechanic. Annihilator seems to be the perfect mechanic for a Eureka deck to work the way it should (which basically just means winning). I've messed around with Eureka in the past and I feel that a G/W shell seems to be the strongest approach, for various reasons which I'll explain later. Here's the initial list.

// Lands
4 [ON] Windswept Heath
4 [A] Savannah
2 [RAV] Temple Garden
3 [TE] Ancient Tomb
2 [BRB] Plains
5 [10E] Forest

// Creatures
3 Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
4 Pathrazer of Ulmalog
4 [10E] Windborn Muse
4 [CFX] Noble Hierarch
4 [AL] Elvish Spirit Guide
3 [M10] Baneslayer Angel

// Spells
4 [LG] Eureka
4 [ALA] Oblivion Ring
4 [CHK] Ghostly Prison
4 [PS] Orim's Chant
2 [EVG] Harmonize

// Sideboard
SB: 1 [M10] Baneslayer Angel
SB: 3 [10E] Aura of Silence
SB: 4 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [DS] Trinisphere
SB: 4 [MR] Chalice of the Void

Try to ignore the "to get list" aspect of it if you can. :tongue:

What makes the GW build stronger than other color combinations boils down to various reasons.

#1) You have access to Orim's Chant, which allows you to resolve a Eureka successfully.

#2) You have access to Oblivion Ring, which I realized was very good with the Eureka strategy when I noticed how effective it was when I was on the opposite side of the table facing against it with a different Eureka deck.

#3) You have access to Windborn Muse which helps with the overall annihilator plan.

#4) You have access to Elvish Spirit Guide which not only helps you get an early Eureka down, but also helps against Daze.

Other things which make the deck cool.

#1) Baneslayer Angel can be hardcast in the deck, if necessary. It's always good to have the large majority of the cards in a Eureka deck hardcastable anyway.

#2) Most everything else can be hardcasted aside from 7 cards. This helps the deck's consistency since it isn't always good for a deck to rely on one card. And the other aspect of it is that you can cheat any cheap permanent into play given the situation.

#3) Kozilek, can maybe, I mean maybe, be hardcasted in the late game, maybe against Landstill or similiar archetypes. Which can be a plus.

The premise of the deck is basically mana denial in the form of Annihilator creatures, and prison effects, as well as beatdown. This deck is basically a prison-aggro deck and it's a blast to play. I'm getting it built in real life since I already have the hardest cards to find for the deck (Eureka).

I'm open to suggestions and comments are welcome. I'm just eager to hear what you think about this particular interaction of cards. Let me know what you guys think! :smile:

EDIT: I'll keep adding content to this OP whenever I get the chance! :)

Content Update 3/31/10:

I want to take the time to explain some additional card choices.

Chalice of the Void - I usually side these in versus decks that like to pack stuff like StP/PtE. Obvious card subs.

-4 Orim's Chant
+4 Chalice
-4 Noble Hierarch
+3 Trinisphere
+1 Baneslayer Angel

This turns the deck into basically an Angel Stompy variant with a combo finish, which I really like alot. Versus stuff like Zoo and combo this should be the way to go.

MD changes: I have to include Emrakul. The obvious changes look like this.
-2 Kozilek
-1 Pathrazer
+3 Emrakul

Kozilek is good but Emrakul is better. The main reason I cut Kozilek to one and kept 3 Pathrazer is basically becuase while I enjoy having Kozilek, Pathrazers are better in multiples. This rule is generally broken when applied to Emrakul, which is such a beast of a card, I couldn't see myself running less than 3 total.

I've been toying around the idea too when Kozilek and Pathrazer were spoiled. From the competitive side I realized Eureka is slow for the current meta. Splashing white for Chant protection is still ineffective against decks which pack both FoW + Daze.

Splashing black lets you run Cabal Therapy with or without Veteran Explorer which I believe is better since you actually can see your opponent's hand plus it's reusable. Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker will also fit Oblivion Ring's slot better as a Eureka target.

Splashing blue for Mystical Tutor and Personal Tutor makes Eureka (or black disruption spells) easier to find.

The problem with this deck is that opponents still have a chance of reacting to your plan before you can start 'Annihilating' them. An all-in plan is scary because after cards like Wrath of God or Damnation wipe your board you have no more outs.

Sneak Attacking a creature with Annihilator looks more effective, of course with the help of mana acceleration like SSG, Seething Song or Lotus Petals it can be fast.

You didn't take the time to erase your get list so I don't think its worth my time to even look at your list.

why run Eureka over Hypergenesis?

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Originally Posted by Sureshot

Splashing black lets you run Cabal Therapy with or without Veteran Explorer which I believe is better since you actually can see your opponent's hand plus it's reusable. Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker will also fit Windborn Muses' slot better as a Eureka target.

Splashing blue for Mystical Tutor and Personal Tutor makes Eureka (or black disruption spells) easier to find.

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I've toyed around with every Eureka type deck imaginable from ones packing Inkell Leviathan, Empyrial Archangel, Iona, a suit of 12 counters such as FoW, Daze and Spell Pierce, all the way to one abusing Nicol Bolas, LD effects, prison effects, Gerrard's Verdict and various discard effects. I'm fully aware of all the tech out there having to do with Eureka and there's basically nothing new to me. I also felt that x4 Mystical Tutor and x2 Eureka was sufficient in those builds and Personal Tutor deemed to be unnecessary but I digress.

The thing I like most about Windborn Muse in my build is the fact that you can hardcast it. My goal is to try to keep the non castables at a minimum and only enough to make Eureka worthwhile when necessary. This makes it alot more consistent than if you have 20 9-11 CC creatures that solely rely on Eureka itself.

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Originally Posted by Pastorofmuppets

why run Eureka over Hypergenesis?

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Eureka is alot faster basically. You don't have to wait until the suspend counters have ran out, you don't have to fear Meddling Mage and the surprise factor makes it harder to counter when you're opponent doesn't have the opportunity to try to dig for an answer in a span of 3 turns. If mana burn was an issue, which it isn't anymore, I would probably say something along the lines that Eureka is better with Tombs, but since it isn't, that theory is thrown out the window since Hypergenesis is obviously better against Daze. But I feel Eureka is stronger regardless becuase of the fact that you can deny your opponent your true intentions instead of outright letting them know when you're going to play 'said' particular card.

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Originally Posted by rockout

You didn't take the time to erase your get list so I don't think its worth my time to even look at your list.

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Sorry about that, consider it done. :wink:

The reason to run Hypergenesis over Eureka is the Cacade mechanic. You run a bunch of 3cc cascade spells and then nothing else that costs two or less except for Hypergenesis. It's search and cost reduction in one package. I literally cannot think of a single reason to run Eureka over Hypergenesis/Cascade unless you were obsessed with running a ton of one drops or something.

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Originally Posted by morgan_coke

The reason to run Hypergenesis over Eureka is the Cacade mechanic. You run a bunch of 3cc cascade spells and then nothing else that costs two or less except for Hypergenesis. It's search and cost reduction in one package. I literally cannot think of a single reason to run Eureka over Hypergenesis/Cascade unless you were obsessed with running a ton of one drops or something.

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Becuase the decks play differently? The version you've mentioned seems to warrant around 20 fat creatures with CC of 9 or higher. My deck comes at you with a different approach. A non-combo aggro deck with prison elements. Alot of stuff is also hardcastable and functional without Eureka effects. This allows me to win without hyperfocusing on the actual combo itself. I wouldn't say one deck is strictly better than the other, becuase each one presents the people different aspects of winning.

Why not go U/r with Eldarzi? Then you can run SnT and Sneak Attack, Force, and Brainstorm. Brainstorm is crucial in a deck like that where card quality is important. You pretty much win once it comes down, nuking your opponents board. Your build might be faster, but U/r will have better protection. Eureka just looks like a bad SnT.

Another benefit of going blue is access to Kira, which makes your Eldrazi virtually unanswerable (short of a two-for-one) by the majority of decks in the format.

another Show and Tell drop, perhaps even better than Progenitus

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Originally Posted by Kangaxx

Sorry about that, consider it done. :wink:

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Thank and now I have looked at your decklist. Not sure if you knew this but you can eureka in retarded things like nicol bolas planeswalker and form of the dragon. I think a planeswalker is harder to get rid of then an creature. Just a thought.

if you make a version of this with SnT it needs to be called Show and TEldrazi.

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Originally Posted by Pastorofmuppets

why run Eureka over Hypergenesis?

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Although the cascade spells both serve as search and cost reduction to play Hypergenesis, they also come in weird combination of colors. It'll be a pain fetching for the perfect pair of duals to cast them. Running rainbow lands can help in this department but still a single Blood Moon sabotages the plan entirely.

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if you make a version of this with SnT it needs to be called Show and TEldrazi.

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Kudos sir.

My question to this would be why run the Eldrazi when you have access to nicer drops like Iona, Akroma, Inkwell, or even Darksteel? The Eldrazi are cool and all, but they don't have much for evasion (aside from the 1) and don't protect themselves very well. I think I'd take a Petradon over these or Sundering Titan, at least those hamper the opponent right then and there.

and anyway a single StP wrecks all your plans...

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why run the Eldrazi when you have access to nicer drops like Iona, Akroma, Inkwell, or even Darksteel?

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and anyway a single StP wrecks all your plans...

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I would love to run Eldrazis over those creatures simply because of the Annihilator mechanic, we're talking about a different deck now and not Reanimator. While it's true Eldrazis don't have evasion, the idea really is to drop at least two of them off Eureka. An unanswered Annihilator on turn 3-4 most likely spells game over for the other side of the board once it is able to attack.

Going back, the reason why I would prefer to use Sneak Attack is because it takes advantage of this mechanic immediately. Worst matchup would still be U/w/x Landstill obviously going against a barrage of counters and StPs is tough.

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Originally Posted by Sureshot

Going back, the reason why I would prefer to use Sneak Attack is because it takes advantage of this mechanic immediately. Worst matchup would still be U/w/x Landstill obviously going against a barrage of counters and StPs is tough.

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Hahaha imagine if they let you resolve Eureka and then dropped Humility + Elspeth.

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Originally Posted by jrsthethird

Hahaha imagine if they let you resolve Eureka and then dropped Humility + Elspeth.

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Look at the MD as well as the SB. I play x4 Oblivion Ring which usually is played off of a Eureka. I found out about this tech when someone else played this against me when I was testing a different Eureka build. Aura of Silence is also another one of those other Eureka "response" cards that usually gets put into play as an answer to a threat put into play by your own Eureka. K. Grip in the board also deals with stuff like that.

At one point, I was running Indrik Stomphowler but then realized it was pretty useless against Humility.

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Originally Posted by rockout

Thank and now I have looked at your decklist. Not sure if you knew this but you can eureka in retarded things like nicol bolas planeswalker and form of the dragon. I think a planeswalker is harder to get rid of then an creature. Just a thought.

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I actually have Bolas in a different Eureka deck but haven't put much thought about putting him into this one. My main concern is usually an annihilator creature will become much more effective alot quicker. With annihilator creatures, all you need to do is declare your attack phase to destroy 6-7 permanents. That's pretty gamebreaking... And I believe that may be considered a retort to alot of other comments from people in this thread having doubts about the creatures ran.

Current deck changes at the moment have consisted of obvious stuff like:

-2 Kozilek
-1 Pathrazer
+3 Emrakul

Emrakul is legendary but I don't care, the card is too good to not include less than 3 copies.

But yeah, just figured I'd share the changes to anybody who's interested.