We're back once again with a post-deck review of the new Commander 2013 products.Today, I'm going to do a quick little walkthrough of my experience with Oloro (AKA Oreo) and his big cookie beatdown.
CONCERNING THE COOKIE MONSTER
Back in spoiler week, GG and I had a brief discussion via text about this big 'ol emo giant. The general consensus was that he wasn't particularly impressive. Even gaining 2 life a turn, the chances of his ability being relevant in lethal blows is not really game-changing. Good players are going to be able to "math" their way through resistance, and attritioning someone to death with Oloro's slow life drain is also slim.
However, I want to start my analysis by saying I believe I underestimated him. If Oreo is your Commander, you are essentially starting the game at 50 life. If you are a control player, or a big time durdler, this is your jam. Life as a resource in these colors not only enables the degenerate Exquisite Blood/Sanguine Bond combos, but also helps to make decisions with power cards like Necropotence, Phyrexian Arena, and Bitterblossom that much better.
This "unstoppable" life gain is ultimately what led me to believe that the out-of-the-box version of this deck had the most synergy of any of the Commander 2013 products- and it turned out I was right.
CREATURES
Grade: B+
Creature List
1x Ajani's Pridemate
1x Augury Adept
1x Azorius Herald
1x Disciple of Griselbrand
1x Diviner Spirit
1x Divinity of Pride
1x Filigree Angel
1x Hooded Horror
1x Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon"
1x Marrow Bats
1x Myr Battlesphere
1x Phyrexian Delver
1x Phyrexian Gargantua
1x Raven Familiar
1x Razor Hippogriff
1x Serene Master
1x Serra Avatar
1x Sharding Sphinx
1x Sharuum the Hegemon
1x Sphinx of the Steel Wind
1x Stormscape Battlemage
1x Sydri, Galvanic Genius
1x Tidal Force
1x Tidehollow Strix
1x Tower Gargoyle
1x Vizkopa Guildmage
1x Wall of Reverence
The team in charge of Eternal Bargain struck a really nice balance between goodies and playability in the creaturebase. Most of the cards interact well with Oloro, even if they aren't "strong" cards. There were some "forced" cards, like Kongming, Diviner Spirit, and Tower Gargoyle, but I think most of the other options are adequate.
Most of the big threats in this deck are legitimate threats people play in Esper decks, like Sharuum, Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Battleball, and Sharding Sphinx. Obviously, the artifact theme with these guys feels a little redundant for Sydri, but it's clear to me that she probably wouldn't be too good running the deck as is.
Two of the big all-stars I found in playing with and against this deck were actually the last two alphabetically. Vizkopa Guildmage and Wall of Reverence really help to solidify and establish the attrition style game this deck favors, and when supported by big 8-cost game enders, your chances are pretty good.
NONCREATURES
Grade: A
Noncreature Lists
Instants
1x Dromar's Charm
1x Lim-Dul's Vault
1x Reckless Spite
1x Spinal Embrace
The Instants, though lacking in quantity, are mostly quality cards that are playable. Lim-Dul's Vault will no longer be secret tech, and that's okay. It's a house, and I welcome the new art. Reckless Spite is another nice choice in the removal spell suite, and a great fit for a deck that has the life to spare.
Sorceries
1x Brilliant Plan
1x Death Grasp
1x Deep Analysis
1x Famine
1x Order of Succession
1x Survival Cache
1x Tempt with Immortality
1x Toxic Deluge
The Sorceries were impressive. A Brilliant Plan might be an exageration, but reprinting Brilliant Plan fits a little bit more organically with the card draw motif in this deck than its Portal 3 Kingdoms counterpart Kongming.
Order of Successions is probably the worst card in all of the noncreature spells, and that's something I can live with. I can knock it because I did cast it, and it was terrible.
Order of Successions is probably the worst card in all of the noncreature spells, and that's something I can live with. I can knock it because I did cast it, and it was terrible.
Enchantments
1x Cradle of Vitality
1x Curse of Inertia
1x Curse of Shallow Graves
1x Curse of the Forsaken
1x Darksteel Mutation
1x Greed
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Sanguine Bond
Curses are silly, but they aren't the worst here. All of them help to stall the board and sway politics in multiplayer.
The rest of the choices (save Darksteel Mutation) are super strong in conjunction with Oloro. This deck got all the card advantage, and the means to do it.
The rest of the choices (save Darksteel Mutation) are super strong in conjunction with Oloro. This deck got all the card advantage, and the means to do it.
Artifacts
1x Nevinyrral's Disk
1x Nihil Spellbomb
1x Obelisk of Esper
1x Pristine Talisman
1x Sol Ring
1x Sun Droplet
1x Swiftfoot Boots
1x Thopter Foundry
1x Well of Lost Dreams
Overall, this is the kind of package I expected to see for each of the decks. The artifacts really reflect the balance of utility and good Magic cards that could fit in this deck. Everything here works toward that slow, steady life gain value trip that's this deck's path to victory.
LANDS
Grade: B
Lands
1x Azorius Chancery
1x Azorius Guildgate
1x Barren Moor
1x Command Tower
1x Dimir Guildgate
1x Esper Panorama
1x Evolving Wilds
6x Island
1x Jwar Isle Refuge
1x Lonely Sandbar
1x Opal Palace
1x Orzhov Basilica
1x Orzhov Guildgate
9x Plains
1x Rupture Spire
1x Springjack Pasture
9x Swamp
1x Temple of the False God
1x Transguild Promenade
Let's start with the number 41. That's the number of lands they put in this deck, and it's a good set of digits. I can dig it.
Still, three color decks need to have great color access. For me, there's a little too much tapland, but I never saw me or my opponent have trouble casting spells because of the mana base. There are several double and triple symbols in this deck too. Unlike the Derevi deck, the mana here was an improvement.
Overall, this made the deck a lot easier to play and enjoy.
Jim Cramer wasn't available for comment today, but he did say he would push this button.
Commander 2013's Eternal Bargain is mostly as advertised.
As a consumer, I enjoy it when things are properly self-described. Out of the box, this deck is super-playable, pretty fun, and can eventually be modified to be even better.
As a consumer, I enjoy it when things are properly self-described. Out of the box, this deck is super-playable, pretty fun, and can eventually be modified to be even better.
Bring out the Seal of Approval.
Be sure to tune in Thursday for JC's new segment.
Until next time, set your clocks back an entire year. That way the Daylight will never again need saving.
The night is better anyway. Because it's Batman.
-Ya boi Landdrops
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