Shirei EDH?

Posts : 15 Join date : 2011-06-07

This is Josh, the guy with glasses who ran Myr until he got Tempered Steel. I mentioned my idea for an EDH deck built around Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker, and could use some critiquing as to what I've managed to cobble together.

General:
Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker

Lands: 37
Reliquary Tower
Crypt of Agadeem
Mystifying Maze
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Urborg
Phyrexian Tower
Cabal Coffers
High Market
Bojuka Bog
Miren, the Moaning Well
Barren Moor
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Volrath's Stronghold
Shizo, Death's Storehouse
23 Swamp

Creatures: 30
Thoughtpicker Witch
Viscera Seer
Plagued Rusalka
Heap Doll
Abyssal Gatekeeper
Augur of Skulls
Reassembling Skeleton
Myr Retriever
Nether Traitor
Apprentice Necromancer
Soldevi Adnate
Ashen-Skin Zubera
Pawn of Ulamog
Necroskitter
Bone Shredder
Cadaver Imp
Pilgrim's Eye
Coffin Queen
Scarecrone
Corrosive Mentor
Dimir House Guard
Mindless Automaton
Marsh Flitter
Hell's Caretaker
Triskelion
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Butcher of Malakir
It That Betrays
Bottle Gnomes

Artifacts: 13
Blade of the Bloodchief
Meekstone
Sol Ring
Skullclamp
Scroll Rack
Jet Medallion
Lightning Greaves
Oblivion Stone
Darksteel Plate
Shield of Kaldra
Smokestack
Ashnod's Altar
Swiftfoot Boots

Enchantments: 8
Attrition
Contamination
Necropotence
Infernal Tribute
Words of Waste
Grave Pact
Death Pits of Rath
Black Market
Gate to Phyrexia

Planeswalkers: 1
Liliana Vess

Instants/Sorceries: 10
Shred Memory
Insidious Dreams
Demonic Tutor
Diabolic Intent
Bitter Ordeal
Death Cloud
Dimir Machinations
Diabolic Tutor
Profane Command
Damnation

Now I know you're thinking "Josh, where's the Vampiric Tutor?" when you see this, but I'm the special kind of moron that can go "Oh man, Vampiric Tutor is too expensive, but I NEED Volrath's Stronghold." Other than that, this deck has been very nice when played against a wall. I suppose the largest weakness is that this deck really can't work without my general, so keeping him alive is quite a hassle. I apologize about how jumbled it is; the list didn't import very well.
-EDIT- It dawned on me that I didn't really go over what the deck's goal is. My goal here is to look harmless for the first couple of turns while I hunt for some protection for Shirei and throw a few "harmless" creatures until I can sacrifice all my creatures without inhibition to either kill or own everything with Grave Pact/Butcher and It That Betrays. There's also the option to ramp an insane amount using Pawn of Ulamog and Ashnod's Altar on opponent's turns to crank a Profane Command out that should take out anyone who isn't running lifegain.

Posts : 664 Join date : 2009-11-23 Location : Rochester, MN

lol. i like it. i'll have to go over the gatherer once to see if i think of anything. i'll get back to you about it.

Subject: Re: Shirei EDH? Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:16 am

Kormus bell would allow you to do stupid stuff with your urborg, grave pact, and a sac outlet. I suggest Champion's Helm as an additional equipment that can keep shirei protected. You're running death pits of rath, no reason not to run desert in your mana base. I think you're initial build is quite strong and very cohesive. I don't find it necessary to make any changes really. If you want to do the helpless "don't attack me" black mode, you may consider running No Mercy and/or Dread as big deterrents. Triskelavus and Pentavus are also possible inclusions to generate more mana off your altar. Phyrexian Altar is also available as a redundant backup to your Ashnod's Altar. And finally, Consider Exsanguinate as a finisher for your deck. Gate to Phyrexia = SO SWEET!!!!

Posts : 15 Join date : 2011-06-07

Wow, that bell would be wonderful. I'm tempted to say I'd replace Smokestack with it since it seems a whole lot faster and works well with my "sacrifice everywhere" theme. Thank you for making me re-read Exsanguinate, "each opponent" makes that much more attractive than Death Cloud. Champion's Helm is very good, but I'm having trouble figuring out what I could swap for it.

Subject: Re: Shirei EDH? Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:41 pm

Nohman wrote:: Wow, that bell would be wonderful. I'm tempted to say I'd replace Smokestack with it since it seems a whole lot faster and works well with my "sacrifice everywhere" theme. Thank you for making me re-read Exsanguinate, "each opponent" makes that much more attractive than Death Cloud. Champion's Helm is very good, but I'm having trouble figuring out what I could swap for it.

Unless you have a way to draw many cards at once, words of waste doesn't seem really too amazing, and even if you could draw a bunch of cards, wouldn't you rather just draw into a wit's end or something? I guess if it were me, words of waste would be on the chopping block.

Posts : 172 Join date : 2009-10-26

"doesn't seem really too amazing"

I love magic discussions.

Posts : 15 Join date : 2011-06-07

I can't say it gets used a lot, but Words has a spot because I went "man, Mindless Automaton is letting me draw a stupid amount of cards." I suppose it might work alongside Skullclamp or Infernal Tribute, but if I have those out I'm likely digging and not caring about how many cards everyone else has in their hands. When it comes down to it, I guess one more card to protect my 2/2 general would be worth more than a card that is pretty decent when I actually have draw power built up, and if Sunday was an indication of anything, I'm running nowhere near close to the amount of mana it would take to counter everyone elses' draw shenanigans.

Subject: Re: Shirei EDH? Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:53 am

Ran wrote:: "doesn't seem really too amazing"

I love magic discussions.

Lurker!