Dromar, the Blinker 📝 Deck Tech 📝 *Retired*
Commander
DownSeptember 13, 2013, 12:48:08 AM
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Last Edit: July 16, 2014, 10:20:37 PM by Dudecore
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October 17, 2013, 12:31:16 PM
Dromar, the Blinker (Combo/Control)
This is a typical blinking type deck that exploits the "When _____ Enters the Battlefield (EtB)" abilities of many powerful creatures, then uses that to gain advantage and win over opponents. The reason Dromar, the Banisher was chosen was out of necessity of my Meta. This originally started as a Sen Triplets deck with various lockouts. Needless to say it was not very popular and I became a quick target. I went to the much less assuming Dromar and I've been happy ever since. For the record this is not a super competitive deck. It can be slow at times (could be fixed with more mana rocks) and doesn't exactly take advantage of creature combat to win. Lets get into it.
Blinking/Recursion Package
• Dromar, the Banisher
Despite his cost, Dromar actually has a great body. 6/6 flyer for 6 is above the curve, and the 3 mana Evacuation-like effect is icing on the cake. It does hit your creatures, and 3/5ths of the time himself. That could be a good time to throw down a board wipe. He also interacts with Warped Devotion wonderfully, while that can hurt you also, you'll be able to respond with Archaeomancer, Karmic Guide and Liliana Vess later.
• Riptide Laboratory
Cheap way to get the "Wizard Train" online and running. It's an engine to re-use, save and abuse: Archaeomancer, Aven Mindcensor, Meddling Mage, Snapcaster Mage, Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, Venser, Shaper Savant and Voidmage Husher. Those wizards also represent some of the most efficient 2 for 1's in the game.
• Reveillark
I like being able to put Archaeomancer, Aven Mindcensor, Body Double, Karmic Guide. Meddling Mage, Mulldrifter, Snapcaster Mage, Venser, Shaper Savant and/or Voidmage Husher onto the battlefield. Pretty decent body, and card advantage on Vanish into Memory.
• Restoration Angel
Flickers all non-angel creatures. It's a great accessory to the deck. Super versatile as a flash blocker, something to get in the way, or just an exploitable target for blinking.
• Sun Titan
Relatively new addition, and I have no explaination why I waited so long. He's an absolute house for this deck. It compliments board wipes perfectly. It can get me back any destroyed Lands, Aven Mindcensor, Meddling Mage, Snapcaster Mage, Chromatic Lantern, Crystal Shard, Gift of Immortality, Phyrexian Arena, Sol Ring, Warped Devotion, Worn Powerstone.
BONUS ROUND: It saves the entirety of the CounterTop lock (Counterbalance, Scroll Rack and Sensei's Divining Top)
• Conjurer's Closet
The main blinking engine that gets things rolling. Extremely efficient way reuse EtB abilities without having to pay the casting costs for them.
• Crystal Shard
Plays two different roles in this deck. It can play spoiler for someone casting a big creature/huge buff/something that costs plenty of mana. But it will mostly be used on your own creatures. Simply decline to pay the
and you're off and running, able to get recursion for any of your creatures. It allows them to be untapped to block, pick another target with EtB or held onto for something more sinister.• Gift of Immortality
Newest edition of the deck (as Theros just came out). Works great with Sun Titan to create infinite EtB effects.
• Vanish into Memory
This card just replaced Fact of Fiction. Same mana cost, fits the flavor of the deck better. Although it does not give me card selection, this can draw me upwards of 3+ cards on average and the efficient re-use of my creatures.
• Venser, the Sojourner
The second engine (primary) that gets the deck hooked up. There is almost nothing this guy doesn't do well for this deck. Blink your guys, deals damage, create an emblem that practically ends the game for you.
Enters the Battlefield Package
• Archaeomancer
This card is actually better then Snapcaster Mage if you've got a way to flicker it. Snapcaster exiles the spell if you use the Flashback ability, and adds
to recasting it. Archaeomancer on the other hand gives you the card back , so you can recast it at no extra cost, and repeat the cycle if you so choose. • Ashen Rider
Upgraded an updated Angel of Despair. The additional cost is tolerable considering Restoration Angel hits it now, and you get a 2 for 1.
• Aven Mindcensor
Meta dependent. I know I've done some pretty sneaky things with it, and it's served me well. It also can beat if you're really desperate. Sun Titan revives it, so opponents could be haunted by him forever or use costly removal on it.
• Karmic Guide
An EtB deck auto-include. There is not much that Karmic Guide is bad at. Love this card with Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, flash, reanimate a blocker and remove any potential combat tricks. It is a super important component of this deck and works wonders.
• Magister Sphinx
An unpopular choice by far. Sometimes I feel bad for using it, other times I can't care, it all depends how the game is rolling. It's really a late game card, something to set up a smaller Tendrils of Agony for the win.
• Meddling Mage
The long time missing piece of this deck is a solid disruption card. In the past there have been others, this seems solid. Get recursion out of Reveillark, Sun Titan, Riptide Laboratory and the usual. Meddling Mage is especially useful in this sort of combo deck.
• Mulldrifter
All-star. Card advantage at some real value. Exploitable, draw all of the cards!
• Rune-Scarred Demon
Demonic Tutor stapled to a 6/6 flying demon? Yes please. If properly aligned, you can Demonic Tutor every turn (perhaps more then once) and still swing away with a flying 6/6. Beast status. Can be the knockout punch you need to end the game early.
• Snapcaster Mage
The exploits of Snapcaster Mage have been historically noted. The value is there, the effect is there, the cards are there.
• Venser, Shaper Savant
Reusable Boomerang/Remand. Plenty of value here. Wizard that can be exploited by Riptide Laboratory.
• Voidmage Husher
Hey, it's Stifle with build-in recursion. The lack of split-second makes it weaker, but it is more flexible then Stifle in some ways. Love this card, it stops most combos or other things.
The Win Condition
• Null Profusion
The drawback of discarding down to 2 can be overwritten by Reliquary Tower. This has to be played after Omniscience and before your land drop. If you've got a handful of land you could stall out for a turn, and if you're targeted to discard your hand - you lose. Precise timing is important.
• Omniscience
After the Null Profusion you'll start to play through your entire deck, driving up your storm count as high as possible. Holding onto some counterspells is pretty obvious, and secure the win with...
• Tendrils of Agony
This is the coup de grâce of the combo. All things considered, if you've got 3 opponents all at 40 life, your storm count needs to be 60. The math goes down from there, so adjust accordingly, target accordingly and win the game. It's actually not all that tough to drive a storm count up to 30+, in most cases that's enough to win.
Counter Suite
• Counterbalance
Counterbalance in conjunction with Sensei's Divining Top/Scroll Rack is one of the most loathed, feared, frustrating and powerful combinations. It leaves many strategies entirely pacified while it’s on the table. Unlike some other EDH combos, all pieces of the Countertop engine are low cost and useful by themselves. It makes you a target in a hurry, but it can carry you almost the entire length of the game to assure victory.
⚠️Use with caution: Loss of friends may occur.⚠️
• Cryptic Command
All of the modes are fantastic. It never loses value at any point in the game. Must include staple of blue players.
• Desertion
Handy card. Functions as a counterspell with the bonus of stealing something awesome from the opponent. Once you steal your first Kaalia of the Vast you'll be happy you own one.
• Dromar's Charm
Included for extra flavor. The modes are actually really decent. Functions well in a pinch.
• Force of Will
Moving on.
• Hinder
Tuck effect. Force opponents to use their tutors to get their Commanders back.
• Mana Drain
Just love how overpowered this can be. It's counterspell with a beneficial bonus.
• Misdirection
Redirecting a spell can in someways lead to more butt-hurt hilarity then counterspelling them. It's a great card, makes for some awkward moments and the alternate cost helps too.
• Spell Crumple
Another tucking effect.
Goodstuff.dek
• Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Beater. Immune to mostly everything.
• Medomai the Ageless
New addition. Don't know if I love it or not. Does interact with Venser, the Sojourner's second ability making it unblockable for some extra turn goodness.
• Body Double
My group still plays with the old Legendary rule. But just recently I've cut Phantasmal Image. I like the ability to hit more creatures, especially ones put in my graveyard. Maybe hit my Karmic Guide again and go off.
• Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
Creates a softlock that slows the game down in my favor pretty hardcore. It is also the death sentence when/if the Omniscience + Null Profusion + Tendrils of Agony combo hooks up.
• Entreat the Angels
This just allows me to dial-an-army, and in a long form combo way (Archaeomancer + Scroll Rack/Jace, the Mind Sculptor to put it back ontop,) reuse it. It is almost entirely luck dependent, but Vampiric Tutor/Mystical Tutor on an opponents endstep can assure I can cast it for mega beats.
• Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Why not? He allows crucial card advantage, a win condition.
• Sphinx's Revelation
I like drawing cards and gaining life. Sphinx's Revelation is good at most things it does.
Pillowfort
Moat, Propaganda, Ghostly Prison, Force Field, Maze of Ith, Kor Haven
Tutors
Demonic Tutor, Liliana Vess, Mystical Tutor, Vampiric Tutor
Board sweepers
Akroma's Vengeance, Austere Command, Decree of Pain, Merciless Eviction, Supreme Verdict
Mana rocks
Chromatic Lantern, Sol Ring, Thran Dynamo, Worn Powerstone
Last Edit: November 28, 2013, 09:12:38 AM by Dudecore
October 17, 2013, 01:39:04 PM
Updates and Revisions
➖Trade Secrets ➕Counterbalance
Trade Secrets was banned. I already had the other 2 parts of the CounterTop lockout, so I figured to finish it up.
➖Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite ➕Conjurer's Closet
Elesh Norn is great. However the -2 becomes a little less useful over time if you're not vs. swarm/token. It's really just a meta call. Conjurer's Closet on the other hand has a much bigger effect. One that I've been desperately looking for.
➖Grim Tutor ➕Propaganda
The inclusion of Sun Titan piques my interest in Pillow forting. I think it's a pretty necessary thing for me to be doing at this point. I've got 4 other Tutors, and I can't have em all
➖Bribery ➕Ghostly Prison
Never got amazing mileage out of Bribery. It also painted a nice big target on my forehead. Not that more pillow forting won't, but you catch my drift.
➖Island ➕Force Field
Have to be willing to take some risks in this game. I'll probably kick myself in the head later for not having amazing mana fixing. Such is the price for success.
➖Island ➕Null Profusion
Had a few too many lands, cut this for one of those. First part of the combo.
➖Leyline of the Void ➕Omniscience
Leyline got chopped because I wanted to finish this combo. It might work its way back in eventually.
➖Kozilek, Butcher of Truth ➕Tendrils of Agony
Kozilek was a meta call also. The mill deck in my group isn't nearly as dangerous as it once was, and this was anti-milling tech. He could be back also, if the meta shifts. He was cut for the last piece of the combo.
➖Sphinx of the Steel Wind ➕Sun Titan
Sphinx may be back and Akroma, Angel of Wrath may disappear. But no matter what, Sun Titan is sticking around.
➖Fact or Fiction ➕Vanish into Memory
Nearly an upgrade for me. Vanish can be better/worse then FoF, but Vanish fits better.
➖Vendillion Clique ➕Warped Devotion
I miss the Clique, but the effect almost wasn't big enough for the deck. It is helpful to be able to filter through my library, but it doesn't deal much in the way of damage, and it doesn't absolutely beg to be flickered. Warped Devotion was added to give Dromar a little more purpose.
➖Esper Charm ➕Magister Sphinx
Esper Charm was never that great, and Sphinx very much is. Simple call.
➖Drowned Catacomb ➕Creeping Tar Pit
Manland that is more powerful then a tap land. It was a good call.
Theros Updates
➖Angel of Despair ➕Ashen Rider
Upgrade. Ashen Rider also works with Restoration Angel.
➖Black Sun's Zenith ➕Gift of Immortality
I've got many Boardsweepers, but I love the idea of keeping my Karmic Guide and other creatures alive forever.
➖Temporal Mastery ➕Medomai the Ageless
Medomai allows me to deal damage, and Temporal Mastery can only be used one time. This may go back, but it may not. Only testing will tell. I like new toys
➖Angel of Serenity ➕Reveillark
Angel of Serenity cost too much, did too little and wasn't as awesome as Reveillark turned out to be.
➖Phantasmal Image ➕Body Double
Discussed this a bit in the card review. It's good stuff.
➖Consecrated Sphinx ➕Meddling Mage
There are a couple of reasons for this. 1) Consecrated Sphinx is a target, it is almost immediately stolen or copied. If it makes it around the table once, that is a feat. 2) Meddling Mage makes victory a lot easier vs. certain decks. Namely Zur the Enchanter and Kaalia of the Vast. 3) Guaranteed that no Counterflux befalls my Tendrils of Agony.
Active Testing
Academy Rector
Mirror Entity
Ghostway
Flickerwisp
Last Edit: November 28, 2013, 09:27:11 AM by Dudecore
November 15, 2013, 05:17:06 PM
I'm a single Mirror Entity away from the combo, what would everyone suggest I drop for it?1. Evoke Reveillark, reanimating both Karmic Guide and Mirror Entity. Karmic Guide reanimates Body Double.
2. Body Double copies the dead Reveillark.
3. Activate Mirror Entity X times for 0 (causing my creatures to have 0 toughness). The first activation resolves and kills everything. The Body Doubled Reveillark's ability triggers.
4. Reanimate both Body Double and Karmic Guide. Karmic Guide can now reanimate any other creature. Let's say: Ashen Rider.
5. The next Mirror Entity activation resolves (remember I stacked a bunch), killing my whole team. Step 2 is repeated as well as step 3 (minus the Mirror Entity activations), except this time I abuse Ashen Rider
6. All of my friends scoop and hate me.
July 16, 2014, 10:17:56 PM
Dromar has been retired. His dragon soul was split in two to make Oloro Stax and Roon of the Blinky Things. May your legacy live on old friend.Last Edit: September 16, 2014, 08:18:16 PM by Dudecore
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