Marchesa

[Cogsamurai]

Marchesa 117 cards, 16 sideboard 1 {Marchesa, the Black Rose} 1 {Rakdos Carnarium} 1 {Dimir Guildgate} 1 {Dimir Aqueduct} 1 {Crumbling Necropolis} 1 {Opal Palace} 1 {Rakdos Guildgate} 1 {Izzet Boilerworks} 1 {Izzet Guildgate} 10 {Swamp} 1 {Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth} 10 {Mountain} 8 {Island} 1 {Evolving Wilds} 1 {Command Tower} 39 lands 1 {Wildfire Cerberus} 1 {Hooded Assassin} 1 {Mer-Ek Nightblade} 1 {Desecration Demon} 1 {Falkenrath Exterminator} 1 {Flame-Wreathed Phoenix} 1 {Treasonous Ogre} 1 {Phyrexian Scuta} 1 {Souldrinker} 1 {Swarm of Bloodflies} 1 {Falkenrath Marauders} 1 {Pyreheart Wolf} 1 {Thraximundar} 1 {Chasm Skulker} 1 {Hound of Griselbrand} 1 {Sage of Hours} 1 {Stormbreath Dragon} 1 {Bloodflow Connoisseur} 1 {Demonlord of Ashmouth} 1 {Olivia Voldaren} 1 {Heirs of Stromkirk} 1 {Sapphire Drake} 1 {Necropolis Regent} 1 {Havengul Vampire} 1 {Wall of Blood} 1 {Sphinx of Magosi} 1 {Thought Gorger} 1 {Evil Twin} 1 {Grimgrin, Corpse-Born} 1 {Zealous Conscripts} 1 {River Kelpie} 1 {Phylactery Lich} 1 {Sage of Fables} 1 {Falkenrath Aristocrat} 1 {Triskelion} 1 {Flayer of the Hatebound} 1 {Stingmoggie} 1 {Hamletback Goliath} 1 {Burnished Hart} 39 creatures 1 {Ashnod's Altar} 1 {Warstorm Surge} 1 {Mark of Mutiny} 1 {Ordeal of Thassa} 1 {Ordeal of Erebos} 1 {Dictate of Erebos} 1 {Diabolic Tutor} 1 {Mind Slash} 1 {Spinal Embrace} 1 {Word of Seizing} 1 {Traitorous Instinct} 1 {Unspeakable Symbol} 1 {Grab the Reins} 1 {Slave of Bolas} 1 {Power Conduit} 1 {Treacherous Urge} 1 {Grave Betrayal} 1 {Act of Aggression} 1 {Ray of Command} 1 {Act of Treason} 1 {Infernal Tribute} 1 {Insurrection} 22 other spells Sideboard 1 {Sidisi, Undead Vizier} 1 {Phyrexian Altar} 1 {Butcher of Malakir} 1 {Cauldron of Souls} 1 {Toxic Deluge} 1 {Darksteel Ingot} 1 {Cyclonic Rift} 1 {Sol Ring} 1 {Grave Pact} 1 {Attrition} 1 {Chromatic Lantern} 1 {Sheoldred, Whispering One} 1 {Mikaeus, the Unhallowed} 1 {Preyseizer Dragon} 1 {Glen Elendra Archmage} 1 {Purphoros, God of the Forge} 16 sideboard cards

[particle]

Auras, especially the ordeals, and especially the {ordeal of erebos} seem quite bad here. So easy to get two for ones and even if it resolves the benefit is not that amazing. I mean I understand your on the dethrone plan but there's definitely better ways to add counters.

Edit: I'd also remove all {act of treason} effects except for {insurrection} and maybe the {slave of bolas} effects. Playing Edh a lot, there's enough decks where {act of treason} will either be a dead card or a meaningless one. Many creature-light decks and many decks like {Rhys, the redeemed} where stealing a random dude won't actually do anything.  At least sacrificing the creature at eot makes the steal effects useful but otherwise they seem quite bad. Especially when you will likely dethrone with them, then return them to your opponents buffed.

[DanM69]

Auras, especially the ordeals, and especially the {ordeal of erebos} seem quite bad here. So easy to get two for ones and even if it resolves the benefit is not that amazing. I mean I understand your on the dethrone plan but there's definitely better ways to add counters.

Edit: I'd also remove all {act of treason} effects except for {insurrection} and maybe the {slave of bolas} effects. Playing Edh a lot, there's enough decks where {act of treason} will either be a dead card or a meaningless one. Many creature-light decks and many decks like {Rhys, the redeemed} where stealing a random dude won't actually do anything.  At least sacrificing the creature at eot makes the steal effects useful but otherwise they seem quite bad. Especially when you will likely dethrone with them, then return them to your opponents buffed.

With more free sac effects I would definitely keep a few of these in. Marchesa very easily turns your creatures into her bitches. Maybe add {carrion feeder} or {attrition}? Creatures that steal creatures like {cytoplast manipulator} are also fun

[Kaylesh]

Interesting note here: if you sac a creature with a counter on it (while under your control) it will return under your control with no memory of its old controllers.
It won't work on commanders, since they return to the command zone before the end step, but repeatable steal + sac effects work nice.
With {willbreaker} + sac you can turn  {Dragon Blood} into a creature stealer.

I agree on the ordeals & the returning the creature with a counter at eot being suboptimal though.

[JordanCirk]

Interesting note here: if you sac a creature with a counter on it (while under your control) it will return under your control with no memory of its old controllers.
It won't work on commanders, since they return to the command zone before the end step, but repeatable steal + sac effects work nice.
With {willbreaker} + sac you can turn  {Dragon Blood} into a creature stealer.

I agree on the ordeals & the returning the creature with a counter at eot being suboptimal though.

A better one than dragon blood is {Unspeakable Symbol}. When I had marchesa built, this card was insane