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Need help with casual Kess, Dissident Mage Reanimator deck (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm trying to build a fun, casual Reanimator deck using Kess, Dissident Mage, but I'm having a little trouble: Moxfield Decklist

Basically the deck is pretty inconsistent and susceptible and also not very interactive. Meaning I might be lucky and reanimate a big threat turn 3-4, but it's a single threat that can be easily dealt with. And because it is a big threat, it usually is the immediate focus. While others build their board, I filter cards until I can reanimate another big threat, leaving my board pretty empty. This could be compensated with interactions, but because the deck needs enough big threats, filter/loot cards and reanimate spells, there is little space.

I run a couple of tutors to help with the consistency, but they are kind of inappropriate for the power level of the deck. So sometimes I replace them with less good draws/threats/reanimates.

I feel like my only course is to play even more impactful threats, which are expensive to get, but also increase the power level inconsistency, while making me the target, because there could be something very bad incoming at any time.

So, is there a way to keep this a casual deck, but also make it more consistent and interactive? Maybe focusing a little more on spellslinging?

Edit: In the end I came to turns with the fact that a reanimator strategy alone does not work in a 4-player game (except maybe with much stronger targets). So I build the deck a little more into the spellslinger direction, cut the Demonic Tutor and accepted that it will be a power level 6 like my other decks.

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[–] Septian 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I primarily play cEDH, so be aware I have some biases during deck building and take my advice with a grain of salt.

In my experience, the rule of thumb is the more consistency you want in a deck the more tutors you should be running. I know you mentioned wanting to preserve the power level of your deck and that means to me that your deck will always be inconsistent -- some games you'll draw a god hand, some games you won't.

As an alternative to more filtering or protection, have you considered adding in disruption to your opponent's setups? Again, power level considerations might be a problem here but things like Massacre Girl or wheel effects might help you into a more stable position early.

I also always favor free interaction in blue to defend your key pieces, but that has the power problem and the consistency problem -- running one or two pieces of free interaction (E.g. Force of Will, etc.) won't help too much on average if you don't have ways to find them.

At the end of the day, I think I'd lean into disruption in any spellslinger type deck like Kess in order to reach a position where you can leverage your yard to outmaneuver your opponents.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Sounds to me like a classic Reanimator strategy might just not be viable in a casual 4-player format. Maybe I need to lean more into the spellslinger side.

Do you have more examples of the type of disruption you would run in something like that? I was thinking of Sire of Insanity, but that's almost a lock condition in a casual game and would probably upset a lot of players.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think your problem is 2 fold. Kess is not the best reanimator commander, and all the creatures you are reanimating don't seem to have any built in protection or immediately make an impact on the board. When you cheat creatures out you need to expect they will be targeted immediately. So you either need to get value then, have a way to protect them, or they have built in protection. If you're reanimating and expecting your creature to be there after 3 other plays take their turn you're doing it wrong.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I like Kess for her colors and the ability to recast the reanimator spells from the graveyard, but you're right she has no builtin reanimation and she has the same weakness as the reanimator strategy, which is graveyard hate. Still I think I want to keep her as the commander.

Among my creatures I have some with immediate impact: Sphinx of Uthuun,Kederekt Leviathan, Sphinx of the Second Sun and arguably Brainstealer Dragon.

I could add Diluvian Primordial and Sepulchral Primordial though they're only impactful later in the game. I was also thinking about Triplicate Titan and Ancient Stone Idol, because they are harder to remove. Also on the list is Nezahal, Primal Tide or Inkwell Leviathan.

Any other suggestions?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

The primordials arent bad. Take a look at these lists. I am not saying copy the deck, but it should give a better idea of the kind of creatures I am talking about.
https://edhrec.com/average-decks/sauron-lord-of-the-rings/reanimate
https://edhrec.com/commanders/sedris-the-traitor-king/reanimate

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think the easiest way to get consistency with out adding too much power is card draw. I would be running as many faithless looting and careful study cards as possibly. Then you need some counter magic to protect your threats. Lastly add in a few more equipmentments that also protect your creatures. Swiftfoot boots, whispersilk cloak etc.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I'm running all of the filter & loot I can, but that leaves little space for counter spells and other protection. I think squeezing in Swiftfoot Boots is a good idea because they stay on the board. Not sure about Whispersilk Cloak, because of the mana investment, but I guess I do save a lot of mana cheating the fatties in and unblockable is a neat addition.