Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

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Veghelia on Combat Superiority

2 days ago

Crow_Umbra, thank you for your feedback and suggestions!

If you're interested in sparring a bit, I've looked into your feedback and I have some thoughts. If any of this brings up other ideas or you have other suggestions, I’d love to hear it.

Regarding using more goad and embracing "being the villain":

I'm very much still experimenting with being as "supportive" with this deck as I can be, since that is really the desire I have that got me to make this deck. I derive enjoyment from seeing the table enjoy what I do and playing with me, and not forcing them to play along is an important part of that. I've made another deck (Death or Mogis) that a lot of my friends love to play against or play themselves, and I'm trying to do a similar thing here, but more combat-focused. I’ll leave the idea of embracing "being the villain" open, but I first want to figure out if I can make the "I'm your best friend in a game without allies" approach work before I fully switch (or more honestly, probably retire the deck).

Regarding Boros Battleshaper and Endbringer:

Yeah, you're right. I've noticed in goldfishing already that they don't feel good enough. Boros Battleshaper just feels like a cool idea that could work but doesn't, and Endbringer really is a remnant of the older version of this deck where I was more going for a mafia-style “broker” vibe, capable of “solving problems” on other people’s turns. Sadly, that’s a couple of steps removed from what the deck is now. I want them to be cool, but you’re right in that they really don't work in the deck.

Regarding your suggestions:

• Xantcha, Sleeper Agent creates a bit of a weird situation. I have to give it to someone, making me the bad guy in their eyes, and then they do get to benefit from my attack triggers (forcibly), but they are also the victim of the "drain and draw" ability. I think it's a bit too much of a mixed bag emotionally, and although it is not a bad card, I'll probably leave it out of the maybeboard, at least for a while or until I switch to embracing villainhood.
• Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip is just not my jam aesthetically. I can appreciate some Universes Beyond stuff, but this is a no-go for me. I also think he might be too good and closing out the game himself, drawing too much ire as a result.
• Assault Suit has been on my list for a long time, and I've only really removed it from this deck's maybeboard because I'm thinking of trying it in a different, more equipment focused deck. I might re-add it later though.
• Ghostly Prison feels spot on. I hadn't considered it yet, and it feels like it would slot in reaaaaal good.
• Emberwilde Captain goes back on the maybeboard. It also gives a reason to attack me, and that's anti-syngery, but it could also be good recurring draw + punishment for trying to take it from me, and the deck is likely good enough at taking the crown back if necessary.
• Kardur, Doomscourge also goes back on the maybeboard. By far the best way to force my opponents to fight each other and have them break parity rather than have to try doing it myself :P. I had removed it together with some other goad cards, but he could be one of the few that still make the deck.
• Vengeful Ancestor has my doubts, mostly because its effect doesn't really excite me. I'm leaving it out for now, but I'll look down here if I ever can't find other good options.
• Brutal Hordechief is probably also a great suggestion. As I mentioned, I want Boros Battleshaper to work, but I've already noticed that it doesn't really, and I'm currently more fighting with the copium than leaving it in for good reasons. This would probably be the replacement. Both having some drain to add to the combat damage pressure is nice, and I could also force blocks on somebody else's turn, which is pretty cool.
• Enduring Courage is a great option. I've mostly not included it yet because it feels a bit off aesthetically, but it might just be the best option. The deck can use more haste enablers, and I’ve really just not found the one that feels the best yet.
• Hellrider probably doesn't make the cut, since the deck doesn't go-wide enough IMO, and the tokens I put in during combat don't trigger this effect, where I can buff them to hit harder.

Again, thanks for the feedback and the suggestions!

Crow_Umbra on Combat Superiority

5 days ago

I don't see combat control variants of Isshin as often as I do other variants, so kudos to you for taking a less conventional build path. My main play group plays with Goad pretty frequently, and Aggro in general, and I understand your concerns about "being the villain" for playing a lot of it. In all honesty, I think it's something that you should lean into if you're going to do it. Being the "table villain" can be fun.

I haven't read through all of your change logs, so my bad if I missed them as past edits, but have you considered any of the following:

• If you want a couple more "donation" creatures to support your Alexios, both Xantcha, Sleeper Agent and Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip could be worth checking out. Assault Suit is also in line with this theme and what you're going for.

• It might be worth it to throw in a Ghostly Prison to further deter attacks at you. Emberwilde Captain is another deterrent that triggers with Isshin.

• Depending on the success you have had with them, it could be worth considering swapping out Boros Battleshaper and Endbringer for creatures in the 3-4 cmc range that can produce more tokens for your own defensive/aggro purposes. Kardur, Doomscourge and Vengeful Ancestor could be additional Goad pieces worth including as potential swaps if you don't go the token support route.

• Looking at stuff already in your Maybeboard, I think Brutal Hordechief or Enduring Courage could be worthy inclusions. Hordechief and similar group slug/drain effects, like Hellrider can help send damage straight to faces, especially since Isshin gives them an additional trigger. Takes some of the pressure off your reliance on combat damage for a deck like this.

Best of luck with the deck. I think a bit more Goad could help spice your deck up, especially if other players don't really want to "buy into" the support that you're offering them. Sometimes you have to pivot from suggesting they fight each other to actively forcing them to do so lol.

Unlife on Archetype Name and Card Recommendations

1 week ago

I'm planning on possibly rebuilding my Saskia the Unyielding deck (again) and I've been considering a few ideas, one of which being cards that I give to opponents, but that can't attack me. I was wondering if there was a term for these sorts of cards, and if anyone had any recommendations for cards that could fit into the deck. I want to see how many there are before adding goad effects. The deck is , and so far I've found:

Xantcha, Sleeper Agent, Sleeper Agent, Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos, Rite of the Raging Storm, and Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor

Thanks in advance

NTakamura on Looking for advice on creature …

1 month ago

I would like your help in tidying up my Karazikar, the Eye Tyrantdeck that focuses on using defector creature. Cards like Xantcha, Sleeper Agent,Slicer, Hired Muscle  ^Flip and Khârn the Betrayer just to name a few of them. I want to know if what I have here is synergistic, and focused to the theme. And any cards that I may have missed to better the deck.

Snake Squad

NV_1980 on The GOAT of GOAD

1 year ago

This is awesome but please explain why Xantcha, Sleeper Agent is not in the mainboard; she's so much fun!

NV_1980 on Queen Marchesa, the Monarch's War

1 year ago

Curious as to why Xantcha, Sleeper Agent didn't make your list.

amarthaler on EDH Kardur, Doomscourge

1 year ago

Update!

Out: Revenge of Ravens… Xantcha, Sleeper Agent

In: Grenzo, Havoc Raiser… Khârn the Betrayer

Crow_Umbra on Isshin, Two Heavens as One [Politic]

2 years ago

Oooo a Goad Isshin list. Glad to see some twists in addition to go-wide Isshin lists.

There's plenty of cool tech out there for Isshin. I have a few things for you to consider for your theme:

• Mercadia's Downfall - Combat trick for yourself, or use it on your opponents' Goaded stuff.

• Goblin Racketeer

• Vengeful Ancestor - A little surprised you didn't have this one in list already.

• Xantcha, Sleeper Agent - Not budget, but guarantees attacks against opponents & can draw cards/punish outlet for its controller.

• Keldon Twilight, Angel's Trumpet - Forced combat enablers.

There's def more forced combat & Monarch stuff out there if you're interested. Monarch & Initiative ( White Plume Adventurer) could also be a fun way to introduce politics & get people to swing at each other.

My playgroup has a house rule where every game has Monarch in it by end of turn 3 by default. It's made our games much more dynamic & interactive, also adds a big political element to negotiating swings to get Monarch.