Obey My Command | Baral, Chief of Compliance | Combo-Control | Budget cEDH / High-Power Casual (EDH / Commander) [Revision 203]

[PRIMER] Obey My Command | Baral, Chief of Compliance | Combo-Control | Budget cEDH
PRIMER: https://bit.ly/baralcedh

DECKLIST
deckstats.net: https://deckstats.net/decks/128123/1268381-obey-my-command-baral-chief-of
TappedOut.net: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/obey-my-command-baral-chief-of-compliance-com
ArchidektBETA: https://www.archidekt.com/decks/449981#Obey_My_Command_|_Baral,_Chief_of_Compliance_|_Combo_Control_|_Budget_cEDH

TL;DR

Win Conditions

• Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal + 3 (1 of which, Blue) mana from rocks >>> Blue Sun's Zenith
• Palinchron + High Tide + 6 Islands >>> Blue Sun's Zenith

Combos

• Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal + 2 mana from rocks +Sensei's Divining Top = INFINITE DRAW
• Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal + Mirrormade + Swan Song = INFINITE 2/2 TOKENS

Baral has been known for dominating format variations such as Duel Commander (1v1) and Brawl (AER), since after only turn 2 he can exploit cheating out counterspells and cantrips, inevitably locking down the opponent while ensuring that he has gas via his loot ability. But can he hold up against a table with 3+ other opponents? Can his 1-for-1 counter strategy stand while taking aggression from the frustrated opponents whose spells have been countered? Is Baral cEDH-viable?

Baral is cEDH-viable when built and PILOTED efficiently. You want to get the most value out of your counterspells; therefore, as a general rule: counter only spells that directly disrupt your win conditions and your opponents’ win cons. Although there will be times when you have to allow lockdowns that prevent you from winning, but hurts your other 2 opponents more than you. Again, this challenges you to subscribe to a disciplined control mentality as a player. There’s no other commander who can teach you close-to-perfect threat assessment like Baral.

This build’s primary combo is Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal combo. The list is also designed to adapt to the Paradox Engine ban by including a secondary, back-up combo: Palinchron + High Tide. The pilot must aim to assemble one of the combos and sink infinite mana into an outlet to draw out your opponents, and win the game.

COMBOS (UNLIMITED MANA)

Isochron Scepter + Dramatic Reversal is a well-loved and well-hated combo. You need to control mana rocks that can produce a total of three (3) mana, one of which is blue. Then, execute the combo as follows:

1. Cast Isochron Scepter
2. Declare ‘Imprint’ trigger
3. Imprint Dramatic Reversal
4. Activate Isochron Scepter ability
   And by doing so, you are activating the ability in a loop, while floating one mana (ideally Blue) with each iteration. Hence, infinite mana.

Palinchron + High Tide is the alternative combo in this build. It is most commonly featured in Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy as he is able to recur High Tide multiple times. However, what Jace lacks is the ability to protect his combo as efficiently as Baral. The general rule is to only go for this line of play and tutor for High Tide if, and ONLY IF, you draw Palinchron. Blue lacks the ability to tutor for creatures (and for good measure), hence, Palinchron is our fallback combo should our main combo be disrupted. You will need to have at least 6 Islands in play. Then, execute the combo as follows:

1. Cast High Tide. (tapping one island, but better if a mana rock)
2. Tap 5 (minimum) Islands to float 10 mana.
3. Use 7 mana to cast Palinchron. (floating 3)
4. Palinchron’s ETB triggers and you untap up to seven lands. (Still floating 3)
5. Tap 6 (minimum) Islands and float 12 mana. (Now floating a total of 15*)
6. Use 4 mana to activate Palinchron’s ability, returning it to your hand. (Floating 11).
7. Repeat steps 3-6, gaining and floating 1 blue mana each iteration. Hence, unlimited/infinite mana

WIN CONDITIONS

After successfully executing one of the combos and generating infinite (Blue) mana, you will need to sink that mana into a win-con.

Blue Sun’s Zenith (USZ) is your main win condition.

1. With unlimited mana, cast USZ where X= cards in library, targeting yourself (Safety Tip: If you are able to be forced to draw a Y cards by an opponent, instead cast USZ for X where X is cards in your library minus Y, then cantrip to draw the rest with counterspells in hand as protection. Pro Tip: With deck in hand, cast a bounce spell on your Narset, Parter of Veils, as this card counters your win condition. Do the same with all other Narsets on the field.) Be careful as casting USZ as win con is the most vulnerable position you will be in, based on my experience.
2. You will end up with only USZ in your library, as it is “shuffled” back in after resolution. Cantrip for it using draw spells.
3. Cast USZ on opponent for X where X is cards in their library (Safety Tip: X must be at least 101 for good measure, if they still manage to shuffle 101 cards in their 100-card commander deck, I don’t even know anymore)
4. Repeat steps 2-3 for each opponent.

Additionally, to get USZ with unlimited mana via combo, you can activate Sensei’s Divining Top, then activate Isochron Scepter’s ability to untap all nonland permanents. Rinse and repeat and you will end up drawing your entire deck, and therefore USZ.

COUNTERSPELLS
Of course, the aforementioned combos are naked combos stripped down to their core (and minimum activations), but in real games, you must always have ways to protect and fight for your win conditions and combos. Let’s talk counters.

TUTORS
To consistently gather combo pieces and execute combos, you will need help from your card tutors. They are essentially your same combo pieces with an additional 1 or 2 cost to cast, it’s just that they offer a replacement in your 99 to fetch your combo cards. (In retrospect, the chances of obtaining a combo piece in the 99 is increased if “multiple copies” of it are represented as tutors.

POLITICS
You will gather immediate hate. Your resources will be subsumed by the aggregate attempts of your opponents to combo out, and you will feel responsible. You, in most cases, are. Hence, Baral must continuously refuel his hand to defend only against DIRE threats, and his own combo as much as possible.

Disclaimer: This primer is written with the limited knowledge of metagames and current available card pool. Needless to say, there is an infinite number of situations not discussed in this primer, and for that, I implore you to play a lot more games with different opponents to gain more experience, and share them with me.

ANY SUGGESTIONS are welcome, as cEDH, in my experience, is 99% editing and fine-tuning the deck to achieve utmost efficiency and consistency in winning the game.

Thanks for reading my primer on Baral, Chief of Compliance cEDH build. Have fun controlling and combo-ing off!

• Darvelus