Deck # 9: Kylie's Herbal Remedy Kit (EDH / Commander) [Revisione 74]

Dr. Kylie Moriarty and her deity, Pharika, did not quite succeed at defeating the Phyrenxians using a modified form of infect against the Phyrexians. But they now fully understand the infection and how to deal with it. Essence of clones of Melira is helpful, but it's not a cure. Pharika's old leeches, modified and stripped of darkness, prove an effective treatment.

Outside of players, infect is only -1/-1 counters for blocking creatures. And the secret therapeutic weapon is Quillspike, which can convert infection (-1/-1 counters) into power for itself. If any card should be brought into standard right now, it should be Quillspike.

This deck also draws in a lesser form on the old idea of lifegain and resurrection.

Kylie and Pharika once again turn to Felidar Sovereign and his wife Healer of the Pride to lead the way, knowing Phyrexian powers will have no permanent effects on them now. The Helix Pinnacle still awaits. If properly charged, it will provide enough power to revoke all infection everywhere, using microbe forms of Quillspike as an antivirus.

The deck was working fair, but it seemed to lack the power to actually solve anything except infect counters. Into the breach steps a replica of Ulamog's Crusher, sent by a self-reforming Kozilek who is helping the ladies for reasons of his own. The replica of Ulamog's Crusher is under Kylie's control and sworn to defend England rather than distort it. Now under medication thanks to Kylie's medical knowledge, Kozilek serves more as the Great Correction than the Great Distortion, and acts as a living counterspell.

Kozilek also helped the ladies by realizing their mana acquisition is not good enough, so he brings them lands that compliment Gateway Plaza: Archway Commons and Geier Reach Sanitarium.

Under the protection of the Fountain Watch, the alliance of Infernal Tribute and Nightmare Shepherd has proven to be an effective extra means of both draw and tokens. All that's required is Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage, Selesnya Eulogist, or Trostani, Selesnya's Voice. It's like sacrificing, but not only not losing anything, but having tokens that take on a life of their own. The Fanatical Devotion Pharika is inspiring in her (and Kylie's) ability to remove infection from people and creatures provides a form of sacrifice of its own, a regeneration effect easily achieved by populated angels or Oketra's warriors.

Kylie and Pharika protect Avacyn, Beledros Witherbloom, Kozilek, and the Archetype of Endurance with the introduction of a clone of Dragonlord Dromoka. All three protect themselves rather well when they hit the ground, but during the casting part, they are vulnerable. Dromoka isn't happy, and she doesn't want to be here. But she is the only way I could turn off opponent counterspells for my creatures while keeping green and white balanced.

Speaking of safe to play, Shalai has returned to this deck with Slippery Bogbonder at her side. The Helm of the Host never worked for her, but Slippery Bogbonder does, and with so many ways to make tokens of it, Shalai only needs wait until a populater is ready to shelter her. This does not mean Helm of the Host doesn't work for anyone else. It works beautifully on Slippery Bogbonder and almost as well on Karametra. Not to mention what it does for Ulamog's Crusher.

This latest change sacrifices Minion Reflector for Beledros Witherbloom. His pest tokens appearing on each turn bolster the power of Fanatic Devotion and Death's Presence, and with Karametra and her assistants bringing in so many lands - but tapped, Beledros is more than happy to untap those lands for Kylie. This is especially useful if the Helix Pinnacle is around. Winning with Helix Pinnacle is no longer so extraordinary if you've got 30 or more lands thanks to Karametra and Helm of the Host. Just put it on her for a turn or two, then populate. You'll have lands by the score, albeit tapped lands. Untapping all lands at a cost of life that can be easily gained by his own pests means you could put, theoretically, 60 counters, perhaps even as many as 80, on a Helix Pinnacle in a single turn. Were he to wear the Helm of the Host, even just for a single turn, you could use the power again. True, the pay 10 life to untap all lands effect can only be played once per turn, that that depends on how many Beledros clones you've made with a Helm . . .

Since this deck runs so much resurrection and populate, why not turn things to my advantage? Geier Reach Sanitarium increases my draw and aids my ability to either get to the Sun Titan or throw away lands. Why? Because a cloned Sun Titan can return discarded lands to the battlefield; constantly. Meaning that if I use my Helm of the Host or my Mirrorpool, I get a land back onto the battlefield even if I've played a land this turn. And if I populate that cloned Sun Titan, each new populated S. Titan only brings back more land, or more permanents of 3 cost or less. Normally, this would be useless. But with Beledros' help, Geier Reach Sanitarium's draw and discard can tear through my deck, and my opponents', in no time. Too bad I can't risk an Awakening, too . . .

Natural End, Consign to Dust, Final Death, and Final Reward are gone in favor of Reclamation Sage and Noxious Gearhulk. My reasoning is that, with Geier Reach Sanitarium now a major thing and my power to pluck from my graveyard directly to the field at any time strengthened, it makes more sense to play creatures instead of instants on other people's turns. They can't be countered because I'm playing them with abilities rather than casting them as spells.

The deck just keeps defying my intentions and returning to being a deck based on bringing the graveyard back to the hand or the field.