[Standard] Nicol Bolas' Rise To Power

[Soren841]

When you think about what creatures u should put in ask yourself.. does it fit? What does it do to further my gameplan, what does it add to my deck? Does is provide an ability that gives the rest of your cards synergy? Hapatra is a good creature that does that in a lot of decks. Does it go well with the theme as a win con? There's a lot of different ways a creature could contribute

[dadbeaver]

Oasis Ritualist is good because I can tap for any color land, which is great for this deck

Ammit Eternal is good because its a 5/5 for 3. I can use bolas, torment of hailfire, and torment of scarabs to make my opponent sacrifice creatures and then attack with Ammit Eternal which they wouldn't be able to block unless they had a sorcery/instant/enchantment. Once the combat damage is dealt to my opponent I can remove all -1/-1 counters on it. Since I need to stall my opponent to get Bolas out, I can use this guy to block, which deals 3 damage to my opponent because of afflict

Dreamstealer is good because it has menace which makes it harder to block and therefore easier to deal combat damage to my opponent. When my opponent discards a card it leaves fewer options for my opponent when I use Bolas' +3 ability. i.e. If they discard their last card in hand and then I use bolas' +3 ability; they HAVE to sacrifice a creature or take 3 damage. Eternalize is also great because I can make a copy of it for 6 mana. Then it becomes an excellent blocker (4/4) and if I deal combat damage to my opponent they have to discard 4 cards instead of 1.

what if I played 3 copies of Oasis Ritualist and 3 copies of Ammit Eternal and 2 copies of Dreamstealer

[Soren841]

Afflict only triggers when it becomes blocked not when it blocks

[dadbeaver]

scratch that idea 

Btw what do you think of subbing torment of scarabs for cruel reality, its 3 more mana but its way more effective. what do you think of the other 2 creatures?

[Soren841]

I'm thinking 2 one drop mana dorks (there's a ton im sure ones legal) 2 oasis ritualist 3 dreamstealer and 1 Rhonas the Indomitable

[Soren841]

Scarabs is better in this because they have the option to discard a card. They're less likely to get rid of it over other threats because it feels more manageable.. then bolas hits the board

[dadbeaver]

Good point about scarabs. What would be the 4+ power creature that lets Rhonas attack and block?

[Soren841]

Eternalized Dreamstealer.. remember there will only be one Rhonas, you'll be likely to have it Eternalized by the time u draw it

[dadbeaver]

Okay, that's a little riskier than I would like to play, but I'll trust your judgement. Would you attack with Dreamstealer every time to try to get it killed so I can eternalize it?

[Soren841]

Yes. It's ability happens when it deals damage. The sense I'm getting from these eternalize cards is they're meant to be used solely for their ability, like don't save them for blocking, so ui eternalize them as fast as possible while getting max usage from the ability.. there's even the chance they let it through so u don't eternalize it.. a 4/4 menace that activates Rhonas and makes u discard is scary.. AND Rhonas' ability can give it +2/+0 and trample.. see what I mean about your creatures furthering your gameplan and working together?

[Soren841]

I think that'd work out nicely

[Soren841]

Imo if this deck works u should take it to legacy just for fun 😜 That'd be lit

[dadbeaver]

Damn, that's genius. I understand where you are getting at with creatures working together. You create a powerhouse couple with only 2 creatures!

[dadbeaver]

I don't play legacy, but my local game store owner likes legacy a lot, so I could easily get into it.

[Soren841]

Ha even just brewing Legacy decks without buying them is fun because you can do so much.. already imagining the fun this deck could have with proper ramp