First Commander Deck - Oloro

[VilleMTG13]

https://deckstats.net/decks/2287/48800-oloro-ageless-ascetic/en

First commander build using Oloro, Ageless Ascetic. Loosely based off the Eternal Bargain Commander 2013 Deck. Deck is built, yet to be tested.

Win cons with Felidar Sovereign or Test of Endurance as well as the Vizkopa Guildmage combo in addition to general extort and life drain effects. Goal is to gain heavy life while dropping creatures associated with life gaining and minimizing opponents ability to attack me. Generally Oloro will stay in the command zone. In addition multiple card draw plays with some no maximum hand size cards to keep my hand full. Hope is to control game long enough (and avoid Oloro hate!) to drain opponents or flash in win cons.

Included some mass removal, contemplating more. Also may look to work some tutors in for specific draws. Aside from that I think this deck should run well. Please let me know your thoughts or older card suggestions as I am basically new to any pre-2012 cards, thanks!

[Hipster Mike]

Gonna need some creature removal. Maybe a few counters as well.

Since you have Vizkopa you need Swords to Plowshares. If you can cast your Serra Avatar and Swords it, then you can activate the Vizkoa ability to win.

No reason to run the Sword in the deck.

[Hipster Mike]

Also, add some ways to tutor up your win cons. Elightened Tutor and Academy Rector are great here.

[VilleMTG13]

Good call on Swords to Plowshares, I initially was looking more mass removal over spot but it will serve multiple purposes here. Guess I would need a lot to work in my favor to get the full value for the Sword of War and Peace too, even with card draw engines.

After some testing I'll know better but will probably end up removing a few creatures for the tutors and counters. Any suggestions on specific counter spells to interact with my mechanics?

[WWolfe]

Counterspell, Mana Leak, and Spell Syphon are good utility counters...especially if you play with Isochron Scepter. 

Cryptic Command is great if you are willing to pay for it.

Desertion, Hinder, and Spell Crumple have great additional effects.

There's a ton of others but these are my favorites.

[AeroSigma]

Desertion, Hinder, and Spell Crumple have great additional effects.

The additional effects that WWolfe is referring to, are, specifically, getting rid of the opponents general for a long time, instead of him being able to just cast again from the command zone.

[WWolfe]

For Hinder and Spell Crumble, but with Desertion if it was a creature or artifact spell the creature/artifact enter the battlefield under your control.

[AeroSigma]

Right, which is still farther away from a re-cast than right back to the Command Zone :p  But you do have a point, if the owner wanted it back a single kill spell will take care of that.

[VilleMTG13]

After running my Oloro deck with success in small groups I decided to make a few expected changes. I definitely wanted to add some tutors to pull specific cards, so I threw in vampiric, demonic and enlightened. I also added some spot planeswalker/creature removal as suggested with cards like swords to plowshares and hero's downfall and hinder for a just in case commander bury. The attack prevention cards have worked great as I usually get one out and stall as I generate huge life gains and am able to generate a full hand of cards most games. My hardest challenge is when I get complete group hate but when my opponents only focus on one thing (such as creature removal, destroying my enchantments, etc.) I am usually able to hold on with life until generating card advantage for the control comeback. Finally I removed some irrelevant large creatures for functional cards and 1 drop life gainers. Most game enders have been the life drain cards after singling opponents out one by one. Mana seems to run fine at 36 lands with a few artifact pumps, but I did swap out some blue generation for the new scry lands.

Let me know what you think!

https://deckstats.net/decks/2287/48800-oloro-ageless-ascetic/en