EDH (Commander) with Karador, Ghost Chieftain!

Today I am going to take a break from my usual competitive view on the game and take a walk on the wild side. I built my first EDH (Commander) deck! I haven’t even played it yet and I am already excited about it!

I know that I am late to the party with regards to the format. So late, in fact, that Wizards has Commander listed as an official Casual format on their website.  Most players, however, still regard the Elder Dragon Highlander page as the official EDH/Commander ruling body.

My view on the format is that it is supposed to be fun. You should do things in deck construction and game-play that are fun for you to do. Personally, I like the black version of card advantage where you use your graveyard as a resource. This makes green and black obvious choices for my starting colors. I threw white in there because of my love of the Green/Black/White cards.

I then had to decide on a general, and while there are many competitive and “spiky” generals out there (Doran, the Siege Tower, for instance), I want to have fun. Enter the eight-mana Centaur Lord… Spirit… Guy… Yeah…

This guy is so BA. Look at that art… I mean, he’s got a GHOST BEAR and a Ghost Elf!!  I am terribly excited to cast sweet creatures from my graveyard every turn! There’s no holding back now… Behold! My first attempt at an EDH deck:

GENERAL
1 Karador, Ghost Chieftain

SPELLS
1 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Syphon Flesh
1 Vraska the Unseen
1 Garruk Relentless
1 Regrowth
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Syphon Mind
1 Reanimate
1 Sol Ring
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Disturbed Burial
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Jarad’s Orders
1 Deadbridge Chant
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Mulch
1 Path to Exile
1 Orzhov Signet
1 Golgari Signet
1 Syphon Soul
1 Ancient Craving
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Cultivate
1 Harmonize
1 Skullclamp
1 Grisly Salvage
1 Farseek
1 Grave Pact
1 Attrition

CREATURES
1 Armada Wurm
1 Thragtusk
1 Verdant Force
1 Wall of Blossoms
1 Trostani’s Summoner
1 Eternal Witness
1 Krosan Tusker
1 Teneb, the Harvester
1 Twisted Abomination
1 Spike Weaver
1 Angel of Despair
1 Deadwood Treefolk
1 Spike Feeder
1 Acidic Slime
1 Gravedigger
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Lotleth Troll
1 Varolz, the Scar-Striped
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Force of Nature
1 Pale Recluse
1 Spiritmonger
1 Dark Hatchling
1 Shattered Angel
1 Eternal Dragon
1 Shriekmaw
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Brawn
1 Somberwald Sage
1 Avatar of Woe

LANDS
Plains
Swamp
Forest
1 City of Brass
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Gavony Township
1 Godless Shrine
1 Golgari Guildgate
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Homeward Path
1 Orzhov Basilica
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Selesnya Guildgate
1 Selesnya Sanctuary
1 Sunpetal Grove
1 Tainted Field
1 Tainted Wood
1 Temple Garden
1 Temple of the False God
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Vault of the Archangel
1 Volrath’s Stronghold

Okay, be gentle, I am a Commander virgin after all. I have no idea how this deck draws or plays, but I do know that I will likely have fun with it. I tried to put in quite a few mana sources and land cyclers/artifacts. Hopefully it’s enough to make it somewhat viable.  Unlike most of my Magic playing, this deck is IRL only.  If you see me at Gamer’s Gauntlet or elsewhere in Metro Detroit, I’d definitely be willing to play some EDH inbetween rounds if I have the time!

The first opening hand I drew with the deck contained Force of Nature.  I think that seals the deal, this is the EDH deck for me.

Who’s your general?

4 responses to “EDH (Commander) with Karador, Ghost Chieftain!

  1. 24 land seems a little low. I am assuming that is just a mistake in typing tho. Looks fun!

  2. It’s a rare Karador deck that couldn’t use an Unburial Rites. I think yours would benefit from it too.

    Might want to consider creatures that sacrifice themselves for an effect – Sakura-Tribe Elder, Qasali Pridemage, Dauntless Escort, Necrotic Sliver, Dawntreader Elk, and the like. These guys are awesome when Karador is out, because you can cast them again from your graveyard, and then sacrifice them again for their effects.

    • Those are some sweet ideas. I can’t believe I forgot Unburial Rites!!! I’m also not sure how good the Syphon spells are, but I included them for fun.

      I considered Dauntless Escort! In the end I just didn’t have enough room to fit in all of the cards I wanted. I will definitely make room for Unburial Rites, though. Thanks for the help!

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