{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Disclaimer "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhen building this deck, I took great inspiration from a Legacy card I used to play with by the name of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Progenitus"}},{"insert":". Whilst not being able to add it to the deck the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Protection from Everything"},{"insert":" is something I wished to re-create. I hope you can see that reflected in the decklist's very core."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The reason why I uploaded my personal Commander decklist isn't to promote the idea of having someone build the same exact deck (especially considering how much investment would be required with the cards I've selected and own), but rather to share my knowledge of what can be accomplished when taking the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mayael the Anima"}},{"insert":" Commander route at a more complex level."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Defining "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Mayael the Anima"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" as a Commander"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pros:"},{"insert":" Mayael allows for "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"fast board engagement"},{"insert":" with creatures impacting the board nearly every turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Faults:"},{"insert":" Its a Commander that is highly susceptible to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"board control"},{"insert":" and as such, you'll be working to overcome this weakness."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhat you should know is that the most common of Commanders impact the board by:\n\n Commanders who do something once they enter or leave the battlefield;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Commanders who heavily impact the board with strong abilities without the need to be tapped;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Commanders with triggered abilities that you can exploit;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Commanders with counters such as experience counters with whom you can keep and interact with through-out the game;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Commanders with cost reductions who can come in for a static mana cost;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Commanders with Hexproof or Indestructibility who are hard to deal with."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Commanders that grant you something without the need to be cast;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhere in the above list do we see Mayael? Well, we really don't. When brought to the forefront, she tends to be one of the most casual of commanders in tables I've seen and played in. Searching and investigating on the matter only makes me ever so certain that this seems to be due to the idea that she cannot be taken too seriously.\nThat's because for Mayael to perform well you need to somewhat mitigate the common issue of board removal, as she has to (most commonly) linger for an entire turn to have her ability become relevant.\n\nHowever - Do not be discouraged, as understanding her flaws allows us to run with cards that protect her. Mayael's ability is very powerful, provided you have a well-balanced deck to make the most out of her. \nAnd with this we run into our next topic: Mayael can only \"summon\" what your decklist has. She summons creatures, so you need creatures that \"answer\" several of her flaws. Think of your creatures as a swiss army knife and work from there.\n\nThe biggest problem I've seen are in deck's cardlist that are far too heavy slow, and redundant, filled with creatures that barely impact the board just for a hint of Mayael craze. Yes - it is fun and engaging getting her to work! But stop and ask yourself this:\n\"Am I gonna put a creature in the deck that changes the flow of battle?\"\nIf the creatures you're looking to add/ have in your decklist are but niche creatures with high casting costs, then you'll ultimately just make the entire Mayael's experience clunky and messy, and, at worse, just creatures that look great in a zoo gallery but not really in gameplay.\n\nSo, we've analyzed that there are problems and risks that come with Mayael, now should ask yourself this:\n\"Is this a Commander I want to run despite these issues?\"\nIf so, then you've come to the right place! For those problems you see, can be used in your favor!\nTrust me, most Commanders go without saying that you need a good well-driven deck, Mayael takes that to the literal EXTREEEME as she needs more leverage but she can easily become a powerhouse within just a few turns of gameplay if you provide her with enough fuel to work with. This coming from someone who plays Commander actively and keeps on looking out for how to better drive this formula, making all kinds of wacky tests just for a tiny bit more fluent gameplay. You're welcomed!\n\n\n\tMayael Overall Deck Analysis"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAfter lots of careful consideration, I composed this list with some of the most iconic cards in the Magic the Gathering History as well as some very Commander oriented cards kept in the mix. It should come to no surprise this deck ain't cheap, however for what it does, it holds its ground pretty well. In addition, being a Mayael centered deck allows for a RNG feel to it, making every moment unique and fun to experience.\nThis commander's specialty, and one we wish to increment tenfold is seeing the spectacle of pulling in creatures with Mayael ability, one we can then manipulate to make the \"topdeck\" all the sweeter whilst catching your opponents off-guard from the outcomes you can trigger every turn (theirs included) is but a joy to see and its certainly what makes this commander very unique and perfect for social encounters.\nShall you carefully look and analyze the decklist Its composed, these cards were carefully selected and tested to ensure you have a very complex net of possibilities as to how you wish to play, which is where it shines best as it's after all: Commander, having a multitude of options that cover lots of ground is generally what you'd seek in a multiplayer environment.\nHold on to your hats! We'll be pulling all kinds of crazy stunts and tricks with them!\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Priorities and Setting up"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n Ramp. You need Mayael to be engageable assap and for that we have lands that secure and allow you to never be stuck with cards you cannot cast and some of the strongest Naya mana dorks in the game;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Securing the Battlefield for Mayael. As mentioned, Mayael is a priority but don't rush it, until you've found yourself both the means to pay her activated ability and ensure she's going to linger around for you to do so!;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Manipulating the top card of the deck as to be able to properly engage with Mayael's ability and securing your pull;"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Creatures that never feel obsolete with abilities that make up for Mayael's slow nature and immediately benefits and interacts with the board (*);"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Draw, you need lots of cards to keep on making yourself relevant with solutions without being ever-so reliant on the one card you'll be drawing per turn and to better benefit from your top-card manipulation."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOn the \"How to Play\" Section we're gonna go through-out exactly how we set Mayael's wheel in motion and how these cards play a key factor into your deck manipulation.\n\n(*) - Most decks use a lot of spells to overcome many situations, Mayael works in a very unique way. Those spells come in the form of creatures, think of them as tool-kits. You tap Mayael in search of answers to \"counter\" spells, this is why you see a lot of spell-hate and creatures that encourage a steady board that are very hard to remove.\n\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"How to Play"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWe're rolling a Mayael themed deck, Mayael being a very unique Commander with the unique ability to look at the top 5 cards and pull into the battlefield a creature card whose power is 5+ (who cannot be counter-spelled and can enter the battlefield on your opponents turn for extra value!).\nOur main goal here in order to fully expand her ability to its fullest will be to:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Manipulate your top 5 Cards "},{"insert":"\n\nThis will ensure you're able to steadily pull creatures that also best match the board's demands. It is highly important that you're able to keep on landing creatures that synergize well with the \"enter the battlefield\" mechanic, all of which should pack traits that both excel on aggressiveness and defensiveness in order to keep your board intact while mercilessly dominating the battlefield.\nBellow we'll go through it step by step as to best explain how we're gonna make it work.\n\n Ensure Mayael's safety. You have a lot of means to protect her with cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Giver of Runes"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mother of Runes"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skrelv, Defector Mite"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Devoted Caretaker"}},{"insert":" with support from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Greaves"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mithril Coat"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swiftfoot Boots"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Steely Resolve"}},{"insert":" . Provide your board Hexproof with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archetype of Endurance"}},{"insert":" and board Indestructibility with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"}},{"insert":" ."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Make it possible to use Mayael's ability several times. This is easily done via "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Seedborn Muse"}},{"insert":" which allows you to benefit from the multiplayer format by being able to have Mayael's ability ready whenever your opponent's untap their lands. However, many decks don't run it but there's a very obscure creature that is literally fuel for Mayael: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Patron of the Orochi"}},{"insert":", which with the proper setup (any combination of forest lands and or green mana dorks) will essentially either give you a Seedborne Muse like effect or a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rings of Brighthearth"}},{"insert":" like effect, guaranteeing you can use Mayael twice per turn, and it's tutorable by Mayael too! Cards such as"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Green Sun's Zenith"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eladamri's Call"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Survival of the Fittest"}},{"insert":" and, in a pinch, VIP cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Worldly Tutor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Tutor"}},{"insert":" will help you make your setup. Additionally you have to mana dump for extra activated abilities."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\"Cheese\" creatures into play! With Mayael this is made possible via: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scroll Rack"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sylvan Library"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Noxious Revival"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Woodland Acolyte // Mend the Wilds"}},{"insert":" and the mentioned Sylvan & Worldly Tutors with the occasional "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enlightened Tutor"}},{"insert":" making a comeback for your Hexproof Boar to make an appearance. But worry not, even without this setup (or Mayael in play) cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Last March of the Ents"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"See the Unwritten"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Monster Manual // Zoological Study"}},{"insert":" will also ensure you can pull off your stunts."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Shut them DOWN! This is done by disabling opponents to interact with your board. To do this you're looking for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archetype of Endurance"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Void Winnower"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archon of Valor's Reach"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blazing Archon"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Serra's Emissary"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sigarda, Host of Herons"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"It That Betrays"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angelic Arbiter"}},{"insert":". And we're also running "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Esper Sentinel"}},{"insert":" too to booth!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Board Removal. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Balefire Dragon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angel of Serenity"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thorn Mammoth"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Terror of the Peaks"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Engage in All out Combat! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blightsteel Colossus"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gisela, Blade of Goldnight"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Worldspine Wurm"}},{"insert":". "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Note:"},{"insert":"\nFor fast mana engagement the best creature to tutor for is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Bloom Tender"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"and/ or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faeburrow Elder"}},{"insert":" , as you can easily summon your Commander on turn 3 and thus have her provide 3 mana.\nBy turn four you can already use Mayael's Ability and go from there, or better yet, play "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Seedborn Muse"}},{"insert":" and have Mayael do the rest.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Note 2:"},{"insert":"\nBoard Wipes are all around us and for that keep your"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Worldly Tutor"}},{"insert":" / "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Noxious Revival"}},{"insert":" / "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Woodland Acolyte // Mend the Wilds"}},{"insert":" and even the flexible "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smuggler's Surprise"}},{"insert":" in hand, as you'll quickly learn that "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"}},{"insert":" is your go-to card whenever one shows up and the results then become delightful.\n\nPro-Hint: You can use "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Survival of the Fittest"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"to discard a creature, pick "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Woodland Acolyte // Mend the Wilds"}},{"insert":" , use its instant cast to retrieve what you discarded and then use Mayael's ability to hardcounter or push pressure into the battlefield. If you're feeling spicy with 8 mana: Discard a creature, find and discard "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Loyal Retainers"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"}},{"insert":" and grab "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sun Titan"}},{"insert":" , have his ETB pull back "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Loyal Retainers"}},{"insert":" and bring back "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avacyn, Angel of Hope"}},{"insert":". When he next attacks bring "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Loyal Retainers"}},{"insert":" back and from there use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Survival of the Fittest"}},{"insert":" to keep your GY stacked ready to pull another Legendary Creature you and repeat!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Note 3: "},{"insert":"\nIn case of a Board flick via "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Cyclonic Rift"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"then "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Void Winnower"}},{"insert":" too is around the corner, your goal here is to set him up before the rift, as you can't answer it once it's on stack. Oh, and he too can hard-counter Pair casts such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Supreme Verdict"}},{"insert":" (it can't be cast), "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Wrath of God"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Day of Judgment"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"and several other's pair casts being on the list! So there's always a 2nd way to deal with those.\nAnother way to pull this of is with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scroll Rack"}},{"insert":" , to both card search and then pull them onto the top of your deck in response to an incoming threat. \nIt's always nice to do hat tricks with Mayael and I feel that's where you can truly see the deck performing at its best.\n\n\n\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Last Thoughts"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nI encourage you to keep these core ideas in mind if you are to try and create your own Mayael deck, you needn't add these cards individually to make it happen, but choose to add and search cards that in principal help you have the toolkit that allow you to make the most of Mayael's ability. Should you give it a go, you'll soon notice the deck is keen on providing you solutions no matter the situation you are in - and the fun value of playing it is just glimmering with potential!\nYou'll be drafting yourself a holy grail of cards each time you use Mayael, either to get something on board or just to ease up the cards you draw, You'll feel as if you're driving on a highway. Every pick matters as absolutely nothing goes to waste!\n\nEnjoy and do leave a comment if you wish to bring up new possibilities you believe could further fuel it up.\nAlso, I'm more than open and even thrilled as to discuss proper strategies and gameplay with whoever fancies leaving a reply!\n\nHave any ideas or suggestions you feel could benefit a Mayael EDH Deck ?\nFeel free to join in!\nCheers & I eagerly await your suggestions from you all!\n"}]}