Lazav, the Multifarious | Graveyard Shapeshifting Voltron

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

Lazav, the Multifarious

Last Deck Update: 12.09.23, Avg. CMC: 1,98
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  • My decklists are actual paper lists, unusual includes/excludes might be meta calls, pet cards or overlap and budget considerations.
  • Our playgroup unanimously house banned both Sol Ring and Mana Crypt in mid-tier match ups, so don't expect them in here.
  • This deck is supposed to be able to go up against optimized (and above average focused) non-combo decks. Please keep that in mind, when giving advice.
Graveyard Shapeshifting Voltron

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Approximate Total Cost:

History, Summary & Power Level

I didn't have a ub deck for years, ever since i took apart my Oona, Queen of the Fae Faerie Control deck, but really wanted to have one again. For the longest time nothing really sparked my interest - except Silas Renn, Seeker Adept (solo) but i never built that. I always liked Lazav, Dimir Mastermind but disliked the kind of deck you'd have to build around him, so it was Lazav, the Multifarious that really had me going when he was spoilered. Phyrexian Dreadnought without a downside? Cephalid Inkshrouder as one of the best cards in the deck? He's so unique, there was no way i wouldn't build him.



Due to his low CMC i don't mind to cast him turn 2 and roll with the Surveil 1. Over the course of the game i normally get to tutor or discard a few times until a solid toolbox in the graveyard is assembled and i'm able to swing for lethal Commander Damage.



Unfortunately winning via commander damage isn't as easy (as it propably should be to make the Archetype more viable). But with its strong colors, redudant but varied toolbox, low to the ground curve and unique lines of play, the deck does pretty well for its type. Results get a lot better over time, once you get to know the bits and pieces.

Power Level:


Let me know what you think of the deck! I'm always happy to get input.
Last edited by Toshi 6 months ago, edited 33 times in total.

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Post by Rumpy5897 » 4 years ago

I got a good amount of enjoyment from reading through the creature list. You've got some cute survival/evasion options that fit the commander like a glove.

I'll mirror the main thread's recommendations of Phyrexian Dreadnought and Cavern Harpy. Another good P/T driven include would be Hunted Horror. Having a few of those sort of bodies lurking in the 99 would assist with a punchier clock.
 
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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

Thanks for your kind words!
Rumpy5897 wrote:
4 years ago
Another good P/T driven include would be Hunted Horror. Having a few of those sort of bodies lurking in the 99 would assist with a punchier clock.
As of right now i have 3 big bodies that are supposed to go in the deck:
Hunted Horror as you have mentioned, Phyrexian Soulgorger and all new Rotting Regisaur. I think they'll make a great addition to the team.

Phyrexian Dreadnought is amazing in the deck, but will have to wait for the moment. I'll certainly add it at a later point, i think.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

From the Random Deck Thread:
Mookie wrote:
4 years ago
I'll throw out Wall of Blood as a spicy option if you want to embrace the Hatred.
After a 2 1/2 week holiday i haven't found the time to order cards yet (my LGS has very limited singles in stock) but i did find a Wall of Blood sitting in my binders!

I decided to cut Cryptoplasm for it for two reasons. For one, it would fit a toolbox iteration of this deck a lot better and more importantly - at least for my approach - copying another creature in my upkeep and not being able to transform him back again after granting evasion or else is a major downside.

Next Sunday i'll be able to play the deck for the first time in about a month and after adding a few cards, so it'll be interesting to see if i can notice some of the changes.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

I started putting together a similar deck myself.

When I was looking through cards I came across a handful that I think would be great in this deck.
Unearth will reanimate basically anything in the deck and neatly avoids commander tax if Lasav is getting way too costly somehow. It also just cycles if it is dead.
Heartstone is a worse training grounds that costs only a few dollars.
Curious Obsession is a great card advantage engine to stick on Lazav since he wants to be constantly swinging anyway.
Deranged Assistant is mana-ramp + mill + can turn Lasav into a man-rock.
Darksteel Myr/Slippery Scoundrel/Mortus Strider are a few more ways to protect Lasav.
Necroplasm turns Lasav into a token murdering machine/grows lasav nicely and is also a dredge card.

Here's my super rough draft that I've acquired for ~$15ish dollars.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

Interesting list @materpillar!

Especially the Leveler approach is quite entertaining. Is Venerated Teacher really worth it? Since it's "only" an ETB and you won't get anything out of him, once he's in your graveyard.

Pteramander, Liliana's Elite and Necroplasm are close to getting included in the deck. Especially the former, since the counters stay on Lazav, the Multifarious.

Heartstone is tricky. The discount isn't too big for and it can be problematic against other decks. Lowering the curve of included creatures is less risky.

Deranged Assistant is great for a more toolbox oriented deck like yours, don't miss out on Millikin, which works the same. Bog Witch and Apprentice Wizard would be my big mana includes.
Pili-Pala and the likes could do great stuff as a counter weight with tap-creatures.

Curious Obsession and Curiosity are worth a consideration, but i think Mask of Memory and/or Skeleton Key are a tad better. You don't get 2 for 1'ed as easily and being able to ditch cards to the graveyard is great in this deck.

Aside from drawing cards i'd prefer looting cards. Looter il-Kor, Lore Broker, Merfolk Looter, Thought Courier and Wharf Infiltrator are likely the most sleek options.

What's with the Deranged Hermit though?

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Especially the Leveler approach is quite entertaining. Is Venerated Teacher really worth it? Since it's "only" an ETB and you won't get anything out of him, once he's in your graveyard.
I just asked for every card with level they had. Since I'm running all of them (but Lighthouse Chronologist because they didn't have it) I figured Venerated Teacher would probably be worth a test in case I end up casting some of them.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Heartstone is tricky. The discount isn't too big for and it can be problematic against other decks. Lowering the curve of included creatures is less risky.
I was thinking it'd be really good in case you need to activate Lasav several times in one turn cycle. Making Butcher Ghoul/Invisible Stalker and similar effects cost only 1 mana instead of 2 seems pretty huge in terms of responding to removal and the like.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Deranged Assistant is great for a more toolbox oriented deck like yours, don't miss out on Millikin, which works the same. Bog Witch and Apprentice Wizard would be my big mana includes.
Pili-Pala and the likes could do great stuff as a counter weight with tap-creatures.
Wouldn't the assistant be better than like Talisman of Dominance in your deck? It's got summoning sickness but also mills.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Curious Obsession and Curiosity are worth a consideration, but i think Mask of Memory and/or Skeleton Key are a tad better. You don't get 2 for 1'ed as easily and being able to ditch cards to the graveyard is great in this deck.

Aside from drawing cards i'd prefer looting cards. Looter il-Kor, Lore Broker, Merfolk Looter, Thought Courier and Wharf Infiltrator are likely the most sleek options.
How easy of a time do you have keeping Lasav alive? I had kind of assumed you only planned on casting him once and then just keeping him safe and chunking people? If that's the case wouldn't Curious Obsession and Curiosity not actually be particularly risky? Obviously it falls off if you persist but it seems like you're trying to keep him safe as your primary gameplan anyway.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
What's with the Deranged Hermit though?
Uh that's supposed to be Deranged Assistant, I just herp-derped a bit.


I've thought about my deck a touch more. I think I'm going to cut the cycling subtheme. It was primarily to take advantage of vile manifestation and he isn't actually that much better than Wight of Precinct Six. Doing so will free up a bunch of space for some other cards I was considering.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
Wouldn't the assistant be better than like Talisman of Dominance in your deck?

How easy of a time do you have keeping Lasav alive?

I've thought about my deck a touch more.
Deranged Assistant and Millikin would certainly help milling myself, but i shy away from including creatures that tap down Lazav, the Multifarious, if i were to transform him. So far only Jace's Archivist does that, because he's too stellar to pass on.
Plus the summoning sickness and being prone to board wipes, the small upside (max. mill for 2 per turn) doesn't outweigh the downsides.

Lazav, the Multifarious is quite a pesky guy, indeed.
With Butcher Ghoul and Treacherous Pit-Dweller as Undying options, Lesser Masticore and Putrid Goblin as Persist options, Cephalid Inkshrouder and Invisible Stalker as Shroud/Hexproof options and Mortivore as Regenerate options, there's plenty in the deck to keep him alive.
Protecting the graveyard has proven to be the bigger obstacle. Nimble Obstructionist is great since he can ditch a single Bojuka Bog type effect then work as a Evasion option.

So did i! Lazav, the Multifarious has been a constant riddle for me, ever since i've build the deck. I just keep coming back to considering card choices - especially creatures!
Just today i swapped 2 creature slots. Looter il-Kor and Thada Adel, Acquisitor got cut for Hope of Ghirapur and Putrid Imp.

Outside of that i worked on a list of future additions to the deck:
Cavern Harpy can protect/reuse my commander.
Faerie Impostor can sac itself or bounce my commander for repeated surveiling.
Pteramander is a cheap evasion option and can buff my commander significantly.
Hunted Horror, Phyrexian Soulgorger & Rotting Regisaur are still on the list as nice beatsticks.

If you have your most recent list somewhere online i'll gladly check it out.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

Here's the list that I just threw together a few days ago. I'm going to slip in Invisible Stalker, Lesser Masticore and Cephalid Inkshrouder whenever I pick them up.
Lazav, the Multifarious

Sorcery

Approximate Total Cost:

One of my goals with this deck is to play as many janky, random old cards that I've never seen cast in EDH before in my life. I've played a lot of EDH and I have seen a lot of cards cast.

A couple cards that popped out to me for your consideration Dreamscape Artist, Sinister Concoction, Teferi's Veil, and Pulse of the Grid. With the amount of discard this deck has I'm going to try out Drake Haven as an alternate win condition.

Any particular reason you're not running Disinformation Campaign? It seems great here.

Also I don't understand why you play Library of Leng.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
A couple cards that popped out to me for your consideration Dreamscape Artist, Sinister Concoction, Teferi's Veil, and Pulse of the Grid.

Any particular reason you're not running Disinformation Campaign?

Also I don't understand why you play Library of Leng.
That looks like a fun list!
Dreamscape Artist is a perfect example of cards i'd include in a toolbox list. I will certainly have to look into Liliana's Elite myself, as it could be just another big guy for my deck. Unlike Consuming Aberration, Mortivore, Nighthowler and Wight of Precinct Six it relies on a single graveyard - my own. I'll have to keep a close eye on the average creature count in my graveyard to see if it could be worth it.

I've played Teferi's Veil to great effect in my Talrand, Sky Summoner list, where it made my Tokens wrath-proof outside of my own turn. Certainly a creative pick, but for my deck i want to be able to untap with him (e.g. Disciple of Deceit & Wake Thrasher), plus being able to transform him into an evasive creature eot before my turn allows me to spread the mana investment for the turns i want to swing big in. Pulse of the Grid looks okay, but i would have to cast it too often, to make it really worth it, i guess. If you compare it to other instant options like Ancient Excavation, Brain Freeze, Frantic Search or Tolarian Winds, it's just a slow one.

Disinformation Campaign you say, huh? The only two cards that let me surveil are Nightveil Sprite and Lazav, the Multifarious himself. In most rounds i surveil about 3 times - including surveiling on turn 2 on his initial cast. So chances are i get to reuse it once or twice at best. If i were to run Doom Whisperer, House Guildmage and Connive // Concoct i'd consider it though.

Idk, Sinister Concoction looks bad. Mill 1, discard 1 and the need to set it up sorcery speed is a lot, only to kill a single creature.

Library of Leng is really neat! Say i want to cast Windfall but i have 2-3 noncreature cards in hand i really need to keep - like Memory Plunder for potentially dealing with problematic enchantments - with Library of Leng i am able to "discard" those needed cards to the top of my deck, then draw them with the rest of cards.
A while back i was able to cipher Whispering Madness onto Lazav, the Multifarious with Library of Leng out and it was genuinely one of the best times i've had with the deck so far.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

So I played a handful of 1v1 games against Atla Palani, Nest Tender. I killed him a handful of times with Shizo, Death's Storehouse + Lasav turning into Phage the Untouchable. Turning Lasav into Masticore also did a ton of work. He had a bunch of value creatures I could pick off and once I could just murder his general at will his deck struggled massively. I kind of want to add some 1cc deathtouch creatures (or the new Foulmire Knight), so I can ping a handful of creatures and then give Lasav deathtouch. Walking Ballista could be really good at doing that. Actually, Walking Ballista seems sick if you have a +1/+1 counter on Lasav already, then you can just pay 4 mana to put a +1/+1 counter on him whenever.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
That looks like a fun list!
Dreamscape Artist is a perfect example of cards i'd include in a toolbox list. I will certainly have to look into Liliana's Elite myself, as it could be just another big guy for my deck. Unlike Consuming Aberration, Mortivore, Nighthowler and Wight of Precinct Six it relies on a single graveyard - my own. I'll have to keep a close eye on the average creature count in my graveyard to see if it could be worth it.
Liliana's Elite is probably going to get cut from my deck, it doesn't get nearly big enough.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
I've played Teferi's Veil to great effect in my Talrand, Sky Summoner list, where it made my Tokens wrath-proof outside of my own turn. Certainly a creative pick, but for my deck I want to be able to untap with him (e.g. Disciple of Deceit & Wake Thrasher), plus being able to transform him into an evasive creature eot before my turn allows me to spread the mana investment for the turns i want to swing big in.
Creatures Phase back in before you untap in your untap step, so I believe he would untap as normal.

Not being able to transform him with spare mana is a downside, but I feel like you'd save a comparable amount of mana not having to leave lands untapped so you can transform him into a defensive creature during other turns.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Pulse of the Grid looks okay, but i would have to cast it too often, to make it really worth it, i guess. If you compare it to other instant options like Ancient Excavation, Brain Freeze, Frantic Search or Tolarian Winds, it's just a slow one.
I guess I find that I'm discarding enough cards I need a way to get my handsize back up and Pulse does a great job of that.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Disinformation Campaign you say, huh? The only two cards that let me surveil are Nightveil Sprite and Lazav, the Multifarious himself. In most rounds i surveil about 3 times - including surveiling on turn 2 on his initial cast. So chances are i get to reuse it once or twice at best. If i were to run Doom Whisperer, House Guildmage and Connive // Concoct i'd consider it though.
I figured Lasav would be dying and persisting/undying a lot more than that. It seems like it has massive upside and very little downside.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Idk, Sinister Concoction looks bad. Mill 1, discard 1 and the need to set it up sorcery speed is a lot, only to kill a single creature.
I basically never want any of my creatures in my hand at any time ever. So a removal spell that is also a discard outlet is pretty great. It can also be used to rattlesnake very effectively. Also, no one knows what it does so I've already randomly blown someone out with it. XD
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Library of Leng is really neat! Say i want to cast Windfall but i have 2-3 noncreature cards in hand i really need to keep - like Memory Plunder for potentially dealing with problematic enchantments - with Library of Leng i am able to "discard" those needed cards to the top of my deck, then draw them with the rest of cards.
A while back i was able to cipher Whispering Madness onto Lazav, the Multifarious with Library of Leng out and it was genuinely one of the best times i've had with the deck so far.
That seems way too niche to me, but I'm running a ton less wheels than you are. Also, my deck is full of terrible cards I don't really care if I save. XD

Part of my deck is that I want to be running almost exclusively cards that I've never seen cast in a game of EDH. Preferably older cards that people have to read.

I also just picked up Lesser Masticore, Invisible Stalker and Cephalid Inkshrouder. I'll try to post an updated list later this or next week.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
Liliana's Elite is probably going to get cut from my deck, it doesn't get nearly big enough.

Not being able to transform him with spare mana is a downside, but I feel like you'd save a comparable amount of mana not having to leave lands untapped so you can transform him into a defensive creature during other turns.

I guess I find that I'm discarding enough cards I need a way to get my handsize back up and Pulse does a great job of that.

I'll try to post an updated list later this or next week.
Just what i thought of Liliana's Elite, unfortunately.

You might be right about this one. I'll have to give it a few spins over Thran Turbine or Library of Leng and see how it goes.

I might be mana heavy, but Spectral Sailor could be just what you're looking for. I'll certainly pick it up for its evasion and drawing cards is never a bad Plan B, eh?
Mystic Archaeologist, Kefnet the Mindful and Erebos, God of the Dead would do a similar thing.

Don't hesitate to open your own thread, i'd follow the development there as well.

A few days back Gingerbrute got spoilered and it will go into the deck a 100%!
Can grant haste and evasion, sac itself and all that at a reasonable CMC.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

I played a handful of 1v1 games against Atla Palani, Nest Tender. This deck is super strong 1v1.

Some note-able situations.
T2 Lasav, mill eater of days
T4 Lasav is eater of days.
Opponent just dies.

Opponent has a bunch of eggs and equip's Thornbite Staff. I Reins of Power him. Kill a bunch of the eggs. I flip Eater of Days off of a trigger. XD

In other news Maze of Ith is extremely annoying.

Why don't you play any gods like Kefnet or Thassa? Thassa, God of the Sea seems great too.

Gingerbrute seems decent. How often do you find yourself actually needing haste though?

Also, what do you do against decks that have gone pretty wide? Other than cyclonic rift you don't have much way to deal with stuff that's kinda accumulated over the coarse of the game. Don't you get chunked by random dragons and stuff pretty often because you don't have much defenses?

Just saw Ovinomancer. Seems hilarious.

I'm pretty happy in this thread. I creating a new one feels really redundant to me.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
In other news Maze of Ith is extremely annoying.

Why don't you play any gods like Kefnet or Thassa? Thassa, God of the Sea seems great too.

Gingerbrute seems decent. How often do you find yourself actually needing haste though?

Also, what do you do against decks that have gone pretty wide? Other than cyclonic rift you don't have much way to deal with stuff that's kinda accumulated over the coarse of the game. Don't you get chunked by random dragons and stuff pretty often because you don't have much defenses?

Just saw Ovinomancer. Seems hilarious.
Maze of Ith can cause some trouble, but there are ways around it. Invisible Stalker and Cephalid Inkshrouder are obvious, as are lands that can kill lands themselves.
Dust Bowl, Strip Mine and Wasteland are the best options, yet all pricey.
Ghost Quarter, Tectonic Edge, Field of Ruin and even Encroaching Wastes to some extend, can slot right in though.

Kefnet the Mindful and Thassa, God of the Sea are both great utility creatures, yet my deck aims to use all creatures as copy options. With that in mind they aren't necessarily cheap evasion options nor heavy hitters.

I wouldn't say haste is vital, but i'm always happy to have access to it whenever i need to recast my commander. In most games Lazav, the Multifarious doesn't cost me more than or , so i can usually afford to grant haste and additionally transform him after that. Gurmag Swiftwing, Nether Traitor and Gingerbrute are all great, because they come with haste and evasion - otherwise i wouldn't run them.
I used to run Deepcavern Imp as well. Having Echo was pretty cool and it's another rare sight.

Hmm, i wouldn't say i have a definite plan against decks that go wide. It's a combination of keeping them in check via counters and removal, hard casting weenies to chump block and taking them out first. Dragons are slower on average and whenever i face a flyer deck i just opt to hard cast 1-2 of my flyers instead of discarding them.
Decks like Teysa Karlov, which force me to sac stuff continously, are far more problematic.

Ovinomancer is a great catch! Self saccing creature removal that allows you to bounce your commander? I love everything about it.
I nearly forgot about Maddening Imp! It would be one of my first pick for a toolbox build like yours. Royal Assassin (i love the og art) would have great synergy with it.

Did you ever think of including Mirri the Cursed or Cairn Wanderer?
My next additions to the mana base will be Nephalia Drownyard, Ipnu Rivulet and maybe even Sequestered Stash to fast load my graveyard.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
In other news Maze of Ith is extremely annoying.
Seems hilarious.Maze of Ith can cause some trouble, but there are ways around it. Invisible Stalker and Cephalid Inkshrouder are obvious, as are lands that can kill lands themselves.
Dust Bowl, Strip Mine and Wasteland are the best options, yet all pricey.
Ghost Quarter, Tectonic Edge, Field of Ruin and even Encroaching Wastes to some extend, can slot right in though.
Maze is super beatable. it's just pretty brutal without targeted land destruction. You have to attack, they maze Lasav. You respond by turning him into Invisible Stalker. Let the maze trigger fizzle, then dump the mana into turning Lasav, back into a big beater. Cephalid Inkshrouder gets around this better, but it's still a huge hassle. It's even worse if you have to turn him into an evasive creature to get past blockers, then turn him into a threat, then turn him into an invisible stalker to fizzle the maze, then turn him back into a threat. I also, didn't mill any of my shroud creatures and got blanked for roughly ever. xD
Kefnet the Mindful and Thassa, God of the Sea are both great utility creatures, yet my deck aims to use all creatures as copy options. With that in mind they aren't necessarily cheap evasion options nor heavy hitters.
Declare Lasav an attacker, then before blockers are declared transform him into Kefnet the Mindful. Now he's a 5/5 flier. Because he's already attacking, the "can't attack unless..." clause doesn't matter because he's already been declared as an attacker. Admittedly, you'll have to transform him into something else before your next combat phase to attack. I like creatures that multi-task a lot. Kefnet grants evasion, protection and turns Lasav into an mediocre beater. Being a late game mana dump is just extra gravy.

With Thassa, God of the Sea this works less well because if you don't have enough devotion Lasav will stop being a creature. That's a downside as far as attacking is concerned, but being able to transform into an indestructible non-creature enchantment dodges basically all removal in the game including stuff that would otherwise be unavoidable like Black sun's zenith. settle the wreckage, and Merciless Eviction (naming creatures, obviously you don't transform him into an enchantment if its naming enchantments). It's also basically shroud against path to exile and friends that get around persist. Thassa, God of the Sea then also does stuff if cast, unlike a ton of the creatures in the deck. She still might not be good enough though, more meta-game dependent. I see tons of Winds of Abandon here. I might not add her because she's $10 and I want my deck to be as jank as possible but I think Thassa without devotion protects lasav better than anything.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
I wouldn't say haste is vital, but i'm always happy to have access to it whenever i need to recast my commander. In most games Lazav, the Multifarious doesn't cost me more than or , so i can usually afford to grant haste and additionally transform him after that. Gurmag Swiftwing, Nether Traitor and Gingerbrute are all great, because they come with haste and evasion - otherwise i wouldn't run them.
I used to run Deepcavern Imp as well. Having Echo was pretty cool and it's another rare sight.
I'm just really weary of casting Lasav without the ability to turn him indestructible, shroud or persist. So when he costs 4 or 6, I consider that to be 6 or 8. Haste and a relevant attacker is another 2-3 mana on top of that.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Hmm, i wouldn't say i have a definite plan against decks that go wide. It's a combination of keeping them in check via counters and removal, hard casting weenies to chump block and taking them out first. Dragons are slower on average and whenever i face a flyer deck i just opt to hard cast 1-2 of my flyers instead of discarding them.
Decks like Teysa Karlov, which force me to sac stuff continuously, are far more problematic.
Thassa, God of the Sea can also dodge gravepact unless they can respond to your transformation with more sacrifice triggers. I haven't played any multiplayer games, but I see a lot of potential for getting chunked by random 7/7s that have no one else to attack because I don't have a ton of excess creatures on the battlefield. Also, it'd be hard to survive the table attacking you after you one-shot someone with Lasav and gain aggro.

I'm a bit confused by Hope of Ghirapur. Is that just for flying? Is it a meta-game choice? How does Hex Parasite play out for you? Is that mostly to eat counters to persist more or is it also a metagame choice to eat planeswalkers? How has cartoon feeder played out in practice. I assume that's to eat persist creatures you've hardcast to make Lasav bigger?

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
I'm a bit confused by Hope of Ghirapur. Is that just for flying? Is it a meta-game choice?

How does Hex Parasite play out for you?

How has Carrion Feeder played out in practice.
Hope of Ghirapur is mostly in there to be a cheap evasion spender. But there have been games where i hard cast it, slammed on Lightning Greaves and sacced it post combat to avoid an opponent going off on their next turn.

Hex Parasite is pretty entertaining in what it can do. Kill planeswalkers, "empty" Black Markets, Everflowing Chalices and the likes or adjust Lazav, the Multifarious to be able to have Persist or Undying again.

I haven't drawn into Carrion Feeder too often yet. But its main function is to have a free sac outlet for creatures that turn up in my hand, which are supposed to be in the graveyard instead, yes. On top of that it can sac itself for my commander to morph into it. Actually, i never thought of turning Lazav, the Multifarious into Carrion Feeder to abuse my Persist and Undying creatures. Great take on what it can do! Thanks.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

Lazav, the Multifarious
Approximate Total Cost:

Here's my updated list. Cards of note for you to consider.
Arcane Denial - I've already gone "Lesser Masticore, maintain priority Arcane Denial the Masticore". Next upkeep, draw 3. It's a discard outlet/hard counter combo. That's a ton of utility.
Victory Chimes - Generates tons of mana with the amount of instants I have. It also lets you easily swap what Lasav is multiple times between your individual turns.
As Foretold - This curve is so low, and my deck is full of instants. This card saves a bunch of mana for me.
Sea Gate Wreckage - I managed to draw a bunch of cards with this already.


Some of my deck experiences. Drownyard Temple + Dreamscape Artist is hilariously fun.
Teferi's Veil hasn't done anything yet. I've discarded it a couple of times because I wanted to keep Lasav changeable.
Disciple of Deceit has been pretty underwhelming for me. I might just need a ton more experience knowing what to tutor for when.
Last I played this deck one of my opponent just went wide and killed me with Overwhelming Stampede while stuff was happening. This deck struggles to go on offensive while keeping the shields up.
I've found that I keep falling into top-deck mode with my card disadvantage cards (Frantic Search, Tolarian Winds, etc).
I've one opponent who I keep killing with Phage the Untouchable and he's getting a bit salty about it. xD

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

Overall your most recent list looks smooth!
The only thing i didn't understand is why you'd include Sun Droplet. Enlighten me, sensei!
materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
Victory Chimes - Generates tons of mana with the amount of instants I have. It also lets you easily swap what Lasav is multiple times between your individual turns.

Teferi's Veil hasn't done anything yet. I've discarded it a couple of times because I wanted to keep Lasav changeable.

Disciple of Deceit has been pretty underwhelming for me. I might just need a ton more experience knowing what to tutor for when.

Last I played this deck one of my opponent just went wide and killed me with Overwhelming Stampede while stuff was happening. This deck struggles to go on offensive while keeping the shields up.

I've one opponent who I keep killing with Phage the Untouchable and he's getting a bit salty about it. xD
Victory Chimes is an interesting card! Not too fond of mana rocks at , but this could be offset by one free mana per turn for shapeshifting.

Too bad i was correct about Teferi's Veil, it's such a nice card!

Disciple of Deceit gets better via two things: Knowledge of the deck and the fact that its cards work well with it. 43/64 nonland cards in my deck are either or , so Disciple of Deceit is a very flexible toolbox.

Silent Arbiter could be an option against go wide strategies. Having access to that sort of effect from the graveyard is pretty gross.

That is - to be really honest - awesome! It's these type of situations that make the deck so great.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

Just saw Escape Artist on EDHrec. Unblockabale, discard outlet and protection seems really good.

I feel like Ensnaring Bridge would be great in this deck. With ornithopter in the graveyard Lasav can just ignore it. It's a bit annoying that the card is so expensive now and I'm trying to keep my deck as janky as possible.

Sun Droplet is in the deck to stop the "you've no blockers? I guess I'll attack you with my random 3/3" that I seem to suffer from.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

Have you been playing this deck any recently? I've still been having a blast with it.
Just cut a bunch of stuff while thinking about it
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Lazav, the Multifarious
Approximate Total Cost:

Lazav, the Multifarious
Approximate Total Cost:

Current thoughts: The leveler package is awful. I'm going to end up cutting almost all of them in the near future.
Pteramander has heavily underperformed. My list doesn't have nearly enough spells to support it at the moment.
Disciple of Deceit is actually amazing now that I've gotten more reps in with the deck. It loves Deranged Assistant, if Lasav can't attack.
Cephalid Inkshrouder continues to blow people out.
Archfiend of Ifnir turns Lasav into Plague Wind and it gets itself into the graveyard.
Phage the Untouchable is the way I most frequently kill people.
Masticore has way overperformed. It protects Lasav, is a great mana dump and is a discard outlet.

Disciple of Deceit has been good enough I'm considering , King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, Daring Thief, and Pain Seer. I could put in an inspired package.

Avatar of Woe seems great in this deck, I'm unsure why I never thought of that card. EDIT: Herp derp, it doesn't reduce the CC in the graveyard. -_-
Cards I'm lightly pondering considering
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Scaretiller
Shadow of the Grave
Murderous Compulsion
one with nothing
dark deal
Tortured Existence
Nether Shadow
Geier Reach Sanitarium
wonder
Vizier of Tumbling Sands
diplomatic immunity
Arcane Laboratory
Curator's Ward
Tome of Legends
Null Brooch
Brink of Madness
Dimir Infiltrator
Sewer Nemesis
Avatar of Woe
King Macar, the Gold-Cursed
Daring Thief
Pain Seer
Escape Artist[/card]

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

In:
+ Gingerbrute
+ Pteramander
+ Phyrexian Tower
+ Sequestered Stash

Out:
- Hope of Ghirapur
- Nightveil Sprite
- Island
- Swamp
materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
Just saw Escape Artist on EDHrec. Unblockable, discard outlet and protection seems really good.
Escape Artist was in my initial draft of the deck, since it was a solid placeholder in Edric, Spymaster of Trest. It's in no way a bad card at all, yet i wouldn't know what to cut for it. As far as protection and repetitive surveilling goes, i'm planning to get a Cavern Harpy for the deck.
materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
Have you been playing this deck any recently? I've still been having a blast with it.

Pteramander has heavily underperformed. My list doesn't have nearly enough spells to support it at the moment.
Disciple of Deceit is actually amazing now that I've gotten more reps in with the deck.
Masticore has way overperformed. It protects Lasav, is a great mana dump and is a discard outlet.

Disciple of Deceit has been good enough I'm considering , King Macar, the Gold-Cursed, Daring Thief, and Pain Seer. I could put in an inspired package.
I haven't been able to play as much MTG overall lately, as i would've wanted. But whenever i did, i made sure to play at least one round with Lazav, the Multifarious and Grenzo, Dungeon Warden, my most entertaining decks. The deck feels just so original, strong, yet fair. Plus, most moving parts are hilariously bad cards themselves!

Very happy to see that Disciple of Deceit and Masticore paid off for you! I didn't hit Pteramander too often yet, but whenever i did i usually would've been able to adept for or . That's okay, i guess.

I'd pick Inspired over Levelers anytime, too! King Macar, the Gold-Cursed was in an initial list of mine and certainly is a good card with this commander. Don't forget about Wake Thrasher though!

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

I was able to do a lot more playtesting, which resulted in the following adjustments.

In:
+ Crypt Rats|VIS (repeatable wrath, synergizes well with Undying/Persist options)
+ Phage the Untouchable (high CMC, high reward)
+ Withered Wretch (repeatable gy-hate)
+ Jace's Erasure (to mill myself, absurd with wheels)
+ Rapid Hybridization
+ Pongify
+ Buried Alive

Out:
- Cosi's Trickster (too situational)
- Hex Parasite (too situational)
- Pteramander (rarely helped going lethal)
- Sudden Death (too situational, too much mana)
- Curse of the Swine (didn't help against go wide strategies)
- Ashiok, Dream Render (this kept hosing 4 of my win cons, unfortunately)
- Sequestered Stash (wasn't as good as expected, wanted to go down a land)

Jace's Erasure has been absolutely stellar! So good in fact, that i'd like to add Chronic Flooding to the deck, just to mill myself.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago

In:
+ Crypt Rats|VIS (repeatable wrath, synergizes well with Undying/Persist options)
+ Phage the Untouchable (high CMC, high reward)
+ Jace's Erasure (to mill myself, absurd with wheels)

Jace's Erasure has been absolutely stellar! So good in fact, that i'd like to add Chronic Flooding to the deck, just to mill myself.
I don't have enough wheels for Erasure to be worth it, I can see how it'd do tons of work for you though.

Crypt Rats|VIS? He's really cute with Foulmire Knight, might be worth considering. Also, I'd recommend trying to slot in Swarmyard, it's extremely strong with Crypt Rats and could be hilarious to use in combination to regenerate Lasav if your opponents aren't paying attention.

I'm glad to see you're giving Phage the Untouchable a whirl. Killing folks with her is great.


Here's my current list.
SPOILER
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Lazav, the Multifarious
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My latest swaps were

-1 Vizier of Tumbling Sands
-1 As Foretold
-1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
-1 Desert of the Mindful
-1 Desert of the Glorified

+1 Ghost Quarter
+1 Homeward Path
+1 Heraldic Banner
+1 Rites of Refusal
+1 Daring Thief

Desert of the Mindful, Desert of the Glorified always felt too expensive to cycle. Getting Lasav stolen is basically a game loss, so adding in the homeward path is a go. Maze of Ith is also a massive problem so in with ghost quarters.

As foretold was good, I just want to cut it for something jankier. I'm really excited to blow someone out with Rites of Refusal. I'm finding this deck really struggles in larger games (4+ players) with my less wheel based build. I need to pick up more beef like hunted horror really bad.

Daring Thief has already been really good for me. Trading Gingerbrute for an opponents general is feels wonderful. My cards are just all so much worse than my opponents, it's just always massive value. xD

Chaos Wand is hilarious because my opponents decks just have waaaay better cards than me. Yesterday I hit render silent to counter my opponents bomb followed up with Expropriate.

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Post by materpillar » 4 years ago

Just went to the card store over the weekend and I have a few tweaks..


-1 Sun Droplet
+1 Hunted Horror
I haven't really drawn sun droplet at all. I think replacing it with some beef to end the game faster is probably just as good.

-1 Ornithopter
+1 Gurmag Swiftwing
I think haste and first strike is worth the extra 2 mana

-1 Discovery // Dispersal
+1 Dimir Infiltrator
These have similar utility usage but the dimir infiltrator also turns lasav unblockable

-1 Nighthowler
+1 Wake Thrasher
I don't have enough wheels for Nighthowler to be great. I'm hoping that the Wake Thrasher does a better job at finishing.

I'd kind of like to slot in unwind but I'm unsure what to cut.

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Post by Toshi » 4 years ago

materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
1. Crypt Rats|VIS? He's really cute with Foulmire Knight, might be worth considering.
2. Also, I'd recommend trying to slot in Swarmyard, it's extremely strong with Crypt Rats and could be hilarious to use in combination to regenerate Lasav if your opponents aren't paying attention.
3. Getting Lasav stolen is basically a game loss, so adding in the homeward path is a go.
4. I'm really excited to blow someone out with Rites of Refusal.
5. I don't have enough wheels for Nighthowler to be great. I'm hoping that the Wake Thrasher does a better job at finishing.
6. I'd kind of like to slot in unwind but I'm unsure what to cut.
1. That's a good interaction, but keep in mind that Lazav, the Multifarious will die as well if the triggers resolve when he's still a Foulmire Knight. My usual line of play is transforming him into Crypt Rats|VIS, offload as much as needed, then transform him with into something that survives or persists.
2. I'd love to have a (deck for) Swarmyard! Unfortunately Crypt Rats|VIS would be the only creature with matching creature types. Given the 10€ price tag and that it only produces makes it way too situational and will therefor keep it out of my deck for good, i'm afraid.
3. Cephalid Inkshrouder is the obvious champ of the deck and Invisible Stalker is pretty useful too. Slippery Scoundrel is as a solid third, but has been too slow for my meta. Calcite Snapper, Neurok Commando and Xathrid Slyblade are honorable mentions, but not my cup of tea.
Theft effects aren't really popular in my meta and i usually combine a persisting option and a sac outlet to fizzle them.
4. Oh god, ever since i've heard of the card i want one as well! Unluckily none of my friends has a copy and i haven't ordered from a seller who has one yet either.
5. Wake Thrasher is propably my favorite finisher. I've had rounds where i've attacked with Ornithopter and Hedron Crab, only for them untapping for that last pinch of commander damage.
6. I'd cut Necroplasm - it just hasn't been good enough for me and i prefer the Crypt Rats|VIS synergy in a similar slot.
materpillar wrote:
4 years ago
I need to pick up more beef like hunted horror really bad.
It's been already half a year, when i researched beefy creatures with at least a strength of 7 (3 turn clock) but a maximum of CMC 3.
Phyrexian Dreadnought is an obvious mention, but pretty expensive. As far as i know they didn't release any additional ones at that rate since my research. So below should be a short, yet comprehensive, list - plus Nyxathid, which i'm already running and Death's Shadow, which could be an insane last hooray but a dead card most of the time.
NoNeedToBragoBoutIt wrote:
4 years ago
Hunted Horror, Phyrexian Soulgorger & Rotting Regisaur are still on the list as nice beatsticks.
Either way, keep brewing! I love hearing about your progress and the discussion that comes with it.

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