Dies to Removal

Who?
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher is one of the new Commanders custom made for EDH and is, IMO, pretty impressive. Besides being an army-on-a-stick, Prossh is also my favorite shard's colors giving me access to an incredible array of tools and angles of attack.

What?
This deck is an evolution of my Purphoros list - taking everything I've learned about playing Purph to make a stronger, better version with roughly the same game plan but (hopefully) more consistent and with more redundancy.

When?
I first saw Prossh when it was spoiled on Sally, but wasn't overly impressed - so it'd be fair to say it was not love at first sight. At the time, I was too into the Shattergang Brothers to give much thought to Prossh, but the more I saw the card after buying the
Commander deck and the more I considered how disgusting it would be with Purph, the more I wanted to make the deck.

Why?
Well, I have a broken combo deck: Arcum, and I have an absolutely hateful STAX deck: Shattergang, but I've never been 100% happy with my "Aggro" deck: Purphoros. Don't get me wrong, I love the deck, and it is powerful when it gets going, but it's also fragile and easily suseptable to variance and/or running out of gas. Proosh is my attempt to remake Purphoros, but better than Purph could ever be.

How?
The game plan is pretty simple (in theory): set up your mana, tutor for Purph, and then start spamming ridiculous creatures that put a bunch of little dudes into play for massive amounts of damage. Of course, the deck will automagically include a few extra angles of attack like setting up a devistating Commander attack or just doing a ton of Combat Damage with your bajillion creatures.

[size=150:
1rlsyyir]The Decklist[/size]
Here's the initial list I'll be testing for Prossh:

[deck]
Commander: 1
1 Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Creatures: 30
1 Dragonmaster Outcast
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Gatecreeper Vine
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Burnished Hart
1 Farhaven Elf
1 Yavimaya Granger
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Eternal Witness
1 Glissa, the Traitor
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Ondu Giant
1 Precursor Golem
1 Mycoloth
1 Genesis
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1 Zealous Conscripts
1 Wort, the Raidmother
1 Broodmate Dragon
1 Grave Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Avenger of Zendikar
1 Hornet Queen
1 Sylvan Primordial
1 Craterhoof Behemoth

Artifacts: 7
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Skullclamp
1 Basilisk Collar
1 Mimic Vat
1 Birthing Pod

Enchantments: 10
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Sylvan Library
1 Awakening Zone
1 Fecundity
1 Defense of the Heart
1
Parallel Lives
1 Tooth and Claw
1 Pattern of Rebirth
1 Doubling Season
1 Primal Vigor

Planeswalkers: 2
1 Garruk Relentless
1 Xenagos, the Reveler

Spells: 14
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Sylvan Tutor
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Tempt with Vengeance
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Time of Need
1 Cultivate
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Chaos Warp
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Jarad's Orders
1 Diabolic Tutor
1 Tempt with Discovery

Lands: 36
[/deck]

Note: I'll probably find something to cut for Food Chain and Tooth and Nail when I playtest this week.

Will be testing this some through the week. Feel free to make comments and suggestions.

Food Chain's infinite, isn't it?

How much do you want your deck to revolve around that - you certainly have the capacity to cram in a ridiculous number of black tutors, if you wanted to.

Seems like you've got a lot of ramp options that only push you forward a single slot of acceleration. EDH tends to lead to pretty long games - I usually aim to get at least two mana of acceleration per slot if my general costs over 4 mana. There's a number of those that aren't yet included, here. A bunch of them are creatures (Lotus Cobra, Fyndhorn elder, joraga treespeaker, et. al), some are artifacts (Worn Powerstone, Thran Dynamo), but a fair amount is good old green ramp, like Skyshroud claim or Explosive Vegetation, if your concern is getting swept. Recasting this guy for tons of mana multiple times is probably going to be a high priority, right?

Skullclamp's gonna be absurd.

Is it crazy to suggest Coat of Arms? If you
time it correctly, it's one hell of a one-shot kill.

Also, it's absolutely criminal not to be running Insurrection in this deck...take all the creatures and one-sided wrath *everyone*. Assuming anyone is left alive afterwards, of course.

I wonder if Greater Good is something you'd want to build around here, as well. Potentially. Another good way to draw a ton of cards off your general.

Garruk Wildspeaker seems like a great fit here as well. Ramps you to your six slot, makes all your Kobolds +3/+3 and trample. Good stuff.

Hmm. If Gaea's Cradle is ever in your budget range...

1. Food Chain + Prossh = Infinite mana and infinite Kobalds

2. I don't think I want the deck to revolve around it, but it's one of those things that since I already have so many synergies, why not have one more for the price of a single deck slot?

3. The ramp options aren't ramp as much as color fixing since the curve of the deck is actually pretty low and I don't think the deck needs to drop Prossh or other fatties asap to work. I feel like I'm going to need that fixing since I have no intention of spending $500+ on the mana base of a casual deck. Otherwise I'd just cut the majority of that, fill the land slots with Fetches and Duals and say "Fuck it! We'll do it live!"

4. Skullclamp is absolutely absurd.

5. Not crazy - worth testing.

6. Insurrection is one of those cards I tend to shy away from - powerful effect, but grossly expensive - unless, of course, they immediately win the game.
Still, since I'm running ramp anyway, it's possible that the deck can run it without issue. I'll think about it.

7. Greater Good was something I considered, but didn't know if it was actually needed or if I could find room. Also, with all the tokens and small P/T creatures in the deck I think that Fecundity is just better. Fecundity + Prossh = 5/5 Flying, get x Kobalds, draw mana spent - x cards. That'll fill up a hand quick.

8. Originally I had all the Garruks in here because they're all good but cut all but Relentless for room.

9. Gaea's Cradle will be in the deck - I may hate dropping ridiculous amounts of money on mana bases, but that card is way too bomb-ie not to run. I just wish I had a couple of good mana sinks for all that... maybe Helix Pinnacle?

Most recent list:

[deck]
Commander: 1
1 Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Creatures: 32
1 Diligent Farmhand
1 Dawntreader Elk
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Magus of the Library
1 Wall of Roots
1 Wall of Blossoms
1 Farhaven Elf
1 Wood Elves
1 Yavimaya Granger
1 Yavimaya Elder
1 Eternal Witness
1 Viridian Shaman
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Ondu Giant
1 Nullmage Shepherd
1 Nekrataal
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Ogre Battledriver
1 Mycoloth
1 Genesis
1 Acidic Slime
1 Siege-Gang Commander
1 Skullmulcher
1 Precursor Golem
1 Grave Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Essence of the Wild
1 Sylvan Primordial
1 Avenger of Zendikar

Artifacts: 9
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
1 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Mimic Vat
1 Ashnod’s Altar
1 Birthing Pod
1 Mind’s Eye
1 Coat of Arms

Enchantments: 14
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Sylvan Library
1 Awakening Zone

1 Fecundity
1 Beastmaster Ascension
1 Food Chain
1 Parallel Lives
1 Tooth and Claw
1 Foster
1 Greater Good
1 Grave Pact
1 Doubling Season
1 Primal Vigor
1 Dragon Appeasement

Spells: 6
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Sylvan Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Time of Need

Planeswalkers: 2
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Xenagos, the Reveler

Lands: 36
1 Blood Crypt
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Sulfurous Springs
1 Stomping Ground
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Karplusan Forest
1 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Woodland Cemetery
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 Jund Panorama
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Command Tower
1 Opal Palace
1 Savage Lands
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Gaea’s Cradle
9 Forest
8 Swamp
1 Mountain
[/deck]

The deck evolved to be more built around Prossh than the first version (which was more built around Purph) - which just makes sense.

I still haven't really played with Insurrection, but Grave Pact does an excellent job of keeping my opponent's creatures off
the table. I would like to make room for Maelstrom Pulse, Beast Within, and Chaos Warp, though.

What about some spells that net you tokens that you can feed to Prossh? Assemble the Legion perhaps?

What about some spells that net you tokens that you can feed to Prossh? Assemble the Legion perhaps?

Imma let you think about that for a minute.

Yeah yeah. Durr.

So anyways, what about some token makers?

Like what exactly? The best one-time token makers are creatures and I think I got all the really good ones I could fit in and all the Artifact token makers seem really slow.

I could include Kher Keep without issue, though.

Trading Post?

Trading Post is cute.

You just like it cuz it makes goats. Suga loves him some goats.

Almost as much as he hates zemanjaskis.

My "hate" of Zem is from a different thread. It's not a real "hate" as much as it is a way of life.

Where did all Z hate come from? Serious question.

I mean, he's been more.....temperamental than usual lately, but we all get that way sometimes I suppose.

I don't think it's real hate. I think it's more like every Batman needs a Joker.

And tonight he's gonna break his one rule.....

Suga isn't the nemesis zem deserves, but is the one he needs right now.

He doesn't hate him - what would he do without him!?

Been playing the deck some more - it's getting pretty dumb.

[deck]Commander: 1
1 Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Creatures: 27
1 Joraga Treespeaker
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Magus of the Library
1 Wall of Roots
1 Farhaven Elf
1 Wood Elves
1 Eternal Witness
1 Viridian Shaman
1 Flametongue Kavu
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Nullmage Shepherd
1 Nekrataal
1 Huntmaster of the Fells
1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
1 Ogre Battledriver
1 Mycoloth
1 Skullmulcher
1 Acidic Slime
1 Genesis
1 Indrik Stomphowler
1 Zealous Conscripts
1 Grave Titan
1 Wurmcoil Engine
1 Essence of the Wild
1 Avenger of Zendikar
1 Craterhoof Behemoth

Artifacts: 11
1 Mana Crypt
1 Mana Vault
1 Sol Ring
1 Skullclamp
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Ashnod's Altar
1 Mimic Vat
1 Birthing Pod
1 Coat of Arms
1 Eldrazi Monument
1 Mind's Eye

Enchantments: 13
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Sylvan Library
1 Beastmaster
Ascension
1 Fecundity
1 Food Chain
1 Foster
1 Grave Pact
1 Greater Good
1 Parallel Lives
1 Tooth and Claw
1 Doubling Season
1 Primal Vigor
1 Dragon Appeasement

Planeswalkers: 3
1 Sarkhan Vol
1 Xenagos, the Reveler
1 Garruk, Primal Hunter

Instants/Sorceries: 9
1 Sylvan Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Time of Need
1 Beast Within
1 Chaos Warp
1 Maelstrom Pulse

Land: 36
1 Blood Crypt
1 Sulfurous Springs
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Llanowar Waste
1 Woodland Cemetery
1 Stomping Ground
1 Karplusan Forest
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Grove of the Burnwillows
1 Savage Lands
1 Exotic Orchard
1 Command Tower
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Jund Panorama
1 Temple of the False God
1 Kher Keep
1 Gaea's Cradle
1 Shizo, Death's Storehouse
9 Forest
6 Swamp
1 Mountain[/deck]

I keep moving away from any but the best token production into things that combo well with the tokens since I'll have access to a large
number of Kobalds every game. I've packed that space with card draw, sac outlets, and a couple of Threaten effects.

The deck is pretty close to being a well-tuned machine.

Funny that you mention Threaten effects. I'm working on a Lyzolda deck where I want to pretty much play nothing but Sac effects and Threatens. I call it "what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine.

But after looking at your list, maybe I should just go with Jund colors for some ramping?

Green brings a lot to the table besides ramping - just look at the card draw and spot removal - the vast majority is Green. Also, the best Threatener in the game, Sarkhan Vol, is RG and Conscript's BFF - Genesis - is Green too.

And Prossh itself is just amazing in that it's not only an excellent token producer that scales up, but is also a free sac outlet that you will always have access to.

....and now you're selling it *hits table* you're selling it!


Man, why am I all about Jurassic Park today!?


What you call discovery, I call rape of the natural world....

You'll be interested to know that I used thinking-machine super computers to design the deck.

And bingo. Dino DNA.

Prossh doesn't want to be fed; he wants to hunt!

FEED ME MORE!

And you play disruption because you think that maybe his deck is based solely around the Commander like Purphoros – he'll lose to you if you interact. But no, not Prossh. You interact with him, and he just interacts right back. And that's when the attack comes. Not from the front, but from the side, *whoosh*, from the other two colors you didn't even know were there. Because Prossh's a synergy Commander, you see, he uses coordinated attack patterns and he is out in force today.

The blood sucking lawyer did not show up to defend himself? Hold on to your butts.

Always hold on to your butts.

Skyraider! We got Skyraider here!

See? No one cares.

Want to test:
-1 Wurmcoil Engine; +1 Homura, Human Ascendant
-1-3 something; +1 Molten Primordial/Mass Mutiny/Insurrection

Yes on Molten Primordial.

Molten Primordial is awesome.

GAIN ALL THE CREATURES

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL THE CREATURES

Made a few more tweeks to squeeze in more Threatens and synergy with Prossh:
-1 Wumcoil Engine, -1 Mana Vault, -1 Time of Need; +1
Humara, +1 Molten Primordial, +1 Insurrection and a basic land shuffle to reflect red's heavier color weight.