Conquering your Commander: Alesha, Who Smiles at Death EDH / CMDR guide for

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Another viewer requested commander, this week we look at Alesha, Who Smiles at Death. Mardu loves to attack, but can it pull off a sweet reanimation based deck? I think so! Limited, but cheaply costed, Alesha is able to do some crazy stuff with your graveyard in a color pairing that loves to manipulate through reanimation.
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"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons...

[@Jeffophone]

My personal favorite land for Alesha is Shizo, Death's Storehouse, which is an untapped black source that can give a legendary creature Fear for under half Rogue's Passage's cost.

[@MTGMuddstah]

Definitely a great land!

[@lonesilverascendentz]

I think you may want to add dusk/dawn fits well in this deck

[@MTGMuddstah]

Great suggestion!

[@alexk4465]

yo, my friend plays almost this exact deck. it's crazy when he goes, "Swing with Alesha, pay 2 to bring back Karmic Guide. With panharmonicon out Karmic guide brings back Sheoldred and Sun Titan, sun Titan brings back Fiend Hunter and Phyrexian Arena, and fiend Hunter exiles 2 guys."

[@MTGMuddstah]

That's BRUTAL, haha!

[@Kaiser-S0ul]

7:53 you say Nihiri twice when referencing Alesha. Good dec tec though.

[@MTGMuddstah]

Haha yea =( I flubbed.

[@TheFoxlover93]

I think it should also be noted, that Alesha can cheat mana costs, as mentioned in the video, but you can also cheat out creatures that get bigger. A noticeable one is Noosegraf Mob. a 0/0 in the grave, it will enter with 5 counters on it and then whenever the opponents cast something, you can quite easily get a huge board out of nowhere. There are lots of 0/0 creatures that get bigger when it enters. Ignition Team, Pentavus are some of the first ones that come to mind. Lastly, I'm VERY surprised you didn't mention Karmic Guide. Not only is it recurable, but in addition it recurs other things and doesn't care about power. Best part is, it will sac itself to Echo cost and you never have to worry about being without creatures. Alesha also works very well as a token/attrition style commander, doubling up with ETB triggers and leaving bodies behind to defend yourself or use as sac fodder later. I LOVE my Alesha deck and will continue to try and slowly fine tune it.

[@MTGMuddstah]

Great suggestions! My lack of inclusion for a card like Karmic Guide, and to the same extent Reveillark, is because they're so synonymous with reanimation in EDH, I figure most people will eventually stumble across them. I try to make these videos with suggestions that might not normally pop up, although with resources like EDHREC, I think the hidden gems are becoming more and more known.

[@TheFoxlover93]

I think the hidden gems are usually the 0/0's that enter and get bigger, or the fabricate ability. Fabricate is probably the "best" mechanic for Alesha, able to stabilize quickly by either making a small army, or, as your video explained, making a bigger creature. These also trigger with Panharmonicon, allowing you to get even BIGGER creatures, or a large army, or half and half (putting counters on and making creatures), since each trigger is separate from its counter part. I love my Alesha deck (would share it, but I think it would probably be inappropriate to do so). It should be note worthy to say that Reconnaissance with First Strike on Alesha/other creatures, means you can deal your combat damage first, then go to the "regular damage step" and untap them. Or, before end of combat, can use Reconnaissance to untap them (since you are still in combat and creatures are still "attackers".). This similar effect is the same as casting a Celestial Flare at end of combat, to ensure they sacrifice a creature, thus with Reconnaissance, you get sudo vigilance

[@Trainwithseb]

Run Yosei, The Morning Star with that and you can effectively lock one person out of the game for two mana with a sac outlet. Did it last night 😊😊😊

[@88Hyo]

my additions to thisdeck: iroas: making our creatures hard to block abd protecting alesha all at once! wall of blood/stitched ghoul: out of nowhere beat sticks and maybe win conditions that feel a lotless sour than master of cruelties. aggravsted assault + sword of feast and famine: infinite combat steps = infinite uses of alesha and possibly a win! altar of dementia: sacrifice and self mill! plus, you're running whute, which mesns that this + karmic guide + fiend hunter = infinite mill!

[@pitohi11]

Alesha is my favorite commander deck! Here's some feedback: Master of Cruelties: You won't end up getting hated out for doing the same thing every game, you'll get hated out because no one wants to sit around for 20 minutes after getting one-shot by you. One-shotting a player makes you the archenemy, so everyone else will spend all their resources shutting you down. I strongly prefer combos which kill the whole table at once, and something like Kiki-combo doesn't even take long to resolve and each piece can be reanimated by Alesha (assuming you use Felidar Guardian or get help from Karmic Guide). Sunforger: It's crazy expensive for an Alesha deck. I'm a strong proponent of an equipment package in Alesha (it helps your weenies stay revelant! Blade of Selves shenanigans!), but 8 mana is way more than I'm looking to spend, and often more than I have. This is assuming you modify the deck to fit your commander instead of just going with the general ratios. Alesha can be built very low to ground; I don't plan to actually cast anything with a CMC >4. "Narrow but fun reanimator commander": Alesha is anything but narrow! Sure, you can build her as reanimator, but tokens, control/stax, and combo are all viable archetypes. Not just as "Here's my Mardu deck, I guess Alesha's the commander" but instead using her to generate extra value in the mid/late game or to get really grindy by recurring annoying things like Loxodon Gatekeeper or Aven Mindcensor. Tutors: You really missed out by not mentioning Buried Alive or Corpse Connoisseur. While everyone's first though is Entomb, these guys do just as well for far less money. Connoisseur in particular seems to fly under people's radar.

[@FoodtimeFoodtime]

Corpse Connoisseur is bae

[@Firebird20XX]

I'm particularly fond of comboing with Gonti, Lord of Luxury Reveillark Karmic Guide & a sac outlet. With them, you can infinitely recur Gonti and exile all your opponents' libraries, winning via decking them out.

[@fenixmeaney6170]

Reveillark karmic guide sac and any etb 2 power is infinite If you are going to mill everyone, make sure you use the sanitarium Or a temple bell

[@ModelOmegaForReal]

Ah Alesha, the first commander deck I built that wasn't based on a pre-con, and my absolute favourite. It's probably my most powerful deck, and my playgroup friends always seem to sweat nervously whenever I pull it out, its gained me a reputation not too dissimilar to Evil Adam I'd say, as people will target me right off the bat knowing I can pull wins out of nowhere. While I started heavily using the Master of Cruelties insta kill, I've sort of hedged against it overtime because it generally leads to "kill one person, rest of table targets you" ala Voltron or standard Aggro decks- its still in there but its been supplanted by table wide insta kills with combos invovling some combinations of Karmic Guide, Reveillark, Murderous Redcap, Sun Titan+Animate Dead, Kiki-Jiki, any token maker and a sacrifice outlet. One powerful reanimate spell I'd consider is Ever After, it puts itself to the bottom on resolution so it has self recursion, and getting two creatures back in the endgame can easily bring out an I win combo. My most recent development has been trying out some Dredge cards- currently Stinkweed Imp and Dakmor Salvage, currently its going ok, I'm also considering Altar of Dementia both for self mill and another potential wincon. You can see my list here if interested: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/alesha-edh-the-neo-mardu-horde/

[@MetalSnakeBoogy]

Until Bojuka bog happens. :(

[@Vaderi300]

I liked the video, it gave me a good look at a different way of running Alesha. My current Alesha deck is a Flanking Knight tribal deck that runs Alesha as a commander mostly to get access to Mardu colors but enjoys being able to take advantage of the recursion. Your different perspective really helped me spot some areas that I could improve upon, particularly some of the sac outlets.and your land ideas. Thanks.

[@benrichardson5662]

Soltari Visionary is great here since he's usually going to be unlockable and therefore gives you a potential multiple time Enchantment removal creature.

[@MetalSnakeBoogy]

Irosis would be a good edition. Makes your creatures harder to block and they take no combat damage at the same time is excellent.

[@rodrigothompson2375]

I Went balls deep with infinite combos with my alesha so my list is a bit less combat matters. Here are some additions: Altar of Dementia Ashnod's Altar Dictate of Erebos grave pact Goblin Bombardment buried alive Living Death False Prophet Mirror Entity Returned Centaur Sun Titan Recruiter of the Guard Necrotic Sliver Mentor of the Meek Purphoros God of the Forge Siege-Gang Commander Liliana, Heretical Healer (my pet card) Fiend Hunter kiki-jiki

[@samb123078]

I like radiant's dragoon; echo let's her die, has a big butt, and gives 5 when it enters the battlefield. Fuminator mage and/or avalanche riders both sac themselves and kills a land ETB. Magus of the wheel provides reusable broad wipe. Very good with selfless spirit! Vicious shadow with a sac outlet will win you games. Spellshapers let you ditch a card for a useful ability. With Greel, you can discard two creatures to kill someone's hand then use Alesia to get them back next combat. Ones I like are notorious assasin (kill creatures), Jaya (kills blue stuff and deals damage), hammer mage (kills lots of artifacts), avenger en-dal (exiles attacking creature), and scismic mage (kills lands) Most can be brought back with Alesia as well since they only have 1 or 2 power.

[@iandehmel]

Loving these videos, they're helping me out a lot with my deck builds! One request: Could y'all do a Saskia the Unyielding video, or even just play her sometime? I'm trying to iron out the kinks in mine.

[@MTGMuddstah]

Saskia is on my list of decks to try and build. I wanted to do a Tribal Human deck with her, but I haven't had a chance to build it yet.

[@iandehmel]

I built her into warrior tribal, which works well, but it doesn't quite pop like y'alls decks do. Thanks for the reply!

[@ttrgr]

I came over here; into the past that’s pushed into the present, where it’s thematically appropriate to ask, a question both secret yet public; how do I surprise NeonMushroom by getting you a bit south for a weekend into our game store for a spin???? I know y’all have done a talkie in the past but I think it would be really cool and good to surprise him because that matches my chaotic energy, man

[@DemonOfMyMind]

I really like her. although I took a very different direction than you did. I sought to use her ability and colors in a equipment themed voltron deck. With that in mind I could use the powerful white equipment based creatures along with the red artifact synergy and the black sacrifice outlets. It's also nice to have access to cranial plating and multiple combat steps. Although most people play her like you do, she really is quite versatile. I do like both strategies and she is a commander I would like to build multiple decks for. The other commander I want to do that for is Jeleva.

[@orohyuno]

I have a lot of commanders, but my first one and still the favourite is Bruna, Light of Alabaster. Can you make a video about her? A control / one-hit-kill voltron is super fun. Things that let Bruna attack right away: Boots, Hall of the Bandit Lord, playing her before your turn with things like Leyline of Anticipation and Scout's Warning. Auras to destroy: Eldrazi's Conscription, Spectra Ward, Daybreak Coronet, Battle Mastery, Corrupted Conscience and aura-based power like Auramancer's Guise, Ethereal Armor and Sage's Reverie. Things to dodge block are also great, like Aqueous Form, Steel of the Godhead, Holy Mantle and so on. Things to search your library for auras like Sovereigns of Lost Alara and Three Dreams are cool... But things to put all your auras in the graveyard like a self-inflicted Traumatize is so fun! Early game you can just mana fix and construct some card advantage enchanting Kor Spiritdancer, Augury Adept and Daxos of Meletis. If the auras hit the graveyard, it simply doesn't matter! Everything else is just counter, control and board wipe, like a proper Azorius deck. Hope I have convinced you of the power of a properly-build Bruna. Most people play her without haste or protection and expect her to survive. She doesn't. You have to play her with haste or have mana left to protect her with a Counterspell or maybe Cloudshift and Mizzium Skin.

[@VzDeath]

Wish I could've seen this video when I made my deck. Sadly, it's been taken apart for some time now

[@Darkaces1289]

When you want to play your friends decks I tend to pull out gonti lord of luxury and felidar guardian. My alesha build runs a lot more etb triggers and combat tricks. Anafenza wouldn't be a bad idea either.

[@Pyoromo]

for this deck I reccomend Vulshok Battlemaster .It hoses random voltron decks. be wary your opponents equipments are not under your control.

[@joemeenie]

You forgot Avalanche Riders heh heh heh heeeeeeeeeh

[@Dancaide]

Joseph Person land destruccion is a dark path.

[@zaphir127]

Dancaide nothing better than wiping everyone's lands with a reveillark riders combo LOL

[@fenixmeaney6170]

Zaphir I have a kynaios and tiro rhystic deck that doesn't mind nuking lands so they can't pay to attack etc

[@salvadorgamma3266]

Love this deck. Really helped me build my Zurgo/token deck. Love the aggro commanders. SASKIA PLEASE!!!

[@Jeepod]

List coming soon. Suuuuuuure !

[@SantyNewLee]

Your voice is very well-suited for narrating H.P. Lovecraft stories! :0

[@MTGMuddstah]

I've immensely enjoyed Lovecraft's works!

[@wiseoldblackman5257]

You can have a cute interaction with alesha, tajic and drana

[@brianwillson6679]

I myself run her with about 30 Relentless Rats. Nothing better than a horde that keeps getting bigger.

[@zaq001]

Forgot about the reveillark karmic guide combos.

[@kimmuwattrel]

Please do "Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest" I want to make a deck out of him and ai really trust your insights.

[@FoodtimeFoodtime]

Key to the City might as well be the key to Alesha's heart.

[@MTGMuddstah]

Haha, well put!

[@cyricnosferat227]

you mentioned Kaalia, what about rocking her in the 99 to swing out of the yard and drop a giant angeldemondragon out knowere?

[@onewholeegg]

Do one for Arjun, the Shifting Flame!

[@zo-zu7158]

How 'bout Grenzo, Dungeon Warden?

[@spiralhaze2070]

Is it just me, or is some of the audio out of synch? Like, at 3:55 you can hear a pop pop sound and a few seconds later Path and Swords pop into the image.

[@thatonekidtrex]

is nahiri a creature now? just giving you hard time my man love the content keep it up.

[@ElsGames]

isnt the master or cruelties effect a trigger that needs him to be declared attacker? as far as i understand, if he enters attacking he wasnt declared as an attacker even though he is one, but the trigger dont trigger in this case, this is a discussion i always have with my friend, can someone clarify?

[@hgod7152]

"attacked and isn't blocked" is a special interaction and it does actually work with Alesha

[@ErikTheRedd1]

reconnaissance to untap nahiri? great video nonetheless

[@MTGMuddstah]

=( My bad lol

[@alexk4465]

yeah I caught that too. it's fine bro, pobody's nerfect :)

[@wiseoldblackman5257]

can you do shu yun the silent tempest

[@wiseoldblackman5257]

can you do mazerik death preist

[@vernmcfarland3058]

ankle shanker?

[@r.a.w.780]

Nice video, not much else to say haha. Enjoyed it though 😀

[@jeanmarais337]

Agent of Erebose is dangerous when someone nicks em out of your graveyard. I would not play this in Meren or any deck that has a large gy.

[@Sharmarke_Holif]

can u do shu yun the silent tempest?

[@loozerid]

I have watched a lot of alesha videos and guides why is maze of ith not recommended anywhere am i missing something?

[@alexandriacorcoran4100]

forgive me for being uneducated, I'm new to the format, but I thought you could only generate mana and include cards of the same colour as the colour of your commander. Am I wrong or is this a variation on the format or something?

[@Lamonous]

Alexandria Corcoran to my knowledge there was a ruling that says if you can produce Mana of any color with an effect you can. it was pretty recent

[@itchy104]

Alexandria Corcoran The hybrid mana in Alesha's ability make here technically a black white red commander.

[@itchy104]

Also... I believe the rules were recently changed to allow you to generate any color of mana regardless of your commander.

[@worldthroughabucket]

As Lamongron said, you can now generate mana of any colour, but you can't use any card with a mana symbol that isnt in your commander's identity. So You can't run islands or forests in Alesha. But something that can generate mana of ANY colour would be able to generate blue or green. Also you seem to mistake colour and colour identity. Like what itchy said, even though Alesha is a red card, bc she has white and black in her ability her colour identity is RBW. Hope that helped.

[@alexandriacorcoran4100]

ah I understand thank you

[@JustinBrown-kl2ji]

Why you no post decklist?

[@TwoFace262Games]

do you have a deck list made yet? (:

[@godofwar10510]

Where’s the link?

[@brunopombo8579]

want list :D

[@wolffang7877]

DECKLIST PLEEEAAASSSEEEEEE >:V

[@sageofrealities6478]

Is this budget?

[@ryanduffy45]

decklist please?

[@benjaminspiewak2295]

8:00. Talking about protecting and untapping Nahiri? I am the only one who caught this?

[@MTGMuddstah]

Nope, someone else mentioned it too! Haha.

[@Decku3]

Great video as always. I really like Alesha. She is Mardu which I love and is more combat oriented as say Karador. When you plan on posting the decklist? Maybe you have some cards which I missed in my list. You can check out my take on her: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/alesha-edh-reanimator/

[@jijoboss]

You never listed the deck list lmqo

[@angrywombat2379]

When you think it's a gameplay

[@Elfarcher73]

Hey sorry if this comes across as rude or anything but Yahenni isn't a he, well they aren't a she either. I know it doesn't matter all that much but still.

[@MTGMuddstah]

No apologies needed! I like to be as accurate as possible, so thank you for the correction. I do recall reading some of the lore about the Aetherborn along the lines you mentioned as well.

[@Elfarcher73]

Alright! Love the content btw! Been thinking of building Alesha myself for a bit but i think of building really everything for a bit. Right now trying to decide between Tanna and Reyhan Jund tokens with a +1/+1 counter sub-theme or Sidar and Tymna Abzan tokens with a soul sisters sub-theme. Its really hard because I like both decks but don't want too many token decks. Already have Purphoros!