The Best Melek, Reforged Researcher EDH Deck for only $50

[@sir_quirkus7206]

only playing one creature. proceeds to show us 2 more creatures in the deck. i kid though, cool commander!

[@BasedDeckDept]

I only realized after the fact. In my defense I clearly don't even see them as creatures, as they're mana rocks / mill engines that I wouldn't want to attack or block with. Thanks for watching friend

[@melkiyad2504]

Great vid! Wanna see more of Melek gameplay

[@BasedDeckDept]

👊 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@garaktartv3647]

Another based deck, thank you very much.

[@BasedDeckDept]

🙏🙏 Glad you enjoyed it. Now on to the next one!

[@bryceosborne4357]

In my melek deck i find i really like having spells that make creature tokens, as they fill up your GY as well as let you defend yourself a bit better. Also, extra combat spells are amazing after youve cast one of your unblockable spells

[@BasedDeckDept]

Yeah mine is a very focused build, but none of those things are bad!

[@0rcd0c]

Very good breakdown and sound thought process behind the decisions. You're right that Izzet spellslingers are always hungry for mana pips and I would probably replace the two colorless dorks with an Ornithopter of Paradise and possibly still a Sol Ring or a Coldsteel Heart. Just want to toss in a couple of cards that might be a consideration for this brew: Tezzeret's Gambit Inspired Tinkering Frantic Search Hieroglyphic Illumination Into the Fire Reinterpret Into the Story Flame Sweep Baral's Expertise Traverse Eternity Storm-Kiln Artist Clout of the Dominus Fiery Inscription Double Vision Visions of Ruin Mizzix's Mastery

[@BasedDeckDept]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Some solid card choices there. Traverse Eternity and Baral's Expertise stand out as solid additions especially.

[@0rcd0c]

@@BasedDeckDept There was one more card on my mind that I couldn't remember the name at first but it was Sunbird's Invocation which is like a Kodama of the East Tree for this deck. I usually don't like greedy, high cmc cards but for the inner timmy's, this is a card that will pay dividends big time.

[@bigbluemonkee]

Just discovered and subscrbed to your channel. Great brew! Would a midnight clock be a good addition since it gets cards in the graveyard, draws, and is a mana dork? Or, is the 3 mana cost too high and better used somewhere else?

[@BasedDeckDept]

Thanks friend. Glad you enjoyed it. Midnight clock is an interesting one. Whilst I'm generally not a fan of 3cc mana rocks, I am running sonic screwdriver... Midnight clock can definitely work in this deck, as we generally are only trying to ramp on turns 1-4. Have yet to really try the clock though, so I can't say how often it's going to be fantastic vs meh

[@simenb6693]

Very nice deck! I've built a deck that's close to it, though I focused more on the big counterspells (Aethersnatch, Overwhelming Intellect) and less on self-mill. However, since Eluge came out I've been eyeing the new fish on the block, I might make that into my Spelljack deck and have Melek focus more on cards in the graveyard with cards like Inferno Project and Rise from the Tides. One thing: maybe I missed something, but did you miss the word 'twice' in the text of Melek? You keep using odd powers and toughnesses in the video; for example, at 9:30 you talk about Melek being a 25/25 and show a boardstate where Melek is 33/33, but by my count he should be a 70/70. This is also why I feel self-mill might be a bit overkill, since 11 instants/sorceries in the graveyard is enough for lethal commander damage. Lastly, let me mention some cards I like in Melek, though not all are that good: - Illithid Harvester / Plant Tadpoles - a less good, more unique, more expensive and just weirder Curse of the Swine; can also function as a way to remove blockers for a turn - Modify Memory - it's sorcery speed, but it can draw you three cards and mess up two people's game plans - Cosmic Epiphany - a good (sorcery speed) big draw spell that fits well into the spells-in-graveyard theme - Showstopping surprise - instant speed, cheaper than Immolating Gyre in both senses of the word and does double the damage. It doesn't hit planeswalkers and it's too bad if you get hit by removal in response but that's life

[@BasedDeckDept]

Wonderful suggestions all round friend... Modify Memory is one of my all time favourite cards. I do however run it in my Ruhan deck, so I don't want to run it in both as I like limiting copies of cards across decks to create more unique play experiences. Similar situation with both Harvester and Epiphany Showstopping surprise though.... Now I need to figure out how to work that in. Last but not least, never too old/proud to learn, but at some point I must just have forgotten about the doubling effect. That certainly spices things up a bit and I have no idea how I missed it. Thanks for the input and for watching

[@WolfBHL123]

I play Melek and I agree with you! He is fun and a different kind of Voltron commander :D Did not know tunnel vision! need to add that one (had Mirror-Mad Phantasm as the same effect on instant activation) In my deck Kediss, Emberclaw Familiar is a amazing addition, then I can hit the weakest player and often hitting the strongest at the same time. And have a few surprise instants like Temur Battle Rage given double strike (and tramp) and Monstrous Rage given trample to get that damage in. Great video, gave a few other thoughts with the flashback unblockable ;)

[@BasedDeckDept]

Glad you're enjoying Melek too Hadn't seen the phantasm before. Love that. Kediss is great too.

[@Vance5th]

immensely based concept

[@BasedDeckDept]

🙏

[@Rabidconscience]

Wait. “I only have a single creature in the deck”. “I run milikin and deranged assistant”

[@BasedDeckDept]

Not the first time I've heard this... only realized after the fact. In my defense I clearly don't even see them as creatures, as they're mana rocks / mill engines that I wouldn't want to attack or block with. But you're correct to point it out. Thanks for watching friend

[@paradox6029]

I'm not sure how often decking yourself is a problem when playing this deck but maybe commit//memory could be included as interaction + insurance

[@BasedDeckDept]

Thanks for watching! Good suggestion! Not come close to decking myself yet, but there's always the possibility 🤣

[@joedoe7572]

A cool card i think would be amazing in this deck is Visions of Ruin. Ramp and removal for R with Melek out, and you can flash it back for only RR with the discounts stacking. Does Melek get killed too many times by the end of the game for Seize the Storm to be a backup finisher? I'm surprised you don't have Past in Flames in this deck. Or maybe Return the Past could fit better so you get the discount on the spells you're flashing back?

[@BasedDeckDept]

Interesting cards all round. I don't play visions of ruin predominantly because it's not doing something I desperately want. If it was targeted sacrifice that would be a different story. Seize the storm is an amazing back up finisher, agreed! And lastly re cards that enable flashback, given Melek only reduces the first spell each turn, I'd rather simply have another good spell in the deck, because the entire play pattern is keeping mana open to answer opponents. Don't want to get a cheap PiF then tap 5-6 mana for another sorcery, if that makes sense!

[@jimmy10bucks3]

Looks like you put a lot of thought into your decks, similar to me! I am always looking into intricacies and possible not-so obvious synergies. I would, however, add additional sources of wincons as grid-locking into one synergy won't be very flexible. I'm going with a few control all creatures, damage redirect spells (portal mage effects). Excellent deck tech!

[@BasedDeckDept]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yeah more wincons is never a bad thing ✊

[@sepeterson86]

Can you cast an instant or sorcery before you cast Melek and get a discount on the next instant or sorcery since it's the first one he sees being cast?

[@veganwiener8047]

Unfortunately, no. Melek says "the first" you cast, meaning it tracks without Melek being in play. If Melek had an activated/triggered ability that cost reduced instead, then it would work as you described

[@bigbluemonkee]

I'm new to commander so I was wondering if you could tell me if Palantir of Orthanc would be good in this deck. It looks like a fun addition but I'm not sure if it would fit since it is not an instant/sorcery.

[@BasedDeckDept]

Palantir is a fantastic card, and can synergize very well here because it can help you mill your cards to make Melek bigger. It's not needed to make the deck good, but if you have it, definitely try it out

[@bigbluemonkee]

@@BasedDeckDept IFYI, I put it in and it is a beast in the deck. Thanks!

[@BasedDeckDept]

@@bigbluemonkee Amazing!

[@bigbluemonkee]

@@BasedDeckDept I also replaced Star Compas ($ .0.68)) with Fountainport Bell ( $ .03). "When Fountainport Bell enters, you may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, then shuffle and put that card on top.1, Sacrifice Fountainport Bell: Draw a card." Very good in your brew.

[@tibiamademedoit6486]

preach!

[@BasedDeckDept]

*starts chant* Melek, Melek, Melek!

[@phyxius117]

how would you build this with $100 budget?

[@BasedDeckDept]

Probably not that much difference. Probably a better mana base

[@sebostar123]

Monolithic commander but based deck regardless

[@blaineodell7195]

Can you do a deck for Nadu, Winged Wisdom?

[@BasedDeckDept]

Maaaaaaybe. I think the challenge there would be, how to play Nadu and not have the table hate you because of the boring play pattern and long turns, but that could be a fun challenge in itself. I'll see if I can work some magic

[@sir_quirkus7206]

this didnt age well lmao

[@BasedDeckDept]

@@sir_quirkus7206 I did indeed, not work any magic. Nadu was cursed from the start

[@danielharrison2383]

did i mishear? i thought you said there were no other creatures.

[@BasedDeckDept]

Good catch. I have since realized my mana rock creature error :D Melek does however hold down the fort all by himself 😁

[@TheDevonshireMint]

​@@BasedDeckDept But what about the 2 that are in your mana rocks section XD

[@danielharrison2383]

@@TheDevonshireMint that's what I was thinking about

[@TheDevonshireMint]

@@danielharrison2383 I know..lol

[@BasedDeckDept]

Hahahahaha. You're right. I didn't even think of them as creatures. I stand corrected

[@bossibozz3528]

I am very much missing mdfc cards and cycling cards. Boon of the wish giver is amazing to cycle early to have smth for meleks power or later to draw 4. My list might interest you. archidekt.com/decks/7671186/melek_reforged_researcher

[@BasedDeckDept]

Interesting point with the MDFC's especially with the MH3 additions.