Nikya of the Old Ways | EDH Budget Deck Tech $25 | Aggro | Magic the Gathering | Commander

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Just a heads up, apologies for any late responses this week/weekend. I am out of the country on vacation and have limited access to wifi. Hope you enjoy the deck techs!

[@nerfprate]

Where's signed wayfairer's bauble?

[@pkphantom]

Don't forget to take some pics of them dolphins you're swimming with, lol

[@tamilazzaro2145]

Have a great vacation!

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

@@tamilazzaro2145 Thanks!

[@MrSdannyc]

Where is the best place to put requests for a specific commander deck idea? I'm really interested in a start Oona or Phenax deck. Kinda want to control and mill my friends into oblivion.

[@planpunnarit]

i recommend Archetype of Endurance it will give creatures you control hexproof it's about $2-3

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

A fantastic reasonable upgrade!

[@izzyjin8013]

Magus of the candelabra is truly an underrated card.

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Indeed it is!

[@bobbyfasciano4137]

I love the fact you decided to include no noncreature spells! Others made the deck with a limited amount, but this feels way better.

[@MPlabert]

If you want to have really much fun and find about 10 bucks. Go buy Vorinclex. If I understand it right this commaner and vorinclex both double up your mana. So one basic forest should produce you about 4 mana. Sounds fun to me

[@edgarmarques97]

I've been lurking for a while and I have to say, this is probably my favourite Magic the Gathering channel. As someone who only has a passing interest for the game it's so nice that you don't just name drop the card and expect us to know what it does unlike most channels even tho you have explained Fertilid a lot on this series.

[@jaansindeaux9864]

I LOVE GRUUL SINCE I STARTED ON MAGIC AND INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH NIKYA WHEN SHE WAS SPOILED ❤❤❤

[@christopherhepler1892]

Anger, sabertooth, and magus of the candelabra makes infinite mana with the right starting mana

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Indeed!

[@Bradcliffe99]

This was the first Commander deck I made and I've made some upgrades since having it and I gotta say, Nikya is still my favorite Commander

[@Loekieloek14]

I am still voting for a Vaevictus Asmadi "break the bank" episode! Great video as always!

[@coltonhargrove7355]

I wish I could like this more than once.

[@thestanimal6076]

Yaaaas

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Would be a fun one for sure!

[@Megabit12]

I would recommend a void winnower as an upgrade. Or if you really want some fun run a high market/Miren, the moaning well, dosan the falling leaf and primal surge. Tap the mana(except the sacrifice lands), sac Nikya and primal surge your entire deck with extra combat steps to win.

[@crovax1375]

With all of the land tutors and ramp in this deck Panglacial Wurm could be a nice addition

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Definitely something to consider!

[@cobainharris8134]

I built tjis from the deck list and made a few changes. I personaly love this deck. Nikya is a fairly unique Comander and can be terrifying if you don't keep her board under controll. Thank you for helping me be lil timmy and still win

[@jaybradford7857]

Pulled this one as a promo for prerelease. May have to put this one together to play some stompy fun!!! Rhythm of the Wild seems like a must if you are running no answers for counterspells.

[@brandoncreek5709]

Man, Nikya really reminds me of when I first got into Magic. It was when Return to Ravnica/Gatecrash was releasing and I just played huge red and green creatures to burn and smash face! Definitely gonna be building around her for that sweet sweet Gruul nostalgia.

[@Skullgrin.]

Ruric Thar's the Golden Pig? Dang, I've been using him as a Commander this whole time!

[@drengol]

Awesome timing! I just got a foil Nikya in the draft I did last night and started to build my deck when I got home. I love the build especially the ways to protect Nikya and having Kamahl, Fist of Krosa as an answer to board wipes is great.

[@moyabers9351]

One card from my collection I added that is literally, as mel from the command zone would say, “player removal.” The card is deathforge shaman and it is 4 and a red for a 4/3. It reads multikicker for one red When deathfore shaman enters the battlefield, it deals damage to target player equal to twice the number of times it was kicked. So basically if you have nikya out and let’s say you have 8 lands which is easy to get to in commander that generates 16 mana. That leads 11 for the kicker effect assuming you can produce enough red. My deck has more red than green so it’s easy for mine. That mana deals 22 damage to target player and by turn 7 or so when you would have 8 lands you have already beat someone down enough where this could be lethal. Plus goblin bannerat can deal a huge amount of damage especially if you get nikya out by turn 3-4. It’s a one red for a 1/1 but it read Mentor (which is cool but not that useful as the creatures in the deck are big enough as it is but it’s nice) 1 (red) gets +2/+0 until end of turn I was able to get nikya out on turn three and the goblin dealt 9 damage turn four when the opposing deck had no creatures out yet

[@Rangersly]

Cool! I was in the process of building a Nikya of the Old Ways commander deck when I saw this videos. Got tons of great budget ideas from this. Thank you!

[@tobyklase8179]

Decimator of Provinces and Mockery of Nature are nice includes. They both trigger on casting which is great vs countermagic and anti etb effects. Nissa Vastwood Seer is a good 3 drop that flips into a potential wincon. Awesome tech as always.

[@phyrexian_dude4645]

I would put these too there: - Siege Behemoth, he attacks and all your other creatures become Thorn Elementals. Good finisher, cheap to buy and it has hexproof. Downside it is a 7/4 and that low resistance might become a problem but you usually use it to finish off someone. - Deus of Calamity, trample 6/6 for 6 not too impressive but the 2nd ability of destroying lands if it deals 6 damage its way too good to ignore. It also becomes a must block creature, so you either have more room to do more damage or break lands when you put it early in game. - Dragonlair Spider, this bastard is insane in a multiplayer game. Every time and opponents cast anything you create a 1/1 insect. Some might say "pff, its just a 1/1", it is but before its your turn you could have a crap ton. So you either have a ton of blockers or an army to finish someone.

[@donatelloteer5255]

Even after sometime later it's always fun to watch and even play these decks! Quick question though, for the reasonable upgrades what would you take out for them? I always have trouble figuring that one out.

[@larsandersland851]

An excellent upgrade would be Ulvenwald Hydra (~$4.50). It's a hydra, it scales with the number of lands you control, and it even helps you ramp a little! I run it in a Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar deck.

[@magicalmusketeershadow1153]

Thank you for this. I love it. Gruul is one of my favorite guilds. and Ive been wanting to see one of these decks

[@Drewbe821]

I've been meaning to make a solid Gruul deck. This deck seems about right.

[@sonofchlar6144]

I built this deck and have the same mind set of not having any non creature spells... except one... PRIMAL SURGE!!! Literally you can cast your entire deck and as long as you have at least a single card that gives your creatures haste, you can swing with EVERYTHING!!!

[@Gorilla_MTG]

I know this is an older video but I just built a Dragon deck around this commander, can't wait to see it in action.

[@RyeFields]

Honestly, with how amazing the content is on this channel, I might become a general tier just to keep it going strong

[@joshuabenedict1072]

It's also fun to use blood rush to spring some unexpected combat tricks on opponents.

[@gideonbohn5940]

I forget which kozilek it is, but there's one that lets you discard a card to counter a spell, as long as they share a cmc. Combine that with kessig cagebreakers, and even creatures in your grave still become useful.

[@FyreMagyk67]

Archetype of Endurance would be a good inclusion in this deck to help protect your board!

[@KingQuark27]

Still waiting for the Saskia Humans Aggro/Tribal :). SO much love and appreciation for your work. My playgroup starts to look like a playlist of you deck techs...

[@MaxStache]

I would love to see The Haunt of Hightower! I got him as a promo and would like to see what you'd do with him!

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Would be a fun one!

[@kaboomeow]

I love what you do here! Could I suggest Grenzo, Dungeon Warden as a budget commander? I built him myself a year or so ago, and I feel like he could definitely be done for $25 while being focused, different, and fun.

[@Mordalon]

I’m interested in seeing Commanders from Time Spiral block. Not all would make the best Commanders, but some are neat, like Kaervek.

[@emeraldragon1984]

This deck strongly evokes my inner Timmy :D

[@andreusemanuel4868]

Two gruul commanders in a row? Perfect!! I would love to see Wort, the raidmother too.

[@Frank-py3hk]

Another excellent piece. Going downstairs to start gathering my pieces for this one right now.

[@supernoodles908]

Tbf I was thinking about building this this deck for some fun so thanks for some ideas :) But nothing would beat a $100 brudiclad deck tech ;)

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Of course nothing could haha

[@mrsilverbutton7786]

Great build! I'm on the side to have some non-creature support to allow Nikya the flexibility in case she eats removal (Like the beautiful magnet she is) and utilize her mana ability as gravy.

[@FyreMagyk67]

I agree. Having something like Zendikar Resurgent as a back up is nice to have and you get card draw too!

[@chriscarr1113]

I have watched the video and its great but for the reasonable upgrades it only recommends two cards being replaced. What about for the other four: Kamahl, Fist of Krosa, Pathbreaker Ibex, Spearbreaker Behemoth, and Thunderfoot Baloth? Thank you.

[@DJVinyl]

Creatures with a lot of activated abilties is also good to focus around

[@salgutierrez4710]

10/10 would run Archetype of Endurance here

[@andreazoccatelli8912]

Another great deck tech! Now i will wait for a Nath of the Gilt Leaf deck tech, one of my favorite commanders!

[@nadirelyaddasse3837]

I got the notification while watching the Yargle Episode! 😂

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Haha too funny!

[@benrichardson5662]

Ruric-Thar loves Nullstone Gargoyle, because Ruric-Thar doesn't care if a non-creature spell resolves, merely that it's cast. With those two you need to eat 12 damage in order to kill either with a non-creature.

[@the.figure.hokage]

I'd like to see a budget Kresh, the Bloodbraided deck. He was my first commander and I'm dying to remake him. Also, I'll be using this deck list for the budget commander league at a shop! Thank you!

[@alexanderalicea7857]

Is it possible that for the reasonable upgrades, you say which card to switch it out for?

[@Cherryflavoredgrape]

He's said before that the cards you add and remove depend heavily on the meta of your playgroup. But I wouldn't mind hearing what he would remove given his playgroup's meta I suppose.

[@Deris76]

I'd remove the bane gada *insert rest of the name, forgot it*. 5 toughness really is low, and there are so many good high cost cards that I don't feel like this one is good enough. I'd also cut savageborn hydra If you can't effectively give it trample. It's a lot of invested mana into something that'll potentially be blocked forever. Finally, I'd cut keeper of progenitus. Making 2x the mana certainly is fun, but many people doing the same certainly isn't. I tend to avoid those abilities unless they Really benefits the deck, which in this case, doesn't feel like it

[@draxis91]

@@Deris76 there's multiple cards that just give anything with a +1/+1 counter trample Crowned Ceratok being an amazing one.

[@Thomas-vn6cr]

I would reccomend Spitebellows as a creature version of a burn spell for this deck!

[@timkornes7242]

Thx fo building this deck I had a nearly as same deck idea now I know what I have to buy to finish it Thx great deck

[@manuelito1233]

I feel like what's great about Gruul is that the commander seems so interchangeable, but at the same time, that's their biggest weakness, all creature based shenanigans.

[@xakuyer]

Check out Wort the raidmother then

[@manuelito1233]

@@xakuyer o shit green red spell slingers

[@xakuyer]

@@manuelito1233 still some creatures but less Gruul smash

[@johannpohland2826]

Hallar the firefletcher

[@Marocax]

Mitch ... great deck. I will build it for sure.

[@v3pic]

I'll probably make this to finally have a deck with red in it. Personally throwing in Hydra Broodmaster because of how well it works with Pathbreaker Ibex and other overrun-likes

[@saturnacevedo]

You're making it so hard for me to decide whether to build Nikya or Radha! Maybe even upgrade Animar!

[@BacchusGames]

I can see why ruric thar is so good in this deck. I haven't played a game where ruric was casted and they haven't won the game. It's so notably oppressive against a majority of decks.

[@10shadowhunter01]

Times i play ruric thar someone sacrifices himself to get rid of ruric thar. So that the rest of the group can kill me. It's beautiful to see the fear and politics.

[@fieldy409]

I feel like a whole lot of old Ruric Thar decks must have had that guy chucked in the 99 and replaced by Nikya as commander.

[@victorstaniszewski1882]

@@fieldy409 yes, that's my plan. Ruric gets me targeted in my playgroup.

[@halla1rw]

I have a Gruul modern deck, and it ran Rurric Thar for the last few years. I could drop it turn 3, and on turn 4 put a Runes of the Deux on it and swing for 16 damage. Unless you're packing Turn and Burn, basically the game was mine lol. I've since changed the deck though to Centaurs mainly, while still keeping the majority of the deck intact.

[@seanedgar164]

1 removal spell and 6 damage is pretty bad but better in the long run. Idk how it sticks around long enough in your group, well done

[@deusexcalibur6425]

Out of curiosity, do you think it would be possible to run a Budget Kaalia deck (excluding Kaalia)? If so, are there any cards you'd recommend?

[@garrettwhite0051]

silumgar the drifting death deck? seems like a card whose effect you might like to play with? also would love to see how to put it in a budget deck

[@josemanuelpalma3582]

I’d recommend lumberknot in case of any boardwipes

[@jakeshively5268]

I'm surprised to not see Balefire Dragon for the upgrades. It's gone down since Ultimate Masters, and a flying board wipe is never bad.

[@Mattador666]

It's probably too tall of an order but it would be nice to see a budget Lord Windgrace deck. Even if it is a break the bank episode that would be ok too. Seems like every deck list I find it's expensive.

[@samr3468]

As I watch this I'm thinking about my ruric thar creature only deck and how the commander would be lovely to put in and then the golden pig happens

[@ExtremeRulesChamp]

I want to see a Break the Bank of this deck! It looKs awesome already!

[@rionnachelliot8951]

Craterhoof Behemoth costs a pretty penny (about 26 dollars market) but it would be a finisher for sure in this kind of deck.

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Absolutely!

[@dylanrees2966]

Hello, I just had an idea As hard as it is to create a truly optimised deck for $25 I think that if Mizzix, of the Izmagnis is so powerful that you could actual build a focused deck around him.

[@fdragon77fk]

what do you think about genesis to get back your dead creatures? not sure how expensive it is but its along the same lines at least effect wise as anger and brawn

[@pkphantom]

I've been waiting for this moment ever since Niky was revealed...IT IS TIME MY GRUULIAN COMRADES! On a less fanboy note, I don't think she's as dominating as Xenagos is in terms of impact to the overall game, but she almost IMMEDIATELY went into the 99 for me. Just because once she's out, there's nothing protecting her from removal until the next turn IF you have protection in your hand. Xena just wins so hard because he's indestructible on top of his ability. But still, I'd play this deck. Hell, I think I have most of these cards already 😂

[@tiredguy709]

Could you make a Samut deck? I am stumped as to which way to go especially considering the possibilities in Naya

[@jesterstinger]

One of my favorites

[@MrGelflin]

Doesnt heartwood story teller fit great as an affordable reccomendation? He rewards you if others play noncreature spells and doesn’t effect yourself in this deck.

[@gimmickaccount650]

Why is goreclaw not in the deck?

[@HiroZeroVirus]

aww man no omnath love? locus of mana would get super big, and rage could go super wide, with an absolute punish for board wipes or murders. good tech tho! i like to see quirky decks like "only creatures" and stuff like that!

[@EvanYoungMusic]

The eldrazi titans are good to add in this... I would do it if I didn't already have a colorless eldrazi tribal deck...

[@oldschoolginger]

I don't think I've ever seen you put Medicine Bag in a deck. 3 cost artifact pay 1 tap and discard a card regenerate target creature. Saw it as low as 8 cents on TCG

[@Hitzel]

He used it in Muldrotha at least

[@crap1521]

Do you think you could do a Firesong and sunspeaker deck? I’ve been playing the deck on untap.in and I love it. Unfortunately, I can’t find any good budget decks for it. I love the style of the deck: boros spellslingers. Sadly, I can’t afford to support you on Patreon. Here to hoping one day I can support you and you can make the deck!

[@raimundopilotto2675]

I have a similar deck, but with Ruric Thar as the commander. it's just to much fun

[@jstrobel3620]

Hey! Can you do a glissa the traitor deck? That would be awesome!

[@puzzleybearded3977]

I love the sound of this deck but I would really love to see a deck built with the golden pig of this deck.

[@jeloomis]

REALLY torn between this and the Grand Warlord Radha deck you posted a couple days ago...

[@touriangar]

Can you do a Thraximundar EDH? I'm really curious about this CMD

[@MisanthropeMurphy]

We need a 4th break the bank so we can have 4 decks pseudo balanced to play against each other 🙌🏻

[@elliotthood1719]

Primal surge!

[@Jonzin4BeatzNYC]

Rhonas! Seems like a decent upgrade choice

[@TheJahtucker]

Especially the new Rhonas coming out :)

[@KS-ui4hi]

Would like to see a captian sisay budget deck

[@cinderd.8913]

Can you do Wasitora Edh?

[@BigDavo75]

Yes this one would be nice to see. Cat Dragons!

[@Kaploy8]

Please, I really want to see your take on Mathas, Fiend Seeker!

[@DimT670]

How does this fight against counters, which are a big issue in my playgroup at the moment

[@franka337]

As always, great video. How about a prossh deck?????

[@jaredlaws9875]

Have you thought about any of the partner commanders?

[@conradtremblay2525]

Maybe toss in colossus of arkas, 10/10 Indi with another 10 Mana to make it a 20/20 beatstick

[@addambarcelos]

awesome deck. this and jumbo's deck is giving me ideas to upgrade my mina and denn deck xD. btw, no naya panorama?

[@yoricktop8649]

Awesome deck, but wood elves doesn't put the land into play tapped

[@pkphantom]

Break the bank, break the BANK, BREAK THE BANK! 😂

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

Would be a fun one! Maybe in the future!

[@GlenGoesOutdoors]

@@TheCommandersQuarters Pssst.... It's the future! DO EEEET. Please, and thank you. :)

[@wpmer]

The people that dislike this video are counter-magic players. Me smart. Me stop what you do.

[@vincevigil8933]

great video brother as always. i have not got this card yet but i can't wait to pull it.😎🤗keep up the great work man

[@Cylon963]

It’s all gruul!😎🌳🔥

[@igdebubwe4521]

Do atogatog please

[@kekleon-Gamer]

Primal Surge would be great in this deck if you were willing to run a sjngle nonpermanent.

[@todeswalzer123]

Please do a Cao Cao, Lord of Wei I would love to see older cards as commanders Amazing channel btw, you made 8 of my friends (myself included) spend too much money on MTG hahah

[@adamblackwelder9202]

Would the ramp and concept for this deck also work as a basis for a Hydra tribal deck?

[@TheCommandersQuarters]

You definitely could go that way with it!

[@lawfullyblind8403]

How do you keep her alive? She has to untap to do anything.