Xenagos, God of Revels | Upping the Average

[@BornFromEmbers]

Wow, I just made a Xenagos deck about a week ago. What are the odds? Nice to see some upgrades and fixes I could make.

[@tserrofz9]

As a Xenagos player I enjoyed this.

[@Ithalica]

Same here. My first deck, still a favourite :)

[@Shadowof1ife]

I made one xenagos deck I got a lot of hate for making it

[@kingcannonade7282]

@@Shadowof1ife same my friends always made deals to get me out once I got xenagos casted just because of how aggressive xenagos is 🤷, still had alot of fun though.

[@Shadowof1ife]

@@kingcannonade7282 it’s an equipment that was tad crazy

[@kingcannonade7282]

@@Shadowof1ife share your wisdom

[@caseywellington4761]

Godo + Embercleave sounds like a TON of fun!

[@brandoncreek5709]

It's pretty nasty (and awesome!). Get Xenny out by turn 3, then next turn slam a Godo to make someone very sad lol

[@flame7407]

@@brandoncreek5709 no if your going to add godo get helm of the host then put it on Scourge of the Throne

[@flame7407]

now we talking about extra attack stpes add um Shrine Steward for to get bear umbra and put it on hellkite charger and away you can get this out for 4 mana is Defense of the Heart and if its to risky to have it out witrh that but if no one as counter spell so it would get removed but if you add Final Fortune then you win on the spot with this combo

[@flame7407]

even tooth and nail will do the trick

[@geekmp3]

Still one of my favorite decks. ALL HAIL XENA-GOD

[@jackbulson3950]

Released this at the perfect time for me! Thank you for the video Joey!

[@brandoncreek5709]

YESSS THANK YOU JOEY!! Thank you for doing my favorite commander!!

[@tavitalvensaari6355]

Dense Foliage, given a sufficient build, allows fight effects to resign supreme. This has allowed me to control the boardstates of my opponents whilst mine remains intangible. Butcher Orgg is also fantastic for obvious reasons.

[@Frank-py3hk]

Always a pleasure to hear Joseph go through the process on these.

[@thetogtube2]

XENA-BROS !!! my second deck ever... LOVE IT!

[@DraculaRising]

As a Xenogos player good video and liked some of the recommendations.

[@evebroun6170]

Great suggestions, have had a Xenagos deck for years that has fallen out of favor, will definitely try the godo cleave combo!

[@brandoncreek5709]

It's nasty. Probably the single best addition I've made to the deck in recent memory.

[@MarkN071179]

As a recommendation, Id realy like to see a Upping the Average of Nikya of the Old Ways.

[@kingfuzzy2]

Me too thanks it's one of the few gruul commanders I like.

[@WUBRGer_King]

Well done on the les mis dad joke. Was not expecting that even a little bit.

[@WUBRGer_King]

OMG i just realized why Joey is wearing a frat boy shirt

[@theodorealkro3583]

Thanks so much for this video! The deck is great, but I feel like the triple damage with 'Fiery Emancipation' will work SO WELL with Xenagos.

[@erubin100]

problem is its a 6cmc do-nothing enchantment, which can be hard to get out along with a big creature.

[@davidrosenberg9615]

I am a Xenagos player and a Les Miz fan. That was amazing.

[@ankhma5349]

Awesome video! Would love if you could do an Upping the Average for Tasigur, the Golden Fang. Would love to build it and get some pointers. Keep up the good work!!

[@facehill72]

The only true God 🙏 if you play any other God deck I'm going after you 👊

[@zizthesin]

Praise esika, goddess of the tree

[@brandoncreek5709]

I give my devotion to the party god!

[@RealClassixX]

Does it count if my Athreos, Shroud Veiled deck steals your Xenagos for itself?

[@tink417]

Always enjoy your content!

[@AxillaryPower2]

So, I've been playing Xenagos for years, And if there's one cut and addition that I disagree with, it's Stoionic Resonater and Blood Mist. There's many many games I've played where Blood Mist sits in the hand because I usually just have something better to do for 4 mana; like you said, cards that just make big things hit harder without trample or evasion isn't worth it. Instead, I'd keep that Stoionic Resonater in. Unlike Bloodmist, it's 4 mana cost can be split across turns, which makes a huge difference. And sometimes, Resonater is going to copy something other than Xenagos, like rec sage, or other etb, making it much more flexible, while still delivering the same punch blood mist would have.

[@brandoncreek5709]

Resonator wouldn't be able to target Xenagos at all. I sort of agree, but I find both are pretty underwhelming overall, at least in my experience. I really wanted to like resonator, but too many times it just felt like I didn't need it, or it didn't do as much as I expected.

[@AxillaryPower2]

@@brandoncreek5709 by "copy Xenagos", I meant Xenagos' trigged ability. Regardless, I agree that both are underwhelming, just that Resonater *sometimes* did something while Bloodmist *never* did anything. But as I gradually increase the budget of my deck, Resonater is slowly approaching the cutting block.

[@brandoncreek5709]

@@AxillaryPower2 Fair. I desperately wanted it and mage slayer to work more reliably than they ended up doing.

[@vivecanada1]

If you are scared of fog effects, can I suggest questing beast? If you have your own Maze of ith in play you can even kill things with it freely.

[@brandoncreek5709]

Also why Malignus is so good. Fog, or Glacial Chasm? I don't think so.

[@samoumek801]

I like Breath of fury. An aura that gives extra combat if you deal combat damage with a creature and than sacrifice it. It goes "infinite" with quartzwood crasher or giant adephage and a random creature that can get through. It's a janky combo, but it catches people off guard

[@brandoncreek5709]

Love this.

[@philvess6376]

One SUPER effective creature I do NOT see in this list is Carnage Tyrant, I would have a playset in my Xenagos if I could. World at War is also a great card with this deck.

[@brandoncreek5709]

CT is definitely a fun one. I used to have it in there but ended up swapping it out. It does give a beating though.

[@adamhall1340]

Elemental resonance is my pet card in this deck. Absolutely incredible if you can get it out on Xenagos early or on curve.

[@mofomiko]

aint that a bit tough to pull of, since the double pip helps with devotion?

[@adamhall1340]

@@mofomiko meh, it enchants a permanent then even when he's a creature he's still indestructible. I have since taken the card out of the deck. It's good by 2 years ago standard, it's been power crept out.

[@mofomiko]

@@adamhall1340 well, sad to hear - but i think it might still be playable, since you are mana positive after playing it. im still tweaking my decklist before finally commiting and buying Xenagos, do you have a decklist?

[@robaphone251]

certainly not an optimized option or anything, but I like Phytotitan for a deck with Power Matters draw spells. A simple 7/2 which comes back (unfortunately tapped) at the beginning of your upkeep if it dies can mean your return of the wildspeaker can actually still help you recover after a board wipe. (also only like $0.30, so ultra budget)

[@brandoncreek5709]

Best part about Xenagos is that you can just use your favorite big tramply creatures you have lying around and the deck will still kill people.

[@gangrel1234]

Joey! Thanks so much, i couldnt get a good xenagos (for my with) together, so intried converting it into a ghired, but i feel like xenagos is so much more fun...please make a ghired upping the avarage or Just Tell me, ghired isnt worth it and i should rebuild it into xenagos :_D

[@plain6677]

Yes! Xanagos is the quintessence of EDH, and I don’t think you’ll find anyone salty losing to it

[@Malverde888]

I like running Crimson Fleet Commodore, it’s like 2 cents, tramples for at least 10 with Xenyboy and makes you the Monarch, adding an extra fun factor.

[@Hunterwelshwild143]

Please do an upping the average on Preston the vanisher!

[@watsondontaable]

I have run powerful 4 drops mostly for about two years and hitting for 8-10 is a pretty reliable strategy

[@elesegerardo]

I’ll def add Godo and Embercleave. Nice synergy!

[@brandoncreek5709]

Yeah, it's disgusting how brutal it can be. They're some of the absolute best cards I've added in a long time.

[@seanbrown2201]

Tahngarth would be a good swap in candidate, since you can pass him to opponents to deal the damage instead of you. And he's dirt cheap.

[@zackkelley2940]

Might I suggest adding Xenagos, the Reveler? It's +1 is a red/green Gaea's Cradle effect, It's 0 Makes a 2/2 Satyr w/ haste, and it's Ultimate can potentially drop up to 6 creatures/lands onto the battlefield.

[@pixelbomb97]

Dense Foliage also turns off rancor right?

[@RedCometNurse]

Have you done Elsha of the Infinite before?

[@stevenh6366]

Lurking predators. Huge card for my xenagos deck. great way to cheat in any of those big creatures. and typically by the time you play the enchantment, opponents play about 4-7 spells in a round of turns. giving 4-7 triggers to hit creatures.

[@brandoncreek5709]

Really fun one. I used to run it in Gishath but I may try it out again cause it can lead to some really silly board states.

[@zombiebacon837]

Haha I've turn 3ed some one with Phyrexian Hydra...he was pissed.but he was playing mass land destruction so I didn't feel bad.

[@tysonperna8844]

you were doing the lord's work

[@brandoncreek5709]

Lol I've definitely been there before. Malignus and PH are some of the funniest cards to drop on unsuspecting players.

[@bt5087]

Gotta be my favorite deck i have. Tuned to 1 shot people consistently... not many people in my play group like it. Games are "over too quick"

[@brandoncreek5709]

I've been there, man. My friend who just started playing commander says Xenagos is too OP because he can one shot people... but I'm like "Dude, you have nooooo idea."

[@axeraider21]

Would love to see a Reyhan and Ishai upping the average! I’m building them and the input would be A1!!!

[@nasaya77]

I think Powerstone Shard should be in more Osgir, the Reconstructor decks.

[@austinius2878]

Awesome video. Can you do Gyome, Master Chef next? He's too flavorful not to do a video on!

[@ToxicAtom]

if you like Blood Mist, why not try out Samut, the Tested beside it? Does more or less the same thing while also building towards finding your two biggest beasts in the process. I love it.

[@arogers279709]

this deck is screaming for me to build it and to swap out the expensive stuff for something like Lurking predator's, Rhona's Monument, Vivien Champion of the wild and get the Ultra pro Gruul Sleeves

[@kingfuzzy2]

Realm seekers is so broken I run it in my volo deck and playing it convinced me that it is super underplayed.

[@aurabullet4128]

Dense Foliage will also turn off the Rancor we are adding. But 3 cards is still not awful.

[@danielscully449]

I think Rhythm of the Wild is used more for the haste ability than the uncounterablility (at least that's why I include it)

[@woola7895]

But xenagos gives haste already?

[@Numero80]

Man, I really like your perspective on the politics of the game. I wonder if a "(near) creature only" deck would be a good option (with only spells that mass remove enchants/artifacts)!

[@alexandrefiset9184]

This video is nice. I see a lot of card for my grumgully stompy deck maybe i will switch to xenagos. And I have a question. Are we gonna se an upping the average on Jodah in the future?

[@TheMaskedHero]

Excellent, I very much prefer looking at older legends.

[@jonram6009]

Xenagos was my second commander and still does well

[@brandoncreek5709]

Same, he was my second commander and still my all time favorite.

[@jonram6009]

@@brandoncreek5709 just added a blightsteel to the deck haha

[@brandoncreek5709]

@@jonram6009 Lol nice! I actually just took mine out for Phyrexian Hydra lol

[@jonram6009]

@@brandoncreek5709 haha I actually took out my hydra

[@jonram6009]

@@brandoncreek5709 party god always does well on the table. My friends love to see him but hate to die by his monsters lol

[@cbn_42]

Thank you for answering my request for Xenagos =)

[@Samonosuke]

Hey Joey! Any chance we could get an upping the average for Yarok? I miss playing my boi and was looking to rebuild him but wanted to see what you think of some important includes for it.

[@Interrobang212]

Rancor is a suuuuuuuper good addition. It was literally the first nonland card I put in my Toski deck. Edit: ok I'm also going to slam Haunted cloak in there somehow wow.

[@brandoncreek5709]

I can't believe I slept on Rancor so much. It's the perfect card for this deck!

[@Maigus224]

This just reminds me there have been no GR precons.

[@TalonOfoalain]

Huh, I hadn't noticed but you're right. We'll probably get a werewolf one once we get to Innistrad.

[@nickolasmartins4705]

Could you make a surrak video? I rely would like some tips

[@scottricks1676]

yo dense foliage is a sweet call out!

[@emmkestrel442]

my brain probably likes this better than it should but temur battle rage seems pretty good in this deck

[@brandoncreek5709]

Run it, it MURDERS people. I ran it in mine for the longest time and it catches people off guard so bad

[@Wistbacka]

Lol, I havent looked up any other decklist when I made my xenagos, but damn I have a lot of the same cards listed in the average deck.

[@followthepogo]

Plz let’s do a Varina lich queen! Plz plz!

[@kyojitakenouchi9706]

The after after party at twitch dot TV slash edhreccast dot com?

[@jamesmarkham7489]

Primal rage is a fantastic trample effect.

[@kriptonite981]

XENAGOD!!!!

[@bedwarssweat6205]

Wilderness elemental is the ultimate cheap enabler for your creature based card draw

[@vikeshpatel5313]

You guys should do Samut

[@avista1521]

Very cool

[@kingcherubix7064]

If you wanna be REALLY mean then a bane of bala ged and ulamogs crusher is dumb in a xenagos deck

[@derekmills3214]

We need a Breya upping bthe average!!!

[@Shadowof1ife]

I made one and got a lot of hate for dropping free creatures once in awhile

[@flame7407]

then we need stuff to not get counter so i think these 2 will do nicely Rhythm of the Wild Destiny Spinner

[@unstable7505]

You should try Otrimi. He is surprisingly really fun for a mutate creature lol

[@BozzLightyr]

Hey do you think you could do a gitrog monster upping the average?

[@flame7407]

i think gruul signet should be in the deck because if of this lets say the land is a mountain turn 1 soul ring tap soul ring for gruul signet thats 4 mana turn 1 and xenagos out by turn 2

[@flame7407]

now since we gotr this idea in lets add some fast mana to get him out by turn 1 and turn 4 with the fast mana you can attack soon as possple and kill someone turn 2 btw turn 4 if not the hale table

[@flame7407]

so jeweled lotus turn 1 with mana crypt into gruul signet then tap a land to tap gruul singed and boom turn 1 xenagos for exsample

[@flame7407]

then unnatural grouth will buff everything so for exspample if you have 12 6/6es they all become power 12 then that would Triger xenagos then you have 24 then you can use Strionic Resonator to use xenagos again then will use Manifold Key to use xenagos not twice but 3 times for more deadly Fiery Emancipation give everything double strike

[@flame7407]

so lets do the math 6/6 turns to 12/12 form the unnnatual then xenagos 24 and the 24 turns into 48 to 96 before double strike and before triple damage

[@flame7407]

so that's all together almost 400 damage

[@PurpleTentacle17]

Atla Palani maybe?

[@chadtidwell4064]

I feel like Brash Taunter would be such a good addition to any Xenagos build but never see it in lists. Let Xenagos buff the shit out of a big bad........then have said big bad fight Brash Taunter afterwards while still on the juice and then fling that damage for the kill shot. :)

[@MrPFMneto]

Probably too slow as Brash Taunter costs 5 and its ability costs another 3 mana and he must have haste in order to tap on the same turn.

[@unforgivable6164]

I love this idea it’s going in my deck.

[@brianokafor9748]

Zada hedron grinder please!!!!!!

[@JonathanHecht]

my only disagreement is with rhythm of the wilds, having at least 1 anti counterspell card is recommended as long as your meta has people playing blue

[@brandoncreek5709]

Yeah he said it was a meta call, but I do agree that Rhythm of the Wild is a great card. The only problem is that every time I play it, it barely ever matters in terms of blocking counterspells. I play in a heavy blue meta, and like Joey said, I barely have my creatures countered. Usually they just get killed or exiled on the spot, and they save the counterspells for someone's combo piece, or a problem enchantment that a Path to Exile can't hit.

[@jorgemendieta8085]

Aggressive Mammoth is a 8/8 for 6 cmc that gives all creatures trample, pretty good I say. tappedout.net/mtg-decks/08-04-20-xenagos-edh/

[@Shadowof1ife]

I also got the banned hammer by 4 people

[@crawdaddy1234]

Deck-orations...

[@RowanHeartwood]

Jesus man. That pun ruined my day.

[@psychozen7169]

I keep looking at this commander and I just can't. Because well it just seems super mean.

[@cinderheart2720]

I think Xenagos also loves the mana dorks because, unlike artifact mana ramp, they contribute to Devotion.

[@ygaudreault]

I have been playing Xenagos for years, one of the best creatures in my opinion is Pathbreaker Ibex. Works really well with dorks. Also, creatures who give extra combat and untap work really well with dorks (extra mana) and xenagos.

[@Turn2Ugin]

You rarely want Xenagos to be a creature though, because then he becomes very susceptible to removal like Swords to Plowshares

[@Stray7]

@@Turn2Ugin Yeah, I find myself cutting back on mana dorks and going for land-based ramp for that very reason. Also because my Xenagod deck is focused on putting creatures from my deck directly on to the battlefield, which works better when I'm not hitting mana dorks or other utility creatures off those effect.

[@boneheadcycler1412]

@@Stray7 I think the reason Xenagos likes dorks is because a T1 dork enables T2 cultivate (or any other 2-3 mana ramp), which leads to T3 Xenagos.

[@DraculaRising]

All the times if played Xenogos I’ve never cared if he was a creature

[@erubin100]

Disagree about removing ALL the anti-counter stuff. What you fail to remember is that Xenagos is HIMSELF A CREATURE SPELL, and opponents will try to counter it! Would keep at least one or two just in case.

[@KeroTheInvincible]

Joseph, this was a good video. Unfortunately, I am obligated to give a dislike, solely for the sin against man that was that Les Mis pun.

[@MrReatardsRus]

If you are gonna run Godo you might as well run Helm of the Host for the infinite combo.

[@brandoncreek5709]

Gonna disagree with this one. We already have Ventmaw+Assault for infinites, and Helm is a really clunky card when it's not paired specifically with Godo. Embercleave is kind of the same, but it offers a lot more benefit to more than just Godo. Drawing Cleave before godo feels really bad, but worst case scenario you can just put it on something else to make it hit insanely hard. Good card, but unnecessary for this deck IMO

[@bralex310]

What about Zopandrel and Sneak attack

[@Sdizzle7]

My 2060 damage turn 4, xenegos game. T1) Mana crypt, Taiga, Combat celebrant, T2) mountain, Jeweled Lotus, sneak attack T3) mountain, Cast Xenegos ~Opponent Wheel of Fortune~ T4) Play kessig wolf run -Sneak attack in Worldspine Worm, Pathbreaker Ibex, Old Gnawbone -Trigger Xenegos on Worldspine making 30/30 trample, Move to combat Exerting Combat Celebrant giving me a second combat, and Triggering Pathbreaker Ibex to make all +30/+30 -Worldspine hits (60) Old Gnawbone hits (37) Combat Celebrant hits (34) Pathbreaker Ibex hits (33) -Old gnawbone creates 164 treasure tokens. Sacing 164 tokens to give Worldspine +162 from kessig wolf run, Making Worldspine worm 224/60, Moving to second combat from Exerting combat celebrant. I double Worldspine worm with Xenegos to make him 448 Power and pathbreaker ibex giving everyone +448/+448 and trample. All hit second combat for 1896. First combat was 164 damage = 2060 damage turn 4.

[@Circular_Square]

1 out of 3 colours of Ghave, you're almost there Joey you almost have the colours for upping the average on Ghave.

[@jamaicajames123]

Xenagod! Gruul gang! Gruul is the best guild, don't @ me or Xenagos will smash you for 24/24 trample

[@shikabaneconga]

savage ventmaw not ventmaw hellkite*

[@TNTturtle5]

Wanted to quickly note that Godo does not untap himself when he attacks. That trigger untaps all Samurai, and unfortunately Godo is a Barbarian.

[@samuelvalcourt6834]

Godo actually says untap it and all samurai you control so yes he's untaping itself ;)

[@TNTturtle5]

​@@samuelvalcourt6834 Edit: Nope, that's definitely my mistake. I'll eat my words on that one.