Mayael, in Memorium

This is not an article about the greatest tech in the world.

This is a tribute.

Today we bring you a deck that attempts to find function through form. It means to encompass the idea of a Commander that is a nexus for the friends she brings to her world. A lover of nature, and all with an underlying soul a-buzz with edgy rock and roll. It is that trifecta which brings this expression of Mayael the Anima to life.

The friends Mayael invites to the battlefield are the best kind. They are protectors, healers and all-around team players providing a boost to anyone on her side. It only seems appropriate to lean on the angels from throughout Magic the Gatherings history to embody this sentiment. Of course Avacyn Restored seemed like a good starting point to call on some of the classics like Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and Sigarda, Host of Herons. Expanding from this I made sure most of the chosen angels offered some kind of reenforcement to the board state whether it added abilities to fellow angels like Lyra Dawnbringer or gave the team a second chance like Requiem Angel. It was also important to make sure as many of the angels could be tutored up by Mayael the Anima as possible.

This put some limits on the tribal aspect but it also offered up many angels with a legendary status. This seemed on point for the kind of company Mayael would choose to keep and made it possible to bring in Captain Sisay as a trusted lieutenant to call in the reinforcements. Also keeping with the angelic theme I made sure to include Divine Visitation for added power and flavor for the deck's token engines.

That said, it's time for a little nature walk.

I'll be honest. This is where things get a little nuts. When it come to representing this love for nature and the outdoors it just felt like there were so many great token generating options to take up this mantle. By Squirrel Nest or Acorn Catapult we find company with our spastic furry friend of the forest. And while most of our center stage champions can take the heat as we playfully ping tree nuts at their heads, getting a squirrel and hornet token from shooting our Hornet Nest is just the perfect way to kill some time before running for our lives. Through Springjack Pasture we find ourselves a herd of goats while Kher Keep, Dawn of Hope and Rhys the Redeemed provide us the shepherds to keep them from hopping the fence.

Mayael also likes practicing sustainability whenever possible so proper composting with Night Soil helps keep everyone at the table green. Finally, we bring in the forest patrol for some responsibly executed land management. Our ecologically attuned team consists of Knight of the Reliquary partnering with Titania, Protector of Argoth on Crucible of Worlds watch. Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger handling the property oversight committee. On the ranger patrol we have Mina and Denn, Wildborn teamed up with Omnath, Locus of Rage. Top this all off with Anointed Procession & Parallel Lives and we're off to the zoo. Manic as this all seems, there are many ways to bring the ruckus with an army of whatever the hell you can get your hands on. Life finds a way.

But what to do with all these tokens?

With so many resources available for token production Mayael turns to her other wild side: musical taste that's totally Rock and Roll with a myriad of subgenres bathed in Heavy Metal overtones. This is where she inspires and motivates those around her to step up to the plate. To make sure the mosh pits stay at the ready we enlist the aid of Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer, Adriana, Captain of the Guard and Jazal Goldmane. Imagine turning your army of Goats and Kobolds into Craw Wurms or bigger in a single combat phase. The cackling would be legendary. Of course, if our battle cry leaders are late to the party we always have very Metal toys to keep them going like Behemoth Sledge, Loxodon Warhammer, Sword of Body and Mind, Sword of Fire and Ice and Sword of Light and Shadow. Even though this deck may seem thematically out of sync, it is totally ready for some shenanigans.

What matters to me about this brew is the interconnectedness woven throughout. So many primary creatures in this deck can count on Mayael to bring them into the fold. Tokens generators are abundant. There's team work in our characters that lead with a battle cry. The equipment package brings a lot of power to whatever your board state looks like. I really enjoy that there are many paths to take with this brew. Even though it may not be the strongest EDH deck, I'm very happy with how it turned out.

Mayael, in Memorium

1 Mayael the Anima
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Rhys the Redeemed
1 Bloom Tender
1 Incubation Druid
1 Hornet Nest
1 Knight of the Reliquary
1 Resplendent Angel
1 Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
1 Captain Sisay
1 Grand Warlord Radha
1 Jazal Goldmane
1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
1 Odric, Master Tactician
1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
1 Adriana, Captain of the Guard
1 Angel of Grace
1 Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer
1 Lyra Dawnbringer
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Sigarda, Host of Herons
1 Titania, Protector of Argoth
1 Dragonlord Dromoka
1 Linvala, the Preserver
1 Requiem Angel
1 Angel of Serenity
1 Emmara Tandris
1 Exquisite Archangel
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1 Omnath, Locus of Rage
1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
1 Iona, Shield of Emeria
1 Enlightened Tutor
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Cultivate
1 Sol Ring
1 Boros Signet
1 Gruul Signet
1 Howling Mine
1 Lightning Greaves
1 Selesnya Signet
1 Swiftfoot Boots
1 Behemoth Sledge
1 Champion's Helm
1 Chromatic Lantern
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Sword of Body and Mind
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Acorn Catapult
1 Erratic Portal
1 Helm of the Host
1 Quicksilver Amulet
1 Exploration
1 Dawn of Hope
1 Night Soil
1 Squirrel Nest
1 Anointed Procession
1 Parallel Lives
1 Divine Visitation
1 Arid Mesa
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Brushland
1 Clifftop Retreat
1 Command Tower
7 Forest
1 Horizon Canopy
1 Jungle Shrine
1 Kher Keep
5 Mountain
7 Plains
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Sacred Foundry
1 Springjack Pasture
1 Stomping Ground
1 Sunpetal Grove
1 Temple Garden
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills

There it is. Keeping it pretty straight forward this time around. Please feel free to reach out to me on twitter @JohnnySlivers if you have any questions.

I hope you enjoy the list.

Until next time, may your top decks be epic.

In memory of my dear friend Sarah.