But as I look at Snapdax more, I see that he can do something thats quite rare in commander - a relatively easy two turn voltron clock. And yeah voltron sucks and everything, and yeah, Mardu is one of the weaker tri-colours, but man that idea gets me super excited to try and make it work!
The core strategy
Snapdax lets you turn *any* creature into a commander for commander damage. So, mutate him onto a POW6 creature and you have 12 commander damage per swing and a two hit KO. Put him on Gisela and you get 20 commander damage in one swing! Stick him on a random flying infect creature for 6 infect per swing and a 2 hit KO. Snapdax is not a fast commander kill in terms of "dead on turn x", but he gives you an explosive boost to any threat out of your command zone in the late game.
Why Snapdax over other options
Snapdax needs little investment to make this work, though obviously will benefit from whatever support you include. You can very easily run Snapdax as a "Mardu Fatties" list just fine if you make sure the fatties are 6/x Fliers. Just implement your usual fatties gameplan, and try mutate Snapdax onto whatever you happen to have in play and two turn people. Other voltron options are either three turn clocks, or need more enablers or protection taking up slots in your deck, they need to be more dedicated to the voltron theme then we do.
So posting up a first draft of ideas and keen for any ideas you guys might have.
Hosts
Refers to creatures that Snapdax may mutate onto. This list includes "big flying fatty" options and some "jank that works well with Snapdax". I have listed very roughly the fatties at the top leading towards the Snapdax-specific jank towards the bottom.
Good Threats
Doom Whisperer [5CMC]- 6/6 flying trample with a card filter ability at 5 mana is pretty nuts as far as fatties go
Sunscorch Regent [5CMC]- 4/3 flying for 5 mana, but it *always* gets bigger. May not work as an immediate Snapdax host but will get there, is cheaper than the other options, and becomes a very big threat by itself
Divinity of Pride [5CMC] 4/4 flying lifelink that is an 8/8 at 25 or more life. All orzhov mana makes it somewhat hard to cast. A high risk, high reward with the floor being 8 damage and life per swing with Snapdax seems pretty good for 5 mana.
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief[CMC5] - Not POW6 naturally, but cheap, flying, has removal and can pump itself to POW6 or more. Plus I love this card and have a sweet alter I need to use.
Dragonlord Kolaghan [6CMC]- 6 power flying/haste that grants haste is fine for Snapdax and great for the beaters plan
Necropolis Regent [6CMC]- 6 power flying that enhances the beaters plan, or can boost up a creature to be a 1hitKO when mutated
Hellkite Tyrant [6CMC]- 6 power flying with a well known and potent on-hit effect
Lathliss, Dragon Queen [6CMC]- 6 power flying, synergises with the many dragon options for the deck
Aurelia, the Warleader [6CMC]- not 6 power but can achieve a two turn clock through extra combat
Scourge of the Throne [6CMC] - 5 power flying with potential dethrone & double combat to be a 1hitKO
Hoard-Smelter Dragon [CMC6] - Not POW6 naturally, but kills artifacts and boosts itself up for a moderate cost. Considering but could be cut.
Moonveil Dragon [6CMC] - 5/5 flying with a global firebreathing effect, hits our threshhold with 1 mana and also boosts other creatures
Demonlord Belzenlok [6CMC] - 6/6 flying trample, his ETB can get us gas with all the large creatures in the deck
Mana-Charged Dragon [6CMC]- 5/5 flying trample with a join-forces firebreathing effect
Rune-Scarred Demon [7CMC]- 6 power flying with a tutor
Lord of the Void [7CMC]- 7 power flying with card advantage
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight [7CMC] - potentially 20 damage in one swing, boosts the power of other threats
Furyborn Hellkite [7CMC]- 6 power flying, can potentially be a 12 power flying for 24 damage
Vish Kal, blood Arbiter [7CMC] - 5/5 flying lifelink that can get bigger by sacrificing creatures and which can remove creatures. Thats a *big* life swing right there.
Pestilence Demon [7CMC]- a very expensive 7/6 flying, it works for Snapdax and the pestilence effect can keep small creatures off the board and pressure life totals.
Sephara, Sky's Blade [7CMC]- 7/7 flying, which is unlikely to be cast by tapping creatures. Lifelink and the indestructibility effect are both quite potent
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames [7CMC]- 7 power flying with removal
Tyrant's Familiar [7CMC]- a very expensive 5/5 flying haste, that is a 7/7 with Snapdax out or on it and has a removal ability. Have seen this thing dominate games.
Avatar of Fury [8CMC or 2 CMC]- flying 6 power firebreathing that can be incredibly cheap late game, leading to Avatar+Snapdax+haste for very fast clock or 1hitKO with enough red mana
Utvara Hellkite [8CMC]- expensive 6/6 flying that synergizes with all the dragon options for the deck
Emrakul, the Promised End [13CMC]- 13/13 flying trample with pro-instants, will 1hit a player with Snapdax or just wreck their day regardless. While the deck would have a decent number of card types this is likely a reanimation target rather than castable and so here for consideration rather than a clear good choice
Snapdax-orientated, an upside with this strategy but maybe worse for regular beatdown
Plague Stinger [2CMC]- minimum cost infect with flyingBloodsworn Steward [4CMC]- mostly Snapdax jank, gives us our cheapest 6 power flying/haste clock but of less use outside the strategy
Hunted Dragon [5CMC]- cheapest base 6 power flying/haste, downside isn't that bad
Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon [5CMC]- A 2 turn clock with Snap, 3 turn clock by itself, and quite easily a 1 turn clock with a pump effect, with built in haste and regen options. Generates hate and probably for a good reason
Anya, Merciless Angel [5CMC]- cheap 4/4 flying that can get to our threshold with one half health opponent. With three half health opponents she could hit for 26 in one turn. Weaker option but am considering 5CMC options.
Demon of Wailing Agonies [5CMC]- 4/4 flying that is a 6/6 with Snapdax out or on it, has a potent on-hit trigger we can get double value from
Scourge of Valkas [5CMC] - 4/4 flying with firebreathing and a tribal removal/burn effect with dragons
Moltensteel Dragon [6CMC or 4CMC w/ phyrexian mana] - cheap 4/4 flying, can firebreath or phyrexian firebreath to lethal pretty easily
Emissary of Grudges [6CMC]- 6 power flying haste with limited protection
Rorix Bladewing [6CMC]- generic 6 power flying/haste could be playable in this deck, but could be cut for a better card
Doom Whisperer [5CMC]- 6/6 flying trample with a card filter ability at 5 mana is pretty nuts as far as fatties go
Sunscorch Regent [5CMC]- 4/3 flying for 5 mana, but it *always* gets bigger. May not work as an immediate Snapdax host but will get there, is cheaper than the other options, and becomes a very big threat by itself
Divinity of Pride [5CMC] 4/4 flying lifelink that is an 8/8 at 25 or more life. All orzhov mana makes it somewhat hard to cast. A high risk, high reward with the floor being 8 damage and life per swing with Snapdax seems pretty good for 5 mana.
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief[CMC5] - Not POW6 naturally, but cheap, flying, has removal and can pump itself to POW6 or more. Plus I love this card and have a sweet alter I need to use.
Dragonlord Kolaghan [6CMC]- 6 power flying/haste that grants haste is fine for Snapdax and great for the beaters plan
Necropolis Regent [6CMC]- 6 power flying that enhances the beaters plan, or can boost up a creature to be a 1hitKO when mutated
Hellkite Tyrant [6CMC]- 6 power flying with a well known and potent on-hit effect
Lathliss, Dragon Queen [6CMC]- 6 power flying, synergises with the many dragon options for the deck
Aurelia, the Warleader [6CMC]- not 6 power but can achieve a two turn clock through extra combat
Scourge of the Throne [6CMC] - 5 power flying with potential dethrone & double combat to be a 1hitKO
Hoard-Smelter Dragon [CMC6] - Not POW6 naturally, but kills artifacts and boosts itself up for a moderate cost. Considering but could be cut.
Moonveil Dragon [6CMC] - 5/5 flying with a global firebreathing effect, hits our threshhold with 1 mana and also boosts other creatures
Demonlord Belzenlok [6CMC] - 6/6 flying trample, his ETB can get us gas with all the large creatures in the deck
Mana-Charged Dragon [6CMC]- 5/5 flying trample with a join-forces firebreathing effect
Rune-Scarred Demon [7CMC]- 6 power flying with a tutor
Lord of the Void [7CMC]- 7 power flying with card advantage
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight [7CMC] - potentially 20 damage in one swing, boosts the power of other threats
Furyborn Hellkite [7CMC]- 6 power flying, can potentially be a 12 power flying for 24 damage
Vish Kal, blood Arbiter [7CMC] - 5/5 flying lifelink that can get bigger by sacrificing creatures and which can remove creatures. Thats a *big* life swing right there.
Pestilence Demon [7CMC]- a very expensive 7/6 flying, it works for Snapdax and the pestilence effect can keep small creatures off the board and pressure life totals.
Sephara, Sky's Blade [7CMC]- 7/7 flying, which is unlikely to be cast by tapping creatures. Lifelink and the indestructibility effect are both quite potent
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames [7CMC]- 7 power flying with removal
Tyrant's Familiar [7CMC]- a very expensive 5/5 flying haste, that is a 7/7 with Snapdax out or on it and has a removal ability. Have seen this thing dominate games.
Avatar of Fury [8CMC or 2 CMC]- flying 6 power firebreathing that can be incredibly cheap late game, leading to Avatar+Snapdax+haste for very fast clock or 1hitKO with enough red mana
Utvara Hellkite [8CMC]- expensive 6/6 flying that synergizes with all the dragon options for the deck
Emrakul, the Promised End [13CMC]- 13/13 flying trample with pro-instants, will 1hit a player with Snapdax or just wreck their day regardless. While the deck would have a decent number of card types this is likely a reanimation target rather than castable and so here for consideration rather than a clear good choice
Snapdax-orientated, an upside with this strategy but maybe worse for regular beatdown
Plague Stinger [2CMC]- minimum cost infect with flyingBloodsworn Steward [4CMC]- mostly Snapdax jank, gives us our cheapest 6 power flying/haste clock but of less use outside the strategy
Hunted Dragon [5CMC]- cheapest base 6 power flying/haste, downside isn't that bad
Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon [5CMC]- A 2 turn clock with Snap, 3 turn clock by itself, and quite easily a 1 turn clock with a pump effect, with built in haste and regen options. Generates hate and probably for a good reason
Anya, Merciless Angel [5CMC]- cheap 4/4 flying that can get to our threshold with one half health opponent. With three half health opponents she could hit for 26 in one turn. Weaker option but am considering 5CMC options.
Demon of Wailing Agonies [5CMC]- 4/4 flying that is a 6/6 with Snapdax out or on it, has a potent on-hit trigger we can get double value from
Scourge of Valkas [5CMC] - 4/4 flying with firebreathing and a tribal removal/burn effect with dragons
Moltensteel Dragon [6CMC or 4CMC w/ phyrexian mana] - cheap 4/4 flying, can firebreath or phyrexian firebreath to lethal pretty easily
Emissary of Grudges [6CMC]- 6 power flying haste with limited protection
Rorix Bladewing [6CMC]- generic 6 power flying/haste could be playable in this deck, but could be cut for a better card
Enablers
If you don't want to just run the bare minimum for Snappy boy, it can be useful to run evasion, infect, power boosts or additional combat enablers for him. Whats great about Snapdax compared to other voltron options is that this section can be skipped entirely, or that if you do run them, they generally work well with your fatties plan as well!
Sunforger - If you are in red/white you really need to consider if you are a sunforger deck. Snapdax'd Infect creatures or Gisela become 1hitKO with it equipped.
Tainted Strike - There is an argument that this is going too deep in the tank, but Tainted Strike gives you the option to one-hit with a Snapdax fatty. Its also great as a fog effect to remove up to 9 incoming damage or cause another 10 power creature to one hit an opponent. Can be a very fun card if your playgroup is into it..
Dragon Tempest - Global haste is one of the best things for a fatties deck or even a voltron deck. This particular card is very cheap and synergizes with dragons, at the cost of only giving haste to fliers. Most evasive fatties in RBW are fliers so not a major downside.
Loxodon Warhammer - I love including at least one good source of lifegain in my decks. This one turns a naked Snapdax into a 2 turn clock or adds lifegain to any random fatty swinging in. Snapdax'd Infect creatures or Gisela become 1hitKO with it equipped.
Blackblade Reforged - I am an absolute sucker for this card. I love equipment and this equipment can turn any creature into a big threat, then turn the next creature into a threat post-wipe. Can easily turn a Snapdax mutant into a 1hitKO
Steelshaper's Gift (etc) - Worth it if you want to go deeper on the equipment. With how damn good Sunforger is, this is the direction I will be taking my Snapdax deck personally.
Tainted Strike - There is an argument that this is going too deep in the tank, but Tainted Strike gives you the option to one-hit with a Snapdax fatty. Its also great as a fog effect to remove up to 9 incoming damage or cause another 10 power creature to one hit an opponent. Can be a very fun card if your playgroup is into it..
Dragon Tempest - Global haste is one of the best things for a fatties deck or even a voltron deck. This particular card is very cheap and synergizes with dragons, at the cost of only giving haste to fliers. Most evasive fatties in RBW are fliers so not a major downside.
Loxodon Warhammer - I love including at least one good source of lifegain in my decks. This one turns a naked Snapdax into a 2 turn clock or adds lifegain to any random fatty swinging in. Snapdax'd Infect creatures or Gisela become 1hitKO with it equipped.
Blackblade Reforged - I am an absolute sucker for this card. I love equipment and this equipment can turn any creature into a big threat, then turn the next creature into a threat post-wipe. Can easily turn a Snapdax mutant into a 1hitKO
Steelshaper's Gift (etc) - Worth it if you want to go deeper on the equipment. With how damn good Sunforger is, this is the direction I will be taking my Snapdax deck personally.
Reanimation
Reanimation obviously plays well with large creature decks, but in this case, it also plays well with red looting and rummaging effects, and works well in the later game where you can get a cheap fatty, Snapdax it in the same turn, and get your 1-2 hit KO that much faster
Reanimate - Just 1 cmc and lose some life, as always life loss is less relevant in EDH
Animate Dead - 2 cmc enchantment based reanimation
Exhume - Risky but a 2 cmc reanimator option
Dance of the Dead - Enchantment based reanimation for 2 with downside
Necromancy - Enchantment based reanimation for 3
Coffin Queen - Reusable reanimation for a low cost
Balthor the Defiled - Risky jank, but most of the POW6 fatties we want are red or black...
Special Lands
All sorts of special lands that could be included, but notable inclusions for me are;
Flamekin Village, Hanweir Battlements, Slayers' Stronghold - Haste lands are just incredible in a deck like this.
Rogue's Passage - An additional layer of evasion
Vault of the Archangel, Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - Sources of lifelink can be invaluable, and even though Snapdax can give double strike, it can be worthwhile to run other double strike sources
Inventors' Fair - This deck would run a lot of mana rocks, and can find powerful equipment that support the core strategy
So, any ideas or things to add? I reckon the core idea is pretty solid but what have I missed that could make Snapdax a real force to be reckoned with?Rogue's Passage - An additional layer of evasion
Vault of the Archangel, Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion - Sources of lifelink can be invaluable, and even though Snapdax can give double strike, it can be worthwhile to run other double strike sources
Inventors' Fair - This deck would run a lot of mana rocks, and can find powerful equipment that support the core strategy
