Akim, the Soaring Wind - Tragically Underutilized

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DirkGently
My wins are unconditional
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Post by DirkGently » 3 years ago

Akim didn't super appeal to me when he first got spoiled. Token-making isn't generally something that interests me all that much, and the ability looked a bit underpowered. But then it turned out that nobody wanted to build him.
He has less than half the decks of any other 2020 precon commander. So, being a contrarian, I was immediately much more interested.

The main thing that I realized working on the deck is that there's a lot of interesting non-creature-token production that works great with Akim. I can think of few decks that make better use of Smothering Tithe. Curse of Opulence is also an easy home-run for the deck. Plus there's some fun stuff like Turn into a Pumpkin, Shiny Impetus, and Bloodforged Battle-Axe.

This list is pretty rough and really needs some control elements. Had some issues with getting on the board, Akim in particular is pretty expensive and often doesn't have a significant impact until a few turns later. Wipes could be pretty rough - I probably want some more draw and ramp (story of EDH really).

Anyway, I don't really think Akim is my thing, but he's not terrible and I think his design is pretty cool. He deserves more than the paltry number of decklists on EDHrec.

Also the list is only 98 cards since I partially disassembled it and couldn't remember everything to replace in it. I think they might just be lands, although damn, 40 was way overshooting it for sure. If I ever rebuild it'd probably be something like 35 lands and 5-10 control pieces.
Akim, the Soaring Wind

Commander (1)

Approximate Total Cost:

Perm Decks
Phelddagrif - Kaervek - Golos - Zirilan

Flux Decks
Gollum - Lobelia - Minthara - Plargg2 - Solphim - Otharri - Graaz - Ratchet - Soundwave - Slicer - Gale - Rootha - Kagemaro - Blorpityblorpboop - Kayla - SliverQueen - Ivy - Falco - Gluntch - Charlatan/Wilson - Garth - Kros - Anthousa - Shigeki - Light-Paws - Lukka - Sefris - Ebondeath - Rokiric - Garth - Nixilis - Grist - Mavinda - Kumano - Nezahal - Mavinda - Plargg - Plargg - Extus - Plargg - Oracle - Kardur - Halvar - Tergrid - Egon - Cosima - Halana+Livio - Jeska+Falthis+Obosh - Yeva - Akiri+Zirda - Lady Sun - Nahiri - Korlash - Overlord+Zirda - Chisei - Athreos2 - Akim - Cazur+Ukkima - Otrimi - Otrimi - Kalamax - Ayli+Lurrus - Clamilton - Gonti - Heliod2 - Ayula - Thassa2 - Gallia - Purphoros2 - Rankle - Uro - Rayami - Gargos - Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa - Ashling1 - Angus - Arcum - Talrand - Chainer - Higure - Kumano - Scion - Teferi1 - Uyo - Sisters
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote
Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena
Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6

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MeowZeDung
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Post by MeowZeDung » 3 years ago

I have an Akim work in progress, though I went down the Zirda, the Dawnwaker companion route. Glad to see you included Anointed Procession and Ephara, God of the Polis since I was sad I couldn't run them.

Pride of the Clouds is basically another Skycat Sovereign.

The Locust God is good. Especially if you can pack some instant speed draw in. Maybe over stuff like Skyknight Vanguard or Silverwing Squadron that only make tokens on your turn? Edit: Crookclaw Elder for instance.
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DirkGently
My wins are unconditional
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Post by DirkGently » 3 years ago

I like skycat a lot more that pride of the clouds since you can activate it on enemy turns. There are a ton of great token generators for your own turn, but finding ones that activate on enemy turns to get maximum akim value is a lot harder. Plus a lot of those are mana-hungry (I tried to restrain myself not to include too many). So token generators that only work on my turn AND require lots of mana? Definitely a no from me.

Honestly I don't think locust god would have helped my build, at least not without significant changes. The deck's curve was too high as it was, another 6 drop that generally only makes tokens on my turn wouldn't have improved things. I think there's a version of this deck that wants to cast a lot of small cantrips to create tokens with Talrand, Sky Summoner and a handful of others, where the locust god would probably fit better, but I didn't want the deck to be simply better with Kykar, Wind's Fury at the helm so I intentionally avoided that route.

Anyway, I'm unlikely to play the deck again so this is all theoretical talk. He's an interesting build but not really my thing gameplay-wise.
Perm Decks
Phelddagrif - Kaervek - Golos - Zirilan

Flux Decks
Gollum - Lobelia - Minthara - Plargg2 - Solphim - Otharri - Graaz - Ratchet - Soundwave - Slicer - Gale - Rootha - Kagemaro - Blorpityblorpboop - Kayla - SliverQueen - Ivy - Falco - Gluntch - Charlatan/Wilson - Garth - Kros - Anthousa - Shigeki - Light-Paws - Lukka - Sefris - Ebondeath - Rokiric - Garth - Nixilis - Grist - Mavinda - Kumano - Nezahal - Mavinda - Plargg - Plargg - Extus - Plargg - Oracle - Kardur - Halvar - Tergrid - Egon - Cosima - Halana+Livio - Jeska+Falthis+Obosh - Yeva - Akiri+Zirda - Lady Sun - Nahiri - Korlash - Overlord+Zirda - Chisei - Athreos2 - Akim - Cazur+Ukkima - Otrimi - Otrimi - Kalamax - Ayli+Lurrus - Clamilton - Gonti - Heliod2 - Ayula - Thassa2 - Gallia - Purphoros2 - Rankle - Uro - Rayami - Gargos - Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa - Ashling1 - Angus - Arcum - Talrand - Chainer - Higure - Kumano - Scion - Teferi1 - Uyo - Sisters
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote
Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena
Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6

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MeowZeDung
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Joined: 4 years ago
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Post by MeowZeDung » 3 years ago

I always forget that about forecast. That does make it a lot worse.
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Guardman
A Dog's Dream of Man
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Post by Guardman » 3 years ago

Hour of Reckoning is great in any token deck as it is mostly a one-sided wraith that is easy to convoke out. Also I love Twilight Drover in any white deck that makes a lot of tokens as it can get really big and refill your board quickly.

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