Sarkhan the Mad Deckbuilding Challenge thread

Hibernum_JC
Hibernum_JC Posts: 318 Mover and Shaker
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  • bk1234
    bk1234 Posts: 2,924 Chairperson of the Boards
    End Game:


    Sarkhan: Dragons for Days
    Sarkhan the Mad, Level 60

    Creatures (3):
    Akoum Hellkite
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Sludge Crawler

    Spells (4):
    Grip of Desolation
    Transgress the Mind
    Turn Against
    Serpentine Spike

    Supports (3):
    Smoldering Marsh
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
    Mirrorpool


    Details:
    This deck is designed to weigh heavily on Sarkhan's second and third abilities -- it contains two strong dragons and one very small creatures that is in play just to be turned to a dragon for very little manna -- Control the game with cards like Grip, Transgress and Serpentine Spike. Use Mirrorpool intelligently -- waiting to launch until you have a Akoum Hellkite or Tyrant ready to go.

    Once your three dragons are out, use Sarkhan's third for an easy win.
  • Ultimadan
    Ultimadan Posts: 23 Just Dropped In
    Sarkhan Lv40:
    Creatures: 4
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Akoum Hellkite
    Goblin Dark Dwellers
    Mina and Denn, Wildborn

    Spells: 3
    Grip of Desolation
    Transgress the Mind
    Ruinous Path

    Supports: 3
    Smoldering Marsh
    Shambling Vent
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods

    Tyrant of Valakut (the only mythic in the deck) and the 3 spells help control the board while Sarkhans first ability keeps the cards coming. Goblin Dark Dwellers can recycle your removal spells and Mina and Denn help with the ramp as well as beign able to give your bigger dragons berserker and trample. Some ramp supports help round up the deck and help provide mana for the bigger creatures. Shambling Vents lifelink can also help to mitigate some of the life loss from Sarkhans first ability or just any damage in general. Once you have your dragons set up, you can either continue to draw more cards or you can save up for a big finish with your dragons through the third ability. Even at Lv40, just having Tyrant of Valakut on the board when you use it will deal 18 damage + regular attack damage and even more damage if you can combine it with Shambling Vents +2/+3 effect.
  • span_argoman
    span_argoman Posts: 751 Critical Contributor
    Sarkhan the Mad

    Level 1
    Chasm Guide
    Belligerent Whiptail
    Valakut Invoker
    Lavastep Raider
    Reckless Bushwhacker
    Akoum Stonewaker
    Retreat to Valakut
    Grip of Desolation
    Devour in Flames
    Sure Strike

    Deck playstyle
    At level 1 you have no abilities and a restrictive deck composition. Sarkhan starts off with 6/3/1 creatures/spells/supports. Fortunately Sarkhan has access to a good supply of creatures and spells through his Red half.

    Grip of Desolation and Devour in Flames provide creature control while you take out the opponent quickly using the rest of the deck.

    Notable cards/combos
    Reckless Bushwhacker: Reckless Bushwhacker is a creature that is generally solid regardless of the planeswalker level. At lower levels, it takes the role of a bigger creature and brings a surge in damage with its mass Haste and +1/+0 until the end of the turn. At higher levels, it is still useful for the mass Haste but plays the role of a small but still mana-efficient creature.
    Akoum Stonewaker: Akoum Stonewaker is a great creature during the setup phases of your deck. The Elemental summon from landfalls makes good use of a spare creature slot while you are getting ready to summon your other creatures and a 3/1 for each landfall isn't insignificant either.
    Grip of Desolation: One of the best Black creature removal spells across the sets. 5 mana to remove a creature typically of much higher mana cost and with 1 Ingest to boot, giving it a slight tinge of mana denial.
    Devour in Flames: This spell works at low levels as a finisher on the final round or as a last-resort form of creature removal for when the removal of the creature is worth giving the opponent 5 mana.
    Sure Strike: This spell is one of the best uses of 1 mana. Giving +3/+0 along with First Strike makes this the bane of Defenders/Reach/Vigilance creatures everywhere. Also good to put onto a Berserker, if you use those, to keep it from taking damage when attacking.


    Level 40 - Sarkhan's Dragons
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Akoum Hellkite
    Jori En, Ruin Diver
    Zada, Hedron Grinder
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
    Sure Strike
    Turn Against
    Chitinous Cloak
    Ruinous Path
    Grip of Desolation

    Deck playstyle
    At level 40 you gain access to your planeswalker abilities and increased mana gains. The most useful for Sarkhan are the first and third abilities. The second ability should be used only during emergencies as it is by far the worst option for using your loyalty. Draw is always appreciated in a Red deck and the third ability is a good finisher once you have Dragons on the board.

    Zada complements the third ability very well as well as being a humongous board buffer on her own (yes Zada is female). Ruinous Path and Grip of Desolation work as creature removal to give your deck time to set up for the kill.

    Notable cards/combos
    Tyrant of Valakut: Tyrant is great board control with its on-summon ability. It also has a fairly good power-to-mana ratio. It is also a giant Dragon which is great for Sarkhan's third ability.
    Zada, Hedron Grinder + Targetable Spells: Zada gives a humongous +6/+6 boost to all your creatures until the end of your turn per targeted spell you cast upon it. With three creatures on the board (including Zada), this is +18/+18 per spell. Use Turn Against on an opponent's creature and each spell on Zada becomes +24/+24 (or even more the more creatures you steal). If casting spells on Zada happens on the same turn as you triggering Sarkhan's third ability, you can ensure massive damage resulting from it as the ability essentially triples Zada's effect on your Dragons.
    Ruinous Path: A strong Black creature removal spell with a nice bonus from its Awaken cost. While you have to play carefully to make sure you don't sink too much mana into the Awaken if you do not want the Elementals, when you do 9 mana for a 6/6 is a pretty good power-to-mana ratio.
    Grip of Desolation: One of the best Black creature removal spells across the sets. 5 mana to remove a creature typically of much higher mana cost and with 1 Ingest to boot, giving it a slight tinge of mana denial.

    Level 60 - Sarkhan's Dragons
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Akoum Hellkite
    Dragonmaster Outcast
    Zada, Hedron Grinder
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
    Sure Strike
    Turn Against
    Chitinous Cloak
    Ruinous Path
    Grip of Desolation

    Deck playstyle
    At level 60, you gain access to your planeswalker's full potential. The most useful for Sarkhan are the first and third abilities. The second ability should be used only during emergencies as it is by far the worst option for using your loyalty. Draw is always appreciated in a Red deck and the third ability is a good finisher once you have Dragons on the board.

    Having 3 cards providing Dragons in the deck pretty much ensures that you will have Dragon(s) on the board by the time your third ability is ready. Zada can then boost the massive 4x bonus damage to KO levels.

    Ruinous Path and Grip of Desolation are important as creature removal to handle any serious creature threats.

    Notable cards/combos
    Tyrant of Valakut: Tyrant is great board control with its on-summon ability. It also has a fairly good power-to-mana ratio. It is also a giant Dragon which is great for Sarkhan's third ability.
    Zada, Hedron Grinder + Targetable Spells: Zada gives a humongous +6/+6 boost to all your creatures until the end of your turn per targeted spell you cast upon it. With three creatures on the board (including Zada), this is +18/+18 per spell. Use Turn Against on an opponent's creature and each spell on Zada becomes +24/+24 (or even more the more creatures you steal). If casting spells on Zada happens on the same turn as you triggering Sarkhan's third ability, you pretty much ensure the kill as you can easily boost your Dragons' power to massive levels.
    Ruinous Path: A strong Black creature removal spell with a nice bonus from its Awaken cost. While you have to play carefully to make sure you don't sink too much mana into the Awaken if you do not want the Elementals, when you do 9 mana for a 6/6 is a pretty good power-to-mana ratio.
    Grip of Desolation: One of the best Black creature removal spells across the sets. 5 mana to remove a creature typically of much higher mana cost and with 1 Ingest to boot, giving it a slight tinge of mana denial.
  • mingninja
    mingninja Posts: 21 Just Dropped In
    Detail - The deck build around these theory
    1.AI will use 1st ability the most and sometime 2nd. Sakhan hurt himself and draw card. You need cheap cost card and healing.
    2.The deck for each Planeswalker must also contain only cards of the expansion it came in. It suppose to face the deck in the same condition.
    3.AI can't order combo. So we avoid complicated play.

    Early Game (Planeswalker levels 1 to 40, build using level 1 restrictions) deck by ThaiGuy
    Only commons and uncommons.

    Valakut Invoker
    Reckless Bushwhacker
    Akoum Stonewalker
    Relentless Hunter
    Pilgrim's Eye
    Hagra Sharpshooter

    Scour from Existence
    Trangress the Mind
    Grip of Desolation
    Retreat to Hagra

    Mid Game (Planeswalker levels 40 to 60, build using level 40 restrictions) deck by mingninja
    Mostly uncommons, rares, and 1 Mythic maximum.
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Desolation Twin
    Grip of Desolation
    Sanctum of Ugin
    Matter Reshaper
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
    Ruinous Path
    Trangress the Mind
    Smoldering Marsh
    Oath of Chandra

    End Game (Planeswalker level 60, build using level 60 restrictions) deck by mingninja
    Go nuts! No restrictions, but must be a top-tier deck.
    Drana, Liberator of Malakir
    Grip of Desolation
    Tyrant of Valakut
    Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
    Ruinous Path
    Trangress the Mind
    Smoldering Marsh
    Oath of Chandra
    Dragonmaster Outcast
    Mirrorpool
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