"The Syndicate Emerges: Orzhov's Ethereal Armor"

"The Syndicate Emerges: Orzhov's Ethereal Armor"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

When I was checking out the current state of pauper I realized that the color combination that has the best creature removal in any color does not have any representation. The Orzhov combines the best creature control of the format in Celestial flare and Devour Flesh.(Red Mages may argue over this because Shock and Lightning Strike are great too but when you consider killing something that already has 5 or more toughness in pauper then the red spells have a big problem.) These 8 removal spells that could potentially salvage the situation from the Mono White and White/Green Versions of Ethereal Armor are in Orzhov.

This is a deck that I would run with to wrest the Pauper Crown:

9 X Swamp

9 X Plains

4 X Orzhov guildgate

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22 Lands

4 X Hopeful Eidolon

4 X Observant Elseid

4 X Baleful Eidolon

3 X Wingsteed Rider

3 X Yoked Ox

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22 Creatures

4 X Ethereal Armor

4 X Dark Favor

4 X Celestial Flare

4 X Devour Flesh

2 X Shrivel

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18 Spells 

Sideboard:

4 X Pacifism

4 X Pharika's Cure

2 X Grisly Spectactle

4 X Last Breathe

4 X Mindrot 

2 X Gods Willing 

And yes this is also an Ethereal Armor deck that plays on the strengths of both white and black. 

While Hexproof creatures are the norm for Ethereal armor decks I decided on using the Yoked Ox in this deck. Though lacking in Hexproof this 0/4 Ox is certainly tough to burn. Any opponent would not want to waste 2 Shocks or Lightning strikes on it unless they really need to and this would open a lot of doors for other creatures in the deck to shine should opponents decide to take out the tough hided ox.

All the creatures in the deck are Enchantments with the exception of the Wingsteed Rider and the Yoked Ox. These enchantment creatures have Lifelink , Deathtouch and Vigilance. All good abilities to have when you have an ethereal armor on any one of them. Especially if you have the smaller Baleful Eidolon dealing damage to a bigger creature. The opposing creature dies due to the first strike and deathtouch, much like how Glissa The Traitor treats her enemies. Dark favor also adds an added +3/+1 to any creature. Making this deck aggressive  in the mid game when all the creatures on the board have been controlled. 

Shrivel is there for control against Boros Rush Decks that mostly have 1/1 creatures.And since the deck has sturdier creatures that are 2/2 it is always important to sweep the weaker weenies out of the way for later attacks. 

The sideboard has a lot of creature control as well because there are some decks that demand more spot removal since they handle the sacrifice effect of the Flare or Devour Flesh easily. For decks with no hexproof the other removals would do but anything With the Gladecover Scour or Rubble Rhino then its Flare in , Flesh in.

I am excited to give this deck a spin. Now that the Orzhov Syndicate has come out of the shadows would it be able to wrest the reign of pauper from the other Ethereal armor decks? The debt for wins must be paid and no one exacts payment much better than the Orzhov.