Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero

[Prospero]

I had a great time playing Magic from 1998-2002, and one of the decks that I loved playing from that golden age was Counter Rebels.  Sivvi is my general.  

Here's the list that I've put together.  I think it's pretty tight.  I'll list the cards that I cut, below the list, and why I cut them.

Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero - General

Creatures
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Children of Korlis
Ramosian Sergeant
Amrou Scout
Defiant Falcon
Errant Doomsayers
Knight of the Holy Nimbus
Ramosian Lieutenant
Whipcorder
Defiant Vanguard
Lawbringer
Lightbringer
Mirror Entity
Nightwind Glider
Outrider en-Kor
Ramosian Captain
Shield Dancer
Thermal Glider
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
Pious Warrior
Ramosian Commander
Rappelling Scouts
Mageta the Lion
Ramosian Sky Marshall

Removal

Condemn
Path to Exile
Swords to Plowshares
Journey to Nowhere
Pacifism
Reprisal
Afterlife
Arrest
Bound in Silence
Crackdown
Crib Swap
Exile
Harsh Mercy
Oblivion Ring
Radiant’s Judgment
Day of Judgment
Wrath of God
Rout
Mass Calcify

Utility

Brave the Elements
Enlightened Tutor
Pithing Needle
Sensei’s Divining Top
Sol Ring
Bathe in Light
Crusade
Disenchant
Honor of the Pure
Seal of Cleansing
Scroll Rack
Story Circle
Reverent Mantra

Lands

Ancient Tomb
Blasted Landscape
Drifting Meadow
Dustbowl
Emeria, the Sky Ruin
Ghost Quarter
Kor Haven
Maze of Ith
Remote Farm
Ruins of Trokair
Rustic Clachan
Secluded Steppe
Strip Mine
Tectonic Edge
Wasteland
Plains x 29
--

I considered Mishra’s Factory and Mutavault, but they don’t really do much, because they don’t attack particularly well.  I’m well suited for creature wars, especially attrition wars, and I want to run as many basics as I can so that I’m not susceptible to random land destruction.  I’ve kept hands that were seven lands before, and I’ve been happy to keep them.  

I recently cut Jhovall Queen and Cho-Arrim Bruiser.  Neither attack terribly well, and if I’m looking for a good blocker, I have Defiant Vanguard, random guys with protection, Cho-Manno, and more.  They’re expensive, and super awkward to draw.  I want to keep the curve as low as possible.

I just cut Reveille Squad, Zealot il-Vec and Ramosian Revivalist.  I don’t know if it was right to cut the Revivalist – as letting Sivvi hit the graveyard seems like it could be a decent thing if I have another rebel or two on the board.  I didn’t find myself using Zealot to kill random X/1’s, so it didn’t seem like it was worth it.  The Reveille Squad was superfluous because the deck doesn’t really worry about attacking creatures.

There are some cool combos – basic things like Sivvi + Children of Korlis every turn, or Sivvi + Lightbringer/Lawbringer, recurring Crib Swap with Sivvi (though you can’t tutor for it), etc.  Honestly, I just like that the deck can kill you out of nowhere – as it tutors up a Mirror Entity, and is suddenly attacking with a dozen 9/9’s.

I’m looking for another good mass protection spell – as Reverent Mantra, Brave the Elements and Bathe in Light aren’t enough.  I had Shelter in the deck for a while, but it doesn’t do enough – I need something that’s going to guarantee that all my guys are going to be able to swing in, past their blockers.  

I’d like to hear what everyone else thinks, just please keep in mind that I would like to keep my curve low.  

[Sporkcore]

I'd find room for Oblation as it's a good answer for most generals since it shuffles them into the library. Also, you should try to fit in Task Force, Miren, the Moaning Well and Expedition Map for a tutor-able infinite life combo since you already have Outrider en-Kor.

[AmbivalentDuck]

I'd find room for Oblation as it's a good answer for most generals since it shuffles them into the library. Also, you should try to fit in Task Force, Miren, the Moaning Well and Expedition Map for a tutor-able infinite life combo since you already have Outrider en-Kor.

Oblation lets their general 3 for 1 you.  Questionable...very questionable.

[Sporkcore]

If I was playing a deck with white in it against a deck like Azami or Arcum Dagson, I'd 3 for 1 myself all day long to get rid of those Generals. Oblation is good against any deck that revolves around it's general since it's a "tuck" effect. Also, since this is a rebel deck, it could be used to shuffle Lin Sivvi in when she starts getting too expensive to cast.

[AmbivalentDuck]

Also, since this is a rebel deck, it could be used to shuffle Lin Sivvi in when she starts getting too expensive to cast.

I'll buy that argument: Oblation is a cheap white draw spell when targeting your own rebel.

[Prospero]

I like the Miren, Map and Oblation recommendations.  

I'm going to cut a Plains for the Miren.

I'm going to cut a Plains for the Map too.  I don't like going down another mana source, but I guess I'm not really if I have a Map.

I don't know what I would cut for the Oblation.  That one is going to take some time.  I'm going to think about Task Force.  I hadn't considered it...

[AmbivalentDuck]

I'm not sure how valuable infinite life is in EDH because of general damage.  That said, the footprint is very small since you're mono-colored and it's very easy to tutor the two rebels.

I'm surprised that you aren't using equipment like Sword of Fire and Ice or Jitte?

[Sporkcore]

I think Skullclamp would also be good for the deck, just because Skullclamp is good in any deck with relatively small creatures and recursion engines.

[Prospero]

@Ambivalent Duck:

Drawing cards is good, but I've found that my first few turns are usually spent tutoring up the appropriate rebel for the given board state.  Skullclamp is awesome, and I have had it in the deck before, but it got cut.  I haven't really missed it.  I generally don't want to kill off the guys that I'm tutoring with right off the bat, which makes it more of a mid game card - which is when I hope to be swinging with a team of giant rebels.

Sword of Fire and Ice, at three mana, and another two to equip, is a bit more than I want to spend before I get an effect.  The damage isn't terribly valuable, as I'm generally able to handle opposing creatures well, and as killing an opponent with SoFI damage is kin dof miserable. 

Jitte is a different beast.  I'm willing to try it, if only to save Sivvi from all the random damage based removal that tends to fly her way.

[Hi-Val]

Drop everything and put Thousand-Year Elixir in here.

Try Thran Turbine, since it's another Sol Ring for Rebel activations. Heartstone also makes things cheaper.

I noticed you don't have Pariah; tacked on Cho Manno, it's great protection. When added to an opposing creature, it becomes great removal and protection.

Remember, especially, that with Children you can gain a lot of life. Imagine someone hits you for 9. You heal that damage, then use Lin to shuffle them back in. You get them out with Lin, fire them off to gain another 9, then shuffle them in again to let any other Rebels grab them out!

[Nefarias]

(I figure standard thread Necro rules don't apply in this forum, and I haven't checked it in months)

I’m looking for another good mass protection spell – as Reverent Mantra, Brave the Elements and Bathe in Light aren’t enough.  I had Shelter in the deck for a while, but it doesn’t do enough – I need something that’s going to guarantee that all my guys are going to be able to swing in, past their blockers.  

Aside from the ones you're running, Akroma's Blessing and Aven Warcraft are the best you're gonna get. 8.5 Tails is quite expensive for that purpose, but is a fine man on his own and could potentially get the job done.

Or, if you like beating people with totally obscure cards, you could go for Runed Arch. It's entirely inefficient, but also hilarious to beat someone with it.

[L_O_L]

Does Serra Ascendant feel like an auto-include in any white EDH deck ? It seems like a retarded card in the early turns. While it is not a Rebel, it pretty much guarantees nutty things will happen when it is in your opening hand.

[birds of paradise]

I'd suggest running worship.