Subscribe to remove ads
Duplicate Bookmark
COMMANDER(S)
Teval, the Balanced Scale
QR Code
B G U
- Sultai
Created by  Cyrillium
Info
Bracket
8.5 - 9.0
Bracket 5
Combo Combo(s) Found: Loading...
Info
Average CMC Average CMC
Info
Cost Cost
Info
Salt Score Salt Score
Info
Calculating...
Subscribe to remove ads
ANALYSIS

Overview:

This Sultai graveyard/combo deck leverages Teval's land recursion and zombie generation alongside high-efficiency tutors and graveyard synergies to execute fast Oracle/Pact wins or infinite loops. It combines cEDH staples with landfall value engines and multiple protected combo lines.

Primer:

Core Strategy:

  1. Fast Setup: Use Hermit Druid, Windfall, and Survival of the Fittest to fill the graveyard while ramping via Exploration/Azusa and duals. Tainted Pact/Demonic Tutor for critical pieces.
  2. Win Conditions:
    • Thassa's Oracle + exiled library via Tainted Pact (primary)
    • Gravecrawler + Phyrexian Altar + zombie token -> infinite ETB/death triggers
    • Hermit Druid mill -> Dread Return/Necromancy reanimation lines
  3. Protection: Free counterspells (Fierce Guardianship, Force of Negation) and Veil of Summer shield combos.

Mulligan Priorities:

  • Keep hands with 2+ lands, 1-2 ramp pieces (Exploration, Lotus Cobra), and a tutor or draw engine.
  • Prioritize opening with green mana for early Hermit Druid/Survival of the Fittest.

Key Tips:

  • Use Life from the Loam/Ramunap Excavator to recur Gaea's Cradle/Field of the Dead for midgame value.
  • Intuition for Hermit Druid, Thassa's Oracle, and Necromancy forces unwinnable choices.
  • Mystic Remora/Rhystic Study maintain card parity while assembling combos.

Weaknesses:

Critical

  • Graveyard hate (Rest in Peace, Leyline of the Void) disables 80% of strategy
  • Relies on resolving 2-card combos vulnerable to counters

Moderate

  • Limited basic land fetch vs Blood Moon
  • No instant-speed answers to resolved Drannith Magistrate

Minor

  • Token swarm vulnerable to Cursed Totem

Most Important Cards:

  • Hermit Druid
  • Thassa's Oracle
  • Tainted Pact
  • Phyrexian Altar
  • Survival of the Fittest
  • Demonic Tutor
  • Force of Negation
  • Gaea's Cradle
  • Mystic Remora
  • Lotus Cobra

Attribute Ratings:

Speed: 9/10

  • T3-T4 deterministic Oracle/Pact wins with optimal hands; T5 average.

Resilience: 8/10

  • 7 free counterspells and 8 tutors protect combos, but graveyard reliance remains a vulnerability.

Consistency: 9/10

  • 12 tutors, 6 draw engines, and redundant combo lines ensure reliable access to wincons.

Interaction: 8/10

  • S-tier counters/removal (Mana Drain, Deadly Rollick) but lacks board wipes.

Rating Justification:

This deck operates at cEDH levels with protected T3-T4 wins via Oracle/Pact but lacks the absolute fastest mana (no Mana Crypt/Jeweled Lotus) and runs some basics, slightly reducing Hermit Druid's ceiling.

Power level: 8.5 - 9.0

Subscribe to remove ads
DECK LIST
Teval, the Balanced Scale
Creature: 22
($150.23)
1
Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
4 G U
1
Azusa, Lost but Seeking
2 G
1
Consecrated Sphinx
4 U U
1
Delighted Halfling
G
1
Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
2 G
1
Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore
2 U
1
Golgari Grave-Troll
4 G
1
Gravecrawler
B
1
Hermit Druid
1 G
1
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy // Jace, Telepath Unbound
1 U
1
Lotus Cobra
1 G
1
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
3 B G U
1
Ramunap Excavator
2 G
1
Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
1 B G U
1
Six
2 G
1
Tatyova, Benthic Druid
3 G U
1
Thassa's Oracle
U U
1
The Gitrog Monster
3 B G
1
The Scarab God
3 U B
1
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath
1 G U
1
Wandering Archaic // Explore the Vastlands
5
1
Wonder
3 U
Artifact: 3
($87.06)
1
Altar of Dementia
2
1
Amulet of Vigor
1
1
Phyrexian Altar
3
Enchantment: 10
($190.01)
1
Animate Dead
1 B
1
Concordant Crossroads
G
1
Dance of the Dead
1 B
1
Exploration
G
1
Mystic Remora
U
1
Necromancy
2 B
1
Rhystic Study
2 U
1
Survival of the Fittest
1 G
1
Sylvan Library
1 G
1
Tortured Existence
B
Instant: 19
($455.0)
1
Abrupt Decay
B G
1
An Offer You Can't Refuse
U
1
Crop Rotation
G
1
Cyclonic Rift
1 U
1
Deadly Rollick
3 B
1
Entomb
B
1
Fierce Guardianship
2 U
1
Force of Negation
1 U U
1
Force of Vigor
2 G G
1
Frantic Search
2 U
1
Intuition
2 U
1
Mana Drain
U U
1
Nature's Claim
G
1
Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
1 U U
1
Swan Song
U
1
Tainted Pact
1 B
1
Vampiric Tutor
B
1
Veil of Summer
G
1
Worldly Tutor
G
Sorcery: 8
($165.39)
1
Careful Study
U
1
Demonic Tutor
1 B
1
Imperial Seal
B
1
Life from the Loam
1 G
1
Nature's Lore
1 G
1
Three Visits
1 G
1
Victimize
2 B
1
Windfall
2 U
Land: 37
($1197.38)
1
Ancient Tomb
1
Bayou
1
Bloodstained Mire
1
Boseiju, Who Endures
1
Breeding Pool
1
City of Brass
1
Command Tower
1
Dakmor Salvage
1
Field of the Dead
1
Flooded Strand
1
Forest
1
Gaea's Cradle
1
Glacial Chasm
1
Island
1
Mana Confluence
1
Marsh Flats
1
Misty Rainforest
1
Morphic Pool
1
Nurturing Peatland
1
Otawara, Soaring City
1
Overgrown Tomb
1
Polluted Delta
1
Rejuvenating Springs
1
Scalding Tarn
1
Strip Mine
1
Swamp
1
Tropical Island
1
Underground Mortuary
1
Underground Sea
1
Undergrowth Stadium
1
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1
Verdant Catacombs
1
Waterlogged Grove
1
Watery Grave
1
Windswept Heath
1
Wooded Foothills
1
Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth

Enhance Your Gameplay

With premium accessories trusted by MTG players

DragonShield Sleeves
Dragon Shield Sleeves

Premium protection with industry-leading durability and shuffle feel

Use code deckcheck5 for 5% off
Shop Dragon Shield
Amazon Amazon TCGPlayer TCGPlayer
Ultimate Guard Deck Box
Ultimate Guard Deck Boxes

Protect your deck with rugged storage solutions

Amazon Amazon TCGPlayer TCGPlayer
Premium Playmat
TCG Playmats

Elevate your gameplay with premium playmats

Amazon Amazon TCGPlayer TCGPlayer
Support DeckCheck by using our affiliate links - we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.