Deck 7 - Marchesa Dethrone

This deck is part of the Two-Headed Giant Commander decks, these are designed to be played 2v2 or 3v3 in the Commander format, but can also be played 1v1. 

Certain decks have certain themes, and will pair better with other decks, which decks work best have been listed below. These decks are on a higher skill level than most of the other decks in the club, with a lot of interacting mechanics. This can be overwhelming to learn and master but it is a whole lot of fun when you do.

The kingdom of Gloria stands as a beacon of hope amidst the gathering storm. King Kenrith and Queen Marchesa rule with wisdom and valor, commanding a vast army and a stalwart group of city defenders. As whispers of war reach their borders, the kingdom prepares for battle. The king’s brother, exiled for his wild ways, watches from the shadows, knowing that his time to either protect or challenge the throne is near. The fate of the kingdom rests on the decisions made by its rulers and the loyalty of its people.The theme of the For Glory box is a Kingdom and its protectors, heroes and rulers that fight to defend the people, and are united together. The main theme for the For Glory decks are +1/+1 counters, defenders and Humans. 

Marchesa d'Amati, also known as the Black Rose, is the Queen of the High City of Paliano on the plane of Fiora. Marchesa has raven-black hair, held up with ornate pins, and usually wears the fashion of the older women in Paliano. On each finger, she has a ring, each expensive and ornate, and each housing a different poison. She employs zombies to guard her safety. Marchesa's mansion towers over the palatial homes of her neighbors, each extra story a mark of her success. Trained in the king's court at Paliano from an early age, Marchesa found herself edged aside for the throne of Fiora by her less competent brothers. She resentfully left the court to gain influence over revolutionaries and assassins who appreciated her genius. Her network of spies and rogues soon controlled much of the High City. She became one of the main players vying for control of Paliano.

Introduction: "Marchesa, the Black Rose" leads a deck that thrives on sacrifice, recursion, and +1/+1 counter synergies. The deck leverages Marchesa's ability to return creatures to the battlefield with +1/+1 counters after they die, creating a resilient board state. By utilizing various sacrifice outlets, death triggers, and proliferate effects, the deck can maintain a relentless board presence while manipulating life totals and counters to its advantage.

Key Cards:

• Marchesa, the Black Rose: As the commander, Marchesa is the heart of the deck's strategy. Her Dethrone ability ensures your creatures gain +1/+1 counters when attacking the player with the most life, which is crucial for her recursion ability. This makes your board incredibly resilient, as your creatures return to the battlefield if they die with a +1/+1 counter on them.

• Goblin Bombardment: This sacrifice outlet is crucial for controlling when your creatures die, triggering Marchesa’s recursion. It also provides direct damage to opponents, helping to chip away at their life totals.

• Unspeakable Symbol: This enchantment ensures that your creatures can always have +1/+1 counters, enabling Marchesa's recursion ability. It also allows you to manipulate life totals, keeping yourself from being the highest to continue benefiting from Dethrone.

• Grave Betrayal: This powerful enchantment turns your opponents' creatures into your own, with +1/+1 counters, and keeps them under your control. It synergizes well with your sacrifice outlets, giving you more resources to work with.

• Puppeteer Clique: A key card for recurring your opponents' creatures for your own gain. It fits perfectly with the deck’s strategy of reanimating creatures, gaining temporary control of them, and then sacrificing them to get them back again.

• Fain, the Broker: Fain’s abilities are versatile and align with the deck’s game plan. He can move counters around, sacrifice creatures, and even draw cards, making him a valuable utility piece in various stages of the game.

• Flayer of the Hatebound: This card capitalizes on creatures entering the battlefield from the graveyard. It deals damage to any target whenever one of your creatures returns to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter, allowing you to close out games quickly.

• The Ozolith: This artifact ensures that any +1/+1 counters on creatures that die don't go to waste. It stores those counters and redistributes them, ensuring your creatures return stronger after they are sacrificed and recurred.

Strategy:

Early Game: In the early game, focus on setting up your mana base and finding key pieces that will help you establish your board. Play cards like Sol Ring and Arcane Signet to ramp into your commander quickly. You’ll want to prioritize getting Marchesa, the Black Rose on the battlefield as soon as possible, as her presence is crucial for the deck’s recursive engine. Early game creatures like Carrion Feeder and Viscera Seer are valuable sacrifice outlets that start building your board’s resilience.

Mid Game: By the mid-game, your goal is to establish a solid board state where you can take full advantage of Marchesa’s ability. Use cards like Unspeakable Symbol and Fain, the Broker to ensure your creatures have +1/+1 counters and can benefit from Marchesa's recursion. Begin utilizing your sacrifice outlets like Goblin Bombardment and High Market to trigger death effects, clear opposing threats, and recycle your own creatures. Puppeteer Clique and Grave Betrayal provide additional value by reanimating creatures from opponents' graveyards, adding more resources to your board.

Late Game: In the late game, you should have a well-established board that is difficult for your opponents to dismantle. Flayer of the Hatebound becomes a key finisher, turning your recursive creatures into direct damage. The Ozolith ensures that even if your creatures are removed, their +1/+1 counters are not wasted. Cards like Mob Rule and Mass Mutiny can turn the tide by temporarily gaining control of your opponents' creatures, which you can then sacrifice to your outlets. The deck's resilience shines in the late game, where you can repeatedly bring back key creatures, outvalue your opponents, and deliver the final blow.

Mulligan Guide:

Opening Hand Considerations: Look for a balanced hand with ramp, a sacrifice outlet, and a way to generate +1/+1 counters. A hand with Arcane Signet, Sol Ring, or a mana-fixing land is usually a good keep, as it allows you to get Marchesa out quickly. If you have early creatures like Carrion Feeder or Viscera Seer along with an enchantment like Unspeakable Symbol or Fain, the Broker, it’s a strong start that sets up your recursion engine.

Hands to Avoid: Avoid hands that are too slow or lack early interaction. Hands with high-cost spells and no ramp can leave you vulnerable in the early turns. If you have no sacrifice outlet or a way to protect your creatures, consider a mulligan to find a more synergistic hand that can support Marchesa's game plan from the start.

This guide should provide a solid foundation for piloting the Marchesa Dethrone deck. By leveraging sacrifice, recursion, and +1/+1 counter synergies, you can create an unstoppable board state that will leave your opponents struggling to keep up.