Overview
Open Hostility is an aggressive multiplayer deck that wants to attack every turn. Saskia the Unyielding is a 3/4 with vigilance and haste. As it enters, you choose a player, and whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, it deals that much damage to the chosen player. Every attack hits two players at once.
The 99 cards are 29 creatures, 8 artifacts, 7 enchantments, 12 instants, 7 sorceries and 36 lands. Many of the creatures reward attacking or make more attackers, including Brutal Hordechief, Ankle Shanker, Wild Beastmaster, Tana, the Bloodsower, Mycoloth and Managorger Hydra. Equipment and enchantments such as Conqueror's Flail, Sunforger, Beastmaster Ascension and Breath of Fury make the army hit harder, and big creatures such as Stonehoof Chieftain and Primeval Protector finish the job.
Key Cards
Playing the Deck
The early game is about mana and cheap attackers. Sol Ring, Rampant Growth, Farseek, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Gruul Signet and Fellwar Stone ramp you, Zhur-Taa Druid pings opponents as it makes mana, and Tymna the Weaver, Ravos, Soultender, Mentor of the Meek and Den Protector start the board. Skullclamp turns small creatures into cards.
The middle of the game is about the double hit. Saskia the Unyielding attacks with haste, Brutal Hordechief, Ankle Shanker and Wild Beastmaster push damage across the table, Mirror Entity makes the whole team huge, and Conqueror's Flail grows with the colours you control. Thunderfoot Baloth gives your other creatures +2/+2 while you control your commander.
The late game is about an alpha strike. Beastmaster Ascension gives +5/+5, Stalking Vengeance punishes players when your creatures die, Lavalanche, Treacherous Terrain and Clan Defiance finish players or clear blockers, and Order // Chaos stops blockers entirely. Grab the Reins steals a blocker for a turn, and Divergent Transformations swaps two opposing creatures for random ones.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths: The deck has a high density of strong attackers and tricks that make one attack hit several players. It also has plenty of interaction, including Utter End, Terminate, Crackling Doom, Abzan Charm, Naya Charm and Boros Charm.
Weaknesses: The deck is four colours, so it can stumble on mana, and its plan relies on attacking, which is difficult against a table with a lot of blockers or sweepers. Everlasting Torment stops all lifegain, including your own, and Evolutionary Escalation gives counters to an opposing creature, so use them carefully.
Want to improve it? See the Open Hostility upgrade guide: eleven swaps with the data behind each one.
Want to see what a fully optimised Saskia the Unyielding build looks like? Try the Oracle.
✦ Build with The OracleFrequently Asked Questions
What cards are in the Open Hostility decklist?
The Open Hostility precon is a 100-card Commander deck led by Saskia the Unyielding. The full Open Hostility decklist, with every card, current prices and a button to copy the list into your deck builder, is on this page.
When was Open Hostility released?
Open Hostility was released on November 11, 2016 as part of Commander 2016.
Who is the commander of Open Hostility?
Open Hostility is led by Saskia the Unyielding, a Four-colour (W/B/R/G) legendary creature.
How many creatures are in Open Hostility?
The 99 cards besides Saskia the Unyielding include 29 creatures.
How many lands does Open Hostility have?
Open Hostility has 36 lands in the 99 cards besides Saskia the Unyielding, including basic lands.
Full Decklist
All 100 cards from the out-of-the-box Open Hostility precon, with current prices. Click any card to expand it.