<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/johnthacker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thacker</a></em></p>
<p>I’m not that into video games, but Sonic is one of the few I do have some history with, as I grew up with a neighbor that had a Sega system with <em>Sonic 2</em>. I loved that game because, unlike <em>Final Fantasy</em>, it had a multiplayer mode, so I got to play, too.</p>
<p>My neighbor would get first pick of character because it was his system and game, so I would be Tails while he would be Sonic. With the advent of the most recently-announced Secret Lair, I can relive those memories by making a Tails deck and suiting him up with every machine known to man (and some known only to Foxes).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower"></div></div>
<p>Interestingly enough, Foxes were recently featured in <em>Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty</em>, along with the return of Vehicles and the creation of the Pilot creature type. Vehicles are an artifact subtype that have power and toughness only when animated or crewed, although their other abilities can be used whether they're crewed or not.</p>
<p>Their tapping abilities are affected by summoning sickness when animated or crewed, but not otherwise. As a result, one needs to be careful when crewing or animating Vehicles.</p>
<p>Tails never was the more intuitive of the two characters, but figuring things out always made me feel like a genius, and this Tails deck can make you feel that way, too!</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>Miles is a 3/1 flier for three with flash, which is fairly aggressively costed for an Azorius (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) legendary creature. Flash functions a lot like haste, enabling Tails to come down on an open board or one post-wrath and get some chip in. Do it seven times, and you can steal a game with commander damage!</p>
<p>Speaking of functioning like haste, crewing Vehicles is an outside ability, so creatures that are summoning sick can still be used to crew. Crewing cares about power and protects the creature from combat (although that part I never understood from a Vorthos perspective: How does the destruction of a Vehicle not affect those crewing it? They must have excellent safety precautions!). Tails’s small toughness, therefore, is not all that important.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shorikai, Genesis Engine"></div></div>
<p>There are two primary commanders people tend to think of when it comes to Azorius Vehicles: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shorikai, Genesis Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Shorikai, Genesis Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kotori, Pilot Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Kotori, Pilot Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both of them happen to be in this deck, primarily because of how powerful they are.</p>
<p>Shorikai is a Vehicle that can be a commander, and it generates Pilots to crew itself and other Vehicles. It also functions as a card draw/selection engine and a means of loading up the graveyard. Kotori is a Pilot that alters crew costs to be crew 2, which can significantly lower the cost of crewing and enable aggressive turns. It also gives an artifact creature lifelink and vigilance on each of our combats.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kotori, Pilot Prodigy"></div></div>
<p>What sets Tails apart from the others, in addition to the IP and nostalgia factors, is that Tails combines the draw from Shorikai with the augmenting and crewing from Kotori. Tails draws a card when a Vehicle with flying enters or gives flying to a Vehicle entering without it.</p>
<p>Vehicles tend to have above-rate power and toughness, enabling them to attack for large amounts of power at the cost of needing to be crewed. Tails has a body that crews Vehicles easily and an ability that makes those above-rate Vehicles evasive. He combines what the others do well in one adorably aggressive package.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower" href="#" target="_blank">Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Tails’ primary need is Vehicles. A lot of them. Without Vhicles, he can still be an interesting tempo commander, but the Vehicles are where the draw engine and evasive addendums come into play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Copter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peacewalker Colossus"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the poster child for the power of Vehicles, having been banned in Standard almost as quickly as it entered. Speaking of it entering, it has flying, so Tails can draw a card when the Copter enters, and it can block and loot (hence the Looter Scooter nickname) the same turn it comes down.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peacewalker Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Peacewalker Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an ironically-named beater, given that it neither promotes peace nor walks (if Tails comes down first). It also has an activated ability that animates Vehicles, making it one of the more dangerous cards in the deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyberdrive Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armed and Armored"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dance of the Manse"></div></div>
<p>The reason why the Colossus is so dangerous is because it can animate multiple Vehicles. One of the downsides of playing too many Vehicles is that going up the crewing ladder has diminishing returns. Vehicles stacking up like Matryoshka dolls goes tall but not wide, and can only go as tall as the last Vehicle crewed.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> animates and pumps the Vehicles, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armed and Armored" href="#" target="_blank">Armed and Armored</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> animates, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dance of the Manse" href="#" target="_blank">Dance of the Manse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> <em>re</em>animates. All three of these cards make it so our collection of mechs can be controlled remotely; you could even call them autopilot cards!</p>
<p>One of the primary benefits Tails has over other Azorius Vehicles commanders is that he has a built-in engine: Each Vehicle entering either draws cards or gains flying. In order to use the card draw engine, we need to be casting multiple Vehicles in a turn, digging as deep as we can to try to find one of the autopilot cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etherium Sculptor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Foundry Inspector"></div></div>
<p>While digging, we don't want to be hamstrung on mana, so we need cost-reduction effects. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etherium Sculptor" href="#" target="_blank">Etherium Sculptor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one that comes to mind quickly, having fueled powerful artifact decks since players were just learning the name “Esper.” It and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foundry Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Foundry Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help to give the deck the velocity to rip through our library and fill up our garage with as many mechs, skyships, cars, and boats as we can fit.</p>
<p>A quality of Vehicles that's a double-edged sword is that they aren’t creatures when they aren’t crewed. This is a benefit in that they're difficult to remove: they can’t be hit by creature removal, mass or spot, on anyone else’s turn, unless we make them vulnerable. The downside is that it means that we're wide open to being attacked when they aren’t animated.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dispatch"></div></div>
<p>As a result, we need to pack removal for when opponents inevitably turn on us. Much of our removal is instant-speed stock removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dispatch" href="#" target="_blank">Dispatch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both of which exile opponents' threats for the low, low price of one white mana. We want stuff dead and not coming back, and we want it done for cheap, as our mana should be spent advancing our board.</p>
<h2>How Does This Miles "Tails" Prower Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Miles wins through a fairly linear play pattern: cast Vehicles, crew Vehicles, smash with Vehicles. He has an easier time smashing with them when they have flying and an easier time building the board by drawing off of the ones that already do.</p>
<p>What we're hoping to find through all of that digging is a mass animation spell, so that all of our Vehicles can attack, preferably with flying, and eliminate multiple opponents.</p>
<h2>Miles "Tails" Prower Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Miles" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Miles &quot;Tails&quot; Prower
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Aerial Surveyor
*1 Brotherhood Vertibird
*1 Cargo Ship
*1 Deluxe Dragster
*1 Imperial Recovery Unit
*1 Imposter Mech
*1 Mechtitan Core
*1 Mighty Servant of Leuk-o
*1 Mindlink Mech
*1 Mobile Garrison
*1 Mobilizer Mech
*1 Nautiloid Ship
*1 Parhelion II
*1 Peacewalker Colossus
*1 Prodigy&#039;s Prototype
*1 Reaver Titan
*1 Reckoner Bankbuster
*1 Salvation Engine
*1 Shorikai, Genesis Engine
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Surgehacker Mech
*1 The Indomitable
*1 The Lunar Whale
*1 The Regalia
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Thunderhawk Gunship
*1 Unidentified Hovership
*1 Unlicensed Hearse
*1 Weatherlight
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Aeronaut Admiral
*1 Cid, Freeflier Pilot
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Gold Myr
*1 Hotshot Mechanic
*1 Interface Ace
*1 Kitsune Ace
*1 Kotori, Pilot Prodigy
*1 Lita, Mechanical Engineer
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Palladium Myr
*1 Silver Myr
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stenn, Paranoid Partisan
*1 Vedalken Engineer
*1 Voyager Quickwelder
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Armed and Armored
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Dispatch
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Dance of the Manse
*1 Organic Extinction
*1 Vanquish the Horde
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*20 Island
*20 Plains
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a medium-speed engine-based deck, so those who enjoy midrange and fairly standard Commander strategies will like this. We also have just enough explosive power to appeal to those who enjoy combo decks.</p>
<p>It’s always fun to find an Azorius commander that doesn’t look to stifle opponents’ fun and/or creativity, and this one is a ton of fun to play, whether you like the IP or not!</p>


Building a Vehicles Deck with Miles "Tails" Prower

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://burmak.ru/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dmitry Burmak</a></em></p>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> has brought a unique twist on a seven-year old card type: Saga creatures. Across the premier set and Commander decks, there are 33 cards which either mention Sagas, are Sagas, or turn into Sagas.</p>
<p>The set even brings its own five-color Saga commander in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terra, Magical Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Terra, Magical Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She looks to be a fun commander, don’t get me wrong, but there was a phenomenal commander of the archetype printed two years ago: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This funny little guy, who showed up briefly in <em>The Fellowship of the Ring</em> only to never be seen again, ended up the third most popular commander from the <em>Lord of the Rings</em> set and 32nd overall.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tom Bombadil"></div></div>
<p>Tom and Terra have a similar desire to run a lot of Sagas, but there are some slight structural differences. It’s a valid choice to pick Terra, but if you’re already running the funny little God Bard, let me give you an idea of how to bring in some <em>Final Fantasy</em> spice to your established deck.</p>
<p>Let’s answer the age-old question: what if Tom Bombadil had been a gamer?</p>
<h2>What Does Tom Bombadil Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has two abilities. The first is a protective one, granting him hexproof and indestructible while you have enough lore counters on Sagas. The second is key: whenever a Saga you control finishes, you reveal cards from your library until you find a Saga to put directly onto the battlefield (once per turn).</p>
<p>Tom Bombadil won’t be interrupted while telling a story, and when he finishes one, he starts another! Very cool.</p>
<p>This is a midrange deck through and through. The Saga subtype, by its very nature, is incredibly geared towards the turn-by-turn accrual of resources. Some can turn it into more of a combo-style deck with the use of proliferate and other effects, but that will be fairly minimal here.</p>
<p>Tom’s purpose is staying on the battlefield and keeping the stories rolling. The rest of our deck will be Sagas or ways to maximize them, with an emphasis on what the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set has to offer!</p>
<h2>The Premise</h2>
<p>EDHRec has a fantastic little starting point for looking at older commanders: Average Deck. I used this to generate a general form of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. The average deck function is a good starting point, but don’t treat it as a final product.</p>
<p>The “average” Tom Bombadil deck only ran 35 lands and ran non-synergistic ramp spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nature&#039;s Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Nature&#039;s Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I did some trimming and weeding, while trying to keep the general tune intact… and voila! I present the typical Tom Bombadil deck, pre-<em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Average Tom Bombadil Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tom Bombadil
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strionic Resonator
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Archon of Sun&#039;s Grace
*1 Barbara Wright
*1 Eidolon of Blossoms
*1 Ghen, Arcanum Weaver
*1 Glissa Sunslayer
*1 Goldberry, River-Daughter
*1 Hex Parasite
*1 Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis
*1 Jukai Naturalist
*1 Narci, Fable Singer
*1 Sanctum Weaver
*1 Satsuki, the Living Lore
*1 Satyr Enchanter
*1 Scholar of New Horizons
*1 Setessan Champion
*1 Sigurd, Jarl of Ravensthorpe
*1 Sythis, Harvest&#039;s Hand
*1 Weaver of Harmony
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Azusa&#039;s Many Journeys // Likeness of the Seeker
*1 Binding the Old Gods
*1 Birth of the Imperium
*1 Elspeth Conquers Death
*1 Enchantress&#039;s Presence
*1 Encroaching Dragonstorm
*1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
*1 Historian&#039;s Boon
*1 In the Darkness Bind Them
*1 Inventive Iteration // Living Breakthrough
*1 Jugan Defends the Temple // Remnant of the Rising Star
*1 Kiora Bests the Sea God
*1 One Ring to Rule Them All
*1 Overgrowth
*1 Phyrexian Scriptures
*1 Scroll of Isildur
*1 Song of Eärendil
*1 Starfield of Nyx
*1 Sterling Grove
*1 The Akroan War
*1 The Bath Song
*1 The Cruelty of Gix
*1 The Elder Dragon War
*1 The Eldest Reborn
*1 The First Iroan Games
*1 The Horus Heresy
*1 The Kami War // O-Kagachi Made Manifest
*1 The Phasing of Zhalfir
*1 The Weatherseed Treaty
*1 There and Back Again
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Clockspinning
*1 Flicker of Fate
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dance of the Manse
*1 Resurgent Belief
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*2 Forest
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Indatha Triome
*2 Island
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Ketria Triome
*1 Misty Rainforest
*2 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Sandsteppe Citadel
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Stomping Ground
*2 Swamp
*1 Temple Garden
*1 The World Tree
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Zagoth Triome
*1 Ziatora&#039;s Proving Ground
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>According to a quick use of the Archidekt compare feature, my final rebuild and this deck share 73 cards. Let’s talk about it!</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Tom Bombadil</h2>
<p>The Tom Bombadil deck has three key needs: Sagas, ways to get value out of Sagas, and ways to manipulate Sagas. The high density of Sagas that we need to use means they need to fulfill basic roles like card draw, removal, and ramp. Some, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Binding the Old Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Binding the Old Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, do multiple!</p>
<p>As time goes on, we’ve gotten more and more role-filler Sagas that help this category become a stronger backbone for the old God Bard. An important new addition from <em>Final Fantasy</em> is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Fenrir" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Fenrir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Weatherseed Treaty" href="#" target="_blank">The Weatherseed Treaty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this is a three-mana Saga that immediately puts a basic land onto the battlefield before helping our board presence.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Fenrir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Song of Eärendil"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Elder Dragon War"></div></div>
<p>Our Sagas are good; they provide a lot of value, be it utility or board presence. But a deck with just that and normal Good Stuff isn’t going to cut it. Our deck is bent around the card subtype and can take advantage of that.</p>
<p>We have a handful of cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Historian&#039;s Boon" href="#" target="_blank">Historian&#039;s Boon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narci, Fable Singer" href="#" target="_blank">Narci, Fable Singer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which explicitly key off of Sagas. More generally, though, Sagas are enchantments, so we get to run some solid cards from your typical Enchantress build.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starfield Mystic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Historian&#039;s Boon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narci, Fable Singer"></div></div>
<p>Our deck is running 29 Sagas in total, which leads up to the next need: manipulating them. This can be the act of removing or adding lore counters to either keep getting certain triggers or speed through to the big value effect. Sagas have three to four turns over which to accrue value, but sometimes that takes too long.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Satsuki, the Living Lore" href="#" target="_blank">Satsuki, the Living Lore</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an auto-include for any Saga deck’s 99, being able to advance all our Sagas at once and recur one with her death trigger. Another one is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barbara Wright" href="#" target="_blank">Barbara Wright</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who gives our Sagas the read ahead ability, which lets us choose which chapter to start it on. If we have a low-impact Saga in hand and no Sagas ending that turn, we can drop it on its final chapter to ensure Tom Bombadil can pull up another one from the deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="O&#039;aka, Traveling Merchant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Satsuki, the Living Lore"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garnet, Princess of Alexandria"></div></div>
<p>The new <em>Final Fantasy</em> inclusions in this category are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="O&#039;aka, Traveling Merchant" href="#" target="_blank">O&#039;aka, Traveling Merchant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garnet, Princess of Alexandria" href="#" target="_blank">Garnet, Princess of Alexandria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They each remove lore counters and turn them into other resources. O’aka turns them into cards while Garnet turns them into power, both of which we’ll need to close out the game.</p>
<h2>How Does Tom Bombadil Win?</h2>
<p>In the mid-game, this is a graveyard deck. Sagas naturally put themselves in the graveyard, but we have several cards which help speed up that process, be it through mill, looting, surveilling, or what-have-you.</p>
<p>Once the dustbin is stocked, we can use cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Anikthea, Hand of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghen, Arcanum Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Ghen, Arcanum Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to start bringing those stories back. Bonus tech for Ghen: he can sacrifice a Saga in response to its final lore trigger to get a different one on the field.</p>
<p>We also get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuna, Hope of Spira" href="#" target="_blank">Yuna, Hope of Spira</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia, Summoner of Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia, Summoner of Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for this category, reanimating or even just replaying our Sagas as the game goes long.</p>
<p>This graveyard angle will accelerate the kind of value we can get out of our Sagas.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuna, Hope of Spira"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rydia, Summoner of Mist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos"></div></div>
<p>I mentioned previously in the article that a lot of our Sagas need to serve basic utility functions like ramp, draw, and removal. Another utility Sagas must take over is the win condition slot - the big splashy card that can turn the game around for us or lock it in place. Not a literal <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changer</a> necessarily, but in that vein.</p>
<p>One of the number-one cards in traditional lists is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kiora Bests the Sea God" href="#" target="_blank">Kiora Bests the Sea God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It creates a big threat, clears the way for a big swing, and then steals something on the way out. Classic, massive, very successful.</p>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Knights of Round" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Knights of Round</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> creates a massive board for us before pumping them and making them indestructible. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> rounds out our trio of Big Spells With Big Impact.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Horus Heresy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Knights of Round"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div></div>
<p>A final trick that the <em>Final Fantasy</em> games gives us are a handful of creatures that transform into Sagas and back, much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jin-Gitaxias" href="#" target="_blank">Jin-Gitaxias</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the other Praetors from <em>March of the Machine</em>. These DFCs are impactful, and the fact that their final chapters still trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s ability makes them even more so.</p>
<p>We don’t want to go overboard (since Tom can’t “find” them), but these three will be capable of turning games around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jin-Gitaxias"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Terra, Magical Adept"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant"></div></div>
<p>So there we have it. Tom deploys Sagas left and right, getting extra value out of them via lore counter tricks or graveyard shenanigans. If the overwhelming synergies from our light Enchantress core don’t pull it off, then one of our haymakers will.</p>
<h2>Tom Bombadil Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>And here’s our rebuild!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Rebuilding Tom Bombadil" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tom Bombadil
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aminatou, Veil Piercer
*1 Anikthea, Hand of Erebos
*1 Barbara Wright
*1 Bello, Bard of the Brambles
*1 Eidolon of Blossoms
*1 Garnet, Princess of Alexandria
*1 Ghen, Arcanum Weaver
*1 Herald of the Pantheon
*1 Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis
*1 Joshua, Phoenix&#039;s Dominant // Phoenix, Warden of Fire
*1 Jukai Naturalist
*1 Narci, Fable Singer
*1 O&#039;aka, Traveling Merchant
*1 Rydia, Summoner of Mist
*1 Sanctum Weaver
*1 Satsuki, the Living Lore
*1 Scholar of New Horizons
*1 Setessan Champion
*1 Starfield Mystic
*1 Summon: Bahamut
*1 Summon: Esper Valigarmanda
*1 Summon: Fenrir
*1 Summon: Knights of Round
*1 Summon: Titan
*1 Sythis, Harvest&#039;s Hand
*1 Terra, Magical Adept // Esper Terra
*1 Weaver of Harmony
*1 Yuna, Hope of Spira
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Strionic Resonator
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Awaken the Honored Dead
*1 Ballad of the Black Flag
*1 Binding the Old Gods
*1 Birth of the Imperium
*1 Elspeth Conquers Death
*1 Enchantress&#039;s Presence
*1 Encroaching Dragonstorm
*1 Estrid&#039;s Invocation
*1 Fertile Ground
*1 Historian&#039;s Boon
*1 In the Darkness Bind Them
*1 Khalni Heart Expedition
*1 Kiora Bests the Sea God
*1 One Ring to Rule Them All
*1 Scroll of Isildur
*1 Song of Eärendil
*1 The Aesir Escape Valhalla
*1 The Bath Song
*1 The Elder Dragon War
*1 The Eldest Reborn
*1 The First Iroan Games
*1 The Horus Heresy
*1 The Kami War // O-Kagachi Made Manifest
*1 The Phasing of Zhalfir
*1 The Weatherseed Treaty
*1 There and Back Again
*1 War of the Last Alliance
*1 Wild Growth
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Dance of the Manse
*1 Resurgent Belief
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Flicker of Fate
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*2 Forest
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Indatha Triome
*2 Island
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Ketria Triome
*2 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*2 Plains
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Sandsteppe Citadel
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Stomping Ground
*2 Swamp
*1 Temple Garden
*1 The World Tree
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Zagoth Triome
*1 Ziatora&#039;s Proving Ground
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tom Bombadil" href="#" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is basically a perfect Saga commander for those who want a straightforward experience with the fiddly card subtype. The hard commitment to a single card subtype narrows the field but increases the synergy. It’s a fun romp, strategically deploying Sagas and waiting for value until you start accelerating it.</p>
<p>The deck can stumble hard in the face of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cleansing Nova" href="#" target="_blank">Cleansing Nova</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Season of Gathering" href="#" target="_blank">Season of Gathering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but its graveyard and Enchantress lines help it rebuild. Just be aware when you’re playing lore counter manipulators of the potential choice fatigue or how turns can go long. It takes some learning, but it’s very rewarding.</p>


Rebuilding Tom Bombadil with Final Fantasy

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://nathaliefourdraine.crevado.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathalie Fourdraine</a></em></p>
<p>If you've reached this <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck tech with legitimately anything but the most villainous intentions, you may be disappointed to know that this deck, based around that most dastardly villain, is true to form.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dr. Eggman"></div></div>
<p>This deck revolves around <em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em>'s mad scientist antagonist and his Construct and Robot minions. Are you strapped in and ready for a ride? Let's go!</p>
<h2>What Does Dr. Eggman Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a discard commander, first and foremost. His ability to either cause a discard or force your opponent to allow you to put a Construct, Robot, or Vehicle onto the battlefield is a fairly intuitive one for your foes.</p>
<p>Spoiler alert: unless an opponent has a vital response to something and need to keep it in hand, they will generally opt to discard before they'll allow you to cheat in a Construct.</p>
<p>In addition, Dr. Eggman draws you a card at every one of your end steps. This further fuels the options you have handy for cheating in an artifact of some sort.</p>
<p>Finally, as a 3/6 body for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Dr. Eggman won't swing in for much damage, but he's a fantastic flying blocker much of the time.</p>
<h3>Which Commander Is Dr. Eggman Most Comparable To?</h3>
<p>On the surface, Dr. Eggman feels fairly similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Davros, Dalek Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Davros, Dalek Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Off the bat, they're both legendary Scientist creatures in the blue-black-red (Grixis) color identity. They're both <em>Universes Beyond</em> villains, and they are both relatively evil. These comparisons can't be ignored. Nevertheless, the biggest differences they share are in the villainous choice they offer your opponents.</p>
<p>Sure, both have something to do with board state advantage, card draw, and opposing discard. The buck stops there, however. Dr. Eggman affects all of your opponents automatically; Davros needs opponents to lose life before their pain can truly begin.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Davros, Dalek Creator"></div></div>
<p>As for the way this deck wants to operate, the strategy is that of an overwhelming force of Construct creatures, many of which are easy to cheat in with Dr. Eggman himself. With over 50 sources of mana and a glut of robotic creatures (if not Robot creatures), it's plausible to think the pilot of this deck will be able to power out the good Doctor sooner than players may expect, and then begin churning out value.</p>
<p>With the versatility of Constructs, the deck should be well-equipped to present many different tough situations for opponents.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Dr. Eggman</h2>
<p>Various good choices exist for a Dr. Eggman deck. Here, I'd like to highlight two key aspects of the deck:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strong Constructs and Robots for when your opponents make the wrong decision</li>
<li>Cards that punish opponents for making the <em>right</em> decision</li>
</ul>
<p>It's no surprise that, as soon as many people looked up this <em>Secret Lair</em> drop, they were encouraged to "always choose discard" when they face down Dr. Eggman. This is widely the right decision; after all, better the devil you know, right? ...Right?</p>
<h3>A Construct Toolbox for Your Hand</h3>
<p>Fret not, for there <em>is hope</em>! There are those foolish enough to forgo discarding without the foresight to properly estimate the versatility of the cards Dr. Eggman can and will eventually cheat into play. To that end, here are but three notable Constructs you could see in a Dr. Eggman deck many turns too early:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cityscape Leveler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrap Trawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cryptothrall"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cityscape Leveler" href="#" target="_blank">Cityscape Leveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is less scary when cast outright, but it can still spook your opponents enough into reconsidering the merits of discarding that pivotal counterspell or combat trick. Furthermore, its talents aren't completely lost if you don't cast it, for it also triggers on the attack. To that end, you're going to decimate many different permanents with this thing.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrap Trawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrap Trawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will also allow a Dr. Eggman player to keep a sizable grip on the deck's artifacts. If you've lost the aforementioned Cityscape Leveler, you might be consoled with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> you lost a couple of turns prior. Lost a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Here's a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Noxious Gearhulk" href="#" target="_blank">Noxious Gearhulk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for your pains. The possibilities are expansive and oh, so diabolical!</p>
<p>Let's also discuss <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptothrall" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptothrall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With as simple an ability as giving your artifact creatures hexproof, Cryptothrall is an unassuming threat in a deck with quite a few haymakers. However, when your opponents find they can't <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abrade" href="#" target="_blank">Abrade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> your other options, they'll realize they have to focus down a less overt card to get to anything else.</p>
<p>That's pretty evil, in all the best ways!</p>
<h3>Forcing Discards</h3>
<p>Plenty of cards exist in the general realm of Constructs for a commander like Dr. Eggman, and we'll get to them shortly. But how do we encourage opponents to decide to forgo discarding?</p>
<p>Three kinds of cards exist to assist this line of discard discouragement. Two are extremely familiar to most players experienced with discard themes in Commander. There's one more kind of card in this overarching category that is less obvious, although it's on the more salt-inducing end of things.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana&#039;s Caress"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waste Not"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Telepathy"></div></div>
<p><strong>Damage Upon Discard:</strong> Cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megrim" href="#" target="_blank">Megrim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Caress" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Caress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and similar all deal damage to an opponent upon discarding. These can add up to more damage than an opponent may feel comfortable taking. At the same time, they're also losing a valuable card in hand, so this eases the stress of a painful decision.</p>
<p><strong>Benefits Upon Discard:</strong> Roughly in the same vein as dealing damage upon discard, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waste Not" href="#" target="_blank">Waste Not</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> provide you with bonuses for making your opponent discard.</p>
<p>As such, perhaps your opponent doesn't want you to have an extra Zombie token blocker or draw an additional card. So, they'll discard a land (or allow you to cheat in a Construct) instead. Forcing the decision to make itself is a very strong tool in your arsenal.</p>
<p><strong>Informed Hand Control: </strong>This is a more subtle way to force your opponents to discard cards. If your opponents' hands are pretty full, it helps to know why. Therefore, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Telepathy" href="#" target="_blank">Telepathy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glasses of Urza" href="#" target="_blank">Glasses of Urza</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are prime pieces to use here. They allow you to both make informed decisions and strongarm opponents with a political factor.</p>
<p>Of the two, I prefer Glasses of Urza. With it, you can focus the fear upon other opponents by looking at one opponent's hand and monitoring their otherwise hidden hand. You're snooping, as usual, and that's only fair!</p>
<h2>How Does Dr. Eggman Win?</h2>
<p>Put simply, Dr. Eggman wants to run your opponents well out of options while slowly amassing a robotic legion and then overrunning them with said legion.</p>
<p>Notably, there are a few cards that allow you to double up on villainous choices and other abilities. When you have a critical mass of automatons and your opponents have no ready means of dealing with them, you'll be able to win in practically no time at all.</p>
<h2>Dr. Eggman Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Dr. Eggman" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Dr. Eggman
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cryptcaller Chariot
*1 Demonic Junker
*1 Foreboding Steamboat
*1 Glasses of Urza
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Jackdaw
*1 Mechtitan Core
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Relic of Sauron
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Creativity
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 The Falcon, Airship Restored
*1 The Last Ride
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Fevered Visions
*1 Funeral Room // Awakening Hall
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Liliana&#039;s Caress
*1 Sphinx&#039;s Tutelage
*1 Telepathy
*1 Waste Not
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Barbed Servitor
*1 Cityscape Leveler
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Cryptothrall
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goring Warplow
*1 K-9, Mark I
*1 Kuldotha Forgemaster
*1 Manakin
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Noxious Gearhulk
*1 PuPu UFO
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Rose, Cutthroat Raider
*1 Ruin Grinder
*1 Scavenged Brawler
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scrawling Crawler
*1 Silent Arbiter
*1 Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader
*1 The Valeyard
*1 Torrential Gearhulk
*1 Walking Atlas
*1 Y&#039;shtola Rhul
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Damnation
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Toxic Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Access Denied
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Counterspell
*1 Mana Leak
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Blackcleave Cliffs
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Crosis&#039;s Catacombs
*1 Crumbling Necropolis
*1 Darkslick Shores
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Gloomlake Verge
*1 Great Furnace
*3 Island
*1 Mana Confluence
*3 Mountain
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Raucous Theater
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Spirebluff Canal
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Sulfur Falls
*3 Swamp
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Undercity Sewers
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Xander&#039;s Lounge
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>In short, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dr. Eggman" href="#" target="_blank">Dr. Eggman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pretty imposing commander. He's similar to Davros in his triggering of a tough villainous choice. He's also very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in many related ways as well. If you're a fan of either of those commanders, you're certain to like Dr. Eggman.</p>
<p>So now, I'd like to hear from you, dear readers. Are you excited about the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-x-sonic-three-new-drops-officially-announced/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new <em>Secret Lair</em> drop series</a>, out July 14th? Would you play a Dr. Eggman deck? Do any of the other mechanically unique cards pique your deckbuilding interest? Sound off below!</p>


Constructing Evil With a Dr. Eggman Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By: <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CTuan+Duong+Chu%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuan Duong Chu</a>)</em></p>
<p>To Infinity and not Universes Beyond. Hello everyone, and welcome to another addition of <em>Tech The Deck</em>, this time with a card from the upcoming <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> set <em>Edge of Eternities.</em> Who, or better yet, <em>what</em> might be the card I am speaking of? Well, it is none other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kilo, Apogee Mind"></div></div>
<p>I'm incredibly excited about this upcoming set and jumped at the chance to do a deck tech for this card. And Kilo, respectfully... I'd tap that. With all that out of the way, let's dive into how I decided to take this card and build a Bracket 4 deck to maximize Kilo's insane tap ability.</p>
<h2>Tap, Tap, No Concede</h2>
<p>This deck has one primary plan: turn a specific creature sideways over and over. The combat step is irrelevant; all we care about is the number of times we can untap and tap <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Thanks to some cards from the format's past and cards much older than the average player remembers, we have plenty of ways at our disposal.</p>
<h3>Aura You Glad I Untapped?</h3>
<p>Two Auras in blue allow this deck to go off.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Freed from the Real"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pemmin&#039;s Aura"></div></div>
<p>These two cards might not have seen the inside of a sleeve, let alone a Commander pod, in some time, but thanks to Kilo, they're coming back with a vengeance. Each one has some slight benefits/drawbacks over the other, but both are an absolute must-run in this deck.</p>
<p>While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pemmin&#039;s Aura" href="#" target="_blank">Pemmin&#039;s Aura</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has more abilities granted to the creature it's enchanting, in this deck, two of the four options are irrelevant. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Freed from the Real" href="#" target="_blank">Freed from the Real</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only taps and untaps, but it has a more forgiving mana cost.</p>
<p>These two are the main highlights in the deck. Card draw and tutors like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gamble" href="#" target="_blank">Gamble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help us find these early and often.</p>
<p>The eagle-eyed among you have probably noticed that neither of these Auras has a free activation cost. While our commander's proliferation effect is strong, it alone does not make mana. So what are we to do?</p>
<h2>Making Mana</h2>
<p>Some of my favorite mana rocks make an appearance in this deck list.</p>
<p>I would bet almost every Magic player knows <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Everflowing Chalice" href="#" target="_blank">Everflowing Chalice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> well. And the charge counters found on it are perfect for our commander to proliferate. But I have an even better mana rock at my disposal. Feast your eyes on the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Astral Cornucopia" href="#" target="_blank">Astral Cornucopia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Astral Cornucopia"></div></div>
<p>The Cornucopia goes bananas in this or any deck that can proliferate the counters. Most times mana rocks such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are only kept slightly in check because they add colorless mana. But with Astral Cornucopia and our deck running on all cylinders, we can pump out <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> or <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> with ease.</p>
<p>The tricks don't stop there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paradise Mantle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Honor-Worn Shaku"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relic of Legends"></div></div>
<p>I have a slew of artifacts that allow for tapping of Kilo both for mana and for value.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystalline Crawler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Red Death, Shipwrecker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magda, Brazen Outlaw"></div></div>
<p>I even come packing creatures that tap for all sorts of options: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystalline Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Crystalline Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give us whatever color of mana we need; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Red Death, Shipwrecker" href="#" target="_blank">Red Death, Shipwrecker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to lock out an entire table if we can use the ability multiple times in a turn; And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magda, Brazen Outlaw" href="#" target="_blank">Magda, Brazen Outlaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make mana and tutor out any artifact we could want straight from the deck.</p>
<p>And artifacts are another central piece that allows us to win the game with this deck.</p>
<h2>The Artifacts</h2>
<p>Some combos in the game are complicated to explain. They're long and drawn out, and if you mess up even one step, the entire thing falls apart. Other combos are so devilishly simple, and that is what makes them great. I've found a way to pack both into this deck.</p>
<p>First up is the devilishly simple one, and the best one in the deck: the classic combination of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dramatic Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Dramatic Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div id="4821-5261" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="4821-5261" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Dramatic%20Reversal%22%2C%22Isochron%20Scepter%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20magecraft%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20mana%20nonland%20permanents%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Infinite%20storm%20count%22%2C%22Infinite%20untap%20of%20nonland%20permanents%20you%20control%22%5D&id=4821-5261&color=U&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p>Beautiful. This is the main combo that we want to assemble in this deck. Two open mana and the listed cards above, and then finding a way to win becomes trivial. Now onto the excitingly complicated one.</p>
<p>Combining the powers of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magosi, the Waterveil" href="#" target="_blank">Magosi, the Waterveil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resourceful Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Resourceful Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to give us infinite turns.</p>
<div id="757-4153-6702" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="757-4153-6702" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Kilo%2C%20Apogee%20Mind%22%2C%22Magosi%2C%20the%20Waterveil%22%2C%22Resourceful%20Defense%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20turns%22%5D&id=757-4153-6702&color=URW&extraRequirementCount=0"></script></div>
<p>I don't think that without <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander Spellbook</a>, I would be able to explain the above combo with any form of confidence. Either way, it's one of many combos in this deck, and that's one reason that Kilo is a "busted" commander.</p>
<p>I'd go so far as to say that Kilo is the epitome of a <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/find-my-combos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">combotastic</a> commander. With 34 combos inside and another 298 possible combos that would only need a single card addition, I'm living in the fast lane with this deck.</p>
<p>Never fear, though, Kilo does have plenty of cool lines that can be taken if you want a bit more spice when it comes to winning the game.</p>
<h2>Spice, Spice, Baby</h2>
<p>They say variety is the spice of life, and this deck has a fair bit of spice jammed inside the 99.</p>
<p>This is a proliferation deck after all, and one of the best proliferate cards comes courtesy of <em>Universes Beyond: Fallout</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Radstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> benefits significantly from the infinite storm count generated thanks to our Dramatic Scepter combo. And with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prologue to Phyresis" href="#" target="_blank">Prologue to Phyresis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a few other spells, I can kill a table thanks to poison counters if I so choose.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Reactor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prologue to Phyresis"></div></div>
<p>And since Radstorm is an instant, I can use it to speed up a clock on the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Reactor" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Reactor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> living in the deck.</p>
<p>One final combo I want to mention in the deck involves an overlooked card from <em>Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="There and Back Again" href="#" target="_blank">There and Back Again</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Now I did lie to you at the start of the article by saying "The combat step is irrelevant." It's just close enough to irrelevant for this deck that using this combo would be akin to a bank robber going to plan E when executing a heist.</p>
<div id="974-4183-4222" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="974-4183-4222" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Saheeli%2C%20the%20Sun's%20Brilliance%22%2C%22There%20and%20Back%20Again%22%2C%22Freed%20from%20the%20Real%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20colored%20mana%22%2C%22Infinite%20copies%20of%20artifacts%20you%20control%22%2C%22Infinite%20copies%20of%20creatures%20you%20control%22%2C%22Infinite%20creature%20tokens%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20mana%20creatures%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Infinite%20Treasure%20tokens%22%2C%22Infinite%20untap%20of%20creatures%22%5D&id=974-4183-4222&color=UR&extraRequirementCount=2"></script></div>
<p>Infinity is the name of the game when it comes to Kilo.</p>
<h2>PSA</h2>
<p>Now, I like Kilo. I like Kilo quite a bit. This is a very cool card, and one that I'm glad they showed off early. But I do think that it needs to come with a warning label. I built this deck as a Bracket 4 deck that's all in and fairly labeled as a "glass cannon." I don't think this is the only way that you can build Kilo, but I don't believe that anyone you play with will believe you when you tell them you have no combos in your Kilo deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deflecting Swat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smothering Tithe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div></div>
<p>A commander that's this easy to combo with is going to catch some strays, so I built this deck without going full cEDH, but I wanted to go as close as I could. That's why I run cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fierce Guardianship" href="#" target="_blank">Fierce Guardianship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for protection, fast mana, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and some truly hated cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Punches for this deck were not going to be pulled.</p>
<p>But that's not the only thing that can be done with Kilo. While players might not believe you at the start when you tell them you're using Kilo for a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/planeswalkers/jeskai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeskai Planeswalker</a> deck, trust that they'll come around the first time Kilo is tapped to add a counter to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jace Beleren" href="#" target="_blank">Jace Beleren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>On the Edge</h2>
<p>I'm more excited than I have been all year for the release of <em>Edge of Eternities</em>. I might not end up building a deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kilo, Apogee Mind" href="#" target="_blank">Kilo, Apogee Mind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and it's too early to tell if I want to put it into my personal Jeskai Superfriends list. But I will be looking to see what everyone does with this once players can get their hands on it.</p>
<p>What will you be doing once <em>Edge of Eternitie</em>s is released? Are you excited for Kilo in Commander? I'd like to know, so please share with me on Bluesky at nicnax96. Keep an eye out for all the upcoming content for the last "real <em>Magic</em>" set of the year. And if I ever run into you and Kilo at a commander table, tell me the number of combos in your deck.</p>
<h2>Kilo, Apogee Mind Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Tech The Deck - Kilo, Apogee Mind" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kilo, Apogee Mind
[/commander]
[Artifact]
*1 Agatha&#039;s Soul Cauldron
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Astral Cornucopia
*1 Darksteel Reactor
*1 Empowered Autogenerator
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Glistening Sphere
*1 Honor-Worn Shaku
*1 Isochron Scepter
*1 Mana Vault
*1 Paradise Mantle
*1 Pentad Prism
*1 Relic of Legends
*1 Rings of Brighthearth
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Springleaf Drum
*1 Strionic Resonator
*1 The One Ring
*1 Umbral Mantle
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*1 All Will Be One
*1 Freed from the Real
*1 Intruder Alarm
*1 Pemmin&#039;s Aura
*1 Resourceful Defense
*1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 There and Back Again
[/Enchantment]
[Creature]
*1 Anger
*1 Aphetto Alchemist
*1 Barrenton Medic
*1 Cayth, Famed Mechanist
*1 Coretapper
*1 Crystalline Crawler
*1 Fatestitcher
*1 Idris, Soul of the TARDIS
*1 Ioreth of the Healing House
*1 Kwain, Itinerant Meddler
*1 Laboratory Maniac
*1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
*1 O&#039;aka, Traveling Merchant
*1 Ornithopter of Paradise
*1 Red Death, Shipwrecker
*1 Saheeli, the Sun&#039;s Brilliance
*1 Spark Double
*1 Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus
*1 Unctus, Grand Metatect
[/creature]
[Sorcery]
*1 Contentious Plan
*1 Gamble
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Search for Glory
[/Sorcery]
[Instant]
*1 Counterspell
*1 Deflecting Swat
*1 Dramatic Reversal
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Experimental Augury
*1 Fierce Guardianship
*1 Prologue to Phyresis
*1 Radstorm
*1 Silence
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Steady Progress
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
[/Instant]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Karn, the Great Creator
[/Planeswalker]
[Land]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Desolate Lighthouse
*1 Elegant Parlor
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*2 Island
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Magosi, the Waterveil
*1 Meticulous Archive
*1 Minamo, School at Water&#039;s Edge
*2 Mountain
*1 Nesting Grounds
*2 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Raugrin Triome
*1 Riverpyre Verge
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Scalding Tarn
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Steam Vents
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Thundering Falls
*1 Training Center
[/Land]"></span></div>


Kilo, Apogee Mind Commander Deck Tech - Bracket 4

<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><i><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gogo, Mysterious Mime" href="#" target="_blank">Gogo, Mysterious Mime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CLee+Woo-chul%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Lee Woo-chul</a></i> | <i><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karlach, Fury of Avernus|SLD|1802" href="#" target="_blank">Karlach, Fury of Avernus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMila+Pesic%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Mila Pesic</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm|FDN|391" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CRaymond+Swanland%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Raymond Swanland</a></i></span></p>
<p>Hey nerds! I’m back with another <i>Final Fantasy </i>deck tech featuring one of the underrated commanders from the precons, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gogo, Mysterious Mime" href="#" target="_blank">Gogo, Mysterious Mime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gogo, Mysterious Mime"></div></div>
<p>While he might not be flashy or beloved like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi Ornitier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, he provides a fun gameplay loop that will keep games moving while showing off the power of turning creatures sideways.</p>
<h2>Gogo, Mysterious Mime</h2>
<p>Simply put, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gogo, Mysterious Mime" href="#" target="_blank">Gogo, Mysterious Mime</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> turns into other creatures you control until the end of the turn, gives himself and that creature haste, a small bump in power, and forces you to attack. Thankfully, he does keep his name, so you can copy legendary creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for some insane value.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for a similar commander with more colors, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isshin, Two Heavens as One" href="#" target="_blank">Isshin, Two Heavens as One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a solid option. Both are combat-focused commanders that are a blast to play and will have some overlap in pieces. But I prefer the obscure over the “mainstream,” which is why Gogo gets my vote.</p>
<p>When I first started building Gogo, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. One idea was a Pirate deck, but I wanted to take advantage of some of the big red creatures. So I decided to build mono-red midrange. Let’s just take all of the most fun red creatures, slam them into a deck and turn them sideways.</p>
<p>Gogo also makes a great pile deck commander. A pile deck is when you have a random pile of cards that you shuffle into your deck each game. My Gogo list has 32 creature slots, so you could shuffle in 32 random red creatures you love each game.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Gogo, Mysterious Mime</h2>
<p>For this article, I wanted to have an actual 99 you could look at, so I had to make some choices in the cards I added. Of the 32 creatures, there are several that should be played in most, if not all Gogo decks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overlord of the Boilerbilges"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been a creature that I’ve loved but has often disappointed me when I’ve tried it outside of my Dinosaur deck. The lack of haste and the big threat it poses will make it or its controller a target. But with Gogo, Etali can attack the turn it comes down and doubles the attack trigger.</p>
<p>Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great at cheating big creatures into play for a turn. If a creature is put into play with Ilharg’s ability, it doesn’t get its attack trigger. Which is why I made sure to add creatures with enters abilities like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inferno Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Inferno Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overlord of the Boilerbilges" href="#" target="_blank">Overlord of the Boilerbilges</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as prime candidates for being snuck in.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sneak Attack"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of sneaking, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is more affordable than ever and still one of the most fun red cards ever printed. And it isn’t just a powerful way to cheat on mana in this deck.</p>
<p>I treat Sneak Attack as a protection spell. We want our creatures to attack, and it's not like red has a ton of vigilance creatures. So instead of leaving our key threats in play to be removed, they get put back into hand, for use later. Also, because of how Sneak Attack is worded, if you wait until the end step right before your turn, you can use your open mana to sneak creatures in before your turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karlach, Fury of Avernus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fear of Missing Out"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moraug, Fury of Akoum"></div></div>
<p>What kind of red deck would I be without extra combats? The answer is not a fun one. I didn’t add any extra combat enchantments or spells. I decided to make this a creature-focused deck, which means I added everyone’s favorite girl, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karlach, Fury of Avernus" href="#" target="_blank">Karlach, Fury of Avernus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She gives two extra combats if copied with Gogo, which is more than fair.</p>
<p>One of the newest extra combat members to <i>Magic,</i> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fear of Missing Out" href="#" target="_blank">Fear of Missing Out</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> felt like a no-brainer. I might need to add more ways to get <em>delirium</em> online, but extra combat for two mana is powerful enough to test out.</p>
<p>And of course, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moraug, Fury of Akoum" href="#" target="_blank">Moraug, Fury of Akoum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> found a home here. Moraug can usually be found in green decks where <em>landfall</em> is easy to trigger. But fret not, red has some great <em>landfall</em> tools to get a bunch of combats.</p>
<p>The new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zell Dincht" href="#" target="_blank">Zell Dincht</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brewing-a-landfall-commander-deck-with-zell-dincht" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who deserves their deck tech</a>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Forge and Frontier" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Forge and Frontier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Notably, Sword of Forge and Frontier will prevent Gogo from copying the creature equipped with it. But it's still a powerful card, so the nonbo is worth including.</p>
<h2>How Does This Gogo, Mysterious Mime Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Winning with the deck is easy enough: You either turn creatures sideways or abuse the burn effects red has.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pyreheart Wolf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frontier Warmonger"></div></div>
<p>Turning creatures sideways gets easier with the help of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pyreheart Wolf" href="#" target="_blank">Pyreheart Wolf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frontier Warmonger" href="#" target="_blank">Frontier Warmonger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Turns out giving creatures menace makes them harder to block, especially if they already have flying or first strike. Trample creatures already get blocked by multiple bodies, so nothing changes there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonhawk, Fate&#039;s Tempest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drakuseth, Maw of Flames"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thundering Raiju"></div></div>
<p>Option number two is burn baby burn. Traditional burn decks don’t work great in Commander given the larger life totals and being a singleton format. Casting a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the face doesn’t hit the same when you need to deal 40. But when you have multiple instances of three, four, or five damage to everyone, it will quickly add up.</p>
<p>Aside from the two burn creatures mentioned above, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonhawk, Fate&#039;s Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonhawk, Fate&#039;s Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which isn’t just burn, but also card advantage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drakuseth, Maw of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Drakuseth, Maw of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has also been a big Timmy card that pumps out so much damage. And a creature I’m surprised not to see more often is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thundering Raiju" href="#" target="_blank">Thundering Raiju</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It not only grows Gogo, or other creatures in play, but also burns all opponents on attack.</p>
<p>I floated the idea of adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grafted Exoskeleton" href="#" target="_blank">Grafted Exoskeleton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to the deck to make the burn creatures more effective, but that's too mean for my liking.</p>
<h2><i>Gogo, Mysterious Mime </i>Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Mono Red Midrange" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gogo, Mysterious Mime
[/Commander]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Fire Magic
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Spikefield Hazard // Spikefield Cave
*1 Thunder Magic
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Untimely Malfunction
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Explorer&#039;s Scope
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Genji Glove
*1 Hazoret&#039;s Monument
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Forge and Frontier
*1 Tenza, Godo&#039;s Maul
*1 The Fire Crystal
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Wrecking Ball Arm
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Balor
*1 Combat Celebrant
*1 Crimson Caravaneer
*1 Dragon Mage
*1 Dragonhawk, Fate&#039;s Tempest
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dreadhorde Arcanist
*1 Elturel Survivors
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Fear of Missing Out
*1 Flamerush Rider
*1 Frontier Warmonger
*1 Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
*1 Inferno Titan
*1 Karlach, Fury of Avernus
*1 Laelia, the Blade Reforged
*1 Lightning, Security Sergeant
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Oliphaunt
*1 Overlord of the Boilerbilges
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Pyreheart Wolf
*1 Rose, Cutthroat Raider
*1 Ryan Sinclair
*1 Scourge of the Throne
*1 Squee, Dubious Monarch
*1 Star Athlete
*1 Synth Eradicator
*1 Tersa Lightshatter
*1 Thundering Raiju
*1 Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor
*1 Vincent, Vengeful Atoner
*1 Wildfire Eternal
*1 Zell Dincht
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
*1 Suplex
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Count on Luck
*1 Gimli&#039;s Reckless Might
*1 Sneak Attack
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Maze of Ith
*33 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Overall, if you’re looking for a fun and unique combat-focused deck, Gogo is exactly what you want. It was a blast picking which creatures I wanted to add. But I think Gogo’s real draw will be how open-ended he is. You can play all of your favorite red creatures in this deck and not be disappointed. Heck, you could even build an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Act of Treason" href="#" target="_blank">Act of Treason</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck and copy creatures you steal from your opponents.</p>
<p>Alrighty nerds, I’ll see you in the next one!</p>


Mono Red Beat Face: Gogo, Mysterious Mime

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Setzer, Wandering Gambler" href="#" target="_blank">Setzer, Wandering Gambler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CNorikatsu+Miyoshi%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Norikatsu Miyoshi</a></em></p>
<p>Whenever a new Commander product comes out, the legend that’s on the front of the box, as well as the backup commander, tend to hog the spotlight. Which means that the other new legendary creatures from the deck can fall by the wayside. That is especially true this time around, since the <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/fin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Final Fantasy</a></em> commander decks brought a total of 65 new legends to the format.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Setzer, Wandering Gambler"></div></div>
<p>One such legend that got left on the side of the road is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Setzer, Wandering Gambler" href="#" target="_blank">Setzer, Wandering Gambler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a Rakdos (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>)commander that cares about both flipping coins and driving Vehicles; which is such a fun combo!</p>
<p>So join me, Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, as I cover this wild deck list that you can pick up right now for less than $40.</p>
<h2>The Commander - Setzer, Wandering Gambler</h2>
<p>Hailing from <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Setzer, Wandering Gambler" href="#" target="_blank">Setzer, Wandering Gambler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which perfectly melds flavor and mechanics together on one card. In the game, this character runs a casino out of his traveling airship, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Blackjack" href="#" target="_blank">The Blackjack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Blackjack"></div></div>
<p>Not only does this commander make that Vehicle token when he enters, but he also adds some gambling to the mix.</p>
<p>Creating two tapped Treasures for each coin flip you win is very powerful, especially when you flip a coin anytime one of your Vehicles hits an opponent. I warn you, once you get a taste of this deck, you’re going to want more.</p>
<p>This article started as one of my normal <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/jenova-ancient-calamity-build-a-team-of-mutants-on-a-budget" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14 Cards for Under $14</a> lists, but I couldn’t stop myself from building out an entire 99.</p>
<p>While I was putting the deck together, the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edge-of-eternities-rules-update-vehicles-can-be-commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news came out that legendary Vehicles will be legal as your commander</a> starting with <em><a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/eoe">Edge of Eternities</a></em>. It was very fitting that I was putting together this fun list at the time, because my hype levels went through the roof.</p>
<p>Even though a Vehicle technically isn't leading this deck, the fact that the commander comes with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Blackjack" href="#" target="_blank">The Blackjack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a legendary Vehicle, feels close enough, right?</p>
<p>That being said, let's take a look at some of the other great Vehicles that fill out this decklist.</p>
<h2>The Vehicles</h2>
<p>Since your commander’s trigger is so strong, having a garage full of Vehicles is paramount for building this deck. First up, let's check out some great rides that ramp you.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">The Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mobile Homestead" href="#" target="_blank">Mobile Homestead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivator&#039;s Caravan" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivator&#039;s Caravan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Regalia"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mobile Homestead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cultivator&#039;s Caravan"></div></div>
<p>There’s also plenty of ways to dig further into your deck, while making you those Treasures along the way.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Weatherlight" href="#" target="_blank">Weatherlight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Copter" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Copter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mighty Servant of Leuk-o" href="#" target="_blank">Mighty Servant of Leuk-o</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Weatherlight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Copter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mighty Servant of Leuk-o"></div></div>
<p>Every deck needs a good level of removal, and these Vehicles can help with that as well.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Junker" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Junker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Crusader Shuttle" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Crusader Shuttle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skysovereign, Consul Flagship" href="#" target="_blank">Skysovereign, Consul Flagship</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Demonic Junker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Crusader Shuttle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skysovereign, Consul Flagship"></div></div>
<h2>The "Crewers"</h2>
<p>What’s a Vehicle without its pilot? This deck is filled with some really great “crewers” that ensure you always have someone to jump behind the wheel.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Speedway Fanatic" href="#" target="_blank">Speedway Fanatic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dynamite Diver" href="#" target="_blank">Dynamite Diver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathless Pilot" href="#" target="_blank">Deathless Pilot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Speedway Fanatic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dynamite Diver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deathless Pilot"></div></div>
<p>There’s also a few interesting creatures that can pull double duty in this deck. Either being a driver, or a value player.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ingenious Artillerist" href="#" target="_blank">Ingenious Artillerist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marionette Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Marionette Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forerunner of Slaughter" href="#" target="_blank">Forerunner of Slaughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ingenious Artillerist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marionette Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forerunner of Slaughter"></div></div>
<p>That last card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Forerunner of Slaughter" href="#" target="_blank">Forerunner of Slaughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, has some interesting synergies in this deck. Not only does it have high power, making it great to crew with, but it also gives you the opportunity to pay one mana and give that colorless Vehicle it just jumped in haste!</p>
<h2>Coin Flipping and Finishers</h2>
<p>Even though coin flipping will happen often in this deck, I didn't want to devote too many slots to that subtheme. Of course, if you have a random <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark&#039;s Thumb" href="#" target="_blank">Krark&#039;s Thumb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> laying around, be sure to include it in this list!</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Traprunner" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Traprunner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fighting Chance" href="#" target="_blank">Fighting Chance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tavern Scoundrel" href="#" target="_blank">Tavern Scoundrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Traprunner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fighting Chance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tavern Scoundrel"></div></div>
<p>Finally, we need to close out the game somehow, so here are just a few of the heavy hitting cards you can use to run over the rest of the table with.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cybership" href="#" target="_blank">Cybership</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Start Your Engines" href="#" target="_blank">Start Your Engines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Vertibird" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Vertibird</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cybership"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Start Your Engines"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brotherhood Vertibird"></div></div>
<h2>Setzer, Wandering Gambler Deck List</h2>
<p>The fun doesn’t stop there; the whole deck is filled with great hidden gems that work well with Setzer. So, be sure to check out the list here, and then go to <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/13901045/setzer_wandering_gambler_edhrec_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Archidekt to playtest the deck yourself!</a></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Budget Setzer, Wandering Gambler Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Setzer, Wandering Gambler
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
*1 Clockwork Droid
*1 Crime Novelist
*1 Deathless Pilot
*1 Dynamite Diver
*1 Flamewar, Brash Veteran // Flamewar, Streetwise Operative
*1 Forerunner of Slaughter
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goblin Traprunner
*1 Ingenious Artillerist
*1 King Macar, the Gold-Cursed
*1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Mastermind Plum
*1 Pain Seer
*1 Reckless Velocitaur
*1 Rose, Cutthroat Raider
*1 Speedway Fanatic
*1 Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader
*1 Swashbuckler Extraordinaire
*1 Tavern Scoundrel
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Adventurer&#039;s Airship
*1 Apocalypse Runner
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Brotherhood Vertibird
*1 Cultivator&#039;s Caravan
*1 Cybership
*1 Demonic Junker
*1 Dermotaxi
*1 Fleetwheel Cruiser
*1 Gastal Thrillroller
*1 Ghost Ark
*1 High-Speed Hoverbike
*1 Honeymoon Hearse
*1 Midnight Crusader Shuttle
*1 Mighty Servant of Leuk-o
*1 Mobile Homestead
*1 Ovalchase Dragster
*1 Phantom Train
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Skysovereign, Consul Flagship
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Copter
*1 Sol Ring
*1 The Falcon, Airship Restored
*1 The Regalia
*1 Thundering Chariot
*1 Untethered Express
*1 Weatherlight
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Opulence
*1 Okiba Reckoner Raid // Nezumi Road Captain
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Demand Answers
*1 Fanatical Offering
*1 Fighting Chance
*1 Hagra Mauling // Hagra Broodpit
*1 Wild Magic Surge
*1 Zoyowa&#039;s Justice
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Back on Track
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Stargaze
*1 Start Your Engines
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Tower
*1 Conduit Pylons
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drossforge Bridge
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Foul Roads
*1 Mech Hangar
*11 Mountain
*1 Promising Vein
*1 Restless Vents
*1 Rocky Roads
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*8 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 The Gold Saucer
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>A Few More Cards to Highlight</h2>
<p>Even though Rakdos isn’t the usual color combo for a Vehicle deck, you can see that there’s plenty of great cards you get access to, especially in black. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="King Macar, the Gold-Cursed" href="#" target="_blank">King Macar, the Gold-Cursed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pain Seer" href="#" target="_blank">Pain Seer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> having inspired makes for a great combo with all that crewing. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Okiba Reckoner Raid" href="#" target="_blank">Okiba Reckoner Raid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apocalypse Runner" href="#" target="_blank">Apocalypse Runner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are interesting ways to give some evasion, which can in turn makes you more Treasures.</p>
<p>Then cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Falcon, Airship Restored" href="#" target="_blank">The Falcon, Airship Restored</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Back on Track" href="#" target="_blank">Back on Track</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give more options for recurring your big threats.</p>
<p>Of course, we can’t overlook those <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/bot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transformers</a> cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starscream, Power Hungry" href="#" target="_blank">Starscream, Power Hungry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flamewar, Brash Veteran" href="#" target="_blank">Flamewar, Brash Veteran</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Both give you ways to draw some additional cards, while also being Vehicles that don’t have to be crewed on their other sides.</p>
<p>Finally, I just want to shout out some more great role-players I found while putting this list together. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mastermind Plum" href="#" target="_blank">Mastermind Plum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is incredible in the late game, when you can double and even triple spell with your Treasures, drawing you cards on each cast. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rose, Cutthroat Raider" href="#" target="_blank">Rose, Cutthroat Raider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> not only adds to your artifact count, but also brings you both mana and card advantage just for attacking your opponents.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swashbuckler Extraordinaire" href="#" target="_blank">Swashbuckler Extraordinaire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives your Treasures additional utility by adding double strike to your creatures, which will in-turn trigger your commander's coin flipping a few more times.</p>
<p>Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marionette Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Marionette Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ingenious Artillerist" href="#" target="_blank">Ingenious Artillerist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> help you weaponize those Treasures whenever they enter or go to the graveyard, which just pressures your opponents' life totals even more than before.</p>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>So, there you have it, a budget Rakdos Vehicle deck led by Setzer, Wandering Gambler that’s an absolute blast to pilot!</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments which cards you would include in this list. Feel free to throw out some non-budget options as well, just in case someone wants to drop more than this deck’s $40 price tag. Good luck out there, and may your coins land how you call 'em!</p>


A Super Fun Setzer, Wandering Gambler Budget Deck | Coin Flips &#038; Vehicles Galore

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar, King of Figaro" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar, King of Figaro</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://jakemurraystudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Murray</a></em></p>
<p>As an avid commander player, I'm always trying to find unique ideas to build decks around, and when I saw <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar, King of Figaro" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar, King of Figaro</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> during <em>Final Fantasy</em> spoiler season, there was something about it I couldn't ignore.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edgar, King of Figaro"></div></div>
<p>The first part is incredibly powerful on its own. Drawing a ridiculous amount of cards attached to an "enters" trigger seems extremely good. However, I was drawn in by the second line of text, and it has haunted me ever since.</p>
<p>Auto-winning your first coin flip? That <em>has</em> to be good, right?</p>
<p>Upon closer inspection, most cards that flip coins are based in red, <em>not</em> blue. We have two amazing coin-flip decks that live in the Izzet world with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> partnered with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Okaun, Eye of Chaos" href="#" target="_blank">Okaun, Eye of Chaos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yusri, Fortune&#039;s Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Yusri, Fortune&#039;s Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Okaun, Eye of Chaos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yusri, Fortune&#039;s Flame"></div></div>
<p>Would Edgar be a slam dunk inclusion in those decks? Yes, absolutely. But...what about his own coin flip deck? Is that even possible?</p>
<p>Let me show you what I have in mind...</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Edgar, King of Figaro...Our version</h2>
<h3>Category #1: The Flippers</h3>
<p>As previously stated, not a lot of "flip a coin" cards exist in mono-blue, so the list here is pretty small. Ironically enough, they're all artifacts, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom" href="#" target="_blank">Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the only exception.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Creepy Doll"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boompile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crooked Scales"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creepy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Creepy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a funny little effect that can act as the perfect blocker;</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boompile" href="#" target="_blank">Boompile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leaves a board wipe completely up to chance;</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crooked Scales" href="#" target="_blank">Crooked Scales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an expensive, but humorous, way to remove a problematic creature;</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Lyre" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Lyre</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can punish opponents when we have a critical mass of creatures;</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Gold Saucer" href="#" target="_blank">The Gold Saucer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a land that can create Treasures in a pinch;</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sorcerer&#039;s Strongbox" href="#" target="_blank">Sorcerer&#039;s Strongbox</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can potentially allow us to draw three cards;</li>
<li>and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krark&#039;s Thumb" href="#" target="_blank">Krark&#039;s Thumb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us have more control over our flips.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Lyre"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Gold Saucer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Krark&#039;s Thumb"></div></div>
<p>Obviously, these cards aren't incredible, but that leads us perfectly into the next category...</p>
<h3>Category #2: Bridging the Gap = Copying Artifacts</h3>
<p>The best way to get the most out of our pretty underwhelming coin flippers, is simple: copy them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clever Impersonator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Metamorph"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Machine God&#039;s Effigy"></div></div>
<p>This can be through permanents that enter as copies, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clever Impersonator" href="#" target="_blank">Clever Impersonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Metamorph" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Metamorph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Machine God&#039;s Effigy" href="#" target="_blank">Machine God&#039;s Effigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Or it can be through spells that create token copies, like:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Steps Ahead" href="#" target="_blank">Three Steps Ahead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam" href="#" target="_blank">Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Echo Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Echo Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cackling Counterpart" href="#" target="_blank">Cackling Counterpart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Replication Technique" href="#" target="_blank">Replication Technique</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quasiduplicate" href="#" target="_blank">Quasiduplicate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Or it can be through consistent copies being made every turn with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extravagant Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Extravagant Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mechanized Production" href="#" target="_blank">Mechanized Production</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nexus of Becoming" href="#" target="_blank">Nexus of Becoming</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Three Steps Ahead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Echo Storm"></div></div>
<p>We may need our artifacts to be creatures in order to copy them, that's why we run cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Silver Golem" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Silver Golem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, the Great Creator" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, the Great Creator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, Silver Golem"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, the Great Creator"></div></div>
<p>Now, I'm sure you're wondering, Why would we waste our time copying cards that aren't amazing? And that's a great question. The coin flip guarantee on our commander is cool, sure, but this deck and its copy shenanigans has a trick up its sleeve...or should I say a <em>trap</em>...</p>
<h3>Category #3: Booby Trap(s)</h3>
<p>No good king is complete without a little <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Booby Trap" href="#" target="_blank">Booby Trap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to protect his castle. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Booby Trap" href="#" target="_blank">Booby Trap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a hilariously janky card that I've never seen in Commander, but it's also a card that is <em>begging</em> to be copied.</p>
<p>Just think about it: you have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lantern of Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Lantern of Insight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play so you know what your opponents have coming. You play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Booby Trap" href="#" target="_blank">Booby Trap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> naming an opponent and their top card. You copy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Booby Trap" href="#" target="_blank">Booby Trap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, choosing another opponent and naming their top card. And so on.</p>
<p>It's "Magical Christmas Land," sure, but it might just be crazy enough to work. Ten damage is not a small amount.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Booby Trap"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lantern of Insight"></div></div>
<p>The deck is functionally a copy-centric deck, where you want to copy your coin flippers, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Booby Trap" href="#" target="_blank">Booby Trap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or both.</p>
<p>Janky? Sure. Fun? Absolutely.</p>
<h2>Edgar, King of Figaro Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>Check out my decklist below!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Edgar, King of Figaro and his Booby Traps" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Edgar, King of Figaro
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Artificer Class
*1 Court of Vantress
*1 Extravagant Replication
*1 Mechanized Production
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Adric, Mathematical Genius
*1 Astral Dragon
*1 Clever Impersonator
*1 Creepy Doll
*1 Displacer Kitten
*1 Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
*1 Etherium Sculptor
*1 Faerie Mastermind
*1 Gogo, Master of Mimicry
*1 Hulking Metamorph
*1 Karn, Silver Golem
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Threefold Thunderhulk
*1 Treasure Mage
*1 Trinket Mage
*1 Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Echo Storm
*1 Fabricate
*1 Quasiduplicate
*1 Relm&#039;s Sketching
*1 Replication Technique
*1 Season of Weaving
*1 Will of the Temur
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Booby Trap
*1 Boompile
*1 Crooked Scales
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Goblin Lyre
*1 Grinning Totem
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Krark&#039;s Thumb
*1 Lantern of Insight
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Lithoform Engine
*1 Machine God&#039;s Effigy
*1 Midnight Clock
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Misleading Signpost
*1 Nexus of Becoming
*1 Prototype Portal
*1 Sculpting Steel
*1 Simulacrum Synthesizer
*1 Skyclave Relic
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sorcerer&#039;s Strongbox
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Wirefly Hive
*1 Worldwalker Helm
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Cackling Counterpart
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Three Steps Ahead
*1 Whir of Invention
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Karn, the Great Creator
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Crystal Vein
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Emergence Zone
*1 Fomori Vault
*1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*17 Island
*1 Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
*1 Mirrorpool
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Saprazzan Skerry
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Talon Gates of Madara
*1 The Gold Saucer
*1 The Mycosynth Gardens
*1 Treasure Vault
[/Lands]"></span></div>


Brewing Around....Booby Trap? Starring: Edgar, King of Figaro

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>On Monday, June 30th, 2025, Wizards of the Coast officially banned several cards in the Standard format. The ban list now has seven new additions compared with the day before. But what are these seven cards, and why were they banned? Read on!</p>
<h2>The New Cards on the Standard Ban List</h2>
<p>The new cards banned in Standard are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cori-Steel Cutter" href="#" target="_blank">Cori-Steel Cutter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abuelo&#039;s Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Abuelo&#039;s Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monstrous Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Monstrous Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartfire Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Heartfire Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Up the Beanstalk" href="#" target="_blank">Up the Beanstalk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hopeless Nightmare" href="#" target="_blank">Hopeless Nightmare</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough" href="#" target="_blank">This Town Ain&#039;t Big Enough</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>At this time, no other formats have banned any additional cards (except Pioneer Best-of-1 on Arena, which banned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tibalt&#039;s Trickery" href="#" target="_blank">Tibalt&#039;s Trickery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). The only format with new cards on its ban list is Standard.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Monstrous Rage"></div></div>
<h3>Were Any of These Bans Surprising?</h3>
<p>Many players drafted up their proverbial ban list Bingo cards in advance of the June 30th announcement.</p>
<p>A lot of players seemed to believe that Cori-Steel Cutter and Monstrous Rage were set to be added to the list. These players were absolutely right, as were players anticipating a Beanstalk ban, as well as This Town Ain't Big Enough.</p>
<p>Some ambiguity came for the Omniscience Combo deck, however; players seemed unsure of how Wizards of the Coast would account for that deck.</p>
<p>In the end, Wizards chose to ban Abuelo's Awakening to impact the deck. Wizards also banned Heartfire Hero and Hopeless Nightmare to stabilize Standard even further.</p>
<h2>Will This Stabilize Any Prices?</h2>
<p>At the time of writing, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cori-Steel Cutter" href="#" target="_blank">Cori-Steel Cutter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sitting at an approximate $9 average price, with the market value at approximately $6.50. Multiple formats value the card as a utility Equipment for Voltron Commander decks and the previously considered mono-red aggro decks in Standard, among potential others.</p>
<p>With Cori-Steel Cutter now on the Standard ban list, Commander players should have a considerably easier time acquiring the card.</p>
<p>Beyond that, none of these cards were particularly expensive, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Abuelo&#039;s Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Abuelo&#039;s Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at a more-than-reasonable market value of $0.25 and the rest of the cards being of lower rarities.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Up the Beanstalk" href="#" target="_blank">Up the Beanstalk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a notable exception; in early May, Beanstalk, the core for the "Beans" deck, was sitting comfortably around $4, but now it has sunk to a market value of just over $1 per copy.</p>
<p>So, to sum this up, it stands to reason that the market will probably stabilize for these cards, if they haven't already stabilized prior to the bans.</p>
<p>And now, we open the floor to you. Are any of your Standard decks affected by <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/banned-and-restricted-june-30-2025">these additions to the Standard ban list</a>? Are you drafting up new Standard lists? Alternatively, have you been playing Standard at all? Sound off below!</p>


Ban List Update for June 30th, 2025 Shakes up Standard

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern|plg25|1" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/david_alvarez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Alvarez</a></em></p>
<p><em>Magic Presents: Pride</em> happened this past weekend, and it was a dazzling success in many ways.</p>
<p><em>Wizards of the Coast</em> was busy with <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/celebrate-pride-at-your-local-game-store-and-beyond#Seattle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their attendance at Seattle Pride</a>, showing their support of the LGBTQIA+ community while keeping consistent with their company goals. While this was happening, many <em>Magic</em> players attended the <em>Magic Presents</em> event.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chromatic Lantern|PLG25|1"></div></div>
<p>A lot of players came to show their support and solidarity with the community, while others showed up for the awesome <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Lantern|PLG25|1" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Lantern</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> promo. Regardless of the reason, the event was generally a rousing success.</p>
<p>I went to <em>Magic Presents: Pride</em> this past Sunday, and here's how it went for me!</p>
<h2>The Games</h2>
<p>Playing a variant of Commander is usually a great time for all involved. After all, we're all willingly entering into a social contract by agreeing to new or variant rules. Heck, we're all entering a social contract by playing Commander, <em>Magic</em>, or most any game at all.</p>
<p>This variant for <em>Magic Presents: Pride</em> allows each player to have two commanders as though they had the partner mechanic.</p>
<h3><em>Magic Presents: Pride -</em> Game 1</h3>
<p>I got to play two full games before I had to leave, and here's how the layout of the partner commanders went for Game 1:</p>
<ul>
<li>Player 1 had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clive, Ifrit&#039;s Dominant" href="#" target="_blank">Clive, Ifrit&#039;s Dominant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might" href="#" target="_blank">Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. His game plan here was to draw cards for value, pitch lands if necessary, and provide an aggressive strategy overall.</li>
<li>Player 2 had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aisha of Sparks and Smoke" href="#" target="_blank">Aisha of Sparks and Smoke</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vikya, Scorching Stalwart" href="#" target="_blank">Vikya, Scorching Stalwart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This player's overall intent was a Voltron-style strategy with Aisha/Ken, but in a partner variant, Vikya/Ryu also put in much work here.</li>
<li>Player 3 ran their first deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig" href="#" target="_blank">Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma" href="#" target="_blank">Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This deck was generally one that plays large creatures, makes Yorvo even larger, and does what green does best: stomp face.</li>
<li>I ran <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. My deck was a run-of-the-mill Aristocrats build, which wanted to slowly drain the life from my opponents.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div></div>
<p>Notably, the gameplay for the first game lacked any blue involvement. The Clive deck ran very smoothly, drawing upwards of seventeen cards upon Clive hitting the battlefield.</p>
<p>After this, Player 1 managed to spit almost every card he drew onto the field, as well as Ojer Axonil. He did what he had to do, and was content with that when I defeated him with a ton of Aristocrat-based damage off of Sephiroth and his emblem. I mainly had tob on account of his <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunspine Lynx" href="#" target="_blank">Sunspine Lynx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which was keeping me off of lifegain for the majority of that game.</p>
<p>After this, I was taken down by Player 2, and Player 3 followed suit. It turns out, Ken and Ryu are <em>very</em> potent partners both in <em>Magic</em> and the <em>Street Fighter</em> series! And while I lost handily, it was a great game to play under the partner variant rules for Pride.</p>
<h3><em>Magic Presents: Pride</em> - Game 2</h3>
<p>Our second game saw a couple of changes to decks, my own included:</p>
<ul>
<li>Player 1 shifted over to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jolrael, Voice of Zhalfir" href="#" target="_blank">Jolrael, Voice of Zhalfir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as her partner. This deck focused on animating lands with Jolrael while putting a ton of pressure on the table through these flying lands attacking most every turn.</li>
<li>Player 2 kept his game plan the same. Aisha and Vikya proved invaluable to Player 2 and he still needed to figure out a few shifts he needed to eventually make to the deck.</li>
<li>Player 3 shifted decks to a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glarb, Calamity&#039;s Augur" href="#" target="_blank">Glarb, Calamity&#039;s Augur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> build with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azusa, Lost but Seeking" href="#" target="_blank">Azusa, Lost but Seeking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as his partner. This deck was a Sultai (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) value pile, also focusing on land ramp like the Jolrael deck.</li>
<li>Ever true to form, I shifted to my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. You can see the exact list for this deck <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/group-slugging-with-kefka-court-mage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by clicking here</a>. My partner was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chainer, Nightmare Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Chainer, Nightmare Adept</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, chosen to give Kefka haste when he hit the battlefield. The game plan here is largely the same as in my deck tech. But, giving Kefka haste was a great plan as well, and went quite smoothly for the most part.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kefka, Court Mage"></div></div>
<p>Kefka did a lot for the majority of the game, but struggled to keep up in the end. I kept Players 2 and 3 from gaining life with a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Screaming Nemesis" href="#" target="_blank">Screaming Nemesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before trying to lock down hands with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Words of Waste" href="#" target="_blank">Words of Waste</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waste Not" href="#" target="_blank">Waste Not</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, by then my opponents managed to have a big enough board to keep the pressure on me until I lost.</p>
<p>I <em>did</em> manage to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disrupt Decorum" href="#" target="_blank">Disrupt Decorum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> before going down, which changed the pacing of the endgame, but it proved fruitless as Jolrael's land creatures weren't affected.</p>
<p>At the end of the game, Glarb and Azusa came out on top. I predicted that Aisha and Vikya could have ended things, but alas, it wasn't to be.</p>
<h2>The Good</h2>
<p>I appreciated how everyone got to do their thing in these games. I am certain that other pods in the optional event also saw similar success in that vein. It was fun to see the Clive/Ojer Axonil deck pop off before being summarily extinguished.</p>
<p>I didn't get to do everything I wanted with Sephiroth, but that game was a great one nonetheless. Additionally, in Game 2, I got to do a lot of what Kefka typically wants to do (partly thanks to Chainer curving into Kefka), so I was content with being taken down as well.</p>
<p>The Glarb/Azusa deck was terrifying and completely deserved the win it got, even if it was also running the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Oracle" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Oracle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Consultation" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Consultation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> combo.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p>These were amazingly fun games of Commander. The partner mechanic on all manner of combinations was a real sight to behold and it was great to see so many different kinds of decks spawn from the variant. However...</p>
<h2>The Less-Good</h2>
<p>We ran into a few issues tracking commander damage. The main problem came from Player 2 having both Aisha and Vikya leading a Voltron deck; both could have easily led the deck without the partner variant. There was a bit of confusion as to which commander was doing what damage in this case, namely, in the second game. However, this <em>was</em> quickly discerned soon thereafter, and for the most part, that was all fine afterwards.</p>
<p>Other than that, the event went without a hitch for us. The issue of commander damage tracking is why I'm glad this event happens once a year, give or take other special occasions. I wasn't a huge fan of having to track multiple commanders whose damage mattered as much as it did. However, I'm more than happy to attend future events like this!</p>
<p>Just, please, maybe reconsider the double-Voltron strategy next time.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>If you find yourself in a position where you can attend <em>Magic Presents: Pride</em> in the future, please attend! It's a great event and a good chance to connect to people you otherwise might not know. Also, you're supporting an important and marginalized group of people by attending this event, by way of solidarity. The event is fully optional, but if you do these events, you could also claim a promotional card.</p>
<p>No matter what, I am happy to attend this event in the future as well. But let's open the floor to you, dear readers. Did you attend the event this past weekend? What partner commanders did you run? Sound off below!</p>


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