Throne of Eldraine Set Review – Black

Epic Experiment - Anje Living End

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baird, Steward of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Baird, Steward of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://christinechoi.artstation.com/">Christine Coi</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p>In this article we'll be taking thing slowly with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baird, Steward of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Baird, Steward of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baird, Steward of Argive"></div></div>
<p><strong>Creatures can't attack you or a planeswalker you control unless their controller pays {1} for each of those creatures.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>He's a lock piece in the command zone. This can be quite useful in the right shell, since he'll always be available to us.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Paying one mana for each attacking creature is not that much of a burden on our enemies. To be effective, we need to stack multiple instances of this type of effect.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>He can be used both aggressively and defensively. When used as an aggro tool, he allows us to attack with less fear of repercussion. When used as a defensive tool, he relieves some of the pressure our enemies might bring.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>Four mana is a lot for a mono-white commander.</p>
<p>Observation 5:</p>
<p>It's a shame that he doesn't have access to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I know that it's a great card and many non-blue decks would also love to play it, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baird, Steward of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Baird, Steward of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would really appreciate not only the Study's draw ability but also<em> </em>its taxation effect.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Baird-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-38377 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Baird-Sig.png" alt="" width="604" height="322" /></a>Here we can see that people, by stacking multiple tax effects, try to establish a board state that makes it difficult for their opponents to attack back, or even play cards. This type of support is needed because, as I mentioned before, paying one generic mana to attack isn't that much of an imposition on our enemies.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>Baird is a lock piece in the command zone - that is, he prevents them from doing something they probably want to do. He wants to slow the game down and from there take over the game by slowly accruing incremental value. Planeswalkers thrive in this style of gameplay, and the best part is that Baird can help us protect them with his ability. This at first seems like kind of an obvious direction for a Baird deck, but astonishingly, it isn't. The lack of Superfriends decks with Baird at the helm might be a symptom of the his low popularity.</p>
<p>This list will be divided, mainly, in two parts: lock pieces and planeswalkers. The first will stop our enemies from doing what they like, which paves the way for us to do what <em>we </em>like, and for our wincons to slowly grind our opponents out of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peacekeeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Torpor Orb"></div></div>
<p>For lock pieces we are looking for ways to enhance our commander's tax ability. These effects may vary from making all spells cost more to play, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere of Resistance" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere of Resistance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thorn of Amethyst" href="#" target="_blank">Thorn of Amethyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue" href="#" target="_blank">God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or even adding extra copies of Baird's effect with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Norn&#039;s Annex" href="#" target="_blank">Norn&#039;s Annex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archangel of Tithes" href="#" target="_blank">Archangel of Tithes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Peacekeeper" href="#" target="_blank">Peacekeeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In a similar fashion, we're also running a creature-hosing kit with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cursed Totem" href="#" target="_blank">Cursed Totem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meekstone" href="#" target="_blank">Meekstone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Torpor Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Torpor Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making it difficult for our opponents to pull ahead in the game.</p>
<p>The last batch of stax is more proactive, opting for a more direct approach to slowing our opponents down. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smokestack" href="#" target="_blank">Smokestack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes them sacrifice a number of permanents each turn; this can be a dangerous card to play, but our deck can easily negate its downside with the sheer number of tokens we can generate with our planeswalkers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rule of Law" href="#" target="_blank">Rule of Law</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethersworn Canonist" href="#" target="_blank">Ethersworn Canonist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, at first, each seem a bit like a nonbo with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baird, Steward of Argive" href="#" target="_blank">Baird, Steward of Argive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but consider that each of these cards make recovering from a board wipe extremely difficult.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ugin, the Ineffable"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gideon, Jura"></div></div>
<p>For our planeswalker suite, we're rocking 14. They don't seem like all that much in a vacuum, but once we have a firm grasp on the game they quickly show their value. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a win condition and a board staller. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Scion of Urza" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Scion of Urza</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a way to generate card advantage, and he has the added benefit of providing a body to block when necessary. <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> works as both a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Null Rod" href="#" target="_blank">Null Rod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect and a small clock. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teyo, the Shieldmage" href="#" target="_blank">Teyo, the Shieldmage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nice addition that can help block on the ground by providing a couple of Walls and giving us hexproof. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Ineffable" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Ineffable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the best planeswalkers available to us; he draws us cards, provides chump blockers, and he has a little bit of mana acceleration built in, making him a true all-around card.</p>
<p>Aside from the main structure of the deck, there're a few support cards that are worth mentioning: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contagion Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Contagion Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn&#039;s Bastion" href="#" target="_blank">Karn&#039;s Bastion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the <em>Proliferate</em> on-demand cards, which is very helpful when trying to sustain our planeswalkers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karmic Justice" href="#" target="_blank">Karmic Justice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes it very dangerous for our opponents to destroy any of our lockdown pieces. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arena Rector" href="#" target="_blank">Arena Rector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nice way to cheat into play one of our bigger planeswalkers (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn Liberated" href="#" target="_blank">Karn Liberated</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin, the Spirit Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin, the Spirit Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div id="mtgh_34bc4" class="mtgh">
<div class="header"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Baird Superfriend Prison" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Baird, Steward of Argive
[/Commander]
[Planeswalker]
*Gideon of the Trials
*Teyo, the Shieldmage
*Ajani, Strength of the Pride
*Elspeth, Knight-Errant
*Gideon, Champion of Justice
*Karn, Scion of Urza
*Karn, the Great Creator
*The Wanderer
*Elspeth Tirel
*Gideon Jura
*Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion
*Ugin, the Ineffable
*Karn Liberated
*Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
[/Planeswalker]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Meekstone
*Relic of Progenitus
*Sol Ring
*Coldsteel Heart
*Cursed Totem
*Fellwar Stone
*Heart of Kiran
*Marble Diamond
*Mind Stone
*Pearl Medallion
*Prismatic Lens
*Sphere of Resistance
*Thorn of Amethyst
*Torpor Orb
*Treasure Map
*Winter Orb
*Extraplanar Lens
*Hedron Archive
*Smokestack
*The Chain Veil
*Norn&#039;s Annex
*Caged Sun
*Contagion Engine
*God-Pharaoh&#039;s Statue
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Land Tax
*Dawn of Hope
*Luminarch Ascension
*Rest in Peace
*Grasp of Fate
*Karmic Justice
*Oath of Gideon
*Rule of Law
*Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantment]
[Creature]
*Ethersworn Canonist
*Peacekeeper
*Archangel of Tithes
*Arena Rector
[/Creature]
[Instant]
*Enlightened Tutor
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshares
*Disenchant
*White Sun&#039;s Zenith
*Ignite the Beacon
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Fragmentize
*Call the Gatewatch
*Day of Judgment
*Wrath of god
*Austere Command
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Ancient Tomb
*Buried Ruin
*Inventors&#039; Fair
*Karn&#039;s Bastion
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*Secluded Steppe
*29 Snow-Covered Plains
[/Land]"></span></div></div>
<div></div>
<div>
<hr />
</div>
<p>The biggest issue with the list, and with mono-white in general, is the lack of card draw; this makes our games somewhat dependent on starting hands and/or lucking out with our draws. Aside from that, the deck runs pretty smoothly, with lots of answers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="White Sun&#039;s Zenith"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Luminarch Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawn of Hope"></div></div>
<p>Aside from the aforementioned wincons, we can still win the game by beating down our opponents with tokens. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="White Sun&#039;s Zenith" href="#" target="_blank">White Sun&#039;s Zenith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great flexible finisher that can be cashed out early in the game if needed. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luminarch Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Luminarch Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good constant source of tokens. It's reasonably easy to get online, but still we shouldn't be slamming it down until we can protect ourselves.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>For our opening hand, we want some sort of acceleration and a lock piece; the planeswalkers can come later on. The most important part here is curving out well and making sure our own lockdown and taxation effects don't affect our own board.</p>
<p>In the early game, we need to accelerate our mana by playing our mana rocks. The difference between playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smokestack" href="#" target="_blank">Smokestack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or even any random planeswalker on turn three instead of turn four is huge, because that could give our opponents the time they need to pull ahead of us. In many cases, there's no coming back from that especially against ramp-heavy decks.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, we should hope to have assembled some sort of combination of lockdown effects. Having multiple of those is really important because, when alone, they are usually only a small nuisance, but together, they absolutely prevent our enemies from playing effectively. This is usually the time when we need to start thinking about playing planeswalkers, and our decision to play or not should be based on board state and whether or not we can protect them. Sometimes, if we have multiple in hand, we can try to test the waters, but I would take caution since we can't recover them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gideon, Champion of Justice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ignite the Beacon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Chain Veil"></div></div>
<p>By the late game it becomes a bit easier to take over the board with an active planeswalker or two. By this point most of the creature-heavy decks have already lost gas because of our numerous board wipes. However, our taxing effects can become obsolete quite quickly (that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rule of Law" href="#" target="_blank">Rule of Law</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't all that threatening once people are in top-deck mode), and the "political tool" that we lose by playing this kind of deck can be too much for us to recover from. Be very precise with your timing, both when you choose to deploy the tax and stax effects <em>and </em>when you choose to deploy your win conditions. That's how you'll emerge victorious.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>This list was light on the token subtheme; going forward, I could see how investing more oon the token strategy could be enjoyable. Alternatively, we could go the other way around and opt for more of a "hatebears" approach with effects like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thalia, Guardian of Thraben" href="#" target="_blank">Thalia, Guardian of Thraben</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leonin Arbiter" href="#" target="_blank">Leonin Arbiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Adding mass land destruction spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Armageddon" href="#" target="_blank">Armageddon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can also be quite effective at locking people out of the game; just be sure to check with your playgroup if they're okay with it, since it's not everyone's cup of tea.</p>
<p>If you feel that you're getting aggro'd by the table, investing into more board wipes and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Prison" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Prison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects might help taking the edge off you.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Helm of the Host"></div></div>
<p>One fun little "combo" that I see very often is equipping <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of the Host" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of the Host</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to our commander. This might be a bit clunky, but it's fun and should be considered when investing heavily into tokens.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did it manage to defend our planeswalkers? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Baird Superfriend Prison

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://steveprescott.com/">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p>In this article we'll be exploring one of the most open-ended creature-based commanders there is: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roon of the Hidden Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Roon of the Hidden Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roon of the Hidden Realm"></div></div>
<p><strong>{2}, T: Exile another target creature. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>He can target opponents' creatures, which can act as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maze of Ith" href="#" target="_blank">Maze of Ith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect in a pinch.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>There's an implicit timing restriction for his ability, meaning that we can't use it to blink <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Snake" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Snake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s. At least, not successfully.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>He can help blank removal spells pointed at our creatures.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Let's take a quick look on how folks are building him:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37810" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Sig.png" alt="" width="541" height="294" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37811" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Roon-Top.png" alt="" width="532" height="293" /></a></p>
<p>It's not surprising that Roon decks have lots of good value creatures and a bunch of additional blink/flicker abilities aside from just Roon to help take advantage of those abilities over and over and over.</p>
<p>But that's so <em>Commander 2013! </em>It's 2019, which means it's time to mix things up and let Roon try something he hasn't done before!</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>There are lots of cool tribes out there, but there's only one that has the highest density of ETB effects per creature, not to mention lots of potential for chaining them on the same turn. Which tribe? Allies, of course!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harabaz Druid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tajuru Warcaller"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ondu Cleric"></div></div>
<p>Allies are a tribe from the <em>Zendikar</em> blocks and are spread across all five colors. Most of them trigger whenever they or another Ally enter the battlefield, which eventually became known as the keyword <em>Rally. </em>This means that we can use our commander to make sure that we get maximum value from our Allies.</p>
<p>While we don't have access to all the Allies, the ones we have can make an impact: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero of Goma Fada" href="#" target="_blank">Hero of Goma Fada</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows our team to swing freely. We can even board wipe without having to lose creatures in the process. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lantern Scout" href="#" target="_blank">Lantern Scout</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make trading blows with us a losing proposition. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seascape Aerialist" href="#" target="_blank">Seascape Aerialist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> helps our attacks connect. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Beastmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Beastmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pump the team to get more damage in.</p>
<p>Yeah. Allies are pretty awesome.</p>
<p>With the printing of a new batch of Changeling cards in <em>Modern Horizons</em>, tribes without much love in their colors got a huge boost, especially white-inclusive tribes. We have plenty of new toys to proc our Allies, although it's important to not go overboard with them because they need a board to work. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birthing Boughs" href="#" target="_blank">Birthing Boughs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a constant source of <em>Rally</em> triggers, which can also be activated at instant speed for extra shenanigans. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chameleon Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Chameleon Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valiant Changeling" href="#" target="_blank">Valiant Changeling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are reasonably threatening by themselves, but the fact that they're Changelings makes them that much more dangerous. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Irregular Cohort" href="#" target="_blank">Irregular Cohort</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a double trigger the turn that it comes down, which can be quite explosive, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Entity" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Entity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great finisher that can help us pass through board stalls.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shamanic Revelation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vanquisher&#039;s Banner"></div></div>
<p>For our draw engine, we're heavily invested on creature-based draw effects: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pulls double duty by allowing us to draw cards when our creatures come out and when they attack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sea Gate Loremaster" href="#" target="_blank">Sea Gate Loremaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are on the slower side, but given the potential card draw, it's completely justified.</p>
<p>Oh, and on the subject of tribal cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Summons" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Summons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is absolutely nuts! There's no other way to put it, this card allows for many different lines of play, and they all involving putting an astounding number of creatures on the battlefield.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Roon Allies" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Roon of the Hidden Realm
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Hada Freeblade
*Beastcaller Savant
*Halimar Excavator
*Harabaz Druid
*Jwari Shapeshifter
*Kazandu Blademaster
*Kor Bladewhirl
*Metallic Mimic
*Ondu Cleric
*Oran-Rief Survivalist
*Skyrider Elf
*Unsettled Mariner
*Avian Changeling
*Farhaven Elf
*Kabira Evangel
*Knight of Autum
*Lantern Scout
*Makindi Patrol
*Mirror Entity
*Umara Raptor
*Veteran Warleader
*Wood Elves
*Chameleon Colossus
*Graypelt Hunter
*Irregular Cohort
*Talus Paladin
*Hero of Goma Fada
*Kor Entanglers
*Munda&#039;s Vanguard
*Sea Gate Loremaster
*Seascape Aerialist
* Tajuru Warcaller
*Turntimber Ranger
*Tajuru Beastmaster
*Valiant Changeling
*Craterhoof Behemoth
[/Creature]
[Instant]
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshare
*Worldly Tutor
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Eladamri&#039;s Call
*Heroic Intervention
*Kindred Summons
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Rampant Growth
*Day of Judgment
*Skyshroud Claim
*Triumph of the Hordes
*Wrath of God
*Creeping Renaissance
*Shamanic Revelation
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Birthing Boughs
*Panharmonicon
*Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifact]
[Enchantment]
*Cathars&#039; Crusade
*Kindred Discovery
*True Conviction
[/Enchantment]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Ally Encampment
*Unclaimed Territory
*Exotic Orchard
*Breeding Pool
*Hallowed Fountain
*Temple Garden
*Canopy Vista
*Prairie Stream
*Glacial Fortress
*Hinterland Harbor
*Sunpetal Grove
*Adarkar Wastes
*Brushland
*Yavimaya Coast
*Temple of Enlightenment
*Temple of Mystery
*Temple of Plenty
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*8Forest
*3Island
*6Plains
[/Land]"></span></div><br />
</p>
<hr />
<p>Aside from all those Allies, the list is pretty much a straightforward Bant value town, with creatures in the place of common staples (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farhaven Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Farhaven Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wood Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Wood Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead of the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package), so that we may acquire more value by using our commander.</p>
<p>For finishers we have mostly massive pumps for our army to do its work: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great for us because he's a finisher that can be tutored with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eladamri&#039;s Call" href="#" target="_blank">Eladamri&#039;s Call</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathars&#039; Crusade" href="#" target="_blank">Cathars&#039; Crusade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> starts out slower, but it benefits greatly from the constantly entering creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True Conviction" href="#" target="_blank">True Conviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> escalates extremely well, but at the cost of being somewhat unreliable and color-intensive.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Panharmonicon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div></div>
<p>The few slots left in the deck are devoted to covering our bases, with ramp and interaction. This is flexible and should be adjusted according to your meta, so take this model as a suggestion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>We aren't really picky with our opening hand; a few lands and some creatures are really all we need. Hands with ways to accelerate are highly recommended since the deck can always find a use for any spare mana.</p>
<p>In the early game we need to sequence our creatures to get the most value possible from them. Usually that means that we're playing beaters first, creatures with fun ETB effects afterward, and Changelings last. We should be aggressive early on because our creatures can grow so quickly, but they lack the evasion without proper support. The best part of the deck is that we get to play aggro early game, but we can also grind like no other!</p>
<p>When we get to the mid-game, our options vastly increase. Roon can flicker any of our Allies to re-trigger their excellent effects. However, the expansion of our horizons also brings with it a tricky period for us: we have a lot of little abilities, but none that can take over the game just yet. Board wipes are also devastating to us as a creature-heavy deck, so make sure to keep an eye out for those.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Summons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Craterhoof Behemoth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cathars&#039; Crusade"></div></div>
<p>In the late game, unlike the mid-game, our mana potential gives us the opportunity to have explosive turns. Even a single <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tajuru Warcaller" href="#" target="_blank">Tajuru Warcaller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can boost things on its own, but with enough creatures flickering back into play, it's game over for the unwitting opponent.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>For potential changes, I would strongly recommend adding more recursion spells if your meta is full of board wipes. It might even be prudent to add a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or two. Replacing some of our spells to add more value creatures could also be powerful, but beware of the timing restrictions of Roon's ability.</p>
<p>Many of our creatures grow using +1/+1 counters, so adding more support for a counter-based strategy is a nice touch. Alternatively, if you want a more combo-focused list, you can pretty easily convert this deck into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Surge" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Surge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halimar Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Halimar Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help us mill our opponents, and adding some haste enablers will allow us to win on the turn we combo.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Did we save Zendikar? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Roon Allies

Epic Experiment - Protean Hulk

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://cynthia-sheppard.squarespace.com/">Cynthia Sheppard</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC! I’m Bernardo Melibeu and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p>In this article we're going to explore one very competitively focused commander, known for her ability to provide both card advantage and the ability to cheat mana costs: we're talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge"></div></div>
<div class="card-text-box" lang="en">
<div class="card-text-oracle">
<p><strong>Flying</strong></p>
<p><strong>When Jeleva, Nephalia’s Scourge enters the battlefield, each player exiles the top X cards of their library, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast Jeleva.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Whenever Jeleva attacks, you may cast an instant or sorcery card exiled with it without paying its mana cost.</strong></p>
</div>
</div>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>To consistently benefit from her second trigger, we need a deck with a high number of instants and sorceries. It's true that we can use our opponents' spells, but we can't rely on what we <em>might</em> reveal from their decks.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>In a way, Jeleva can emulate <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset, Enlightened Master" href="#" target="_blank">Narset, Enlightened Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> by chaining extra turn spells. This isn't infinite, but it can put us so far ahead that it might not matter.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Although it looks like she wants top-deck manipulation, it's kind of hard to set it up since we need to cast a spell or use an ability to manipulate our library and then cast Jeleva shortly afterward.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>Counterspells are a bit of a nonbo here.</p>
<p>Observation 5:</p>
<p>Jeleva scales as the game goes, but if she's removed too early, we might lose some crucial spells.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Let’s see how folks usually build Jeleva:</p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jeleva-Sig.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-36375 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jeleva-Sig.png" alt="" width="677" height="354" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jeleva-Top.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-36376 aligncenter" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Jeleva-Top.png" alt="" width="620" height="345" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, big spells are the name of the game. We have multiple splashy effects to cheat out with Jeleva, plus a few ways to support them. What's fun about this section in particular is how both lists don't seem to match; on one hand we have explosive cards with big effects, but on the other, we have reactive cards, full of counterspells and board wipes. This just shows us that the average deck prefers to be more on the controlling side, using Jeleva as a way to get card advantage.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fists of Flame"></div></div>
<p>The inspiration for this deck came from a new card from <em>Modern Horizons: </em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fists of Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Fists of Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is an amazing spell for decks that draw lots of cards, but it's even better if we have ways to copy it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge" href="#" target="_blank">Jeleva, Nephalia&#039;s Scourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the ability to grab a bunch of combat-related spells, which may include extra combat phases, and chain them together to get bigger with every hit.</p>
<p>For pump effects, we have a few fun inclusions. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very powerful one-shot tool for both Voltron and non-Voltron commanders alike. In this deck, the card is more powerful because we have ways to copy it, not to mention our ability to generate extra combat phases! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it needs a little extra support. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychotic Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Psychotic Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an efficient cantrip that gives our commander double strike. Finally, there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rush of Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Rush of Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which will double Jeleva's power. That one requires some setup, but the payoff more than makes up for the opportunity cost. The rest of the pumps varies between haste enablers, protection, and straight-up power boosts.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relentless Assault"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fury of the Horde"></div></div>
<p>To support this strategy we're running a ton of extra combat steps and extra turn spells. This will lead us to a chain of attacks all in a row, which can be frowned upon, but hey, we're playing a 1/3 as a Voltron commander! For extra combat, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fury of the Horde" href="#" target="_blank">Fury of the Horde</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relentless Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Relentless Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seize the Day" href="#" target="_blank">Seize the Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="World at War" href="#" target="_blank">World at War</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They all work similarly, providing extra combat steps, which allow Jeleva to chain through more spells and pump herself even higher! Extra turn spells can also help with this; they're a lot less explosive, but have the added benefit of accelerating board-state development, which can be crucial in a slow-ish Voltron deck.</p>
<p>For our non-instants/sorceries, we have a few cards that can help us get through longer games. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leering Emblem" href="#" target="_blank">Leering Emblem</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> acts as a double <em>Prowess</em> trigger, which gets crazy with the extra combat steps. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Strionic Resonator" href="#" target="_blank">Strionic Resonator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pulls double duty as it doubles both Jeleva's ETB and attack triggers. This is recommended for those longer games where we would need to cast her again and again. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aria of Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Aria of Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a recent addition to the format, and a welcome addition to this deck. This card allows us to interact with other players, which gives us reach and effectively cuts down the amount of commander damage we need to deal to the whole table.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Jeleva Voltron" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards=""></span></div></div>
<div>[Commander]</div>
<div>*Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge</div>
<div>[/Commander]</div>
<div>[Instant]</div>
<div>*Boon of Erebos<br />
*Brainstorm<br />
*Brute Force<br />
*Built to Smash<br />
*Crimson Wisps<br />
*Dive Down<br />
*Expedite<br />
*Fervent Strike<br />
*Mental Note<br />
*Mystical Tutor<br />
*Opt<br />
*Pongify<br />
*Rapid Hybridization<br />
*Samut's Sprint<br />
*Shadow Rift<br />
*Tainted Strike<br />
*Thought Scour<br />
*Titan's Strength<br />
*Unnatural Endurance<br />
*Cyclonic Rift<br />
*Fists of Flame<br />
*Invigorated Rampage<br />
*Lim-Dul's Vault<br />
*Psychotic Fury<br />
*Reality Shift<br />
*Run Amok<br />
*Temur Battle Rage<br />
*Uncanny Speed<br />
*Chaos Warp<br />
*Long-Term Plan<br />
*Rush of Blood<br />
*Uncaged Fury<br />
*Hatred<br />
*Savage Beating<br />
[/Instant]</div>
<div>[Sorcery]</div>
<div>*Maximize Velocity</div>
<div>*Ponder</div>
<div>*Preordain</div>
<div>*Reckless Charge</div>
<div>*Serum Visions</div>
<div>*Sleight of Hand</div>
<div>*Chart a Course</div>
<div>* Doublecast<br />
*Recoup<br />
*Bonus Round<br />
*Winged Words<br />
*Damnation<br />
*Mizzix's Mastery<br />
*Relentless Assault<br />
*Seize the Day<br />
*Temporal Manipulation<br />
*Time Warp<br />
*World at War<br />
*Fury of the Horde<br />
*Blasphemous Act</div>
<div>[/Sorcery]</div>
<div>[Artifact]</div>
<div>*Sol Ring<br />
*Dimir Signet<br />
*Fellwar Stone<br />
*Izzet Signet<br />
*Leering Emblem<br />
*Rakdos Signet<br />
*Strionic Resonator<br />
*Talisman of Creativity<br />
*Talisman of Dominance<br />
*Talisman of Indulgence<br />
*Chromatic Lantern<br />
[/Artifact]</div>
<div>[Enchantment]</div>
<div>*Aria of Flame<br />
*Thousand-Year Storm<br />
[/Enchantment]</div>
<div>[Land]</div>
<div>*Arid Mesa<br />
*Bloodstained Mire<br />
*Flooded Strand<br />
*Marsh Flats<br />
*Misty Rainforest<br />
*Polluted Delta<br />
*Prismatic Vista<br />
*Scalding Tarn<br />
*Verdant Catacombs<br />
*Wooded Foothills<br />
*Blood Crypt<br />
*Steam Vents<br />
*Watery Grave</div>
<div>*Smoldering Marsh<br />
*Sunken Hollow</div>
<div></div>
<div>*Canyon Slough<br />
*City of Brass<br />
*Mana Confluence<br />
*Dragonskull Summit<br />
*Drowned Catacomb<br />
*Sulfur Falls<br />
*Shivan Reef<br />
*Sulfurous Springs<br />
*Underground River<br />
* Riptide Laboratory<br />
*3 Mountain<br />
*2 Island<br />
*2 Swamp</div>
<div>[/Land]</div>
<div>[/Deck]</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<hr />
<div>As you can see, this list is pretty tight and doesn't have all that much fat to cut. One thing that needs to be reiterated is that counterspells don't really play well with our strategy, as we usually don't have all that much mana to keep them up, and revealing one from a Jeleva ETB trigger is a nonbo. Instead, we're running protection spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dive Down" href="#" target="_blank">Dive Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can help us avoid single-target removal.</div>
<div></div>
<div><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bonus Round"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doublecast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thousand-Year Storm"></div></div></div>
<div></div>
<div>When I first started to conceptualize this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects were some of the main types of cards that I wanted to be sure to include. However, after some testing, they showed to be unreliable, becoming a dead draw when exiled with Jeleva while also not working properly with extra combat spells. Even though that was the case for most of them, there were a few that were actually good enough to be playable: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doublecast" href="#" target="_blank">Doublecast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the fixed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fork" href="#" target="_blank">Fork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for this deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bonus Round" href="#" target="_blank">Bonus Round</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great way to get lots of value from all our pumps and can be played with Jeleva. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while not the most competitive card, felt like it deserved a slot, just because it's fun.</div>
<div></div>
<div>We are running an extremely high number of instants/sorceries, which leaves us with very limited slots for other card types. As a consequence, we're going very light on lands, with a high number of fetchlands. This low land count/high fetch ratio improves our hit rate with our commander when exiling cards off the top of our library. This proposition could be dangerous for the usual deck, but because of the amount of combat tricks in our deck, we're also very light on mana costs.</div>
<div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
<p>This deck can be very explosive, but it can also feel very underpowered at times. Knowing which hands to keep is a crucial skill to learn. Keepable hands usually contain at least two lands and a mana rock, the better to land a turn three Jeleva, or even a turn four Jeleva with haste if we can run out an enabler. Chaining through cantrips can also work for games that are expected to go long.</p>
<p>Once Jeleva is on the battlefield, we need to start thinking about the sequence of our spells; the order in which we play our spells can definitely matter and we'll be severely punished by misplays. This will vary from game to game, but I'll advise you to first engage in some "weak" attacks (without committing too much) just so that we don't raise alarms. From there, we can try do some real damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chart a Course"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winged Words"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Strionic Resonator"></div></div>
<p>Mid-game we might start running out of gas, but lucky for us, our commander is a card advantage machine and can help us either on the battlefield or in the command zone. This is the stage where we can do the most damage, but it's also harder to keep her safe. Going slower isn't as much of a problem if we're having difficulties in keeping Jeleva alive, because we can always give her haste and start slingling spells right off the bat. The biggest problem, however, is when we're stuck with no Jeleva and a hand full of combat tricks.</p>
<p>For our late game, even single-target removal can slow us down considerably, and we won't have the cards to consistently pump Jeleva. That being said, if we ever cast her for 8 or more and untap with her, it's very likely that we'll able to finish someone off with all those awesome spells.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Experimental Frenzy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcane Denial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haze of Rage"></div></div>
<p>This was a hard one, but the result seems very fun to play. If you want to take this deck for a spin, you might consider some of the following adjustments:</p>
<p>Adding more draw with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Experimental Frenzy" href="#" target="_blank">Experimental Frenzy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and/or wheel effects. This can help us climb our way back to a game with raw card advantage.</p>
<p>If your meta proves to be more control-heavy, it might be prudent to add some counterspells. If it has many fliers, more unblockability. If you want to be even more explosive, you could add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haze of Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Haze of Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? What do you think about this take on Voltron? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Epic Experiment - Jeleva Voltron

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, The Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, The Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://zezhouchen.com/">Zezhou Chen</a>)</h6>
<h1>Epic Preparations</h1>
<p><span id="m_7985745279735501680gmail-docs-internal-guid-971aaafd-7fff-35c2-bef7-2bbb00875c9e">Hello EDHREC! I’m Bernardo Melibeu and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally play our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</span></p>
<p>This week we'll be exploring one very unique commander: she's a literal Aura in the command zone. Yes, I'm talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, the Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, the Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kestia, the Cultivator"></div></div>
<p><strong>Bestow 3GWU</strong></p>
<p><strong>Enchanted creature gets +4/+4.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Whenever an enchanted creature or enchantment creature you control attacks, draw a card.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>Kestia is an unique take on the "Voltron formula," as she can provide the pump instead of the body.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Her draw power is great, but it's also confusing because the type of deck that likes to play Auras on creatures doesn't enjoy enchanting multiple creatures.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>Even if we consider enchanting one creature, having an additional draw that can turn into a new creature after the original one gets destroyed is still impressive.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p>There's something to be noted on her rebuilding power when she's an Aura since, even if the enchanted creature dies, we still get a body that can draw us cards.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p>Now let's see how folks usually build her:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35699" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kestia-Sig.png" alt="" width="685" height="373" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-35700" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Kestia-Top.png" alt="" width="691" height="371" /></p>
<p>If you pay attention to Kestia's most popular cards, you'll see that they mostly come from <em>Commander 2018, </em>the set in which <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kestia, the Cultivator" href="#" target="_blank">Kestia, the Cultivator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was released. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we often call the "Precon Effect," which sometimes skews the data, biasing the recommendations on EDHREC toward cards that were already in the product with Kestia, and which were left in lists when people put the stock decklists online. In some situations, this effect can distort the options that may actually be superior in the commander's deck.</p>
<p>However, this is <em>not</em> one of those times. Most of these cards are pretty much staples of enchantress and Aura-based Voltron decks. The only main difference between Kestia and her fellow enchantment-matters commanders is the number of enchantment creatures she runs - which is obvious, considering her ability.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<p>Now that we've seen what Kestia wants, which archetype could enjoy this particular kit? If you guessed <em>Infect</em>, you're right... and also potentially a Phyrexian. <em>Infect</em> plays like a more aggressive Voltron deck, but rather than relying on the commander to do all the work, it uses a bunch of sub-par creatures to do the job. With the right kind of build, it can be really fast, since it only takes 10 poison counters to finish a player off.</p>
<p>This has made the strategy into a bit of a boogieman of the format, but contrary to popular belief, <em>Infect</em> is generally a weak archetype. It has all the downsides of a Voltron deck, with the additional complication of inconsistency, since, unlike Voltron, we have to build a deck with a mix of threats and pump effects, rather than Voltron's streamlined deck of just pump and protection spells. There are many strong opinions regarding <em>Infect </em>in Commander, but suffice it to say that trying to build a deck that fits this archetype presents some hurdles that are not immediately obvious, while still providing a number of intriguing options to consider.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spinebiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blighted Agent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Swarmlord"></div></div>
<p>Let's talk about some of our <em>Infect</em> creatures, many of which feel like draft chaff. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blighted Agent" href="#" target="_blank">Blighted Agent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might be one of the best <em>Infect</em> creature ever printed, in that it's both cheap and evasive. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blight Mamba" href="#" target="_blank">Blight Mamba</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is resilient to removal, but it can be a little bit taxing to hold the 1G to pay for it. Since we're running low on the mana curve, though, it may not be a huge delay. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Swarmlord" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Swarmlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is on the higher side of the curve, but its ability can be deadly, especially in games where we can't get an evasive threat online and are forced to spread the damage across multiple players. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Putrefax" href="#" target="_blank">Putrefax</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the <em>Infect</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ball Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Ball Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and can function as a surprise spike of <em>Infect</em> damage. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinebiter" href="#" target="_blank">Spinebiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pseudo-evasive creature and although it deals damage as it weren't blocked, it still can be blocked and killed in combat, so beware.</p>
<p>For Auras, since our commander can provide a +4/+4 boost, we are mainly focusing on giving evasion to our creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aqueous Form" href="#" target="_blank">Aqueous Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great - it's cheap and provides some library manipulation. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drake Umbra" href="#" target="_blank">Drake Umbra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is kind of expensive for what it does, but the added protection of <em>Totem Armor</em> more than makes up for the expense. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rancor" href="#" target="_blank">Rancor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one heck of an Aura: it's super cheap to play and very hard to get rid of. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancestral Mask" href="#" target="_blank">Ancestral Mask</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seem out of place, as they don't do much on their own, but after adding some support, they can pretty much carry us into a win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blossoming Defense"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroic Intervention"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div></div>
<p>As you can see, this list diverges a little from the usual Modern <em>Infect</em> build, prioritizing permanent boosts over the instant-speed ones. This is because Commander games take longer, and we can't afford to bleed out cards like in Modern, where it's mostly a two-person race. We still have a few one-off protection spells, though. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an efficient hexproof effect that has the upside of giving +2/+2, which can deliver the last poison counters given the right circumstances. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani&#039;s Presence" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani&#039;s Presence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Blossoming Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but trades the hexproof for indestructibility, although this doesn't provide protection from exile-based removal. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is mainly a defensive card that costs only two mana but it also protects against almost all the usual removal in the format.</p>
<p>Most of our ramp will come from Auras. While I don't really think they're all that inferior to the usual <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama&#039;s Reach" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama&#039;s Reach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> package, I think that giving the flexibility of having an enchantress package (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Argothian Enchantress" href="#" target="_blank">Argothian Enchantress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enchantress&#039;s Presence" href="#" target="_blank">Enchantress&#039;s Presence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example) more than pays out.</p>
<p>What if we can't keep an<em> Infect</em> creature alive? This is a good question, because most decks need some (viable) alternatives to win if the main plan fails. If our poisonous threats fail us, we always have the option of using our commander to beat face! Most of our deck is based on supporting creatures, so it isn't that far off to use this very same card to attack in traditional Voltron fashion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Mixture</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kestia Infect" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Kestia, the Cultivator
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*Birds of Paradise
*Glistener Elf
*Noble Hierarch
*Blight Mamba
*Blighted Agent
*Ichorclaw Myr
*Lost Leonin
*Necropede
*Plague Myr
*Cystbearer
*Rot Wolf
*Viridian Corrupter
*Corpse Cur
*Phyrexian Hydra
*Putrefax
*Shriek Raptor
*Phyrexian Juggernaut
*Phyrexian Swarmlord
*Spinebiter
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Aqueous Form
*Ethereal Armor
*Gryff&#039;s Boon
*Rancor
*Utopia Sprawl
*Fertile Ground
*Spirit Mantle
*Ancestral Mask
*Armadillo Cloak
*Battle Mastery
*Boar Umbra
*Gift of Paradise
*Grasp of Fate
*New Horizons
*Overgrowth
*Unflinching Courage
*Dawn&#039;s Reflection
*Holy Mantle
*On Serra&#039;s Wings
*Drake Umbra
*Spectra Ward
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Ajani&#039;s Presence
*Blossoming Defense
*Enlightened Tutor
*Nature&#039;s Claim
*Path to Exile
*Swords to Plowshare
*Vines of Vastwood
*Arcane Denial
*Cyclonic Rift
*Dovin&#039;s Veto
*Heroic Intervention
*Negate
*Teferi&#039;s Protection
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Wildest Dreams
*Farseek
*Nature&#039;s Lore
*Open the Armory
*Rampant Growth
*Winds of Rath
*Austere Command
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*Sol Ring
*Livewire Lash
*Sword of Truth and Justice
[/Artifact]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Breeding Pool
*Hallowed Fountain
*Temple Garden
*Brushland
*Yavimaya Coast
*Adarkar Wastes
*City of Brass
*Mana Confluence
*Glacial Fortress
*Sunpetal Grove
*Hinterland Harbor
*Prairie Stream
*Canopy Vista
*Irrigated Farmland
*Scattered Grove
*Windswept Heath
*Wooded Foothills
*Flooded Strand
*Seaside Citadel
*Temple of Enlightenment
*Temple of Mystery
*Temple of Plenty
*Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*Ghost Quarter
*Tectonic Edge
*4 Forest
*4 Plains
*2 Island
[/Land]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Two cards stand out in this list: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Truth and Justice" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Truth and Justice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The first provides great support, boosting a creature and ticking up poison to knock players out of the game; even though it can shut down some of our Auras if we're not careful, the <em>Proliferate </em>is golden.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Truth and Justice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Livewire Lash"></div></div>
<p>Meanwhile, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a surprisingly efficient "hammer diplomacy" type of card. Each time someone targets the equipped creature, the creature deals two damage... and since it has <em>Infect</em>, that's two poison counters! If they try to <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> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terminate" href="#" target="_blank">Terminate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> our creature, they're hurting even more. Now here's the fun part: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Livewire Lash" href="#" target="_blank">Livewire Lash</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't care about who's targeting the creature, which means that, suddenly, all of the Auras that we place on the Lash-equipped creature have the added benefit of dealing two <em>Infect</em> damage!</p>
<div>
<hr />
<h2>Methodology</h2>
</div>
<p>For our opening hand, the first thing we need is a cheap <em>Infect</em> creature. This is essential to our strategy and not having access to any will put us behind right from the start. The next priority will be to find ways to grow that creature; if we take too long, it'll get destroyed before it has a chance to have a meaningful impact on the game. The final ingredient is either mana acceleration or simply protection for our threat.</p>
<p>How we play the early game is very dependent on our opening hand. There're many small decisions to make: can we try to play a threat without the mana to protect it, or do we wait? Which threat do we play first? Do we accelerate or play more poisonous creatures? Deciding how to play won't be easy, and mistakes will be swiftly punished: this deck's early turns are much more crucial and game-defining than most decks, but at the same time, we have the tools to outsmart our opponents, and this is where this deck can shine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glistener Elf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rancor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spirit Mantle"></div></div>
<p>By the mid-game we should be a threat to the entire table, which is a situation that we can't deal with if it takes too long. Quickly eliminating players is so crucial in a deck like this; each player that remains on the table is another problem that will pile onto us when the game goes long and they begin to develop their plans. This is the point where our commander shines, as she can speed up the clock by enchanting our best creature while providing crucial card advantage we'll need to claw out of a long game.</p>
<p>In the late game, we lose our momentum, because we don't have haste enablers and we mostly rely our commander to draw cards. We run out of steam, but that doesn't mean that we're dead! As long as our opponents aren't drawing like crazy, we can eventually deploy a late threat and protect it. It also helps that this is the portion of the game that's most likely to have the fewest remaining players, which makes our job a whole lot easier.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<p>As this article comes to an end, I'll leave off with my usual rant about what could change in this build. There are many great Auras I didn't add it to the list, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daybreak Coronet" href="#" target="_blank">Daybreak Coronet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a fantastic card that relies a little too much on other Auras for my tastes. I elected to go for Auras that provide evasion effects, but adapting your Aura suite to your meta/preference is very important.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daybreak Coronet"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sword of Light and Shadow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Open the Vaults"></div></div>
<p>For our card draw we are relying fairly heavily on our commander, but, as I stated before, we could add some enchantress effects to turn many of our cards into cantrips. We could also switch back to the usual spell-based green ramp package, or add more recursion, with cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open the Vaults" href="#" target="_blank">Open the Vaults</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Creeping Renaissance" href="#" target="_blank">Creeping Renaissance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They'll slow us down a bit, but if your meta is removal-heavy it might be prudent to add some of them.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? What do you think about this take on <em>Infect?</em> Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


Bernardo Melibeu

Bernardo Melibeu

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