2024’s EDHighlights -  Arabella, Abandoned Doll

2024’s EDHighlights - Ygra, Eater of All

2024’s EDHighlights - Stella Lee, Wild Card

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine|MH3|366" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar, Sire of Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.jack-hughes.com/">Jack Hughes</a></h6>
<h1><b>Black and white cookies</b></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hi again! Welcome back to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHighlights</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the series where I build decks for 2024's most popular commander for each color combination. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that 2024's set releases have wrapped up, I'll be taking a look at the most popular legendary creatures that were released in the past year, talking a bit about them, and finally building hopefully-slightly-unique decks around them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week, I'm taking a look at 2024's most popular Orzhov commander, which means we'll be working with … <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar, Sire of Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> received a good bit of attention, with 4072 decks to his name as of the time of writing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Interestingly, there was another popular commander from </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Modern Horizons 3</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sorin of House Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Sorin of House Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to my very limited knowledge of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s lore (</span><a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Shilgengar%27s_Ritual"><span style="font-weight: 400;">and the MTG Wiki</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), Shilgengar is (at least partially) responsible for Sorin's bloodline of Vampires coming into being and for the ignition of Sorin's spark. But, you're not here because you care about </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">MTG</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lore. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You're here because you care about EDH deck building. So, let's get on with it already.</span></p>
<h2><b>Not everything is black and white</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 6/6 Elder Demon with Flying for 5 mana. He's got two other abilities, too. We can sacrifice a creature to make a Blood token or several Blood tokens if the sacrificed creature was an Angel. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, by paying <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-wb" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-wb" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-wb" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and sacrificing six Blood tokens, we can reanimate every creature from our graveyard. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are pretty powerful abilities. Free sacrifice outlets are always powerful, especially sacrifice outlets that create something beneficial like a Blood token. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, once we've sacrificed enough creatures to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or discarded them to our Blood tokens), we can use his ability to bring them all back at a pretty low cost. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This presents a pretty solid Aristocrats gameplan, with a low-cost mass reanimate ability to finish out games stapled onto our commander too.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> But, I want to add another way to win: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortal Combat" href="#" target="_blank">Mortal Combat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Let's talk about the deck, ways to trigger that alternate win condition, and other cards that make the deck tick.</span></p>
<h2><b>Is that a Mortal Kombat reference?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let's start by talking about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortal Combat" href="#" target="_blank">Mortal Combat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This four mana enchantment asks that we have 20 creatures in our graveyard at the beginning of our upkeep, so we're gonna need a lot of ways to fill that graveyard. Our commander can help with that, but here are a few of my other favorites:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firja, Judge of Valor" href="#" target="_blank">Firja, Judge of Valor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will provide card advantage while filling the graveyard, and it's also an Angel (which works well with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ripples of Undeath" href="#" target="_blank">Ripples of Undeath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very similar, but it can be cast for just two mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dogged Detective" href="#" target="_blank">Dogged Detective</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a repeatable way to fill our graveyard once we have a sacrifice outlet (like our commander) on the field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firja, Judge of Valor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ripples of Undeath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dogged Detective"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once we've got a full graveyard, we do need to fetch up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortal Combat" href="#" target="_blank">Mortal Combat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for the win. While more traditional tutors do work well here, there's a few special includes I wanted to show off.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dimir House Guard" href="#" target="_blank">Dimir House Guard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can either be transmuted to find our win condition (thus adding another card to the graveyard for its 20-card requirement) or act as a sacrifice outlet to fill the graveyard with what we've already got on board. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beseech the Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">Beseech the Mirror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> which can sacrifice a Blood token to get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortal Combat" href="#" target="_blank">Mortal Combat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> down directly.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dimir House Guard"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beseech the Mirror"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>An Orzhov aristocrats deck? Unheard of!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, because it's an Orzhov deck with a sacrifice outlet in the command zone, there's good few cards to support that strategy in the 99. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz" href="#" target="_blank">Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher" href="#" target="_blank">Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are standouts here, triggering when we sacrifice creatures, tokens, and even fetch lands.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Braids, Arisen Nightmare" href="#" target="_blank">Braids, Arisen Nightmare</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> works very well too, as it can sacrifice either a Blood token or a spare creature, whichever is most strategic at each of our end steps.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Braids, Arisen Nightmare"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because this deck has a lot of Angels in it, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bishop of Wings" href="#" target="_blank">Bishop of Wings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will provide a lot of life gain and a lot of Spirit tokens. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampage of the Valkyries" href="#" target="_blank">Rampage of the Valkyries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will do a pretty good impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grave Pact" href="#" target="_blank">Grave Pact</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, last but not least, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liesa, Forgotten Archangel" href="#" target="_blank">Liesa, Forgotten Archangel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will rebuy each of our creatures while ensuring that our opponents' dead creatures stay dead.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bishop of Wings"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rampage of the Valkyries"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liesa, Forgotten Archangel"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking of Angel synergies, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firja&#039;s Retribution" href="#" target="_blank">Firja&#039;s Retribution</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes Angels, can provide a ton of removal, and even end games if we've got enough Angels on board. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The recently-reprinted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Righteous Valkyrie" href="#" target="_blank">Righteous Valkyrie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will provide life gain and act as a sweet anthem once we cast enough Angels, and (as always) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giada, Font of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Giada, Font of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does most everything that an Angel-centric deck wants for just two mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firja&#039;s Retribution"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Righteous Valkyrie"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giada, Font of Hope"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>Blood is thicker than water</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I included a few more ways to take advantage of our use of Blood tokens too, starting with <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>. This card triggers off of both Blood tokens and creatures leaving the battlefield, pulling double duty here. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oltec Matterweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Oltec Matterweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of my favorite cards from the past year, and it'll help add to our blood collection as the game drags on. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moonstone Eulogist" href="#" target="_blank">Moonstone Eulogist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which feels purpose built for this deck. It'll become a huge flying threat in no time, and probably make a few extra Blood tokens along the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marionette Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oltec Matterweaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moonstone Eulogist"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And here's the full decklist…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Shilgengar, Sire of Famine
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Angel of Despair
*1 Angel of Indemnity
*1 Angel of Suffering
*1 Angel of the Ruins
*1 Angelic Sell-Sword
*1 Battle Angels of Tyr
*1 Bishop of Wings
*1 Braids, Arisen Nightmare
*1 Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher
*1 Dazzling Angel
*1 Dimir House Guard
*1 Disciple of the Vault
*1 Dogged Detective
*1 Fain, the Broker
*1 Firja, Judge of Valor
*1 Fleshwrither
*1 Giada, Font of Hope
*1 Golgari Thug
*1 Guardian of Ghirapur
*1 Herald of the Host
*1 Karmic Guide
*1 Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Millikin
*1 Mirkwood Bats
*1 Moon-Blessed Cleric
*1 Moonstone Eulogist
*1 Oltec Matterweaver
*1 Overlord of the Balemurk
*1 Renegade Reaper
*1 Restoration Angel
*1 Righteous Valkyrie
*1 Sanctuary Warden
*1 Scholar of New Horizons
*1 Serra Paragon
*1 Shepherd of the Cosmos
*1 Starnheim Aspirant
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz
*1 Woe Strider
*1 Youthful Valkyrie
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Beseech the Mirror
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Damn
*1 Demonic Counsel
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Incarnation Technique
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Palantír of Orthanc
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Firja&#039;s Retribution
*1 Mortal Combat
*1 Rampage of the Valkyries
*1 Ripples of Undeath
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
*1 Fetid Heath
*1 Flooded Strand
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Nesting Grounds
*7 Plains
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Seraph Sanctuary
*1 Shadowy Backstreet
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Snowfield Sinkhole
*1 Sunlit Marsh
*5 Swamp
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
*1 Vault of Champions
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Windswept Heath
[/Lands]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inevitable End" href="#" target="_blank">Inevitable End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks for reading, folks! I didn't touch on it earlier, but when <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shilgengar, Sire of Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Shilgengar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reanimates creatures with his second ability, he put a finality counter on each of them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> I included a few ways to get rid of those counters, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scholar of New Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Scholar of New Horizons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to turn finality counters into lands, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fain, the Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Fain, the Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to turn counters into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Treasure" href="#" target="_blank">Treasure</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tokens, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanctuary Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Sanctuary Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to turn them into 1/1 creatures and card advantage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scholar of New Horizons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fain, the Broker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sanctuary Warden"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before I go, I also wanted to talk about a few other Angels that work really well with the overall game plan. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shepherd of the Cosmos" href="#" target="_blank">Shepherd of the Cosmos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can bring back something we’ve sacrificed, and can even grab a fetch land for some sneaky ramp.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald of the Host" href="#" target="_blank">Herald of the Host</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is fine as a french vanilla 4/4 for five mana, but because the myriad tokens can be sacrificed to our commander, this creature becomes a lot stronger here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> And, because of the high creature count in this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Sell-Sword" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Sell-Sword</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can produce a boatload of tokens.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shepherd of the Cosmos"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald of the Host"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angelic Sell-Sword"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'll see you all next week, when we take a look at 2024's most popular Izzet commander.</span></p>


2024’s EDHighlights -  Shilgengar, Sire of Famine

2024’s EDHighlights -  Kudo, King Among Bears

2024’s EDHighlights -  Bello, Bard of the Brambles

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/chriscold">Chris Cold</a></h6>
<h1><b>The call was coming from inside the house!</b></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello there! Welcome once again to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHighlights</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the mini-series where I build decks for the year's most popular commander for each color combination. Now that 2024's set releases have finished up, I'll be taking a look at the most popular releases from the past year. Here, I'll talk a bit about each of the most popular commanders and build a deck for them with a little twist to keep things interesting.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We're working with the year's most popular Rakdos commander this time, which means this article will be about… [<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the first precon face commander in this series, and it's not hard to see why he's so popular. Rakdos is already a well-loved color pair, group slug is a popular strategy, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Duskmourn</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was a pretty popular set. So, let's see what this demonic dude can do.</span></p>
<h2><b>They put this thing in a precon?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/4 Elder Demon with flying and ward (cost: pay 2 life) for 4 mana. And, whenever one of our opponents loses life for the first time during their turn, we get to draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a very strong commander, and it incentivizes us to ensure that we can create a steady stream of life loss for each of our opponents. If we can do that, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> promises us heaps of card advantage and a large, evasive creature to win in combat with.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's lots of ways to hurt our opponents in Rakdos colors, so we won't be starved for options. But, I promised that this deck would break the mold slightly. So, we'll be making our opponents lose life through Aristocrat-style gain-and-drain effects. This color combination is a natural fit for an Aristocrats strategy, and I'm excited to get brewing!</span></p>
<h2><b>Joining the aristocracy</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When I think of Aristocrats, my mind immediately goes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This creature is a format staple for a reason, and it works particularly well here. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When ANY creature dies, one of ours or one of our opponents', we'll get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> trigger. Most of the time, we'll have a spare creature lying around that we can sacrifice, and something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zulaport Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Zulaport Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vraan, Executioner Thane" href="#" target="_blank">Vraan, Executioner Thane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will trigger our commander.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blood Artist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zulaport Cutthroat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vraan, Executioner Thane"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and co. will make sure that when creatures die, we get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to do his thing. But now we need a good pool of disposable creatures. One of the best ways to do this in Commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loyal Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Loyal Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We'll (hopefully) have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the battlefield for the majority of the game, so this card can really shine. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord Skitter, Sewer King" href="#" target="_blank">Lord Skitter, Sewer King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which makes tokens and acts as an efficient graveyard hate piece. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred" href="#" target="_blank">Lagomos, Hand of Hatred</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>] is here too, both as a token generator and (sometimes) as a repeatable tutor.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loyal Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lord Skitter, Sewer King"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lagomos, Hand of Hatred"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If we're going to have expendable creatures, and payoffs for them dying, we need some ways to sacrifice them too. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos, the Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos, the Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a free sac outlet, a card advantage engine, and a big flying creature all in one. I think this card is great, and this deck actually plays very well around its “once per turn” restriction. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only cares about the first time an opponent loses life each turn, we can use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos, the Muscle" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos, the Muscle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s free sacrifice ability quite well. There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, Widow of the Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, Widow of the Realm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She provides a sacrifice outlet with built-in life loss, and can reanimate the best thing in our graveyard each turn once we manage to transform her. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've also included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Priest of Forgotten Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Priest of Forgotten Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can trigger our commander easily (just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, Widow of the Realm" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos, the Muscle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ayara, Widow of the Realm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Priest of Forgotten Gods"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>A friendly game of ping pong</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of making this just another Aristocrats deck that happens to have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, I'm also including some of the best group slug pieces that Magic has to offer. This commander is so strong, and I want to ensure that we can get maximum value out of him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Razorkin Needlehead" href="#" target="_blank">Razorkin Needlehead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrawling Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Scrawling Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both released recently, and they're perfect cards for this deck. They're guaranteed to ping our opponents at least once on each of their turns, and odds are they'll do a lot more than that. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthborn Battler" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthborn Battler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good card too, because we'll get to choose where the damage goes no matter who cast their second spell. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This means we can choose to either get more triggers from our commander or whittle down a specific player's life total, whichever seems best at the moment. I'm also a big fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mogis, God of Slaughter" href="#" target="_blank">Mogis, God of Slaughter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It gives our opponents a choice, but each option is pretty bad for them. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, because of the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effects in the deck, they'll usually trigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> no matter what.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Razorkin Needlehead"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthborn Battler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mogis, God of Slaughter"></div></div> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rounding out the group slug package here is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Sharpshooter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Sharpshooter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to act as either a way to ping someone's face or kill a creature, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kardur, Doomscourge" href="#" target="_blank">Kardur, Doomscourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to make combat even more chaotic, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to disincentivize our opponents from attacking us. Combined, these creatures will hopefully make attacking us a little less appealing than it otherwise would be.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goblin Sharpshooter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kardur, Doomscourge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b>All together now…</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crucially, there are only 9 cards in the 99 of this deck that have a converted mana cost of 4 or higher. It's important to get some setup on the board before <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> arrives, and to be able to ramp up the group-slugginess quickly after that, so this deck is relatively low to the ground.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And now, here's the full decklist:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Ayara, Widow of the Realm // Ayara, Furnace Queen
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog
*1 Carrion Feeder
*1 Garna, Bloodfist of Keld
*1 Gleeful Arsonist
*1 Goblin Sharpshooter
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Hearthborn Battler
*1 Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
*1 Juri, Master of the Revue
*1 Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
*1 Kederekt Parasite
*1 Lagomos, Hand of Hatred
*1 Lord Skitter, Sewer King
*1 Loyal Apprentice
*1 Marionette Apprentice
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin
*1 Ophiomancer
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
*1 Priest of Forgotten Gods
*1 Rakdos, the Muscle
*1 Razorkin Needlehead
*1 Rug of Smothering
*1 Scrawling Crawler
*1 Spiteful Prankster
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Totentanz, Swarm Piper
*1 Vein Ripper
*1 Vengeful Bloodwitch
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Vraan, Executioner Thane
*1 Woe Strider
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Bloodchief Ascension
*1 Goblin Bombardment
*1 Roiling Vortex
*1 The Meathook Massacre
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Blazemire Verge
*1 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
*1 Canyon Slough
*1 Command Tower
*1 Graven Cairns
*1 Haunted Ridge
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Mount Doom
*5 Mountain
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*1 Shadowblood Ridge
*1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
*1 Spymaster&#039;s Vault
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*10 Swamp
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Edict
*1 Bloodsoaked Insight // Sanguine Morass
*1 Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Cryptolith Fragment // Aurora of Emrakul
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Fell the Profane // Fell Mire
*1 Flare of Duplication
*1 Flare of Malice
*1 Ghostfire Slice
*1 Hellish Rebuke
*1 Kolaghan&#039;s Command
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Not Dead After All
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Supernatural Stamina
*1 Untimely Malfunction
*1 Withering Torment
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ob Nixilis, the Adversary
[/Planeswalkers]"></span></div>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glorious End" href="#" target="_blank">Glorious End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks for reading this week's edition of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDHighlights</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">! This was a fun deck to build, and reminded me a lot of my own high-power <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> build. Both commanders want opponents to lose life, and both provide +1/+1 counters and card advantage when they do. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both cards are great, they both work great in the 99 of each other's decks. And, for a little extra Ob Nixilis in my life, I included <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, the Adversary" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis, the Adversary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a way to force lifeloss, another sacrifice outlet, and can even provide card advantage if it sticks on the board long enough.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ob Nixilis, the Adversary"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which do you think is better? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Valgavoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin" href="#" target="_blank">Ob Nixilis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Let me know in the comments below. I'll see you all next time, when I look at the year's most popular Gruul commander!</span></p>


2024’s EDHighlights -  Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls

2024’s EDHighlights -  Mirko, Obsessive Theorist

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art by <a href="https://jesperejsing.com/">Jesper Ejsing</a></h6>
<h1>Early birds and night owls</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello there! Welcome once again to <em>EDHighlights</em>, the mini-series where I build decks for the year's most popular commander for each color combination. As 2024's set releases have finished, I'll take a look at the most popular releases from the past year. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I've built a deck for each monocolored commander (you can find those </span><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried/?utm_source=edhrec&amp;utm_medium=article_preview"><span style="font-weight: 400;">at this link</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and I'm now moving on to the two-color commanders. We'll be kicking things off this week with an Azorius deck, and our first kindred deck in the series. This deck will be led by… <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral, the Windcrested</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kastral, the Windcrested"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I love Bloomburrow, I love birds, and I love creature-heavy Azorius decks. This is the first deck in the series that I'm actually considering buying in paper. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, surprisingly, a bluejay (</span><a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Kastral#:~:text=4%20References-,Description,a%20bluejay%20birdfolk%20from%20Bloomburrow."><span style="font-weight: 400;">according to the MTGWiki</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). Given her name, I would have assumed she's a kestrel, but I guess that the fine folks making cards thought that would be too easy. But, whatever type of bird she may be, she's leading this deck. Let's get brewing!</span></p>
<h2><b>It's a bird! It's a plane!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 4/5 Bird Scout with flying for 5 mana, and she has an ability that gives us a benefit whenever a Bird bonks one of our opponents. When one of our Birds connects we get to do one of three things:</span></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a Bird from our hand or graveyard onto the battlefield with a finality counter on it.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Put a +1/+1 counter on each of our Birds.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Draw a card.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these are great, and this deck will work best when we're able to get to make this choice more than once each turn. As for this deck's small twist, we'll be making the most of both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s text and our other typal synergies. Every creature in this deck will be a bird!</span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">A family that welcomes birds of all feathers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Birds of a feather flock together, and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">'s Birds are no different. There are a few cards from both recent and not-so-recent </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> history that work well when we have a board full of Birds. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Keeper of the Nine Gales" href="#" target="_blank">Keeper of the Nine Gales</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can act as a repeatable bounce spell, for the low cost of tapping two birds. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another old one, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee, Aerie Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is SLIGHTLY janky but can act as a great anthem and mana sink in the late game. And, the much newer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knightfisher" href="#" target="_blank">Knightfisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make a ton of tokens over the course of the game (and it's name alone makes it worth a slot in this deck).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Keeper of the Nine Gales"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Aerie Keeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knightfisher"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crookclaw Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Crookclaw Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turns each of our creatures into card draw if we'd rather hold them back in combat. We can even negate its high mana cost with our commander's ability, making this avian more advantageous. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seaside Haven" href="#" target="_blank">Seaside Haven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can sacrifice our birds for cards. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is particularly good with our commander in play, because we'll be able to reanimate any birds we throw into the bin. And, although five mana is admittedly a bit much for this effect, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murmuration" href="#" target="_blank">Murmuration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has found a slot too. It makes <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Crow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, buffs our birds, and is just overall a really fun card to slam on the field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crookclaw Elder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seaside Haven"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Murmuration"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We've got other, non-Bird-focused flying-synergies too. There's classic anthems like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Empyrean Eagle" href="#" target="_blank">Empyrean Eagle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, anthems that get even better if we can put them into the graveyard like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even the second appearance of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Sky Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as an anthem.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Empyrean Eagle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kangee, Sky Warden"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's also cost reducers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Watcher of the Spheres" href="#" target="_blank">Watcher of the Spheres</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Warden of Evos Isle" href="#" target="_blank">Warden of Evos Isle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and protection for our board in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsettled Mariner" href="#" target="_blank">Unsettled Mariner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Overall, birds (and some of their changeling friends) provide a wide array of effects for our lofty battlefield.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Watcher of the Spheres"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warden of Evos Isle"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unsettled Mariner"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dazzling Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Maintaining brilliant plumage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One important thing to note about Kastral is that, while she can cheat out creatures from our hand or recur them from our graveyard, those creatures enter with finality counters on them. If they would die, instead they're just exiled. So, like any good Commander player, I'm going to do my best to get around that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, let's talk about the deck's blink subtheme. There's a few cards that really stand out here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gossip&#039;s Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Gossip&#039;s Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card fills our graveyard, lets our smaller creatures punch through in combat to trigger our commander, and can blink our creatures to get rid of their finality counters. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just an absolute all-star in the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meneldor, Swift Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Meneldor, Swift Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great too, it's a bird that can blink one of our other birds every turn. Even though it's only a 3/3 for four mana, its ability makes up for those lackluster stats. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splash Portal" href="#" target="_blank">Splash Portal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can blink a creature and replace itself in our hand for just one mana. If it weren't a sorcery, this would be in contention as one of the best blink spells in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gossip&#039;s Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Meneldor, Swift Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Splash Portal"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As an added bonus, this blink subtheme will allow our creatures to re-trigger their enters triggers, meaning that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scouting Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Scouting Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerial Extortionist" href="#" target="_blank">Aerial Extortionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and all our other creatures with ETB effects become even better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scouting Hawk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irregular Cohort"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aerial Extortionist"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are two other interesting ways to get rid of finality counters: the recently-revivified <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and recently-released <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Power Conduit" href="#" target="_blank">Power Conduit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can straight up remove the finality counters while making a creature stronger, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Senu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> actually WANTS to be exiled. Then, admittedly less interestingly, staples like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ephemerate" href="#" target="_blank">Ephemerate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are here too,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Power Conduit"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ephemerate"></div></div></span></p>
<h2><b><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Crow" href="#" target="_blank">Storm crow descending…</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like any good typal deck, Kastral and Co. will be making use of some less-type-specific typal-synergy cards. <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> shines here, just like it does in most kindred decks, and puts in extra work when we cheat out a feathered friend with our commander. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I'm also a big fan of the two <em>Bloomburrow</em> village lands that slot into the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lilypad Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lilypad Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can help to fill the graveyard with more targets for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kastral, the Windcrested" href="#" target="_blank">Kastral</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lupinflower Village" href="#" target="_blank">Lupinflower Village</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put more birds directly into our hand in a pinch.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lilypad Village"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lupinflower Village"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that bird's-eye view of the deck, let's take a look at the decklist…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="2024&#039;s EDHighlights - Kastral, the Windcrested" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Kastral, the Windcrested
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Aerial Extortionist
*1 Alrund, God of the Cosmos // Hakka, Whispering Raven
*1 Aven Interrupter
*1 Battlefield Raptor
*1 Bloodline Pretender
*1 Cartographer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Combat Calligrapher
*1 Crookclaw Elder
*1 Eagles of the North
*1 Empyrean Eagle
*1 Esior, Wardwing Familiar
*1 Gwaihir the Windlord
*1 Harrier Strix
*1 Irregular Cohort
*1 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
*1 Jackdaw Savior
*1 Judge&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kangee&#039;s Lieutenant
*1 Kangee, Aerie Keeper
*1 Kangee, Sky Warden
*1 Keeper of the Nine Gales
*1 Knightfisher
*1 Ledger Shredder
*1 Lifecreed Duo
*1 Meneldor, Swift Savior
*1 Miner&#039;s Guidewing
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Mockingbird
*1 Nimble Obstructionist
*1 Plumecreed Escort
*1 Scouting Hawk
*1 Senu, Keen-Eyed Protector
*1 Shabraz, the Skyshark
*1 Shrike Force
*1 Stormscape Familiar
*1 Thrummingbird
*1 Universal Automaton
*1 Unsettled Mariner
*1 Warden of Evos Isle
*1 Watcher of the Spheres
*1 Wingmate Roc
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Gossip&#039;s Talent
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Murmuration
*1 Reflections of Littjara
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Animal Sanctuary
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Floodfarm Verge
*1 Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway
*6 Island
*1 Lilypad Village
*1 Lupinflower Village
*1 Mystic Gate
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Nimbus Maze
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Restless Anchorage
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Seaside Haven
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Three Tree City
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Airborne Aid
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Raise the Palisade
*1 Splash Portal
*1 Supreme Verdict
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 And They Shall Know No Fear
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Dazzling Denial
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics
*1 Lofty Denial
*1 Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Strix Serenade
*1 Swan Song
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Herald&#039;s Horn
*1 Patchwork Banner
*1 Power Conduit
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Urza&#039;s Incubator
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><b>Everybody's heard about the bird!</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That's it for this week's article! As someone who does research on migratory species conservation, and as someone who just loves birds, this was such a fun deck to build. My favorite Bird in this deck is probably <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrier Strix" href="#" target="_blank">Harrier Strix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's a 1/1 flyer for just one mana, and it can help us filter for more cards if we have extra mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In real life, though, my favorite bird is the<a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/id"> Pine Siskin</a>. I research these little guys as part of my job, and I think they're just cool looking. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's your favorite bird (in real life or in <em>Magic</em>)? I'd love to know, so let me know in the comments below. I'll see you all next week!</span></p>


Cooper Gottfried

Cooper Gottfried

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