<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>/ By <a href="https://martanael.com/">Marta Nael)</a></h6>
<h1>Blink, and You'll Miss It</h1>
<p>Commander players can be greedy.</p>
<p>Case in point, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Grand Unifier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atraxa, Grand Unifier"></div></div>
<p>Whenever she enters the battlefield, she lets you look at the top 10 cards of your library and up to 8 of those cards go to hand. Digging that deep and picking specific cards is tremendously powerful. This is a game-ending amount of value.</p>
<p>However, players want to do this every turn. Multiple times a turn; filling your hand with more cards than you can possibly cast. Atraxa, Grand Unifier, in my mind, is the premier “winmore.deck”</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/blink">Blink</a> strategies are the most popular build path for this <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=blink">Blink</a> is shorthand for any effect that exiles a permanent and then returns it to the battlefield. This lets players get ETB, enter the battlefield, triggers multiple times instead of once.</p>
<p>These decks have no problem controlling a board or accruing an incredible amount of resources. The problem these decks face is turning that into victory.</p>
<p>The strategy I'm about to outline is just as "win more" as any other Atraxa brew. Like her <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">original iteration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, even less optimized decks will still be powerful. This strategy creates an unstoppable, impenetrable board state. Atraxa won't be in and out gathering supplies. She's going to lead the invasion firsthand.</p>
<h2>The Other Abilities</h2>
<p>Atraxa's unique combination of <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/keywords">keywords</a> make combat a nightmare for our opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Raffine, Scheming Seer"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Flying</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa has no issue finding someone to fly over. Players often don't have an answer to flyers barring an incidental instance of flying or reach. The rest only hope to draw removal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderous Orator"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Vigilance</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa is online at all times. Without vigilance, an offensive creature is effectively gone after the attack. After swinging a big creature, that player is left open on their opponent's turns. Atraxa gets to swing and stays open to block each other turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Lifelink</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa always collects. The biggest downside to big attacking creatures without trample is chump blocks. Your opponents will gladly sacrifice a Bird token to prevent losing seven. Lifelink ensures that we get value out of every single swing and block. Each swing and block grants you a substantial chunk of health back.</p>
<p>This pairs well with vigilance. Opponents will have to be careful not to increase your life from swinging into your blockers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baleful Strix"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Deathtouch</strong></h3>
<p>Atraxa is taking her threats down with her. If you wanted to power past Atraxa you have one more thing to consider. Is swinging at the Atraxa player worth losing whatever I'm swinging with? It doesn’t matter if you're swinging with some gigantic monstrosity. Any instance of damage will be lethal.</p>
<h2>Secret Weapon</h2>
<p>Atraxa's keywords make it difficult for our opponents to approach.</p>
<p>But what if every single creature you control had those game-warping abilities?</p>
<p>Our secret commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Odric, Lunarch Marshal" href="#" target="_blank">Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does just that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Odric, Lunarch Marshal"></div></div>
<p>This is my first secret commander deck of the series.</p>
<p>Secret commander decks are where the “Build around card” is a card in the deck not the command zone.</p>
<p>I am a fan of this strategy as it allows for deck building outside of a commander's colors, and allows for building around cards that aren’t legendary creatures.</p>
<p>Black and green have several <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> spells to pull Odric from the deck. With some luck, Atraxa's ETB trigger is pretty good at finding him herself.</p>
<p>Odric is the premier "Keywords" commander. This wall of text effectively reads:</p>
<p><strong><em>At the beginning of each combat, creatures you control gain each keyword for each keyword on a creature you control.</em></strong></p>
<p>In our case, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the field, Odric would gain flying, vigilance, deathtouch, and lifelink at the beginning of combat. Each other creature you control gains those abilities too!</p>
<p>Some nuances:</p>
<ul>
<li>This is includes your opponent's combat steps</li>
<li>The abilities remain on each creature until end of turn</li>
<li>It covers 13 specific keywords, not all of them</li>
</ul>
<h2>Key to Victory</h2>
<p>Now for the fun part, the keywords that push <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from powerful to unstoppable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oketra the True"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avenging Huntbonder"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Double Strike</strong></h3>
<p>What's better than a 7/7 body? One that hits twice! Double strike lets you deal damage on the first strike step and the regular damage step of combat. Alongside deathtouch, anything blocking Atraxa will die before it deals damage. Anything that gets blocked will face the same fate.</p>
<p>First strike will interact the same way with deathtouch except there won't be an additional instance of damage at the regular damage step.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crashing Drawbridge"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hall of the Bandit Lord"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Haste</strong></h3>
<p>What's better than a 7/7 blocker entering the battlefield? One that can attack that same turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crashing Drawbridge" href="#" target="_blank">Crashing Drawbridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is boots on a stick. What I mean by that ridiculous sentence is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> grants haste to one creature at a time, where Crashing Drawbridge grants haste to each creature, every turn.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hall of the Bandit Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Hall of the Bandit Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes a chunk of life to use, but after your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Grand Unifier" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> swings immediately, you actually come ahead due to lifelink. Also, that haste doesn't go away from end of turn. So if you have Odric out (which is the point of the deck) your whole board has haste. I'd pay three life for that.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stonehoof Chieftain"></div></div>
<h3><strong>Trample</strong></h3>
<p>I didn't forget about trample. Only, with a whole board of flyers, trample becomes a little redundant. There's an incidental smattering of trample in the deck. It plays well with deathtouch. As we only need to assign one point of deathtouch damage to a blocker for it to be lethal. Meaning our 7/7 can assign the other six other damage to our opponent regardless of the blocker's toughness.</p>
<h2>Attacking From a Different Angle</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Angel of Wrath"></div></div>
<p>Arkoma has been long beloved for having a staggering amount of keywords. She has so many keywords she had keywords before they <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma, Angel of Wrath|lgn|1" href="#" target="_blank">existed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She's a fast, resilient threat that makes opponents think twice when engaging in any form of combat. She brings four unique keywords to our board that Atraxa doesn't provide: Haste, first strike, protection from black and red, and trample. Because this deck aims to grant every creature the same swath of keywords, this makes Akroma one of the best cards in the deck. You can discard her and get those juicy keywords in play with one of our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cairn Wanderer" href="#" target="_blank">graveyard centric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Keyword cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zetalpa, Primal Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Zetalpa, Primal Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be used similarly. While not having haste, Zetalpa brings indestructible, trample, and double strike to the field. Every keyword you could want more on Atraxa, Zetalpa brings.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Akroma, Vision of Ixidor"></div></div>
<p>The original <em>Commander Legends</em> product brought a phenomenal update to Akroma. She brings first strike and trample to the table, but more importantly a +1/+1 buff to each other creature for every keyword they have. This payoff is game-ending. Atraxa alone becomes an 11/11, letting her kill anyone after two swings from commander damage. If Odric is out, it's a +6/+6 to every creature you control. While unlikely, this brew is capable at maxing out at +10/+10 to each creature alongside ten bonkers keywords.</p>
<h2>Preparing For Invasion</h2>
<p>Atrxa is a magnet for removal. And for good reason. An Atraxa player left unchecked will have little issue taking over a game. That's why a chunk of our strategy is dedicated to make removing her as difficult as possible.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thryx, the Sudden Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Piper"></div></div>
<p>Prevention beats a cure. A key weakness to any big spell strategy is counterspells. If a player answers our seven mana commander for two, that is a huge loss of value for us. If a player can counter Atraxa before she hits the field, they will. That's why we don't give our opponents that option.</p>
<p>I wanted to highlight <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thryx, the Sudden Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Thryx, the Sudden Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> specifically. In a deck packed with huge spells, Thryx takes away the guess work. We cast these Angels easier, unafraid of counterspells.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and other similar cards are fantastic for this deck. It lets us play or huge creatures much faster and stops opponents from using conventional counter magic to stop us.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daring Fiendbonder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avacyn, Angel of Hope"></div></div>
<p>If you've managed to resolve Atraxa, the next step is keeping her on the battlefield. Indestructible is pretty good at that. Swinging and blocking become even easier. Most board wipes and removal spells become a fleeting gesture.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sigarda, Font of Blessings"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slippery Bogbonder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swiftfoot Boots"></div></div>
<p>Hexproof, like indestructible, is an ability we want on Atraxa at all times. Your opponents will remove her if given the opportunity. So don't give them that opportunity. If you're lucky, they'll send it somewhere else too.</p>
<p>The only way around Atraxa from this point, are specific board wipes, that exile, bounce, or reduce toughness. That's what our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swan Song" href="#" target="_blank">counter magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is for.</p>
<p>Nothing is stopping <strong>compleat</strong> invasion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Atraxa Keywords" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atraxa, Grand Unifier
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akroma, Angel of Wrath
*1 Akroma, Vision of Ixidor
*1 Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice
*1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
*1 Avenging Huntbonder
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Bloom Tender
*1 Cairn Wanderer
*1 Crashing Drawbridge
*1 Daring Fiendbonder
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Kathril, Aspect Warper
*1 Likeness Looter
*1 Majestic Myriarch
*1 Obsessive Stitcher
*1 Odric, Lunarch Marshal
*1 Oketra the True
*1 Raffine, Scheming Seer
*1 Rayami, First of the Fallen
*1 Scavenged Brawler
*1 Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade
*1 Shalai, Voice of Plenty
*1 Sigarda, Font of Blessings
*1 Slippery Bogbonder
*1 Stonehoof Chieftain
*1 Thryx, the Sudden Storm
*1 Thunderous Orator
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Urborg Scavengers
*1 Zetalpa, Primal Dawn
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Faithful Mending
*1 Frantic Search
*1 Stroke of Midnight
*1 Swan Song
*1 Vampiric Tutor
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Concerted Effort
*1 Defense of the Heart
*1 Mystic Remora
*1 Rhystic Study
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mana Crypt
*1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Farseek
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Profane Tutor
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Sublime Exhalation
*1 Tooth and Nail
*1 Vanquish the Horde
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Boseiju, Who Endures
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Field of Ruin
*6 Forest
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Hall of the Bandit Lord
*1 Indatha Triome
*4 Island
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Otawara, Soaring City
*6 Plains
*1 Raffine&#039;s Tower
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*4 Swamp
*1 Zagoth Triome
[/Lands]"></span></div>


<h2>Final Words of Advice</h2>
<p>While she remains unique for her color combination, I would argue that those four keywords are what make her as iconic as a commander.</p>
<p>I feel keywords are underrated in general. Their power is demonstrated with standout cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Memorial" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Memorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akroma&#039;s Will" href="#" target="_blank">Akroma&#039;s Will</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, the strategy itself is not particularly popular.</p>
<p>There are already blink decks, there are already proliferate decks. There are decks that love putting cards in hand. While Atraxa can pull off each of these strategies with great success, I am more interested in pulling off a strategy that no other commander has; blessing a board of creatures with a unique combination of keywords.</p>
<p>Each Atraxa represents the format itself in a way. Her combined <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">popularity</a> is a testament to that. They are powerful, but allow for countless directions to brew in. This brew itself could be modified in a few different directions. In my mind, that's where much of the fun of Commander is. Pulling off ridiculous, absurdly powerful board states and interactions. Each Atraxa represents this desire perfectly.</p>
<p>I am not the first to brew Atraxa as a "Keywords" commander, and I am certain new ways to build will continue to evolve with time.</p>
<p>Thanks for exploring keywords with me! I'd love to hear how your brews are going.</p>
<p>What is your favorite way to <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=atraxa">brew with Atraxa</a>? What are your favorite combination of keywords?</p>
<h3><strong>Read More:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ultra-budget-brews-odric-lunarch-marshal/">Ultra Budget Brews - Odric, Lunarch Marshal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-other-ability-pia-nalaar-consul-of-madness/">The Other Ability- Pia Nalar, Consul of Madness</a></li>
<li><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/deep-analysis-blink/">Deep Analysis - Blink</a></li>
</ul>


The Other Ability - Atraxa's Four Other Abilities (They're Keywords)

The Other Ability - Pia Nalaar, Consul of Madness

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyome, Master Chef" href="#" target="_blank">Gyome, Master Chef</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By <a href="https://www.originalmagicart.store/collections/steve-prescott">Steve Prescott</a>)</h6>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Discussion Over Dinner</h1>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyome, Master Chef" href="#" target="_blank">Gyome, Master Chef</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best black green politics commander, and lifegain/artifact builds have been holding him back. Despite popularity for meme flavor builds, Gyome isn't particularly powerful. There were 13 new legendaries that create Food tokens printed in <em>The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth </em>(LOTR). These new commanders have somewhat diminished the novelty of Food decks and the cards that support them. This further reduces the reason to build Gyome for its unique niche and look for something better instead.</p>
<p>For those on the fence, I want you to give Gyome another look. While most build Gyome to abuse his end step trigger (a trigger now outclassed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Samwise Gamgee" href="#" target="_blank">Samwise Gamgee</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), this build focuses on Gyome's activated ability. There's no exaggeration when I say Gyome has the most versatile activated ability in the format.</p>
<p>Let me explain.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gyome, Master Chef"></div></div>
<p>The ability is deceptively simple. It reads:</p>
<p>Pay 1, Sacrifice a Food: Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. Tap it.</p>
<p>This is reminiscent of Regenerate. Likely, this is specifically referencing other Trolls getting Regenerate. Gyome's activated ability is much more open-ended and can benefit you in several ways. You can:</p>
<ol>
<li>Protect your creature from removal</li>
<li>Stop an opponent's creature from blocking</li>
<li>Prevent your attacking creature from dying in combat</li>
<li>Prevent your blocking creature from dying in combat</li>
<li>Interfere with a creature's tap ability</li>
<li>Prevent an opponent's creature from attacking</li>
<li>Safely trigger effects like <em>Inspired</em></li>
</ol>
<p>Most decks use this ability to protect their own game plan. This build uses it as political leverage, effectively doubling its use cases/value. Of course, Commander is a game of value. There's nothing better than being able to leverage player actions for a few carefully placed ability words.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gyome Politics" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander] *1 Gyome, Master Chef [/Commander] [Creatures] *1 Academy Manufactor *1 Beast Whisperer *1 Birds of Paradise *1 Blossoming Bogbeast *1 Caustic Caterpillar *1 Disciple of the Vault *1 Dockside Chef *1 Elanor Gardner *1 Elves of Deep Shadow *1 Elvish Mystic *1 Farhaven Elf *1 Fyndhorn Elves *1 Gilded Goose *1 Gingerbrute *1 Gollum, Scheming Guide *1 Haywire Mite *1 Heartwood Storyteller *1 Horobi, Death&#039;s Wail *1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest *1 Kaervek, the Spiteful *1 Keen Duelist *1 King Macar, the Gold-Cursed *1 Llanowar Elves *1 Manglehorn *1 Masked Vandal *1 Massacre Wurm *1 Meriadoc Brandybuck *1 Motivated Pony *1 Nullmage Advocate *1 Pain Seer *1 Peregrin Took *1 Pippin, Warden of Isengard *1 Reassembling Skeleton *1 Reclamation Sage *1 Rhonas the Indomitable *1 Rug of Smothering *1 Runic Armasaur *1 Sakura-Tribe Elder *1 Sarinth Steelseeker *1 Savvy Hunter *1 Silversmote Ghoul *1 Skullwinder *1 Thrashing Wumpus *1 Tireless Provisioner *1 Valentin, Dean of the Vein // Lisette, Dean of the Root *1 Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire *1 Vhati il-Dal *1 Wandering Archaic // Explore the Vastlands [/Creatures] [Artifacts] *1 Coercive Portal *1 Idol of Oblivion *1 Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk *1 Victory Chimes *1 Wishclaw Talisman *1 Worldslayer [/Artifacts] [Instants] *1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy *1 Berserk *1 Heroic Intervention *1 Tainted Strike [/Instants] [Sorceries] *1 Revive the Shire *1 Scheming Symmetry [/Sorceries] [Enchantments] *1 Trail of Crumbs *1 Viridian Revel [/Enchantments] [Lands] *1 Arcane Lighthouse *1 Bojuka Bog *1 Command Tower *1 Field of Ruin *16 Forest *1 Ghost Quarter *1 Gingerbread Cabin *1 Golgari Rot Farm *1 High Market *1 Llanowar Wastes *1 Maze of Ith *9 Swamp *1 Temple of Malady *1 The Shire [/Lands]"></span></div>   </p>
<h2>Threat of Snacktivation</h2>
<p>Say Opponent One is ready to attack with something scary. Let's say <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this case. As a Gyome player, it takes three words to launch your game plan.</p>
<p>"Before you declare attackers..."</p>
<p>You have to act <em>now</em> because after someone declares attackers, Gyome can't prevent the swing. You need to make it very clear to your opponent you can activate Gyome to stop <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from coming your way.</p>
<p>But you don't want to have to do that, and neither does Opponent One. They'll want to get a swing in, or at least keep a scary blocker. As the Gyome player and experienced politician, you have a solution that works for both of you.</p>
<p>You and Opponent One agree they should swing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at Opponent Two.</p>
<p>If all goes well, Opponent Two dies to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Without Opponent One knowing it, you've effectively goaded their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for free. Not one mana nor one card spent. Who says <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disrupt Decorum" href="#" target="_blank">politics and dinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> don't mix?</p>
<h2>Talking is a Free Action</h2>
<p>As the Gyome player, you're playing a fifth dimensional value game. You should be looking for opportunities to change the tide of battle. Your turn will be spent playing a few value pieces then ending by leaving mana open and a few Food tokens laying around. You then start making plays during your opponent's turns:</p>
<ul>
<li>Offer to save your opponent's commander from a board wipe.</li>
<li>Offer to take out a blocker for an opponent.</li>
<li>Offer to change the outcome of a combat step gone sour.</li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, there's no free lunch, but there <em>is</em> still plenty you could ask for to keep an opponent's game plan on track:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ask for "immunity", where the opponent promises not to attack you or harm your board.</li>
<li>Ask them to deal with a problem permanent.</li>
<li>Ask them to take a hit from one of your creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savvy Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Savvy Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have Food and mana leftover, you can turn that into card advantage with one of several engines in the deck. Of course, you can also "eat" the tokens as a treat.</p>
<h2>Kitchen Staff</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhonas the Indomitable"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vhati il-Dal"></div></div>
<p>The most unique part of the deck is its suite of political cards. These cards are traditionally used on your own creatures, but <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> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Berserk" href="#" target="_blank">Berserk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are just as lethal to opposing creatures.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhonas the Indomitable" href="#" target="_blank">Rhonas the Indomitable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can attack and block with your commander out. Deathtouch and indestructible make for an excellent deterrent. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhonas the Indomitable" href="#" target="_blank">Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can pump and grant trample to an opponent's creature if they promise to swing it elsewhere (perhaps for a turn of immunity if it's not too much trouble).</p>
<p>The tutors in this deck can grab one of your viable toolbox answers. But you can also use them on your opponents. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire" href="#" target="_blank">Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for your opponent. This is a big deal. You aren't going give someone one of the most powerful effects in the game for nothing. Ask for several turns of immunity, a permanent answer to another player, or a way to keep your opponent from winning next turn. Other tutors should be used in the same way.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vhati il-Dal" href="#" target="_blank">Vhati il-Dal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a halfway decent impression of Gyome. You can make deals with his activated ability in the same way as Gyome allowing more political actions a turn cycle. There is value in not needing mana or Food lying around for use. <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> can be used the similarly.</p>
<h2>Did You Bring Enough Value to Share with Everybody?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrashing Wumpus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wandering Archaic"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartwood Storyteller"></div></div>
<p>Gyome has the most pronounced leverage over huge, singular beaters. However, there are several other strategies you can't easily manipulate. Some of the deck is built to punish other strategies that Gyome can't take political control over. This is why the deck features several punishing pieces. You could add hard <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/stax">Stax</a> pieces and <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/hatebears">Hate Bears</a>. I've opted for pieces that don't stop your opponents, but punish them. Besides, Stax and Hate Bears draw too much ire. The best part of the punishing pieces in this deck is that they're much harder to remove because of Gyome.</p>
<p>Against go-wide strategies there are a few good options. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaervek, the Spiteful" href="#" target="_blank">Kaervek, the Spiteful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can wipe a board of tokens or buy enough time to stop the token player. With enough mana, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrashing Wumpus" href="#" target="_blank">Thrashing Wumpus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a one-sided board wipe alongside Gyome's activated ability.</p>
<p>Spellslinger decks have to really think about their game plan with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wandering Archaic" href="#" target="_blank">Wandering Archaic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rug of Smothering" href="#" target="_blank">Rug of Smothering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the battlefield.</p>
<p>Other artifact token decks could stand to drop a peg. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manglehorn" href="#" target="_blank">Manglehorn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> slows Treasure decks down. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disciple of the Vault" href="#" target="_blank">Disciple of the Vault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a good job lowering life totals to where even Gyome himself could finish off an opponent.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartwood Storyteller" href="#" target="_blank">Heartwood Storyteller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an incredible source of card advantage. Because this deck is creature-focused, your opponents won't benefit as much as you will. Your opponents are disincentivized to attack you since you're keeping their hand full. Also, non-creature strategies will be forced to fight upward through full hands from each player. Giving your opponents card advantage is all upside for this deck.</p>
<p>This deck packs little punch in terms of raw game pieces. Tuned decks will be able to overwhelm you with value. However, this is a hidden strength of this deck. You will seldom be perceived as a "real" threat. I recommend keeping anything that could <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldslayer" href="#" target="_blank">draw attention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in hand unless you're winning with it or can fully redirect the table's attention.</p>
<p>By the time it's you and your last opponent, you've had plenty of time to amass resources. Thus, there are a few <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blossoming Bogbeast" href="#" target="_blank">finishers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that will get the job done. Amassed Food tokens can also be used to keep your opponent from ever getting to attack or block in a meaningful way.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>The best political commander from Strixhaven isn't <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breena, the Demagogue" href="#" target="_blank">Breena</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadrix Silverquill" href="#" target="_blank">Shadrix Silverquill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gyome, Master Chef" href="#" target="_blank">Gyome, Master Chef</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>This is the kind of deck you want to talk to your playgroup about first. The key weakness to this deck (as with most politics) is betrayal. If an opponent doesn't hold their end of the bargain, you're toast. You can retaliate to show you can't be taken advantage of before things get too hairy. Also, you can try to get your other opponents to attack the one who betrayed you. But if the whole group doesn't care to play politics, it's done. Your opponents will walk into your kitchen, eat, then leave without paying.</p>
<p>If your playgroup is game, people generally enjoy playing against this deck. It gives more resources to the table. You get to make schemes and feel clever, but so do your opponents. It makes for sociable, memorable games.</p>
<p>Lastly, the flavor of the deck is arguably best in a political deck. Offering life-saving sustenance to doomed creatures or distracting a creature with a cauldron of soup is such a flavor win. The ceaseless silliness of game mechanic "flavor" and the flavor of Food is a true joy. It's not an obvious direction to build at first glance. The politics theme doesn't even show up on Gyome's EDHREC page, nor do many of the cards in this deck. I think players are missing out on a genuinely unique way to play. If you wanted to build a value Food deck, I suggest you look to one of the 13 new Food-centric commanders you could build with and around. If you want to try a taste of politics right now, give Gyome a chance.</p>


Jonathan Meyersberg

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The Other Ability - Gyome, Political Mastermind