<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lara Croft, Tomb Raider" href="#" target="_blank">Lara Croft, Tomb Raider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.gregstaples.com/">Greg Staples</a></h6>
<h1>The Beginning of the Journey</h1>
<p>Hi, I’m Owain, and I’m here with the first article of what I’ll call <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>. The missive is simple: To make decks using only cards printed (and reprinted) into Universes Beyond (henceforth known as UB). But, first, a bit about me.</p>
<p>I’m one of those fabled MTG Boomers that people tend to hear about. <em>Magic</em> first came into my life around <em>Invasion</em> block. I’ve been fairly on and off until 2011, when the first Commander precons came out, and I’ve been playing since.</p>
<p>As for my decision to fully embrace UB cards? I was once just like most when <em>The Walking Dead</em> lair came out: In complete opposition. It’s been several years since then, and my opinions on UB have gradually shifted.</p>
<p>My journey to get to the point of embracing the product line was long. I never thought I'd get to where I am now.</p>
<p>However, if you go and assemble UB-only decks, but still appreciate all the in-universe stuff has to offer, have a balance of both. Going all-in on UB made going back through in-universe cards quite a jarring experience.</p>
<p>With that piece of advice out of the way, let’s jump right into the next section without further delay.</p>
<h1>Our Commander</h1>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lara Croft, Tomb Raider"></div></div><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the <em>Tomb Raider</em> franchise. She goes to find legendary and dangerous artifacts while thwarting those who seek them for villainous purposes. However, this particular version is based on the 2013 <em>Tomb Raider</em> game (and its sequels), known as the Survivor Timeline. Now we have the basic lore on our commander, but what about the card?</p>
<p>Looking at it tells us what we need to do: Get legendary artifacts and legendary lands into the graveyard, then play them after attacking. That Treasure token you get from the raid trigger will come in handy for this.</p>
<p>However, it’s worth noting that Lara can pull from <em>any</em> graveyard, and not just your own. So, whether you want to mill everyone or see something that your opponents played, she will see those, too. That said, though, you’ll be looking through your own stuff.</p>
<p>The worst case scenario is that you simply get a treasure token, and that’s not a bad thing. Even then, we're going to need to navigate what choices will be part of our 99.</p>
<h1>Raiding the Tombs</h1>
<p>There’s two ways you could build Lara: Load up with Equipment and bonk someone for 21 damage, or just accrue value. However, we’re using only UB cards here, so our pickings are slimmer. Chances are that you’ll end up doing a mix of the two because of this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Excalibur, Sword of Eden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="RMS Titanic"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, we have equipment like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (42,928 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Totec’s Spear; 17,9724 decks) that make Lara big enough to win.</p>
<p>Additionally, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bessie, the Doctor’s Roadster" href="#" target="_blank">Bessie, the Doctor’s Roadster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,638 decks), which allows her to get through unblocked.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (15,368 decks) is a nice Swiss-Army knife in this deck: You could give double strike, get a legendary blocker, or it can do am impression of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faithless Looting" href="#" target="_blank">Faithless Looting</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which you can use to fill your graveyard with targets for Lara’s attack trigger.</p>
<p>Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overpowering Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Overpowering Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (29,233 decks) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seize the Day" href="#" target="_blank">Seize the Day</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Round Two; 59,481 decks) let us get extra combat steps, getting more cards to cast, and even taking opponents out of the game.</p>
<p>On the other hand, we have stuff that helps accrue value over time. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,545 and 23,151 decks respectively) allow us to cast historic cards from the top of our library.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="RMS Titanic" href="#" target="_blank">RMS Titanic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,918 decks) can be looped with Lara to gain a boatload of Treasures while also hitting like a truck. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot" href="#" target="_blank">ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can do something similar, but can draw us cards over time.</p>
<p>Just take care how you attack the longer it sticks around, so you can get more quest counters. Consequently, there's a central theme that works with both of the above themes.</p>
<h1>Of Tomb Exploring and History</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Surtr, Fiery Jötun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroes&#039; Podium"></div></div>
<p>Because a lot of the deck contains Historic cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Surtr, Fiery Jötun" href="#" target="_blank">Surtr, Fiery Jötun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be slinging <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s left, right, and center. I’m surprised the card doesn’t see more play than the 233 decks it’s in.</p>
<p>Every time I’ve cast the card, it’s been a major threat on the board. Do not sleep on Surtr if you’re running a lot of Historic cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroes’ Podium" href="#" target="_blank">Heroes’ Podium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (38,037 decks) is a wincon with all the legendary creatures in the deck, but can also dig for a new creature to cast, too. In short, you might say the average Lara Croft deck is a Historic deck at its heart.</p>
<p>In either of the above paths you take, you’ll need ways to ditch legendary artifacts and lands so Lara can mark them.</p>
<p>Firstly, we have a range of ways to achieve this, from popular options like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cathartic Reunion" href="#" target="_blank">Cathartic Reunion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to obscure ones like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyssa of Traken" href="#" target="_blank">Nyssa of Traken</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (4,583 decks), who will get you cards and tap down blockers while you attack.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wreck and Rebuild" href="#" target="_blank">Wreck and Rebuild</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,779 decks) gives us a choice at either removing a troublesome artifact or enchantment or can mill five of our cards, ramping us and having targets for Lara set up. Importantly, it has Flashback, so you can use the card twice.</p>
<p>Importantly, it's natural for UB-Only decks to have a Historic theme to some extent because UB sets tend to be filled to the brim with legendary creatures, artifacts, or otherwise. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Delighted Halfling" href="#" target="_blank">Delighted Halfling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (254,292 decks) shine in decks that capitalize on this because you’ll often tap to make a mana that’ll make your next legendary creature uncounterable. The Historic cards will be tough to ignore, and I wouldn’t even try doing so. It’s basically an overarching theme.</p>
<h1>The Treasure at the End</h1>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Project Beyond-Venturing Forth" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Academy Ruins
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*6 Forest
*1 Frontier Bivouac
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*1 Game Trail
*1 Ghost Quarter
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*6 Island
*6 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Trenzalore Clocktower
*1 Vineglimmer Snarl
[/Lands]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ace&#039;s Baseball Bat
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bessie, the Doctor&#039;s Roadster
*1 Bow of Nylea
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Five Hundred Year Diary
*1 Heroes&#039; Podium
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 RMS Titanic
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Staff of Eden, Vault&#039;s Key
*1 The Animus
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Adric, Mathematical Genius
*1 Arwen, Weaver of Hope
*1 Assassin Den
*1 Curie, Emergent Intelligence
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Displaced Dinosaurs
*1 ED-E, Lonesome Eyebot
*1 Evie Frye
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Ian the Reckless
*1 Iron Man, Titan of Innovation
*1 Jamie McCrimmon
*1 K-9, Mark I
*1 Karvanista, Loyal Lupari // Lupari Shield
*1 Legolas Greenleaf
*1 Nardole, Resourceful Cyborg
*1 Nyssa of Traken
*1 Old One Eye
*1 Osgood, Operation Double
*1 Strax, Sontaran Nurse
*1 Surtr, Fiery Jötun
*1 The Fourth Doctor
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Anger of the Gods
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Cultivate
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Hull Breach
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Traverse Eternity
*1 Wreck and Rebuild
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Bombadil&#039;s Song
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Counterflux
*1 Cyber Conversion
*1 Desynchronization
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Legolas&#039;s Quick Reflexes
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Rhystic Study
*1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
[/Enchantments]"></span></div>
<h1>Studying the Spoils</h1>
<p>Certainly, there’s a number of Historic cards that work well here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Traverse Eternity" href="#" target="_blank">Traverse Eternity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,501 decks) draws lots of cards, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desynchronization" href="#" target="_blank">Desynchronization</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (26,035 decks) is oftentimes a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that doesn’t bounce your opponents’ commanders, but our board state remain largely untouched.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Traverse Eternity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Desynchronization"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div></div>
<p>I threw in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Staff of Eden, Vault’s Key" href="#" target="_blank">Staff of Eden, Vault’s Key</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,428 decks) for the likelihood that we actually get something out of our opponents’ graveyards, but your chances at getting something are going to be low. That said, when it goes off, it's going to draw cards. Hopefully, there'll be similar effects within the UB card pool in the long run.</p>
<p>In addition, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adric, Mathematical Genius" href="#" target="_blank">Adric, Mathematical Genius</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,009 decks) can copy triggers (including Lara’s) and, in a pinch, make the ultimate sacrifice to counter an ability that would cause a problem.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gimli of the Glittering Caves" href="#" target="_blank">Gimli of the Glittering Caves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (300 decks) hits hard with double strike and enough pumps, but also net us Treasures in the process.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legolas Greenleaf" href="#" target="_blank">Legolas Greenleaf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (coming in at an unsurprising 39 decks) is similar: Reach instead of double strike, same pump ability, but instead of Treasure, he gives us a card. Not to mention he has evasion, which is unfortunately situational. See if you can get both of them out on the battlefield at once for a flavor win.</p>
<p>Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jamie McCrimmon" href="#" target="_blank">Jamie McCrimmon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (3,145 decks), with enough historic spells, can become a game-ending threat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iron Man, Titan of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Iron Man, Titan of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does an identical Lara impression because of his attack trigger, which allows us to pod away an artifact for a new one.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gimli of the Glittering Caves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Legolas Greenleaf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jamie McCrimmon"></div></div>
<p>You could stack the trigger to resolve his ability first, sending a legendary artifact into your graveyard. After that, exile it with a discovery counter with Lara’s trigger, so then you can cast it later.</p>
<h1>The Journey Home</h1>
<p>In conclusion, the usage of UB cards alone is a deckbuilding restriction that I hear seldom about. There's many staples reprinted (or reskinned, in some cases) with the UB border, and there's new cards that are worth taking a look, even the overshadowed ones.</p>
<p>Don't be afraid to mix and match IPs. As wacky and ridiculous it sounds, I find it lets my imagination wonder.</p>
<p>Firstly, what would Lara do if she found <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? How would <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iron Man, Titan of Innovation" href="#" target="_blank">Iron Man, Titan of Innovation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> interact with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? In short, it's little "what ifs" like these that can form a story of their own. However, that's using only UB printings and cards came naturally, even for me.</p>
<p>Using only UB cards required some nurturing on my part, and I'm sure it'll be the same with you. I was having each IP be their own deck before I warmed up to the idea of mixing them.</p>
<p>Even now, UB is a very polarizing subject, and that will not change for the foreseeable future. I’ve heard stories of people giving others bad experiences simply because they chose to run UB cards, basically gatekeeping. I won’t drag this out, but let’s be respectful of their choices and not ruin their fun.</p>
<p>That being said, I always look forward to see what fun and unique designs come out of UB sets. Consequently, it’s always exciting when new cards come out, so we can have more options for our decks. In addition, we learn more about the characters, places, and events behind the cards, and that's half the fun.</p>
<p>Let me know in the comments what you think of the commander and the deck. You may certainly find a card that you can use in your decks.</p>
<p>Until next time, go above and beyond your games.</p>


Owain Roberts

Owain Roberts

Beyond the Multiverse: Building a Lara Croft Deck with Universes Beyond Cards