Commissar Severina RaineCommissar Severina Raine|Art by Jake Murray

The Call at Dawn

Hi, and welcome to Beyond the Multiverse, where we go outside the Magic: The Gathering universe, and explore outside IPs. Today, we're turning our attention to the Warhammer universe (specifically 40k). That particular release was important as it was the first time we had a major release from Universes Beyond.

Such releases fell in two categories: A full-on set, or the soon-to-be-extinct precon releases. Warhammer fell into the latter category, featuring Necrons, Tyranids, Chaos, and the Imperium.

However, it's that last faction we're looking at today. Of the 99 in that precon, one stood out to me as particularly strong, and being an engine on her own. Also, we're picking a deck that's partially outside my wheelhouse. Without further ado, let's get to it.

Greeting the Commander

Severina was an Imperial Commissar who served the Astra Militarum, protecting a region known as the Bane Stars from the forces of Chaos. Before she assumed command of her regiment, she executed the previous captain, a well-beloved figure, for going against the Lord General Militant's orders, saying that the mission was a suicidal charge.

Severina would go forward with the mission, commanding the regiment, and securing victory despite heavy losses. However, she had to quell a near-mutiny when she took command, and those troops still harbor a grudge for the death of their captain.

Firstly, Severina wants us to go wide, and on the offensive, because her attack trigger will soften our opponents' life totals before our army even connects. More more you attack with, the stronger the effect. However, she also draws you cards by sacrificing a creature by paying two generic mana. A simple, yet paradoxical card.

Harboring a Grudge

I'm going to get this out of the way: I do not like Aristocrats. I despise the archetype for a number of reasons, especially the "death by a thousand cuts" plan. I feel like you're so dependent on assembling an infinite combo to really make cards like Blood ArtistBlood Artist shine.

While I enjoyed the Vampire precon from Lost Caverns of Ixalan, that didn't do much to address my disdain for the archetype. There's only one other thing I hate more than aristocrats, so this is number two in a top five list (If you must know, it's Merieke Ri BeritMerieke Ri Berit). That said, I'm writing this for you, readers, so I'll swallow my grudge and carry on.

To begin, we do not have a lot of Blood Artist-like effects, so we'd have to take what we can get. Mirkwood BatsMirkwood Bats (272,056 decks) stands among the best of these, checking for any token that comes in or is sacrificed, which we'll be doing plenty. Sanguinary PriestSanguinary Priest (11,344 decks) pings a target, and gains us a life back.

Meanwhile, Bastion of RemembranceBastion of Remembrance (173,899 decks) gives us a token, and does a good impression of Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat (using an in-universe example). Lasty, while it's no Blood Artist, Pitiless PlundererPitiless Plunderer (219,588 decks) gives us treasure when another creature we control dies.

Rallying the Creatures

Most importantly, we need creatures to sacrifice, and what better options are there, but tokens? Firstly, Captain of the WatchCaptain of the Watch (27,946 decks) replenishes our board with soldiers. Company CommanderCompany Commander (18,366 decks) is best played early on, as its enters ability is strongest when all of your opponents are present.

On the other hand, we also have a number of creatures with the Squad mechanic, which we play premium for an extra copy of the card. Securitron SquadronSecuritron Squadron (18,922 decks), if you pay enough into the Squad cost, is a game-ender. Likewise, Ultramarines Honour GuardUltramarines Honour Guard (18,417 decks) is another anthem effect that could make our creatures bigger.

Death in HeavenDeath in Heaven (10,658 decks) is a graveyard hoser and, picking the right target, an army-in-a can. Lastly, Entrapment ManeuverEntrapment Maneuver (20,403 decks) makes our opponent sacrifice a creature, and we get an army for it. Be sure to use it right to get maximum value out of it. Four mana is a lot to leave up, after all.

The myriad mechanic is another good choice, but will not count for Severina's attack trigger, so keep that in mind. However, the one that stands out here is Dalek SquadronDalek Squadron (15,401 decks), which has to be double-blocked.

Alternatively, there's Blade of SelvesBlade of Selves (76,859 decks), but it'll need the right creature to equip to get mileage in this list. That said, I brought up aristocrats, so what kind of value can we reap from sacrificing our tokens?

Planning a Strategy

If there's one thing aristocrat decks tend to gain, it's value. I mentioned the Blood Artist effects earlier, but we have more payoffs. Black MarketBlack Market (126,459 decks) gets us an absurd amount of mana.

Ashnod's AltarAshnod's Altar (reskinned as Bedivere's Scales; 405,311 decks) does this, too, and it's a free outlet. Those are the ones to immediately slam into the deck (ironically not in this list for a reason I'll explain when we get to it).

Call for UnityCall for Unity (12,406 decks) is slow to get going, but it can add up. On the other hand, Morbid OpportunistMorbid Opportunist (164,466 decks) gives us a card if a creature died each turn. In a similar vein, it's best to treat SkullclampSkullclamp (667,040 decks) as a sacrifice outlet if the tokens are 1/1s, as that'll draw us two cards for each one you 'clamp.

Lastly, The Golden ThroneThe Golden Throne (25,043 decks) gives us three mana if we sacrifice a creature. It also can save us from a lethal strike, but only once, and it puts us at one life, so hope no one pings you, and make you lose in such an embarrassing manner.

Alternatively, swinging out with a big board works just as well. However, you need to have a large number of creatures to make that worthwhile, but don't hesitate if you can land a hit in.

One or two life on attack isn't much, but it can add up quickly. There is this tension between this, and an aristocrats plan, so it's best to know when to lean into one strategy more than the other, then switch it when you're ready to do so.

Addressing the Deck

Turning the Tide of the Game

You'll see that, in this list, I made aristocrats a sub-theme, and focused harder on the aggro plan. This is because you're more likely to get Severina's attack trigger than use the activated ability.

Both The MeepThe Meep (provided you sacrifice a big enough creature; 529 decks) and For the Emperor!For the Emperor! (8,418 decks) are swingy finishers in their own right. It had been my original plan all along, and the aristocrats aspect of the deck just came naturally.

For a token list, there's a lot of wipes, but very few are absolute. Firstly, Martial CoupMartial Coup (79,645 decks) leaves behind an army to work with. Secondly, cards like Fell the MightyFell the Mighty and Crisis of ConscienceCrisis of Conscience (68,710 and 5,119 decks respectively) both ensure that our tokens stick around.

The absolute wipes we do have are a last resort, and should be treated as such. Above all, ExterminatusExterminatus (besides being absolutely fun to slam down; 7,978 decks) will wipe out everything, except lands.

Everything Comes to DustEverything Comes to Dust (20,284 decks) will help secure our board, if you use the convoke cost. However, be aware that you'll be sparing some of your opponents' creatures, too.

That said, while we have a ton of wipes, the list also carries lots of board protection. The best of these is Galadriel's DismissalGaladriel's Dismissal (47,752 decks), which either saves our stuff, or clears the way for lethal damage.

However, that's not to say other cards like Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver and Unbreakable FormationUnbreakable Formation (260,956 and 174,495 decks respectively) are slouches, either.

Each one has their uses, be it free to cast or can be used to advance our board state in some way. On the other hand, you might even want the board wiped of threats, or to enable the aristocrats subtheme. Perhaps it's both.

Going Home

In conclusion, with the limited but burgeoning card pool we have, we can still make something out of it. Even archetypes I tend to not like can be made here. Who knows? We might even get a Blood Artist reskin down the line. Aristocrats is not an archetype I tend to venture into for reasons I explained, but I hope that the list does a good enough job to convey it.

When building the list, I was originally looking at some of the other options that could fit a similar mold. Firstly, Colonel AutumnColonel Autumn would strengthen your tokens, but you need a critical mass of legendary creatures to make him useful. Secondly, MacCready, Lamplight MayorMacCready, Lamplight Mayor would've worked if we weren't using many anthem effects.

Lastly, Elder Arthur MaxsonElder Arthur Maxson, who is in the decklist, gives counters to our tokens, and is a free sacrifice outlet himself, mainly to protect himself. I was going to randomize what commander to use before each game, but I eventually settled on Severina, since the others have a niche to them the deck couldn't satisfy.

Maybe one day I can make that work for a different deck (Though, the Boros Equipment deck from last week is a good candidate for this).

Join me next time, when we return to an earlier franchise with a favorite deck in mind. Until then, may you be inspired by what's beyond Magic's IP.