Jenova, Ancient CalamityJenova, Ancient Calamity | Art by Ignatius Budi

Welcome back to Beyond the Multiverse! This week, I'm doing something a bit different from the routine. It won't be the last time, because I do intend to branch out into different ideas, so you can expect that in the near future. However, for today's article, we're going into something called Box-mander.

What is it, exactly? It's sort of like the name implies: You take a Magic booster box, and build a deck from its contents, and the regular Commander rules apply. According to this article by the late Sheldon Menery (May he Rest in PeaceRest in Peace), it was an idea created by Brian-David Marshall. Will the deck be good enough for your average pod? Absolutely not, but it's something to try with other players doing the same thing.

That said, I do want to note about this format becoming official. I was unaware of this, and the unboxing happened before Wizards of the Coast announced it. I'll be playing by the old rules, but if you want me to do an article like this again, I'll play (mostly; color identity stays) by the new rules.

For this article, rather than focus on card choices, I'll take you through my journey and see how the final list was produced.

So, who did I end up choosing?

Aliens

I will note that I didn't do a lore write up for Cloud and Sephiroth back in their article because they're very iconic to the IP, and everyone knows of their feud. Almost legendary, if you will. Jenova, though, was in the same game. She (it?) was a threat from 2,000 years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, and was stopped. That is, until Shinra unearthed and used her properties for experiments.

Said experiments would go on to affect the lives of multiple characters, including Cloud and Sephiroth. She's also a boss you fight multiple times throughout the game.

Jenova's card wants you to grow her stats, but not necessarily to attack. Instead, she wants you to play other creatures and buff them instead. This feeds into her second ability, potentially drawing you piles of cards at a time.

Now, Golgari ()is a rare color combination for me to build, and I have no idea why. In fact, my journey began with another color pair.

In the Beginning

Before I begin, I mentioned in the previous article that I had three boxes. Jenova's was the only one I was able to record because, when I opened the other two, I was coming off the heels of almost evacuating from a fire. I forgot about the box-mander business in the chaos, and in an aftermath where I was mentally taxed. However, I still had plenty to work with.

My path begins in the second pack, where I pulled a foil Y'shtola RhulY'shtola Rhul. From that point, I was looking into blue as one of my colors. Later, I pulled a number of options, including Emet-Selch, UnsunderedEmet-Selch, Unsundered and Omega, Heartless EvolutionOmega, Heartless Evolution. That said, the former didn't work with Y'shtola, but Omega would've been outright oppressive, and not much fun. Even going the Hope EstheimHope Estheim route would've put me on the naughty list.

Consequently, along the way, I pulled Lightning, Army of OneLightning, Army of One, along with a number of cards centered on Equipment. Having Gilgamesh, Master-at-ArmsGilgamesh, Master-at-Arms, Danitha Capashen, ParagonDanitha Capashen, Paragon, among others was too good to pass up. This, in turn, had me set the Y'shtola idea aside.

Lost in the Woods

By the time I got to the end of the box, I was content with going the Lightning route. I dug in, and began assembling the deck. However, I ran into a big problem: I didn't pull enough unique Equipment to make the deck work.

For additional context, Boros's draft archetype was Equipment, and Lightning needed the Equipment to get the most out of her (and keep her around on the field). With my initial plan thwarted, I kept going through what I pulled.

I acquired most of the commons, and some of the uncommons, but outside of what I mentioned, nothing really grabbed my attention.

Gladiolus AmicitiaGladiolus Amicitia was there, together with Tifa LockhartTifa Lockhart, but the push wasn't there. All 10 of the Town duals, plus Balamb Garden, SeeD AcademyBalamb Garden, SeeD Academy, and The Wandering MinstrelThe Wandering Minstrel were present along with the other Town-related stuff, but someone else was writing him, and I didn't want to step on their toes.

On the other hand, five-color decks are too easy here; I needed a challenge.

Further, I was caught in a bind, and I wasn't sure what to pick. I eventually reached out to get some extra pairs of eyes to get me out of my rut. Jenova was the first option that was mentioned (I ended up pulling the regular and the showcase versions. I went with the latter eventually). Seeing no other recourse, I attempted to build Jenova, and the resulting deck list is below.

The Final List for Jenova, Ancient Calamity

Analyzing the List

Note that I'm not using the exact versions I pulled from the packs, but these were all from the box. The exceptions are the basics, which you can just use what you have, really.

Firstly, we need ways to buff Jenova. The greater her power, the more +1/+1 counters she distributes. We begin with the job select cards (a few from this list are Bard's BowBard's Bow, Monk's FistMonk's Fist, and Black Mage's RodBlack Mage's Rod), which all come in with a Hero token.

That said, we need to move them onto Jenova to provide the Heroes with an even bigger boost. On the other hand, Rydia's ReturnRydia's Return provides a way to cross the finish line while making Jenova bigger.

Crucially, The Earth CrystalThe Earth Crystal is perhaps the best here: It'll double the counters that Jenova dishes out, and you can activate the ability to give essentially 2 counters to Jenova, and two to another creature. The cost reduction is just icing on the cake.

Secondly, we'll need some good targets for those counters. Tifa LockhartTifa Lockhart can get dangerous very quickly if timed right. Meanwhile, the creatures you exile from Ardyn, the UsurperArdyn, the Usurper become tokens you could put counters on. You can layer the triggers so Ardyn resolves first, then proceed to put Jenova's counters on that Demon you just created.

Another good target is Demon WallDemon Wall, which normally has defender as is. However, you put the counter(s) from Jenova onto the Wall, and it can suddenly attack without needing to pay for its activated ability.

Where to Go From Here

Here, for the purposes of articles like this one, I'll cover cards from both Universes Beyond, and in-universe cards you could add.

Firstly, both Sphere GridSphere Grid and Maester SeymourMaester Seymour distribute counters as well as having other benefits. Meanwhile, Evolution WitnessEvolution Witness and Kami of Whispered HopesKami of Whispered Hopes both recur cards and gain mana, respectively. The latter also acts like a Hardened ScalesHardened Scales effect (another good card to add, by the way), which is a valuable effect. The more you can find, the better.

Secondly, thanks largely to the Fallout decks from last year, we have a plethora of new Mutant creatures that work with Jenova. Watchful RadstagWatchful Radstag is a good one, copying itself whenever a counter gets put on it. This'll mean lots of cards in the long run. Bloatfly SwarmBloatfly Swarm will accrue counters, then gives everyone rad counters if it should take damage.

Playing further into the rad counters sub-theme, Feral GhoulFeral Ghoul gets bigger each time a creature dies, then does a similar thing to Bloatfly swarm if the Ghoul dies.

Finally, there's a few other cards I wish to mention. Counter doublers like Branching EvolutionBranching Evolution and Corpsejack MenaceCorpsejack Menace are both very good here. If doubling alongside a Hardened Scales effect, you can choose the order in which the effects apply. You'd resolve the Scales effect first, then the doubler, so the latter takes the Scales effect into account.

Feel free to let me know in the comments if I got this wrong.

Final Mutation

Doing a Box-mander deck is a fun way to explore a set, and everything it has to offer. Perhaps you'll find some new synergies while you do so. Opening packs -though I do advocate for buying singles - is also some good ASMR if you need it.

I'd would like to hear from you whether a Box-mander deck is something I should do again. I'm open to feedback, and I'm currently looking for ways to branch out into some new content. On that note, I'll be away for a couple of weeks, but I do have content to cover for both (I've already written them, as of writing this article).

With that said, tune in next time as we retread old ground, and give Final Fantasy a small break.