Edgar, Master MachinistEdgar, Master Machinist | Art by Immanuela Crovius
If you've read the Borderland Explorer series, you'll know I'm drawn to commanders that have a clear game plan, but one you can take in multiple directions, depending on what parts of the card you'd like to showcase. This week's commander, Edgar, Master MachinistEdgar, Master Machinist, fits that bill perfectly!
In this article, we will:
- Highlight interesting game plan(s) for a Final Fantasy commander
- Build a budget-friendly (~$40) "Core" power level deck following these plans
- Work through important card categories and discuss notable inclusions
- Include a decklist and a deck checklist
- Go through mid-budget upgrades (<=$20 per card) as options to invest more into this strategy.
The Game Plan(s) for Edgar, Master Machinist
Edgar has two interesting abilities. The first allows you to create steady value from artifacts in a LurrusLurrus-like grind, while the second gives you the ability to attack an opponent for a huge amount of damage.
It's very valuable to have a commander that can hunker in for a long game or one-shot a threatening opponent, depending on what the situation at the table calls for. So how can we build a deck that maximizes both of these potential strategies?
In an interesting push-and-pull, the first half of the card makes me think of tiny BaublesBaubles and SpellbombsSpellbombs, while Edgar's second ability makes me think of colossalcolossal threatsthreats. Do we have room for both?
Key Cards for Edgar, Master Machinist
Artifact Value
I'm not going to bend over backwards to include every single cheap cantrip like Mishra's BaubleMishra's Bauble, Chromatic StarChromatic Star, and Pyrite SpellbombPyrite Spellbomb in this strategy. Instead, this deck will simply use mana producers and card draw (pretty much the bread and butter of Commander) that get enhanced when the deck can re-cast them from the graveyard.
To start, Fountainport BellFountainport Bell is a great inclusion – mana in the early game, and cheap, repeatable value in the late game to combine with Edgar. Other mana + value cards include Boros LocketBoros Locket, Commander's SphereCommander's Sphere, and Dreamstone HedronDreamstone Hedron. To help accommodate the high mana value cards this deck has to offer, Burnished HartBurnished Hart can put you further ahead on mana each turn and Slobad, Iron GoblinSlobad, Iron Goblin can net huge mana gains from cards like Myr EnforcerMyr Enforcer.
When it comes to card draw, selection often comes in the form of "looting" effects like Faithless LootingFaithless Looting, Cathartic ReunionCathartic Reunion, and the on-theme Daretti, Scrap SavantDaretti, Scrap Savant. While these effects don't usually generate a lot of card advantage on their own, Edgar allows you to access looted away artifacts for steady value later in the game. If you want to lean more into looting effects, it looks like some other brewers have already begun using Edgar at the helm of an artifact Reanimator strategy, so that might be an interesting direction to take.
Big Attacks
As it stands right now, I'm not choosing to go too deep on artifact reanimation. Instead, I'm zeroing in more on Edgar's second ability that sets it apart from other commanders. Focusing on Edgar's self-pump ability means trying to solve the interesting puzzle of including high mana value artifacts without having them uselessly sit in your hand until the later turns of the game.
There are a few ways to make use of high mana value cards earlier than expected. Angel of the RuinsAngel of the Ruins, Valor's FlagshipValor's Flagship, and Sojourner's CompanionSojourner's Companion can get cycled away to find lands or create tokens in the early game. You can cast Steel SeraphSteel Seraph and Combat ThresherCombat Thresher for their alternate costs in the early game and then cast them from your graveyard with Edgar for full price later on. Creatures that make use of Phyrexian manaPhyrexian mana, affinity for artifactsaffinity for artifacts, and turbo-affinity for noncreature artifactsturbo-affinity for noncreature artifacts can grant Edgar a large power bonus without investing the full amount of mana printed on the card.
But giving Edgar +7/+0 is just the start for this deck. and are all about doubling powerdoubling power, granting double strikedouble strike and/or trampletrample (or all sorts of other abilities)(or all sorts of other abilities)! The new combat-tripler Full ThrottleFull Throttle goes absolutely wild with Edgar, because multiple attacks means multiple pumps and the chance to take out multiple opponents in a single turn.
Thematic Disruption
Because this deck primarily wins by attacking with its commander, cheap spells to get blockers out of the way are a must-have. This means less Generous GiftGenerous Gift and Stroke of MidnightStroke of Midnight and more Fateful AbsenceFateful Absence and Unexpectedly AbsentUnexpectedly Absent (are you allowed to put this card in your deck in 2025?). Soul PartitionSoul Partition and Touch the Spirit RealmTouch the Spirit Realm can perform double-duty by removing a blocker or protecting your threats, and DispatchDispatch and Perilous SnarePerilous Snare are great on-theme targeted answers.
It's also great to include mass disruption spells that can frustrate multiple opponents' plans simultaneously. Against aggressive opponents, damage-based sweepers like Deafening ClarionDeafening Clarion or Incendiary SabotageIncendiary Sabotage can clear out small creatures while leaving your four-toughness commander and big artifact friends intact. Soul-Guide LanternSoul-Guide Lantern can repeatedly keep graveyard-based decks in check with Edgar's help. Boros CharmBoros Charm and Smoke BombSmoke Bomb can be used on defense or offense as the game requires. Smoke Bomb in particular is a perfect match for Edgar, allowing for repeated protection and evasion. This would definitely be my "Challenge the Stats" pick if it wasn't way too early to even have representative stats for this commander!
Edgar, Master Machinist Commander Deck List
Edgar, Master Machinist
View on ArchidektCommander (1)
- 1 Edgar, Master MachinistEdgar, Master Machinist
Creatures (23)
- 1 Angel of the RuinsAngel of the Ruins
- 1 Bosh, Iron GolemBosh, Iron Golem
- 1 Broadside BombardiersBroadside Bombardiers
- 1 Burnished HartBurnished Hart
- 1 Combat ThresherCombat Thresher
- 1 Combustible GearhulkCombustible Gearhulk
- 1 Daretti, Rocketeer EngineerDaretti, Rocketeer Engineer
- 1 Foundry InspectorFoundry Inspector
- 1 Frogmyr EnforcerFrogmyr Enforcer
- 1 Furnace HellkiteFurnace Hellkite
- 1 Ironsoul EnforcerIronsoul Enforcer
- 1 Jhoira's FamiliarJhoira's Familiar
- 1 Metalwork ColossusMetalwork Colossus
- 1 Moltensteel DragonMoltensteel Dragon
- 1 Myr BattlesphereMyr Battlesphere
- 1 Myr EnforcerMyr Enforcer
- 1 Pyreswipe HawkPyreswipe Hawk
- 1 Ruin GrinderRuin Grinder
- 1 Slobad, Iron GoblinSlobad, Iron Goblin
- 1 Sojourner's CompanionSojourner's Companion
- 1 Steel SeraphSteel Seraph
- 1 Traxos, Scourge of KroogTraxos, Scourge of Kroog
- 1 Voyager QuickwelderVoyager Quickwelder
Artifacts (20)
- 1 Arcane SignetArcane Signet
- 1 Boros LocketBoros Locket
- 1 Boros SignetBoros Signet
- 1 Commander's SphereCommander's Sphere
- 1 Dreamstone HedronDreamstone Hedron
- 1 Fountainport BellFountainport Bell
- 1 Junk JetJunk Jet
- 1 Lightning SpearLightning Spear
- 1 Manifold KeyManifold Key
- 1 Meteoric MaceMeteoric Mace
- 1 Perilous SnarePerilous Snare
- 1 Psychic PaperPsychic Paper
- 1 Smoke BombSmoke Bomb
- 1 Sol RingSol Ring
- 1 Soul-Guide LanternSoul-Guide Lantern
- 1 Talisman of ConvictionTalisman of Conviction
- 1 Tenza, Godo's MaulTenza, Godo's Maul
- 1 Valor's FlagshipValor's Flagship
- 1 Wine of Blood and IronWine of Blood and Iron
- 1 Worn PowerstoneWorn Powerstone
Enchantments (1)
- 1 Touch the Spirit RealmTouch the Spirit Realm
Planeswalkers (1)
- 1 Daretti, Scrap SavantDaretti, Scrap Savant
Instants (14)
- 1 AbradeAbrade
- 1 Boros CharmBoros Charm
- 1 DispatchDispatch
- 1 Fatal FrenzyFatal Frenzy
- 1 Fateful AbsenceFateful Absence
- 1 Incendiary SabotageIncendiary Sabotage
- 1 Kazuul's Fury // Kazuul's CliffsKazuul's Fury // Kazuul's Cliffs
- 1 Legion Leadership // Legion StrongholdLegion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
- 1 Path to ExilePath to Exile
- 1 Soul PartitionSoul Partition
- 1 Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares
- 1 Temur Battle RageTemur Battle Rage
- 1 Unexpectedly AbsentUnexpectedly Absent
- 1 Wear // TearWear // Tear
Sorceries (6)
- 1 Angelfire IgnitionAngelfire Ignition
- 1 Cathartic ReunionCathartic Reunion
- 1 Deafening ClarionDeafening Clarion
- 1 Faithless LootingFaithless Looting
- 1 Full ThrottleFull Throttle
- 1 Thrilling DiscoveryThrilling Discovery
Lands (34)
- 1 Access TunnelAccess Tunnel
- 1 Ash BarrensAsh Barrens
- 1 Battlefield ForgeBattlefield Forge
- 1 Buried RuinBuried Ruin
- 1 Command TowerCommand Tower
- 1 Cori Mountain MonasteryCori Mountain Monastery
- 1 Darksteel CitadelDarksteel Citadel
- 1 Escape TunnelEscape Tunnel
- 1 Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard
- 11 MountainMountain
- 7 PlainsPlains
- 1 Rogue's PassageRogue's Passage
- 1 Rustvale BridgeRustvale Bridge
- 1 Shrine of the Forsaken GodsShrine of the Forsaken Gods
- 1 Slayers' StrongholdSlayers' Stronghold
- 1 Spinerock KnollSpinerock Knoll
- 1 Sunhome, Fortress of the LegionSunhome, Fortress of the Legion
- 1 Sunscorched DivideSunscorched Divide
Deck Checklist
- 50 mana sources (34 lands, 14 artifacts, 2 mdfcs)
- 16 artifacts with mana value 6+
- 10 card draw/recursion
- 9 targeted disruption
- 8 mass disruption
Mid-Budget Upgrades for Edgar, Master Machinist
If you want to lean into more Equipment, Stoneforge MysticStoneforge Mystic is incredible, allowing you to search for and cheat out a high mana value, high-impact Equipment like Kaldra CompleatKaldra Compleat way ahead of schedule.
Speaking of powerful Equipment, Excalibur, Sword of EdenExcalibur, Sword of Eden is an absolute powerhouse in this deck and an auto-include at medium or higher budgets. If you want to include more new Final Fantasy cards, Ultima WeaponUltima Weapon looks amazing as well.
If you want to focus more on the artifact Reanimator strategy I mentioned earlier, these can serve as the core of a deck that cheats out huge artifact creatures way before they're expected:
- Goblin WelderGoblin Welder
- Goblin EngineerGoblin Engineer
- Wurmcoil EngineWurmcoil Engine
- Triplicate TitanTriplicate Titan
- Scrap MasteryScrap Mastery
Finally, Akroma's WillAkroma's Will can protect your board or end the game on the spot once you've assembled a fearsome board of your commander and a few large artifact threats.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading this week's article! How would you build this strategy? Are you drawn to Equipment, artifact Reanimator, big power, and/or something completely different that no other brewer has thought of with this commander yet? Join me next week when I highlight a second Final Fantasy commander, this time with a color identity. See you then.
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