AbradeAbrade | Art by Stephen Andrade

Welcome, mono-red devotees and movie fanatics. Did you pick up Secret Lair x Jaws: Terror of Amity Island in the recent Secret Scare Superdrop? If so, you received a few excellent red cards, including Jaws, Relentless PredatorJaws, Relentless Predator.

The motion picture, Jaws, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. It seems fitting that Jaws's iconic fish is now a Magic: The Gathering card. Also, Stephen Andrade's artwork for Jaws, Relentless Predator captures the mystique of Roger Kastel's Jaws movie poster. Even after 50 years, there isn't much hope for the unsuspecting swimmer.

Now you may be thinking—how does Jaws relate to MTG? Well, there are Sharks, Blood tokens, and boats portrayed as artifacts in the MTG universe. Mold everything together, and you get an exciting mono-red legendary Shark.

Let's further discuss Jaws, Relentless Predator's capabilities when leading a Tokens-centric Commander deck.

What Does Jaws, Relentless PredatorJaws, Relentless Predator Do?

Paying to cast Jaws is no small sum. However, you are rewarded with a 5/5 creature with haste, trample, and two triggered abilities. First, dealing combat damage to a player with Jaws creates that many Blood tokens.

Besides a flavor win, those Blood tokens synergize with Jaws's second triggered ability. Jaws deals one damage to each opponent whenever a noncreature artifact is sacrificed or destroyed. Note that any player sacrificing a noncreature artifact, or having one under their control destroyed, will trigger Jaws' damage-dealing ability.

Jaws isn't the only creature generating Blood tokens through damage. Olivia's AttendantsOlivia's Attendants earns you a Blood token for each point of damage it deals. Key differences between Olivia's Attendants and Jaws are Olivia's Attendants' first ability triggering from damage dealt to any target, plus a damage ability.

Although Olivia's Attendants isn't legendary, it is serviceable in the 99 of kindred Vampires and Tokens-centric decks—like Jaws!

While not red, Syr Konrad, the GrimSyr Konrad, the Grim bears some resemblance to Jaws. Both cards have a triggered ability that deals one damage when any player meets a certain condition. Additionally, Syr Konrad, the Grim and Jaws have another ability to fuel their universal triggered abilities.

Considering Syr Konrad, the Grim is a black Commander staple; Jaws could become a Commander staple too.

Key Cards for Jaws, Relentless PredatorJaws, Relentless Predator

Killer Equipment

Equipment cards are an excellent way to power up Jaws and other attackers. One colorless Equipment I'm enthusiastic about is Tarrian's SoulcleaverTarrian's Soulcleaver. With Tarrian's Soulcleaver equipped to Jaws, any time another creature or artifact goes to the graveyard from the battlefield, Jaws gets a +1/+1 counter.

It won't take long for Jaw's to become a massive threat when sacrificing those excess Blood and Treasure tokens. A timely VandalblastVandalblast may turn Jaws into a one-shot kill from Commander damage.

As for red Equipment, look no further than The Reaver CleaverThe Reaver Cleaver. Granting +1/+1 and trample is helpful, but creating Treasure tokens equal to the combat damage dealt to an opponent or their planeswalker is amazing.

Astoundingly, The Reaver Cleaver equipped to Jaws or Olivia's Attendants means doubling the artifact token creation windfall. Frankly, attaching The Reaver Cleaver to any sizable attacker for Treasure token generation is a sound decision.

It behooves me to highlight the synergy between Jaws and Basilisk Collar. Although Basilisk Collar lacks pump effects, deathtouch and lifelink are amazing abilities to gift Jaws. When attacking with a deathtouch trample creature, you only need to assign one point of lethal damage to each blocker.

Further, Jaws with lifelink turns its damage-dealing triggered ability into a lifegain machine gun. Lastly, having a source of incremental lifegain can be the difference between life and death in a slugfest.

Treasure Makers

Jaws triggers from any noncreature artifact being sacrificed, including Treasure tokens. Thus, you're incentivized to run Treasure makers like Generous PlundererGenerous Plunderer and Pain DistributorPain Distributor.

Generous Plunderer can generate a Treasure token for you and an opponent during your upkeep. In addition, Pain Distributor gives a player one Treasure token for casting their first spell each turn. While your opponents may be excited to receive free Treasure, they should take note of Generous Plunderer and Pain Distributor's punishing abilities.

Alternatively, Treasure makers such as Swashbuckler ExtraordinaireSwashbuckler Extraordinaire and Knuckles the EchidnaKnuckles the Echidna bolster your game plan.

Swashbuckler Extraordinaire's key ability turns Treasure into double strikers. Giving trampling attackers like Jaws and Cavern-Hoard DragonCavern-Hoard Dragon double strike also means double the triggers and artifact tokens.

Pair Swashbuckler Extraordinaire with Knuckles the Echidna for even more synergistic fun! Excitingly, Knuckles the Echidna and Hellkite TyrantHellkite Tyrant's backup win conditions become easier to achieve when generating a plethora of artifact tokens.

Pingers

In case attacking isn't a viable path to victory, you can lean on indirect damage. Luckily, red has a few pingers that trigger when artifacts and/or creatures enter under your control.

Weftstalker ArdentWeftstalker Ardent from Edge of Eternities (EOE) is fast becoming a pinging all-star. Though small in stature, Ingenious ArtilleristIngenious Artillerist and Reckless FireweaverReckless Fireweaver can dish out damage, too.

One interesting twist on a pinger is Hedron DetonatorHedron Detonator. Firepower and card advantage for is commendable. Thrillingly, you can dramatically increase the damage output of red pingers by playing a few legendary creatures.

How Does Jaws, Relentless PredatorJaws, Relentless Predator Win?

Damage Amplifiers

Love it or hate it, Ojer Axonil, Deepest MightOjer Axonil, Deepest Might is an incredible card. Quadrupling each point of pinging damage from Jaws, Pain Distributor, Weftstalker Ardent, and Ingenious Artillerist will end games quickly. Additionally, Ojer Axonil's death trigger enables you to use its noncombat damage-enchancing ability again via a small hurdle.

Ojer Axonil isn't the only red creature that multiplies noncombat damage. Say hello to Solphim, Mayhem DominusSolphim, Mayhem Dominus, a Phyrexian Horror your opponents should fear.

Solphim doubles noncombat damage from your red sources with the possibility of becoming an indestructible force. Be careful activating Solphim's indestructible ability when it's plausible that an opponent is holding removal.

Torbran, Thane of Red Fell's casting cost shouldn't discourage you from slotting it in the 99. Unlike Ojer Axonil and Solphim, Torbran adds two points of damage from any red source you control.

Furthermore, Torbran's ability is particularly effective when receiving extra combat phases from Great Train HeistGreat Train Heist and Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault. If damage-amplifying creatures aren't enough to win the game, you can try executing an infinite combo.

Infinite Combos

Buried in the 99 of Jaws are a handful of infinite combos. For starters, we have the fabulous duo of The Reaver CleaverThe Reaver Cleaver and Aggravated Assault. You'll need to deal five or more damage to an opponent with a creature equipped by The Reaver Cleaver to initiate the combo. Following combat damage, sacrifice five Treasure tokens to activate Aggravated Assault's ability and start another combat phase, repeating the process.

You can also swap The Reaver Cleaver for Cavern-Hoard DragonCavern-Hoard Dragon to go infinite with Aggravated Assault. The main difference is that Cavern-Hoard Dragon needs to deal combat damage to a player controlling five or more artifacts (and life). If you can achieve this feat, the damage will build up rapidly.

We aren't quite done with combo options. You have access to a potent three-card infinite combo. To start this infinite combo, you must have Nuka-Cola Vending MachineNuka-Cola Vending Machine, Krark-Clan IronworksKrark-Clan Ironworks, Academy ManufactorAcademy Manufactor, and a Food token under your control.

Sacrifice the Food token using Krark-Clan Ironworks to create two colorless mana and trigger Nuka-Cola Vending Machine's ability to make a tapped Treasure token. Upon a Treasure token entering, Academy Manufactor gives you a Food and Clue token. Repeat these steps by sacrificing Food tokens to receive infinite colorless mana, artifact-enters effects, and tapped Treasure tokens.

Also, you may use surplus mana to turn your stockpile of Clue tokens into card draw.

Jaws, Relentless Predator Commander Deck List

Jaws' deck list has the flexibility to lower its overall power level and budget. For instance, removing the infinite combo pieces of Aggravated Assault, Nuka-Cola Vending Machine, and Krark-Clan Ironworks could save you a pretty penny. Want to save more money? Cut Commander's PlateCommander's Plate, Nykthos, Shrine to NyxNykthos, Shrine to Nyx, and Shinka, the Bloodsoaked KeepShinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep to reduce some of the deck's explosiveness and cost.

Conclusion

Fortunately, you have several affordable replacements to consider.

Mountains are fine replacements for pricey nonbasic lands. However, additional changes are less straightforward. For budget-friendly creatures, consider playing Veronica, Dissident ScribeVeronica, Dissident Scribe and Rose, Cutthroat RaiderRose, Cutthroat Raider.

The Equipment card, Adaptive OmnitoolAdaptive Omnitool, excels when equipped to Jaws, especially when the Shark has double strike. Another inexpensive artifact with upside is Dowsing DeviceDowsing Device. Repeatedly triggering Dowsing Device's ability is great, but its backside ability can turn one of your creatures into a deadly force.

Will you be braving the seas with Jaws?

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