Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian | Art by Joshua Raphael

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) recently revealed some sneak previews of the upcoming Secrets of Strixhaven set, which is due out in April. Included was a cool new spin on Velomachus LoreholdVelomachus Lorehold, and I immediately had to brew up a deck around Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian and I'm eager to share the deck tech for it!

What Does Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian Do?

It's always interesting to compare old and new versions of the same legendary character.

The new Lorehold is cheaper to cast by , so it can come down a few turns earlier and start attacking with haste and flying. While the new Lorehold cares about instant and sorcery spells like the original version, it has a dramatic new twist on it that I find much more interesting to build around.

The Historian has two abilities that tie together quite nicely. First, each instant and sorcery card in your hand has miracle . The reminder text clarifies that ability: you may cast a card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you draw this turn. That is a very narrow window for utilizing the miracle ability, and notably you can cast a card with miracle outside of the normal timing restrictions so long as you draw it as the first card you draw that turn.

For The Historian specifically, that means you can cast sorcery spells potentially at instant speed.

Now, if you haven't played with miracle cards before, you need to be careful whenever you draw your first card each turn (this includes during your opponents' turns) - draw the card, and before you add it to your hand, you'll want to look at it and decide if you could cast it with miracle and whether you want to.

Once you add that card to your hand, you can't really then decide to cast it with miracle because there won't be any way to verify which card is the one you just drew.

The Historian's last ability let's you rummage during the beginning of each opponent's upkeep - you may discard a card, and if you do, draw a card. That card will usually be the first card you'll draw on each opponent's turn, so if it's an instant or sorcery you'll be able to cast it for its miracle cost.

Key Cards for Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian

For flavor reasons, I've got the original version Velomachus LoreholdVelomachus Lorehold included, and since I have a fairly high number of instant and sorcery spells its attack trigger should hit most of the time.

You'll want to manipulate the top of your library if you can to set up casting your spells with miracle, and two of the best of the bunch are Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top and Scroll RackScroll Rack.

But perhaps the best card in this deck is Library of LengLibrary of Leng. Here is what the oracle text says for this card: You have no maximum hand size. If an effect causes you to discard a card, discard it, but you may put it on top of your library instead of into your graveyard. In conjunction with The Historian's last ability, you can discard an instant or sorcery (or another card with miracle), put it on top of your library, and then draw it and cast it with the miracle ability.

Pretty cool, huh?

Biblioplex AssistantBiblioplex Assistant gives you a one-shot way to stack your library with an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. BrainstoneBrainstone is a one-shot Brainstorm and can set up a miracle for your next draw. And the scry ability of Senu, Keen-Eyed ProtectorSenu, Keen-Eyed Protector can potentially set up a miracle.

Sonic ScrewdriverSonic Screwdriver, Laser ScrewdriverLaser Screwdriver, and Seer's LanternSeer's Lantern and more ways to manipulate the top of your library, along with other abilities that can be useful when you're not trying to set up a miracle draw.

Gandalf, White RiderGandalf, White Rider lets you scry 1 each time you cast a spell, and if it dies you may put it into your library fifth from the top, and with all the library manipulation ol' Gandalf will return even sooner than usual. Burning ProphetBurning Prophet lets you scry whenever you cast a noncreature spell, and Kutzil's FlankerKutzil's Flanker gives you one choice out of three, one of which is a scry 2.

Planetarium of Wan Shi TongPlanetarium of Wan Shi Tong lets you scry each turn, and has a triggered ability that lets you cast a card from the top of your library without paying the mana cost - which is even better than a miracle!

Elegant ParlorElegant Parlor and Tocasia's Dig SiteTocasia's Dig Site gives you some more library manipulation without costing a nonland slot in your deck.

Lorehold CampusLorehold Campus is a flavorful inclusion that fixes your colors and also has a useful activated ability for your late game.

I've been looking for an interesting deck to run PowerbalancePowerbalance for quite a while, and with all the library manipulation I think this is the perfect spot for it.

Casting a Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares for a miracle cost isn't exactly what you're looking to do with The Historian, so I went looking for big, expensive, splashy instant and sorcery spells. Apex of PowerApex of Power is undoubtedly powerful if cast for just two mana, though I'd do my best to try and cast this during my own turn so I could play lands and cast any non-instant spells among the exiled cards.

Storm HerdStorm Herd on the other hand is perfectly fine to cast during your opponents' turns, as is Hit the Mother LodeHit the Mother Lode.

The dream is to cast Volcanic VisionVolcanic Vision for a miracle cost, and get back another expensive instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to destroy your opponents' creatures and get to cast the card you got back again soon. Perch ProtectionPerch Protection is an incredibly powerful and fun card, particularly if you get to cast it for just two mana.

InsurrectionInsurrection is another powerful sorcery that is best cast during your own turn so you're able to attack with all the creatures you gain control of, though in a pinch you could cast it on an opponent's turn to stop them from attacking you.

Soulfire EruptionSoulfire Eruption is a wild mini-game in one card, with high highs and low lows, and is going to be a lot of fun to resolve and see what "loot" you'll uncover that you'll get to play/cast until the end of your next turn.

Then there's Promise of LoyaltyPromise of Loyalty which can effectively clean up a cluttered battlefield and protect you from being attacked by the remaining creatures.

I peppered in some other spells that had miracle built-in for when The Historian might not be available. Reforge the SoulReforge the Soul gives everyone a fresh new hand, while TerminusTerminus cleans up the battlefield, though keep in mind that any commanders can be put in the command zone rather than being put into the library.

I have a fair number of artifacts, so I thought Redress FateRedress Fate was worth a slot, especially since your opponents will be incentivized to destroy some of the powerful cards like Library of LengLibrary of Leng and Scroll RackScroll Rack.

It's cool that we have two creatures with miracle in ZephyrimZephyrim and Triumph of Saint KatherineTriumph of Saint Katherine. And Banishing StrokeBanishing Stroke gives us a removal spell of sorts.

Since The Historian's triggered ability requires a discard, Monument to EnduranceMonument to Endurance seems like a powerful inclusion. Since Laughing MadLaughing Mad and Electric RevelationElectric Revelation have flashback, they make a good choice for a card to discard and still have access to its effect later.

Big ScoreBig Score and Unexpected WindfallUnexpected Windfall are additional discard outlets for additional resources. Surly BadgersaurSurly Badgersaur gives you benefits whenever you discard a card, depending on the type of card discarded.

Containment ConstructContainment Construct and Conspiracy TheoristConspiracy Theorist are excellent in decks where you'll be discarding, though they'll be maximally effective during your own turn.

And then of course there's Crucible of WorldsCrucible of Worlds which will let you play any lands you discard from your graveyard on your turn.

How Does This Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian Commander Deck Win?

This is a Core (Bracket 2) deck that is looking to grind value in the short term before angling for a late game win, often through combat - especially if you get to cast Storm HerdStorm Herd with a healthy life total.

Of course there's Approach of the Second SunApproach of the Second Sun which can win the game, and with all the library manipulation you'll likely be able to cast it again much sooner than normal. Akroma's WillAkroma's Will is another way to end the game if you've got enough creatures on the battlefield, especially in conjunction with InsurrectionInsurrection!

Taunt from the RampartTaunt from the Rampart is another way to accelerate towards an endgame, taking away blockers for your attacks, and then forcing everyone else to attack each other. Lastly, Brash TaunterBrash Taunter can severely punish opponents when they cast a gigantic-sized creature, though hopefully it won't have trample and attack you.

Lorehold, the HistorianLorehold, the Historian Commander Deck List

Conclusion

I think this deck is solid and not overly powerful. The big spells are mostly splashy and fun rather than game-ending, and getting to cast them with miracle takes some work but is totally worth the effort.

What other big spells would you put in this deck that I didn't include? I'd love to hear your ideas!

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