<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist|fic|206" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CRobert+Cornelius%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robert Cornelius</a></em></p>
<p>Hello and welcome back to <em>Archetypes of Imagination</em>, the series where we build decks based on popular Commander archetypes. We'll use Scryfall's tagging system and EDHREC's Tag pages to build around a new theme each week. Today we're building a deck focused on sneaking creatures onto the battlefield, with <em>Final Fantasy</em>'s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Scryfall has a really cool way of categorizing cards, where each card has specific labels attached to it for later reference. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springbloom Druid" href="#" target="_blank">Springbloom Druid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the ramp tag and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Druid of Purification" href="#" target="_blank">Druid of Purification</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has the removal tag. EDHREC's tag system is really cool too, letting users see popular cards associated with a given strategy. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rogue&#039;s Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Rogue&#039;s Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in voltron decks and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hydroid Krasis" href="#" target="_blank">Hydroid Krasis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is great in X spell decks. These tagging systems are great ways to get inspiration for certain deck archetypes, and I often start there when it's time for me to build a new deck.</p>
<p>Let's get brewing!</p>
<h2>What Does Tifa, Martial Artist Do?</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sure to be one of the most popular commanders from the upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> release. Costing just four mana, she lets us get up to three extra combats per turn when a sufficiently big creature hits one of our opponents. Luckily, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> decks have access to a lot of creatures with power seven or greater. So, this deck will aim to land Tifa early, sneak in a few big creatures, and swing with them to allow for extra combat steps galore.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tifa, Martial Artist"></div></div>
<p><em>Magic</em> usually requires players to pay mana for their spells, but we'll be doing all we can to skirt around that requirement. Some effects let us cast spells for free while others let us put permanents directly onto the battlefield, and we'll be taking advantage of both in this deck. While every color's got a few ways to cheat mana costs, the Naya color combination of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> has a ton of these effects at its disposal. But, we want something to do with all the big creatures that we'll be cheating onto the battlefield. So, to that end, we'll be using Tifa to swing in for damage multiple times.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for a Sneak Commander Deck</h2>
<h3>Ways to Sneak Creatures Out</h3>
<p>There's tons of ways to cheat creatures onto the battlefield here, starting with the classic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sneak Attack" href="#" target="_blank">Sneak Attack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although we need to sacrifice whatever creature we put onto the board with it, we'll hopefully have swung in for damage with that creature several times already. We don't really mind needing to sacrifice one of our big Eldrazi if we've already gotten to attack with it four times. There's also some ways to get creatures onto the battlefield permanently, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eladamri, Korvecdal" href="#" target="_blank">Eladamri, Korvecdal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oviya, Automech Artisan" href="#" target="_blank">Oviya, Automech Artisan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These cards are fantastic, providing us with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Piper" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Piper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> variants with significant amounts of upside (card advantage and team-wide trample respectively).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sneak Attack"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eladamri, Korvecdal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oviya, Automech Artisan"></div></div>
<p>There's several more ways to sneak creatures in, so I'll just hit upon a few of my favorites. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smuggler&#039;s Surprise" href="#" target="_blank">Smuggler&#039;s Surprise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can put two creatures onto the battlefield for just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, while also providing well-costed board protection and card advantage–all at instant speed! There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This big Dinosaur is both a great card to sneak onto the board, and a way to sneak other creatures in. Rounding out the highlights of this group is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kodama of the East Tree" href="#" target="_blank">Kodama of the East Tree</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because we'll be putting so many high mana value permanents onto the battlefield, this card will really shine here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smuggler&#039;s Surprise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kodama of the East Tree"></div></div>
<h3>The Best Creatures to Sneak Out</h3>
<p>I've talked a lot about how we're going to sneak creatures onto the battlefield. So, let's talk about what scary monsters we'll actually be putting onto our battlefield free of charge.</p>
<p>One of my favorites is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I love this card for two main reasons. First, it's got seven power, meaning that it'll help our commander give us extra combat steps. Second, it's got a good chance to provide us with another big creature off the top of our library with its enters trigger. And, given all the extra combat steps we'll be taking, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giant Adephage" href="#" target="_blank">Giant Adephage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will quickly provide an insurmountable Insect army. Although this card may seem a little bit battlecruiser-ish, its seven base power and powerful combat damage trigger make it a solid choice for this deck. I also really like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kogla, the Titan Ape" href="#" target="_blank">Kogla, the Titan Ape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> here. It's a big body that provides removal upon entering the battlefield and upon attacking, and can even protect Tifa in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Conqueror"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giant Adephage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kogla, the Titan Ape"></div></div>
<p>There's a few more creatures I want to talk about. We already spoke about New Etali, but let's take a moment to appreciate Old Etali. Although <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is definitively less powerful than some others in the deck, we'll really be able to run away with the game if we can string together multiple attack with this Dinosaur in one turn. I also wanted to talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trumpeting Carnosaur" href="#" target="_blank">Trumpeting Carnosaur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which feels purpose-built for this deck. It's got seven power, a super strong enters trigger, and can even be used as a removal spell if we really need it. This card is just amazing, and I've found myself super happy to draw it in playtesting.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etali, Primal Storm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trumpeting Carnosaur"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Old Gnawbone"></div></div>
<p>Last but not least, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Old Gnawbone" href="#" target="_blank">Old Gnawbone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> feels great when we're attacking multiple times per turn, and really takes advantage of all the high power creatures we'll be going to combat with.</p>
<h2>Tifa, Martial Artist Commander Deck List</h2>
<p>And now, here's the full decklist:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetypes of Imagination - Tifa, Martial Artist" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Tifa, Martial Artist
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Agonasaur Rex
*1 Ancient Gold Dragon
*1 Apex Altisaur
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Blightsteel Colossus
*1 Boreal Druid
*1 Champion of Rhonas
*1 Delighted Halfling
*1 Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise
*1 Eladamri, Korvecdal
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Elvish Piper
*1 Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness
*1 Etali, Primal Storm
*1 Fanatic of Rhonas
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Ghalta and Mavren
*1 Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant
*1 Giant Adephage
*1 Ilharg, the Raze-Boar
*1 Ilysian Caryatid
*1 Kodama of the East Tree
*1 Kogla and Yidaro
*1 Kogla, the Titan Ape
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Old Gnawbone
*1 Oviya, Automech Artisan
*1 Paladin Elizabeth Taggerdy
*1 Professional Face-Breaker
*1 Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
*1 Sire of Seven Deaths
*1 Terastodon
*1 Terror of the Peaks
*1 Titan of Industry
*1 Torsten, Founder of Benalia
*1 Toski, Bearer of Secrets
*1 Trumpeting Carnosaur
*1 Winota, Joiner of Forces
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Doors of Durin
*1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study
*1 The Great Henge
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Annie Joins Up
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Sneak Attack
*1 Tribute to the World Tree
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks
*1 Last March of the Ents
*1 Rishkar&#039;s Expertise
*1 Selvala&#039;s Stampede
*1 Stump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Archdruid&#039;s Charm
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Collective Resistance
*1 Get Lost
*1 Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold
*1 Nature&#039;s Claim
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Smuggler&#039;s Surprise
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Through the Breach
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fire-Lit Thicket
*6 Forest
*1 Hushwood Verge
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Karplusan Forest
*6 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*6 Plains
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Spire Garden
*1 Sunbillow Verge
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Thornspire Verge
*1 Wooded Bastion
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quarrel&#039;s End" href="#" target="_blank">Quarrel&#039;s End</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>Thanks for reading about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tifa, Martial Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Tifa, Martial Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this week's <em>Archetypes</em> article! As always, I've got a few more cards I want to spotlight. This deck is full of high power creatures, and there's a few more ways that we can make the most of them. Among those are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Last March of the Ents" href="#" target="_blank">Last March of the Ents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rishkar&#039;s Expertise" href="#" target="_blank">Rishkar&#039;s Expertise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both of which will routinely draw us a fresh seven cards and allow even more mana-cost cheating. There's also a few mana creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilysian Caryatid" href="#" target="_blank">Ilysian Caryatid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fanatic of Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">Fanatic of Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can provide us with extra acceleration once we've gotten a sufficiently big guy on the board.</p>
<p>Lastly, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghalta and Mavren" href="#" target="_blank">Ghalta and Mavren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terror of the Peaks" href="#" target="_blank">Terror of the Peaks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make sure that our large creatures provide us even more advantage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Last March of the Ents"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rishkar&#039;s Expertise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghalta and Mavren"></div></div>
<p>There's a few more cards that really shine here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of Rhonas" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of Rhonas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Although this creature asks that we exert it if we'd like to cheat a creature onto the battlefield, our commander lets us untap it multiple times per turn (meaning that we can cheat multiple creatures per turn onto the battlefield). I also really like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Selvala, Heart of the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I know, it's shocking to hear that this card is good in a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>-based creature deck. But because we'll usually have the biggest creatures at the table, Selvala will provide tons of mana and card advantage for just three mana.</p>
<p>And there's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar" href="#" target="_blank">Ilharg, the Raze-Boar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This 6/6 creature lets us sneak in creatures and reuse their enters effects while also being extremely hard to kill permanently. I love this card, and I'm glad it's got a place in this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of Rhonas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selvala, Heart of the Wilds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ilharg, the Raze-Boar"></div></div>
<p>Thanks once again for reading! For those of you who are interested, here are some of the Scryfall searches I used to write this article:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28otag%3Asneak+or+otag%3Asneak-creature+or+otag%3Asneak-permanent%29+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ways to sneak creatures onto the battlefield</a></li>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Acreature+pow%3E%3D7+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Big creatures to sneak onto the battlefield</a></li>
<li><a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Apower-matters+commander%3Anaya+legal%3Aedh+order%3Aedhrec&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ways to get value from having big creatures on the battlefield</a></li>
</ul>


How to Make a Sneak Commander Deck, With Tifa, Martial Artist

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minwu, White Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Minwu, White Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.josuhernaiz.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josu Hernaiz</a></em></p>
<p>One of the things I love about Universes Beyond is that, even though none of the universes <em>Magic</em> has gone to have spoken to me yet, there are a lot of cool legends that show creativity in design and add to the card pool in intriguing ways. As a result, I choose to see them as unique game pieces rather than delving into the lore of a series of games I’ll never play. One of my favorite games to play during spoiler season is to try to find legends that either add layers to existing cards, or commons and uncommons that provide a critical mass of effects to enable existing strategies. One of the commanders that caught my eye in <em>Final Fantasy </em>is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minwu, White Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Minwu, White Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Minwu, White Mage"></div></div>
<p>Minwu provides support for a classic typal strategy, Clerics. Clerics have been around since the beginning of <em>Magic</em>, seeing particular success in <em>Onslaught</em>, where they were primarily in white with some black. They have historically had a connotation with life gain, although some of their common abilities, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>’s, have occasionally been shared with Wizards, Citizens, and non-occupation creature types. As a result, our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minwu, White Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Minwu, White Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck will have Clerics and cards that have abilities that work with them.</p>
<h2>What Does Minwu, White Mage Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ajani&#039;s Pridemate"></div></div>
<p>The first thing that likely sticks out about Minwu is the prohibitively expensive five-mana casting cost. For a spell to be worth spending that kind of mana in today’s spell economy, it needs to be a curve-topping threat, and Minwu fits that role well. Unfortunately, Minwu does not seem to dominate combat at first glance, despite having both lifelink and vigilance, as the power and toughness are both three. It's worth noting, however, that the last ability, which puts a +1/+1 counter on all Clerics includes itself, so it can act as a much bigger <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani&#039;s Pridemate" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani&#039;s Pridemate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that boosts the whole team.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orah, Skyclave Hierophant"></div></div>
<p>While there are other options for Cleric commanders, most of them happen to be Clerics, but don’t provide a payoff for what Clerics do. For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taborax, Hope&#039;s Demise" href="#" target="_blank">Taborax, Hope&#039;s Demise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a mono-black Cleric commander, but it only cares about Clerics dying, which doesn’t really capture what Clerics do. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orah, Skyclave Hierophant" href="#" target="_blank">Orah, Skyclave Hierophant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an Orzhov Cleric commander, which has the benefit of adding to the color identity so there are more playable cards. It also cares about death triggers of Clerics, although it adds an element of white by reanimating them as well. Both Taborax and Orah are interesting engines, but neither provides a payoff, meaning that their decks take a lot of game actions without contributing meaningfully to winning the game in a timely manner.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul Warden"></div></div>
<p>What Minwu does that is unique to other Cleric commanders is that it supports an archetype that Clerics feature prominently in: Soul Sisters. In fact, Minwu gives Soul Sisters something it desperately needs: a clock. Soul Sisters consist of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and similar creatures that gain life each time a creature enters the battlefield. In fact, most of those effects trigger for each player, which can get out of hand quickly in a game of Commander. Unfortunately, these creatures are usually small, so the life buffer is similar to a high Hit Points stat in <em>Pokemon</em>; it helps to soak up damage but not to prevent it, so the deck struggles to turn the corner after getting punched in the mouth due to a lack of dealing meaningful or consistent damage.</p>
<p>The layers of counters turns our small creatures into threats and can even make crazy combinations, especially with the new <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/ranking-the-job-select-equipment-cards-from-final-fantasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">job select Equipments</a> that can turn creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hangarback Walker" href="#" target="_blank">Hangarback Walker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> into powerful exhaust if we decide to go in a more combo-heavy route.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Minwu, White Mage</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul&#039;s Attendant"></div></div>
<p>One set of cards that’s key for a Soul Sisters deck is…the Soul Sisters. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul&#039;s Attendant" href="#" target="_blank">Soul&#039;s Attendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are the namesake cards of the archetype, but there are actually close to 20 cards that provide a similar effect. Some are Clerics, some aren’t (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lifecreed Duo" href="#" target="_blank">Lifecreed Duo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), and some aren’t even creatures (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ajani&#039;s Welcome" href="#" target="_blank">Ajani&#039;s Welcome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). We need as many copies of this ability as we can find, as it’s the bread-and-butter of the deck. This means accepting some off-curve and somewhat disappointing options, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angelic Chorus" href="#" target="_blank">Angelic Chorus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in order to make sure we see multiple copies every game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archangel of Thune"></div></div>
<p>Soul Sisters decks are notorious for being slow, trigger-heavy, and a bit frustrating to play against. This is where Minwu comes in, as the White Mage provides a payoff for the lifegain. But our commander isn’t alone. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archangel of Thune" href="#" target="_blank">Archangel of Thune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is arguably the most powerful card in the deck, removing the limit on Clerics that our commander has, while also being a flying attacker. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> adds to the counters flying around, and, like the other cards that provide layers of counters, triggers for each <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> activation.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mentor of the Meek"></div></div>
<p>While the majority of the deck is designed around gaining life and payoffs of life gain, we do have a couple of other important roles to fill. Since we need a critical mass of triggers and payoffs, as well as ways to keep our triggers flowing, we need card draw. The majority of that draw is tied to creatures entering the battlefield, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mentor of the Meek" href="#" target="_blank">Mentor of the Meek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, enabling us to maximize the ETB triggers that we're already building around with the Soul Sisters. The other major role we need is board protection, as we need permanents to stick around in order to stack abilities and develop a board presence.</p>
<p>Dawn seems to be an ideal time of day for Clerics, as both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn&#039;s Truce" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn&#039;s Truce</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can protect our board, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn of Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn of Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card draw effect that capitalizes off of our life gain.</p>
<h2>How Does This Minwu, White Mage Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nykthos Paragon"></div></div>
<p>Our Minwu deck uses the commander to take a notoriously nebulous archetype and give it a pretty clear win condition: building a board and pushing combat damage with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos Paragon" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos Paragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. Gain life, turn that life into power, and use that power to bash opponents’ faces is a much cleaner win condition than trying to draw into and protect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Felidar Sovereign" href="#" target="_blank">Felidar Sovereign</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or hope the table lets our life total stay high enough to fire the Death Star of an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aetherflux Reservoir" href="#" target="_blank">Aetherflux Reservoir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> shot to the face. (Still waiting on a Star Wars Universes Beyond, by the way, but, with Marvel coming up, there’s hope.)</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hangarback Walker"></div></div>
<p>If you're looking for a more combo-based build, or one at a higher power level, you could add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hangarback Walker" href="#" target="_blank">Hangarback Walker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to combine with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heliod, Sun-Crowned" href="#" target="_blank">Heliod, Sun-Crowned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to mow down opponents. Two-card combinations and ways to find them would increase the power level, however, and this one is low enough to play at casual or semi-competitive tables, such as those running similarly strong and supported creature types, like Dragons, Elves, or even Slivers. This build should be able to hold its own at any of those tables.</p>
<h2>Minwu, White Mage Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Minwu, White Mage Commander Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Minwu, White Mage
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Ajani&#039;s Welcome
*1 Angelic Chorus
*1 Answered Prayers
*1 Authority of the Consuls
*1 Case of the Uneaten Feast
*1 Cleric Class
*1 Cradle of Vitality
*1 Dawn of Hope
*1 Light of Promise
*1 Sunbond
*1 Tocasia&#039;s Welcome
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Aerith Gainsborough
*1 Ajani&#039;s Pridemate
*1 Archangel of Thune
*1 Auriok Champion
*1 Daxos, Blessed by the Sun
*1 Dazzling Angel
*1 Distinguished Conjurer
*1 Elenda&#039;s Hierophant
*1 Enduring Innocence
*1 Essence Channeler
*1 Exemplar of Light
*1 Gideon&#039;s Company
*1 Guide of Souls
*1 Healer of the Pride
*1 Heliod, Sun-Crowned
*1 Hinterland Sanctifier
*1 Impassioned Orator
*1 Kor Celebrant
*1 Lifecreed Duo
*1 Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Nykthos Paragon
*1 Qala, Ajani&#039;s Pridemate
*1 Redemption Choir
*1 Righteous Valkyrie
*1 Rumor Gatherer
*1 Soul Warden
*1 Soul&#039;s Attendant
*1 Suture Priest
*1 Twinblade Paladin
*1 Vanguard Seraph
*1 Voice of the Blessed
*1 Welcoming Vampire
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Field-Tested Frying Pan
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
*1 White Mage&#039;s Staff
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ajani, Strength of the Pride
[/Planeswalkers]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Brave the Elements
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Dawn Charm
*1 Dawn&#039;s Truce
*1 Divine Resilience
*1 Flare of Fortitude
*1 Grand Crescendo
*1 Make a Stand
*1 Unbreakable Formation
*1 Your Temple Is Under Attack
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*40 Plains
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This is a fairly fast and aggressive typal deck, with its speed and board protection serving as positive traits while it’s hindered a bit by a relative lack of removal or recovery. We want to be pushing the pace from the beginning, putting out Soul Wardens instead of building up mana. As a result, our curve is relatively low, with our commander as a curve-topping threat. Minwu sits back until there are enough counters for it to bully other creatures in combat, slowly building up counters until we have an overwhelming board presence.</p>
<p>This deck is for those who enjoy triggers and counters, as well as those who like taking a picture of beautifully spread out board states. It does take some focus to follow all of the interactions and triggers while maintaining board state, so I’d recommend taking it out when you have the energy and space to do so. When you do, it’s a lot of fun, and it shows just how powerful monocolored strategies can be!</p>


Building a Cleric Typal Deck with Minwu, White Mage

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artofmtg.com/artist/magali-villeneuve/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Magali Villeneuve</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>. I'm Owain, and I'm here with a long-awaited article (one of three, in fact), featuring two Commanders. First up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who's all about Equipment. I've done Equipment decks before, but I'm going to make him slightly different from the others. More on that in a moment.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion"></div></div>
<p>On the other side, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who absolutely doesn't have obsessively romantic feelings for Cloud. Not at all. Nothing to see here. Anyway, with Sephi here, we're killing off creatures, with perhaps some minor graveyard shenanigans along the way.</p>
<p>However, there's just one small problem: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerith Gainsborough" href="#" target="_blank">Aerith Gainsborough</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, our third wheel, is in the way. How do we <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eliminate the Competition" href="#" target="_blank">Eliminate the Competition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonize|fic|308"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth&#039;s Intervention"></div></div>
<p>Ah, thank you, Sephiroth. With Aerith now excused to be on a forever date with Sephiroth's sword, we can be on our way. Are you ready to rumble?</p>
<h2>Cloud, Planet's Champion Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Cloud" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Cloud, Planet&#039;s Champion
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bloodforged Battle-Axe
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Colossus Hammer
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Hearth and Home
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 Sword of War and Peace
*1 Sword of the Animist
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
*1 Ultima Weapon
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Armory Paladin
*1 Bastion Protector
*1 Beatrix, Loyal General
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Cid, Freeflier Pilot
*1 Codsworth, Handy Helper
*1 Freya Crescent
*1 Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms
*1 Gimli of the Glittering Caves
*1 Item Shopkeep
*1 Lightning, Security Sergeant
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo
*1 Rosa, Resolute White Mage
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Weapons Vendor
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Battlefield Improvisation
*1 Big Score
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Inventory Management
*1 Judgment Bolt
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Unexpected Windfall
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Cleansing Nova
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Secret Rendezvous
*1 Seize the Day
*1 Single Combat
*1 Unfinished Business
*1 Wake the Past
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Forge Anew
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Furycalm Snarl
*1 Inspiring Vantage
*8 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Opal Palace
*1 Path of Ancestry
*8 Plains
*1 Rabanastre, Royal City
*1 Rugged Prairie
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Sacred Peaks
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunscorched Divide
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Rebel With A Cause</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beatrix, Loyal General"></div></div>
<p>We begin with Cloud himself. Boros Equipment decks are nothing new in this series, as this is the third iteration. That said, I'm doing this list a tad differently this time, a small restriction that extends to the Sephiroth list as well: this deck was built with the <em>Final Fantasy Starter Kits</em> in mind. Now, that product isn't made for Commander, but it's a small starting point (Or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starting Town" href="#" target="_blank">Starting Town</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as it were). While, at time of writing, we don't have the lists, the contents were leaked a while ago. With all the rares officially revealed before the lists, the stars aligned, and all of them are in here.</p>
<p>Since the last time, we gained access to some new stuff. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beatrix, Loyal General" href="#" target="_blank">Beatrix, Loyal General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will let us dump our Equipment on one creature during combat. This, ideally, would be Cloud, since he'll have double strike and indestructible. Moreover, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> compliments her very well, seeing as we can slam any number of Equipment we find from his trigger. Thirdly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Item Shopkeep" href="#" target="_blank">Item Shopkeep</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will give an attacking equipped creature menace, making them harder to block.</p>
<p>Thanks to the set's bonus sheet, we now have access to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sram, Senior Edificer|fca|3" href="#" target="_blank">Sram, Senior Edificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (skinned as Firion, Swordmaster), letting us draw cards. Next, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cid, Freeflier Pilot" href="#" target="_blank">Cid, Freeflier Pilot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who recurs Equipment, and makes them cost less to cast again.</p>
<h2>Expanding the Armory</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embercleave"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunforger"></div></div>
<p>If you're looking for some in-universe cards too add, there's plenty to tap into. The rest of the Sword of X and Y cycle (as well as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Wealth and Power" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Wealth and Power</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) becomes available to us. Further, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embercleave" href="#" target="_blank">Embercleave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is brutal to put onto Cloud, if you can reduce the cost low enough to cast it during combat. Thirdly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaver Cleaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaver Cleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will surely give us lots of Treasure tokens to use if the equipped creature connects.</p>
<p>If you want to retool Cloud, and give him a more controlling slant, look no further than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There's a lot of amazing spells that meet the criteria within Cloud's colors (including a couple of Game Changers, if that's what you're into). As long as you keep reequipping Cloud with Sunforger, and having mana open, you'd be in a good position to respond to someone who might try and disrupt your board.</p>
<p>Next, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fighter Class" href="#" target="_blank">Fighter Class</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was made for this kind of deck (an aside: DnD cards aren't <em>Universes Beyond </em>cards, but they're also not in-universe, but they still count for this section). Secondly, a number of the Nahiri planeswalker variants work for the deck. I'd pick <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, the Lithomancer" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, the Lithomancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because of the utility she provides (be sure to add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as well if you do).</p>
<h2>Play the Victory Tune</h2>
<p>Concluding this half of the article, and looking back, there was a noticeable difference between the past article and this one (besides the Starter Kit restriction): One had you focus on going wide, but Cloud wants you to put all of your eggs into one basket, Voltron-style. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck from that article was more about going wide, using as many legendary Equipment as possible (and <em>Final Fantasy </em>has those in spades!).</p>
<p>That said, let's see about his opponent...</p>
<h2>Sephiroth, Planet's Heir Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Sephiroth" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sephiroth, Planet&#039;s Heir
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Baleful Strix
*1 Gaius van Baelsar
*1 Merciless Executioner
*1 Morbid Opportunist
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Summon: Anima
*1 Ultimecia, Temporal Threat
*1 Xande, Dark Mage
*1 Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival
*1 Zodiark, Umbral God
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blight Grenade
*1 Bone Splinters
*1 Deadly Embrace
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Extract from Darkness
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Great Intelligence&#039;s Plan
*1 Languish
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Mutilate
*1 Night&#039;s Whisper
*1 Quantum Misalignment
*1 Reanimate
*1 Rite of Replication
*1 Toxic Deluge
*1 Windfall
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Genesis Chamber
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Magitek Scythe
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mithril Coat
*1 Shadowspear
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 The Masamune
*1 Thought Vessel
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Propaganda
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 An Offer You Can&#039;t Refuse
*1 Counterspell
*1 Cyber Conversion
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Dismember
*1 Flatline
*1 Orcish Medicine
*1 Overkill
*1 Sephiroth&#039;s Intervention
*1 V.A.T.S.
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Command Tower
*1 Contaminated Aquifer
*1 Darkwater Catacombs
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Fetid Pools
*7 Island
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 River of Tears
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Sunken Hollow
*1 Sunken Ruins
*7 Swamp
*1 Tainted Isle
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Treno, Dark City
*1 Underground River
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>It's Time To Bring Despair to <em>Magic: The Gathering</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div></div>
<p>WARNING: If you love your friends, do <em>not</em> use this deck. You'll lose them by game's end.</p>
<p>In case you haven't figured out why, this is a removal-themed deck. We're blowing up everyone and everything (and stabbing Aeriths along the way) because it helps make our commander bigger and more lethal. That said, all that removal helps clear the way for Sephiroth to get through and impale our opponents with that massively long sword.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blight Grenade" href="#" target="_blank">Blight Grenade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> takes out a creature, then gives everything else -3/-3, perhaps wiping out an army of tokens. Next, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archfiend of Depravity" href="#" target="_blank">Archfiend of Depravity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will ensure no one's board gets monstrously huge. However, for a real wipe, cast a kicked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Replication" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Replication</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on our commander (even better if it's a token made from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quantum Misalignment" href="#" target="_blank">Quantum Misalignment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). This will kill our commander, but they all enter, essentially wiping the board.</p>
<p>All this said, I do want to give a paragraph to one card in particular: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card is the lynchpin of the deck. You want to trigger him as much as you possibly can so you can flip him and get the emblem (Am I the only one who thinks the <em>Super Nova</em> ability is a flavor fail? Nothing like in the games to me). That said, you also want to keep him (and/or our commander) around long enough to make them threats. Fortunately, there's a few ways to do so, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Medicine" href="#" target="_blank">Orcish Medicine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>Looking Beyond <em>Final Fantasy</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Not Dead After All"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadeye Navigator"></div></div>
<p>Firstly, I'd retool the deck to be akin to those infamous Scam decks that terrorized Modern in recent years. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undying Evil" href="#" target="_blank">Undying Evil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Not Dead After All" href="#" target="_blank">Not Dead After All</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would be great to keep Sephiroth from perishing while we wipe the board. On the other hand, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Wurm" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Wurm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> clear the board to make Sephiroth bigger (provided he didn't die in the aftermath).</p>
<p>Secondly, we also gain access to blue's blink effects, abusing our commander's ability to wipe the board, and perhaps soft-lock it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displacer Kitten" href="#" target="_blank">Displacer Kitten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadeye Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Deadeye Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> stand among the best of these, repeatedly blinking Sephiroth and making our opponents (perhaps) very salty. While not a blink spell, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drivnod, Carnage Dominus" href="#" target="_blank">Drivnod, Carnage Dominus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double up on Sephiroth's death triggers, making him huge very quickly. It's an ability very akin to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Masamune" href="#" target="_blank">The Masamune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (aka, Aerith's best friend), which is in the deck's 99 already.</p>
<p>Lastly, while we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flatline" href="#" target="_blank">Flatline</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sudden Spoiling" href="#" target="_blank">Sudden Spoiling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Polymorphist&#039;s Jest" href="#" target="_blank">Polymorphist&#039;s Jest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will also make opposing creatures much easier to kill. For an alternate win condition, look no further than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It ramps us with all the creatures hitting the bin, and hitting the critical number of Treasure tokens with this deck should be a breeze.</p>
<h2>I Will Never Be a Memory</h2>
<p>In summary, this deck has to be about the most evil, diabolical deck I've come up with so far. It might be something you play once in a blue moon, then perhaps never again. Your friends won't let you bring it out again, I assure you. Then again, it does its job well.</p>
<p>In any case, both of these decks tackle the archetype in different ways. One with a more traditional approach, the other a more controlling style. That said, this is a non-budget path one could take with the Starter Kit. A budget one would drastically change both decks.</p>
<p>Hopefully you enjoyed my take on both of these commanders (and survived my mischief throughout the article. It really came out in force here. No disrespect to Aerith intended). Perhaps they might guide you in creating your own builds. Tune in next time as we dive into the second of the three long-awaited articles (It won't be like today's).</p>


Beyond the Multiverse-Cloud and Sephiroth

The Top Ten ETB Effects In Commander

Top 10 Knight of the White Orchids for Ambrosia Whiteheart

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Friday, June 6th, at long last! That means it's the day that a lot of people have been waiting for: <em>Final Fantasy</em> Prerelease day! But also, today is Day 10 of our count-up towards the official release of the set. I've been writing about the best and most flavorful cards from each game in the main <em>FF</em> series. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-nine-ffix/">Yesterday I covered <em>FFIX</em></a>, and today I'll be looking at <em>Final Fantasy X</em>!</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These can be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. Today's list will only have one card.</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Al Bhed Salvagers"></div></div>
<p>This Honorable Mention was actually quite difficult, as there are a fair few cards that were in the running. However, I decided to give it to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Al Bhed Salvagers" href="#" target="_blank">Al Bhed Salvagers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card eked out the superlative win over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Tutorial" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Tutorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the merits of mechanical utility over flavor. Al Bhed Salvagers is a helpful, if literally uncommon, Aristocrat-style card in this set, with the only other card overtly like it in the set being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As such, Al Bhed Salvagers is a helpful addition to many different builds. It will see a lot of play in Limited under the white-black sacrifice archetype, but the card is more genuinely useful in any deck that utilizes black in the format. And this isn't even touching upon Commander's applications of the card, which seem quite vast as well!</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuna, Hope of Spira"></div></div>
<p>In the Best as a Commander spot, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuna, Hope of Spira" href="#" target="_blank">Yuna, Hope of Spira</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costing too much mana and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seymour Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Seymour Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> having too few colors about it, Yuna felt like the right choice for this superlative spot. As a dedicated "Summon"-centric legend, Yuna seems like fertile ground for open potential in deckbuilding. You could always go with the Saga creatures from the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set, but you could also err towards general enchantment creatures as well. There is a real case for Yuna's high degree of open utility here, so make of that what you will.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overkill"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overkill" href="#" target="_blank">Overkill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of those cards that you have to experience to really understand the magnitude of. Whether it's killing a bomb of a creature definitively and turning the tide of the game, or comboing out with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws of Defeat" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws of Defeat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to take a player out, Overkill will seldom be unimpactful in a game of Commander.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blitzball"></div></div>
<p>How could we talk about <em>Final Fantasy X</em> and not put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blitzball" href="#" target="_blank">Blitzball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at Most Flavorful on this list? The card is a solid mana rock (mana ball? The verdict is still out among my editors) and provides ample card advantage upon scoring a goal. The analogy of <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Blitzball_(minigame)">scoring a goal</a> being a legendary creature dealing combat damage is pretty rad, if I'm being frank. In Limited, people will probably only be sacrificing Blitzball in the late game, as mana is so vital earlier in Sealed or Draft. However, this card will be used a lot in Commander decks that care about the card advantage capabilities of this card. Time will tell how many decks want it, but it's still a really cool and flavorful card.</p>
<p>And that brings us to the Best In Show for <em>FFX</em>. Which card takes this category? It couldn't be any other card than...</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy X</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div></div>
<p>...<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>This absolute monster of a Summon is one of the most impactful cards in the set, if you can cast it. If you're able to cheat it into play, such as by reanimating it with Yuna, Hope of Spira, it's even better. At one or two lore counters, Bahamut is <em>going</em> to ruin an opponent's day. But that's nothing compared to what's to come. When it reaches its apex at four lore counters, it's apt to do a metric ton of damage to every one of your opponents; this may often end games outright. It's one helluva powerful card, and that's reason enough for it to be my Best In Show for <em>FFX</em>.</p>
<p>So, that marks the end of my count-up for <em>Final Fantasy X</em>! Do you agree with my assessments here? Are there better considerations that I've perhaps missed? Make your case in the comments! And while waiting for tomorrow's <em>FFXI</em> count-up, feel free to read some of the previous entries in the articles linked below.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a></strong><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-eight-ffviii">Day 8: <em>FFVIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-nine-ffix/">Day 9: <em>FFIX</em></a></strong></p>


Articles

How to Make a Sneak Commander Deck, With Tifa, Martial Artist

Building a Cleric Typal Deck with Minwu, White Mage

Beyond the Multiverse-Cloud and Sephiroth

The Top Ten ETB Effects In Commander

Top 10 Knight of the White Orchids for Ambrosia Whiteheart

Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Ten: FFX

Rebuilding Atraxa, Praetors' Voice With Final Fantasy Cards

Building a Mono-Red Reanimator Deck with Clive, Ifrit's Dominant

The Best Lands and Artifacts in Final Fantasy

Ultimecia, Temporal Threat Deck Tech