Unburden - In Search of a True 100-Card Commander Deck

Nearly Identical - Kambal or Liesa?

Too-Specific Top 10 - Meteor Golems

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.kaicarpenterart.com/">Kai Carpenter</a>)</h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello All! This is Bert, coming from the Scrap Trawlers channel where we do EDH </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">on a budget. Today we're looking at upgrades for the Token Triumph starter deck. In my previous article we dove into what the general strategies and synergies of the deck are, so while using that as a guide we'll find upgrades that will aid in those strategies. Let’s get in to it!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For reference here is the original decklist:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Token Triumph" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Emmara, Soul of the Accord
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Aura Mutation
*1 Devouring Light
*1 March of the Multitudes
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rootborn Defenses
*1 Scatter the Seeds
*1 Sylvan Reclamation
*1 White Sun&#039;s Zenith
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Citanul Hierophants
*1 Dauntless Escort
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Great Oak Guardian
*1 Hornet Nest
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Jade Mage
*1 Jaspera Sentinel
*1 Leafkin Druid
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Maja, Bretagard Protector
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Nullmage Shepherd
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Selesnya Evangel
*1 Selesnya Guildmage
*1 Sporemound
*1 Thunderfoot Baloth
*1 Trostani Discordant
*1 Verdant Force
*1 Voice of Many
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Collective Blessing
*1 Commander&#039;s Insignia
*1 Conclave Tribunal
*1 Curse of Bounty
*1 Dawn of Hope
*1 Dictate of Heliod
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Karametra&#039;s Favor
*1 Overwhelming Instinct
*1 Presence of Gond
*1 Valor in Akros
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Slate of Ancestry
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Unity
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Camaraderie
*1 Citywide Bust
*1 Collective Unconscious
*1 Harmonize
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Nissa&#039;s Expedition
*1 Overrun
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
[/Planeswalkers]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Blossoming Sands
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Elfhame Palace
*15 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Graypelt Refuge
*1 Holdout Settlement
*14 Plains
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Tranquil Expanse
*1 Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>New Recruits</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our commander is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. She provides us with a way to consistently create tokens by either attacking or using another source to tap her. The deck's initial shell comes with a number of ways to produce these tokens, but we'll definitely add a couple more so that we can make it a bit more consistent. Some of these spells have the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Convoke</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> keyword, which enables us to tap our commander to cast the spell.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some areas the deck needs the most help in are protection for our board, card draw, synergies, and a bit more removal. Protection, card draw, and synergies are going to be my main focus, and the amount of removal should mostly depend on your play group and how it plays. So let’s take a look at our new additions!</span></p>
<h2><b>Upping the Arsenal</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Patriar&#039;s Seal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Collective Effort"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bess, Soul Nourisher"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So starting off we're adding some protection for our board, one of which is included in the breaking the budget section. Cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riot Control" href="#" target="_blank">Riot Control</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unbreakable Formation" href="#" target="_blank">Unbreakable Formation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will give us some defense against board wipes and protect us if we end up overextending. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootborn Defenses" href="#" target="_blank">Rootborn Defenses</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> even goes as afar as making another token for our board which can add a bit of power to our army while Unbreakable Formation gives us an advantage in attacking. With these we can be a bit more loose with our plays as we have a back up plan. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tocasia’s Welcome"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Welcoming Vampire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rumor Gatherer"></div></div> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With some protection in our corner we can move on to card draw. The importance in card draw in our deck is insurmountable since we will be using a lot of our cards to bolster our board state. We need the card draw to make sure that we can stay in the game. First is a new card from Brothers' War, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tocasia’s Welcome" href="#" target="_blank">Tocasia’s Welcome</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It provides us with a card whenever we create a token or play a creature that meets the requirements. I expect it to give us a number of cards over the course of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welcoming Vampire" href="#" target="_blank">Welcoming Vampire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another card that provides us with card draw with the plus side of being on a 2/3 flying body. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rumor Gatherer" href="#" target="_blank">Rumor Gatherer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card from New Capenna that has been working overtime in a lot of my decks. The scry effect, when used correctly, provides us with so much card selection that it feels as if we are picking the cards that we are going draw.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Queen Allenal of Ruadach"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relic of Legends"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harmonious Archon"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last but not least we have some cards to add to the overall synergy of our deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Allenal of Ruadach" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Allenal of Ruadach</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an amazing creature that provides us with another body whenever we create a token. Not only that but she herself gets bigger for each creature that we have on the field, making for a beefy attacker. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relic of Legends" href="#" target="_blank">Relic of Legends</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us a bit of mana ramp and a tap outlet for our commander. A good card to buff our creatures is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harmonious Archon" href="#" target="_blank">Harmonious Archon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which creates another two bodies on ETB and then buffs them to 3/3s. </span></p>
<h2><b>Sideline Warriors</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valor in Akros"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawn of Hope"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Verdant Force"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that we have the additions, we can go over what's going to be left on the sidelines. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valor in Akros" href="#" target="_blank">Valor in Akros</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of the first cards that is going to be cut from the initial list as it only gives us a buff until end of turn, and the amount of work that we have to do so that the buff is substantial is more than we are willing to put in. <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 another cut that is just okay. This card is included because the tokens Emmara makes have lifelink, so it smooths out draws. But since we already addressed the draw issue earlier we can go ahead and remove this one. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Verdant Force" href="#" target="_blank">Verdant Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another card being cut. Its a bit over costed for what we want to do. Since we have added some more effective card draw we can take out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voice of Many" href="#" target="_blank">Voice of Many</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rishkar, Peema Renegade" href="#" target="_blank">Rishkar, Peema Renegade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another cut for me. It gives us another outlet to tap our commander, but we don’t have many ways to provide our team with counters. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jade Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Jade Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another card that just doesn't do what we want as its more mana intensive than we would like.</span></p>
<h2><b>Riches for the Army</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every article we mention some high dollar cards that you can add to your deck if that is the kind of addition you are trying to make. The manabase is always an easy place to start so adding the shock land and other dual lands like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunpetal Grove" href="#" target="_blank">Sunpetal Grove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will definitely help you on the front end. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then we have some cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can fit into our protection section. It is just a bit more expensive than some of the other options that we have. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card that shrinks our opponents boards yet empowers our side giving our armor a big advantage. In that same vein cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ohran Frostfang" href="#" target="_blank">Ohran Frostfang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Craterhoof Behemoth" href="#" target="_blank">Craterhoof Behemoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both provide us with some pushing power in our team. Ohran Frostfang also gives us another way to draw cards as well. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptolith Rite" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptolith Rite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives all our creatures the ability to tap for mana without a caveat like Rishkar. Finally we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bennie Bracks, Zoologist" href="#" target="_blank">Bennie Bracks, Zoologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> giving us the ability to <em>Convoke</em> for his cause and adding even more draw to our kit.</span></p>
<h2><b>Results of the Battle</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So our final list looks like this:</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Token Triumph edited" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Emmara, Soul of the Accord
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Aura Mutation
*1 Devouring Light
*1 March of the Multitudes
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rootborn Defenses
*1 Sylvan Reclamation
*1 Unbreakable Formation
*1 White Sun&#039;s Zenith
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Bess, Soul Nourisher
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Citanul Hierophants
*1 Dauntless Escort
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Great Oak Guardian
*1 Harmonious Archon
*1 Hornet Nest
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Jaspera Sentinel
*1 Leafkin Druid
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Maja, Bretagard Protector
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Nullmage Shepherd
*1 Queen Allenal of Ruadach
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Rumor Gatherer
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Selesnya Evangel
*1 Selesnya Guildmage
*1 Sporemound
*1 Thunderfoot Baloth
*1 Trostani Discordant
*1 Welcoming Vampire
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Patriar&#039;s Seal
*1 Relic of Legends
*1 Slate of Ancestry
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Unity
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Camaraderie
*1 Citywide Bust
*1 Collective Effort
*1 Collective Unconscious
*1 Harmonize
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Nissa&#039;s Expedition
*1 Overrun
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Collective Blessing
*1 Commander&#039;s Insignia
*1 Conclave Tribunal
*1 Curse of Bounty
*1 Dictate of Heliod
*1 Karametra&#039;s Favor
*1 Tocasia&#039;s Welcome
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Blossoming Sands
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Elfhame Palace
*15 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Graypelt Refuge
*1 Holdout Settlement
*14 Plains
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Tranquil Expanse
*1 Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Again I have had a great time finding cards to upgrade the deck and add to its effectiveness. It's up to you to come up with some additional upgrades. Were there any that I missed? Please let me know in the comments.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hit us up on <a href="https://twitter.com/scraptrawlers">Twitter</a>, or find our other content on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/scraptrawlers">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a>. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for more precon content from my fellow Scrap Trawlers right here on EDHREC.</span></p>


Token Triumph - Upgrade Guide

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.kaicarpenterart.com/">Kai Carpenter</a>)</h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello! This is Bert coming to you from the Scrap Trawlers, where we do </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">EDH</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on a budget. We're your EDHREC precon guides, and I'm here again to give you some insight on how the Token Triumph Starter Commander Deck functions. This is going to include some information such as general themes, synergies, which cards are worth looking at, and what reprints are exciting! Let’s get started!</span></p>
<h2><b>Square One</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Token Triumph precon is a Selesnya deck led by none other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emmara, Soul of the Accord" href="#" target="_blank">Emmara, Soul of the Accord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Going off of Emmara alone we are leaning towards a token strategy focusing more on going wide. The initial shell of the deck comes with a multitude of ways to tap our commander so that we can create those Soldier tokens. In addition to those, we have some ways to not only produce tokens in our deck, we also have other creatures that can continue to swarm the board as well. So right from the start we have a deck that reinforces our go-wide strategies. Take a look at the deck list.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Token Triumph" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Emmara, Soul of the Accord
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Aura Mutation
*1 Devouring Light
*1 March of the Multitudes
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rootborn Defenses
*1 Scatter the Seeds
*1 Sylvan Reclamation
*1 White Sun&#039;s Zenith
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim
*1 Champion of Lambholt
*1 Citanul Hierophants
*1 Dauntless Escort
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Farhaven Elf
*1 Great Oak Guardian
*1 Hornet Nest
*1 Hornet Queen
*1 Jade Mage
*1 Jaspera Sentinel
*1 Leafkin Druid
*1 Loyal Guardian
*1 Maja, Bretagard Protector
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Nullmage Shepherd
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rishkar, Peema Renegade
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Selesnya Evangel
*1 Selesnya Guildmage
*1 Sporemound
*1 Thunderfoot Baloth
*1 Trostani Discordant
*1 Verdant Force
*1 Voice of Many
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Enchantments]
*1 Collective Blessing
*1 Commander&#039;s Insignia
*1 Conclave Tribunal
*1 Curse of Bounty
*1 Dawn of Hope
*1 Dictate of Heliod
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Karametra&#039;s Favor
*1 Overwhelming Instinct
*1 Presence of Gond
*1 Valor in Akros
[/Enchantments]
&nbsp;
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Slate of Ancestry
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Unity
[/Artifacts]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Camaraderie
*1 Citywide Bust
*1 Collective Unconscious
*1 Harmonize
*1 Harvest Season
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Nissa&#039;s Expedition
*1 Overrun
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
[/Planeswalkers]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Blossoming Sands
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Elfhame Palace
*15 Forest
*1 Fortified Village
*1 Graypelt Refuge
*1 Holdout Settlement
*14 Plains
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Tranquil Expanse
*1 Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With all of the cards giving us a solid strategy, lets go into just what cards are doing the most work.</span></p>
<h2><b>Follow the Leader</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Citanul Hierophants"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scatter the Seeds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="March of the Multitudes"></div></div></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we look at the cards included in the deck we have token generation as their primary function with some </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Convoke</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> being included as secondary options to activate our commander. In the deck's current state you may have an outlet to activate your commander every other turn or so, but you would be able to produce tokens through other means. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hornet Nest" href="#" target="_blank">Hornet Nest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strong defensive card that can make us a number of flying deathtouching blockers. Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maja, Bretagard Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Maja, Bretagard Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sporemound" href="#" target="_blank">Sporemound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> create tokens when a land enters the battlefield, with Maja going the distance and even buffing those creatures as well. With us being in green, we have more than a few ways to ramp out some lands giving these two cards ample chances to earn their keep. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since we are in the strategy of going wide we need some ways to buff our team so that we can get through. One of my favorite includes would be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of Lambholt" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of Lambholt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It doesn't just incentivize us to create tokens, it also pumps itself and makes it harder for our opponents to block. Also in this same school of thought is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thunderfoot Baloth" href="#" target="_blank">Thunderfoot Baloth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With our Commander having mana value two, we'll be able to have her on the field the majority of the time for the <em>Lieutenant</em> trigger. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loyal Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Loyal Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also buffs our team with some handy and permanent +1/+1 counters. With all of these and some other amazing options, we have a ton of ways to bolster our army so that they can overrun our opponents. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last but not least, let's go over some cards that are just good includes and will always pull through in a game for you. My favorite that is just a simple card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Idol of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Idol of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It is a cheap and efficient card draw source that, over the game, will provide for you so long as you can continue to make the one token per turn that it needs, which we have a number of options for. On the higher end of the scale we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Camaraderie" href="#" target="_blank">Camaraderie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>; it's another card draw source that gives us incidental life gain and a buff to our creatures. It can be expensive mana-wise, but the ceiling is so high you can always at least give it a try.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thunderfoot Baloth"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of Lambholt"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Idol of Oblivion"></div></div>
<h2><b>How does the Army fair?</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Token Triumph is an aggressive deck that aims to create tokens and ways to pump them with the plethora of buffs available to us. The deck is correctly named a Starter deck as it foregoes a lot of the common Commander cards to aid the strategy giving you the freedom to follow your own upgrade path. Focusing on accumulating a fighting force early game while chipping away at our opponents so that we can finish them with a mighty swing later on down the line. With a deck like this it is important to be mindful of overextension so that you don't overstep and lose too many resources to a board wipe.</span></p>
<h2><b>Final Thoughts </b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Token Triumph Starter deck is a synergistic deck. It has a cohesive them that is easy to execute so even without the inclusion of format “staples” it will do a pretty good job in kitchen table games. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Citanul Hierophants" href="#" target="_blank">Citanul Hierophants</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reprint is pretty great pickup and might now see another is quite a bit. What do you think about the Token Triumph Starter Deck?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Come back again to check out our upgrade article that will give you a bunch of recommendations on cards you can use to power up your token army. Don't forget to check out the <a href="https://twitter.com/scraptrawlers">Scrap Trawlers</a> on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/scraptrawlers">YouTube</a> as well as our <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a>. Hope to see you all again soon!</span></p>


Token Triumph - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/camillealquier">Camille Alquier</a>)</h6>
<h1><b>Double Your Fun</b></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey friends! It’s precon time again, and the Scrap Trawlers are back with your primers and upgrade guides. This time we’re turning our attention to the new Starter Commander Decks that Wizards released on December 2nd. These 5 two-color decks are marketed as a way to get your friends and family into playing the best format of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And just in time for the holidays! I’m <a href="https://twitter.com/AndyZupke">Andy</a>, and today we’re taking to the skies with damage so nice we’re dealing it twice. It’s the Draconic Destruction deck led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2><b>Dragon Me Down</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atarka is a 6/4 Dragon with flying and trample that gives all of your attacking Dragons double strike. Simple, yet highly effective. This deck wants to slam Dragons on the table and turn them sideways. A perfect strategy for a deck to teach your Nana Commander after Christmas dinner when she’s two eggnogs deep.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atarka, World Render"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s the full decklist:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Draconic Destruction" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atarka, World Render
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akoum Hellkite
*1 Demanding Dragon
*1 Draconic Disciple
*1 Dragon Mage
*1 Dragonkin Berserker
*1 Dragonlord&#039;s Servant
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Dragonspeaker Shaman
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dream Pillager
*1 Drumhunter
*1 Flameblast Dragon
*1 Foe-Razer Regent
*1 Furnace Whelp
*1 Harbinger of the Hunt
*1 Hoard-Smelter Dragon
*1 Loaming Shaman
*1 Mordant Dragon
*1 Rapacious Dragon
*1 Runehorn Hellkite
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Savage Ventmaw
*1 Scourge of Valkas
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Thunderbreak Regent
*1 Thundermaw Hellkite
*1 Tyrant&#039;s Familiar
*1 Verix Bladewing
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Atarka Monument
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Dragon&#039;s Hoard
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Impulse
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Blossoming Defense
*1 Hunter&#039;s Insight
*1 Magmaquake
*1 Provoke the Trolls
*1 Return to Nature
*1 Spit Flame
*1 Unleash Fury
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 Clan Defiance
*1 Cultivate
*1 Harmonize
*1 Hunter&#039;s Prowess
*1 Primal Might
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Sweltering Suns
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crucible of Fire
*1 Dragon Tempest
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Fires of Yavimaya
*1 Frontier Siege
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*12 Forest
*1 Game Trail
*1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
*1 Kazandu Refuge
*18 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rugged Highlands
*1 Shivan Oasis
*1 Temple of Abandon
*1 Timber Gorge
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Combat-focused decks are, typically, an easy sell for new players, and that’s exactly what we have with Draconic Destruction. The main drawback to this deck, from a beginner’s standpoint, is the high mana value on Atarka. The 7 mana cost ensures that your Commander won’t be hitting the board until turn 5 or 6. Maybe 4 if you’re lucky and drop extra ramp in the first couple of turns. Thankfully the deck is packing a lot of ramp, with 14 pieces. The ramp comes in many forms, from Dragon cost reduction in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlord’s Servant" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlord’s Servant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonspeaker Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonspeaker Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to rocks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to land fetchers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<h2><b>What’s it Do?</b></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonmaster Outcast"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savage Ventmaw"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dream Pillager"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This deck’s theme couldn’t be more straightforward. Unfortunately it is just a tad light on the Dragon cards, with only 21 included in the deck, plus a few token makers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonmaster Outcast" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonmaster Outcast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonkin Berserker" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonkin Berserker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I would prefer at least 30 in a creature type-themed deck, but we’ll make do with what we have here. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creature type decks function best when you’re able to play the creatures that can serve multiple functions. So we want Dragons that not only attack, but also draw us cards, remove threats and pesky blockers, or even ramp us. The deck has all of these, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dream Pillager" href="#" target="_blank">Dream Pillager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> getting us more cards to play, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drakuseth, Maw of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Drakuseth, Maw of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hoard-Smelter Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Hoard-Smelter Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tyrant’s Familiar" href="#" target="_blank">Tyrant’s Familiar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> handling the removal, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savage Ventmaw" href="#" target="_blank">Savage Ventmaw</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rapacious Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Rapacious Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> giving us some extra mana.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the heavy ramp suite is good for the deck since it allows us to play Atarka early, the deck suffers from an imbalance in two other important categories: card draw/advantage and removal. It’s immensely overstuffed with removal spells, with an eye-popping 22 spells included. The decks I brew only run half that much! Now, I could forgive this gluttony of removal if it were thematic and included a large number of dragons. But of the 22 cards, only 9 are actual Dragons. A few more are dragon-related, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spit Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Spit Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And a few of the removal spells are meant to take out small or non-flying creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sweltering Suns" href="#" target="_blank">Sweltering Suns</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magmaquake" href="#" target="_blank">Magmaquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clan Defiance" href="#" target="_blank">Clan Defiance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. While a lot of removal can be strategically good, as it makes sure to clear blockers out of the way, it’s also an unfriendly playstyle, as it doesn’t allow your opponents a chance to play with their own creatures.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sweltering Suns"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clan Defiance"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Where the deck is light is on card draw/advantage spells, with only 10 cards counted. This isn’t terribly far from my preferred number, as I usually like to run 11 or 12 myself, but it’s crucial to keep the cards coming in decks like these that are so vulnerable to board wipes. And it would’ve been easy for the deck's designers to cut 5 removal spells and assign those slots to the deck’s other needs.</span></p>
<h2><b>How to Play it</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A big problem I noticed with playtesting is that, even with the 14 ramps spells and 40 lands in the deck, it still struggles in the early game. The average mana value is 3.82, which isn’t terrible (and surprisingly not the worst of these starter decks), but it’s still high enough to give the deck a rocky start. Also, 30 of the 40 lands are basics, with only 12 of those being Forests, so the mana-fixing isn’t great. Make sure your opening hand has green mana production in it, because you </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">will</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> need it. The other problem, mana-wise, is that a combat-focused deck wants to start getting creatures out quickly, but that’s very challenging in a Dragon deck. In general, most Dragons cost 5 to 7 mana, which holds true with this deck, where only 3 Dragons cost less than 5 mana, and none of them cost less than 4.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I had a hard time getting a good opening hand in playtesting. Either the hand had no green mana, or all the non-land cards were over 4 mana, or, frequently, I had both of these problems. The mana base is poorly designed, so just be open with your playgroup and tell them you may need a few extra free mulligans.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once you’ve got your mana sorted out, the deck is pretty much just “drop Dragons and swing.” Don’t over-commit to the board. Just because you </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">can </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">play another Dragon, doesn’t mean you </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">should</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> play another dragon. If you’ve got a few out already and they’re doing what they’re supposed to, think about holding onto Dragons in your hand so you can recover from board wipes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The double strike provided by Atarka is certainly enough of a win-con, and will usually get the job done as long as your opponents aren’t also running flyers; double strike doesn’t do a whole lot to life totals if there are blockers. Thankfully the deck has one secret weapon against opposing forces in the air: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thundermaw Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Thundermaw Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Drop this monster when you have a cadre of toothy beasts ready to swing, and your opponents’ flyers will get pushed aside so you can reclaim your territorial dominance of the skies.</span></p>
<h2><b>Final Thoughts</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the problem in the mana, and a less-than-optimal number of Dragons for a Dragon deck, it is still a decent display of the kind of power that Dragons can have, and a great way to lure fantasy lovers into the game.</span></p>
<p><b>Verdict: Buy it (for beginners only)</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is nothing quite like the feeling a beginning </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">player gets than when they drop their first huge creature on the board and smash it into someone’s face for a lot of damage. This deck encapsulates that joy fairly well, and would make an excellent stocking stuffer.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragon Tempest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thundermaw Hellkite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elemental Bond"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For veterans, there’s not much here to get excited about. If you’ve been playing a while, you probably already own most of the singles. There are a few decent value cards in the deck: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragon Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Dragon Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thundermaw Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Thundermaw Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elemental Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Elemental Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (when did this uncommon get so pricey?), as well as a large handful of $1 to $2 cards. So probably not worth the cost, unless you find it under $20.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re not done yet! If your Nana had a blast smashing dragons into your least favorite cousin’s smarmy face and you wanna help her upgrade it on the cheap, then make sure to check out my upgrade guide! And don’t forget to catch the other budget content from <a href="https://twitter.com/scraptrawlers">Scrap Trawlers</a> over on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/scraptrawlers">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a>. Until next time, remember to budget…before you buy it.</span></p>


Draconic Destruction - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/camillealquier">Camille Alquier</a>)</h6>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey friends! It’s time for another precon upgrade guide, courtesy of your favorite budget team, the Scrap Trawlers. I’m Andy, and today I’ll be showing you how to unleash more “Death from Above” with the Draconic Destruction Starter Deck. We’re adding MOAR DRAGONS, lowering the mana cost a bit, and reducing the removal so your friends don’t hate you when you slaughter them with your flying beasts. Because destruction should be fun, yes?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s the original decklist:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Draconic Destruction" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atarka, World Render
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akoum Hellkite
*1 Demanding Dragon
*1 Draconic Disciple
*1 Dragon Mage
*1 Dragonkin Berserker
*1 Dragonlord&#039;s Servant
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Dragonspeaker Shaman
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dream Pillager
*1 Drumhunter
*1 Flameblast Dragon
*1 Foe-Razer Regent
*1 Furnace Whelp
*1 Harbinger of the Hunt
*1 Hoard-Smelter Dragon
*1 Loaming Shaman
*1 Mordant Dragon
*1 Rapacious Dragon
*1 Runehorn Hellkite
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Savage Ventmaw
*1 Scourge of Valkas
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Thunderbreak Regent
*1 Thundermaw Hellkite
*1 Tyrant&#039;s Familiar
*1 Verix Bladewing
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Atarka Monument
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Dragon&#039;s Hoard
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Impulse
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Blossoming Defense
*1 Hunter&#039;s Insight
*1 Magmaquake
*1 Provoke the Trolls
*1 Return to Nature
*1 Spit Flame
*1 Unleash Fury
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Chain Reaction
*1 Clan Defiance
*1 Cultivate
*1 Harmonize
*1 Hunter&#039;s Prowess
*1 Primal Might
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Sweltering Suns
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*12 Forest
*1 Game Trail
*1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
*1 Kazandu Refuge
*18 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rugged Highlands
*1 Shivan Oasis
*1 Temple of Abandon
*1 Timber Gorge
[/Lands]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crucible of Fire
*1 Dragon Tempest
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Fires of Yavimaya
*1 Frontier Siege
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
[/Planeswalkers]"></span></div>

<h2><b>Dragons Want Hugs</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our Dragon lord is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atarka, World Render" href="#" target="_blank">Atarka, World Render</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a 6/4 flyer with trample who gives all of our Dragons double strike when they attack. The original list only had 21 Dragons, which is a bit low for a creature type-themed deck. Sadly, it’s difficult to go much higher since Dragons aren’t terribly useful for card draw or ramp, especially since they generally have high casting costs, and we can’t lose slots in those important categories if we want the deck to function well. But we did get a small boost to our ramp suite from Commander Legends 2 with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ganax, Astral Hunter" href="#" target="_blank">Ganax, Astral Hunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scaled Nurturer" href="#" target="_blank">Scaled Nurturer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Nurturer is especially good since cheap ramp is so important to the deck.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ganax, Astral Hunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Domri, Anarch of Bolas"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Monster Manual"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I beefed up the ramp with a few other non-Dragon cards as well. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fellwar Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Fellwar Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a simple, cheap mana rock that may not always get you the colors you need, but usually does. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Domri, Anarch of Bolas" href="#" target="_blank">Domri, Anarch of Bolas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has 3 effects, all of which are highly relevant to this deck, so it seemed like a no-brainer to include him. The ramp and protection for our Dragon spells is great, but that additional one power point is so much more meaningful when the creatures have double strike. The fight effect is just icing. And last, though it’s not exactly ramp, it does help us to get our creatures out cheaply, and at instant speed! It’s <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Monster Manual" href="#" target="_blank">Monster Manual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a sort of artifact version of <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> that is much more efficient since it won’t have summoning sickness and doesn’t die to removal.</span></p>
<h2><b>Double Or Nothing</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Improving the card draw in the deck was much more difficult. It was hard to find cards that would be meaningful for the deck that also wouldn’t hurt our chances of lowering our mana curve. But I was able to add two Dragons to this suite. Well, one Dragon and a Changeling, which still counts! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonborn Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonborn Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> draws us a card whenever we deal 5 or more damage, which will be vastly improved with double strike. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realmwalker" href="#" target="_blank">Realmwalker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to look at the top card of our library and play Dragons from it! For just a touch more card draw, I threw in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return of the Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Return of the Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can also potentially function as a finisher with its pump option.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Return of the Wildspeaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrakkus the Butcher"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bower Passage"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For other additions, I pulled in two more cards from Commander Legends 2: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrakkus the Butcher" href="#" target="_blank">Thrakkus the Butcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Chaos Dragon is a cheap 4/4, which is exactly what the deck needed, and Thrakkus is just plain nasty with double strike. Like, Janet Jackson’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujnq2v6R02U">“Nasty”</a> could be Thrakkus’s WWE walk-on song for this deck. It’s that good.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re also adding a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrap in Vigor" href="#" target="_blank">Wrap in Vigor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is a “<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> we have at home” type of deal, but still very worth it as a cheap addition to protect your horde from board wipes. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kessig Wolf Run" href="#" target="_blank">Kessig Wolf Run</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will take one of our land slots because it belongs in every red/green combat deck. And last is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bower Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Bower Passage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a two-mana enchantment that makes your flyers practically unblockable. Wait, what? Yes, that’s what it does. I thought it was crazy and had to re-read it a couple of times. And it’s cheap! You can buy it for less than a quarter! The only thing that can still block your flyers is creatures with reach, which is not a terribly common ability in Commander.</span></p>
<h2><b>Dragons Raze</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay, we added in a bunch of cards. Now, as is customary (according to some rules thing or other), we have to cut some cards so we’re back down to 100. Taking out cards from this list was not easy. At all. Especially when I realized that not every Dragon from the original list was gonna make the cut. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rapacious Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Rapacious Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> got the ax because two treasures for 5 mana just wasn’t a good enough investment, especially since it’s only a 3/3. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Furnace Whelp" href="#" target="_blank">Furnace Whelp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is gone because it’s just not good. I don’t care how much you like Firebreathing, 4 mana for a 2/2 is just not keepable. Thankfully, we’re still left with 24 Dragons in the deck. Not the 30 I wanted, but still an improvement.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drumhunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frontier Siege"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sweltering Suns"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some non-Dragons facing the chop are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonkin Berserker" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonkin Berserker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drumhunter" href="#" target="_blank">Drumhunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The Berserker requires you to attack with a 2/2 to get any kind of effect, which is unlikely to happen more than once. Drumhunter was a tougher cut, since it’s both ramp and card draw. But it needed to go to make room for more Dragons. And Sarkhan is out for his high cost.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember in the original list there were 22 removal cards? We cut several of those. In addition to Sarkhan, I’m taking out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spit Flame" href="#" target="_blank">Spit Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sweltering Suns" href="#" target="_blank">Sweltering Suns</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chain Reaction" href="#" target="_blank">Chain Reaction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frontier Siege" href="#" target="_blank">Frontier Siege</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Provoke the Trolls" href="#" target="_blank">Provoke the Trolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But don’t you fret; there are still 16 cards in our removal suite. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unleash Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Unleash Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a neat combat trick, especially with double strike, but just felt like a win-more card. And last, we’re cutting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This isn’t exactly a go-wide deck, so we don’t want to be stuck with this as our card draw if we’ve only got one Dragon on the field. We’re much better off with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Return of the Wildspeaker" href="#" target="_blank">Return of the Wildspeaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And finally, I took out two Mountains and added one Forest. Just to even things out a bit better.</span></p>
<h2><b>Dragon’s Hoard</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those less budget-conscious who, for reasons I can’t fathom, would like to throw a bunch of money at this precon, I’ve got some fantastic ideas for you.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If there’s one card I could make super cheap to include in my upgrade list, it would definitely be <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza’s Incubator" href="#" target="_blank">Urza’s Incubator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Dragons need this card more than any other creature type, since they’re so expensive to cast. Also for ramp, throw in <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> to go swimming in treasure. For more card draw you can add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Great Henge" href="#" target="_blank">The Great Henge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vanquisher’s Banner" href="#" target="_blank">Vanquisher’s Banner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And for protection you’ve got the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as well as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Asceticism" href="#" target="_blank">Asceticism</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza&#039;s Incubator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Asceticism"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Utvara Hellkite"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This being a Dragon deck and all, we can’t forget about those expensive Dragons! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Bronze Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Bronze Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">love</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to have double strike. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Utvara Hellkite" href="#" target="_blank">Utvara Hellkite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes a ridiculous number of friends. <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> can speed up the game nicely. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a fun alternate win condition if smashing face starts to get boring.</span></p>
<h2><b>Final Thoughts</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s the final upgraded deck list:</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Draconic Destruction Upgraded" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Atarka, World Render
[/Commander]
[Lands]
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*13 Forest
*1 Game Trail
*1 Haven of the Spirit Dragon
*1 Kazandu Refuge
*1 Kessig Wolf Run
*16 Mountain
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Rugged Highlands
*1 Shivan Oasis
*1 Temple of Abandon
*1 Timber Gorge
[/Lands]
[Creatures]
*1 Akoum Hellkite
*1 Chaos Dragon
*1 Demanding Dragon
*1 Draconic Disciple
*1 Dragon Mage
*1 Dragonborn Champion
*1 Dragonlord&#039;s Servant
*1 Dragonmaster Outcast
*1 Dragonspeaker Shaman
*1 Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
*1 Dream Pillager
*1 Flameblast Dragon
*1 Foe-Razer Regent
*1 Ganax, Astral Hunter
*1 Harbinger of the Hunt
*1 Hoard-Smelter Dragon
*1 Loaming Shaman
*1 Mordant Dragon
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Runehorn Hellkite
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Savage Ventmaw
*1 Scaled Nurturer
*1 Scourge of Valkas
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Thrakkus the Butcher
*1 Thunderbreak Regent
*1 Thundermaw Hellkite
*1 Tyrant&#039;s Familiar
*1 Verix Bladewing
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Blossoming Defense
*1 Hunter&#039;s Insight
*1 Magmaquake
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Return to Nature
*1 Wrap in Vigor
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Atarka Monument
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Dragon&#039;s Hoard
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Monster Manual // Zoological Study
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Impulse
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Domri, Anarch of Bolas
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bower Passage
*1 Crucible of Fire
*1 Dragon Tempest
*1 Elemental Bond
*1 Fires of Yavimaya
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Clan Defiance
*1 Cultivate
*1 Harmonize
*1 Hunter&#039;s Prowess
*1 Primal Might
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]"></span></div>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We didn’t manage to make much improvement to the Dragon count or the average mana value. We only netted 3 additional Dragons and lowered the average MV from 3.82 to 3.73. Small changes, but with this new list we’ll be getting our Dragons out more quickly, and not constantly pinging our opponents’ things off the board. Which I’m sure they’ll appreciate. And the upgrade only cost us about $15! Well worth it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay friends, that’s all I’ve got for you for the Draconic Destruction Starter Deck. What do you think? Tell me in the comments below, or hit us up on <a href="https://twitter.com/scraptrawlers">Twitter</a>. You can also catch our other budget content on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/scraptrawlers">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a>. And keep your eyes peeled here for more precon guides, because the precon party don’t stop. Until next time, remember to budget…before you buy it.</span></p>


Draconic Destruction - Upgrade Guide

Grave Danger - Upgrade Guide

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa and Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa and Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.aaronjriley.com/">Aaron J. Riley</a>)</h6>
<h1>Open Casket</h1>
<p>Hello dear reader, and welcome to EDHREC’s <i>Precon Primer</i> series! In this series, we take a deep dive into the latest precon products by reviewing the new commanders, discussing deck strategies and how they play out of the box, and highlighting the best new cards and reprints. I’m Nick from the Scrap Trawlers, where we do EDH on a budget, and I’ll be your guide for this article.</p>
<p>It's no surprise that Commander is the most popular casual format. In fact, it's so popular that some people learn how to play the game through Commander! Due to this, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has created a new product series called Starter Commander Decks. There are five decks in total, each themed around an easy-to-play strategy, consist entirely of reprints, and can be purchased for around half the price of normal Commander decks.</p>
<p>One of the issues I had when I started playing Magic was that I couldn't play with all of my friends at the same time. Commander wasn't as prominent of a format as it is today, so I was stuck playing Standard. These decks are the solution to that problem! You can easily grab a few of your friends, purchase these decks, and begin your journey into the world of <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> together; all without spending a fortune!</p>
<p>Of the five decks, one that caught my immediate attention was Grave Danger, the Blue Black Zombies themed deck. Creature family strategies are popular among veteran players and newcomers alike, and for good reason! They're naturally synergistic and easy to understand. Plus, who doesn't like the idea of commanding an army of the dead?</p>
<h2>Family Reunion</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gisa and Geralf"></div></div>
<p>The face commander of this deck is the sinister sibling duo known as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa and Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa and Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When they enter the battlefield, you mill four cards. They also allow you to cast a zombie from your graveyard once per turn. As far as wizards go, they have a respectable power and toughness at 4/4. You may not be winning with commander damage, but you'll deter some unfavorable attacks. Since your graveyard will act as a second hand, mill four almost reads draw four! There are 26 zombies in the deck, so chances are good you'll hit at least one. Before we continue, let's take a look at the whole decklist in all its undead glory.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Starter Commander (Grave Danger)" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Gisa and Geralf
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Grimoire of the Dead
*1 Heraldic Banner
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Unstable Obelisk
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Choked Estuary
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dismal Backwater
*13 Island
*1 Jwar Isle Refuge
*1 Salt Marsh
*1 Submerged Boneyard
*1 Sunken Hollow
*18 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
[/Lands]
[Sorceries]
*1 Army of the Damned
*1 Crippling Fear
*1 Deep Analysis
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Enter the God-Eternals
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Necromantic Selection
*1 Necrotic Hex
*1 Pilfered Plans
*1 Syphon Flesh
*1 Victimize
*1 Zombie Apocalypse
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Cruel Revival
*1 Lazotep Plating
*1 Murder
*1 Sinister Sabotage
*1 Undermine
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Curse of Disturbance
*1 Liliana&#039;s Mastery
*1 Open the Graves
*1 Vampiric Rites
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Liliana, Untouched by Death
[/Planeswalkers]
[Creatures]
*1 Cemetery Reaper
*1 Champion of the Perished
*1 Diregraf Captain
*1 Eternal Skylord
*1 Fleshbag Marauder
*1 Geralf&#039;s Mindcrusher
*1 Gleaming Overseer
*1 Gravespawn Sovereign
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Havengul Lich
*1 Josu Vess, Lich Knight
*1 Laboratory Drudge
*1 Lazotep Reaver
*1 Liliana&#039;s Devotee
*1 Liliana&#039;s Standard Bearer
*1 Lord of the Accursed
*1 Lotleth Giant
*1 Loyal Subordinate
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Mire Triton
*1 Overseer of the Damned
*1 Scourge of Nel Toth
*1 Spark Reaper
*1 Unbreathing Horde
*1 Undead Augur
*1 Vela the Night-Clad
*1 Vengeful Dead
*1 Vizier of the Scorpion
*1 Withered Wretch
[/Creatures]"></span></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Bring Out Your Dead</h2>
<p>The gameplan is simple: play zombie, send them into battle to die for the cause, and bring them back with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gisa and Geralf" href="#" target="_blank">Gisa and Geralf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for round two. Or three. Or four! Zombies are the most resilient creature strategy in magic. You may be slower than goblins, and you may not have the evasion of dragons, but nothing short of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merciless Eviction" href="#" target="_blank">Merciless Eviction</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is going to stop your army of darkness from taking over the game if it goes long. Normally, creature type strategies flounder in games with heavy removal. Zombies <em>thrive </em>in those environments, so much that you'll often sacrifice them yourself!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Champion of the Perished"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mire Triton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Diregraf Captain"></div></div>
<p>Creatures with enters the battlefield or dies triggers are very important to provide incremental value over the course of the game. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Champion of the Perished" href="#" target="_blank">Champion of the Perished</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets bigger. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mire Triton" href="#" target="_blank">Mire Triton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mills for more zombies. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Diregraf Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Diregraf Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> slowly ticks away at opposing life totals. Those are just the tip of the unholy iceberg!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fleshbag Marauder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necrotic Hex"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vampiric Rites"></div></div>
<p>What if you can't convince your opponents to block or attack you? Have no fear, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fleshbag Marauder" href="#" target="_blank">Fleshbag Marauder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is here as a repeatable source of removal that will eventually remove all your opponents' creatures. Looking for something a little stronger? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Hex" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Hex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one half board wipe and one half army-in-a-can! If you want something more traditional, spending a couple mana into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Rites" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Rites</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will help you keep pace with the rest of the table.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gray Merchant of Asphodel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Army of the Damned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vengeful Dead"></div></div>
<p>Eventually you'll want to show your friends an early grave, and a few death loops from format all-star <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gray Merchant of Asphodel" href="#" target="_blank">Gray Merchant of Asphodel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a Ravnican <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotleth Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Lotleth Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will get the job done. Don't have a high devotion to black? Don't worry about it! If zombies can sleep, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Army of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Army of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the haymaker dreams are made of. With a big enough board presence, landing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vengeful Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Vengeful Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vela the Night-Clad" href="#" target="_blank">Vela the Night-Clad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will make your opponents think twice about casting that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wrath of God" href="#" target="_blank">Wrath of God</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>How-To-Play</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lazotep Reaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enter the God-Eternals"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cemetery Reaper"></div></div>
<p>For starting hands, a "perfect" 7 involves three lands and some mana acceleration like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With those four cards, you can play Gisa and Geralf on turn 3 and either begin casting zombies from your hand or graveyard. The early game will revolve around creating value engines involving your commander. This can be as simple as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lazotep Reaver" href="#" target="_blank">Lazotep Reaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in combination with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to repeatedly gain life, draw a card, and grow a zombie army token. In the middle of the game, focus on protecting your engines with spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lazotep Plating" href="#" target="_blank">Lazotep Plating</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sinister Sabotage" href="#" target="_blank">Sinister Sabotage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Slowing your your opponents' plans with removal in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feed the Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Feed the Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enter the God-Eternals" href="#" target="_blank">Enter the God-Eternals</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will keep them a step behind while you continue to accrue value. In the late game, if your graveyard is big enough you can come from behind with a devastating Zombie Apocalypse, or simply overwhelm your opponents with larger zombies with support from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cemetery Reaper" href="#" target="_blank">Cemetery Reaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lord of the Accursed" href="#" target="_blank">Lord of the Accursed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana&#039;s Mastery" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana&#039;s Mastery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>What's Old is New Again</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Liliana, Untouched by Death"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Havengul Lich"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loyal Subordinate"></div></div>
<p>The Starter Commander decks don't contain any new cards, but there's a few noteworthy reprints! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Liliana, Untouched by Death" href="#" target="_blank">Liliana, Untouched by Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is effectively a second copy of your commander, with bonus removal tacked on. Normally Planeswalkers are less effective in commander since you'll lose creatures trying to keep them alive, but you'll have plenty of blockers to defend her that you really don't mind sending to the graveyard! There's also <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Havengul Lich" href="#" target="_blank">Havengul Lich</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a great way to reanimate a creature from anyone's graveyard, and maybe steal some abilities along the way. Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loyal Subordinate" href="#" target="_blank">Loyal Subordinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sees its first ever reprint. Anyone who's played against this card knows how annoying and effective it is at lowering life totals. In this deck it's even harder to remove! If your opponents aren't packing exile removal, this subordinate is here to stay.</p>
<h2>Dearly Departed</h2>
<p>So is Grave Danger worth picking up? For what this product is attempting to accomplish, I'd say yes. While this may not be as strong as the Undead Unleashed precon from Midnight Hunt, it's a fraction of the cost. It's a great start to fill out your Zombie collection, with a solid foundation of interaction, ramp, and card draw that's easily built upon if desired. There’s plenty of ways to take this deck to the next level, but if you’re looking to do it on the cheap, check out the upgrade article right here on EDHREC! If you’d like to see more from the Scrap Trawlers you can find us on <a href="https://twitter.com/ScrapTrawlers">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ScrapTrawlers">YouTube</a>, and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Grave Danger - Precon Primer

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kardur, Doomscourge" href="#" target="_blank">Kardur, Doomscourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://helgecbalzer.com/">Helge C. Balzer</a>)</h6>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kardur, the Starter</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey friends! The precons just keep on coming, and so the Scrap Trawlers are back with some more primers and upgrade guides for you. This time we’re turning our attention to the new Starter Commander Decks that Wizards released on December 2nd. These 5 two-color decks are marketed as a way to get your friends and family into playing the best format of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Magic</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And just in time for the holidays! The decks are built with beginners in mind, so we’ll have to keep reminding ourselves of that as we review, and obviously temper our expectations as to the efficacy of each deck. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about them! I’m Andy, and today I’m bringing you the deck led by one of my favorite Rakdos legends, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kardur, Doomscourge" href="#" target="_blank">Kardur, Doomscourge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dance, Puppets, Dance!</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kardur, Doomscourge"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kardur is a 4/3 Demon Berserker who has a quasi-goad effect when he enters the battlefield. Until your next turn, all creatures your opponents control have to attack someone other than you. Now keep in mind this isn’t technically goad, as it doesn’t affect your opponents’ creatures. Rather, it affects your opponents, so it will also cause any creatures that enter with haste to be required to attack as well. Then, because it wasn’t already awesome enough, Kardur drains life from opponents whenever an attacking creature dies. Any attacking creature, doesn’t matter who controls it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I’ll confess to having tried to build a Kardur deck myself at one point. But the problem with having Kardur in the command zone is that you lose that element of surprise that you would’ve gotten from playing him from your hand. Also, Kardur is one of those rare commanders that you don’t want to play ASAP. He’s better to be patient with, and cast when the board is full so you can drop him and watch your opponents slap each other about. Because of this, I’m not thrilled with this choice as the leader for a beginner deck. But we’ll come back to that later.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As with most Commander precons, the deck comes with an alternate leader, and this one happens to be one of my </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">other</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> favorite Rakdos legends: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaervek the Merciless" href="#" target="_blank">Kaervek the Merciless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Kaervek is so good, dishing out damage whenever your opponents cast spells. But he also has a tendency to get hated off the board quickly. So I wouldn’t recommend him as a commander for beginners, as there’s nothing more disheartening to a beginner than not getting to play with your commander.</span></p>
<p>Here's the full decklist:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Chaos Incarnate" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kardur, Doomscourge
[/Commander]
[Sorceries]
*1 Ambition&#039;s Cost
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Deadly Tempest
*1 Dredge the Mire
*1 Explosion of Riches
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Fiery Confluence
*1 Hate Mirage
*1 Mana Geyser
*1 Profane Command
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reign of the Pit
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Syphon Mind
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Coveted Jewel
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Nihil Spellbomb
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Archfiend of Depravity
*1 Bloodgift Demon
*1 Brash Taunter
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Geode Rager
*1 Guttersnipe
*1 Indulgent Tormentor
*1 Kaervek the Merciless
*1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs
*1 Magmatic Force
*1 Rakshasa Debaser
*1 Sangromancer
*1 Scythe Specter
*1 Sepulchral Primordial
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Stormfist Crusader
*1 Tectonic Giant
*1 Thermo-Alchemist
*1 Titan Hunter
*1 Vampire Nighthawk
*1 Wildfire Devils
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Breath of Malfegor
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Soul Shatter
*1 Terminate
*1 Unlicensed Disintegration
*1 Wild Ricochet
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Spiteful Visions
*1 Sunbird&#039;s Invocation
*1 Theater of Horrors
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Akoum Refuge
*1 Bloodfell Caves
*1 Cinder Barrens
*1 Command Tower
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Molten Slagheap
*14 Mountain
*1 Myriad Landscape
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Stensia Bloodhall
*15 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malice
*1 Urborg Volcano
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What's it Do?</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chaos Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brash Taunter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archfiend of Depravity"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alright, so here’s where we talk about the deck’s themes and strategies, how it’s supposed to win, and whatnot. But I gotta tell you, it took me a not-small amount of time to figure this deck out. To be honest, I’m still not totally sure. The deck is all over the place. It feels like someone dropped a box of bulk and cheap Commander staples into a pile and called it a deck. Which is ridiculous. But then it dawned on me…isn’t that </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">exactly</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> what beginner Commander players do when they build their first decks? In most cases, I believe it is. But that doesn’t mean Wizards should build a deck that way and sell it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deck is called Chaos Incarnate, so one might assume a bit of a chaos theme. But, aside from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chaos Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Chaos Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, nary a chaos to be found. The biggest themes of the deck are direct damage and creature destruction/resurrection. Direct damage is supported by cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magmatic Force" href="#" target="_blank">Magmatic Force</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaervek the Merciless" href="#" target="_blank">Kaervek the Merciless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tectonic Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Tectonic Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (my boo), with some damage enhancement coming from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dictate of the Twin Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Dictate of the Twin Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deck is exceptionally heavy on removal spells, with <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Tempest" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Tempest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blasphemous Act" href="#" target="_blank">Blasphemous Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reign of the Pit" href="#" target="_blank">Reign of the Pit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to name just a few. And then we’re trying to get some of those tasty creatures back to our battlefield, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakshasa Debaser" href="#" target="_blank">Rakshasa Debaser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sepulchral Primordial" href="#" target="_blank">Sepulchral Primordial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dredge the Mire" href="#" target="_blank">Dredge the Mire</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Profane Command" href="#" target="_blank">Profane Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Now you may be asking yourself, why would I want Kardur, who wants my opponents to attack each other with as many creatures as possible, to lead a deck if I’m just going to kill all my opponents’ creatures? And that’s a very good question. A good question indeed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I would’ve expected more goad effects in the deck, since that’s our commander’s theme, but all we’ve got is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Geode Rager" href="#" target="_blank">Geode Rager</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There’s a sub-theme of dealing damage for instants and sorceries with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guttersnipe" href="#" target="_blank">Guttersnipe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thermo-Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Thermo-Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but with only 22 instants and sorceries in the deck, it’s not exactly a reliable strategy. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Play it</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Indulgent Tormentor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coveted Jewel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bloodgift Demon"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In playtesting, I found the deck functions best when you’re really focusing on the direct damage. Unfortunately the deck doesn’t have enough of it, so you’re also going to have to attack. Thankfully there are a few beaters in the deck to satisfy this need, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Indulgent Tormentor" href="#" target="_blank">Indulgent Tormentor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodgift Demon" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodgift Demon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The deck’s average mana value is 4.00, which is way higher than it really should be. It’s somewhat balanced out by having 40 lands in the deck, but I’d much rather see a lower curve and one or two fewer lands with more cheap, but effective spells. As is, make sure your starting hand has some ramp, because you’re gonna need it to cast your spells. There’s a lot of card draw/advantage in the deck, but much of it is on expensive cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunbird’s Invocation" href="#" target="_blank">Sunbird’s Invocation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coveted Jewel" href="#" target="_blank">Coveted Jewel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so you can’t rely on cheap card draw to find your ramp in the early game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hang onto Kardur until the best moment, which is when your opponents all have threats on the board. Use their creatures against each other to chip away at their life totals enough that your direct damage effects and flying demons can sneak in and finish the job.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Final Thoughts</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This deck does a poor job of supporting its commander’s abilities. It chooses to focus more on a variety of red and black’s greatest hits, like direct damage and graveyard recursion. Because of this, the deck has an identity crisis that I can only imagine would be confusing to a beginner. And, frankly, I don't think Kardur is a good choice for a beginner commander anyway. The decision of when to play him is complicated, and I'd rather a beginner start with a commander that is always good to have on the field.</span></p>
<p><b>Verdict: Skip it</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Veterans of Commander won’t find much in this deck for valuable reprints, with the only notable cards being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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>. And the lands suite is one of the cheapest I’ve seen, including such duds as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urborg Volcano" href="#" target="_blank">Urborg Volcano</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stensia Bloodhall" href="#" target="_blank">Stensia Bloodhall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even for $30, which seems to be the typical price for these decks, it’s just not worth it. And beginners will be better off with one of the other decks from this series.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re not done yet! If your Aunt Rudy gave you this deck for Xmas and you just wanna make it better without spending a lot of money, I’ve got you covered in my next article, which goes over the best cards to add to the deck to make it better. So keep your eye out for that! And don’t forget to check out the other budget content from Scrap Trawlers over on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/scraptrawlers">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/scraptrawlers">Twitch</a> pages. Until next time, remember to budget…before you buy it.</span></p>


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