Ranking Every Equipment with EDHREC – Part 9: Everything is Shocks

Too-Specific Top 10 - Double the Mana

Ultra Budget Brews - Nethroi, Apex of Death

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya, Etherium Shaper" href="#" target="_blank">Breya, Etherium Shaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/clintcearley">Clint Clearley</a>)</h6>
<h1>Fallacious Filigree</h1>
<p>Sit in on a speech conducted by the Ethersworn, and you'll surely be enticed by all of the wonders of Etherium: a magical connection to the Aether, and most importantly, the raw power of <em>aesthetic. </em>But you'll never hear them talk about the downsides - and many artificers wish they had known about the downsides before meeting <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya, Etherium Shaper" href="#" target="_blank">Breya, Etherium Shaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breya, Etherium Shaper"></div></div>
<p>Do you ever think about how much time you spend sitting? You'll quickly realize when your metal rear makes every seat unbearably uncomfortable. Plus, so much stuff gets caught in it! If you have a single tangle in your hair, it'll find its way into your Etherium prosthetics somewhere. Planeswalkers such as Tezzeret run the risk of planeswalking right into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Null Rod" href="#" target="_blank">Null Rod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, during which the enchantments in your etherium body cease to work and your body slowly shuts down.</p>
<p>Additionally, what even are these "benefits"? Connections to the Aether? Kaladesh has managed just fine without etherium, all they need is 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> - which is, notably, not attached to your body. Yes, the filigree of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master Transmuter" href="#" target="_blank">Master Transmuter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is sublime, but what if you want a portrait from a different angle? I don't know if I even want to know what the back of Breya's head looks like.</p>
<p>This is why we would like to extend to you a formal invitation to Artificers Against Etherium, an exclusive union in which we can practice our magical craft without grafting them into our bodies. Our membership boasts some of the multiverse's most legendary artificers, which you'll be pleased to know <em>don't</em> participate in any unethical forced magical experiments or eugenics.</p>
<p>If you're looking for a break from Breya, here are some other artifact commanders, old and new, who can offer fun nuance to that metallic strategy!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Etherium Manufacturer</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marionette Master"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Urza, Lord High Artificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reckless Fireweaver"></div></div>
<p>Artifact-based archetypes are infamous in Commander. They're at the top of the list of EDHREC's established archetypes, and at the top of that, you can find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya, Etherium Shaper" href="#" target="_blank">Breya, Etherium Shaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, beating out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza, Lord High Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Urza, Lord High Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> thanks to a combination of age, diversity, and flexibility.</p>
<p>Breya's suite of abilities allows you to go all-in on a sort of Artifacts/Aristocrats hybrid, synergizing beautifully with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marionette Master" href="#" target="_blank">Marionette Master</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Fireweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Fireweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and other artifact-based imitations of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sacrificing, of course, isn't the only important part - once her ability resolves, it can be a potent control piece as well.</p>
<p>However, Breya is not without her faults: firstly, she's four colors, which can spell trouble for players building on a budget (or players who simply don't like having a ton of colors in their decks). From a mechanical perspective, she's also pretty all-in on building around her, which contributes to the general stigma around artifacts strategies being too linear, and it also turns away players looking to play with the more unique artifact synergies. With over 2,000 different artifacts, a new commander, and a little bit of innovation, we can avoid all of these problems, and make a fun and unique Artifacts build!</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Agents of Artifice 2.0</h2>
<p>One route with Breya is what is known as the "Eggs" route, similar to decks such as Modern Eggs, in which you sacrifice a bunch of artifacts and immediately bring them all back with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Second Sunrise" href="#" target="_blank">Second Sunrise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This strategy was in fact effective enough that it warranted the ban of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Second Sunrise" href="#" target="_blank">Second Sunrise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Modern. FOr our purposes in Commander, it's important to note that such an archetype requires two parts: the sacrificing, and the recursion, and since so many artifacts have sacrificing built-in, it might be a good idea to take a look at all of the commanders which can recur artifacts!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emry, Lurker of the Loch"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Osgir, the Reconstructor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glissa, the Traitor"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emry, Lurker of the Loch" href="#" target="_blank">Emry, Lurker of the Loch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> manages to recur artifacts quite elegantly: for a low cost, you get a Merfolk that will dump some cards into your graveyard and allow you to cast any artifacts that might find their way in there. Her cost reduction ability can make her especially resilient, negating her own Commander tax should you have enough artifacts out. And that's a good thing, too, because she can assemble a plethora of fantastic artifacts-based engines, and you'll need to get her out quickly again to re-assemble them.</p>
<p>One commander that excels at providing value with artifacts is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Osgir, the Reconstructor" href="#" target="_blank">Osgir, the Reconstructor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the most hyped-up Commanders in recent memory. As it turns out, in a singleton format, getting up to three copies of a single artifact for the price of one is really powerful, even managing to combo with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pull from Eternity" href="#" target="_blank">Pull from Eternity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isochron Scepter" href="#" target="_blank">Isochron Scepter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ugin&#039;s Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Ugin&#039;s Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a fantastic <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/9264/">Boros infinite turns combo</a>.</p>
<p>Another standout commander in this section is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glissa, the Traitor" href="#" target="_blank">Glissa, the Traitor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for two reasons. Namely, she is a Phyrexian, and thus is guilty of many of the same flaws as the folks of Esper in regards to wild experiments on biological flesh and machinery. However, she also holds the unique position of being one of the only green artifacts-based commanders, and likely is the best among those, so she's worth a mention. If you're looking for all the best Golgari graveyard goodies like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skull Prophet" href="#" target="_blank">Skull Prophet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to go into your Artifacts deck, she may be the choice for you.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saheeli, Sublime Artificer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saheeli, the Gifted"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saheeli&#039;s Directive"></div></div>
<p>Another archetype that Breya can be built around is a sort of artifact "go-wide" strategy: she needs as many artifacts as possible to fuel her ability, so it's not uncommon to find artifact-creating engines such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in her decks. However, for those who want to use the plethora of artifacts they create, rather than serve them up as sacrifice fodder, commanders such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saheeli, the Gifted" href="#" target="_blank">Saheeli, the Gifted</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> work much better.</p>
<p>As with most planeswalkers, it's best to build around Saheeli's first two abilities, as they're the most reliable ones, creating Thopters to fuel additional synergies, and making expensive spells cost much less. The first ability is perfect for strategies that benefit from having a high number of artifacts, which use cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saheeli&#039;s Directive" href="#" target="_blank">Saheeli&#039;s Directive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as payoffs. Also, since I would be remiss to neglect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, both him and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Saheeli, Sublime Artificer" href="#" target="_blank">Saheeli, Sublime Artificer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be utilized to create dozens of token copies of whatever you choose, much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Osgir, the Reconstructor" href="#" target="_blank">Osgir, the Reconstructor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The simplest payoff to having a large number of artifacts is Saheeli's second +1 ability, which can easily be used to quickly get out all of your favorite expensive artifacts. The go-to for many players is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but over 25 years of <em>Magic</em> cards opens up a ton of possibilities, including the uniquely combo-tastic <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chromatic Orrery" href="#" target="_blank">Chromatic Orrery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to protect your Artifacts.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Platinum Emperion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Muzzio, Visionary Architect"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thousand-Year Elixir"></div></div>
<p>If it's expensive artifacts that entice you, then <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Muzzio, Visionary Architect" href="#" target="_blank">Muzzio, Visionary Architect</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> excels at getting them out like no other. In order to get the ball rolling, it's probably best to get an expensive artifact out using topdeck manipulation, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scroll Rack" href="#" target="_blank">Scroll Rack</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and from there, you can continue flipping cards off the top like artifact-based <em>Cascade</em>.</p>
<p>Because Muzzio's ability is an activated ability, you can also find interesting lines of play by activating it on your opponents' turns. This can give you an edge against board wipes and lethal damage effects by flipping <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Forge" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Forge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Platinum Emperion" href="#" target="_blank">Platinum Emperion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> off the top of your library at the opportune time.</p>
<p>And, of course, to ensure that you can continue to accrue value off of Muzzio's ability, it could also be prudent to find some ways to untap him, thus activating him multiple times in a turn using cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thousand-Year Elixir" href="#" target="_blank">Thousand-Year Elixir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magewright&#039;s Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Magewright&#039;s Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Onakke Secrets</h2>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/028_1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-65957 size-full" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/028_1.jpg" alt="" width="967" height="659" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/028_1.jpg 967w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/028_1-300x204.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/028_1-768x523.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=226513">Onakke Catacomb</a> | Art by <a href="https://linktr.ee/Nic_Klein">Nic Klein</a>)</h6>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kuldotha Forgemaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Endless Atlas"></div></div>
<p>Of all the ways to mess around with artifacts in Commander, my personal favorite has always been <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This inconspicuous legend from a core set allows you, for the low price of one red mana, to double up on almost any activation of an artifact you control. This means you get twice as much value from your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endless Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Endless Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>es, and suddenly it becomes much easier to assemble a win with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kuldotha Forgemaster" href="#" target="_blank">Kuldotha Forgemaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>My favorite part of Kurkesh's ability is just how open-ended it is. You could build a Kurkesh deck around nearly any artifact-based synergy besides Equipment. After testing him out with my own build, I've been toying with a Kurkesh Charge Counters build, which utilizes <em>Proliferate</em> effects such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of Geth" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of Geth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or Charge Counter synergies like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coretapper" href="#" target="_blank">Coretapper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, to gain extra value.</p>
<p>How would you build Kurkesh? Here's my first prototype, which was constructed not long after my first foray into the format.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kurkesh, Onakke Visionary" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kurkesh, Onakke Ancient
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Aetherworks Marvel
*1 Basalt Monolith
*1 Blinkmoth Urn
*1 Brittle Effigy
*1 Chaos Wand
*1 Clock of Omens
*1 Coldsteel Heart
*1 Contagion Clasp
*1 Contagion Engine
*1 Darksteel Forge
*1 Darksteel Reactor
*1 Doubling Cube
*1 Empowered Autogenerator
*1 Endless Atlas
*1 Everflowing Chalice
*1 Gemstone Array
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Gonti&#039;s Aether Heart
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Coating
*1 Lux Cannon
*1 Manifold Key
*1 Mimic Vat
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Mycosynth Lattice
*1 Mystic Forge
*1 Oracle&#039;s Vault
*1 Planar Bridge
*1 Pyramid of the Pantheon
*1 Sensei&#039;s Divining Top
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Star Compass
*1 Strionic Resonator
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Journal
*1 Throne of Geth
*1 Unwinding Clock
*1 Vedalken Orrery
*1 Voltaic Key
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Worn Powerstone
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Bosh, Iron Golem
*1 Cogwork Assembler
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Goblin Welder
*1 Hangarback Walker
*1 Jhoira&#039;s Familiar
*1 Kuldotha Forgemaster
*1 Pentavus
*1 Shimmer Myr
*1 Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer
*1 Voltaic Servant
[/Creatures]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Comet Storm
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Braid of Fire
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Aether Hub
*1 Ancient Tomb
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*32 Mountain
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What's your favorite Artifacts commander? What's the general plan: go-wide, recursion, charge counters, or something else entirely? Feel free to let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading!</p>


Staple Remover – Breya, Etherium Shaper

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise of Extus" href="#" target="_blank">Rise of Extus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.wyliebeckert.com/?show=portfolio">Wylie Beckert</a>)</h6>
<h1>Looks Like We've got Another Mystery on our Hands!</h1>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Archetune-Up</em>, an article series devoted to tweaking a deck with the help of the EDHREC <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes">Theme</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes">Pages</a>!</p>
<p>For this article, I wanted to cover a legend that has captured my interest from the moment they were first spoiled, and the only three-color card in <em>Strixhaven</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Extus, Oriq Overlord"></div></div>
<p>Extus has been the only legend on my brain since spoiler season (seriously, it took me almost an <a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy/status/1394121100267765761?s=20">entire month of deliberation</a> to get my personal list together), and even now he hasn't relinquished his hold over me. In an effort to try and loosen his vice-like grip (or spread his teachings, whichever you think applies), I decided to check out his average list, and see what he was working with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Average Extus" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Impulsive Pilferer
*1 Keeper of the Accord
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Ogre Slumlord
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Thalisse, Reverent Medium
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Dark Ritual
*1 Despark
*1 Fracture
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Bitterblossom
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blot Out the Sky
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Lingering Souls
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Reanimate
*1 Ruinous Ultimatum
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*3 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*4 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*6 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>With over 1,000 decks to his name, Extus is easily the most popular legend coming out of <em>Strixhaven</em>, and for good reason! He's incredibly versatile, able to build entire gameplans around either his front half or his flip side, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That said, there are two things I took away from this average list:</p>
<ul>
<li>Y'all ain't running enough lands! How in the world is <strong>33</strong> acceptable??</li>
<li>The average decklist shows that the majority of people are building around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Both sides of Extus are great, but each one wants their decks to do <em>slightly </em>different things. Yes, both Extus and The Blood Avatar want plenty of creatures to churn through, but Extus wants to play a bit more of a grindy game, accruing value over time with nontoken creatures. Conversely, The Blood Avatar wants a wide board of fodder to sac in order to create multiple Avatar tokens in a turn, and token fodder will often do this the best.</p>
<p>Looking at all the token makers and support in this list, a lot of these decks are geared to summon The Blood Avatar as opposed to follow the ways of Extus. I have a personal fondness for The Oriq Overlord, despite his Saturday morning cartoon villainy in the <em>Strixhaven</em> story, so he's who I'll be focusing on building around today!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Like, Zoinks, Scoob!</h2>
<p>I'll be using EDHREC's <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Mardu Aristocrats Theme</a> to find the inclusions for today's list. Before I dig into the cards I added, I want to take a moment to also mention that I brought the land count up to 36 from 33. 36 is still a bit lean for me, but it is <em>a lot</em> better than the blatantly irresponsible 33 the original deck had, so with that quick fix out of the way, what does this theme hold for us?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valakut Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Malakir Rebirth"></div></div>
<p>Well, it has... more land!</p>
<p>If you've read my articles this year, y'all should know how much I <span style="text-decoration: underline;">adore</span> <em>Battle for Zendikar</em>'s MDFCs. On top of being outright fantastic cards, they pull double duty in an Extus deck, since they are both lands <em>and</em> spells. They help patch up the land base while also being cards that can trigger <em>Magecraft</em> to keep the deck chugging along!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valakut Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Valakut Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agadeem&#039;s Awakening" href="#" target="_blank">Agadeem&#039;s Awakening</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Malakir Rebirth" href="#" target="_blank">Malakir Rebirth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hagra Mauling" href="#" target="_blank">Hagra Mauling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were the four MFDCs found on the Aristocrats theme page, but there are a few others that would also be a perfect fit for the deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sejiri Shelter" href="#" target="_blank">Sejiri Shelter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ondu Inversion" href="#" target="_blank">Ondu Inversion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shatterskull Smashing" href="#" target="_blank">Shatterskull Smashing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all viable options for Extus, and I cannot recommend them enough!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Ruh-roh, Raggy!!</h2>
<p>Now that we've got the mana base in order, what's next? Well, while The Blood Avatar wants to force itself into the foray and bring games to an end quickly, Extus wants to move a bit slower and more methodically. What exactly does that mean, though?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tormenting Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Costly Plunder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buried Alive"></div></div>
<p>What Extus desires instead of pure power is <em>synergy</em>! Extus tacks on a free <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with every spell we cast, so why not take advantage of that?</p>
<p>Spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tormenting Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Tormenting Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Costly Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Costly Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have additional costs needed to cast them, so if Extus is in play, even if we discard or sacrifice a creature to help pay for the spell, we can just get another right back! This is a great way to quickly and cheaply accrue value, turning the downside of these cards' additional costs into something negligible, or even beneficial! These kinds of spells are right at home here, from removal like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Final Payment" href="#" target="_blank">Final Payment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bone Splinters" href="#" target="_blank">Bone Splinters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to a reusable sac outlet like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worthy Cause" href="#" target="_blank">Worthy Cause</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. All of them are welcome additions to Extus's repertoire.</p>
<p>Due to this deck being more graveyard-based than a Blood Avatar deck, we need to make sure we have ways to enable our shenanigans, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does just that. For three mana, we get to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a creature from our graveyard if Extus is out, and then comb through our deck for three creatures to dump them directly into our precious graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> might not be as powerful as it is in a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karador, Ghost Chieftain" href="#" target="_blank">Karador, Ghost Chieftain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Meren of Clan Nel Toth" href="#" target="_blank">Meren of Clan Nel Toth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, but it is still <em>fantastic</em> here. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unmarked Grave" href="#" target="_blank">Unmarked Grave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <em>Modern Horizons 2</em> would also be wonderful additions in the same vein if we want some more redundancy for an effect like this.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Jinkies!</h2>
<p>I dug up a lot of interesting and powerful interactions and cards for Extus during my deep dive over the past month, and one class of card in particular stood out to me when I was constructing by personal brew. Since they weren't listed in the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/aristocrats/rwb">Aristocrats Theme</a>, I wanted to be sure to dedicate a section to them, since I think they are so integral to how our Oriq Overlord functions.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Order of Midnight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Merchant of the Vale"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embereth Shieldbreaker"></div></div>
<p>Much like the MDFCs from the first section, <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&amp;order=name&amp;q=type%3Aadventure+commander%3AWBR"><em>Adventure</em> creatures</a> are important for any Extus build. Adventure cards provide the best of both worlds, with one half triggering Extus's <em>Magecraft</em> ability, and the other half that can be sacrificed and subsequently brought back! With Extus and a sacrifice outlet, you have the potential to loop two <em>Adventure</em> creatures multiple times in a turn, triggering all of your <em>Magecraft</em> effects as well as all of the effects that trigger when your creatures die.</p>
<p>While this style of card are a home-run in this deck, I only added the three most important ones: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Order of Midnight" href="#" target="_blank">Order of Midnight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant of the Vale" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant of the Vale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embereth Shieldbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Embereth Shieldbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shepherd of the Flock" href="#" target="_blank">Shepherd of the Flock</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Foulmire Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Foulmire Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realm-Cloaked Giant" href="#" target="_blank">Realm-Cloaked Giant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are also great inclusions, and I would highly recommend giving them all a look if you want to build Extus.</p>
<hr />
<h2>I Would Have Gotten Away With It, Too!</h2>
<p>There we have it, ten easy inclusions to make a deck more Extus-centric!</p>
<p>While I am happy with the additions to the deck, I personally think that the list could use even more more synergy to help differentiate itself from Blood Avatar decks. Swapping generic removal spells for things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, having ways to protect Extus like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selfless Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Selfless Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent Bodyguard" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent Bodyguard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or having ways to loop instants and sorceries, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Living Lightning" href="#" target="_blank">Living Lightning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Chronicler" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Chronicler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, really makes Extus hum. In an Extus build, the cheaper, the better, and the more spells you can cast in a turn, the more likely you are to win.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Harvest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selfless Savior"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Living Lightning"></div></div>
<p>That said, no matter what side you decide to build around, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Extus, Oriq Overlord" href="#" target="_blank">Extus, Oriq Overlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>//<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Awaken the Blood Avatar" href="#" target="_blank">Awaken the Blood Avatar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is incredibly fun and gives Aristocrat players two different ways to go about draining the life from their opponents.</p>
<p>What about you, though? Which side do you prefer, Extus, or The Blood Avatar? Are there any neat moves that you've come up with for either side? Make sure to let me know down below!</p>
<p>As always, you can reach me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/thejesguy">@thejesguy</a>), where you can always hit me up for <i>Magic- </i>or Jeskai-related shenanigans 24/7. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Please don’t hesitate to leave them below or get in touch! Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear your mask, and keep fighting the good fight. I support you. No justice, no peace.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Archetune-Up Extus Would Have Gotten Away With it Too!" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Extus, Oriq Overlord
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Cruel Celebrant
*1 Dockside Extortionist
*1 Doomed Traveler
*1 Dualcaster Mage
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Embereth Shieldbreaker
*1 Grim Haruspex
*1 Mayhem Devil
*1 Merchant of the Vale
*1 Monastery Mentor
*1 Order of Midnight
*1 Pawn of Ulamog
*1 Pitiless Plunderer
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Sengir Autocrat
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Storm-Kiln Artist
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Young Pyromancer
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Costly Plunder
*1 Despark
*1 Fury Storm
*1 Hagra Mauling
*1 Malakir Rebirth
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Rise of the Dread Marn
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Thrill of Possibility
*1 Valakut Awakening
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Agadeem&#039;s Awakening
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Demonic Tutor
*1 Diabolic Intent
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Jeska&#039;s Will
*1 Martial Coup
*1 Painful Truths
*1 Read the Bones
*1 Tormenting Voice
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Assemble the Legion
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Black Market
*1 Smothering Tithe
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Marsh Flats
*4 Mountain
*1 Nomad Outpost
*1 Phyrexian Tower
*5 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Spectator Seating
*7 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>



Archetune-Up - The Monster of the Week

Commander Showdown - Ruxa vs Ayula

Too-Specific Top 10 - Like Arabian Days

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Denial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.howardlyon.com/blog/tag/magic+the+gathering">Howard Lyon</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>We find ourselves in a meandering place, one where the subtle shifts of earth lead our thoughts to wandering along with our legs. A place where history, mythology, and imagination all meld together in a blur of paint on the canvasses of culture.</p>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time... in one deck.</p>
<p>This time, we'll be considering a list led by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis" href="#" target="_blank">Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a fairly popular commander, though, in the context of its peers, one that's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/underdogs-corner-kynaios-and-tiro-of-meletis/">often underutilized</a>, in comparison.</p>
<p>Now, in a more focused and levelheaded write-up, we might explore the inspirations of Kynaios and Tiro - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/charles-allison/">historically speaking</a> - and lean into the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmodius_and_Aristogeiton">Tyrannicides</a> or the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_of_Thebes">Sacred Theban Band</a>, and their reflections in Theros. But no: I'm veering off into another plane and peering through a much more distant lens. So despite our Therosian commander(s), we'll instead be scrying at the great Indian subcontinent for ideas - the inspirational spark for Kaladesh.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Welding Sparks"></div></div>
<p>One of the avatars of the supreme being is Kurma - the tortoise whose many domains include the churning rod of the Ocean of Milk, vegetal life, arteries and nerves, steadfastness... and countless others. The sphere we're interested in, however, is <em>yajna</em> - that is, the sacred flame and the acts before it. It is in this incarnation that we see the <em>fire tortoise</em>.</p>
<p>From here, we can begin to make sense of the duality of our deck. This is a <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/burn">burn</a> deck inside a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tribes/walls">Wall tribal</a> deck. We will play defense, turtling, deflecting, withstanding - while simultaneously keeping pressure on opponents with scalable noncombat damage and even discouraging retribution though the innate group hug built-in by our general. This is about as antipodal as <em>Dual Shot</em> gets, folks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="The Fire Tortoise" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Chandra&#039;s Incinerator
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Soulfire Grand Master
*1 Heartless Hidetsugu
*1 Balefire Liege
*1 Spear Spewer
*1 Hornet Nest
*1 Pramikon, Sky Rampart
*1 Arcades, the Strategist
*1 Wall of Denial
*1 Wall of Blossoms
*1 Overgrown Battlement
*1 Sylvan Caryatid
*1 Axebane Guardian
*1 Stalwart Shield-Bearers
*1 Perimeter Captain
*1 Wall of Stolen Identity
*1 Wall of Mulch
*1 Aether Membrane
*1 Wall of Shards
*1 Wall of Stone
*1 Rage Nimbus
*1 Vent Sentinel
*1 Drift of Phantasms
*1 Electrostatic Field
*1 Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch
*1 Psychic Membrane
*1 Ripjaw Raptor
*1 Mnemonic Wall
*1 Fog Bank
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Negate
*1 Comet Storm
*1 Atarka&#039;s Command
*1 Fall of the Titans
*1 Price of Progress
*1 Lightning Helix
*1 Lightning Bolt
*1 Smash to Smithereens
*1 Tower Defense
*1 Seething Song
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Earthquake
*1 Jaya&#039;s Immolating Inferno
*1 Browbeat
*1 Flame Rift
*1 Acidic Soil
*1 Sizzle
*1 Light Up the Stage
*1 Slaughter the Strong
*1 Fell the Mighty
*1 Dusk // Dawn
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Magebane Armor
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Pyrohemia
*1 Mark of Asylum
*1 Dictate of the Twin Gods
*1 Furnace of Rath
*1 Assault Formation
*1 High Alert
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 The Wanderer
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Cascading Cataracts
*1 Shimmerdrift Vale
*1 Rugged Prairie
*8 Plains
*6 Island
*8 Mountain
*7 Forest
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Meditations on Duality</h2>
<p>We talk about "bridge cards" on here with some frequency, either seeking them out to ford disparate concepts, or else starting with them as the foundation of these two-headed decks. In this list, the most apparent are cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electrostatic Field" href="#" target="_blank">Electrostatic Field</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vent Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Vent Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthquake" href="#" target="_blank">Earthquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for its provision of scaling to our needs in any given board state. Wipe out our opponents creatures while retaining our high-toughness defenders? Sure. Pumping it up with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seething Song" href="#" target="_blank">Seething Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to stir your own <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>? Wonderful.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Electrostatic Field"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vent Sentinel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthquake"></div></div>
<p>If you're going to try to win with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartless Hidetsugu" href="#" target="_blank">Heartless Hidetsugu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Furnace of Rath" href="#" target="_blank">Furnace of Rath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, make sure you have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wanderer" href="#" target="_blank">The Wanderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in play lest you risk forcing a draw. Otherwise, sudden combative turns with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tower Defense" href="#" target="_blank">Tower Defense</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assault Formation" href="#" target="_blank">Assault Formation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcades, the Strategist" href="#" target="_blank">Arcades, the Strategist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can turn the tide in your favor. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mark of Asylum" href="#" target="_blank">Mark of Asylum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pramikon, Sky Rampart" href="#" target="_blank">Pramikon, Sky Rampart</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and, you know, a dozen other Walls, can stop the tide altogether.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Furnace of Rath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Assault Formation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pramikon, Sky Rampart"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Manabarbs" href="#" target="_blank">Manabarbs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great inclusion, but it might attract too much attention, even considering that your opponents might want to keep you around for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis" href="#" target="_blank">Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. At any rate, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Shards" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Shards</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> certainly won't be enough in the way of politicking your way out of the spotlight, should it land on you. Another great inclusion is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fortified Area" href="#" target="_blank">Fortified Area</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but, oh no, I've gone cross-eyed.</p>
<p>We do buy ourselves a good bit of time with our cheap defenders gumming up the board, and with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wall of Mulch" href="#" target="_blank">Wall of Mulch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcades, the Strategist" href="#" target="_blank">Arcades, the Strategist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we can continue to draw into and replace our blockers. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overgrown Battlement" href="#" target="_blank">Overgrown Battlement</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Axebane Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Axebane Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> should help us pay for what we need. Fortunately, the average mana value of our defenders is comfortably below 3 CMC, so despite some demanding color pips, costs aren't too oppressive here, even in four colors.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Emancipation" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Emancipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great upgrade to one of our damage-multipliers, say, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Furnace of Rath" href="#" target="_blank">Furnace of Rath</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for its oppressive color cost, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angrath&#039;s Marauders" href="#" target="_blank">Angrath&#039;s Marauders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for its mana value of 7. Just don't try to slot in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tree of Perdition" href="#" target="_blank">Tree of Perdition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> hoping for a quick burn victory, because that card is <em>not</em> in our color identity, and it costs ten dollars, haha, oops.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Anyway, this all makes for a deck that's deeply at odds with itself in the best way possible. It's fun not knowing if you'll draw into fiery offense <em>or</em> something to shell up with and play defense, and, like the <em>fire tortoise</em>, this deck is slow and steady until it isn't.</p>
<p>That's it for this... <em>20th installment of Dual Shot!</em> That's a milestone, one should think. In the length of this series, if it served its purpose to entertain and inspire and play with the spirit of place, what wacky strategies have you since juxtaposed into one pile? When have you gotten that forced combat tech to work from inside your pillowfort? Or perhaps you have a Strixhaven-ready artifact brew that's actually Spirit tribal? Tell us about them in the comments! Until next time.</p>


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