EDHREC Ikoria Commander Preview Cards

Too-Specific Top 10 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Everything

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shambling Suit" href="#" target="_blank">Shambling Suit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NicholasGregoryIllustration/">Nicholas Gregory</a>)</h6>
<h1>Introduction</h1>
<p>We find ourselves in a clear, clean space. The air here is pure, the landscape reposed in disciplined geometries. One is inclined to think of stoicism, sculpture. Simplicity. Without nuance, there is duality. This is the latest iteration of the experiment, now perhaps distilled into its crystalline form.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystalline Crawler"></div></div>
<p>Welcome to <em>Dual Shot</em>, where we brew two decks at the same time… in one deck. This time, the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/artifacts">artifact theme</a> acts as an oversoul to an <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/enchantments">enchantment theme</a>, led by none other than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alela, Artful Provocateur" href="#" target="_blank">Alela, Artful Provocateur</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Of the themes that EDHREC identifies, the artifact theme is the most populous, with 12,742 decks as of this writing. Additionally, there are 5,054 Aura decks and 4,925 enchantment decks. If we were to merge those two themes for the sake of an (arbitrary) metric, which we probably shouldn’t, we get 9,979 decks, making that hypothetical supertheme the second-most popular deck type.</p>
<p>Alela was a difficult general to ignore. At first glance, especially with more of a lay perspective, it looks like she’s asking to be built two ways. Then it seems clear: those Faerie tokens are the goal, and the artifacts and enchantments that generate them are likely to be conducive to that token strategy, anyway. If the inclusion percentages for decklists are any indicator, then the usual tactics employed are to that end.</p>
<p>But what if we were to shy away from the plan of going wide with evasive threats and instead focused on inverting that last block of text. Rather than artifacts and enchantments that would be good for Faeries (or for Esper, for that matter) by generating incidental value by making more 1/1 flyers, all the better to take advantage of Etchings of the Chosen (~51% inclusion rate for Alela lists), Favorable Winds (48% inclusion rate), and Bitterblossom (41%), what if the tokens. themselves. were the gratuity?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Etchings of the Chosen"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Favorable Winds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bitterblossom"></div></div>
<p>It’s generally much easier to produce artifacts en masse than it is to create enchantments, and there are a number of enchantments that repeatedly produce token artifacts. The decision to prioritize the <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/artifacts">artifact theme</a> and incorporate an <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/enchantments">enchantment subtheme</a> was made thusly.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Anyone Seen the Bridge?</h2>
<p>In the <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/dual-shot-masks/">inaugural <em>Dual Shot</em></a>, there was an attempt to capitalize on certain “bridge” cards, as it were; in that case, the cycle of Oaths – enchantments that cared about planeswalkers – leading to a utilization of those cards to support both themes. Here, while it’s true that <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> and cards like it are available and ideal, that most elegant reduction of the so-called bridge is presented to us in the form of only three cards: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spear of Heliod" href="#" target="_blank">Spear of Heliod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Whip of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Whip of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. There are two more legendary enchantment artifacts outside of Esper, and this cycle represents the totality of such a fusion. In the context of this brew, however, a mere three celestial weapons can still provide a good bit of utility.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spear of Heliod"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Whip of Erebos"></div></div>
<p>Let’s take a look.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Alela’s Art Collection" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Alela, Artful Provocateur
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Shambling Suit
*1 Darksteel Juggernaut
*1 Tezzeret&#039;s Simulacrum
*1 Arcanist&#039;s Owl
*1 Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator
*1 Cavalier of Dawn
*1 Phyrexian Metamorph
*1 Broodstar
*1 Sephara, Sky&#039;s Blade
*1 Sai, Master Thopterist
*1 Padeem, Consul of Innovation
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Mentor of the Meek
*1 Ethersworn Canonist
*1 Emry, Lurker of the Loch
*1 Ethersworn Adjudicator
*1 Workshop Elders
*1 Magister Sphinx
*1 Marionette Master
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Negate
*1 Confirm Suspicions
*1 Machinate
*1 Banish into Fable
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Open the Vaults
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Kefnet&#039;s Last Word
*1 Dance of the Manse
*1 Merciless Eviction
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Krark-Clan Ironworks
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Darksteel Ingot
*1 Spear of Heliod
*1 Bident of Thassa
*1 Whip of Erebos
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Journal
*1 Helm of the Gods
*1 Mirage Mirror
*1 Scrapheap
*1 Thopter Foundry
*1 Time Sieve
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Treasure Map
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Attrition
*1 Darksteel Mutation
*1 Mechanized Production
*1 Revel in Riches
*1 Thopter Spy Network
*1 Gift of Doom
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Sphere of Safety
*1 Mirrormade
*1 All that Glitters
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Teferi, Time Raveler
*1 Tezzeret, Master of Metal
*1 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
*1 Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge
*1 Ugin, the Ineffable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Thawing Glaciers
*1 Esper Panorama
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Seat of the Synod
*1 Vault of Whispers
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Hall of Heliod&#039;s Generosity
*1 Inventors&#039; Fair
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Ghost Quarter
*7 Plains
*6 Island
*5 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Enchantifacts? Artiments? Please come up with something better.</p>
<p>Either way, these two card types work surprisingly well together, and staples from both themes can interplay beautifully with but a gentle push.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arbiter of the Ideal" href="#" target="_blank">Arbiter of the Ideal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was an early cut: although it was our only way to produce a fourth enchantment artifact, it was proved to be fairly unreliable. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Argivian Find" href="#" target="_blank">Argivian Find</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was another cut: although I didn't feel too good about this one, you still have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Hanna, Ship&#039;s Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cavalier of Dawn" href="#" target="_blank">Cavalier of Dawn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to pull something back in a pinch.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arbiter of the Ideal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Argivian Find"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud Key" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud Key</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would make for powerful inclusions. Even more obviously, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Parallel Lives" href="#" target="_blank">Parallel Lives</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make your various routes faster and more oppressive, although together, these cards cost as much as a Nintendo GameBoy Color. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes viable sooner, and your field is more rapidly filled with 1/1 flyers. And speaking of alternate win conditions, enchanting <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> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All That Glitters" href="#" target="_blank">All That Glitters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of the Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of the Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and then cracking every Treasure and Clue you control is satisfyingly esoteric.</p>
<p>It’s looking more and more like I add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere of Safety" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere of Safety</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to every list that I possibly can, but at least here it seems to play well with our enchantments subtheme. The <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/pillow-fort">Pillow Fort</a> effect it provides is unlikely to be particularly relevant since it’s really the only instance of such an effect in this build, and we’re going to be rallying plenty of Fae folk to our chump-blocking cause each turn. So, sadly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sphere of Safety" href="#" target="_blank">Sphere of Safety</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> makes for one of the early cuts should you modify the list.</p>
<p><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> is an enchantment that makes artifacts. So are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thopter Spy Network" href="#" target="_blank">Thopter Spy Network</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Revel in Riches" href="#" target="_blank">Revel in Riches</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> after a fashion. This generates absurd value to your “Voltron” components – that is, your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="All that Glitters" href="#" target="_blank">All that Glitters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of the Gods" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of the Gods</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and to a very real extent, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shambling Suit" href="#" target="_blank">Shambling Suit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Juggernaut" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Juggernaut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. But it’s not unrealistic to grow a 1/1 lifelinking Faerie or a 1/1 Thopter (possibly an indestructible Thopter if you were to slot <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> into the deck somewhere) to a meaningful height and then swing for a significant change in life totals.</p>
<p>In a modified brew, there could be a very accessible lane in the shape of symmetrically disrupting nonartifact mana-production. We all know <a href="https://edhrec.com/themes/land-destruction">mass land destruction</a> can be seen as unsavory, but if you're feeling a more chaotic alignment one afternoon, well, running that as a tertiary theme is viable. Just do so with caution (both in terms of propagating your win condition and in terms of maintaining your relationships).</p>
<p>Your card draw comes from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bident of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Bident of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mentor of the Meek" href="#" target="_blank">Mentor of the Meek</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Machinate" href="#" target="_blank">Machinate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcanist’s Owl" href="#" target="_blank">Arcanist’s Owl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Less reliably, you have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thopter Spy Network" href="#" target="_blank">Thopter Spy Network</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and Clue tokens. As well, the legendary Artificers on-duty, and the planeswalker suite can provide even further card advantage.</p>
<p>As is <em>Dual Shot</em> tradition, this deck needs a more robust removal package, but we do at least have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Attrition" href="#" target="_blank">Attrition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Darksteel Mutation" href="#" target="_blank">Darksteel Mutation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (which provides some flexibility insofar as it can, with a little work, turn one of our creatures into an indestructible threat). And speaking of a bit of work, nothing is quite so dramatic as sacrificing a Faerie token to morph <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gift of Doom" href="#" target="_blank">Gift of Doom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> onto Alela, followed by <em>Convoking</em> a few other Faeries and perhaps a few white creatures to cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hour of Reckoning" href="#" target="_blank">Hour of Reckoning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and then finishing with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Open the Vaults" href="#" target="_blank">Open the Vaults</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to bring any artifact creatures and Auras back to the battlefield. All this for the low, low cost of 7WW and one ticket to Magical Christmasland.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gift of Doom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hour of Reckoning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Open the Vaults"></div></div>
<p>That's all for this installment. When have you taken two such massively supported themes and mashed them together? Creatures and 'walkers? Spellslinging and stax? Goblins and Merfolk? Let us know in the comments below. Till we meet again.</p>


Dual Shot - True Duality

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://zack_stella.artstation.com/">Zack Stella</a>)</h6>
<h1 style="text-align: left;">Epic Preparations</h1>
<p>Hello, EDHREC fans! I’m Bernardo Melibeu, and this is <em>Epic Experiment,</em> a series where we throw all common sense aside and experiment with some unusual strategies, changing how we normally build our deck. Is it going to work? Who knows?! We’re making science here. When you’re an Izzet mage, blowing things up is half the fun.</p>
<p>In this article we'll be looking into the second iteration (technically third, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master of Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Master of Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't really count) of one of the most iconic characters in <em>Magic</em> lore history: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero"></div></div>
<p><strong>First Strike</strong></p>
<p><strong>When Gerrard Weatherlight Hero dies, exile it and return to the battlefield all artifact and creature cards in your graveyard that were put there from the battlefield this turn.</strong></p>
<p>Observation 1:</p>
<p>Having access to a slightly worse <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> effect in the Command Zone can be quite versatile, as it can function in both aggressive decks looking for board wipe protection and combo decks as a sort of engine card.</p>
<p>Observation 2:</p>
<p>Gerrard's main drawback as a Boros commander is his high mana cost which can get prohibitively expensive if we cast him a bunch of times. Another glaring weakness is his vulnerability to single target removal spells, which not only further exacerbates his high CMC problem but also completely invalidates his main selling point.</p>
<p>Observation 3:</p>
<p>The artifact builds of Gerrard seem a bit stronger than his creature ones, as both of his colors provide plenty of support, unlike with creature-based synergies where red is a bit lacking.</p>
<p>Observation 4:</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk" href="#" target="_blank">Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just a nasty card with Gerrard. It gives us a recurrable asymmetrical board wipe, although it can get expensive pretty quickly.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Old Formula</h2>
<p><a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gerrard-Sig.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-47477" src="https://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gerrard-Sig.png" alt="" width="1066" height="407" /></a></p>
<p>As we can see, Gerrard's high synergy list mainly consists of the combo aspect of the commander, which is not all that surprising since it does seem like a more commander-focused build.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Epic Ingredients</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coalhauler Swine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcbond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blasphemous Act"></div></div>
<p>Gerrard's ability to protect our board illustrates his qualities as a leader, sacrificing himself for his people. But what if we're in a "are we the baddies?" type of situation and we turn his selfless sacrifice into a sadistic desire to make our people suffers twice as much? While still somewhat a small niche, the self-damage archetype, for lack of a better name (I ended up calling it piñata in this <a href="https://articles.edhrec.com/epic-experiment-pinata-riku/">Riku article</a>), keeps getting better with time. Gerrard's job is quite simple: he is a cheap way to get more value from our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects, allowing us to get be able to complete the combo multiple times a turn.</p>
<p>For the actual pieces, we're trying to gather a two-card combo, with the first part being the creatures, and the second being the damage effects. Both parts of this combo are pretty straightforward: we have a few copies of same effect, two of the most noteworthy being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Repercussion" href="#" target="_blank">Repercussion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turns our opponents' creatures into self-damaging <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbond" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which turns any creature into a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coalhauler Swine" href="#" target="_blank">Coalhauler Swine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angrath&#039;s Marauders"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Furnace of Rath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dictate of the Twin Gods"></div></div>
<p>Damage-doubling cards, like <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>, work really well in this type of combo because they double dip in the sense that they double the damage that the creatures deal and then double the damage that they deal from the trigger. There are some great options here, but I'd advise to not go overboard with them since they do have the tendency to sit stagnant in our hand.</p>
<p>Our commander is a great help to keep a chain going, but we can't rely on having him out all the time; granting indestructibility to our creatures is one efficient way to get around this minor detail. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archangel Avacyn" href="#" target="_blank">Archangel Avacyn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great one-time effect that also acts as a small clock. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frontline Medic" href="#" target="_blank">Frontline Medic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is cheap and is pretty easy to trigger since we have the tendency to have a couple of bodies lying around. Last, but not least, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is cheap, instant-speed, and fetchable with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Mixture</h2>
<p><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Gerrard Piñata" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero
[/Commander]
[Artifact]
*Everflowing Chalice
*Sol Ring
*Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
*Ankh of Mishra
*Arcane Signet
*Boros Signet
*Coldsteel Heart
*Fellwar Stone
*Mind Stone
*Talisman of Conviction
*Sunforger
*Worn Powerstone
*Hedron Archive
[/Artifact]
[Creature]
*Dockside Extortionist
*Mogg Maniac
*Selfless Spirit
*Boros Reckoner
*Frontline Medic
*Magus of the Moon
*Rampaging Ferocidon
*Spiteful Sliver
*Zo-Zu the Punisher
*Spitemare
*Truefire Captain
*Volcano Hellion
*Archangel Avacyn
*Stuffy Doll
*Coalhauler Swine
*Angrath&#039;s Marauders
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*Land Tax
*Tectonic Reformation
*Blood Moon
*Repercussion
*Spellshock
*Sulfuric Vortex
*Burning Earth
*Furnace of Rath
*Manabarbs
*Smothering Tithe
*Dictate of the Twin Gods
[/Enchantment]
[Instant]
*Enlightened Tutor
*Swords to Plowshare
*Path to Exile
*Boros Charm
*Price of Progress
*Thrill of Possibility
*Arcbond
*Chaos Warp
*Teferi&#039;s Protection
*Wear // Tear
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*Faithless Looting
*Magmatic Insight
*Vandalblast
*Cathartic Reunion
*Tormenting Voice
*Twinflame
*Chain Reaction
*Shivan Meteor
*Star of Extinction
*Blasphemous Act
*Earthquake
*Molten Disaster
[/Sorcery]
[Land]
*Command Tower
*Sacred Foundry
*City of Brass
*Mana Confluence
*Battlefield Forge
*Clifftop Retreat
*Inspiring Vantage
*Temple of Triumph
*Prismatic Vista
*Fabled Passage
*Ash Barrens
*16 Snow-Covered Mountain
*10 Snow-Covered Plains
[/Land]"></span></div></p>

<hr />
<p>The rest of the deck is a dedicated group slug shell, which helps getting our opponents low enough to be in range of our combo, and the group slug cards do stack well with our damage-doublers. Our biggest problem, as a combo deck, is to fill the gap between the beginning of the game and the combo turn. It's really naive to think that we, without blue in our deck, could ever hope to curve out into a win in the early game by playing creatures and then, on the next turn, playing a board wipe.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arcbond"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boros Charm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Enlightened Tutor"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sunforger" href="#" target="_blank">Sunforger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, while a staple in Boros, is especially good here. We're packing the usual package of forge-able spells, but with a small twist: we have combo options available to us. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcbond" href="#" target="_blank">Arcbond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which we can use with or without our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, is an instant we can fetch with our favorite Equipment, to begin a beautiful combo. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which I discussed already, is great when played out of nowhere, and there's even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which also has plenty of amazing target, such as most of our damage-doublers and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stuffy Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Stuffy Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> itself.</p>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Methodology</h2>
<p>For our opening hand, we're looking mostly into early hate and mana ramp. We don't need to rush to end the game, so it's better to have a disruptive early game where we can sneak in a few instances chip damage.</p>
<p>For the early game, we'll be dividing our turns between accelerating and trying to play hate pieces. Most of these pieces tend to attract aggro from other players, so a little bit of reading the room goes a long way. We need to start looking into possible targets/threats, since some of our answers are single-target only.</p>
<p>By the mid-game, we should start looking to control the board, either by stacking multiple lock pieces or simply using one of our many board wipes to reset the board. This is the time where we'll start to look for possible openings to play our combo, but that'll mostly depend on which pieces we have available at the time.</p>
<p>Things start getting a little worse for us in the late game. Most of the difficulties stem from the fact that we don't have enough card draw, and we need at least two cards to combo out. However, it does become easier to snipe a player or two with our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthquake" href="#" target="_blank">Earthquake</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects or even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Price of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Price of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Epic Results</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stranglehold"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imperial Recruiter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heartless Hidetsugu"></div></div>
<p>We have plenty of great suggestions. For a more lock-centric build, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stranglehold" href="#" target="_blank">Stranglehold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blind Obedience" href="#" target="_blank">Blind Obedience</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are great options. Need a little help getting the combo out faster? The recruiter duo <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Recruiter of the Guard" href="#" target="_blank">Recruiter of the Guard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imperial Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Imperial Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can find some of our combo creatures. We could also add some haymakers 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> or even something hasty such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aurelia, the Warleader" href="#" target="_blank">Aurelia, the Warleader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>That’s it for this <em>Epic Experiment!</em> What do you think about this list? Do you have any questions about the deck? Which cards did you like? Which didn’t you? Was the <em>Epic Experiment</em> a success? Please let me know in the comments below!</p>


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