<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/carolinegariba">Caroline Gariba</a>)</h6>
<h1><em>Family Feud</em>: Kaldheim Precon Playtest</h1>
<p>Welcome to the first installment of <em>Family Feud</em>! In this series, father and son (Mark and Max, respectively) will playtest the new Commander preconstructed decks against each other (both in 1v1 and in multiplayer games) and report their observations. They will then upgrade their decks and repeat the process.</p>
<hr />
<h2><em>Elven Empire</em> – Mark</h2>
<p>I chose the <em>Elven Empire</em> deck, commanded by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lathril, Blade of the Elves"></div></div>
<p>This deck has the makings of a powerful Elf tribal deck with a fantastic commander at the helm.</p>
<h3>Deck Contents</h3>
<p>The 99 includes the following:</p>
<table border="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td><strong>Count</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lands</td>
<td>37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ramp</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Card Advantage</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Targeted Removal</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Board Wipes</td>
<td>1 (and not a good one)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Graveyard Recursion</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tutors</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Graveyard Hate</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Overall, it’s a pretty good spread among the different categories except for board wipes: there are 39 creatures in this deck (many of which have great abilities that interact with the board, by the way), but even in creature-heavy decks like this one, board wipes are still critical. Also missing is any graveyard hate; why not at least <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bojuka Bog" href="#" target="_blank">Bojuka Bog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>?</p>
<p>Recursion is on the heavy side for a deck like this one. As with many Precons, there is no protection for our commander, and there're no tutors, although I wouldn't expect the latter. The remaining 11 cards include combat-related effects that pump our Elves, provide deathtouch, etc. In addition, there are token-generators, many of which grow our existing token base. Some overall solid cards included in the deck are: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Whisperer" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Whisperer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harvest Season" href="#" target="_blank">Harvest Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Timberwatch Elf" href="#" target="_blank">Timberwatch Elf</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wolverine Riders" href="#" target="_blank">Wolverine Riders</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elven Ambush" href="#" target="_blank">Elven Ambush</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Promenade" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Promenade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhys, the Exiled" href="#" target="_blank">Rhys, the Exiled</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ruthless Winnower" href="#" target="_blank">Ruthless Winnower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beast Whisperer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Archdruid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harvest Season"></div></div>
<p>This deck wants to get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out early and swing away with her menace, create a critical mass of Elf Warrior tokens, create more tokens, then swing in, either pumped for combat damage, tapped with Lathril’s second ability, or both!</p>
<p>So... how does the deck play out of the box? In 1v1 against the Phantom Premonition deck, I got absolutely smoked by Junior. With so few one- and two-drops, this deck was just too slow. Too many games I could not get a card out until turn three, so ended up saying, “Forest, Pass; Swamp, Pass” on turn one and two, respectively. Typically, by the time I got my commander on the board, Max either had multiple tokens to block <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or just dealt with her using some sort of targeted removal, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curse of the Swine" href="#" target="_blank">Curse of the Swine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I had no way to protect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from such spells. When I did get my Elf Warrior tokens on the board, they were ineffective in blocking Phantom’s army of flyers. He was also able to effectively blink his creatures to provide pseudo-vigilance, and his deck also had board wipes, which really set me back when I didn’t have a solid recursion option on the board.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Timberwatch Elf"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wolverine Riders"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elven Ambush"></div></div>
<p>I did also playtest the deck in multiplayer, where it fared much, much better. More players allowed for more time to set up and get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out. Once out, it was easier in a four-player game to find an open target and start building the token base. Once I had this base, a card like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elven Ambush" href="#" target="_blank">Elven Ambush</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allowed me to double my tokens and really get the engine rolling. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elderfang Venom" href="#" target="_blank">Elderfang Venom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was also effective, giving my Elves deathtouch and forcing painful blocking decisions for my opponents. In one game I was actually able to more than hold my own for well over an hour in a four-player pod against opponents with tuned decks. Midway through this game, I was actually THE threat on the board with the other three players all ganging up on me.</p>
<h3>Overall Thoughts</h3>
<p>While the deck is pretty focused on the abilities of this commander and is fairly balanced, this deck is not well-constructed, especially for 1v1 out of the box. Specifically:</p>
<ul>
<li>The mana curve is awful, with virtually no one- or two-drops. In general, at 3.63 CMC, this deck is way too high-costed for an Elf tribal that wants to run lean and mean. While the deck has plenty of ramp, much of it is too expensive.</li>
<li>The interaction, for the most part, is slow, clunky, and ineffective.</li>
<li>Too much recursion for a deck like this, an some of it is contradictory (e.g., do I want to exile a creature when it dies to play it later with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serpent’s Soul-Jar" href="#" target="_blank">Serpent’s Soul-Jar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or do I want to put it into my grave and create a 1/1 token with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowess of the Fair" href="#" target="_blank">Prowess of the Fair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>)?</li>
<li>While there are sufficient sources of card advantage, many of them are clunky and situational.</li>
<li>Sometimes you just need a card and you need it now, not maybe on my next turn! Many games stalled out with only one or two cards in my hand, usually lands.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Good News</h3>
<p>This a fun, aggressive deck to play, and it’s got a lot of potential. It’s an excellent first Commander deck for many as it plays fairly straightforward. It’s also a great deck for the established player that should have many of the logical upgrades already in their collection. As with all of the recent Commander Precons, this represents a great value: with a purchase price around $20, you get about $60 worth of cards. The commander is solid, and her second ability is very powerful and easy to build around. There are so many great, inexpensive Elf tribal cards and better interaction/ramp/draw options readily available that this deck is easily upgradable to compete at your local game store. I can’t wait to upgrade it and get my shot at revenge against Max!</p>
<hr />
<h2><em>Phantom Premonition</em> - Max</h2>
<p>I chose the <em>Phantom Premonition</em> Precon because I thought that <em>Foretell</em> and blink would make for an interesting and unique deck. For those not familiar, <em>Foretell</em> is a new mechanic in the <em>Kaldhiem</em> sets. Similar to <em>Morph</em>, it provides an element of surprise as to what exactly is face-down that helps keep opponents off-balance. The commander of the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ranar, the Ever-Watchful" href="#" target="_blank">Ranar, the Ever-Watchful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ranar, the Ever-Watchful"></div></div>
<p>A rules check confirms that if you exile two creatures at the same time or exile two or more cards from your hand, you will only create one Spirit token, so another effective option is to exile one of your opponent's creatures to create a token when your commander is on the battlefield.</p>
<h3>Deck Contents</h3>
<p>A detailed look at this deck reveals the following:</p>
<table style="height: 198px; width: 22.9671%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;" border="5">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;"><strong>Category</strong></td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;"><strong>Count</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Lands</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">36</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Ramp</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Card Advantage</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Targeted Removal</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Board Wipes</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">2</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Graveyard Recursion</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Tutors</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="height: 22px; width: 79.4941%;">Graveyard Hate</td>
<td style="height: 22px; width: 26.25%;">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Overall, this deck’s stats are very solid. A tutor or two would be nice, but I'm not complaining. For a Precon, this is very good.<br />
Now, let’s look at the synergy in the deck:</p>
<ul>
<li>10 cards with <em>Foretell</em>, which is pretty good for a new mechanic (also, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethereal Valkyrie" href="#" target="_blank">Ethereal Valkyrie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give cards in your hand <em>Foretell</em>)</li>
<li>4 cards that care about <em>Foretell</em></li>
<li>14 creatures with ETB effects</li>
<li>8 cards that blink creatures</li>
<li>7 cards that make tokens</li>
<li>4 cards that pump tokens, two of which only pump flyers</li>
</ul>
<p>The best cards in the deck are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of the Dragons" href="#" target="_blank">Day of the Dragons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Herd" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Herd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethereal Valkyrie" href="#" target="_blank">Ethereal Valkyrie</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Angel of Serenity" href="#" target="_blank">Angel of Serenity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Synthetic Destiny" href="#" target="_blank">Synthetic Destiny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brago, King Eternal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Day of the Dragons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm Herd"></div></div>
<p>In 1v1 play, this deck was incredible, easily handling Dad and his army of Elves. In general, it’s a really good Precon out of the box in 1v1 because the flying tokens are hard to deal with for most decks, especially other Precons with limited interaction. The deck can also just plain outvalue the opponent in 1v1. When playing Dad, I really tried to remove or neuter <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because I know the way Elf decks win is by getting a critical mass of Elves and then pumping them up and swinging. As a result, I tried to ramp out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ranar, the Ever-Watchful" href="#" target="_blank">Ranar, the Ever-Watchful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> quickly and start making tokens to block. I also tried to hold up board wipes to make sure I could deal with his board.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ethereal Valkyrie"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angel of Serenity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Synthetic Destiny"></div></div>
<p>In multiplayer games, the deck was still very good, but not spectacular like it is in 1v1 play. In multiplayer, the 1/1 tokens aren't big enough to usually make an impact on the game with three other players to deal with. I quickly realized that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ranar, the Ever-Watchful" href="#" target="_blank">Ranar, the Ever-Watchful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is significantly worse when you have to deal 120 damage to win. I was able to use explosive cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of the Dragons" href="#" target="_blank">Day of the Dragons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to pump up my tokens, and I also used <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Synthetic Destiny" href="#" target="_blank">Synthetic Destiny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to polymorph my tokens into actual creatures with useful abilities from my deck.</p>
<h3>Overall Thoughts</h3>
<ul>
<li>This deck is powerful, well-built, and an excellent value for $20.</li>
<li><em>Foretell</em> is a powerful mechanic. I wish there were more solid cards with <em>Foretell</em> in the deck. Hopefully <em>Wizards</em> will continue to release more cards with this mechanic.</li>
<li>This deck is a very fun deck to play.</li>
<li>It is a little slow, but no more so than most Precons.</li>
<li>The deck is somewhat dependent on certain cards (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Herd" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Herd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brago, King Eternal" href="#" target="_blank">Brago, King Eternal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, etc.) and timely interaction</li>
</ul>
<p>In summary, this is one of the best out-of-the-box Precons I have ever played. There are many different ways to play the deck, and each game reveals different lines of play. You can easily upgrade or downgrade the deck to any power level. I think that a lot of players will pick up this deck, play it as is, and be very happy with it. Dad keeps talking about an upgrade and rematch; I say, "Bring it on."</p>


Family Feud - The Kaldheim Precons

Conditions Allow - Tarox Bladewing

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/velinov">Svetlin Velinov</a>)</h6>
<h1>Climate-tic Changes</h1>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Ruinous Blast" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Ruinous Blast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> led to more than just the destruction of Argoth and the scarcity of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gaea&#039;s Cradle" href="#" target="_blank">Gaea&#039;s Cradle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s: the effects were felt far and beyond the now Shattered Isles, with changes to the climate everywhere from Yavimaya to Tolaria West. At first, it was merely snowfall, a couple of inches of icy powder bringing joy to the children of Dominaria.</p>
<p>But as time went on, Dominaria's weather became more and more erratic: Llanowar experienced a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, causing dozens to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Languish" href="#" target="_blank">Languish</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in despair and filth. A <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> beset Jamuraa, and Keld was beset by a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Plague Wind" href="#" target="_blank">Plague Wind</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>As Dominaria's Ice Age drew closer, it became more and more necessary to ready oneself against the storm. To do so, one must know what to expect and how to deal with it.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Frightful Weather</h2>
<p>Using a board wipe may seem like raining on your own parade, but when you're up against three opponents, a board wipe can be one of the most important tools in the arsenal of a Commander player. In the running for one of the most popular board wipes in the game is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which sits in the top 5 of all board wipes and the top 5 of all black cards in the format.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toxic Deluge"></div></div>
<p>For a mere three mana and a variable amount of life, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give a sizeable debuff to all of the creatures on the battlefield, even killing them with a large enough payment of life. This method of wiping the board dodges keyword abilities such as indestructible or <em>Protection</em>, giving it a bit of a leg-up over other board wipes such as <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>.</p>
<p>But the downsides to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be game-changers. In situations where you lack the life to pay and the will to play this card, it can seriously falter. As a result, we're going to be looking at some alternatives that can be kinder to your life total, your permanents, or your wallet!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Under the Umbrella</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> falls under the umbrella of board wipes and general board control, so for our replacements, we are looking for black cards that can better fill that slot in certain decks, metas, and situations.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Golden Demise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dead of Winter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Massacre Girl"></div></div>
<p>Black has a diverse array of efficiently costed sorceries which apply a debuff to several creatures' power and toughness, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golden Demise" href="#" target="_blank">Golden Demise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These cards can apply a smaller debuff than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toxic Deluge" href="#" target="_blank">Toxic Deluge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> without the life payment, plus some extra bonuses. If you're in a meta that has a substantial number of token decks or utility creatures, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathrite Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Deathrite Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demon of Dark Schemes" href="#" target="_blank">Demon of Dark Schemes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can be perfect for our deck.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> may lack the added utility of the aforementioned cards, but it can still be a respectable board wipe on its own. Similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mutilate" href="#" target="_blank">Mutilate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make good use of a mana base incidentally full of snow basics or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swamp" href="#" target="_blank">Swamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s to fill our Staple's role. If you're running snow lands, you may want to consider running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood on the Snow" href="#" target="_blank">Blood on the Snow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which gives you added flexibility and the utility of a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necromantic Selection" href="#" target="_blank">Necromantic Selection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>In a set that was jam-packed with planeswalkers, legendary creatures like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> often go unnoticed. If a single creature dies from the initial trigger, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Massacre Girl" href="#" target="_blank">Massacre Girl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is more than likely to create a chain effect that will result in her being the lone creature on the battlefield. Many decks consider her higher mana cost to be well worth it in exchange for a useful, easily recoverable body.</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zackstella_mtg_deadofwinter.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-62166 " src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zackstella_mtg_deadofwinter.jpg" alt="" width="756" height="554" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zackstella_mtg_deadofwinter.jpg 1000w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zackstella_mtg_deadofwinter-300x220.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zackstella_mtg_deadofwinter-768x563.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" /></a></p>
<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dead of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Dead of Winter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="http://www.zackstella.com/9kszefxwuaugdchjt51z40jcbc7nwe">Zack Stella</a>)</h6>
<h2>Losses in Morale</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Force of Despair"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the perfect high-risk, high-reward card. Worst-case scenario, it's a reactive <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Murder" href="#" target="_blank">Murder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can be cast for no mana while dodging hexproof and <em>shroud</em>, which, by itself, isn't a bad card, but when your opponent dumps a handful of creatures onto the battlefield, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> becomes a blowout.</p>
<p>Board wipes are most useful to take the leading player down a peg, resetting the board so that the other three players have a chance to win, but in most of these situations, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can wipe out the leading player exclusively. This allows you to play much quicker than you otherwise would, giving you an opening with which you can take over the game from any other contenders at the table.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> doesn't work as well against all decks, though. Against slower decks that don't put out as many creatures in a turn, it's more akin to a removal spell than a board wipe. But there are numerous decks that can be blown out by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Force of Despair" href="#" target="_blank">Force of Despair</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lathril, Blade of the Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Lathril, Blade of the Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is weaponizing some of today's replacements below:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Lathril+" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Lathril, Blade of the Elves
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abomination of Llanowar
*1 Beast Whisperer
*1 Boreal Druid
*1 Canopy Tactician
*1 Copperhorn Scout
*1 Deathrite Shaman
*1 Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
*1 Elves of Deep Shadow
*1 Elvish Archdruid
*1 Elvish Dreadlord
*1 Elvish Harbinger
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Elvish Warmaster
*1 Ezuri, Renegade Leader
*1 Fauna Shaman
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Heritage Druid
*1 Immaculate Magistrate
*1 Imperious Perfect
*1 Joraga Warcaller
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Lys Alana Huntmaster
*1 Marwyn, the Nurturer
*1 Miara, Thorn of the Glade
*1 Nullmage Shepherd
*1 Poison-Tip Archer
*1 Priest of Titania
*1 Quirion Ranger
*1 Realmwalker
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rhys the Exiled
*1 Ruthless Winnower
*1 Shaman of the Pack
*1 Skemfar Shadowsage
*1 Timberwatch Elf
*1 Wirewood Channeler
*1 Wirewood Symbiote
*1 Wolverine Riders
*1 Wood Elves
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Casualties of War
*1 Elvish Promenade
*1 Golden Demise
*1 Pact of the Serpent
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Sylvan Offering
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crown of Skemfar
*1 Elderfang Venom
*1 Elvish Guidance
*1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Kaya&#039;s Ghostform
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Prowess of the Fair
*1 Quest for Renewal
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Beast Within
*1 Elven Ambush
*1 Force of Despair
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Vitalize
*1 Windgrace&#039;s Judgment
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Serpent&#039;s Soul-Jar
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Throne of the God-Pharaoh
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Freyalise, Llanowar&#039;s Fury
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*15 Forest
*1 Gilt-Leaf Palace
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Skemfar Elderhall
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Twilight Mire
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Wirewood Lodge
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>There are dozens of ways to control the board or to wipe it completely in black EDH decks. Which ways do you prefer? What would you have included had you written this article? Feel free to drop a comment!</p>


Staple Remover - Toxic Deluge

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Segovian Angel" href="#" target="_blank">Segovian Angel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://simondominic.artstation.com/">Simon Dominic</a>)</h6>
<h1>Spy's Demise</h1>
<blockquote><p>Too flashy to ignore. Too fast to catch.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;">—<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kitesail Cleric" href="#" target="_blank">Kitesail Cleric</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> flavor text</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When it comes to aggressively attacking at the Commander tables, you would probably expect there to be some red involved, right? Both Boros and Gruul are all about the smashy smash, using combat to end players' days. However, one of the most aggressive decks you can find might just be helmed by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's why in this <em>Mind Bend</em>, the article series that breaks down the conventional notions of the color pie to forge new ground outside the confines of the already established, we're shifting Edric's Simic game back where it belongs - in red, white, and black.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edric, Spymaster of Trest"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>All Spies on Me</h2>
<p>For those of you wondering why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is very aggressive, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/edric-spymaster-of-trest">one look at his average decklist on EDHREC</a> will sort out your concerns. Let's go over it a little more here in order to make the Mardu conversion.</p>
<h3>Air Force One</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flying Men"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gudul Lurker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spire Tracer"></div></div>
<p>For one, the average <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck plays 26 different versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: tiny one-mana creatures that have flying or are in some way either unblockable, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gudul Lurker" href="#" target="_blank">Gudul Lurker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or have odd blocking conditions, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spire Tracer" href="#" target="_blank">Spire Tracer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The bevy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> serve a singular purpose: deal combat damage to your opponents so that Edric can draw you cards. The more of these evasive low-cost creatures you can have in play to swing with once Edric hits the battlefield, the more cards you'll have to cast on later turns. The first swing is for replacing those already deployed, the subsequent swings are just sheer value.</p>
<h3>Doing the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<p>So what do you do with all that draw? How about... draw more cards? The average <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list runs six extra turn spells, once again for a singular purpose: to give you more combats, mana, and cards. Digging deep with your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets better and better when you keep striking extra turn gold. Each <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Time Warp" href="#" target="_blank">Time Warp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Part the Waterveil" href="#" target="_blank">Part the Waterveil</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in hand means a better chance at finding the next.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Warp"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Part the Waterveil"></div></div>
<h3>Closing Time</h3>
<p>Now, you could draw cards and take turns until your library is empty, but winning the game is a whole 'nuther problem. Poking with a small army of 1/1s is only going to get you so far. Since you'll be speed-running your deck into the ground, you only need a few ways to close out the game.</p>
<p>In the average list on EDHREC, Edric players run about four win conditions, and they include pumping your team via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beastmaster Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Beastmaster Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, coming out of nowhere with poison from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triumph of the Hordes" href="#" target="_blank">Triumph of the Hordes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or killing players without even attacking them directly via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Throne of the God-Pharaoh" href="#" target="_blank">Throne of the God-Pharaoh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beastmaster Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triumph of the Hordes"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Throne of the God-Pharaoh"></div></div>
<p>The rest of the typical <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck is filled with the usual Commander staples, mostly removal, ramp, and answers, plus a few secondary "Edrics" in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reconnaissance Mission" href="#" target="_blank">Reconnaissance Mission</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <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>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reconnaissance Mission"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bident of Thassa"></div></div>
<p>The end result is a deck that wants to hit early and often, then steal the game away by never giving anyone the chance to play again.</p>
<hr />
<h2>The Tangled Web We Weave</h2>
<p>When changing this deck over to Mardu, the question then becomes "Who can helm the deck on a level similar to Edric?" <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has no direct analogue, but we do have one that gets close: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymna the Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tymna the Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tymna the Weaver"></div></div>
<p>With her in the command zone, we can replicate Edric's early turn strategy and net the same amount of cards. Luckily, both black and white have a plethora of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of their own to get in on the early aggro-for-cards train. For example, there are bombs like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serra Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Serra Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that can come down as a 6/6 flyer at the opening of the game.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Serra Ascendant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Healer&#039;s Hawk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vampire Cutthroat"></div></div>
<p>We can even recoup that life loss from Tymna's ability with some low-mana evasive creatures: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Healer&#039;s Hawk" href="#" target="_blank">Healer&#039;s Hawk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampire Cutthroat" href="#" target="_blank">Vampire Cutthroat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vault Skirge" href="#" target="_blank">Vault Skirge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for example, will give us the life we'll happily pay.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Extra Combative</h3>
<p>So what about the next step in the Edric game plan: extra turns? Also, what about the red portion of this deck? To both of those I say to you, what about extra combats? Red is tops when it comes to swinging more than once in a turn; just look at <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Relentless Assault" href="#" target="_blank">Relentless Assault</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or, new from <em>Zendikar Rising,</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moraug, Fury of Akoum" href="#" target="_blank">Moraug, Fury of Akoum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Relentless Assault"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waves of Aggression"></div></div>
<p>Since we're in white, we also get the versatile <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Response//Resurgence" href="#" target="_blank">Response//Resurgence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and the absolute beating that is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waves of Aggression" href="#" target="_blank">Waves of Aggression</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. An extra combat spell you can cast again and again from the graveyard? Yes, please.</p>
<hr />
<h3>We're Pirates Now!</h3>
<p>But we can't play these extra combat cards with just Tymna in the command zone. It's time to <em>Partner</em> her up! Welcome aboard <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breeches, Brazen Plunderer" href="#" target="_blank">Breeches, Brazen Plunderer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> offers another route to "card draw" by stealing the top of our opponent's deck upon damage. If we have additional Pirates, we can aim them at different opponents for full effect. Unfortunately, our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flying Men" href="#" target="_blank">Flying Men</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serra Ascendant" href="#" target="_blank">Serra Ascendant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, are not Pirates. Or are they?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conspiracy"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Maskwood Nexus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Volatile Claws"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conspiracy" href="#" target="_blank">Conspiracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has long been a staple for messing with your creature types, and it's perfect with Breeches. Plus, you can't spell "conspiracy" without "piracy", arr! The brand new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gives us another way to turn our team into Pirates. For a one-shot effect, we can boost our team for extra damage with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volatile Claws" href="#" target="_blank">Volatile Claws</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<hr />
<h3>End Result</h3>
<p>To mirror the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Biomass Mutation" href="#" target="_blank">Biomass Mutation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Edric's list, why not add a way to make our team all Pirates and turn them huge? For this, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirror Entity" href="#" target="_blank">Mirror Entity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fits right at home. Speaking of ending the game with large creatures, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marton Stromgald" href="#" target="_blank">Marton Stromgald</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> does a wonderful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beastmaster Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Beastmaster Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> impression that's actually stronger with more combat steps. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brutal Hordechief" href="#" target="_blank">Brutal Hordechief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> adds to the damage and makes it even easier to get a lethal attack through, even on other turns!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirror Entity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marton Stromgald"></div></div>
<p>We even have a few <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coastal Piracy" href="#" target="_blank">Coastal Piracy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to slot in. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Havoc Raiser" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Havoc Raiser</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can play both offense and defense, netting us opponents' cards to cast or sending a large threat elsewhere. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner" href="#" target="_blank">Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give us a brand new hand whenever we want.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Mardu You Do</h2>
<p>I will admit that this decklist is still a little rough around the edges. I feel that the build will require some heavy in-game testing before the final list is achieved. But the start here is a great one, considering the pedigree it is modeled after. It does run a little slower than Edric, to be sure, but not much slower. Taking advantage of its pace of play would be the first thing to upgrade here.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Edric, but Mardu This Time" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Breeches, Brazen Plunderer
*1 Tymna the Weaver
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aven Skirmisher
*1 Azra Oddsmaker
*1 Basilica Screecher
*1 Battlefield Raptor
*1 Blight Keeper
*1 Brutal Hordechief
*1 Changeling Outcast
*1 Duskborne Skymarcher
*1 Eye Collector
*1 Faerie Guidemother
*1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
*1 Healer&#039;s Hawk
*1 Hope of Ghirapur
*1 Kitesail Cleric
*1 Kitesail Scout
*1 Lantern Kami
*1 Mirror Entity
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Marton Stromgald
*1 Neheb, the Eternal
*1 Nightshade Stinger
*1 Pilfering Imp
*1 Remorseful Cleric
*1 Rustwing Falcon
*1 Segovian Angel
*1 Selfless Spirit
*1 Serra Ascendant
*1 Soltari Foot Soldier
*1 Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner
*1 Suntail Hawk
*1 Topplegeist
*1 Tormented Soul
*1 Vampire Cutthroat
*1 Vault Skirge
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Akroma&#039;s Will
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Despark
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Response // Resurgence
*1 Reverberate
*1 Shields of Velis Vel
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Teferi&#039;s Protection
*1 Volatile Claws
*1 Wear // Tear
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Relentless Assault
*1 Vandalblast
*1 Waves of Aggression
*1 World at War
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Maskwood Nexus
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aggravated Assault
*1 Conspiracy
*1 Fiery Emancipation
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Blightstep Pathway
*1 Blood Crypt
*1 Bloodstained Mire
*1 Brightclimb Pathway
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 City of Brass
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 Luxury Suite
*1 Mana Confluence
*1 Marsh Flats
*2 Mountain
*1 Needleverge Pathway
*4 Plains
*1 Prismatic Vista
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Savai Triome
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*2 Swamp
*1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<h2>Time to Trest (For Now)</h2>
<p>I feel like this archetype of aggressive creatures barreling into value is still somewhat unexplored. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edric, Spymaster of Trest" href="#" target="_blank">Edric, Spymaster of Trest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has been around for a long time, but he can't be the only iteration out there. I'd like to see other color combinations and commanders follow suit. Decks like these win fast or die fast, but the will leave their mark before they're gone. So if that sounds like a strategy for you, go all in!</p>
<p>See you all soon for another mind-bending deck!</p>


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